A Photographic Memory: September 4th Devotional

A Photographic Memory

September 4th Devotional

Luke 22:14-23

      On this day in 1888, George Eastman patented the first roll film camera.  Eastman didn’t invent the camera; the earliest renditions of the camera stem from the early 1800s.  The camera went through dramatic changes over the course of the years but none as dramatic as the ones that Eastman conceived.  Eastman was born in July of 1854 in Waterville New York.  His father died when he was young forcing his mom to take in boarders to make extra money.  Because of the tight financial restraints, George had to drop out of high school.  Despite dropping out George remained determined to be a success.  George dappled with multiple jobs over the years and eventually fell in love with the hobby of photography.  Photography was not a common practice at the time.  Cameras were huge, bulky, clumsy, and expensive.  Through the late 1870s and 1880s, George started to tweak every part of the camera.  He upgraded and invented multiple new areas for the camera, but none were as dramatic as the first film roll camera.  Prior to this photos were taken on different metal plates with chemicals.  Sometimes the exposure time would need to be 15-30 minutes.  Plus the average person would never be able to take pictures let alone have the skills to develop them.  Eastman created a single box camera with a paper roll of film.  The paper could take 100 photos.  The photos would then be sent back to Eastman’s company to be developed.  The camera was called the “Kodak.”  By the early 1900’s Eastman had created a new camera called the Kodak Brownie.  The camera was mass produced and only cost $25 to purchase.  Eastman made little profit off the camera itself.  His major profit came through film development.  His company was the only one capable of developing film and the film development would cost $10.  This simple, quality, cost-effective camera opened the door for middle-class families to take photos of daily life.  Kodak’s motto was “You press the button; we do the rest.”  The simplicity of the new camera allowed people to take pictures of birthday parties, weddings, vacations, and everything else in between.

      Today film-based photography is basically extinct.  Each of us have cameras on our phones and we take pictures of anything and everything.  One of my favorite things to do from time to time is to look over the photos on my phone.  Those photos cause memories to flood back.  Those pictures bring back long-forgotten smiles, tears, and laughter.  Looking at old photos is a great way to go back down memory lane.  There are certain things that we as a believer need to remember, remember almost as if a photo were taken of the event.  One of those events took place nearly two thousand years during Passover in Jerusalem.  Jesus and His disciples were in the Upper Room celebrating one of the holiest feasts in the Jewish calendar.  It was during this feast that Jesus girded Himself with a towel and washed feet.  It was during this feast that Jesus exposed Judas as a betrayer.  It was also during this feast that Luke records these words “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19).”  His last night before His death was spent at a table surrounded with His friends.  He told them the details that would transpire in the next few hours.  His body would be broken and His blood would be shed.  The bread represented His body, which the text says was given for you (yes, you reading this).  His perfect body would soon be turned over to cruel men to be beaten and bloodied, but why?  For you and I.  His body must be given and His blood must be shed in order for us to be saved, for our rescue to be complete!  As a believer, we need to pick up this spiritual ‘photo’ from time to time to not forget about the high price that was paid for our redemption.  Today look at that picture, hold it in your hand, and do not forget the depths of His great love for you!

 

 

Life from the Ruins: July 24th Devotional

      Life from the Ruins

July 24th Devotional

Psalm 23:3

      On this day in 1911, Hiram Bingham III led the Yale Peruvian expedition to discover Machu Picchu. Hiram was born in Hawaii. his parents and grandparents were Protestant missionaries to the people of Hawaii. Bingham was originally not trained as an archaeologist, he was a lecturer at Yale University and a student of Latin American history. Machu Picchu, which means old peak or sacred City, was an Incan settlement in the Peruvian mountains about 50 miles Northwest of the Peruvian capital Cuzco. Machu Picchu was originally built in the fifteenth century, around 1450 as a summer retreat for Incan royalty. The Royal estate housed around 750 servants year round. The site was abandoned around the year 1570 due to the Spanish conquistadors in the area but the Spanish conquistadors surprisingly never found Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was a tightly guarded secret by local peasants for hundreds of years. When Bingham arrived his goal was to find an ancient lost Incan City. After speaking with locals and farmers an 11-year-old boy named Pablito led him up the nearly 8,000-foot climb. The climb would consist of three thousand steps and would lead to the summit of an ancient city around 5 square miles in size. The ancient ruins were covered over by jungle and growth but it quickly became apparent that he found one of the modern wonders of the world. An excavation and restoration project would start the next year bringing life to a city long-forgotten and dead.

