SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: The Mayflower

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.”   ~William Shedd~   
 

 

"Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep."

―Psalm 107:23-24, NIV

In keeping with this week’s serendipitous theme of the sea and sailing ships, it seems only appropriate for Simply Saturday Trivia to maintain the flow and offer up some seasonal Mayflower facts.

 

On this day in history, November 9, 1620, after two grueling months at sea, the nation’s first settlers spotted land. They dropped anchor two days later on the shores of Cape Cod in a merchant ship called the Mayflower. The ship, captained by Christopher Jones, had departed Plymouth, England on September 6th with 102 passengers and 26 crew members onboard. Nearly 40 of these passengers were Protestant Separatists who hoped to obtain religious freedom in the new World. After arriving in Cape Cod, a scouting party was sent out, and in late December the group landed at Plymouth Harbor where they formed the first permanent settlement.

 

What finally became of the Mayflower is an unsettled issue. After the Mayflower's return to England in May of 1621, she was again involved in trade between London and France. Her captain, Christopher Jones, died in early 1622. Historians claim, in 1624, the ship was finally broken up and that her timbers were used in the construction of a barn at Jordans Village in Buckinghamshire. The well-preserved structure is a present-day tourist attraction.

 

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Photo was taken off the Minnesota coast on Lake Superior 2010

SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: Happy Trails

 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. " ―Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

 

Singer and actor Roy Rogers, born Leonardo Franklin Slye in 1911, was one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era. In 1936, Rogers married Arlene Wilkins. After having two daughters, Arlene died giving birth to their only son, Roy Jr., in 1946. Rogers married his second wife Dale Evans on New Year’s Eve in 1947.

Known as the “King of the Cowboys” for starring in musical westerns, he appealed to fans for his good-guy hero image. They also loved his sidekick palomino, Trigger, and dog, Bullet. He appeared on TV, radio, records and film from 1930-1957. From 1951-1957, Rogers starred in his own popular television series, The Roy Rogers Show, which also featured his wife Dale. Riding her horse, Buttermilk, she quickly gained the name, “Queen of the West” and wrote the show’s theme song, “Happy Trails.” Following a revamping of the show in 1962, Roy and Dale starred again in The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show.

In 1965, Rogers and Evans established a museum in their hometown of Victorville, California. The museum features Trigger, whom Rogers had preserved when the horse died that same year at the age of 33. In 1998, six months after celebrating their 50th anniversary, Rogers died in Victorville, California of congestive heart failure. Dale also died of congestive heart failure in 2001 at the age of 88.

To me, the public role of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans pales in comparison to the inspiration they became to others in their private lives. What many may not know is that Roy and Dale gave birth to a daughter, Robin, born with Down syndrome. They were advised to “put her away,” but instead chose to bring her home and love her. She was a beautiful part of their lives until she died in 1952 of complications from the mumps only days before her second birthday. Through Robin's short time on earth, Roy and Dale were brought closer to God and reached out to help other children in need. Through Dale's book, Angel Unaware, Robin’s life story changed the way America treats children with special needs and is now available to a new generation.

Dale's book became an important part of my library after the birth of our second daughter, Ashley, who was also born with Down syndrome. Robin's story not only offered me hope at a time when life seemed hopeless, but a glimpse into the important role Ashley would go on to play in our lives. Like Robin, Ashley also became an angel unaware. From within this tiny parcel wrapped in pink came a contagious love, tied with our growing awareness of God's unshakeable presence and his overwhelming desire for us to know him and experience his ways.

Though our trails have not always led to what the world perceives as happiness, Ashley has shown us that the birth of a special needs child is a "special delivery" indeed.

http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Unaware-Touching-Story-Love/dp/0800759311

Please visit my devotional blog at the following link

http://365degreelens.blogspot.com/ 
 

SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: A New Song

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

~Berthold Auerbach~

 

"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth."

―Psalm 96:1, NIV

Music is the universal language. It is found in every known culture and is influenced by all aspects of that culture. Even the most isolated tribal groups have a form of music.

Music is holy. God created all of creation to worship and praise him, and it has always played an important role in worship. There are many verses about music found in the Scriptures.

 

In the Bible, Jubal, a descendant of Cain, is named as the maker of the first musical instruments―the harp and the lyre. After their triumphal passage through the Red Sea, the children of Israel sang a song of deliverance. But the period of Samuel, David and Solomon was the golden age of Hebrew music.

