Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on this day in 1824.

Next to Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. Jackson was probably one of the most respected generals in the Confederate Army. A graduate of West Point, Jackson first earned recognition as a war hero in the Mexican War. His experience as a military instructor at the Virginia Military Institute, coupled with his war experience, earned him the rank of brigadier general at the first major battle of the Civil War near Manassas, Virginia. But it was Jackson’s conduct during that battle for which he earned his nickname “Stonewall.” During the battle, when lines were beginning to break, General Bernard E. Bee proclaimed, “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall.” In that moment a legend was born, as Jackson became known for his fierce tenacity and steadfastness in the heat of the battle.

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God spoke about this same type of faithfulness. Despairing of Israel’s lack of faith, God was searching for men and women who could be “stone walls” against evil. “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall,” the Lord said.

What does it mean to stand in the gap? For us, it means a willingness to stand up for what we know is right, even when we may be the only ones. It means befriending the kid at school who has no friends. It means sticking up for the one who is being bullied and mocked. It means making a difference for God by living according to his truth and Word.

How about you? Are you willing to stand in the gap?

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

To do

How can you make a difference for God today? Write down three ways you can “stand in the gap” at school, at home, and in your neighborhood.

Also on this day . . .

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day.

1799—Edward Jenner introduced the smallpox vaccine.

1846—The first issue of the Daily News, edited by Charles Dickens, was published.

1976—The French Concorde SST aircraft began regular commercial service for Air France and British Airways.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

At 69, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to become U.S. President.

When Ronald Reagan came to the White House in 1981 for the first of his two terms as president, he was well past the age when most people retire. When he left the White House in 1989 at age 77, President Reagan was eight years older than the next-oldest president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, was when he left office in 1961.

The president was often the first to joke about his age. At one point, he reportedly said, “Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.’ And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.” But perhaps his most well-known quip about his age came during a debate with Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale. The president, who was some 17 years older than his opponent, asserted, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

We live in a society that values youthfulness. Thousands of dollars are spent each year on ways to preserve youth—plastic surgery, diet and exercise plans, laser eye surgery, hair transplants. In some cultures, however, age is a sign of wisdom and authority. Elders are to be respected and cared for. That’s how the Bible says we as Christians should act. Where elders are respected, long life is a blessing, not a joke.

In Leviticus 19:32, God tells us to “Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged.” In fact, wrote Paul, “And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘you will live a long life, full of blessing’” (Ephesians 6:3).

Good advice to follow, don’t you think?

Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to those who have lived many years (Job 12:12).

To Do

Write a letter to an older person that you know—a grandparent, teacher, pastor, or even your parent. Tell this person the many ways he or she has helped you and the many reasons for your respect.

Also on this day . . .

1885—The roller coaster was patented by L.A. Thompson.

1937—Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first president to be inaugurated on January 20. The 20^th Amendment of the Constitution officially set the date for the swearing in of the President and Vice President.

1964—The album “Meet the Beatles” was released in the U.S., marking the start of the Beatles’ English invasion.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

In 1903, a French sports newspaper announced the inception of the Tour de France.

The world’s greatest bicycle race was started as a way to increase the circulation of a French sports newspaper. The newspaper’s cycling reporter suggested a six-day race over roads and towns rather than on a track. On January 19, 1903, it was announced that a month-long bike race would be held from Paris to Lyon to Marseille to Toulouse to Bordeaux to Nantes to Paris—and the Tour de France was born.

The first race attracted 60 riders and included six stages covering approximately 2,388 kilometers (about 1,400 miles). The most recent Tour de France included a pre-race prologue, 20 stages, and covered 3,390 kilometers. The race, which runs for 22 days with only two days of rest, is a test of human spirit as much as physical prowess. As six-time winner Lance Armstrong explained, “I believe that the man who works the hardest is the man who deserves to win.” Perseverance—working hard day after day in the rain, the heat, or up in the mountains—is the key to winning what some consider the greatest sporting event in the world.

That same characteristic is also needed living out your faith each day. In fact, the apostle Paul compared living as a Christian to a race. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul writes, “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win.” What is the prize? Paul calls it the “eternal prize” of heaven.

The persevering Christian prays consistently, gives thanks consistently, and keeps his or her focus on Jesus—the lead runner and model finisher of the race.

How’s your race coming along?

“And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

To Do

Reflect on the faith race you are running. Assess how you are doing. What do you need to improve? Where do you excel?

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Popcorn Day.

Today is National Penguin Awareness Day.

1807—General Robert E. Lee was born today.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

In 1997, Norwegian Børge Ousland completed the first solo crossing of Antarctica via the South Pole.

Since 1915 adventurers, explorers, and polar travelers have dreamed about crossing Antarctica alone. Many tried, and just as many failed. Norwegian adventurer Børge Ousland had tried once in 1995 and had failed. Undeterred, Ousland returned to Antarctica in 1996. He was joined by polar travelers from four other nations. But in 1997, Ousland stood alone as the only man to successfully travel the 1,675 miles across the South Pole. Four years later, Ousland made a complete North Pole crossing, becoming the first man to cross both poles completely solo.

In explaining why he crossed both poles alone, Ousland said, “It must be the hard, strong nature, and the back to basic feeling I get when I am out there. When you do unsupported expeditions to the poles, there is no way to cheat; it is your own ability, strength, and preparations that will decide if you make it or not.”

