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Our Daily Thread 4-11-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1783, after receiving a copy of the provisional treaty on March 13, the U.S. Congress proclaimed a formal end to hostilities with Great Britain.

In 1898 U.S. President William McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war with Spain.

In 1899 the treaty ending the Spanish-American War was declared in effect.

In 1940 Andrew Ponzi set a world’s record in a New York pocket billiards tournament when he ran 127 balls straight. That’s impressive.

In 1945 American soldiers liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald in Germany.

In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major-league history. He played in an exhibition game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In 1968 U.S. President Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

And in 1981 U.S. President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House from the hospital after recovering from an assassination attempt on March 30.

Lot’s of stuff happened on this date.

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Quote of the Day

“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.”

Jackie  Robinson

And at the end of the year baseball will retire his #42 when Mariano Rivera, the last player still wearing the number retires. That’s fitting in my opinion, since they’re 2 players who made a lasting impact on the game, and both will go to the Hall of Fame wearing it. One changed baseball for the better, and to some extent the nation’s opinions. The other is the standard by which all present and future closers will be compared. It’s a well deserved honor.

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Now when I say “Louie Louie” you think the Kingsmen. I do.

Or The Kinks. 🙂

But no, Richard Berry and the Pharaohs did it first in 1955. I did not know that. Today’s his birthday, so here ya’ go….

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Who has a QoD for us today?

39 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 4-11-13”

  1. AJ, I did know that about Louie Louie. Remember I have an uncle who has an extensive collection of 45’s and grew up with him and my dad teaching me to dance…which is why I am 5’4″ and can’t dance with anyone under 6ft.

    Where is everyone? The garbage truck came lumbering through early this morning so I am starting the day tired.

    Do you have a cherished object? Something that makes you smile? I have a cookie jar that is shaped like a thatched roof cottage. It always sat right inside the back door of my grandparents house and was always filled with moon-pies. When my grandfather died all the (27+) grandchildren wanted it. I got it! I also wanted the set of dominoes when my grandmother died but those went to the cousin who had brought them back from a trip to Mexico.

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  2. Would you believe this is the first time I’ve heard “Louie Louie”, so far as I know?
    Likely the last.
    When you mentioned “cherished object”, I thought that mine is loading clothes in the washer. But that isn’t what you meant. Then, I thought of my pet rock. It would take me half an hour to get over losing that.
    I have a Whitnaur watch I’ve been wearing since 1952. The spring is weak so I have to keep winding it. I’ve bought a $36.00 watch from KMart that I wear around now. But I would hate to lose it. But I would get over it.
    None of those make me smile.
    I listened to Louie Louie all the way through.
    🙂

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  6. After having moved last fall and gone through (and weeded out) all of my possessions, I think I can safely say that I do not have a (non-human) cherished object.

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  7. I have two very cherished objects, gifts my husband gave me after my two miscarriages.

    The first is a framed reference of Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” That passage was the one I meditated on the night before I had an ultrasound to see for certain whether the baby in my womb had died. On December 19, 2002, my dad’s 73rd birthday, I delivered my miscarried baby, and on Christmas, my husband gave me that framed verse. It is beautiful, with lovely flowers surrounding the verse.

    The second is a heavy bronze decoration (I’m not sure how to better describe it) of a hand, a little smaller than my own hand, holding a tiny baby curled up on its tummy with its behind up in the air. Hubby gave me that after my second miscarriage, in February 2006. It’s a beautiful reminder of how the Lord holds our little ones we never met on this earth, safe in His loving protection, and that they are living and we will meet them some day.

    These two cherished items are on a table at the top of our stairs. On the wall behind that table are six framed 8X10s of the arrows we are privileged to raise, who each got professional portraits done at approximately 3 months of age. So that is our baby wall and our baby table, reminders of the blessing of children the Lord has graciously given to my husband and me.

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  9. I do not have any particular object that I cherish above all others. I do have too many things so our house is very cluttered. I am working on that situation. I suppose I might pick one of my Bibles if I had to choose one thing, but even with that, since I have a collection of them, it would be hard to choose.

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  10. I have some objects that were very special when I received them because of who gave them to me, but over time I find that the objects themselves recede in importance to me. I have kept them but I’m not sure I’d used the word “cherished” in connection with them.

