Would we lie to you? It’s National Honesty Day!

On the last sale of the day, a woman came into the general store and asked for a half-pound of tea. The young clerk weighed out the tea and handed the parcel to the woman.

The next morning, in preparing to open the store, the clerk discovered a four-ounce weight on the scale. Instantly he remembered using this same scale while selling the woman her tea. She had been shorted by four ounces! The young man quickly weighed out the balance of the half-pound of tea, closed up the store, and delivered it to his customer.

That clerk later became the 16^th President of the United States and was known as, “Honest Abe.” (In February we talked about him and his reputation.)

Honesty is a character trait that we admire in others. An honest person is sincere, truthful, trustworthy, honorable, fair, and genuine. We know we can trust honest friends with our deepest secrets. We know we can depend upon them to show up when they say they will. We know that whatever they say, we can count on them to keep their word. We all want those kinds of friends. We should also be those kinds of friends.

Do you know who else values honesty? God does! In fact, he includes honestly in his top ten rules for living (otherwise known as the Ten Commandments). Number 9 says, “Do not testify falsely against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). In other words, tell the truth! Be honest! In Leviticus, when Moses gave the people God’s rules for living holy and pure lives, he said, “Do not steal. Do not cheat one another. Do not lie” (Leviticus 19:11). And Proverbs 11:1 says, “The Lord hates cheating, but he delights in honesty.”

If God delights in honesty, shouldn’t we?

It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest (Proverbs 19:1).

To Do

To celebrate National Honesty Day, thank someone for being honest to you. And make a commitment to telling the truth today.

Also on this day . . .

1789—George Washington took office as the first elected U.S. president.

1803—The United States bought Louisiana from France.

1904—The ice cream cone made its debut.

1988—The largest banana split ever, at 4.55 miles long, was made in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

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 Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, New Jersey patented the zipper. It’s also National Zipper Day.

Think what life would be like without zippers. We have zippers on coats, pants, jackets, shoes, and other clothes. And book covers, luggage, briefcases, purses, backpacks, athletic bags, and other cases use zippers. We could find even more zippers around the house and in the car.

Zippers are safe, durable (usually), easy to use, and inexpensive. Without zippers, we’d have to tie or tape everything shut—or use Velcro and put up with that annoying sound all day. So go ahead and let out a cheer for zippers on their special day!

We’ve become so familiar with this clever invention that we use the word in other ways. If your father wants you to be quiet, for example, he might say, “Zip it up!” In other words, he wants you to pretend you have a zipper on your mouth and keep it closed.

Actually that’s good advice to remember, especially if you tend to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, to interrupt, or to go on and on. Your mouth gets you in trouble. It opens, and out pops the word or phrase that you later regret.

Our verse for today says that people can seem intelligent just by being quiet. You’ve probably seen that. You’re having a conversation with a group of kids and one of them (whom you don’t know very well) simply listens and nods occasionally. That kid ends up looking a lot smarter than one who asks silly questions or makes inappropriate comments.

Quietly listening when others speak also shows respect. Too often we jump in with our personal comments and stories. No one likes being interrupted. Listening could be called the language of love.

The lesson? There’s a time to be quiet. And who knows? You might even learn something. So zip it up.

Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent (Proverbs 17:28).

To Do

Today, every time you use a zipper, say a quick prayer, asking God to help you listen more and talk less.

Also on this day . . .

This is also National Shrimp Scampi Day.

1997—American and Russian astronauts took the first joint space walk.

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 1985 the largest sand castle in the world was completed near St. Petersburg, Florida. It was four stories tall!

The sun beating down, bright and hot. A light breeze. Waves lapping against the shore. Cool, wet sand pushing up through your toes as you walk. There’s nothing quite like a day at the beach.

Remember those first seashore visits and sand castle building attempts? Mom or Dad helped you scoop out sand with a plastic shovel and bucket. Then you dumped it and together shaped the pile with your hands into a “castle.” As you got older, you used the tools yourself and built even bigger ones. You may have even built a sand “fort” that you could sit in.

