Today in 1902, rayon was patented.

Rayon was the first man-made manufactured fiber. Developed in France in the 1890s, it was originally called “artificial silk.” Although it was patented on this day in 1902, it wasn’t until 1924 that the term rayon was officially adopted by the textile industry.

Unlike most man-made fibers, rayon is not synthetic (that is, made up of chemical compounds like nylon.) Instead, rayon is made from wood pulp, a natural material. For that reason, rayon’s properties come closer to those of other natural fibers such as cotton or linen than those of synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester.

At first, rayon was manufactured for decorative uses. But as its properties and relatively inexpensive cost became more desirable, clothes manufacturers began to blend rayon with other fabrics such as cotton and wool. Today, rayon’s many desirable properties make it a popular choice among some designers, and it appears in more high-end apparel than before.

As good a fiber as rayon has become, it still pales in comparison to natural fibers, such as silk, wool, linen, and cotton. These remain the most reliable and most used fibers in high-end clothing because natural fibers last longer, and the fabrics breathe and are more comfortable to wear than man made.

When it comes to man-made versus God-made, nothing truly beats God’s natural creation. And no one on this earth can add an ounce of creativity or wisdom to what God already possesses. God is the source of all wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). He makes the smartest, most intelligent humans seem foolish when compared to him (1 Corinthians 1:20). God does not rely on us to help him run the world (thankfully!). We are nothing compared to his greatness (Psalm 8).

While it is good for man to use the creativity and intelligence to create, invent, and design new things, we need to remember the source of all wisdom, creativity, and intelligence—our creator God.

Everything else pales beside him.

Can a person’s actions be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him? (Job 22:2).

To Do

Read Psalm 8 aloud. Reflect on God’s greatness and our position before him. Thank him that he has “crowned us with glory and honor.”

Also on this day

1787—The ship Columbia left Boston and began the trip that would make it the first American vessel to sail around the world.

1861—Chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley Jr. was born.

1947—The World Series was televised 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.

In 1989, Bruce Springsteen overheard a woman talking about her financial problems and medical bills. A week later the woman received a check from Springsteen for $100,000.

It was totally unexpected. Rock star Bruce Springsteen stopped in a small salon in Prescott, Arizona, and played a few songs with the band there. That alone must have been a treat for the unsuspecting patrons who happened to be in the salon at the time. But the story doesn’t end here.

While sitting around after playing with the band, Springsteen overheard a woman talking about her financial problems that stemmed from some very large medical bills. A week later, the woman received a check in the mail from Springsteen for $100,000.

Imagine how that woman must have felt, opening the letter and seeing this totally unexpected check: amazed, shocked, surprised? And likely she felt deep gratitude for the generous nature of this gift. The woman did nothing to earn that check. She was merely the recipient of Springsteen’s generosity and compassion. It was a gift.

Imagine. We are the recipients of God’s undeserved favor, grace, on a daily basis. We do nothing to deserve it. In fact, in some instances, we have even turned away from God and are actively disobedient to him. We can do nothing to earn God’s grace, love, or forgiveness. It is a gift.

God’s gift of grace doesn’t depend on how good we are (we aren’t), or on how much time we have spent in study and prayer (although that’s good). It is not given to us because we deserve it. God’s gift is freely given out of the abundance of his love, kindness, and compassion toward all his creatures.

The only thing left for us to do is accept it with thankfulness and praise.

And if they are saved by God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s wonderful kindness would not be what it really is—free and undeserved (Romans 11:6).

To Do

Think about it. How has God shown his undeserved kindness and love to you today? Take time to thank him right now.

Also on this day

Today is National Goose Day and National Pumpkin Day.

1951—The first network football game was televised in color by CBS-TV. The game was between the University of California and the University of Pennsylvania.

1983—”A Chorus Line” became the longest-running show on Broadway.

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.

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-3 NRSV)

I last posted on July 28, two months ago. That would make me an extremely bad blogger! All I can say is that I have lived the above verses in these last months. I have faced trials and I have endured. Have I considered it “nothing but joy”?

Not so much.

