William M. Branham (1909–1965) was an American Christian minister and faith healer who initiated the healing revival movement after World War II and left a lasting impact on televangelism and the modern Charismatic movement. After claiming to have received an angelic visitation on May 7, 1946, Branham launched his worldwide ministry and campaigning career in June. His inter-denominational meetings were the largest religious meetings that had ever been held in some American cities. Branham was the first American deliverance minister to successfully campaign in Europe. His ministry reached global audiences with major campaigns held in North America, Europe, Africa, and India. Crowds were drawn to his stories of angelic visitations and reports of miracles happening at his meetings. His ministry spawned many emulators and set in motion the broader healing revival that later became the modern Charismatic movement.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Branham
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1870:
The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Japan
1900:
FC Bayern Munich, Germany's most successful football club, was founded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Bayern_Munich
1940:
American biochemists Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, which is now used extensively as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological and geological samples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-14
2002:
Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train fire that killed 58 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhra_train_burning
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
pronoia: 1. (philosophy, theology) Divine providence, foreknowledge, foresight. 2. (historical, Byzantine Empire) An imperial grant to an individual of temporary fiscal rights in the form of land, incomes or taxes from land, fishing rights, etc., sometimes carrying with it an obligation of military service. […] 3. (psychology) A belief (sometimes regarded as irrational) that people conspire to do one good. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pronoia
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I believe the great ones, Plato, Lao Tze, Buddha, Christ, Paul and the great Hebrew prophets are not remembered for negation or denial. Not that it is necessary to be remembered but there is one purpose in writing I can see, beyond simply doing it interestingly. It is the duty of the writer to lift up, to extend, to encourage. If the written word has contributed anything at all to our developing species and our half developed culture, it is this: Great writing has been a staff to lean on, a mother to consult, a wisdom to pick up stumbling folly, a strength in weakness and a courage to support sick cowardice. And how any negative or despairing approach can pretend to be literature I do not know. It is true that we are weak and sick and ugly and quarrelsome but if that is all we ever were, we would milleniums ago have disappeared from the face of the earth, and a few remnants of fossilized jaw bones, a few teeth in strata of limestone would be the only mark our species would have left on the earth. --John Steinbeck https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck