31 Aug, 2006
Snakes in Surgery!
Twelve-foot snake resting after surgery
Houdini the snake bit off more than he could chew—or, rather, swallowed more than he could digest.
A 12-foot-long Burmese python underwent surgery to remove what he'd eaten - an electric blanket.
"This is something I've never heard of or seen before," said Houdini's owner, Karl Beznoska.
Beznoska said the electric blanket, 6 feet long and wide enough to fit a queen-sized bed, was kept in Houdini's cage to help keep him warm. He noticed the blanket was missing and that Houdini didn't seem to be feeling well.
X-ray's confirmed Beznoska's suspicions. They show a tangle of wire running through some 8 feet of Houdini's 12-foot body.
He speculated that the blanket became entangled with Houdini's rabbit dinner. Once he'd ingested the rabbit, Houdini apparently just kept swallowing until he'd eaten the whole blanket, including the control box and electrical plug.
Veterinarians were able to make an 18-inch incision through Houdini's abdomen and stomach and carefully pull the blanket out. The snake would have probably died by today if it hadn't been removed.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story mtexpress.com, 7/21/06Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about spiritual surgery?
While the Bible is essential to understanding God's Story, we have to realize that God's Word is way more! It's not just a great book, a collection of short stories and writings, or a bunch or words from God. It is alive! This may sound weird, but remember that God's Spirit actually inspired (God-breathed) all of His chosen writers with the exact life-changing message of God.
Today's verses make it clear that God's Word is like the knife of a skilled surgeon. Jesus will use it in our lives to do both exploratory and corrective surgery. His Truth reveals our real condition and it penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life.
We're foolish if we think we can hide anything from God. His power, presence, and all-seeing eyes are sort of like the ultimate x-ray machine. That's good, because along with the fact that He can't tolerate the sin within us, God's loving grace and forgiveness provide the spiritual surgery we need.
The snake in today's story ate a warm fuzzy blanket along with his normal nourishment. It would have died without x-rays and surgery.
What kinds of warm fuzzy sins (you know, the kind that are sort of a security blanket and make us feel good for brief time) are you adding to your spiritual diet? Don't swallow these lies! They will kill you.
Don't wait around. You are now ready for surgery.
How can you connect today's God's Story with your life?
- Be honest about the "warm fuzzy security blankets" in your life that are sinful. You might find it helpful to write them down. It could be pride, prejudice, gossip, putting others down while building yourself up, lust, material possessions, alcohol, drugs, control over others.......
- Now spend some time in God's operating room. Let Him do the necessary surgery as you confess....listen....receive His healing....experience His unconditional love....
- Spend time in God's Word every day. (Don't bite off more than you can chew!) See it as the opportunity to be with Jesus and then go through your day, carrying His two-edged sword.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story with others?
- Let God continually sharpen you with His two-edged sword. Then your understanding and love for others who need Jesus will be what God wants it to be. Remember that you are a messenger and God is the surgeon.
- With the current movie, Snakes On A Plane, you may find that snakes come up in conversation. Use this as an opportunity to talk about today's story and then your own story of how God uses His Word to do the surgery needed in your life.
30 Aug, 2006
Ready for takeoff?
Jet route was altered week before Ky. crash
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The taxi route for commercial jets at Blue Grass Airport was altered during a repaving project a week before Comair Flight 5191 took the wrong runway Sunday and crashed, killing all but one of the 50 people aboard, the airport's director said Monday.
The main runway is 7,000 feet long. The other is 3,500 feet. Aviation experts say the twin-engine CRJ100, the type of plane that crashed, needs 5,000 feet for takeoff.
The repaving was finished late the previous Sunday, Gobb said. It wasn't known whether the pilots aboard Flight 5191 had been to the airport since the changes.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was reviewing runway and taxiway markings in its investigation.
Recorded conversations between the Comair cockpit crew and the person staffing the control tower in the minutes before Sunday's crash showed no signs of trouble.
The only runway mentioned was the main commercial strip, said safety board member Debbie Hersman.
The plane clipped trees, then crashed in a field and burst into flames, killing everyone aboard except copilot James Polehinke, who was critically injured.
The cockpit voice recorder indicated the preflight preparations had been "consistent with normal operations," Hersman said. There was no obvious problem with the plane's airworthiness and the engines were intact, she said.
The victims included a just-married couple and a director of Habitat for Humanity International.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story freep.com, 8/29/06
Psalm 25:4-5
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story (His Word) teach us about staying on His "runway"?
The psalmist, David, is asking (not demanding) God to guide his life. He is expressing his genuine desire for God's direction.
How about you? Do you truly want God's guidance in life? Every day, in every way, or for just the "big" decisions about your future?
The starting point for receiving God's guidance is for us to seek it. God will not force His direction on us. Then we must recognize that His main guidance system is in His Holy Word. In fact, Psalm 119 tells us that God's Word provides endless knowledge.
If we read, study, and obey God's Word, we can be sure that we will be on God's runway and ready for the takeoff He has planned for us.
The airplane crash in Kentucky seems to be the result of confusion regarding the right runway and instructions from air traffic control.
When we are willing to trust God as our air traffic control and receive His specific guidance, there will be no mistake about being on His path, which is always the right runway.
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Pray right now. Thank God for His guidance system - His Word and the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life! Confess anything in your life that you have allowed to get you off of God's planned runway for your life. Thank Jesus for providing the forgiveness you need right now, because He died for all of your sins. Ask His Spirit to keep you on His path every day.
- Start each day by spending time in God's Word. Entrust your day to the power of His Spirit in you to keep in God's "flightplan" for your life.
- Make a written list of what you do in your life that results in a spiritual crash. Let Jesus help you review it every day until you are back on the path of obedience.
- When you see images of airplanes, let Jesus remind you to evaluate your use of God's guidance system. This is another way to understand what it means to abide in Christ.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray that as others watch you go down God's "runway", they will see something in your daily "takeoff" that gets them interested in your story and God's Story.
- Share today's DAILYBIDE with your youth group or small group. You could become a good "flightcrew" for each other as you hold each other accountable and encourage each other.
- As you see friends or family members choose the wrong runway in life, be ready to serve as a spiritual rescue worker by listening and helping them recover.