The summer was long and somewhat painful with many changes, hurts, and sorrows mixed with God’s richest protection and blessings. Suffice it to say that while I often thought about the concept of joy because of my personal study for this year, actually trying to put words to paper (or on computer screen) seemed to be more than I could handle.

There must be something about endurance that makes it so valuable that God is willing to let us face trials in order to build that quality in us. And it must become so valuable to us personally that we are joyful because we know that the trials are building that quality in us.

So what’s so good about endurance? Well, the verse goes on to say that when endurance has its full effect, we become “mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Do I feel more mature after this summer? Maybe a little. I’m wiser. I’m more sensitive to others who hurt. I understand how fragile life is. I know a little more about God’s hand in and on our lives. If this is guiding me to become more complete in him, if this is what God wants to see in my life, then I can only hope that endurance is indeed having its full effect.

But endurance is more than survival. The context seems to tell me that I endure this testing of my faith by being faithful, by obeying God, by moving forward when curling into a ball or giving up would be easier. It means doing the right thing when the wrong thing seems to make more sense. It means walking step by step in the direction where God is leading, following in his footsteps.

Only then can endurance possibly help us find joy in trials. Only then is endurance meaningful because God is guiding through the trial and actually has a reason for it, an end in mind, a goal to make us mature and complete.

I could not be strong without trials. An easy life makes a weak Christian. I don’t want to be a couch potato Christian; I want to be a muscular Christian. And, like physical strength, that moral fiber needed for my life of faith is only developed as I endure in obedience the trials set before me—trials God knows about, God allows, and God helps me handle.

Could I ask for anything else? Easy life? Why? What would be the purpose in that? How about a purposeful life, a life lived for God, a life spent doing exactly what he wants me to do? And if I want to do that, I need to be molded by him through the trials that develop endurance.

Nothing but joy, Lord. Nothing but joy!

In 551 bc, teacher and philosopher Confucius was born.

According to Chinese tradition, Confucius was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His teachings, preserved in the Analects, form the foundation of much of Chinese thought on the education and behavior of the ideal man.

During his lifetime Confucius is credited with having taught 3,000 students, although tradition has it that only 70 were said to have truly mastered the arts that he cherished. Confucius was willing to teach anyone, no matter what their social standing, as long as they were eager and tireless. His curriculum included morality, proper speech, government, and the refined arts, which included ritual, music, archery, chariot-riding, calligraphy, and computation.

Confucius never lectured at length on any one subject. Instead, he posed questions and used stories or analogies until his students arrived at the right answers. But the hallmark of Confucius’s thought was his emphasis on education and study. Confucius believed that the only path to true understanding was through long and careful study. To Confucius that meant finding a good teacher and imitating his words and deeds.

Nearly 500 years later a teacher of a different sort came upon the scene. Like Confucius, he taught through stories and questions, but he taught lessons of eternal significance: love, mercy, forgiveness, obedience, faithfulness. What’s more, his teachings were the ultimate authority because they came straight from his Father in heaven. The teacher? Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Since Jesus’ time on earth, hundreds of millions have followed his teachings and imitated his life. While Confucius’ claimed his teachings led to true understanding, accepting Jesus as Savior and following his teachings leads to eternal life.

Jesus is the greatest teacher of all time. Imitate his words and deeds. That is the way to life.

Don’t ever let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters (Matthew 23:8).

To Do

Write down three things that you have learned from Jesus’ teachings and his life.

Also on this day

1892—The first nighttime football game took place under electric lights. The game was between Mansfield State Normal School and the Wyoming Seminary.

1924—The first around-the-world flight was completed when two U.S. Army planes landed in Seattle, Washington. The trip took 175 days.

1987—Hilary Duff 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 World Tourism Day.

It’s fun visiting new places—new sights to see, new foods to taste, new people to meet, and wonderful memories to take home with you. Each time you visit another new city, state, or country, you broaden your horizons and become more of a world-class citizen. In fact, since 1979 the United Nations has worked to promote tourism by declaring this day World Tourism Day (WTD).

