In 1912 the first parachute jump from an airplane was made.

Imagine being the first person to jump out of a plane, trusting your life to a parachute. Think of your questions: “OK, how does this work?” “What happens if I pull the cord and nothing happens?” “How ‘bout I go second?”

Leaving the safety of the airplane would take faith, but you’d jump if you had confidence in the person who made the parachute, the one who prepared it, and your instructor. Of course asking questions would be good. You would be foolish just to take someone’s word that your jump would be safe. For example, what if a complete stranger said, “Let me strap this parachute to your back and take you up in a plane. Then, when we get real high, you jump out of the plane, pull the cord, and land safely.” No doubt you wouldn’t go. Why should you trust that guy?

You’ve heard often that the Christian life is based on faith. That means trusting God, that his Word is true and that he will do what he says. It doesn’t mean we just “jump” without asking questions or checking everything out. Eventually, however, the moment of truth arrives and we leap.

Besides becoming a Christian, this applies to other decisions along the way. Let’s say you’re reading the Bible and you see where God wants you to turn over a relationship to him or to take a certain action. So, by faith, you do it. Not knowing the eventual outcome, you trust God and obey him.

How strong is your faith in God? Are you ready to take the leap?

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see (Hebrews 11:1).

To Do

Get an old hymnal and look up the hymn “Trust and Obey.” Read it aloud, or, if you know it, sing it.

Also on this day . . .

1940—A basketball game was first televised (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh, from Madison Square Garden in New York City).

1979—The horse playing Mr. Ed on TV died.

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 National Pancake Day.

Pancakes for breakfast! Who doesn’t love a stack of hot flapjacks, smothered in butter and syrup or fruit or sprinkled with sugar? But have you every eaten a cold, plain pancake? It’s tasteless and unappetizing. Piping hot and covered with toppings, and the combination works!

That’s the case with many food items. We add sugar or other ingredients to improve the taste. So it’s no wonder that we can approach other areas of life the same way. We may think, “I don’t care for this class, but if I can sit next to my friend, then it might be bearable,” or “I don’t care for my outfit, but if I add this touch of color, then it’ll be OK.”

Some take it a step further, thinking, “My life is rather bland, so I’ll spruce it up a bit.” Or, “I probably should be a better person. I’ll add a little God, a bit of Jesus. Then I’ll be better, well-rounded, and get to heaven too.” But in our spiritual lives, that doesn’t work.

We can’t just sprinkle a little spiritual sugar on our lives. Instead we must be completely changed, “born again.” That would be like a pancake becoming an omelet—a dramatic change would have to occur. No wonder Nicodemus had to ask Jesus to explain what it means to be born again. Becoming a follower of Christ means praying and turning over our lives to him. Then the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside and changes us from the inside out.

So enjoy your pancakes. But remember, becoming an omelet requires transformation.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

To Do

The next time you eat out for breakfast, order pancakes. Before pouring on the syrup, take a bite. Then thank God for making you completely different from the inside through his Spirit.

Also on this day . . .

This is International Polar Bear Day.

1974—People magazine was first issued by Time-Life (later known as Time-Warner).

1999—Colin Prescot and Andy Elson set a new hot air balloon endurance record when they had been aloft for 233 hours and 55 minutes. The two were in the process of trying to circumnavigate the Earth.

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 1919 the Grand Canyon in Arizona was established as a National Park by an act of the U.S. Congress.

Covering 1,217,403 acres (or 277 miles), the Grand Canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep, 6,000 feet at its deepest point, and 15 miles wide at its widest point. This awe-inspiring natural formation is home to many rare and specially protected plants and animals. Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species live in the park. This place is amazing, and a person will be blown away by the view.

More impressive than the Grand Canyon, however, is our Creator who made it. The Bible explains that God created the heavens and the earth. That’s why we can see his touch in the natural beauty that surrounds us—a sparkling waterfall, a bright sunrise and glowing sunset, the lush green forests, the majestic mountains and mysterious deserts, the wide variety of plants and animals of every imaginable shape and color. Many who stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon break into song, proclaiming, “How Great Thou Art.”

Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily routine, looking down at our problems, or inside at our struggles, that we forget to look up and around at the surrounding wonder. Check it out—God’s fingerprints are everywhere.

Each butterfly, earthworm, spider web, grass blade, drop of rain, petunia, wispy cloud, sparrow, squirrel, snowflake, and breeze should remind us of our Creator. And, as he said, the highest and best of all his creation is people . . . like you.

Our God is truly grand!

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed (Genesis 2:1).

Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! (Isaiah 65:18).

To Do

Look for evidence of God in his creation. Each time you see something, thank him for what he has made and for making you.

Also on this day . . .

This is National “For Pete’s Sake” Day as well as National Pistachio Day.

1846—William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was born.

1930—New York City installed traffic lights.

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 1751 Edward Willet displayed the first trained monkey act in the United States.

Have you ever seen a trained monkey act? They’re pretty hard to find these days. But maybe you’ve seen the monkeys in a zoo. If so, you know they can be very funny racing around, making weird sounds and faces, and even showing off for the crowd. No wonder we use the expression “monkeying around.” Or maybe you’ve heard someone say, “That’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys.” Or how about—”Monkey see; monkey do”? That refers to the habit of monkeys to copy the actions of humans. Obviously, no one takes monkeys very seriously.

Some people act like monkeys, though. They like to have a good time and always seem to be messing around and goofing off. And they enjoy making fun of everything and everyone. The problem, however, is that no one takes them seriously either. Even if they try to be serious, we think they’re making a joke.

Our passage for today points out that in life we have a time for everything, even a “time to laugh” and a “time to dance.” But our laughing and cutting up should be done at the right time, not all the time. The Bible also says we have a time to be serious, “to cry” and “to grieve.”

We laugh at the wrong time when we joke about God, his Word, and his people, or when we make fun of painful situations, and when we take lightly serious matters. God wants us to enjoy life to the full, to have “abundant life.” But he also wants us to be very serious about what is important.

So have a blast—laugh, joke, sing, and celebrate. But at the right time.

Seriously.

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. . . . A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).

To Do

This week, notice how many of the jokes on television make fun of other people, laughing at their problems, and putting them down. Work hard at not using that kind of humor.

Also on this day . . .

1841—Famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born.

1983—The final episode of M*A*S*H* aired. This was the most watched television program in 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.

On this day in 1938, the first nylon bristle toothbrush was made.

Question: When is it time to go to the dentist? Answer: “Tooth hurty!” (Get it? “Tooth hurty” sounds like “two-thirty.”) That’s a lame joke, but what better way to celebrate the first nylon bristle toothbrush?

Do you ever wonder what people did to protect their teeth before toothbrushes? Maybe they used wood or their fingers, or just chewed until their teeth wore out or fell out (Woodn’t chew?—another joke). We know that some ancient people had good teeth, however.

Actually this discussion of teeth is a good reminder of the importance of taking care of our bodies. God has given us these bodies, and he wants us to serve him in the world. You have only one body. You can’t return it to the hospital where you were born and ask for a replacement.

In another Bible verse, Paul says, “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself” (1 Corinthians 6:19). So that makes it even more important to think about our health.

Taking care of the body involves more than brushing and flossing. Diet, exercise, sleep, and, certainly, staying away from stuff that can destroy you (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, and so forth) all play a part.

Some young people act like this isn’t important because, right now, they feel good. So they veg out, eat junk food, sleep just a couple of hours a night, and smoke. But eventually all those habits cause harm.

Every year you live is another year of enjoying life and serving Christ.

And remember, be true to your teeth, and they’ll never be false to you!

Your teeth are as white as sheep, newly shorn and washed. They are perfectly matched (Song of Solomon 4:2).

To Do

Buy a new toothbrush.

Also on this day . . .

1821—Mexico declared independence from Spain.

1839—William S. Otis received a patent for the steam shovel.

1968—The discovery of a pulsar was announced.

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 1685 composer George Frideric Händel was born.