For Ousland, the hardest aspect of either trek was overcoming the mental obstacle—knowing that he was completely alone. “I had to break a lot of mental borders before I even could make the decisions to start. No one had even tried it before, and not many believed I would make it,” he recalled.

Doing anything solo is much harder than having someone by your side. King David knew that firsthand. Many times in his life David felt completely alone and abandoned. Many of his psalms reflected his feelings of loneliness. In Psalm 25, David wrote, “Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and in deep distress” (v. 16). But during his deepest times of distress, David remembered who was walking beside him, ready to comfort him at a moment’s notice.

Read the familiar verses of David’s most famous psalm. These are good words to remember when you are going solo.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

To Do

Read Psalm 23 aloud. Memorize it and recite it to someone in your home.

Also on this day . . .

Today is Winnie the Pooh Day (author A.A. Milne was born in 1882).

1896—The X-ray machine was exhibited for the first time. It cost the public 25 cents to see the machine.

1943—U.S. bakers stopped selling sliced bread. Only whole loaves were sold until the end of World War II.

1944—The first jazz concert was held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The stars of the concert were Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Roy Eldridge, and Jack Teagarden.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Ben Franklin was born on this day in 1706.

Inventor, writer, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, civic leader, international celebrity, genius: all these titles can be used to describe one of the most remarkable people of American history, Ben Franklin. Born into the family of a Boston candle maker, Benjamin Franklin not only helped found a new nation, but he also helped define the American character.

Franklin was an inventor, credited with inventions such as the lighting rod, the Franklin stove, and bifocals. He was also an international statesman, crossing the Atlantic eight times to help negotiate the treaties that led to the formation of the United States.

Franklin was also a publisher and a writer. His most famous publication was Poor Richard’s Almanac, which Franklin first published in 1732 under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. The 26 editions of Poor Richard’s Almanac were filled with calendar, weather, and astronomical information. But what Franklin’s almanac was most well-known for was his collection of humorous sayings and advice, such as “Fish and visitors smell after three days”; “Necessity never made a good bargain”; and “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Of course, Franklin was not the first to write a collection of witty sayings. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, passed on his wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Each short, concise statement conveyed a truth for practical living. But the main theme of Solomon’s proverbs was that the source of all true wisdom was God. Centuries before Ben Franklin ever walked the earth, Solomon wrote, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Those are some wise words worth remembering!

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7).

To Do

Read Proverbs chapter 2. Write down a list of all the benefits of wisdom that you find there.

Also on this day . . .

1806—James Madison Randolph, grandson of President Thomas Jefferson, was the first child born in the White House.

1871—Andrew S. Hallidie of San Francisco, California received a patent for a cable car system.

1962—Jim Carrey was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Today is National Nothing Day.

Happy Nothing Day!

Seems like a strange idea for a holiday, doesn’t it? How exactly do you celebrate nothing? Then again, consider the possibilities. For example, today you are in keeping with the spirit of the holiday if you spend it doing absolutely nothing! No presents, no festivities, no decorations, no big meal. Nothing.

Actually, there was a man in Bible times who was really big into nothing. Solomon was one of the wisest, richest, and most powerful kings around. He had everything—money, gold, treasures, cattle, palaces. He did everything—lead a nation, built cities and roads, constructed the Temple for God. But when it came right down to it, Solomon decided that it all meant nothing. It was all meaningless, futile, insignificant, and unimportant. He wrote about his views of life in the book Ecclesiastes. Here are just a few of King Solomon’s statements: “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere,” (2:11) and, “As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away” (5:16). Not exactly a cheery guy!

By the end of the book, however, Solomon comes to an important conclusion. The only way to find true meaning and satisfaction in this world is through God. Nothing else can fill our lives like knowing, worshipping, and obeying the Lord.

So maybe a better way to celebrate Nothing Day is to spend some time with God and thank him for all the “something” that he has given to you.

Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

To Do

Make a list of all the reasons you have to worship God today.

Also on this day . . .

1547—Ivan the Terrible was crowned Czar of Russia.

1896—The first five-player college basketball game was played at Iowa City, Iowa.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Five Questions to Start the (Still) New Year

Marketing Daily

Staying with the Times I may now be falling in that "older American" category (I’m 51 and trust me, I still just want to look at catalogs), but in order to market our books to these new generations with new technlogy, we need to keep up with the times. Five quick questions to ask about your marketing. —Linda Taylor

Using Menu Psychology to Entice Diners

New York Times

Editing Comes to Restaurant Menus—Who Knew? Restaurants around the country are feverishly revising their menus. Pounded by the recession, they are hoping that some magic combination of prices, adjectives, fonts, type sizes, ink colors and placement on the page can coax diners into spending a little more money. You editors out there will be amazed! —Linda Taylor

Seattle Named America’s Most Literate City in 2009

MediaBistro

So Where Does Your City Rank? Central Connecticut State University has released the annual list of America’s Most Literate Cities. Click on the link in the article for the complete list. Criteria include newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources. —Linda Taylor

Multitasking Moms in Control

AdWeek

How to Hit This Important Niche We all know that women buy most of the books we put out there. Want to really meet the needs of today’s multitasking moms? Read the survey and discover how they view themselves and what they need. —Linda Taylor