This is a confusing time of year for those of us in non-Catholic and non-protestant churches.  That statement alone might cause some confusion.  Vernon Lyons wrote a helpful article that explains.  “Protestants date from the sixteenth century. They are the Lutherans, the Reformed, and others who were once Roman Catholics and left the Roman Catholic… Read More »

On this day in 1918, the first case of the deadly historical flu pandemic was reported.  U.S. Army Private Albert Gitchell reported to the base hospital at Ft. Riley, Kansas with a headache, sore throat, and fever.  “A U.S. Army cook, Gitchell was hospitalized with a 104-degree fever. The virus spread quickly through the Army… Read More »

Today is National Anthem Day.  It coincides with the fact that on this day in 1931, The Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key became the official National Anthem of the United States.  Here’s how it all happened, and it was quite a journey. “Key and fellow lawyer John S. Skinner, the U.S. Agent… Read More »

Two men had a “brilliant” plan for making a quick $600,000.  Steal a dead body and hold it for ransom.  Nobody gets hurt – because he’s already dead!  Give us the cash and you get the corpse.  That’s what the police reported to Oona Chaplin on this day in 1978. Oona’s husband, Charlie, was well… Read More »

As I write this devotional on 2/8/25, we have had minimal snowfall in NW Ohio.  By the time you read this devotional, I hope the same can be said.  One of the worst snowfalls I can remember as a teenager was on Valentine’s Day.  And wouldn’t you know it, we are currently under a winter… Read More »

Today is National Tooth Fairy Day, a day to recognize dental health in children and a way to celebrate the kids who are losing their baby teeth. “In the mid-1920s, fairies were used for all sorts of health education, from bath fairies to fresh air fairies as a way to get kids to remember to… Read More »

Anosmia.  Olfactory fatigue.  Nose blindness.  All are terms used to describe the person whose sniffer isn’t working quite right.  It could be the complete loss of smell or the diminished ability to detect scents and aromas.  And since this is National Anosmia Awareness Day, it seemed only fitting to talk about it for our devotional.… Read More »

For nearly a century, a retail philosophy existed that has slowly gone by the wayside.  It’s the axiom “The customer is always right.”  If you’ve ever worked in retail, you know that this is the farthest thing from the truth.  The concept spawns some of the most unreasonable, demanding, entitled actions you’ll ever see. “The earliest printed… Read More »

January 20, 2025.  Inauguration Day.  Chief Justice John Roberts created a chaotic scene as President-Elect Trump was getting ready to take the oath of office.  Once the two men were face-to-face, Roberts began the oath.  The Trump family was scrambling to get in position and Melania was late to the party with the two Bibles… Read More »

“The framers of the Constitution intentionally made it difficult for Congress to remove a sitting president. The impeachment process starts in the House of Representatives with a formal impeachment inquiry. If the House Judiciary Committee finds sufficient grounds, its members write and pass articles of impeachment, which then go to the full House for a… Read More »