      Hiram Bingham discovered other ancient Incan cities in Peru but none as famous as Machu Picchu. Bingham will always be known for bringing life from the ruins. The Bible speaks about somebody who also brings restoration to the ruined. Every one of us are ruined at birth because of our sinful nature. We are depraved and without any good thing. We desperately need somebody to restore us. Imagine an old car that has been beaten and ignored for years. It needs a talented and gifted craftsman to restore it to what it needs to be. Psalm 23 speaks about our Good Shepherd.  Verse three says "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." God takes ruined lives and broken people and through the immeasurable love of Jesus displayed on the cross God is able to restore us and make us whole. He alone can save ruined and wrecked lives. He is your hope and salvation. Open your heart and allow yourself to be His next great discovery and recovery.

A Friend Brought to Jesus: August 28th Devotional

   A Friend Brought to Jesus

August 28th Devotional

Mark 2:1-5   

      On this day in 430 AD, Augustine of Hippo passed away.  Augustine was born in North Africa (modern-day Algeria).  His mother, Monica, was a devout believer but his father was a staunch pagan.  Needless to say, this caused a tremendous strain on Augustine’s developmental years.  Augustine was an ardent student.  He mastered anything he studied.  He traveled to Carthage to be educated and there his professors declared him to be of the utmost academic brilliance.  He would later go on to teach Rhetoric and would be rewarded with a chance to teach it at a premier university in Milan.  He was considered to be the best Latin and Rhetoric professor of his time.  It was while he was teaching in Milan that he encountered a man named Ambrose.  In many ways Ambrose was the polar opposite of Augustine.  Ambrose was serving as the Bishop of Milan and is considered to be one of the most important early church fathers.  He adamantly stood against heretical teaching all while loving sharing the Gospel with everyone.  Augustine was an intellectual leader but was battling many inner demons.  Augustine was also a follower of a religion known as Manichaeism, which was an ancient cult at that time.  Augustine would later write in his confessions how vital his friendship with Ambrose was.  Ambrose would challenge Augustine to seek out Christ.  Finally, at the age of 33, Augustine surrendered to Jesus for salvation.  Augustine and his son were also baptized by Ambrose.  Shortly after he entered school to study the Scriptures and would later become the Bishop of Hippo.  It is estimated that he preached nearly 10,000 sermons while serving in Hippo.  Augustine felt that the primary goal of each sermon should be to ensure the salvation of those that listened.  He worked tirelessly for decades to win the people of Hippo.  As a student of the Scripture, he pushed for the teaching of original sin and that man is inherently unable to save himself.

In his confessions, Augustine would write of Ambrose “To him was I unknowing led by Thee, that by him I might knowingly be led to Thee. That man of God received me as a father, and showed me an Episcopal kindness on my coming.”  Ambrose understood the huge importance that each believer has, to bring their friends to Christ as Savior.  This reminds me of a story in Mark chapter 2.  Jesus was teaching in Capernaum and the house was filled to capacity.  There was no room for anyone to enter.  A group of four friends brought their paralyzed friend to meet Jesus.  The crowd would not allow them to enter, but that did not discourage them.  They climbed to the roof, removed the roof tiles away, and lowered the man down before the feet of Jesus.  When Jesus saw this He said “And Jesus, seeing THEIR FAITH said to the paralytic, Son, your sin are forgiven (Mark 2:5).”  These men were determined to get their friend to Jesus Christ.  We should be equally burdened to get our friends to Jesus.  A pastor one time said that a friend brings their friends to meet their best friend named Jesus!  I couldn’t agree more!  We need to build relationships that lead to redemption.  We need to cultivate purposeful, intentional relationships with unsaved people that will positively influence them to come to Christ.  What Augustine is in our life?  Who works on the other side of the cubicle?  Who lives on the other side of the white picket fence?  What parent at your kid’s school needs you to come alongside them?  Pray that God would give you people to bring to Jesus.

