The popular composer Irving Berlin was born on this day in 1888.

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isadore Baline in Russia. During his lifetime, this popular composer wrote such memorable tunes as “White Christmas,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “God Bless America,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” But did you know that Berlin, who wrote the lyrics and music to about 1,500 songs, never had any formal musical training or education?

A self-taught piano player, Berlin played by ear and only knew one key—F-sharp. Later he had a special piano made for him on which he could shift into different keys simply by turning a gear on the piano. During his long career, Berlin never learned to read music or write music; instead he relied on a musical secretary to transcribe the songs he wrote.

Berlin had an extraordinary gift of music. Despite having never learned formal composition or music theory, Berlin was able to delight his many fans with wonderful songs that remain popular today.

Do you know who else Berlin delighted by using the gifts and talents given to him? God. It’s true. God is delighted when we use the different talents and abilities that he has given to us. Just as he gave Berlin the gift of music, he may have given you the gift of being a good soccer player. Or maybe you are good at math, or you can play the trumpet like no one else can. There are as many combinations of talents and abilities as there are people in the world. And each one brings pleasure to God when it is being used.

So what gifts and talents do you have? What can you do to use your gifts and abilities in a way that will please God?

The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37:23).

To Do

If you’re not sure what your particular talents and abilities are, think about what you like to do and what you do well. Ask those who know you well what they think are your talents.

Also on this day . . .

Today is Eat-What-You-Want Day.

1812—The waltz was introduced into English ballrooms.

1858—Minnesota was admitted as the 32^nd state.

1947—The first tubeless tire was manufactured by B.F. Goodrich.

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 Clean Up Your Room Day.

Today is every parent’s dream—a day devoted to cleaning up your room! So on a scale of 1 to 10—with 1 being neat as a pin and 10 being clutter beyond control, how would you rate your room right now? Here are some questions to help you determine the state of your room:

• Is it impossible to see the floor?
• Are the clothes you wore from last week still in the same place where you had dropped them?
• Are there CDs (not in cases) in sight?
• Are the dust bunnies taking over underneath your bed?
• Do you have to move things in order to walk from one side of the room to the other?

If you have answered yes to four or more questions, put this book down right now and clean your room! No, wait until you finish reading.

You’ve probably heard the expression “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and while that sounds like it came right out of the Bible, it didn’t. But the Bible does tell us that God likes order. Look around the world he created. Everything has its proper place and function. God wants his people to be that way, too. In today’s verse, Paul is speaking about worship and God’s desire that it be done in a certain orderly way. Where there is order, there is God’s peace. But when there is disorder and chaos, God cannot work.

The same principle applies to us. When you are disorganized, when you can’t find anything because of all the clutter in your room, you will not be able to get things done. Cleaning your room is just one way to bring the order that God desires into your life. And it for sure will lead to a more peaceful family.

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches (1 Corinthians 14:33).

To do

So your room’s completely clean? If not, grab a garbage bag and a dust cloth and get to work!

Also on this day . . .

1773—The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

1872—Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for U.S. president.

1908—The first Mother’s Day observance took place during a church service in Grafton, West Virginia.

1960—The U.S.S. Triton submarine completed the first undersea trip around the world.

1994—Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

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.

On this day in 1929, Americans Richard Boyd and Floyd Bennett became the first to fly over the North Pole.

It only takes one person to forge a trail, explore a new area, or try something new for the first time. Then others will follow.

This was certainly true when Richard Evelyn Byrd and his co-pilot Floyd Bennett became the first people to fly over the North Pole. A member of the U.S. Navy, Byrd learned to fly during World War I. He subsequently became a flying instructor for the U.S. Navy and was interested in experimenting with new ways of flying over water out of sight of land—a definite necessity in flying over the pole. Using equipment and techniques that he developed, Byrd and Bennett successfully navigated the North Pole flyover on this day in 1929.

What was most significant about Byrd’s successful flight, however, is what happened afterward. Upon Byrd’s return to New York, he was asked what his next plans would be. His response? To fly over the South Pole! It was this answer that spurred 11 different expeditions of Americans to explore the South Pole.

When it comes to firsts and leading the way, there is only one First—Jesus. He was God’s firstborn from the very beginning (Hebrews 1:6). He was the first in the royal line, the king of all kings (Psalm 89:27). Jesus is the first to rise from the dead and ascend into heaven to show us the way (Revelation 1:5). He is the very first “in the line of humanity” so that we can see from Jesus’ example how we should live and how we should act.

So it makes sense that we should follow the First and go where Jesus goes. And if you are the first of your family or your friends at school to follow Jesus, be like Byrd and encourage others to follow your lead.

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him (Romans 8:29, The Message).

To Do

With the help of a parent, record a list of “firsts” in your life. Which “first” did others in your family follow? Which of the “firsts” in your parents’ lives have you followed?

