On this day John Wayne is born in 1907.

One of the most popular actors of all time, John Wayne was born Marion Michael Morrison in Winterset, Iowa. Wayne planned to attend the U.S. Naval Academy after high school, but he was rejected. So he accepted a football scholarship to the University of Southern California.

While at USC, Wayne’s football coach found him a job as an assistant prop man on the set of a movie directed by John Ford. Ford used Wayne as an extra and eventually began to trust the youth with some larger roles. In 1930, Ford recommended Wayne for Fox’s epic Western The Big Trail. Wayne won the part, but the movie did poorly.

During the next 10 years, Wayne worked in countless low-budget western films, developing a distinct personality for his cowboy characters. Finally, his old mentor John Ford gave Wayne his big break, casting him in the 1939 western, Stagecoach. Wayne was Ringo Kid, and he played the role with the essential traits of the characters he used in nearly all of his other movies: a tough and clear-eyed honesty, unquestioning valor, and an almost plodding manner.

The Duke, as he was called, became known for these heroic characters—men of decency, honesty, and integrity. He built his acting career portraying men who did the right thing.

When it comes to real heroes, one of the defining characters in the Bible is David. You can almost envision David riding across the Wild West, battling outlaws instead of the Philistines. King David was known for his honesty, his integrity, and his decency. He was given one of the highest honors: in the Bible he was called a “man after God’s own heart.”

You don’t have to fight battles to be considered a “kid after God’s own heart.” Read Acts 13:22 and you’ll discover what it takes to be a real hero in God’s eyes.

After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22, New International Version).

To Do

Who do you consider your heroes? Write down one or two characteristics of those people you admire the most.

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Blueberry Cheesecake Day.

1805—Lewis & Clark first saw the Rocky Mountains.

1959—The word “Frisbee” became a registered trademark of Wham-O.

1977—The first Star Wars movie debuted.

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 1981 daredevil Daniel Goodwin scaled Chicago’s Sears Tower in 7 ½ hours wearing a Spiderman costume.

Wearing a Spiderman outfit and equipped with three suction cups, Daniel “Spider Dan” Goodwin of Las Vegas began climbing what was then the world’s tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago. Goodwin climbed for six hours while Chicago city police watched the perilous climb. When Goodwin reached the 50^th floor of the skyscraper, he stopped a moment to chat with police, assuring them of his safety. The police agreed to allow Goodwin to continue his climb for another hour until he reached the top, whereupon they promptly arrested him for trespassing!

While the Sears Tower was the first skyscraper that Goodwin scaled as “Spider Dan,” it was certainly not the last. He also scaled the John Hancock Building in Chicago and the two towers of the former World Trade Centers. Goodwin remarked about his feats, “When I walk through a city and see skyscrapers the only thing I can think about is climbing them.”

You may wonder why anyone would take such a dangerous risk like that. Often that answer lies in a person’s desire to achieve fame or notoriety. Sometimes it’s because they dare to be different.

As Christians we are challenged to be different from the rest of the world (Romans 12:1, 2). But that doesn’t mean that we need to don a costume and attempt some incredibly risky stunt. Followers of Christ dare to be different in the way they act toward others, specifically in loving others with the same kind of sacrificial love that Jesus showed us. That means loving the kid at school who calls you names, loving the teacher who piles on the homework, and even loving your brother when he picks on you.

Now that’s really daring to be different!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34, 35).

To Do

Dare to be different today! Show Jesus’ radical love to that hard-to-love person in your life.

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Tap Dance Day.

585 BC—The first known prediction of a solar eclipse was made in Greece.

1986—Approximately 7 million Americans participated in “Hands Across America.”

1986—A 95-year-old woman scored a hole-in-one in Florida.

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 1830 Sarah Hale wrote the familiar children’s song, “Mary Had A Little Lamb.”

For many, this is the first nursery rhyme that they can remember from their childhood. And for countless others, it’s the first simple tune played when learning a new instrument. Hundreds upon thousands of school-age children can repeat the familiar lines, but does anyone know anything about the author?

Sarah Josepha Buell was born October 24, 1788, in Newport, New Hampshire. Self-educated, at age 18 she became a teacher in Newport and worked there until 1813, when she married David Hale, a lawyer. When he died nine years later, she was a 34-year-old pregnant mother of four who rose to become one of America’s most successful women writers and editors.