Our Great Commander: August 14th Devo

 

Our Great Commander

August 14th Devotional

2nd Timothy 2:1-4

On this day Dwight Eisenhower was named the commander of the invasion of North Africa during World War II.  Eisenhower was no stranger to military service, though it might surprise many of us to find out that he never saw active combat during his 35 years of active service.  Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1915.  Eisenhower desperately wanted to serve his country on the foreign field during WW I but was denied multiple times.  He remained at home training new tank corps.  Despite not serving an active role in combat his superiors noted how organized and intelligent he was.  After the war, Eisenhower continued to pursue his military education by focusing on the role of tank warfare.  Eisenhower spent most of the 1920’s preparing for the ‘next war’ which would revolve around the role that tanks would play. The strategy of American tank warfare was basically invented by Eisenhower.  Eisenhower then served as the chief military aid to General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines.  Finally in July 1942 he was named Lieutenant General and placed as the Supreme Commander of the North African invasion (a role that became official in November).  The campaign was called Operation Torch.  He, along with other commanders planned the attacks in an underground bunker near Gibraltar.  His efforts were extremely successful.  The allies were able to remove the Axis powers from the area and were also able to complete Operation Avalanche, which was a sea landing attack to remove Italian Dictator Mussolini from office.  Shortly thereafter Eisenhower was named at the first Supreme Allied Commander which meant that he oversaw all activity in the Western War Theater.  By his incredible tact and intelligence the Allies were able to retake large portions of Europe from the Nazi’s.  He was one of the primary leaders for D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and others.  The dark curtain of Nazism failed partially because of Eisenhower’s leadership and determination.  Eisenhower would go on to become a five star general (there have only been five in American history) and served as the 34^th president from 1953-1961.

Eisenhower is considered one of the most famous generals in American history.  Men enjoyed serving under him.  A commander leads.  As a believer we have a commander too.  Paul in 2^nd Timothy chapter two encourages his young apprentice in the faith to be entrusting the work of the Gospel ministry to other faithful men (v. 2).  Paul then focuses on a comparison of a believer to a solider, but not just any soldier.  In 2^nd Timothy 2:4 Paul writes “No solider in ACTIVE service entangles himself in the affairs to everyday life, so that he many please the one who enlisted him as a solider.”  Look at the end of the verse.  We are soldiers because someone has enlisted us, a commander has asked us to join the battle fray.  Who is the commander who enlists us?  None other than Jesus Christ.  He has called us to service.  Paul stresses that our service to the Lord is active.  The Greek text uses the verb in the present tense, which means there should never be a time when we are inactive for Jesus.  There is no furlough or break.  We should always, unendingly be actively serving the Lord.  If we are enlisted by a great commander who loves us and is always seeking out for our best then we need to make sure we are not entangling ourselves into things that would distract us.  The word entangled gives the image of two different threads being interwoven.  We cannot allow the thread of this world, the thread of our corrupt nature, or the thread of distraction to take our eyes off of Jesus.  Peter spoke of this in 2^nd Peter 2:20 and his conclusion is that if we try to interweave the pollutions of the world with the purity of serving Jesus we will end up worse than when we started.  How is your service to Jesus Christ?  Are we actively serving or have we become lazy?  Are we distracted or committed?