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Butterscotch Brownie Day.

1899—The lawn mower was patented.

2002—In Bahrain, people were allowed to vote for representatives for the first time in nearly 30 years. Women were allowed to vote for the first time in the country’s history.

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 1886, the first Coca Cola® was sold.

The very first Coca Cola® was sold this day at the soda fountain in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta. Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist and Civil War veteran, concocted a fragrant, caramel-colored liquid in a brass kettle in his backyard. Intrigued, he took the liquid down the street to Jacob’s Pharmacy. There the mixture was combined with carbonated water and sampled by several customers. All who tasted it agreed that this new drink was something special. Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, named the mixture Coca-Cola and wrote out the name in his distinct flowing script—which has become the world’s most recognizable logo.

Over the years, the company has employed numerous slogans in advertising to communicate in a simple, direct way what the brand is all about. The most repeated theme in the 100-plus years of advertising Coke is reflected in the popular campaign of 1969: “It’s the Real Thing.” The idea has been reflected in slogans from “Coke Is It!” (1982), “America’s Real Choice” (1985), “You Can’t Beat the Real Thing,” (1990), and the newest slogan, “Coca-Cola . . . Real” (2003). People are drawn to products that are genuine, authentic, and true.

The same can be said about Jesus. He is the real thing, the real choice. He is it, genuine, authentic, true. Consider what John wrote about him: “This Jesus is both True God and Real Life” (1 John 5:20, The Message). Jesus said about himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life” and he called himself “the true vine” without whom we can do nothing.

So don’t be fooled by the claims of this world that there is a better way or that you don’t need Jesus in your life. Jesus is the real thing. Make Jesus your real choice.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life (1 John 5:20).

To Do

Come up with your own slogan that reflects what Jesus means to you.

Also on this day . . .

Today is No Socks Day!

1794—The U.S. Post Office was established.

1945—Germany officially surrendered, ending World War II.

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 Teacher Day.

What difference can a teacher make in someone’s life? Well, according to a study undertaken by John Hopkins University researchers, all the difference in the world. Several years ago, graduate students at the university interviewed 200 young men, ages 12 to 16. The assignment was to predict the young men’s future.

The students went into the inner city of Baltimore to find the boys. Based on their research, they concluded that 90 percent of those boys interviewed would spend time in jail. Some 25 years later, the researchers were sent back to the inner city to discover how close their predictions were. They found 180 of the original 200 young men. And what they discovered amazed them: only four had ever been to jail. When asked what changed their life, the researchers began to get the same answer, “Well there was this teacher . . .”

So the researchers tracked down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and asked about her remarkable influence over these young men. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence, except that “I truly loved my students.”

What is the difference between a good teacher and great teacher? One word: Love!

Among the many titles given to Jesus is Teacher. He is our rabboni, meaning “my lord, my master,” the most elevated title given to a teacher. And as our lord, Jesus instructs us out of his great love for us and the example that he has given to us: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34).

Knowing Jesus and learning from him can make all the difference in your life.

Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it” (John 3:2, The Message).

To Do

Write a note to your favorite teacher today. Share with that teacher how he or she has made a difference in your life.

Also on this day . . .

1789—The first Presidential Inaugural Ball was held in New York City.

1840—Russian composer Tchaikovsky was born.

1934—The world’s largest pearl (6.4 kg.) was discovered in the Philippines.

1975—President Ford declared an end to the Vietnam War.

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.

The iPad, the Kindle, and the Future of Books

The New Yorker

New Moves in the Chess Match against Amazon Publishers are flocking to the iPad to pressure Amazon into raising its ebook prices. Google is preparing to enter the ebook distribution fray, though with a friendlier stance toward brick-and-mortar bookstores. In this article Ken Auletta helps us get a handle on the new market forces publishers are having to contend with in an increasingly digital environment.

Isabella top name for girls; Jacob No. 1 for boys

Yahoo! News

Oh, The Power We Have! Who knew that we in publishing could have a lifelong influence—literally—on numerous babies? Yep, have a big enough splash and those characters’ names may end up on many a birth certificate!

Project Puts 1M Books Online for Blind, Dyslexic

Associated Press

And Lest We Forget . . . With all this talk about iPads and new digitized content, one group in San Francisco is not forgetting the visually-impaired and dyslexic, for whom the latest visual technology means little. Their goal? One million books available to these select groups.

Mother’s Day History

mothersdaycelebration.com

History of Mother’s Day We in publishing are not immune to the commercialization of mother’s day—in fact, we have plenty of offerings to add to the choices of gift-givers the world over. But do you know the history of mother’s day?

Introducing the Mobys: Book Trailer Awards

Publishing Perspectives

It’s Like VH1 for Books! This is one award show I’d actually watch! See the new Mobys awards for book trailers—and their categories, including "Least Likely to Actually Sell the Book."