Despite her many accomplishments (including successfully lobbying for the establishment of Thanksgiving on the final Thursday of November), Sarah Hale is least known as author of the rhyme “Mary’s Lamb.” In 1830, American composer Lowell Mason, who had introduced music into American schools’ curriculum, asked her to write lyrics for him. He chose eight of her poems to include in his songbook, one of which was “Mary’s Lamb.” The popular rhyme was then published for decades in McGuffey’s readers, the most important schoolbook of the century.

A simple verse, based supposedly on a real Mary who brought her lamb to school, has had an amazing and long-lasting impact on children since its first publication. Likewise, other things that seem small and insignificant have made a huge impact in the world.

Jesus used the image of a mustard seed—the smallest seed a farmer used at that time—to illustrate how God’s kingdom grows. God takes faith that may seem small and insignificant and gives it eternal importance.

When you feel that your faith is small or that what you are doing is of little importance, remember Mary’s little lamb and the mustard seed. It doesn’t take much to make a big impression.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches” (Matthew 13:31, 32).

To Do

The next time you sing or hear “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” think of another Mary and her little lamb, Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Also on this day . . .

1543—Nicolaus Copernicus published proof of a sun-centered solar system.

1930—Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly from England to Australia.

1983—The Brooklyn Bridge’s 100^th birthday was celebrated.

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 Penny Day.

Let’s be honest. If you saw a penny on the ground, would you bother to stop and pick it up? Most people would probably step right over it and not give it another thought. After all, it’s only worth a cent! But on this day that honors the very first currency of any type authorized by the United States here are a few, well, pennies for your thoughts:

• The word “penny” was derived from the British coin pence.
• Over 300 billion one-cent coins, with 11 different designs, have been minted since 1787. Lined up edge to edge, these pennies would circle the earth 137 times!
• More pennies are produced than any other denomination.
• The Lincoln penny was the first U.S. coin to feature a historic figure and was the first coin on which the words “In God We Trust” appeared.

But perhaps the most amazing fact is that one of the most important sources of giving to local charity groups is the penny! Through the power of the penny, charities are able to raise millions of dollars annually for great causes. For example, groups such as Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, UNICEF, and the Salvation Army all rely in great part upon the collection of pennies to fund their organizations.

A penny saved becomes one cent added to another added to another, and before you know it, you soon will have one million pennies! When it comes to giving, the Bible is clear that it the amount doesn’t matter as much as your willingness to give. So don’t think that the pennies you have saved up in your piggy bank are insignificant, or that it doesn’t “pay” to pick up a lost penny. Even the smallest amount given in the spirit of love can amount to a big deal.

If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have (2 Corinthians 8:12).

To Do

Start your own penny harvest for a mission organization or a ministry at your church. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the pennies add up!

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Turtle Day.

1827—The first nursery school in the United States was established in New York City.

1873—Postal cards were sold in San Francisco for the first time.

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 2003 a 70-year-old man from Japan became the oldest man to climb to the top of Mount Everest.

At this time in your life, you probably know many things you can’t do yet because you are not old enough—like drive a car or vote for president. Life often is restricted by our age—we’re either too young or too old to do certain things. And it’s true that as people age certain more vigorous activities become more and more difficult.

But just when you start to think about age as a limitation, you read about someone like Yuichiro Miura. This 70-year-old school headmaster and former professional skier from Japan became the oldest person to reach the summit of the Mount Everest—the world’s highest peak! Mr. Miura said climbing the mountain was a dream come true for him. And in accomplishing that feat, the Japanese climber shattered the record previously held by another Japanese man, Tomiyasu Ishikawa, who was 65 when he reached the top of Mt. Everest.

Old age is never a restriction in God’s eyes. Think about Noah. He was 600 years old when he first stepped foot on the ark and the flood began! Abraham became a father at age 100. And Moses was over 80 when he returned to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and rescue God’s people from slavery. The Bible describes Joshua as “old and well advanced in years” when God commanded him to finish conquering the Promised Land (Joshua 13:1). No matter how old a person is God still can use that person to carry out his work. The psalm-writer put it this way: “Even in old age they will still produce fruit.”

Think about the older people you know at your church or in your neighborhood. You can learn much from their experiences and their walk with God. Just ask them!

Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green (Psalm 92:14).

To Do

Record an oral history of an older person from your church. Ask how that person has served God at different stages of his or her life. Share what you discover with others.

Also on this day . . .

1933—This was the first reported sighting of the Loch Ness Monster.

1967—”Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” made its debut on TV.

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 1881 the American Red Cross was founded.

For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has donated blood, time, money, food, medicine, and other forms of relief to people in need. Clara Barton, a Civil War nurse, helped found the organization after hearing about the Swiss-inspired International Red Cross movement while visiting Europe. She returned home to campaign for the formation of a group that would provide lifesaving services and relief during times of war and in times of disasters.

For 23 years, Barton headed up the Red Cross. During that time, the organization conducted its first domestic and overseas disaster relief efforts, providing aid to the U.S. military during the Spanish-American War. Since then the Red Cross has added first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs. In World War II alone, the Red Cross recruited 104,000 nurses, shipped over 300,000 tons of supplies, and initiated a national blood program that collected 13.3 million pints of blood for use by the armed forces.

Organizations like the Red Cross provide vital services for people in need on a large-scale basis. They provide welcome care and relief for those who are hurting, hungry, or homeless because of war or a disaster. The kind of help they offer is basic and essential.

Jesus loved and cared for the poor and the sick, and his followers should also. We may not be able to travel across the country or to other parts of the world to help people in need like those in the Red Cross. But it won’t take too much time to find someone who has fundamental needs—food, clothing, medical help, or a place to stay—in your own community.

When we care for those around us in need, no matter how small or simple an act, it is as if we have given it directly to Jesus himself.

“I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40, The Message).

To do

Come up with a list of ideas of how you can become more involved in caring for others.

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Waiter/Waitress Day.

1819—The first bicycles in the United States were introduced in New York City.

1964—The first nuclear-powered lighthouse began operations at Chesapeake Bay.

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 1506 Christopher Columbus died.

Christopher Columbus, the great Italian explorer, was the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings in the 10^th century. But it was not an easy undertaking. Columbus’ bid to explore the New World was rejected once by the king of Portugal and at least twice by the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella before he found support for his journey.

In all, Columbus made four voyages to the New World. On his last voyage in 1502, he sailed for what is now Central America, searching for gold and a strait to connect him to the East Indies. But his ship was in such poor condition that Columbus and his crew were marooned on Jamaica for a year before a rescue ship arrived. He returned to Spain to discover that Queen Isabella had died three weeks earlier and that the king would no longer see him. Columbus died two years later a disappointed man, without fully realizing the scope of his achievement and how it had changed the world.

In Hebrews chapter 11, we discover that many of God’s people died without fully realizing the promises that God had given to them (Hebrews 11:13). Abraham died without seeing the nation that his descendants would one day become. The prophets died without seeing the Messiah, whose birth they had predicted. But what they did have was faith—”The confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen” (Hebrews 11:1). They did not die disappointed because they had a vision of heaven, “a better place, a heavenly homeland.”

It’s easy to get discouraged when circumstances get tough or when our plans don’t work out. That’s when we need to take courage from such heroes of the faith as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, and to live in faith as they did.

All of these people we have mentioned received God’s approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised (Hebrews 11:39).

To Do

Read Hebrews chapter 11. Then compose an acrostic for F-A-I-T-H that helps you understand what it means to live by faith. For example, F could stand for Future dreams; A for Always believe, and so on.

Also on this day . . .

1837—Levi Strauss and his partner patented jeans.

1927—Charles Lindbergh flew his historic solo nonstop transatlantic flight.

1932—Amelia Earhart made her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

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.

About midday on this day in 1780 near-total darkness descended on much of New England. The cause is still unexplained.

The days preceding May 19, 1780 in the New England region had featured unusually colored skies—a dirty yellow tinge with a reddish-brown hue. But no one was prepared for what was to take place on this particular day. During the morning hours the region became unusually dark.

By noon, complete darkness had taken hold. The birds began their evening songs, then stopped singing completely and disappeared. The frogs began to peep. Chickens returned to their roosts, and the cows began their slow walk back to the barns from the pasture. Travel became nearly impossible. Professor Daggett of New Haven, Connecticut reported: “The greatest darkness at least equal to what was commonly called candle-lighting in the evening. The appearance was indeed uncommon, and the cause unknown.”