But have you ever seen those huge sand sculptures built by professionals? They’re amazing. The world record sand castle was bigger than a house—four floors.

Whether small buildings made by turning over sand-packed cups, or huge world-class fortresses, all of these sand structures have this in common: they don’t last. Wind and waves quickly wipe them out.

No wonder Jesus used sand to make an important point. He said that building one’s life on the wrong foundation is foolish and like building a house on sand—it will crumble. Instead, we should be wise, and build on solid rock. The right foundation makes all the difference.

And Jesus explained that the only solid foundation for life includes listening carefully to him and then doing what he says. Jesus said that to do otherwise would be foolish: “But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash” (Matthew 7:26, 27).

How’s your foundation?

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock” (Matthew 7:24).

To Do

Ask someone who is a builder, an architect, or a construction worker to tell you about foundations.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Cracker Day.

1758—James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, was born in Westmoreland County, VA.

1914—W.H. Carrier patented the design of his air conditioner.

1985—The largest sand castle in the world was completed near St. Petersburg, FL. It was four stories tall.

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 the start of National Volunteer Week.

We see litter on a street and wonder why the city crews haven’t picked it up. We wonder why city government won’t take care of that junky vacant lot, or why some social agency isn’t helping the elderly or the homeless. We hear about nursery workers needed at church and think, “They should hire someone to do that.” Because our government does so much for us, we may assume that someone else should do everything.

But that would be impossible—there are too many needs and not enough money. And that’s where volunteers come in. These are men, women, boys, and girls who pitch in, using their own time and money to make a difference in their neighborhoods, city, and world.

This is National Volunteer Week, but Christians shouldn’t need anyone to remind them to help others. Jesus said that people would be able to identify his followers by their love for one another. And throughout the Bible, God tells us to reach out, especially to the poor, widows, and orphans. You’ll find tons of verses, including the one for today, telling us to serve others.

So look around. What do you see that needs to be done that you could do? Who needs your help? When will you start?

If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching (Romans 12:7).

To Do

Ask your pastor or youth pastor about how you can serve at church.

Also on this day . . .

1965—R.C. Duncan patented Pampers disposable diapers.

1994—Graeme Obree, the Flying Scotsman, set a world bicycling record (52.713 km/h).

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 Hug an Australian Day.

You’ve had a rough day. According to your teachers, you couldn’t do anything right. Then, one of your best friends got mad at you for something you didn’t say. And to top it off, you can’t find your favorite CD and are afraid it’s lost. So you walk in your house, head down, frustrated and discouraged. Dropping your books on the kitchen table, you slump into a chair.

Then your mom comes in, sits next to you, and gives you a hug. Now don’t you feel better?

Hugs can do that. Of course, you still have to do your homework, call your friend to make things right, and look for your CD. But, for a while, your spirit would rise, and you’d feel like your old self again.

Hugs work. When we hug people, we let them know that we care and that we will stand with them. Hugs also say, “I like you—you’re OK” and “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here.”

Guess what? Hugs are biblical too. Our verse today says to “greet one another with a holy embrace”—a hug!

You don’t have to look for an Australian (although that would be fine). Almost anyone will do. You mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, teacher, classmate, new student, neighbor, and many others would love it.

Greet one another with a holy embrace (2 Corinthians 13:12, The Message).

To Do

Hug at least three people today.

Also on this day . . .

1514—Copernicus made his first observations of Saturn.

1607—The British established an American colony at Cape Henry, Virginia. It was the first permanent English establishment in the Western Hemisphere.

1803—Thousands of meteorites fell on the town of L’Aigle in France.

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 San Francisco in 1945 50 nations organized the United Nations.

From its very beginning the vision of the United Nations has always been to have a place where countries could work out their differences and meet global challenges together—where all nations would be “united.”