29 Aug, 2006
Katrina anniversary
New Orleans Then and Now: In Katrina's Wake
Because of the area's high water table, cemeteries in and around New Orleans are largely aboveground affairs, such as this one outside Saint Patrick's Church in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, shown at top in July 2006.
Port Sulphur is 8 feet (2.4 meters) above sea level, but that relatively high elevation couldn't save the town—or the Saint Patrick's cemetery, shown on September 11, 2005—when a failed levee submerged Port Sulphur by as much as 13 feet (4 meters).
photo & copy courtesy news.nationalgeographic.com, 8/25/06
Hebrews 13:14-16
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)
What does God's Story (today's scripture) teach us about our real home?
First of all, I thought of this passage of scripture because today is the one year anniversay of Katrina. Who could ever forget the images of the despair and homeless people, especially in New Orleans? Well...I could and I did. Perhaps you did too?
The media coverage is reminding us that thousands of people who lost their homes are still homeless. I doubt that most of us can imagine the feeling of being suddenly "homeless", unless we went to the Gulf area to help in the past year and personally saw the devastation in the landscape and looked into the eyes of the victims.
It's so easy to forget the plight of others and go back to being comfortable with our attachment to "things" and our earthly homes. Yes, most of us have "the good life". But you know what? Life changed for over one million people one year ago and it could suddenly change for you or me tomorrow. Are we ready?
Now, here's the point of today's verses: we should not be so attached to this world, because it could be gone tomorrow, and so could we! Our personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is forever. This earthly home is only temporary.
Jesus talked about this in Matthew 6:19-21. He instructed His followers to store up our treasures in Heaven, not here on earth. Our service to Him and for His glory will last. So, being Christ-like with kindness and giving to others really honors our Heavenly Father, even when the world around us doesn't notice.
Remember, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, this world is not our home...
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Thank God for His promise to take all of His children (those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior) to live in His eternal Heavenly home some day! Praise Jesus that you will not be homeless after this earthly life is over! Confess any way in which you have become too attached to the "things" and "stuff" of this world. Ask God's Spirit to daily remind you that this life is temporary. Now, ask God to show you how to express the love and compassion of Jesus to the victims of Katrina....one year later.
- Live each day with a pretty loose grip on our earthly "stuff".
- Live each day like it's our last, because we could be in our eternal "home" tomorrow.
- Live each day with the focus of praising God with our thoughts and actions.
- Live each day with an attitude of giving and sharing, rather than taking and storing.
- Do a weekly review of how we're doing with the challenge of remembering that this world is not our "home".
How can we connect today's God's Story and our stories to others?
- Look for ways to help the victims of Katrina, now, one year later. If you need help in finding options you can trust, talk to your youth leader or pastor at your church.
- Pray for the Katrina victims who are still trying to find a home. Pray that each of them will come to recognize that the ultimate home is in Heaven through Jesus Christ.
- Talk to others in your "storysphere" about the anniversary of Katrina. Use it as an opportunity to share how part of God's Story includes the promise of living with Him and never being homeless.
28 Aug, 2006
Move over Willy Wonka!
MAN TRAPPED WAIST-DEEP IN CHOCOLATE
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) - It might sound like a chocoholic's dream, but stepping into a vat of viscous chocolate became a two-hour nightmare for a 21-year-old man. Darmin Garcia, an employee of a company that supplies chocolate ingredients, said he was pushing the chocolate down into the vat at Debelis Corp. because it was stuck. But it became loose and he slid into the hopper.
"It was in my hair, in my ears, my mouth, everywhere," said Garcia, who has worked at the company for two years. "I felt like I weighed 900 pounds. I couldn't move."
The chocolate was 110 degrees, hotter than a hot tub, said Capt. Greg Sinnen of the Kenosha Fire Department.
Co-workers, police and firefighters tried to free the man but couldn't get him loose until the chocolate was thinned out with cocoa butter.
"It was pretty thick. It was virtually like quicksand," said police Capt. Randy Berner.
Garcia was treated for minor injuries and released.
After more than two hours in the chocolate, does he still have a taste for it?
"Not so much anymore," Garcia said.
photo & story courtesy sacbee.com, 8/19/06
Psalm 34:8
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (ESV)
What do we find in today's God's Story about the taste of God?
We don't know if David, the psalmist, ever ate chocolate, but he knew how good it was to taste the goodness and faithfulness of the LORD.
David wrote this after pretending to be insane in order to escape from King Achish. In Psalm 34, his theme is that whether God delivers us in times of trouble, we can be sure that He always hears and acts on behalf of those who love Him.
When David writes, "taste and see", he is not saying "hey, check out God if you feel like it." He is saying, "trust God, I know you'll like it."
After being dipped and trapped in chocolate for two hours, Mr. Garcia said he didn't have much of a taste for chocolate any more.
It's just the opposite with the loving, faithful, almighty God. Obedience is the best way to taste and see that the LORD is good. This is another way to understand what it means to abide in Him. Obeying Jesus will immerse us in His love and according to Christ's words in John 15, this will make us full of His joy! As we trust and obey Jesus daily, we will continue to acquire an even greater hunger for tasting His goodness.
You can overdo it on chocolate, but not on Jesus!
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Chocolate is one of the most addictive, pleasure-giving options in life. Write down a list of whatever gives you pleasure and perhaps has become almost an addiction for you. It might be anything from music to sports to alcohol to shopping to_______________. Is your taste for these greater than your desire to taste the goodness of the LORD? Are you trapped like the guy stuck in that vat of chocolate?
- Pray right now...Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and your faithfulness to me. I confess to you that I have been tasting more of _________________ rather than obeying you and tasting your goodness. Fill me with the joy that comes when I abide in You. Use the power of your Spirit to help me get stuck in your love and grace!
- You'll like this one: whenever you see or eat chocolate, let it be a moment of worship when you taste and see that the LORD is good!
- Read all of Psalm 34 to learn more of God's faithfulness to David.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray that your life will be an example of someone who is full of Christ's joy rather than someone stuck in the pleasures of this world.
- Give out chocolate bars to your friends and family. When they ask why, share your story as it relates to today's God's Story.
- Forward this DAILYBIDE to some friends and family to encourage them. Invite them over for some chocolate and watch the Willy Wonka movie. Talk afterwards and eat some more chocolate!
