August 31, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Thursday, August 31.
On this day, in 1990, something happened in Major League Baseball that had never happened before. A father and son started for the same team. Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. batted back-to-back in the first inning, each hit a single, and each scored, leading the Seattle Mariners to a win. A memorable moment.
August 30, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, August 30.
This coming Sunday, at First Baptist Church of Center, we'll be singing a song co-written by two men who lived two centuries apart. And both parts of their song have remarkable stories behind them.
August 28, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, August 28.
I was all set to focus my devotion today on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, the historic event that occurred on August 28, 1963, and featured Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. But then something happened last night that changed my mind, something amazing, something incredible, something exceedingly rare.
August 25, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Friday, August 25.
In the summer of 1983, 40 years ago now, I had a memorable musical moment. I got to sing a choral piece written and conducted by one of the greatest musicians that America has ever produced. Today is his birthday, and his name was Leonard Bernstein.
August 24, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Thursday, August 24.
What makes a great singing voice? Well, the answer depends on the context. If we're talking about a great choral voice, it's the ability to add to the choir's sound without "sticking out". But, if we're talking about a soloist - especially in popular or gospel music - it's the ability to "stand out", to be distinctive, to be unique, to be... one of a kind.
August 23, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, August 23.
George Bernard Shaw, the famed Irish writer, once said, "England and America are two countries divided by a common language." Every once in a while, I'll catch a British TV show and between the accents and the vocabulary sometimes it seems like they're speaking another language besides English.
August 22, 2023 - Good Morning. It's Tuesday, August 22.
Last Friday night, a good friend of mine went on to Glory. Her name was Dorothy, but everyone called her Dot. She was 96 years young. And if we had to find one word to describe her, it would be the word . . . JOY. She always had a welcoming smile, a twinkle in her eye, even in times of trial and tragedy, even on days of challenge and change.
August 21, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, August 21.
I'm focused this morning on the opening lines of famous books. When you begin to read a book it's a bit like meeting a new person - and you know what they say about first impressions. The author has just a few pages, a few paragraphs, maybe just a few lines to grab your attention, to draw you into their story. A strong opening line makes all the difference. Here's a few...
August 18, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Friday, August 18.
Today is National Mail Order Catalog Day. Why did they choose August 18th? Because, on this day in 1872, Montgomery Ward issued the first retail catalog. It was only one page, and featured only 163 items. Just five years later, the "wish book" had grown to 150 pages, and boasted over 3,000 items. Americans could use the catalog to buy clothing, toys, tools, even entire houses. And consumers were promised "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back". Wards invented that slogan.