You may never have heard of Händel, but he was considered in England and by many in Germany as the greatest composer of his day. You probably have heard of the Messiah, however, his best-known work, and its famous climax, “Hallelujah,” usually called the Hallelujah chorus. Every Christmas, throughout the world, church and community choirs perform this magnificent composition. It comes at the end, and usually everyone in the audience stands. It’s more than a tradition. They stand to honor the One about whom the choir is singing: Jesus, the Messiah.

For hundreds of years, the Jewish people were awaiting their deliverer, their Messiah. When Jesus came, he said that Messiah was exactly who he was and that he had come to deliver people from their sins. Usually the name “Jesus” is followed by “Christ”—a Greek word that means “Messiah.”

Jesus was 100 percent God and 100 percent human. That’s what the Bible teaches. He was a human being, just like you, but he lived a perfect life. He faced all the temptations and pressures that humans face, but he didn’t give in and sin. When Jesus died on the cross, he took the punishment for our sins on himself, in our place. And then he rose from the dead and now lives. And, as Händel’s Messiah proclaims, “He shall reign forever and ever”!

Many people have claimed to know God and to have the truth. And many have encouraged people to follow them. The Bible calls them “false prophets.” Only one Messiah exists, only one Savior—Jesus. Do you know him?

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

To Do

Get a concordance (that’s a book that lists all the words in the Bible and where to find them), or use an electronic concordance on your computer. Search for the word, “Messiah,” and look up all the verses in the New Testament where it is used.

Also on this day . . .

1836—The siege of the Alamo began.

1874—Walter Winfield patented the game of lawn tennis. He first called the game, “sphairistike.”

1896—Tootsie Roll candies were first sold in stores.

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 1732, George Washington was born.

Earlier this month, we celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Kids used to get both his birthday and this day off from school. But now we have “Presidents Day”—the third Monday in February instead, so you only get one vacation day. But it’s still good to remember these two great presidents, Lincoln and Washington.

Like Lincoln, George Washington was known for his honesty. Supposedly he admitted to his father, “I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree.” Whether that story is true or not, it’s good to be known as someone who tells the truth. That’s a great reputation to have!

The Bible says we should tell the truth, but that’s not always easy. When caught doing something wrong, we want to make excuses instead of admitting what we did. Or in order to impress someone we might make up a story about ourselves. Or to get ahead in school, we are tempted to cheat. Many times in a variety of situations we feel the pressure to lie or to hide the truth. One of the problems with telling a lie is that it leads to other lies and then to more lies, until you’re not really sure what you said to whom—a real mess.

Lying is so common that in court witnesses have to “swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” And when people say something to someone, they have to add, “I promise.”

Telling the truth may hurt (you might be punished, lose a friendship, or get a lower grade), but it will help you in the long run. You’ll become a person with a clear conscience and a good reputation. And most important, you’ll be obeying God.

And that’s the truth!

Do not steal. Do not cheat one another. Do not lie (Leviticus 19:11).

To Do

Today, look for someone who tells you the truth, even if it’s something that’s painful to hear. This could be a teacher who breaks the bad news about a grade, a parent who shares his or her feelings, or a friend who points out something you said or did. Then say something like this to that person: “Thank you for telling me the truth. I really appreciate that.”

Also on this day . . .

This is Be Humble Day.

1889—North and South Dakota, Montana, and Washington were admitted to the Union.

1923—The first successful chinchilla farm opened in Los Angeles, California.

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 National Sticky Bun Day.

Now this is a great day to celebrate. Yum, yum sticky buns! “Rolled dough, spread with sugar and nuts; then sliced and baked in muffin tins with honey or sugar and butter in the bottom”—that’s how one dictionary described the tasty treat. It sure sounds like good eatin’, almost any time.

But you probably shouldn’t grab one just before shaking hands or working on the computer or shuffling cards or handling your best shirt or bowling or applying make-up or performing surgery. That would be a bad idea—the stickiness would cause a problem.

That’s just common sense. We would feel pretty foolish if we did any of those activities with hands covered in sticky honey or sugar and butter. But sometimes we make foolish decisions in other areas of life. Maybe you’ve heard about someone crashing a car because he or she was reading or watching TV while driving. Occasionally the newspaper will report on a person who ignored warning signs and was seriously injured. There are always examples of people who make unwise choices and end up in trouble..

