In the nineteenth century in Lancashire, England there was a common superstition regarding New Year’s Day. If a light haired man, or any female, was the first to enter the house that morning it would bring bad luck all year long. There developed then a custom of dark haired men going form house to house to bring good luck, where they were often presented with small gifts. In some homes no one would open the door for the first time on New Year’s Day until they were certain that the person on the other side was a bringer of good luck not bad. As Christians we do not believe in luck. We do believe in grace, and providence and a God who blesses us every day of every year.

-Robert Shannon, Preaching July/August 1999

 


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In the nineteenth century in Lancashire, England there was a common
superstition regarding New Year’s Day. If a light haired man, or any female,
was the first to enter the house that morning it would bring bad luck all year
long. There developed then a custom of dark haired men going from house to
house to bring good luck, where they were often presented with small gifts. In
some homes no one would open the door for the first time on New Year Day’s
until they were certain that the person on the other side was a bringer of good
luck, not bad. As Christians we do not believe in luck. We do believe in grace,
and providence and a God who blesses us every day of every year.


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In 1936 an advertising executive in Philadelphia, Philip Klein, founded the
Friday the 13th Club. Its members are committed to defying old superstitions.
They walk under ladders. They break mirrors. The sit at a table set for
thirteen. Two American Presidents, Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt,
wouldn’t sit a table set for thirteen! So far no member of the club has
experienced any bad results.

But there are people who fear the number 13. That fear is called
triskaidekaphobia. It’s common enough that most hotels do not have a 13th
floor. Of course, such fears are groundless and have no foundation in fact. Our
faith should keep us from such fears. God is in charge of this world and there
really is no such thing as luck, good or bad.


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