24 Aug, 2006
Fishermen Rescued After Nine Months At Sea
FISHERMEN REACH LAND
Three Mexican fishermen who say they spent nine months adrift on the Pacific Ocean finally reached dry land when the Taiwanese fishing boat that rescued them arrived at a remote island chain halfway around the world from their homeland.
The trio landed on Monday in the Marshall Islands aboard the boat that pulled them from the ocean on Aug. 9, and after a medical checkup were found well enough to return to Mexico by airplane.
"I'm well, very well," said Salvador Ordonez, who answered "of course" when asked if he would go back to sea. "I've always worked on the sea," the 37-year old Ordonez said.
Asked what happened to two boatmates who they said died during the ordeal, he told the Televisa news network that one, whom they knew only as "Juan" didn't want to eat raw food. Eventually he and another man died, and the three survivors threw their bodies overboard, Ordonez said.
Jesus Vidana, 27, said the two dead men had hired the other three to make the fishing trip, and denied speculation the five may have set out to pick up drugs at sea, an activity not uncommon on Mexico's Pacific coast, which often serves as a transhipment point to the US.
"That's wrong because we set out to catch sharks," Vidana said.
The three survivors said heavy winds carried them out to sea, where they survived by catching and eating raw fish and drinking rain water. To pass the hours, they claim to have read the Bible and prayed for survival.
The group had planned on a short fishing expedition and was carrying only flashlights and a compass at the time they disappeared.
The fishermen have become instant folk heroes in Mexico.
photo & story courtesy taipeitimes.com, 8/23/06
Proverbs 11:6-8
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about God rescuing people?
When you quickly read today's scripture, it seems to say that God is always going to deliver us (Christ's followers) from trouble.
This is another example of why it's so important to study all of God's Word and why some verses can be misunderstood if they are read out of the full context.
One of the themes of Proverbs is the difference between the life of a godly person and an ungodly person. Not every verse is a promise from God, but rather a general truth that is intended to challenge people to live for God rather than themselves.
Today's verses point out two different paths in life but they don't apply to everyone in every circumstance. Trouble is still a normal part of life for God's people. Even if we are abiding in Jesus every day, we're still going to experience problems and the need to be delivered.
If we follow the path of God's wisdom, we can be confident that God will ultimately rescue us, but it may mean that we experience ongoing suffering until He rescues us from this earthly life and takes us home to His eternal Heaven.
But a wicked person will continue to make their own trap of destruction, without the hope of being delivered for eternity. Sobering, isn't it?
Without knowing the true spiritual condition of the Mexican fishermen, you have to like their claim to have read the Bible and that they prayed for survival. Doing the same will help us stay on the path of Godly wisdom.
We can always pray for God to deliver us, but are we willing trust Him for His ultimate rescue?
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Praise God that He has the ultimate, perfect plan for your life! Ask Him to give you the faith you need to always be ready and willing for the "ultimate rescue". As His child, if you need some sort of rescue in your life, ask Him for it right now. Thank God that because of Christ in your life, you can look forward to eternal life, even if it's not God's plan to deliver you from your earthly trouble right now.
- In your journal, keep track of how God delivers you from different troubles in your life. Review this every week to see what God is doing and what you are learning.
- Try reading through the book of Proverbs in one month. One chapter a day will help you see the big picture of God's truths.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray for a Christ-like attitude toward others and their troubles, because God may want to use you to help rescue someone.
- Lots of movies and tv shows have a rescue theme. When watching with family and friends who need Jesus, look for the opportunity to share your story of how Jesus rescued you.
- Share today's DAILYBIDE with another follower of Jesus who needs some encouragement while waiting to be delivered by God.
23 Aug, 2006
You think you're tired?
Runner driven to help storm victims finishes 51-race trek
Every day, when the pounding on his knees was over, Sam Thompson slid his withering body into a bathtub full of ice cubes.
It kept the swelling down.
Which had helped a lot by Saturday, when the 25-year-old Vicksburg native finished running his 51st marathon in 50 days.
Really. And in four hours and nine minutes.
Between July 1 and Saturday, Thompson ran a marathon in every state, and added one a couple weeks ago in Washington, D.C., just for fun. He ran two marathons that day.
"He's a totally normal guy," said Kirsten Sellereit, Thompson's girlfriend and a registered dietitian who has been with him during his trip.
"He's just very driven. He's got a great deal of passion and intensity."
Thompson says he did it all to raise awareness of the plight of his fellow Mississippians who were hurt by Hurricane Katrina.
Along the way, his story was told in newspapers and on television stations across the country. He is ecstatic about that.
His knees cannot be so happy.
Sellereit said Thompson has had some pain in his knees but is otherwise healthy.
"He hasn't lost a pound," she said, noting that his calorie and fluid intake is closely watched.
She said he went through 11 pairs of shoes during his 1,300-mile journey.
photo courtesy 50in50in50.com & story clarionledger.com, 8/20/06
Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about His strength?
Let's start by thinking some more about Sam Thompson, the 50 in 50 in 50 marathon guy. Unbelievable! I'm a casual runner. I need exercise, so I run a marathon per week (but I split it up by doing 5 miles a day and even then I'm really tired!).
Yesterday, I talked to friends who run marathons (for real) and they can't imagine running one a day, for 50 days, in 50 states! They said the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion of doing this feat (and killing the feet) borders on the impossible!
Isn't this how life often feels? We feel like we can't possibly go on. We are so tired of trying to keep our spiritual lives together in the middle of every other life challenge, we want to quit...and then life gets even more difficult!
No matter how tired and weak we feel, God's strength and power never change. God is always the ultimate and perfect source for the strength we need.
How do we get this strength? Trust the Lord. If you believe that God loves you and has your best in mind, then be confident in His promises to strengthen you to keep going, one step at a time. Even when our faith is weak and our feelings are unreliable, remember that God is in control and His power and grace will be enough for us, according to His time and plans, which are always perfect.
If you have ever seen an eagle fly, it's no wonder that Isaiah uses this incredible picture to help us understand what it means to regroup with God. He promises to make us strong again and give us His perspective and direction!