Spend some time today enjoying music in all of its varied forms. Better yet, make a joyful noise of your own!

  

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Photo was taken in Quebec City, Canada 2010

SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: Take the Plunge

Recently, I read the bizarre account of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. This terrifying lake turns to stone all birds and animals that immerse themselves or are unlucky enough to fall into its deceptive water. 

The lake takes its name from natron, a naturally occurring compound made  of sodium carbonate with a bit of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) from volcanic ash. Confused by the lake's deceitful, mirror-like surface, birds plunge into it, are immersed in the water, die and are calcified. 
 

 

Reading of Lake Natron reminds me of the story of Lot's wife in the book of Genesis. Reluctant to let go of the wealth and comfort she experienced in Sodom, she turned to look back at the smoldering evil city and was reduced to a pillar of salt. Today, a pillar of salt that is commercially named "Lot's wife" is located near the Dead Sea at Mount Sodom in Israel. 
 



"But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."
―Genesis 19:26, NIV 

 

Sin is deceptive. On the surface it looks appealing but within its depths lie inescapable heartache and pain. We cannot immerse ourselves in unrighteousness and expect to move forward with God. Looking back longingly at sin will invite defeat, result in a hardened heart and eventually lead to spiritual death.

Jesus Christ is our source of Living Water; one that cleanses and satisfies our souls. As we immerse ourselves in his love, he promises . . .

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" ―Ezekiel 36:26, NIV.

So, go ahead. Take the plunge. Never look back.
 

SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: Leavin' A Light On For Ya

Just leavin' a light on for ya . . .

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

―John 1:5, NLT

 

 "Necessity is the mother of invention."

 

The author of this proverb is not known, but it is often ascribed to the  Greek philosopher, Plato. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, this expression means―if someone really needs to do something, they will think of a way to do it.

 When Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first commercially practical incandescent light, was asked if he was afraid of anything he replied, "I am afraid of the dark."

On December 31, 1879, at the age of thirty-two, Edison gave the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was during this time that he said: "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles."

Thomas Edison died October 18, 1931. He was eighty-four. All the lights in his New Jersey home were burning.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”―John 8:12, NIV

In the same way, we are to let our light shine before others. Someone may need you to be a light in their darkness. Think of a way to do it.

 

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SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: The Heavens Declare His Glory

 

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the  stars,

which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?"

―Psalm 8:3-4, NIV

 

On this day in history, September 14, 1959, the Soviet Union's Luna 2 crashed onto the surface of the moon becoming the first man-made object to reach the moon in the space race between the two world superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union.

 

 

 

Ten years later, on July 16, 1969, people worldwide huddled around their television sets to witness fuzzy, black and white images of  American astronaut, Neil Armstrong become the first man to step foot onto the surface of the moon. He described the event as "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Landing with only twenty seconds worth of fuel left, it was a step he almost didn't make.

I will never forget the excitement of that unprecedented moment in history. Today, I marvel that man has not only walked on the moon once, but a total of fourteen times.

 

Only an infinite God of tremendous grace would create something as marvelous as the moon and then give finite man the profound gift of leaving footprints upon its surface.

 Oh, yes! Who is man that you are mindful of him?

 

 

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SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: Neither Rain Nor Snow

"How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"

―Romans 10:15, NLT

Today is Neither Rain Nor Snow Day.

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day celebrates the opening of the New York Post Office building on this day in 1914. The following inscription was inscribed on the building:            

 

"Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night,

stays these couriers from the swift completion

of their appointed rounds."

 

Show your appreciation to your postal delivery people today, especially those who walk their routes . . .  and be a messenger of good news everyday! 

 

SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: A Mixed Bag

Life's trail is not only filled with things that are sweet,

but mixed with things  hard, as well;

 

 

and the spilling out of a perfect blend produces a harvest

of righteousness and peace.

 

"They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us

for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness

and peace for those who have been trained by it."

―Hebrews 12:10-11, NIV

 

Did you know today is Trail Mix Day?

(Who comes up with this stuff?)

 

Trail mix is designed to keep us alert and energized while participating in high energy activities. Celebrating Trail Mix Day is about creating good trail mix and testing it out on the road. It may be just the ticket for this Labor Day weekend.

 

Stay healthy and safe. Happy Labor Day!