The idea behind WTD is to make the public more aware of the value of travel and tourism on all levels—locally, nationally, and internationally. To help achieve this goal, the UN suggests that countries around the world join this effort by declaring World Tourism Day as a “special day for the entire national territory.” Activities such as free entry for tourists and citizens to museums, national parks, and other sites of interest are suggested to promote the day. Special transportation, commemorative postage stamps and medals, Miss (or Mister) WTD competitions, and tourism fairs are all part of the ongoing celebration of this worldwide tourism effort.

While it’s fun to visit new places, it’s always good to come back home. The comforts of home await you—your own bed, familiar faces and foods, the freedom to kick back and just do nothing, and maybe the warm reception of the family pet. Coming home is always a welcome end to the traveler.

The writer of Hebrews says that the day that we arrive in Heaven will be our last and best homecoming. This world is not our home. Really, we are just tourists on this earth, visiting for a while, seeing the sights, meeting new people, having all sorts of different experiences. We will not feel completely comfortable and at home until we are with Jesus in the city of Heaven.

So while we’re on this earth, take advantage of all the world has to offer. But remember not to get too attached because it is only temporary.

One day we’ll be home. And it will be good.

For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come (Hebrews 13:14).

To Do

Visit your local travel agency (or the library) and collect some brochures for places that you would like to visit some day.

Also on this day

1954—The Tonight Show made its debut on NBC-TV with Steve Allen as host.

1989—Two men in a barrel went over the 176-foot high Niagara Falls. Jeffery Petkovich and Peter Dernardi were the first ever to survive the Horseshoe Falls.

1998—Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals set a major league baseball record when he hit his 70^th home run of the season.

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 1774, John Chapman was born. He is better known as Johnny Appleseed.

John Chapman was born on this day in Massachusetts in 1774. Johnny Appleseed, as he became known, spent 49 years of his life walking the American wilderness planting apple seeds.

Johnny was a kind and gentle man—liked by everyone who met him. Even animals seemed drawn to his gentle ways. His clothes were made from sackcloth, and his hat was a tin pot that he also used for cooking! His favorite book? The Bible!

Many stories grew around this man who walked around the country barefoot, planting seeds wherever he went. The stories surrounding this man are legendary. It was said that he made his drinking water from snow by melting it with his feet. Another story had it that Johnny fell asleep and a rattlesnake tried to bite him, but the snake’s fangs couldn’t penetrate the tough soles of his feet.

Johnny Appleseed’s dream was for a land where blossoming apple trees were everywhere and no one was hungry. It is said that more than 200 years later, orchards in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio still have trees bearing apples resulting from the seeds Johnny planted.

The apostle Paul was also a planter of seeds. The seeds that Paul planted, however, bore a fruit of a different kind. Paul planted the seed of the gospel wherever he went. He told whoever would listen the good news of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life.

Think about it. You are reading this book today because of the seeds that Paul planted years and years ago! Someone heard about Jesus from Paul and told someone else, who told someone else . . .

Now it’s your turn to go and plant seeds for Jesus!

My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).

To Do

Enjoy an apple today in honor of Johnny Appleseed. As you do, think about “seeds” you can plant for Jesus at school and in your neighborhood.

Also on this day

1789—The U.S. Postal Service was founded.

1892—John Philip Sousa, the “King of Marches,” performed his first concert.

1985—Shamu was born today at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. Shamu was the first killer whale to survive being born in captivity.

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 Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, remains one of the most holy religious holidays in the Jewish faith. Since Old Testament days, the Day of Atonement is the day to ask God’s forgiveness for the peoples’ sins as a nation. The Hebrew word for atone means “to cover.” Since Old Testament sacrifices could not actually remove sins, the sacrifices made could only cover the sins.

Today, people of the Jewish faith observe Yom Kippur through confessing their sins together at the synagogue. Yom Kippur is also a day of “not” doing. The people may not eat, drink, wash, or wear leather shoes.

In Bible times on this day, the people would confess their sins as a nation and the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for those sins. One of the events connected with the Day of Atonement was the presentation of two goats before God. One goat was chosen to be sacrificed as a sin offering; the other goat was chosen to be the scapegoat. In essence, all the people’s sins were placed on the scapegoat and then the goat was sent away into the wilderness.