How do we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Call a "timeout" right now and pray. Talk to Jesus about whatever is making you wonder if you can keep going. Reflect on the words of Isaiah......now just wait on the Lord.....be quiet in His Spirit and listen.....thank Jesus for God's strength and direction.
- Besides your time in DAILYBIDE, take at least two other "timeouts" every day, just to spend time talking with Jesus.
- Remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint. So, keep a written journal about what Jesus is teaching you as you let Him pace you every day.
- To help you "wait" on the Lord, memorize today's scripture.
- Use a picture of an eagle for your computer screen or place one in your room as a reminder of how God will renew your strength.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Every day, pray for Jesus to help you recognize when your friends and family are "tired", so that you can encourage them with God's strength.
- Ask questions. Get beyond "How ya doing?" If they sense that you are really interested and care, they may talk about being tired of work, stress, relationships, a bad habit, feeling confused about the future...
- In that moment, trust Jesus to lead you to share just the right amount of your story which includes how God gives you strength.
- Whenever you hear someone use the words "run" or "running", use today's story about the 50 marathon guy as a conversation starter to learn more about their story.
- Tell a running friend about today's story by directing them to Sam Thompson's web site: 50in50in50.com
22 Aug, 2006
A Perfect Student
Wichita youngster aces the SAT and ACT
A teenager who may someday call Notre Dame's campus home has pulled off a very rare academic feat.
Jakub Voboril aced the SAT, and he got a perfect score on the ACT.
Jakub Voboril lives in Wichita, Kansas.
Last month he learned he was one of only two people in the whole state to ace the ACT. A few weeks later, the news got better. He found out he got a perfect 2400 on the SAT.
Jakub says there's no secret formula, “I think that the most important thing that I did was just get used to the type of questions that they ask by doing the SAT question of the day off the SAT website and taking lots of practice tests and just getting in the frame of mind for the type of things that they'll ask on the test."
Good study habits run in Jakub's family, both of his sisters were their high school's valedictorians.
photo & story courtesy wndu.com/news, 8/18/06
Philippians 3:9-14
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about being perfect?
Paul says that we will never be perfect until we are in Heaven. The amazing truth about God's grace is that when we receive Christ's forgiveness, God views us as perfect!
Paul's goal was to know Christ more and more. He was driven to be like Jesus and to become all that Christ wanted him to be. His eyes were on the prize - perfect like Christ - in the presence of God forever.
Is this your goal? Are you focused on becoming like Christ?
The Kansas kid who got perfect scores on the SAT and ACT tests has a mind that blows my mind! Makes you wonder if he ever got anything wrong during pre-school coloring through his senior year?
No matter how little wrong or how much right we do in this test of earthly living, we can't meet God's test requirement to get into Heaven.
Thankfully, Jesus already aced it for us by dying for our sins and rising from the dead so that we will experience perfection some day!
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Thank God that He sees you through the blood given by His Son on the cross for you. Ask His Spirit to help you understand His perfecting work in your life. Claim His power to focus on the privilege you have of abiding in Christ every day.
- Memorize Philippians 3:12 or post it where you will see it every day.
- Take a few minutes to identify anything in your life that is harmful or distracting to your spiritual growth. Keep these issues on your prayer list every day until you experience the changes needed in the goal of becoming more like Jesus.
- Look for 3 examples of perfection this week. This will remind you to be grateful for Christ's perfecting work in your life.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray every day for the reality of Jesus in your life to be evident to others.
- Especially with school starting up again and tests becoming the norm, use today's story about the perfect ACT and SAT scores as a conversation starter to learn the stories of others as you share how Jesus is changing your story.
- Be very quick and genuine to admit your lack of perfection to others. Remember, followers of Jesus are far from perfect, but completely forgiven!
21 Aug, 2006
SKI BABY SKI!
A WATER-SKIING BABY? WHAT'S NEXT?
MENOMONIE, Wis. - You may have to look twice, but yes, that's a baby water-skiing on Tainter Lake in western Wisconsin. Twenty-two-month-old Cole Marsolek of Menomonie took up water-skiing on a training ski.
"He absolutely loves it," Lissa said. "He popped right up the first time. He is a little showboat, waving to everyone and blowing kisses at people as we go by."
The parents' Mastercraft ski boat travels slowly, pulling his training ski, which is shaped like a sled.
Both Lissa, 26, and her husband Chad, 31, have water-skied since they were children. Lissa started at age 3.
"It's a little in Cole's blood," she said.
Before learning to ski, he was taught by his parents to float with a life jacket and hold his breath. He is not allowed near the water without his life jacket.
Cole has great balance and someone is always on the back of the boat if Cole falls, Lissa said.
When asked what the boy wants to do, he says, "Ski, please." He also is able to say "fall," and when asked if he is ready to ski he says, "Go," his mother said.
The couple also has a 5-month-old daughter, Kinsey, but she hasn't started skiing yet.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story forums.talkcity.com, 8/16/06
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about what a young follower of Jesus can do?
Paul was a mentor to Timothy. (The Bible doesn't tell us if Paul taught Tim how to water-ski.) Paul gave Timothy some great advice that every young believer should apply.
We don't know exactly how old Timothy was, but evidently some people thought he was too young to be a pastor.
It's pretty normal for older Christians to look down on young people because they are...well you know...YOUNG! If older people are used to seeing immaturity in young people, it's easy for them to hold back on their trust of what young people can do.
Are you ready and willing to give the world a new perspective on young people?
Paul is teaching that younger Christians need to earn the respect of their elders by showing maturity. You can do this by being a Christ-like example in your talk, your love, your faith and in your purity of actions. No matter how old or young you are, God will use you to help build His Kingdom. He is simply waiting for you to live in such a way that the world around you will see Christ in you!
The mom of the skiing toddler said "it's in his blood". With Christ in our lives, building God's Kingdom is "through His blood", no matter how young you might be. Hit it!
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Thank God that He uses everyone who is faithful to help build His Kingdom. Ask His Spirit to help you be faithful so that you might bring honor and glory to God. Ask His Spirit to help you mature in Christ daily. Offer yourself to be used by God in any way He chooses. Ask God to help you be honest about your maturity level if older believers don't seem to trust you yet. Ask Him to help you be patient as you strive to earn their trust.
- Every day, remember that abiding in Christ means that you focus first on being like Jesus and then serving like Jesus.
- Look for a weekly opportunity to serve Jesus with maturity.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder to trust God to use you no matter your age.
How can we connect today's God's Story and our story to others?
- Sit down with an older follower of Jesus and ask him or her to tell you their story about what the Lord has taught them about living for Christ. If you're real brave, ask this person to mentor you by holding you accountable in your process of maturing in Christ.
- Encourage your small group or youth group by sharing today's DAILYBIDE with them. It's ok to be young and make a difference!
- Before summer is over, go water-skiing with friends and use today's story as a conversation starter. If you have never been skiing or don't have a way to go, do the same with a video game. You won't get wet and it won't hurt when you fall down!
18 Aug, 2006
You Need A Good Guard
When Barney met Mabel, there was an instant - and fatal - chemical reaction.
On Tuesday night the doberman pinscher guard dog, after six years' blameless service, went berserk: within minutes Mabel, a 1909 German-made Steiff teddy bear once owned by Elvis Presley, more recently the pride and joy of an English aristocrat, lay mortally wounded.
Barney went on to rampage through hundreds of rare teddies, all on loan to Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset, and so valuable that the insurers had insisted on a guard dog to protect the premises at night. The aftermath, according to shocked staff, was appalling: shattered limbs, gouged eyes, ears torn off, and pools of sawdust everywhere.
"Up to 100 bears were involved in the massacre," Daniel Medley, general manager of Wookey Hole Caves, said last night. "It was a dreadful scene."
photo & story courtesy guardian.co.uk, 8/4/06
Philippians 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
God's living Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of all followers of Christ. The apostle Paul is teaching us that His Spirit will guard our heart and mind by giving us God's peace. That's an incredible security system! Are you using it? God's peace is no dog. We never have to wonder if God is going to suddenly turn against us like Elvis's teddy guard dog. God never changes. His love is constant. He has a perfect plan and purpose for us.
That's why Paul's advice for us is to turn our worries into prayers. Whenever we start to worry, we should stop and pray. The result is God's peace which is different form the world's peace. Peace is not found in positive thinking or focusing on our "happy place", but it is discovered in trusting God because we know that He is in complete control. Let God's peace guard your heart against being anxious about life.
- Memorize today's scripture as a reminder of how to let God guard your heart and mind every day.
- Keep a written list of what you worry about. Turn this list into a daily prayer list. At the end of the month, evaluate what God has taught you about His peace guarding your heart and mind.
- Pray right now. Thank God for the power of His Spirit living in you. Confess any way in which you have been going through the motions of being a Christian and finding yourself living in anything but God's peace. Ask Jesus to give you the faith and discipline you need to consistently turn your worries into trusting prayers. Thank Jesus for His peace which will guard your heart and mind. It is beyond human understanding!
- Share what you've read and learned today with a friend who needs some encouragement in dealing with worry.
- When someone in your "storysphere" talks about something they are worried about, let them know that you will pray for them. (Then make sure you do!) Remember that part of God's Story is that He often uses change or conflict to help people see their need for Jesus.
17 Aug, 2006
Caught Stealing
MAN MUST REPAY SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CHECKS STOLEN BY KEEPING BODY CHILLING
MADISON, Wis. - A man convicted of keeping his dead mother in a freezer for years so he could keep collecting her Social Security checks avoided federal prison.
A judge ordered Philip Schuth, 53, to serve four months simultaneously with the state prison sentence he is already serving and to repay about $35,000 he stole from the federal government.
Schuth pleaded guilty in April to a federal count of misusing a Social Security number.
He is serving a seven-year sentence as the result of a standoff with police last year at his home on French Island, just outside La Crosse. It was during the standoff that officers found the frozen body.
Schuth told investigators she died of natural causes in 2000, but he hid the body because he didn't want to be blamed for her death and wanted to keep collecting her Social Security.
Schuth's attorney, Mike Lieberman, said most of the money has been repaid after police found about $10,000 in his client's house and $24,000 in his bank account.
photo courtesty images.google.com & story courtesy news.google.com, 7/30/06
Leviticus 6:1-5
6:1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor 3 or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby— 4 if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about stealing?
This Old Testament passage was given to Moses and Israel thousands of years ago, but the truth still applies for us today. It points out that stealing involves more than just taking something from someone. Another form of stealing is finding something and not returning it or not returning something we have borrowed from someone. This is not only a sin against others, but a sin against God. If we have stolen anything, we must confess this sin to God, and ask the rightful owner for forgiveness, and return the stolen items with interest.
When I read the story about the guy keeping his mom's body in the freezer so he could keep collecting her social security checks, I had to read it again, because it is so unbelievable. This guy is not only a thief, but he's either mentally ill or one of the most "cold-hearted" people on this earth. How did he think he could get away with it?
But what do we try to get away with? We may not be stealing social security checks from the government and leaving our loved ones out in the cold, but do we have a casual attitude about somehow "ending up" with something that belongs to someone else? You know - they really won't care, or they didn't need it anymore, or they already have more than they need, or by now they've forgotten about it and it would be really look bad if...
STOP THIEF! We can't rationalize anymore...make it right with God and the person we stole from...plus a little extra! It's what the Bible says to do! God wants us to put a "freeze" on stealing. (Sorry, that was bad!)
- Thank God that His Word is so clear and practical! Confess any sin of stealing to Him right now. Thank Him for His forgiveness and ask His Spirit to give you the courage to confess and make things right with those you have stolen from and if necessary - with the law. Ask Jesus to help you live every day with integrity.
- Ask God to help you remember, as you make a written list of anything you have stolen or borrowed and not returned (books, DVDs, clothes, tools, money....). Return what you have taken (with interest). It may cost you some time, money and embarrassment, but it will be worth it! You will be amazed at the freedom you will find!
- If you need to return something you have stolen or kept from someone, be ready for them to question why you are being honest and making it right. This will be a great opportunity for you to talk about how Jesus has changed your life story.
- If you have a friend who confides in you about stealing something and they regret it, offer to help them apply today's DAILYBIDE. If they don't regret it, pray for them and look for the opportunity to offer your help.