That’s a good idea. And, through the years, this famous institution has had successes and setbacks in trying to reach its goals. The main roadblock to success is the simple fact that leaders of some countries don’t want to cooperate, to compromise, or to reach a solution. They may talk about peace while planning for war. They may pretend to promote freedom while keeping people enslaved. They may act as though they’re all for what’s right while doing what is wrong.

Daily newscasts and other reports make it clear that wars, terrorism, and atrocities will be with us for a while. And we can get discouraged.

Eventually, however, all those terrible things will end. Peace will come, and people of every race and nation will live together as one.

“When?” you ask. When Christ returns.

The Book of Revelation tells about the future. In it the apostle John wrote what God had revealed to him. When you read this book, you’ll see that God is in control and that he will win the battle against Satan and evil. Today’s verse tells us that “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” will stand before God and worship him together. Now that’s unity.

So don’t get discouraged by negative news and nations divided. Remember God’s promise to bring us all together under his rule.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands (Revelation 7:9).

To Do

Today, pray for peace. Be specific, mentioning each of the troubled nations in the news.

Also on this day . . .

This is World’s Penguin Day

1684—A patent was granted for the thimble.

1859—ork began on the Suez Canal in Egypt.

1953—U.S. Senator Wayne Morse ended the longest speech in U.S. Senate history. The speech on the Offshore Oil Bill lasted 22 hours and 26 minutes.

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, the IBM Personal Computer was introduced.

How often do you use a computer? Before answering, remember the computers at your school, in cars and appliances, and in your PDA. These days, computers are everywhere. Not too long ago, they were rare. In fact, you probably know an older person who finds computers very confusing and intimidating. But not you—they’ve always been part of your life. And they sure have revolutionized the way we work, learn, and relate to others.

We live in what has been called “the information age.” We have more information about more things than previous generations could ever imagine. We have so many TV channels we find it difficult to choose one to watch. The Internet is amazing, and everywhere we turn we see cameras and computers. News broadcasters make sure we know just about everything that’s going on in the world, and often we see it happening live.

So we might get the idea that technology is the greatest power in the world. Wrong!

Only God knows everything. Beyond facts and events, he knows thoughts, desires, emotions, and motives. He knows every hidden dream and sin. He knows the past, the present, and the future, and he sees everything in the universe at the same time. When he was reflecting on God’s knowledge the writer of Psalm 44 exclaimed, “God knows the secrets of every heart.”

Some people may feel as though they don’t want God to know all their secrets. But it’s good news for those who are comforted knowing God knows what they’re going through. And what makes this even better news is the fact that God loves us.

Did you get that? He knows you and still loves you. That means God wants the very best for your life. It means that you can trust him to guide you the right way, his way.

Now that computes!

God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21).

To Do

Take a few minutes to read Psalm 139 and then Romans 8:28-39. Thank God for knowing you, loving you, and being with you everywhere.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich month.

This is also National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day—so have a picnic.

1833—A patent was granted for the first soda fountain.

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 1896 the first movie was shown in a theater in New York City.

Ever since the first silent film flickered across the silver screen, men, women, boys, and girls have watched with delighted imagination. Whether for a cartoon or a comedy, a romance, western, or space adventure, we’ve regularly filled theaters in every city and town across the country.

Movies are fun and entertaining because they capture us and entertain us. The professional acting, stirring music, and spectacular scenes draw us into the story. We’ve grown up with movies, and we see them, daily now, on televisions, videos, DVDs, and computers.

We know that movies aren’t real, of course. But sometimes we can feel as though we’re watching truth unfold because it is so real. Sometimes we’re shocked to learn that the writer, producer, or director of a movie made up things and put them in a movie advertised as a true story. Sometimes movies based on history are more fiction than fact.

After watching a movie some people say something like, “Now I know what really happened.” Instead, we should be thinking, “That was interesting. I wonder if that’s what really happened.” In other words, we shouldn’t accept as fact everything projected on a screen.

That’s especially important with movies and other media about Jesus and people in the Bible. Our authority should be the Bible, not a movie, book, or video. We can enjoy the presentation, but we should check the facts.

