A LITTLE "THANKSGIVING" HISTORY

Thought it might be good to be reminded of a little history as it pertains to our Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.  We are a blessed people!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

 

Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation



Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

IT'S ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION!

It's a crazy world we live in these days.  The days of the rotary phone, party lines, long distance, hand written letters, and other forms of "antiquated" communication are virtually over.  Now we have e-mail, Facebook, Myspace, Ipads, Iphones, and Skype, to name a few.  At times I long for the "good" old days, but the ability to immediately connect and communicate with almost anyone, anywhere, is pretty convenient.  Not to mention, it's kind of fun.

For example, last Wednesday evening was the Country Music Awards show.  I was home in the evening for the first time for several weeks so I decided to watch.  It only took a few moments until one of the entertainers came out from behind the curtain wearing a "dress" that looked like she'd got a deal from a used carpet store.  It was awful.  Instinctively I grabbed my smart phone and checked facebook to see what people were saying.  And pretty soon it turned into an evening of sideline commentary on facebook from yours truly, my brother, my cousin, and a bunch of friends.  It was a hoot!  More entertaining than the CMA show itself.  Yep, it was crazy.  Who'd a thunk it even 10 years ago?

Here is another example (a better one I might add).  Today I had an opportunity to respond to questions from an evangelism class at the Perkins School of Theology on the Campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas via Skype.  Dr. Steve Rankin contacted me, one of his students connected a computer to mine, and thanks to Skype, they were able to see and hear me on a big screen and I was able to see and hear them on the screen on my computer.  How crazy is that?  And how awesome?

Scripture reminds us that we are always to be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us.  We are also reminded to preach the Word; being prepared in season and out of season..even if that season means the sharing of the good news via audio and video on a computer.  And I wonder if the great commission of going into all the world includes the use of modern technology to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to others?  I would say "yes". 

I thoroughly enjoyed the hour I spent with the students as I responded to their questions regarding evangelism from the viewpoint of a pastor in a local church.  And based upon their responses, I believe they enjoyed it as well.  Yep, it's a new day but it's a good day! 

Oops, gotta go.  My facebook page is blinking at me.