Season Premier

Well, the fall television season is in full swing, filled with comedy, drama, intrigue, mystery, science fiction, “reality” shows, and the supernatural. Not bad for only having four channels! Many of my favorites are returning, some are on their last leg, and there are many new shows to fill the void of those that didn’t quite make it. I love most genres of the small screen.

My returning favorites are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (not Miami or New York) and Smallville. I will sorely miss Joan of Arcadia and Star Trek, but I am more than willing to give some of the newbies a try. I am looking forward to the return of a favorite from the 70’s, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, where a newspaper reporter chases down the paranormal, but rarely gets his story published.

I absolutely hate most of the reality shows because there is nothing real about them (I don’t ever picture anyone in a situation where they have to eat maggot infested cow’s intestines, or where they have to choose between 20 or 30 women in a matter of a few weeks by putting them through a series of irrelevant and stupid tests). I do, however, love the “life improvement” shows, such as Extreme Home Makeover and the new Amy Grant series, Three Wishes. These shows actually seek out real life tragedies and disabilities and seek to offer those people a chance to overcome the odds.

Each year, each network seeks to out-do the others by changing and manipulating their line-ups to attract the most viewers. Often, successful shows multiply, like CSI and Law and Order, to try to monopolize the genre and to have a successful anchor each night of the week. If a series is truly successful, other networks attempt to replicate the formula, mostly creating cheap knock-offs with poorly constructed story lines and pitiful acting. The only sure bet on television is that each year will bring a multitude of changes.

In a world that is in constant flux, it is always comforting and encouraging to know that there is one thing that never changes – Jesus Christ! Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” It is good to know that His series will never run its course, will never be cancelled. Year after year we can know with certainty that His compassions will never fail, they will be new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Although there may be many imitations over the years, we can be confident in the fact that there is only one body and one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Thank You God, for being the one constant upon which we can anchor our faith and construct our lives.

This Day in History

1788 – The Constitutional Convention authorizes the 1st federal election resolving that electors in all the states will be appointed on January 7, 1789.
1789 – The United States Government took out its 1st loan.
1847 – Milton Hershey, founder of the famous candy company, is born.
1851 – Walter Reed, U.S. Army doctor, who discovered a cure for yellow fever, is born.
1883 – Hugh Daily, a one-armed pitcher for Cleveland (Forest City), tosses a 1-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia.
1898 – Hannibal Williston Goodwin patented celluloid photographic film, which is used to make movies.
1909 – Ty Cobb clinches AL HR title with his 9th HR (all inside-the-park).

1922 – The highest temperature ever recorded, 58° C (136° F), is measured at Al Aziziyah, Libya.
1923 – George Burns (Boston Red Sox) performed the 3rd unassisted triple play in baseball history.
1925 – Mel Torme, the “Velvet Fog”, is born.
1947 – NBC voted to ban crime shows before 9:30pm.
1949 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association of America was formed.
1957 – The Everly Brothers performed "Wake Up Little Susie" on "American Bandstand."
1961 – An unmanned Mercury capsule is orbited and recovered by NASA in a test.

1961 – "Car 54 Where are You?" premieres on TV.
1963 – "Outer Limits" premieres on ABC TV.
1970 – The 1st New York City Marathon took place. Fireman Gary Muhrucke won the race in 2:31:38. The race was run entirely inside Central Park.
1971 – The World Hockey Association was formed.
1972 – 1st TV broadcast of "Waltons" on CBS.
1974 – The 1st episode of "The Rockford Files" aired on NBC.
1975 – Joe Don Rooney, of Rascal Flats, is born.
1993 – Israel and Palestine signed their first major agreement. Palestine was granted limited self-government in the Gaza Strip and in Jericho.

And in 1962, the most important person in my life, second only to Jesus Christ, was born – Heather Jo Weber.

Many days have come and gone before then and since then, but on this day in 1962, God purposed a “helpmate” for me; someone to love me when I am unlovable; someone to comfort me when I am stressed or hurting; someone to remind me of my duty to be a servant when I forget. But more than that, my wife brings joy and music and laughter to our house. She is a confidante and counselor to our children. She is a role model for our beautiful daughters. She is the resident expert on human interaction. As compassionate as she is beautiful, as wise as she is understanding. With a heart as brilliant as gold, as big as Texas, as soft as a cloud, and as steadfast as Gibraltar, she is truly the most amazing woman I know. I thank God, for giving me such a precious treasure.

Happy Birthday, Heather.

Labor Day

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

One of the only holidays dedicated to the “common man”. A celebration of the dedication, innovation, resolve and plain hard work of the men and women that make this country function – the American worker. It began as a day to honor the workers with a parade and a festival, and to give them a greatly deserved day of rest and relaxation; a day to show them that their efforts were not in vain.

The Bible talks a great deal about “labor”. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15) The Israelites were forced into slave labor (Genesis, Exodus) and after their deliverance, there were commanded to take a weekly “labor day”, otherwise known as the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:9). Solomon warns that laziness will end in slave labor (Proverbs 12:24). The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that the rewards of our labor are all meaningless…after all, you can’t take it with you (Ecclesiastes 2 and 5); yet we are encouraged to work with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:9).

In the New Testament, we are called to a different kind of labor. We are encouraged to labor in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) with a goal of presenting everyone perfect in Christ (Colossians 1:29). We are to persevere, holding out the Word of Life, evidenced by our sacrifice and service, so that we will not have labored in vain (Philippians 2:14-18).

As we struggle through this life, striving to become more like Christ Jesus, we do not get to take a holiday from Christianity. We must work hard to fight the good fight, never giving in or giving up. We must never grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9), for we will one day get to rest.

Our “labor day” still lies ahead. I look forward to that day!

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." (Revelation 14:13)