On this day in 1940, the first transport of Polish political prisoners arrived at Auschwitz, which became Nazi Germany's largest concentration, extermination, and slave-labor camp, where more than one million people died. Also on this day, German forces entered Paris, beginning a four-year occupation of the French city.
On this day in 1963, the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 5 was launched, and two days later Vostok 6 was sent into orbit carrying cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova, the first woman to travel in space.
Today is Flag Day, and on this day in 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the American flag. In his Flag Day address to the nation in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt closed with a prayer I invite you to share with me today:
Grant us that simple knowledge: If our brothers are oppressed, then we are oppressed.
If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure. Grant us a common faith, that man shall know bread and peace, that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security, an equal opportunity, and an equal chance to do his best, not only in our own lands, but throughout the world. Amen.
Flag Day, not celebrated, hardly mentioned in our age, but history marches on. Decisions are made by nations and leaders that disrupt the lives of millions. Some of these stories make the news, others do not. However, to those that are impacted by these decisions, the ramifications last lifetimes. What then shall we focus on to have the greatest impact, what will our legacy be? Shall we be remembered for the choices we have made on this day? And if so, will the memories be good or bad?
You might have heard that The University of Oklahoma women=s softball team made history recently when it became only the second team to win three national titles in a row. History making; but what stood out the most in the announcement is what the head coach had to say. Head coach Patty Gasso said, “the Lord told me several years ago, you're not here to win games. You=re here to open the door—here to win souls.â€Â During the winning press conference team captain Grace Lyons was asked by an ESPN reporter how she and her teammates handle the pressure of their competition and maintain their joy. Her answer, "The only way that you can have a joy that doesn't fade away is from the Lord. Any other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes. WOW! No one saw that coming! To follow up, teammate Jayda Coleman shared how, after winning the Women's College World Series her freshman year, she was happy but didn't feel joy: I didn't know what to do the next day. I didnt know what to do that following week. I didn' feel fulfilled and I had to find Christ. I think that is what makes our team so strong is that we're not afraid to lose because it's not the end of the world if we do lose obviously we've worked our butts off to be here and we want to win but it's not the end of the world because our life is in Christ and that's all that matters."
What memories are you making on this day in history? What choices are you making that have an impact on others that go on to shape their memories? Are you more worried about the perception by others and the earthly numbers that come, or more so the souls of those around that you directly impact? Is your joy found in the circumstances and outcomes of votes and the games of life, or a joy that doesn't fade away because your life is in Christ and thatâ's all that matters?
On this day in 1963, the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 5 was launched, and two days later Vostok 6 was sent into orbit carrying cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova, the first woman to travel in space.
Today is Flag Day, and on this day in 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the American flag. In his Flag Day address to the nation in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt closed with a prayer I invite you to share with me today:
Grant us that simple knowledge: If our brothers are oppressed, then we are oppressed.
If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure. Grant us a common faith, that man shall know bread and peace, that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security, an equal opportunity, and an equal chance to do his best, not only in our own lands, but throughout the world. Amen.
Flag Day, not celebrated, hardly mentioned in our age, but history marches on. Decisions are made by nations and leaders that disrupt the lives of millions. Some of these stories make the news, others do not. However, to those that are impacted by these decisions, the ramifications last lifetimes. What then shall we focus on to have the greatest impact, what will our legacy be? Shall we be remembered for the choices we have made on this day? And if so, will the memories be good or bad?
You might have heard that The University of Oklahoma women=s softball team made history recently when it became only the second team to win three national titles in a row. History making; but what stood out the most in the announcement is what the head coach had to say. Head coach Patty Gasso said, “the Lord told me several years ago, you're not here to win games. You=re here to open the door—here to win souls.â€Â During the winning press conference team captain Grace Lyons was asked by an ESPN reporter how she and her teammates handle the pressure of their competition and maintain their joy. Her answer, "The only way that you can have a joy that doesn't fade away is from the Lord. Any other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes. WOW! No one saw that coming! To follow up, teammate Jayda Coleman shared how, after winning the Women's College World Series her freshman year, she was happy but didn't feel joy: I didn't know what to do the next day. I didnt know what to do that following week. I didn' feel fulfilled and I had to find Christ. I think that is what makes our team so strong is that we're not afraid to lose because it's not the end of the world if we do lose obviously we've worked our butts off to be here and we want to win but it's not the end of the world because our life is in Christ and that's all that matters."
What memories are you making on this day in history? What choices are you making that have an impact on others that go on to shape their memories? Are you more worried about the perception by others and the earthly numbers that come, or more so the souls of those around that you directly impact? Is your joy found in the circumstances and outcomes of votes and the games of life, or a joy that doesn't fade away because your life is in Christ and thatâ's all that matters?
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