Good Morning: It's Monday
April 16, 2001!
BIRTHDAYS: Wilbur Wright, 1867; Charlie Chaplin,
1889; Peter Ustinov, 1921; Henry Mancini, 1924; Bobby Vinton, 1935; Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, 1947.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
On this date in 1818 the U.S. Senate ratified the Rush-Bagot
agreement between the United States and Canada which led to the creation
of the world's largest demilitarized, unfortified national border.
The agreement was the result of meetings between British minister to the
U.S. Charles Bagot and Acting Secretary of State Richard Rush one year
earlier. Despite their differences in the war of 1812, these two
nations forged a peaceful settlement.
On this date in 1900 the first books of U.S. postage
stamps were issued.
On this date in 1940 an event occurred which sparked
the following brain teaser. The Cleveland Indians were playing the
Chicago White Sox. No one on the White Sox got a hit, yet none of
their batting averages changed. Why not? The answer:
It was opening day. Hall of Famer Bob Feller threw a no-hitter, the
only no-hitter on opening day in baseball history.
On this date in 1944 the city of Seattle, Washington
suffered a severe labor shortage. One man advertised the following
on a handwritten sign: "Woman wanted to wash dishes. Will marry
if necessary."
On this date in 1947 Presidential adviser Bernard Baruch
made a speech to the South Carolina state legislature in which he said,
"Let us not be deceived -- we are today in the midst of a cold war."
On this date in 1962 Walter Cronkite became anchorman
of the CBS EVENING NEWS television broadcast.
On this date in 1987 the Federal Communications Commission
warned broadcasters that it would impose a broader definition of indecency
over the airwaves.
On this date in 1990 the U.S. Supreme Court let stand
a ban on school dances in Purdy, Missouri.
MEANINGLESS FACTS: Rocker Rod Steward was once
a gravedigger... Entertainer Victor Borge used to play the organ at funerals...
The inscription on actress Joan Hackett's grave marker reads, "Go Away!
I'm Sleeping."
TRIVIA: Being tax day and all, how about a money
question: Which way does Lincoln face on a penny? Don't peek,
just answer from memory.
Leona Helmsley said, "Only little
people pay taxes." Big people go to jail for not paying them...
On to the professionally selected material.
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From a friend:
In 1842 the first bathtub was denounced as a "luxurious
and democratic vanity." Boston declared it unlawful to bathe, except on
doctor’s prescription. In 1843 Philadelphia made bathing illegal between
November 1, and March 15.
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From a friend: "Toddler's Rules of Ownership":
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours
in any way.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the
pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it's mine.
8. If I think it's mine, it's mine.
9. If it's yours and I steal it, it's mine.
We smile at the selfishness of young children who are
struggling to mature and understand the concept of "sharing". It's
not a matter to smile about, though, when the same attitude manifests itself
in our lives as adults.
But we all struggle, I think, with the concept of what's
"mine". If I earned it, it's mine. If I bought it with my checkbook
or my credit card, it's mine. If I drive it or live in it, it's mine.
But is it really?
As long as I believe that all that is in my possession
is mine, I will struggle with feelings of selfishness. Once I understand
the concept of stewardship, that it all belongs to God and He is merely
letting me use it for a while, my perspective changes.
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Thanks to Amy for an old favorite: If God.......
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every
morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose
your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem;
not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it, He's crazy about you.
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Thanks to AB: Dear Child ~
Have you ever slept under a comforter? It's a plush
blanket filled with downy softness that is warm and ultra-cozy. On
a cold night, there's nothing like curling up under a warm comforter.
Think of ME that way. I am your Comforter. Some
people thing of ME as a thin sheet or a hard mattress. "I can't go to God,"
they say. "He'll just reject me." What a lie! Lies like
that are meant to keep you from running to ME where you belong.
Believe ME, I'm just waiting to hold you and cover you.
You can curl up in MY arms and relax from your struggles. I long
to hold you and protect you, MY child. I long to comfort you.
Run to ME.
Your Father of Compassion, God.
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Thanks to M/M JR: Scripture
This is very interesting! Enjoy...
Center of the Bible
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
Answer - Psalm 117
What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
Answer - Psalm 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible
Answer - Psalm 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalm 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188
What is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer - Psalm 118:8
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Thanks to AB:
A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed
in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked
timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's
outer office.
The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods,
country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve
to be in Cambridge. She frowned.
"We want to see the President," the man said softly.
He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the lady replied.
For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the
couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the
secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President,
even though it was a chore she always regretted. "Maybe if they just see
you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him. He sighed in exasperation
and nodded.
Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time
to spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits
cluttering up his outer office. The President, stern-faced with dignity,
strutted toward the couple.
The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard
for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago,
he was accidentally killed. And my husband and I would like to erect
a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."
The President wasn't touched; he was shocked. "Madam,"
he said gruffly. "We can't put up a statue for every person who attended
Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want
to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."
The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham
dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed "A building! Do you have any earthly
idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars
in the physical plant at Harvard."
For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased.
He could get rid of them now. And the lady turned to her husband and said
quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just
start our own?" Her husband nodded. The President's face wilted in confusion
and bewilderment.
And Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling
to Palo Alto, California where they established the university that bears
their name, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
You can easily judge the character of others by how they
treat those who can do nothing for them or to them. -- by Malcolm Forbes
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ANSWER: Lincoln faces right on a penny.
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