On this day in 1759 Parson Mason Weems was born.

Who on earth was Parson Mason Weems? you’re probably wondering. Well, in his book, The Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, he wrote about young George cutting down the cherry tree. When confronted by his father, George supposedly said, “I cannot tell a lie,” and then he admitted his guilt.

That’s an interesting story, and it’s usually presented as historical fact. But no one has been able to verify that the event actually occurred. Evidently Mr. Weems invented the story to create a better image of George Washington for the American people.

These days stories, especially ones about famous people, spread quickly. Many people believe the stories just because they’re in print. Urban legends are that way. And some phony stories are hoaxes—started by someone trying to fool others.

These tales may cause people to respond foolishly. Some damage reputations. So be careful what you believe when you read or hear something. Always try to find out the truth.

In many of the early churches, false stories—rumors and teaching—were being spread. Unfortunately some of the new believers were being fooled and led astray. So the apostle Paul wrote them to bring them back to the truth of God’s Word.

Today’s Bible selection is one of those occasions. Paul was shocked that the Galatians were “being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.”

That’s a good lesson for us, especially with so many false stories flying around these days. We should always check with the Bible to see if a statement or story is true. That goes for what we see on TV and in movies, what we read in books and on the Internet, and what we hear. The truth is way more important than an interesting story.

Don’t be fooled!

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ Galatians 1:6, 7).

To Do

Ask your parents to tell you about the urban legends they once believed were true. Have them tell you how they discovered that the stories weren’t true. Then ask about something they’ve heard about God that isn’t true and what the truth is.

Also on this day

This is National Sausage Pizza Day.

1984—Space shuttle Challenger astronaut Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1886, the first dinner jacket was worn to the autumn ball at Tuxedo Park, New York.

Now you know where the name tuxedo came from. And ever since that fateful day in New York, men have been wearing tuxes at special occasions.

Actually getting dressed up can be fun, especially when we’re looking forward to the event—a concert, a dinner, a party, a wedding. But have you ever heard the expression, “All dressed up, but no place to go”? That paints a very sad picture. It implies that the person either missed the party or didn’t get invited.

Jesus once described the kingdom of God as a party, a banquet, a wedding feast (see Matthew 22:1-14). And he talked about the necessity of wearing “the proper clothes” (v. 11). He was illustrating the truth that everyone who enters Heaven must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness. God provides the “formal attire” for the occasion.

Today, many people think God will allow them to party at his banquet because they are decent people—they haven’t done anything really terrible, or they have done a bunch of good deeds. Those “clothes” might look OK here on earth, but they won’t make it there. The Bible is very clear that only by putting our trust in Jesus—believing in him as God’s Son and that he died on the cross for our sins, admitting our sinfulness, and asking him to take over—can we be saved.

And you know what’s really sad? These right clothes are available to anyone who believes, yet so many refuse. They’d rather wear their rags than God’s “tuxedo.”

There’s another event where a person wears fancy clothes—for his or her funeral. Everyone goes there sooner or later. Sadly, many will be all dressed up with no good place to go.

And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again . . . he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27, 28).

To Do

Stop and pray right now for your relatives, friends, and neighbors who do not know Christ. Ask God to open their hearts to him and his free gift of forgiveness and salvation.

Also on this day

This is Bring Your Teddy to Work Day. (Can you bear it?)

1845—The United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis, Maryland.

1969—Pro football quarterback Brett Favre was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1888, the public was admitted to the Washington Monument for the first time.

At 555 feet high, the Washington Monument is one of the tallest masonry structures in the world, towering over everything in Washington, D.C. From the top you can see the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol building.

Washington, D.C. is filled with monuments, but just about every city and town has them. Some are huge, like the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and some small, like roadside plaques.

Monuments and memorials remind us of important events and people. (We talked about this on Memorial Day.) At this stage in your life, memorials probably don’t mean as much as they will when you get older, but your parents may find some of them very moving. Monuments and memorials were important to God’s people in the Old Testament as well. After a great victory (or great tragedy), they would erect one so that the Israelites would never forget the event and the lessons learned. Today’s verse is a good example. These remembrances usually marked a spiritual occasion, helping everyone remember God and his great work among them.

We’ve gotten away from building spiritual memorials, so we find it easy to forget those times when God acted in a mighty way on our behalf. Maybe we ought to start that tradition again. For example, you may have a rock or shell from a camp, retreat, or vacation where you made an important decision. It sits on your shelf, reminding you of that special time. Photographs are great for this, as long as we have them out where we can see them. Keeping a journal or diary is another way of remembering what God has done. You can go back and read what you were feeling at a tough time in your life, and then weeks or months later see how God used that time for your growth.

Make a point of remembering God’s goodness and your special moments with him.

“Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a permanent memorial among the people of Israel” (Joshua 4:7).

To Do

Think of a fitting memorial for when you accepted Christ as Savior. You might want to write the date, time, and place on a clean sheet of paper, decorate it, and put in on a bedroom wall.

Also on this day

This is Leif Erikson Day because on this day in 1002 Leif Erikson landed on North America.

1983—Helen Moss joined the Brownies at the age of 83. She became the oldest person to become a member.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is National Fluffernutter Day.

In case you don’t know, a fluffernutter is a sandwich made with lightly toasted white bread, peanut butter, marshmallow cream, and chocolate topping. Sounds rich and delicious, but oh so fatty.

What a combination! How do cooks and chefs think up recipes like that? Do you suppose they suddenly think “Hey, I’ll mix peanut butter and marshmallow cream” or do they have a more scientific approach? Maybe it’s just trial and error. First they try peanut butter and mustard (yuck!), then peanut butter and barbeque sauce (no!), then cabbage, then . . . How’d you like to taste-test those combinations?