Today’s passage tells about the people of Berea. After listening to Paul and Silas preach, they compared the message with Scripture, to see is it made sense and was true. God’s Word was their guide.

So go ahead and enjoy your video entertainment. But know the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth (Acts 17:11).

To Do

Check out one or two of these websites that review movies: www.pluggedinonline.com; www.gospelcom.net/ifc; www.botcw.com; www.movieguide.org. Use the reviews to help you choose a movie to see and to know whether or not it sticks to the facts.

Also on this day . . .

1564—William Shakespeare was born.

1977—Dr. Allen Bussey completed 20,302 yo-yo loops.

1985—The Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing its 99-year-old secret formula. New Coke was not successful, which resulted in the resumption of selling the original version.

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 Earth Day.

Earth Day was established in 1970 by John McConnell to, in his words, “celebrate the wonder of life on our planet.”

Some believers wonder why Christians should be concerned about “celebrating life” and taking care of the environment. Today’s passage tells us why.

First, the Bible tells how God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said it was “excellent in every way.” That means the earth is God’s and that it’s good.

Next, we read about the natural order of creation. Plants, birds, fish, grass, fruit, animals, and humans are all mentioned, and each has a place and purpose.

Then check out God’s instructions to Adam and Eve: “subdue” the earth and “be masters.”

So here’s the deal. God has given us humans a beautiful planet on which to live. It is filled with amazing natural resources to use. But he expects us to be wise and careful in how we treat the water, soil, plants, and animals—our home and our resources. Elsewhere in the Bible, God says that we must be good managers of what he has entrusted to us. (See Luke 12:42-48.) This means no wasting or polluting. And it certainly means taking good care of ourselves and our world.

What can you do to be a better earth manager?

God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.” And God said, “Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food.” And so it was. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day (Genesis 1:28-31).

To Do

Take a walk through your neighborhood and pick up trash. And encourage your family to recycle.

Also on this day . . .

1864—The United States Congress mandated that all coins minted as U.S. currency bear the inscription, “In God We Trust.”

1994—On this day the world’s largest lollipop, weighing 3,011 pounds, was made in Denmark.

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 1959, the largest fish ever hooked by a rod and reel, a great white shark weighing 2,264 pounds, was caught.

You’re fishing with your dad out in the ocean. The sky is clear, the weather warm, and the sea calm. Your line is in the water, but mostly you’re just catching rays. Then wham! Something hits your bait and almost knocks you off your seat. And for several hours you fight what turns out to be a huge white shark . . . and finally you land him.

Now pretend you’re the shark. You’re a lean, mean, fighting and eating machine. Being gigantic, you go wherever you want and eat whatever you can gather into your wide jaws. Gliding fearlessly through the deep, you spot a delicious morsel just ahead and above. So you grab it in one big swallow. Then wham! Something bites into your gullet and pulls back—you’re hooked. You fight like crazy, pulling the line and boat in circles, all one ton of you, but you can’t get free. You’re caught.

That’s how temptation always works. We glide through life and spot something we want to have or do. Ignoring possible dangers, we bite and swim away. But then, wham!, we feel the hook. Temptations, like taking something that doesn’t belong to us, smoking or drinking alcohol, making fun of someone, and other “tasty morsels,” may seem okay, but they come with hooks.

So when you spot something that looks good but you think it may be bad, or you’re not sure, don’t take the bait. Leave it alone and “swim” away as fast as you can.

Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death (James 1:14–15).

To Do

What tempts you? Talking about someone else? Looking at a classmate’s test paper to get a better grade? Watching movies you know are off-limits? Get a fishhook and glue it to the center of an index card and write “James 1:14, 15” at the bottom. On the flip side write down your biggest temptation. Put your creation on your wall or desk so you’ll see it every day.

Also on this day . . .

753 b.c—.Tradition says that on this day Rome was founded.

1789—John Adams was sworn in as the first U.S. Vice President.

1956—Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” became his first number one hit on this day.

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.