A Heart Tuned to Worship: July 17th Devo

 A Heart Tuned to Worship

July 17th Devotional

Colossians 3:16

On this day in 1674, Isaac Watts was born in Southampton United Kingdom. He was raised in a very religious home, his father was a schoolmaster and a non-conformist of their time. At a young age, Isaac had a tremendous love for music and would often pray in rhyme. He was a devout student in every subject including languages. After graduating he would pastor a large church named Mark Lane Congregational Chapel in London England. While there he started to train young men for the pastorate. Watts is most known for his hymn writing ability. He is considered the godfather of hymnody. Over the course of his life he would write over 750 hymns, many of them still being used over 300 years later in the church. Some of his most famous works are Joy to the World, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Our God and Help in Ages Past, and many more. Watts was challenged by his father to write new church music; Watts often complained to his father that the music of that time brought forth a dull indifference in the people. At the time the church sung strictly Psalms from the Old Testament, and while Isaac was not against the use of the Psalms he felt that the church should expand its worship. He broke with tradition and was considered a rebel in his time because of this. He would have been considered a contemporary musician in his era. Isaac Watts ushered in a new era for church worship. Watts was a faithful Pastor, theologian, and hymn writer until his dying day.

Isaac Watts will always be known for his hymns which still stir in the souls of men today. Worship should always be a priority in each believers heart. We may disagree over the styles of worship but we need to agree over the supreme importance of lifting up our voices in praise to God. Our forefathers in the faith have carried on a beautiful legacy of singing to God. Colossians 3:16 says "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Paul places equal emphasis on both worship and spending time in God's word. For the Christian worship should come naturally from a heart that is grateful, from a heart that has been set free from sin, from the heart of the redeemed to say thank you God for what you have done. Our voices might not be the most melodious and we might have no idea what harmony means but one of the most powerful things a believer can do is praise God. Let not our praise be confined to what we do on Sundays in the building but let our praise fall from our lips everyday, wherever we may be, and whoever may be near us.

A Friend Indeed: July 10th devo

A Friend Indeed

July 10th Devotional

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 On this day in 1778, King Louis XVI of France declared war on the United kingdom officially aligning his empire with the American colonists. The colonists had long sought for a outspoken Ally in the revolution. In 1776 Ben Franklin visited France and pleaded the case for American independence and the benefit that would come to France. The French were looking for a means of vengeance after losing the seven year war. They were extremely bitter having lost a significant amount of land in North America because of the conflict. Originally the French were quiet and covert in their support, oftentimes smuggling goods into America under different companies names. The Battle of Saratoga, a win for the Continental army and a turning point in the revolution, marked 90% of supplies for the colonial army from the French. Saratoga also proved to the French the likelihood of an American colonial victory. Also aiding France in their decision was a young French military man named Lafayette who joined the Continental army and was highly acclaimed by George Washington. By 1780 the French had supplied Maritime help and thousands of soldiers on the ground, namely Rhode Island and Virginia. The French joining the American cause also brought the Spanish and the Dutch Republic to enter into the fray against Britain. The United kingdom's only European Ally was Hessian mercenaries. It was because of the support of these allies that the colonial forces would be victorious at Yorktown Virginia. The friendship with the colonies was very costly; massive national debt would lead to France's own revolution in the coming years.

During the revolution the newly-formed nation of America desperately needed a reliable friend, and that friend came in France. Friendship is vital in this world, we need people of like-mindedness and similar loves to come along side of us and encourage us and challenge us. Each believer in Jesus Christ should desire to have their life partnered with faithful Friends. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Truly two are better than one because they are able to labor together for the Lord. If one of them stumbles or falls or falters the other one is there to bear their burdens and carry them if need be. Woe to the believer who is isolated and alone for there will be no friend to dust you off and help you. It is a vital importance that Christians cultivate healthy spiritually strong friendships. If you have a friend in the Lord then thank God and thank them; they are a treasure.