Some food combinations sound weird but taste great. A fluffernutter is one of those.

Here’s another unusual combination—faith and works. How is it unusual? You see, some people think a person can get right with God by doing good works, and that if a person’s good acts outweigh the bad ones, he or she will get into Heaven. The Bible clearly teaches, however, that people are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8, 9). But then in James (today’s verse), we see faith and works together. It seems to say that faith and works have to be combined. Are you confused?

James is not saying that we do good deeds in order to be saved. Instead, he is saying that faith in Christ results in good deeds. That is, we do what is right because we know God—not to make us right with him.

Talk is cheap. But works show whether or not a person truly has faith. A person becomes a Christian by trusting in Christ—that’s it. But then he or she lives differently, reading God’s Word and doing what it says.

Faith and works—they really do go together.

So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless (James 2:17).

To Do

Ask your mom to make a fluffernutter sandwich for you. When she asks what it is, explain that it’s a lot like faith and works—an unusual combination—but it tastes yummy. Then make one for her!

Also on this day

This is National Children’s Day. Give yourself a present!

1871—The Great Fire of Chicago started, eventually destroying about 17,450 buildings.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is Child Health Day.

Remember singing “Jesus Loves Me” when you were small? Just about every child who has ever been to church knows that song. The verse goes (sing along if you want to): “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.”

Jesus had been busy teaching, healing, and answering difficult questions—pretty much adult stuff. So when parents brought their children to Jesus for his prayers, the disciples tried to shoo them away, thinking Jesus was too busy to mess with kids.

Not only did Jesus tell the disciples to let the children come, he also explained that children were very important to him and his kingdom. Thus the phrase, “Little ones to him belong.”

Children are “little” and “weak,” especially babies and toddlers. In fact, they depend on moms and dads and big brothers and sisters for everything. They own nothing and have no power. They’re helpless—the opposite of what the world counts as important. We tend to value people based on their abilities, possessions, and positions in society. Yet Jesus says people need to become like little children if they want to be his followers. Luke reports that after calling for the children, Jesus said, “I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God” (Luke 18:17).

So how do you get along with little kids, especially when they’re crying? How about when Mom or Dad asks you to pick up after them, change a diaper, or babysit? Are they annoying, a pain, an inconvenience?

Whenever you have those feelings, remember Jesus’ words and thank God for all his children, especially the little ones.

Jesus called for the children and said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

To Do

If you have a little brother or sister, today offer to help take care of him or her before being asked. And be especially kind to all the little ones in your life.

Also on this day

This is World Habitat Day.

1968—The Motion Picture Association of America adopted the film-rating system that ranged from G to X.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is International Frugal Fun Day.

Do you know what frugal means? You should, because this is Frugal Fun Day, and you’ll want to celebrate in the right way, don’t you? Anyway, frugal means “thrifty, careful with money”. Frugal people do more with less and are wise with how they spend their money.

Being frugal isn’t easy. Advertising calls us to splurge and buy a lot of stuff for ourselves, especially whatever is “new,” “improved,” “state of the art,” the latest,” and what everyone else seems to have. Somehow we think that if we have that game or outfit we’ll be happy. But we soon tire of it (or it breaks), and we have to get the next “latest” one.

It’s a trap—money and possessions will never satisfy us. That’s the point of today’s Bible passage. Solomon wrote it, and he was one of the richest people who ever lived.

And to top it off, remember that the Bible also talks about stewardship. That means using wisely the resources that God has entrusted to us: using and investing them for good purposes, not misusing or wasting them. This applies to our talents and abilities, our time, and, of course, our money.

So having a day to emphasize “frugal fun” is probably good. In fact, every day ought to be a “frugal fun day.” We can enjoy ourselves and others without spending much money: hanging out and talking, playing ball in the park, making up new games with stuff we already have, getting out some of the really old games the family hasn’t played in years, making up and telling jokes—use your imagination.

Celebrating God’s goodness is easy . . . and cheap!

Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers! (Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11).

To Do

Take one of the suggestions above, like getting out an old game and playing it with your family. It’ll be fun and frugal.

Also on this day

1866—The first train robbery in the U.S. took place.

1889—Thomas Edison showed the first motion picture.

1927—Jazz Singer, the first movie with a sound track, premiered.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Be the Brand

CZ Marketing: Brand & Strategy

What Do Today’s Customers Really Want? Insightful interview with Marc Gobe, author of Emotional Branding. What’s different with today’s consumers and how we as publishers need to rethink our approach to branding. —Linda Taylor

Daily Beast Seeks to Publish Faster

New York Times

Cutting the Time to Get Books to Market Getting books to market quickly–now that’s music to my ears. See what Perseus Books Group, with a new imprint called Beast Books, is doing to get paperbacks out on a much shorter schedule than traditional books. —Linda Taylor

American ‘Nones’: More Skeptical Than Anti-Religious

The Christian Post

How Can We Reach the “Nones”? Non-religious Americans, or "Nones" presently make up 15 percent of the total adult U.S. population and the statistic is even higher among young people. They are skeptics, many of them coming from religious homes. What does this mean for us in Christian publishing? How can we reach them? —Linda Taylor

Probing the Minds of Teenage Consumers

AdWeek

What’s Going on in Those Teenage Minds? Newly discovered "Teen Segments," identifying 11 key teen markets based on demographic and psychographic characteristics, meant to help marketers better target direct marketing communications to teens. Do you recognize any of these? —Linda Taylor