Guttenberg’s Bible Published September 30, 1452

On September 30, 1452, Johann Guttenberg’s Bible was published. This was the first book to be published in Western Europe using moveable metallic type. It is said to be the book that changed the world. Historians believe about 180 copies were printed. While that number seems small to us today, at that time only about 30,000 books existed in all of Europe. 135 copies were made on paper, and the remaining copies were made on vellum. Of the original copies, only forty-nine are known to exist. Most of these are partial copies. A copy has not been sold in years, but experts estimate that a complete copy would bring about 35 million dollars.

Today we have many Bibles available. There are many translations, styles, and sizes. There are Bibles for journaling, studying, and plain reading. Celebrate today by reading the Bible and thinking about how wonderful it is that all of us have access to a Bible.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

~N

National Pancake Day

Whether you call them pancakes, flapjacks, or hotcakes, everyone loves them. Shakespeare even honored them with a mention in two of his plays: “All’s Well that Ends Well” and “As You Like It.” Celebrate today with a hot stack of pancakes, and don’t forget the butter and syrup! Here’s a great recipe from A Louisiana Christmas, p. 51. The recipe comes from a small town in north Louisiana named Sicily Island.

Sicily Island Hotcakes

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

Pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2-3 cups All Purpose Flour

Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add buttermilk. Add soda, sugar, salt and baking powder. Gradually add flour to thicken mixture to right consistency for hotcakes. Heat griddle or pan. Add butter, and when it’s sizzling (be careful not to burn), pour in 1 /4 to 1 /2 cup hotcake mix. Cook on one side until bubbles form on top. Flip and continue cooking on the other side.

*This mixture can be prepared the night before and kept in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Go, eat your bread with joy…Ecclesiastes 9:7

~C

POW/MIA Recognition Day

The third Friday in September is set aside each year for all of us to honor service men and women missing in action or prisoners of war, and also their families. It’s a day to highlight the ongoing efforts and commitment from the government and independent groups to account for all POWs and MIAs. Military installations will fly the National League of Families POW/MIA flag. For our country, this is a day to pray for these people and to let them know they have our support, love, and encouragement.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

 ~C

National Farm and Safety Health Week

September 18 begins National Farm and Safety Health Week. This is particularly important where I live because fall is harvest season for sugar cane, and there are fields all around us. Trucks loaded with cane will be on roads, and that requires greater caution driving. New Iberia is hosting its 76th annual Sugar Cane Festival to honor and celebrate the contribution sugar cane farmers make to the economy and the community. This year’s festival is Sept. 20-24. As always, there will be music and dancing, food and carnival rides, art displays and educational talks and exhibits. Take time this week to learn more about farms and farming in your area and thank a farmer!

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

~C

Penny Press Day

September 3 is Penny Press Day. In 1833 Benjamin Day began selling the New York Sun for one penny, instead of the customary six cents. He thought working class people would buy the more affordable paper, especially if the news was targeted to them, and he was right! He also began the practice of hiring newsboys to sell papers. In 1834, the paper published the “Moon Hoax,” which claimed life had been found on the moon. Rather than being outraged at the “false” journalism, the readers were entertained, and the newspaper increased in popularity, attesting to the fascination with speculative fiction even 165 years ago. Other newspapers, including The New York Tribune and The New York Times, began as penny papers.

I like the idea of celebrating the penny press, because it made reading more affordable for the masses.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

~N