16 Aug, 2006
Breaking the Rules
Landis sample shows high and synthetic testosterone
PARIS -- Floyd Landis was fired by his team and the Tour de France no longer considered him its champion Saturday after his second doping sample tested positive for higher-than-allowable levels of testosterone.
The samples contained synthetic testosterone, indicating that it came from an outside source.
Landis had claimed the testosterone was "natural and produced by my own organism."
The Swiss-based team Phonak immediately severed ties with Landis, and the UCI said it would ask USA Cycling to open disciplinary proceedings against him.
"Landis will be dismissed without notice for violating the team's internal Code of Ethics," Phonak said in a statement.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Landis no longer was considered champion, but the decision to strip him of his title rests with the International Cycling Union.
"It goes without saying that for us Floyd Landis is no longer the winner of the 2006 Tour de France," Prudhomme told the AP in a telephone interview.
photo & story courtesy espn.go.com, 8/5/06
2 Timothy 2:5
5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (ESV)
What does today's scripture teach us about obeying God's rules?
Rules in athletic competition exist for several reasons. They make the competition fair and protect the athletes from injury. Most kinds of games include penalties or fouls as consequences for players when they don't play fair or when they are trying to harm someone from the other team.
In today's verse, Paul makes it clear that we must follow the commands or rules that God has given us. His commands are given to us because He loves us and wants us to win the race He has given us to run.
How are you doing at following the "rules" given to us by God, found in His Holy Word?
Floyd Landis was crowned the winner of the Tour de France, but he will now experience the negative consequences of breaking the rules. If we ignore or break God's instructions, we too will experience heartbreaking consequences.
Obeying God's rules not only leads to victory, but it demonstrates our love for Him!
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- As you read God's Word, write down, every week, at least one command that you know God wants you to keep. This will be your personal list of God's "rules" that you know will help you run the "race" for Him.
- Pray every day for Jesus to help you live according to God's "rules".
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder to stay motivated while you run the "race" with Jesus.
- Thank God right now for giving us rules to live by and please Him. Confess any of His instructions in His Word which you know you have been ignoring or breaking. Thank Jesus for providing forgiveness and giving you a clean record! Praise Him for giving you the Holy Spirit's power to get back in the race and obey the rules!
How can you connect today's God's Story and your story to others?
- Go for a bike ride and spend this time praying for friends and family who need Jesus.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE as a resource in your small group or youth group to talk about the importance of following God's "rules" in His Word.
- Be a good listener to others as you try to learn their stories. When you hear them talk about the rules or restrictions in their lives, use this opportunity to share more about your story as it relates to God's "rules" in your life.
11 Aug, 2006
Madonna On The Cross
MADONNA UNDER FIRE OVER MOCK CRUCIFIXION
Religious groups have reacted furiously after Madonna appeared hanging
from a cross and wearing a crown of thorns during her latest world tour.
During her performance at the Los Angeles forum, Madonna appeared strapped to a 20 foot high crucifix, prompting outrage from Christian leaders.
A Church of England spokesman said: "Is Madonna prepared to take on everything else that goes with wearing a crown of thorns?
"And why would someone with so much talent seem to feel the need to promote herself by offending so many people?"
David Muir of the Evangelical Alliance told the Evening Standard: "It is downright offensive. Madonna's use of Christian imagery is an abuse and it is dangerous.
"The Christian reaction to this sort of thing tends to be tempered but if the same thing was done with the imagery and iconography of other faiths the reaction would be very different."
photo & story courtesy dailymail.co.uk, 8/2/06
Luke 9:23-25
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about taking up Christ's cross?
In this passage, Jesus is using a word picture that His culture understood and that He would later demonstrate with His own body. To take up one's cross meant to carry your own cross to the place of your crucifixion.
This is a sobering and powerful illustration of what abiding in Jesus is all about. Taking up our cross means we are willing, every day, to deny our own selfish desires and follow Jesus completely. It is so simple, but so hard. This is the cost of being a disciple of Christ. Anything else is just talk and no walk.
Based on what the scripture teaches, Madonna doesn't get it, does she? Many of her fans may think she is doing sort of a cool religious thing by wearing a crown of thorns and hanging on a cross, but it is truly an insult to Christ, the Savior, and His suffering on our behalf. It's a very creative way for Madonna to attract media attention and more dollars to her fortune.
But let's be painfully honest here. Don't we often see our relationship with God like having a genie in a bottle? We think more about what He can do for us rather than what we can do for Him. Taking up our cross means that we won't focus our earthly lives on our pleasure, but spend our lives loving and serving God and others.
- Every day, take a moment to think about Christ's cross. Meditate and reflect on what He did for you. Thank Him. Worship Jesus. Remember that nothing in this world can compare with Jesus living in you and you in Him. Take several minutes to do this right now... pray... listen... worship... thank Him... surrender to Him...
- Make a written list of what is keeping you from taking up your cross to follow Jesus completely every day. Pray every day for Jesus to give you the power to make the needed changes. Ask another friend who loves Jesus to pray for you, encourgage you and hold you accoutable.
- Keep a picture of a cross in your room, or as a background on your screen, as a reminder that Christ's cross is a picture of selfless sacrificial love for others. When you look at it, let Jesus remind you to have His compassion for learning the story of those who need Him as their Savior.
- As Madonna does her "Confessions" tour, the media will talk about her cross routine. Look for conversational opportunities with others to use this as a way to talk about what it really means to take up our cross.
- Pray that the truth and love of God's Story will somehow break through to Madonna. It would change her story forever.
9 Aug, 2006
Paris the Icon
Paris Hilton says she's a modern day Marilyn Monroe
John Kennedy, canada.com, 8/16/06 | Paris Hilton has compared herself to a Hollywood legend and a beloved princess in a startling new interview.
“There’s nobody in the world like me,” she told the UK’s Sunday Times. “I think every decade has an iconic blonde — like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana — and right now, I’m that icon.”
Hilton boasted about her knack for trading on her famous name.
“There’s a lot of heiresses out there and I don’t see any of them doing what I’ve done. It’s Paris Hilton plc, baby! I have so many projects — bags, fragrances, make-up,” she said. “I go round the world every three days, designing and personally approving it all. I’ve got movies to make, a tour, TV shows. Every day of my life is scheduled until the end of 2007.”
