Dr. Jenner’s Experiment

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  “March 28th, 1797, I inoculated this girl and carefully rubbed the variolous matter into two slight incisions made upon the left arm. A little inflammation appeared in the usual manner around the parts where the matter was inserted, but so early as the fifth day it vanished entirely without producing any effect on the system.” —Edward Jenner (1749–1823). “The Three Original Publications on Vaccination Against Smallpox.” Portrait of Edward Jenner, painted by James Northcote in either 1803 or 1823

New Year's Eve, A Meaningful Time

This is New Year’s Eve, the day before New Year’s Day. Congratulations, you made it!

Make this day (and the next) meaningful by taking time for personal reflection. Someone once likened our lives to be like a stirred-up pond--murky, cloudy. When the sediment settles, the bottom can be clearly seen. Perhaps you need to get to the bottom of something with God or with someone else. There is no better time than the present to take care of business, to work toward peace and reconciliation with someone. If you need peace with God, no work is required as He's already made the way by the cross of Christ if you will repent.

  • New Years 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted. What freedoms do you need in your life?
  • While fireworks are a common feature of New Years, some magazine and newspaper publishers burn publications of the past year, really putting behind everything that happened the previous year. What do you need to finally put behind you on the cusp of a new year?
  • Ancient Romans worshiping “Janus” (from which we get the name “January”) gave us our New Year’s celebrations as a time of new beginnings. Some observed by closing and opening doors. The Lord Jesus Christ reminds us that He alone is the one who opens and shuts doors (Revelation 3:8). What open doors can He alone close and open for you?
Celebrate by making change with God’s help.

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