On this day in 620 BC Aesop was born.

You’ve probably heard of Aesop (pronounced “ee-sop”) because of Aesop’s Fables. According to one historian, Aesop was a slave who lived in Samos (a Greek island) in the 6th cent. B.C. and eventually was freed by his master. We don’t know much more. But a bunch of “fables” carry his name as author: “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Ant and the Grasshopper,” “The Lion and the Mouse,” and The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”? to name a few.

A fable is a made up story that teaches a lesson. In a fable, we look for the moral to the story. Also, fables often feature talking animals (that’s one way to know that they’re totally fiction). So fables themselves are not true, but they can convey truths.

Some people say the Bible is a collection of “fables.” In other words, they think the stories are interesting and can even teach valuable lessons, but they’re not strictly true. They might say, for example, that the Israelites didn’t really cross the Red Sea on dry ground, that the walls of Jericho didn’t really fall down when the trumpets blew, that Jonah wasn’t really swallowed by a great fish, and that Jesus didn’t really heal people and rise from the dead. Some people take it a step further and choose some stories to believe and some to not believe.

That’s wrong.

The Bible is God’s Word. It claims to be truth and has proven to be factual and truthful in every thing it states. And Jesus said he was the Truth (see John 14:6). In today’s verses for example, Jesus says that he is telling the truth.

Here’s the point—you can believe the Bible, all of it. It’s not a fable—it’s true. Don’t be fooled by anyone who tells you otherwise.

“So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! [46] Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?” (John 8:45–46)

To Do

Get a concordance (sometimes one is in the back of your Bible). Look under the word “truth”; then look up a bunch of the verses listed.

Also on this day . . .

1896—Henry Ford made a successful test drive of his new car in Detroit, Michigan. He called the vehicle a “quadricycle.”

1919—The U.S. Senate passed the Women’s Suffrage bill, allowing women to vote.

1939—In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Sylvan Goldman introduced the first shopping cart—a folding chair mounted on wheels.

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 1932 Lou Gehrig set a major league baseball record when he hit four consecutive home runs.

Today, most people know the name “Lou Gehrig” only because of a disease named after him—the disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), that took his life in 1941. But Gehrig was an amazing baseball player, hitting for power and batting average. And for many years he held the record for playing in consecutive games—2130. During that streak, he played with broken bones (at least 17) and back spasms. No wonder he was called “the Iron Horse.”

Eventually, in 1995, Cal Ripken, Jr. broke that record. Ripken wound up playing in 2632 consecutive games. Both of those streaks are amazing. Imagine everything that might keep someone out of a game. In addition to injury, there’s sickness, family issues (births, deaths, etc.), and, of course, exhaustion. One thing’s for sure—every day, every game, the manager knew that Lou or Cal would be ready to play.

That’s faithfulness—being the kind of person who can be counted on, no matter what. You know people like that, don’t you? Maybe a teacher, coach, or pastor. Certainly your mom and dad. Hopefully even a friend or two.

God is faithful. Check out Lamentations 3:23: “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” We know we can count on God to be with us, everywhere, all the time.

But God wants us to be faithful as well. That’s the point of today’s verse. Paul was telling the Thessalonian believers he was proud that they had remained strong and faithful, through all kinds of trouble. He knew he could count on them to live for Christ.

How about you? If asked to describe you, would friends and others who know you say “faithful”? Determine to be someone that people, and especially God, can count on. Start a faithfulness streak today.

We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. (2 Thessalonians 1:4)

To Do

Think of someone who has been faithful to you (a friend, a teacher, and so forth). Take a few minutes and write that person a note, acknowledging his or her faithfulness and thanking him or her for it.

Also on this day . . .

1800—John Adams moved to Washington, D.C. He was the first president to live in what later became the capitol of the United States.

1851—The New York Knickerbockers became the first baseball team to wear uniforms.

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 1953 Queen Elizabeth II of England was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

The coronation of a king or queen is magnificent, with grand and colorful ceremonies and pageantry. Thousands of people line the streets as the procession moves slowly to the site. Then, with costumed men trumpeting their arrival, the new king or queen walks up the carpet to the church. At the appropriate time, the climax of the ceremony, the crown is placed on the royal head and he or she is declared to be the “King” or “Queen.” It’s quite an event.