The Simple Life star, whose soon-to-released debut CD has already spawned the hit single “Stars Are Blind,” said she is acutely aware of the power she holds.
“There’s nobody who can generate as much as I can for events either,” she told the Times. “They did a poll in the States asking people who they’d most like to see at a party — and it was me.”
The entrepreneur and amateur porn star dismissed reports of nightclub battles with other young female stars.
“All those stories are made up. I’m non-confrontational. Certain girls just use me to get media attention,” she said. “They have their publicists call the tabloids and make something up, because a feud with Paris Hilton always gets press.”
2 Timothy 3:1-4
Godlessness in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (ESV)
What does today's scripture teach us about godlessness in the last days?
The "last days" that Paul wrote about refer to the days after the resurrection of Jesus and will continue until Christ's second coming. This means that not only are we living in the "last days" now, but every day that passes in 2006 brings us closer to the return of Christ.
Paul says that "people will be lovers of self...of pleasure rather than lovers of God".
It's pretty obvious that pretty Paris Hilton is pretty messed up. When you consider her perspective on material possessions, the flaunting of her sex tapes, and now her claim to be an "icon", there's no doubt that she loves herself and godless pleasure rather than God.
But before we get real righteous by bashing Paris, we need to take a look at ourselves.
We claim to be followers of Jesus. But what do we seek more often, pleasure or God?
Worldly pleasures are easily obtainable, while God is uncontainable. The pleasures available in this life seem to benefit us now, while the benefits of loving God are often in the future.
Loving God rather than loving pleasure means we must let go of our pride, selfish desires, and accomplishments. Loving God with all of our heart, strength and mind requires complete surrender to God in every part of our lives.
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Honestly answer these questions to yourself and to God: On a daily basis, are you choosing to love pleasure, or to love God? Is there anything you love more than God?
- Are you guilty of anything on Paul's list in today's scripture? Let God forgive you. He loves you. He really does feel that "there's nobody else in the world like you"!
- Rather than giving in to culture's pressures, stand up against secular perspectives by abiding in Jesus every day. Keep a written journal to track your spiritual growth.
- Pray right now for Jesus to point out to you the changes that are needed in your life for you to love God with "all of your heart, strength and mind". Ask Jesus to give you the courage to stand up for God's Truth in our culture every day in every way, not just spiritually. Thank Jesus for His love for you which is beyond human understanding.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray for Paris Hilton to encounter Jesus. Pray that someone who knows Jesus will have the opportunity to learn her story and share their story of faith and God's Story with Paris.
- The topic of loving pleasure rather than God is illustrated every day in our culture and especially in the media. Look for those conversational moments with others when you can be real about your own struggles in this area. This would be a great way to share part of your story.
8 Aug, 2006
It's the Right Thing To Do
DETROIT - A homeless man who returned $21,000 worth of saving bonds he found in a trash bin is finding out how much honesty can pay off.
Charles Moore, 59, had been searching for returnable bottles last week when he came across the 31 U.S. savings bonds. He turned them in to a homeless shelter, where a staff member tracked down the family of the man who had owned them.
For his good deed, the bond owner’s son gave Moore $100, but residents around Michigan and in other states decided his action merited a more generous reward. So far, Moore has received over $4,000.
One man sent him eight trash bags full of returnable bottles and a bowl of coins. Three others gave a combined $2,500, and two businessmen from Troy donated $1,200, a shopping spree and a lead on a job.
“I was thankful for it,” said Moore, who had lost his roofing job in Ohio and moved back to Michigan but couldn’t find work.
Moore said he plans to use the money to find an apartment.
David C. Smith, of Albuquerque, N.M., gave Moore $1,000. Smith said he and his fiancée wouldn’t have thought twice about what to do if the bonds had belonged to them.
“We would have given him the whole amount, period,” Smith said. “No questions asked.”
photo courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy twincities.com, 8/4/06
James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (ESV)
Yesterday, our DAILYBIDE looked at the sin of stealing, which is obviously wrong. But today, we see a different angle on sin. James teaches us that knowing the right thing to do and then not doing it - it's sin! Sometimes these two kinds of sin are called sins of commission and sins of omission.
Let's be honest. How many of us would have returned $21,000 worth of saving bonds if we found them in a trash can? Evidently, someone just didn't want these bonds anymore, right? Or, couldn't we just think of it as God giving us a surprise blessing? Wrong!
The homeless man did the right thing. If he had not, according to James 4:17, he would be guilty of sin. Not only is he receiving money from people who don't even know him, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that he did what's right. Another example of a sin of omission would be when we know the truth, but don't tell it.
Or, we know that we shouldn't tear others down with our comments, but if we know someone who needs our friendship and we don't talk to them, aren't we guilty of knowing the right thing to do and not doing it? When Jesus shows us the right thing to do, will we?
- Pray right now. Thank God for His practical Word. Confess anything that the Holy Spirit points out to you that is an example of knowing the right thing to do, but not doing it. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask His Spirit to give you the desire to follow His leading in all of your actions every day.
- Memorize James 4:17 to help you remember to do the right thing. Pray every day for Jesus to increase your sensitivity to follow through on doing what you know is right.
- Start looking in trash cans for money! Seriously, for the next couple of weeks, whenever you see a trash can, let Jesus remind you about doing the right thing.
- Pray every day for Jesus to help you see the right thing to do for others and then do it.
- Whenever you are with friends, there are always situations that come up when you must decide if you are going to do the right thing. For example, another student is sitting alone in the lunch room. Take the lead and go sit with this person. Or, a teacher is trying to move equipment and a bunch of you are standing nearby. What will you do? Or, someone you work with is looking discouraged. Will you ask a question and listen? Or....(you fill in the blank)....
- If you take the lead on doing the right thing, be ready for conversation about why? Again, this is another great opportunity for you to talk a little bit about your story of Jesus being in your life.
7 Aug, 2006
Here Kitty Kitty!
Stench leads to removal of 82 cats from home
ALISO VIEJO - Lester and Nancy McCormick made room in their home for so many unwanted cats that they lost count and created a stink that brought city and county officials to the door.
"I thought we had about 30," Lester McCormick, 58, said Monday as Orange County Animal Control Services officers hauled box after box, each filled with a cat, out of the house on Cape Victoria. The official tally was 82.