The two goats represented how God was dealing with the people’s sins. God forgave the people’s sins through the sacrifice of the first goat. Through the second goat, God was removing their sins. This ritual had to be repeated every year. But for those who believe and follow Jesus Christ, his death on the cross replaced this system once and for all.

The moment we turn to Jesus, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven. Because of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, our sins not only are covered, but are removed forever.

On this day, atonement will be made for you, and you will be cleansed from all your sins in the Lord’s presence (Leviticus 16:30).

To Do

Do some research and find out more about how Jewish people celebrate Yom Kippur today.

Also on this day

1690—The first newspaper was published in America.

1981—Sandra Day O’Conner became the first female Supreme Court Justice.

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 1869, thousands of businessmen were financially ruined after a panic on Wall Street.

This day in 1869 is popularly referred to as Black Friday—a dark financial day in which a small group of businessmen tried to control the gold market by selling gold for a much higher price than it was worth. The men connived to hike the price of gold more than $20 per share in just a day. When the government released more than $4 million worth of gold on the market, the price dropped dramatically.

Within 15 minutes, the price of gold had dropped from $162 per share to $133. Thousands of investors were ruined. Fortunes were lost. Many Wall Street businesses were ruined. The nation’s business community was paralyzed. That’s what happens in a panic. One action sets in motion another action—and soon thousands of people are unable to do anything.

When have you panicked? Maybe it was the night before a big test. You have studied as much as you can when panic sets in. You begin to worry you won’t remember what you have studied. You are so worried that you can’t sleep, and you start worrying about not being able to sleep and how that will affect your test-taking . . . you can see what happens when panic hits.

How can you stop from panicking? Well, first take a deep breath. Then (you know what’s coming next), pray! That’s what Daniel did when faced with the impossible task of not only interpreting the king’s dream but also telling the king what his dream was! (Read about it in Daniel 2.) Daniel could have panicked. He could have run around wringing his hands and crying, “Oh no! What am I going to do?” Instead, Daniel enlisted the help of his friends and asked them to pray!

There’s no need to panic when God is on your side. Prayer beats panic any day.

But I keep right on praying to you, Lord, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation (Psalm 69:13).

To Do

Read Daniel 2. Look for all the ways that Daniel beat a possible panic attack.

Also on this day

1664—New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey, was founded.

1947—Kenneth Arnold reported seeing flying saucers over Mt. Rainier, Washington.

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.

2

Today in 63 bc Augustus Caesar was born.

Caesar Augustus, or Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus as he was known earlier in his life, was the very first Roman emperor. Generally considered the greatest of all the Roman emperors, Caesar Augustus ruled for more than 40 years and ushered in an era of peace, prosperity, and greatness. During his reign, Augustus ended a century of civil wars.

Augustus, a title he was given in 27 bc that means “revered one,” created Rome’s first permanent army and navy. He rebuilt Rome from brick into marble, building the Senate a home and constructing numerous temples to Roman gods. But despite all these accomplishments that are credited to Augustus, his greatest contribution to all human history came as a result of his effort to reform Rome’s finance and tax system.

For as Luke records it, “About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.” What Augustus had intended as a means to tax the people to support his military operations, God used for a much different purpose. Augustus’s decree set in motion the events that were prophesied hundreds of years earlier concerning the birth of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem. There Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son, Jesus, just as the prophet Micah had written in Micah 5:2.

Augustus’s decree went out according to God’s perfect timing and according to God’s perfect plan for bringing his Son into the world. Augustus, who was considered to be god-like by the Roman citizens, was really just a role player in the real drama of God coming to earth.

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire (Luke 2:1, The Message).

To Do

Read Micah 5:2, which was written hundreds of years before Caesar Augustus even thought about issuing his decree.

Also on this day

1838—Victoria Chaflin Woodhull was born. She became the first female candidate for the U.S. President.

1846—The planet Neptune was discovered by German astronomer Johann Gottfired Golle.

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.