Falling and Standing: August 7th devo

Falling and Standing

August 7th Devotional

Psalm 118:13

      On this day in 1974, Philippe Petit tight roped the span of the Twin Towers.  This was not his first extreme stunt.  Prior to this, he walked across the spires of Notre Dame and then walked across the two pylons at Sydney Harbor but nothing would compare with his high-flying stunt in New York.  His plan to tight rope from the twin towers came to him six years earlier while sitting at a dentist's office.  He was reading an article about the twin towers and drew a picture of himself walking from building to building.  He exclaimed that the feat would be impossible but he lived for the impossible.  Philippe would covertly plan his walk.  He visited the World Trade Towers over 200 times.  Each time he would make special notes about what time workers would arrive and leave, different construction companies, the color hard hats they used, and their id badges, he even posed as a journalist asking questions while his friends took pictures of the rooftops.  The day prior Petit and his crew arrived at the Twin Towers dressed as construction workers.  They climbed to the rooftops bearing hundreds of pounds of equipment.  They had to wait until nightfall to install the two hundred pound steel cable.  After years of dreaming and planning, Philippe would step onto the tightrope at 7 A.M.  He was over 1300 feet in the air, roughly ¼ of a mile to the ground.  The only thing below him was pavement and the promise of death if he messed up the routine.  He stepped onto the rope with ZERO safety apparatus.  There was no harness to catch him, there was no safety net.  The only thing he had was a large balancing pole.  The streets below were busy with bystanders.  Each of them could see a man walking from building to building. It simply looked like a man floating in the air.  The crowd would gasp and cheer.  The crowd eventually included police who were pleading for Petit to return to the ground.  Philippe was on the tightrope for 45 minutes and made 8 total passes between the buildings.  After returning he was arrested but the district attorney agreed to drop all charges against him so long as he would perform for children at a local park, which he did.

      I have a terrible fear of heights.  I can’t climb a step ladder without getting lightheaded!  I also admit that it’s not so much of a fear of heights as it is a fear of falling.  None of us like falling.  The older we get the harder falls become the longer they take to recover from.  Older folks become very cautious walking because of a fear of falling.  On a spiritual level, we need to be cautious about falling into sin.  We should desire to live upright lives that would honor God.  We should be committed to standing firm not falling down.  But what happens when we fall into sin (and rest assured, we will fall from time to time)?  Psalm 118:13 says “I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.'  Now the Psalmist is talking about literal enemies pushing, but in a spiritual sense sometimes we are pushed, and sometimes we push ourselves into sin.  Sin does indeed cause us to stumble and fall down but God does not intend for us to remain in sin nor does He intend for His children to mire in the trifles of a fallen life.  We have been redeemed by a high price and He desires for us to walk upright for Him.  When we fall God doesn’t quit, He doesn’t throw in the proverbial towel, and He doesn’t stop loving you.  According to the Psalmist, when we fall, God helps us.  We need God’s help at all times, but I think we need it especially when we fall spiritually. When we feel we are least deserving of God’s help is when we need it the most.  It is also readily available in moments of failure and shame.  If you have fallen ask God for help.  He will put you back on your feet again!

The Ill Fated Attack: July 3rd Devo

The Ill-Fated Attack

July 3rd Devotional

Judges Chapter Seven

      On this day in 1863, the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg was fought. Gettysburg would prove to be the turning point in the Civil War, giving momentum to the Union army and forcing a constant retreat from the Confederacy. The temperature during the battle was extremely hot, measuring over 90 degrees. The battle would open up with the war's longest and most ferocious cannonade. The Confederate's artillery was commanded by a Georgian Colonel named Edward Alexander. For nearly two hours over 150 Canons fired into the center of the Union Forces which were entrenched on Cemetery Hill. Smoke filled the air and the sound of explosions could be heard miles away but the cannonade had little effect. The next stage of the attack would involve a huge infantry assault overseen by Commanding General James Longstreet. Longstreet disagreed with General Robert E Lee over the attack plans that day and even delayed in the morning hours knowing that the attack would be ill-fated. It was decided that General Pickett's men would lead the attack since they had not seen battle. At 2:00 PM Confederate Generals Pickett, Trimble, and Pettigrew marched out from the tree line on Seminary Hill focusing on a copse of trees on Cemetery Hill where Union General Hancock awaited the assault. Nine brigades of nearly 13,000 soldiers started the long journey across 3/4 of a mile of open field crossing the Emittsburg Road and into the face of the union army. Small breaks occurred in the Union line but they were promptly filled. After hours of battle, the Confederacy was forced to retreat, General Lee taking full blame for the defeat. Nearly 50% of the Confederate soldiers involved in Pickett's charge became casualties. Pickett lost 26 out of his 40 field commanders. The aftermath of the battle would be the first domino falling; ultimately resulting in the erosion of Confederate dominance.