On three different occasions, the Bible refers to the conditions of complete darkness: during Creation when the earth was empty and “cloaked in darkness” (Genesis 1:2, 4); during the ninth plague when God brought upon the Egyptians a “deep and terrifying darkness” (Exodus 10:21); and when Jesus hung on the cross, from “noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock” (Matthew 27:45).

In the Bible, darkness has always been associated with judgment of God and with evil. In fact, during the darkness that fell upon New England that day many people thought it was the final Judgment Day and attended hastily assembled church services.

The Bible also warns us to not only stay away from the “works of darkness” but to expose them. How do we do that? By remaining connected and by being willing to speak out against what we know is wrong. To do otherwise is to remain in the dark.

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them (Ephesians 5:11).

To Do

Sit for about five minutes in total darkness. Afterward, reflect on how that felt being in darkness. How did it feel to come back into the light?

Also on this day . . .

Today is National Do Dah Day.

1884—Ringling Brothers opened its first circus.

1995—The world’s youngest doctor, Balamurali Ambati, 17, graduated from Mount Sinai Medical School.

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 Visit Your Relatives Day.

What’s your first reaction to the news that you will be spending the weekend with your relatives? Do you immediately want to jump in the car and say, “Let’s go!”? Or are you desperately thinking of any reason as to why you just can’t make it?

Maybe you are fortunate to have “relatively” (pardon the pun!) normal aunts, uncles, and grandparents. But if you are like most people, you probably have one or two relatives that are challenging to be with. You know the type: the aunt who insists on sending you the Christmas sweater with Santa on it and wonders why you’re not wearing it. Or the uncle who tells the same jokes over and over and over. Or the great-aunt who can’t help but pinch your check and say, “My how you have grown!”

The good news is that families—and that includes all your relatives—are one of God’s greatest resources! From the very beginning, God made us to live in families (Genesis 1:27, 28). God commanded that our families help teach us about him (Deuteronomy 4:10). We worship with our families (1 Corinthians 16:19) and celebrate with them (Deuteronomy 14:26). Families are where we go for acceptance, encouragement, guidance, and advice. When everyone else disappears, our families are there for us.

So when you think about it, our families are a wonderful gift from God. Celebrate your family—and the relatives, too—by giving them the honor and respect they deserve.

Everyone will live quietly in their own homes in peace and prosperity, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord Almighty has promised this! (Micah 4:4).

To Do

Write letters to (or email) a couple of your relatives. Ask them to share a story about their family when they were your age.

Also on this day . . .

Today is Armed Forces Day.

1642—The Canadian city of Montreal was founded.

1986—David Goch finished swimming 55,682 miles in a 25-yard pool.

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 Pack Rat Day.

Consider yourself a pack rat if you have: more than a dozen stuffed animals under your bed; if you have worksheets from first grade in your desk drawers; or if you still have five-year-old magazines tucked away in the closet.

By definition, a pack rat is a person who can’t bear to throw away anything. Now, we all have our pack rat tendencies—some items that we just can’t part with. You may have the box of swim team ribbons that you hold on to long after you have quit the team, or the Pokémon cards you’re saving . . . just in case they make a comeback.

Did you know that a person can be a spiritual pack rat? Take the Pharisees, for example. These were a group of religious leaders during Jesus’ time who were the keepers of the rules. They strictly followed the Ten Commandments, but then they had also added hundreds of their own rules, traditions, and teachings to God’s law. And they believed that their rules were just as important as God’s rules. Like pack rats, they had collected all these rules over the years and then tried to force others to follow and live by their rules.

By Jesus’ day, the people were under a terrible burden trying their best to keep all those rules. Jesus said, “[The religious leaders] crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden” (Matthew 23:4). Thankfully for the people then (and for us today), Jesus came to take that burden away.

Believing in Jesus is what connects us to God. It’s all you need to have eternal life. No amount of rules—no matter how many you accumulate or follow—will earn your way into heaven.

For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light (Matthew 11:30).

To Do

Take a look in your closet, or under your bed, or in your desk. Throw out anything you haven’t used in a long time!

Also on this day . . .

1804—Napoleon became the Emperor of France.

1875—The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs.

1989—The longest cab ride ever was recorded at 14,000 miles and cost $16,000.

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.