    I am writing this from the house of friends northeast of Philadelphia. My flight yesterday was delayed over six hours due to bad weather in Chicago and finally cancelled after the first officer’s duty day was going to run over if we made the flight. (We were tenth in line to take off when word came through we had to return to the gate.) I spent the night in the airport, then took the train this morning to where my friends live – I visited Monday evening and hadn’t expected to see them again so soon! Right now I am scheduled to fly out tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. but who knows, with the current weather situation.

    I am trying to follow the command to rejoice in all things. Not sure if being too tired to think clearly is making it easier or harder. Once I get over the coffee I had in the airport (so I could think well enough to make needed phone calls, find the train, etc.) has worn off, I’ll try to nap.

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  11. Pauline,

    We’re Northeast of Philly too! 🙂

    The weather should clear in Chicago by tomorrow if the Weather Channel is correct. But we are supposed to get rain here, although not heavy, so it shouldn’t delay you.

    Safe travels.

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  13. 6 arrows, what tender reminders.

    Just last night I smiled when I passed by an old wooden (tin roof, very primitive and weathered) birdhouse I received from the family of a neighbor of mine when I lived elsewhere, we became friends and when she died they asked what I’d like of hers.

    I remembered all the handmade birdhouses she had hanging in her backyard, she delighted in showing them to me after I moved away but still came back twice a year for a breakfast out with her. So I said one of those would be wonderful and they picked this one out.

    It’s now sitting in my house on top of a bookcase.

    Pauline, how long is the business trip?

    Growing up, I’d always heard “Louie Louie” had scandalous lyrics but no one could ever understand them.

    Well, off to work shortly after another night of weird and vivid dreams. Before the weekend I’ve gotta get 2 stories reported & written, my car smogged, the income tax signed and mailed, the car registration paid & turned in w/the smog certificate, the homeowners insurance mailed … and then I’m attending a funeral on Saturday (our associate pastor died last week after a long fight with cancer).

    Still catching up on my Bible readings, but I was able to spend some good time chipping away at it last night.

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  14. I have a silver tie clip my FiL gave me. It wasn’t long after I was saved. I wasn’t used to dressing up and going to church, so I didn’t have one. Howard gave me one. I wear it just about every week, and it is special to me.

    I also have a nice Bible that the Fire Dept gave my Gram at my Pop’s funeral for his many years of service. That’s about it for cherished objects.

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  17. Ah, I misread and thought you were still in the process of getting there. I think delays are harder when you’re on your way home. Last time I went to NY that happened to me, I think I wound up with an especially long wait at an airport somewhere … ??? in the middle of the country when my connection was delayed or canceled.

    Not enough time (or was it energy?) to go do something, but enough time to make sitting in the airport waiting especially tiring. I just wanted to get home.

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  19. Good Morning….it was 22 degrees when we awakened….we’re in a heat wave 🙂
    Linda, prayers for you today…these milestones are difficult…ever more so when it is the year of “firsts”….my sisters and I have found it to be difficult and painful…and a process…tears, we find, have been healing to the soul…and the memories become smiles of warmth in the knowing we were cherished by our Daddy….praying you find comfort in the knowing as well…..

    Cherished object? Well…the first thing I think of is my paternal Great Grandpa Voelpel’s desk…I am blessed to have had it given to me and the memories it holds are most cherished….he kept “Krogers” in that desk, which sat next to his big red velvet chair…how I loved that man….

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  21. NO WAY am I going to play that video!!! If that song–which is trying hard to break through–gets stuck in my brain I’ll accomplish NOTHING for the entire day.

    HOW COULD YOU?

    Yes, I’m shouting!

    And Chas, I’m so sorry you have now met that miserable tune that never leaves once it gets going in your brain!

    What a relief–I hear an adorable granddaughter approaching. I think I’ll listen to her chatter and hope to drive away the HORROR!

    🙂

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  28. Make It Man! You’re cruel, cruel to michelleMichelle.

    As far as treasured objects, Misten was wanting to go with us someday last week, maybe when we were heading out to church. I told her, “You’re not a person.” My husband added, “And you aren’t a place, either, so that makes you . . .” (Answer, for those who don’t remember the definition of nouns: “A thing.”) So Misten is one of my treasured things.

