Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2006.  I am supposed to have text study at Shalom Hill Farm today, but I don’t think I am going.  I have some visits up at the nursing home and a home visit with a person who is somewhat homebound.  I also plan to do some reading.  I will more than likely get some coffee at my favorite coffee place here in Jackson.  I might even practice some piano (since I haven’t practiced for a few days). But it is also a strange Tuesday for me.  Normally I would be doing some sermon prep, but I am not preaching on Sunday; actually I am gone all weekend to the SW MN Synod Assembly in St. Peter, MN.  But other than that, this is a run of the mill day.  It is Tuesday, June 6, 2006; just another day in the year 2006 in the month of June.  That’s it.

But there have been some bigger moments to happen on this day in history:  In 1660 Denmark and Sweden sign a peace treaty; 1673 – France and Brandenburg sign a peace treaty; 1744 – France and Prussia sign a peace treaty. So far this is sounding like a peaceful day in the history of June 6.   Other events that happened are:  1844 – The YMCA is formed in London; 1850 – Levi Strauss made his first pair of blue jeans and in 1916 voters in East Cleveland approve women suffrage.  That is a very partial list of some of the "positive" things that have happened on this day.  There have also been some "negative" things to happen on this day (but that is no different than any other day of the year).  Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2006.

In case you have missed the point so far today is Tuesday, 6-6-06.  You know, 666, the mark of the beast as it is described in the Book of Revelation.  Some people see this day as the day of the beast, but for me it is just Tuesday, June 6, 2006.  It is no different than any other day.  Hollywood is trying to make this day bigger than it really is by releasing the horror flick, "The Omen" today.  Hollywood never releases movies on a Tuesday.  It is because it is 6-6-06 and apparently that carries special meaning for people; a marketing ploy to make more money.  Got to love good ole Hollywood; make something out of nothing.

In John chapter 15 and 16 Jesus talks about sending us the Holy Spirit.  He also says the ruler of this world has been condemned, defeated, and over-thrown.  We do not belong to this world, but we have been chosen from this world to be witnesses.  We were chosen through the cross.  So if all of this is true (and it is!) this day is a special day, like any other day.  The day of the beast?  Hogwash!!!  The beast has been condemned, defeated and over-thrown by Christ himself.  This is not an evil day, but it is a day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  We have a habit of making something out of nothing.  Rejoice and be glad.  Jesus has overcome the world.  Satan has lost. Death has been defeated; and the beast, well, to hell with him.  This is a day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Praise be to God and Amen.

P.S. Do you want to know some other events that happened on the other days that share the date 6-6-06?  Well…according to www.historyorg.com (a web site where you can find out significant events on any day in history) NOTHING of any "evil" significance has happened on this day.