The Bible calls Jesus, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” In other words, of all the kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, and other national leaders who have ever lived, Jesus, our Lord, rules. He doesn’t await a coronation—he already is King. He is above all, and, eventually, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).

In 1851, Matthew Bridges wrote the hymn, “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” Based on Revelation 19:12, it celebrates the truth that Christ truly is our King and that we should honor him as such. You probably remember the song. It begins, “Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne: Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own! Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless King thru all eternity.”

To have Christ as King, however, means more than saying he is or than singing songs about him. It means honoring him and obeying him. He needs to rule, now, in our hearts. Eventually we will see him in person, in heaven, and we’ll be able to lay all our “crowns” before him.

The twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:10–11)

To Do

Find “Crown Him With Many Crowns” in a hymnal. Then, play it on the piano, sing it, or just read the words. Thank God for his Son, Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Also on this day . . .

1883—The first night baseball game was held, under the lights, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

1886—President Grover Cleveland was married while serving his term.

1933—President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the first swimming pool built inside the White House.

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.

This is Smile Power Day.

OK, let’s say you’re heading for school, and you’re running late. The weather’s gloomy, matching your mood. You almost trip near the door and splatter yourself and your books on the sidewalk. Out of breath, you rush into class and plop into your seat. Expecting the worst, you look up and see your teacher . . . smiling! Now how do you feel?

Smiles say a bunch. They welcome and invite us, letting us in on the fun. They brighten a room. We love seeing smiles from a coach, the principal, our parents, and a friend.

Frowns seem to come more easily, especially when we hear bad news or think about our problems and troubles.

Smiles only come when we’re having fun or focusing on what’s good in our lives. Here’s a short list.

• God created you in his image, loves you, and wants nothing but the best for you.
• God sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sins, so you could live with him forever.
• God has given you life and surrounded you with family, friends, teachers, and others who care about you.
• You can think, talk, see, walk, eat, smell, hear, taste, cry, and laugh (or, at least, most of those).
• You have a great sense of humor.

Think about whose day you can brighten. Be a positive person. Lighten up! Smile! Pass the joy!

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (Colossians 3:16)

To Do

For a couple of hours today, try smiling at each person you see, even total strangers. Watch their reactions. Most will probably smile back!

Also on this day . . .

1775—George Washington was appointed head of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress.

1836—Arkansas became the 25^th U.S. state.

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 1813 Captain James Lawrence, the Commander of the U.S. Chesapeake, exclaimed “Don’t give up the ship!”

During the War of 1812, James Lawrence was promoted to captain and was given command of the Chesapeake at Boston. On his way out of Boston harbor he fought the British frigate Shannon. In the battle, the captain was mortally wounded. As he was being carried from the deck words, he shouted, “Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship.” That phrase, “Don’t give up the ship!”, became the Americans’ battle cry.

Giving up sounds good when life gets tough. Athletes know this. Getting outscored early in the game, they can think, “What’s the use. We’re gonna get slaughtered!” Or a long-distance runner may fall behind and consider quitting. But then the coach yells, “Don’t give up! Keep going! Be strong—you can do it!” And the inspired team or runner works even harder, and, sometimes, even comes from behind to win.

Refusing to give up means doing what we know is right even when we don’t feel like it or the odds are stacked against us. We can feel like quitting in a lot of places: in school, doing work, in a relationship, even with our faith.

The early Christians knew that feeling. They lost jobs and friends for following Christ. Eventually the government branded them criminals, jailed them, and treated them terribly. They were told, “Turn your back on Jesus, and we’ll let you go.” But the believers hung tough because they knew the truth and that God was real.

In today’s verse the apostle Paul encourages believers to persevere, to endure. In fact, he said they should be happy because those tough times would make them stronger. Paul knew that—he had endured terrible punishments and abuse for following Christ.

So whatever you face, remember, “Don’t give up the ship!” and persevere.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. (Romans 5:3–4)

To Do

Read a story of a Christian who was persecuted for his or her faith. Your pastor or parent probably will know where to find one. If not, check out www.persecution.com, the website of Voice of the Martyrs.

Also on this day . . .

1938—The first Superman Comic was published.

1938—Baseball helmets were worn for the first time—ouch!

1944—The government of Mexico abolished the “siesta” (naptime).

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.