I will dispense with the much-needed and long overdue apology for my disappearance. Writing blogs is something I enjoy more than I can say. But finding the time to write them is more difficult than finding a mosquito encased in sap in Jurassic Park. I can’t blame my absence on the often overused excuse of writer’s block. Truth is, I have ideas all the time. I see and hear things several times a day that cause an alarm to go off in my head screaming, “you should write about that.” The sensible part of brain my will often shout a hearty “amen” in reply…but then, at this point, comes the inevitable breakdown. My brain is abuzz with excitement, ideas, hopes, dreams…and for a few brief moments, I can see me accepting a coveted bloggers award on The CW Network at 3:30am with huge sponsors promoting the long-awaited new and improved wiffle ball, environmentally friendly and higher quality toothpicks which, incidentally, now glow in the dark, and a new head and tail wax for Komodo Dragon owners who want their prized pet to really stand out…before the National Guard shows up to arrest the not-so-bright owner and possibly lay to rest the miniature Godzilla whose arrival ironically coincided with the disappearance of several neighborhood cats, dogs, a few head of cattle, a miniature horse, Polly Pristine’s prized rose garden, and an unnamed fella who liked to take midnight strolls down the center of the street after a few excessive sips of liquid courage. Rumor has it they found part of a shoelace…and that was all. His wife wasn’t even going to have a funeral until the funeral home said they wouldn’t charge her anything to display the shoelace. Upon hearing the news, she suddenly became one of the biggest grievers in the recorded history of that small town.

Obviously, I tried to make you grin…at least a little. I hope it worked. It’s Monday…we all need a grin or two on a Monday. I told myself if I was going to write with consistency, I would need to address simple things. I wanted to include things that I found curious and fun at the very least. Like many of you, I read various devotionals, quotes, short chapters of things to get my days up and running. I woke up this morning determined to start writing again. I was tired of hearing my own excuses. The plan was to read my normal little stack of things I’d laid out…and then get busy. But before I could finish my stack, I saw something simple, yet profound, that would be a nice little something to get me writing again.

In a wonderful little section entitled, ” Historical Writings,” on a website I frequently visit, I came across a list of dates. All of these dates contained events that took place on “this day in history.” In short, it was a quick summation of August 25 throughout the history of the church. Two of these really caught my eye and I thought you would enjoy them as well. So I’d like to share them with you as part of my BRP (Blogging Re-Entry Program). 🙂

The first occurred on August 25, 1817. Apparently a 25 year old man named Joseph Mohr began serving as pastor of the St. Nicolas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. Turns out, on Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr and the church organist, Franz Gruber, (not the bad guy from Die Hard…that was Hans Gruber) got together and produced the enduring Christmas carol, “Stille Nacht.” Without much effort, I’d be willing to bet most of you could probably guess this is the song we know as “Silent Night.” What a difference a day makes. When Mohr and Gruber sat down to step into the arena of song-writing, I wonder if they had any idea they were about to change the world? I’d like to think that wasn’t their goal at all. Maybe they simply loved the Lord and wanted to write something for His glory with the skills, talents, and gifts they had been blessed with. Maybe heaven smiled…and enabled the tune to spread without the Internet. By God’s grace, the song found it’s way into our hands, then our heads, and finally set up residence in our hearts. Suddenly, August 25th has value. All days do.

The second date that caught my attention was August 25th, 1935. On this date, the English Bible expositor Arthur W. Pink wrote in a letter: ‘None but the Lord himself can afford us any help from the awful workings of unbelief, doubtings, carnal fears, murmurings. Thank God one day we will be done forever with “unbelief.'” Arthur Pink wrote A LOT about many things. Church history is blessed because of his writings. I have tons of his quotes scattered around my little library. A few have carved their way into my heart. They reside there…free of charge. I’m better for it. Suddenly, August 25th has value. All days do.

While it’s fun and interesting to look at and consider the great stories of the past…it’s also sobering and helpful to remember the blessings and hope of each new day. The website I used to gather my information literally buried me in thought. I was enthralled with dates like 325, 1213, 1560, 1649 (a great one died), 1864 (a great one was born), 1867, 1936 (missionaries expelled from a work they had poured years into), 1940, 1945 (a famous missionary is executed), and so many other years with stories a few will discover…and stories Heaven will never forget.

Our final thought should be something simple in nature. What can I do with August 25, 2025? Write? Sing? Visit? Help? Share? Invite? Pray? Care? Show hospitality? Witness? Help a neighbor? Speak kindly instead of critically? Build up instead of tearing down? Own up instead of blame? Step up instead of expecting others to? Exhort and not judge or condemn? Wave and not ignore? Say hello instead of staring at the floor or looking away? Listen before you speak? It’s true Monday is just another day…it’s what you do with it that makes the difference. Remember here in 2025, August 25th has value. All days do.

In Christ,

Bro Mark