    Also, my diamond ring. My mom and grandmother, and maybe my great-grandmother, all wore this diamond. As Mom’s firstborn daughter I inherited it when she died (nearly ten years ago), but I really couldn’t wear it. But two years ago a wonderful man got it set in a really lovely setting (prettier than I imagined it could be, and my sister said “You said it was prettier than you expected, and it’s prettier than I expected even with hearing you say that”). It isn’t extravagant, but it’s lovely and it speaks of family heritage and love.

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  29. I see where Darla Moore and Condi Rice have broken the gender barrier to the Augusta Country Club. I don’t know if Darla could buy the club, but she has given over $75 million to the University of South Carolina, and other gifts to Clemson and Claflin.
    I never especially cared.

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  31. I have quite a few items made by my dad and painted by my mom–a chair, a desk, a clock, a trunk and many more. My dad crafts them in his woodworking shop and my mom is a decorative painter. She does some rosemalling and folk painting. I cherish them all. I have a full size rocker that my dad made by copying one he was given by his folks who had it for years.

    I have some music cds made by family that is also cherished. The things I cherish definitely have worth because of the memories of the people attached to them.

    It makes me sad to see some of these kinds of items go so cheaply in garage sales and flea markets. No one can hold on to everything, but it is so much better when something can be given to someone else who will cherish it.

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  32. Today would have been my mother’s 86th birthday. She passed away last May. Can’t help thinking about her today.

    Linda- Our mothers were one day apart in age. Mine would have been 86 yesterday. She died in 1964.

    Treasured items? Mrs L wears the rings my mother wore. When we got engaged I couldn’t afford a real ring, so she wore a $2 friendship ring. Then, while Mrs L to-be was home on spring break, my sister asked if we had rings yet. I told her no, so she dug out my mother’s rings that my dad had given her after mom died. They fit Mrs L perfectly! She and my mom have/had tiny fingers. We were glad since the wedding ring is engraved with my parents’ initials and their wedding date: 4-20-47.

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  33. In 1940 Andrew Ponzi set a world’s record in a New York pocket billiards tournament when he ran 127 balls straight. That’s impressive.

    Carlo Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo Ponzi, (March 3, 1882 – January 18, 1949), commonly known as Charles Ponzi, was an Italian businessman and con artist in the U.S. and Canada. His aliases include Charles Ponei, Charles P. Bianchi, Carl and Carlo. Born in Italy, he became known in the early 1920s as a swindler in North America for his money making scheme. Charles Ponzi promised clients a 50% profit within 45 days, or 100% profit within 90 days, by buying discounted postal reply coupons in other countries and redeeming them at face value in the United States as a form of arbitrage. In reality, Ponzi was paying early investors using the investments of later investors. This type of scheme is now known as a “Ponzi scheme”. Ponzi was probably inspired by the scheme of William F. Miller, a Brooklyn bookkeeper who in 1899 used the same scheme to take in $1 million

    The news brought down five other banks in addition to Hanover Trust. His investors were practically wiped out, receiving less than 30 cents to the dollar. His investors lost about $20 million in 1920 dollars ($225 million in 2011 dollars);[8] as a comparison, Bernie Madoff’s similar scheme that collapsed in 2008 cost his investors about $18 billion, 53 times the losses of Ponzi’s scheme

    Religious belief is much less of a Ponzi scheme than actual swindles. After all, nobody hands over money to preachers who ask you to help build a church for the glory of God. Everyone knows God as all the glory He needs, without doing anything besides creating a universe.

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  34. I love the old pine kitchen table from my mom’s childhood Iowa home (now in my front room); my grandfather’s old trunk that he’d haul with him on the train from Iowa each year (now in my bedroom); and the little corner table made by my dad in high school wood shop (now against the wall next to the front door under the mail slot).

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  37. And on Jackie Robinson:

    http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/jackie-robinson-and-the-pattern-of-jesus

    “Robinson was a Christian [and] his Christian faith was at the very center of his decision to accept Branch Rickey’s invitation to play for the all-white Brooklyn Dodgers. . . . Branch Rickey himself was a Bible-thumping Methodist whose faith led him to find an African American ballplayer to break the color barrier. . . .[A]t the center of one of the most important civil rights stories in America [lies] two men of passionate Christian faith. (Metaxas, 109)”

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