Pickett's charge is considered to be one of the most ill-fated attacks in military history. It was destined for failure. The Bible talks about an ill-fated military attack in Joshua chapter seven. Prior to this, the people of Israel seemed unbeatable. They had miraculously crossed the Jordan River and laid waste to the Canaanite stronghold city of Jericho. Everything they touched seemed to turn to gold until they attacked the city of Ai. The attack resulted in a defeat. Why did they lose? Was it poor planning? A superior enemy? No. They lost because of disobedience. Joshua 7:1 says "But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel." God had commanded the people not to take spoils and Achan disobeyed God, not only disobeyed but tried to hide his rebellion from God. Like Achan and the nation of Israel, we cannot expect to find spiritual victory in our daily life if we are constantly disobeying and trying to hide our sin. If we are finding spiritual defeat a commonplace in our life may be the reason why is because there is some sin in our life that we have not repented of and confessed. It is an ill-fated spiritual attack when we conceal our sin against God. What do you need to bring out into the open?

Gifts from Above: June 26th Devotional

"Gifts from Above"

June 26th Devotional

James 1:17

On this day in 1948, President Harry Truman along with other allies begin a massive relief effort called the Berlin airlift. World war II had just ended three years previously and the world was still reeling from the aftermath of so much devastation. Tragically the end of the war did not diminish the tensions at that time. After the war, Germany was divided among the allies into 4 segments. One was given to the United States, another to the United Kingdom, another to the French, and a final quarter to the Soviets. Falling in the middle of this division was the German capital of Berlin. Berlin suffered severe devastation and was struggling to rise from the ashes. To complicate matters the Soviets attempted to create a blockade to prevent any aid to Berlin. This would cut off over 2 million people from food, oil, and other crucial supplies for daily life. President Truman and the allies debated on a military response but resigned to a more peaceful resolution. The Allies agreed to fly planes from the United Kingdom and West Germany over the city of Berlin to provide necessary supplies like food, clothing, fuel, medicine, and other essentials that they were desperately lacking. Multiple different makes of planes were used such as Boeing, Fairchild, and Lockheed, but the most famous were the c-47 and the c52s. Wikipedia mentions that during the length of this mission those two types of aircraft flew 92 million miles, almost the distance from the Earth to the sun. These planes took off every 4 minutes without end. Every day these planes would drop between 5 to 8 thousand tons of supplies. Pilots would often make two to three runs per day. Tragically 70 soldiers died in these operations. The Berlin airlift lasted until May of 1949 when negotiations started afresh with the Soviets. The Soviets saw the futility of their blockade and ended it.

The Germans that were on the ground would often hear the noise of planes and rush outside to receive the much-needed supplies as they were dropped. Their hearts were filled with gratitude for the ample supply that the Allies provided. They often called it gifts from above. The Allies were not the only ones to provide gifts from the sky. The Bible tells us in James 1:17, " Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the providing hand of a loving all-knowing Father. A good father loves to provide for their children and God is no exception. It is in his constant unchanging nature to take care of his children. The gifts that he provides are good, perfect, and always in his timing. We can trust in God's never-failing provision because James tells us that there is no shadow of turning (or change) in God's faithfulness. We do not need to look to the skies hoping for a plane to drop good gifts on us. We merely need to drop to our knees thanking our Father in heaven for how he cares for us.