To get more personal, maybe you’ve done something foolish, like gossip about a friend, lie to your parents, cheat on a test, pretend to be cool or smart, or do something wrong just because other kids want you to. Not only are those actions unwise, they also lead to trouble.

The Bible talks a lot about wisdom (check out today’s verse). Wisdom is like common sense plus. It involves thinking things through, comparing possible actions with what God wants, and then making the right choice.

Wise people know what to do in any sticky situation.

My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short (Proverbs 24:13, 14).

To Do

Each time you eat something sweet (sugar on cereal, candy, soft drink, sticky bun, and so forth), think about sticky situations and wisdom. Ask God to help make you wise.

Also on this day . . .

1885—The Washington Monument was dedicated.

1950—The first International Pancake Race was held in Liberal, Kansas.

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 1998, when she won the ladies’ figure skating competition in Nagano, Japan, American Tara Lipinski, at age 15, became the youngest gold medal winner in winter Olympics history.

Today we’re going to talk about Tara and Tim—two young people who made an impact.

You know about Tara from the information above. As she was growing up and competing, everyone knew she was a rising star, a promising athlete, a potential champion. But to win the gold medal at 15, now that was a shock! The competition was tough, and she was so young and inexperienced. No one expected her to win. Maybe that’s why she did so well. Feeling no pressure, she just went out and skated her best.

Now let’s consider Tim. This young man lived hundreds of years before Tara. He was young too, and few expected much from him. But his good friend and mentor, the Apostle Paul, knew better. He knew that Tim had what it took to be a great leader in the church. Paul even wrote two letters to his young friend to encourage him and to help him do his best. Those letters are in the Bible—1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

In today’s verse, Paul gives Tim advice that you should hear too. He wrote, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.” In other words, just because you are young don’t think you can’t do something great for God—you can! And then he added, “Be an example.” So, not only can you make a difference by what you do but also by how you live.

While some people are tempted to underestimate the young, some great Christians have been quite young. They made a difference for Christ. You can too!

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12).

To Do

Think of how you can be a better example in “what you teach,” “the way you live,” “your love,” “your faith,” or “your purity.” Then take one step to make the change.

Also on this day . . .

1872—The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City.

1872—Silas Noble and J.P. Cooley patented the toothpick manufacturing machine.

1962—John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the earth.

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 1913, Cracker Jack put prizes in their boxes for the first time.

Don’t you just love surprises? Good ones, that is. A card with cash from your aunt . . . a visit from an old friend . . . a good grade on a test when you thought you hadn’t done very well . . . the chocolate center in a piece of candy . . . a random act of kindness.

The makers of Cracker Jack knew that, so way back in 1913 they put prizes in their boxes to help sell their caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts snack. It worked! Kids (parents too) liked the snack, but they loved the surprise prize. Since then, people think “prize” and “surprise” when they hear “Cracker Jack.” Even today, the bag proclaims, “Prize inside! Whad’ya get? There are new surprises waiting for you. So open a bag and enjoy.”

“Surprise” is a good word to associate with Jesus, too. He was constantly saying and doing things that were unusual and unexpected. People thought they had him figured out, and then he would say something like, “The first will be last and the last first,” or “The least in this world will be the greatest in my kingdom.” And in today’s verse, he proclaimed that he had come to “give life in all its fullness.” Another translation of this verse says that Jesus came to give life “more abundantly.” “Fullness” and “abundantly” are like having a bucket that is totally full and overflowing. So abundant life is having extra life, life “overflowing,” like getting a surprise prize in the box.

Today, many people think they know all about Jesus. They think following him is just religion. In fact, it’s totally different because it’s “life overflowing.” Think of the life Christ offers as “life with a prize inside!”

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

To Do

Buy a few bags of Cracker Jack. Give them to friends and say, “Jesus is like a Cracker Jack bag—he gives life with a prize inside. Open a bag and enjoy.”

Also on this day . . .

1473—Nicolas Copernicus was born.

1878—Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.

1985—The Coca-Cola Company introduced Cherry Coke.

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.