The McCormick house looks as neat and tidy as any in the gated community. But take a whiff and wow.
"We had complaints that the odor could be smelled three houses away," said Aliso Viejo building official Gary Hawken. County officials said it was the largest number of cats removed from a residence in several years.
Both Lester and Nancy McCormick, 51, like cats and took cats into their home when nobody else wanted them. It started about two years ago. People even started dropping unwanted cats off on their doorstep, Lester McCormick said. "We got them spayed at first, but that costs a lot of money and we couldn't afford it and couldn't do it anymore," he explained. Then the cats started to breed within the house.
He said none of his neighbors said a word to him. Instead the homeowners association complained to the city. The couple has lived on the street for about 10 years and McCormick said they now plan to move.
photo & story courtesy ocregister.com, 8/3/06
Ecclesiastes 5:13
13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, (ESV)
King Solomon was the wisest man in the world, according to the Bible. Actually, I'm not super smart, but I know enough to not keep 82 cats in our house! (Dogs would be OK...just kidding you cat lovers!)
Sol's point is simple. If we get too focused on riches, it will cost us! He's really talking about hoarding. What is hoarding? Hoarding is when we obsess to possess! Keeping too much of anything earthly can hurt us.
I don't know if anyone would consider cats to be like "riches", but today's story is a great example of keeping too much.
You and I are poorly mistaken if we think that hoarding some earthly possessions will not be a problem in our lives. We may never go to extreme cat collections, but maybe it's something else like...money...clothes...CDs...video games...food...DVDs...
- If you think you have a problem with hoarding (that is getting out of control) please talk to your youth leader, your pastor or a Christain counselor.
- Do an inventory of your possessions. Be honest. Is there something that you accumulate that gets in the way of your focus being on Christ?
- The next time you go shopping and you're looking for something you already have a lot of...ask yourself why you want to buy it?
Pray right now...Thank God for His blessings in your life. Praise Him because "every good gift is from above"! Confess anything in this earthly life that has gotten in the way of your relationship with Jesus. If you have been hoarding some possessions, ask God to forgive you and He will. Ask His Spirit to enable you to daily pursue intimacy with Christ rather than earthly possessions.
- If you have a friend or family member in your "storysphere" who owns a cat, use today's story to start a conversation about earthly possessions.
- When you are talking with your friends about possessions, look for opportunities to share part of your story about what God is teaching you about the "obsession for possessions".
4 Aug, 2006
What Do Others Think About You
GIBSON ASKS JEWS FOR HELP IN HEALING
Mel Gibson's latest apology drew mixed reactions from Jewish leaders, with some saying they were willing to help the actor address the anti-Semitic slurs he made during a drunken driving arrest and others demanding proof of his repentance.
Gibson made his second public apology Tuesday, four days after he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving following a hostile, offensive confrontation with deputies.
A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the sheriff's report says Gibson told the arresting deputy: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," and asked him, "Are you a Jew?"
The apology went far beyond the first — directed primarily to deputies — and addressed Jewish groups directly. "Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith," he said in a statement.
"There will be many in that (Jewish) community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable," he added. "But I pray that that door is not forever closed."
Gibson, 50, has had an edgy relationship with Jewish organizations since his 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which some criticized for portraying Jews as responsible for Jesus' death. Supporters said the movie merely followed the Gospel story.
His apology prompted one rabbi to invite Gibson to speak at his temple on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. Other Jewish leaders say the healing process will take some time.
"Anti-Semitism is not born in one day and cannot be cured in one day and certainly not through the issuing of a press release," Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, said in a statement. Gibson should read about Jewish persecution and the Holocaust, among other things, Hier added by telephone from Israel.
"When Mr. Gibson embarks on a serious long-term effort to address that bigotry and anti-Semitism, he will find the Jewish community more than willing to engage and help him," he said.
photo & story courtesy msn.com, 8/2/06
Proverbs 10:7
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
Proverbs 22:1
22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold. (ESV)
What does today's scripture teach us about how to have a good reputation? How's yours?
The answer is pretty simple, but impossible to obtain without God.
If we choose to let God's Spirit enable us to live a godly life, our names will have a good reputation attached to them. People who come in contact with us will have good memories of us. They will know they can trust us. They will feel like their lives were blessed because of a friendship with us.
The flip side is that if we choose to not live under the control of God's Spirit within us, our names will have a lousy reputation attached to them. In fact, today's scripture says that our names will be rotten. If we are self-centered, two-faced, or dishonest, the time will come when we realize that we don't have a good reputation. Others will not trust us and we'll find ourselves living a pretty lonely life without friends.
Mel Gibson's reputation is in serious trouble. I'm not attempting to judge him or claim that I know exactly what he believes about Jesus Christ. But one fact is clear - Mel Gibson was not living under the control of the Holy Spirit when he was drunk and slamming Jews. The media is after him, not only because he is a celebrity and made anti-Semitic slurs, but because he made the infamous movie depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Mel is going to need to depend on Jesus to help him get out of the deep hole he has dug for himself. Even if Mel Gibson is forgiven by God and the Jewish community, the world will continue to attach this incident to his name.
What will be the reputation that others attach to your life story?
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Write down anything about your reputation that is not godly. Review it regularly to let God show you how He is helping change your reputation to bring honor to Him.
- Talk to God right now in prayer. Thank Him for making His Word so practical. Confess any way in which you have allowed ungodly choices to tarnish your name and reputation. Thank Jesus for forgiving you and for giving you the opportunity to make a fresh start. Admit your weakness to be able to live a godly life on your own and pray in the name of Jesus that you will live a life worthy of someone who bears the name of Christ.
How can you connect God's Story and your story to others?
- Remember that living a godly life is how God blesses your name and reputation, but Jesus said that the world will still hate you for being His disciple. Even though you will be hated by some for following Jesus, you will have a good reputation if you consistently walk the talk.
- Think about someone you know who does not have a godly reputation. Pray for this person regularly and rather than judging or ignoring him or her, reach out with Christ-like love as a friend.
- Pray for Mel Gibson to allow God's Spirit to intervene in his mess. Pray that Jesus will somehow use Gibson's story to attract people to God's Story.
- Because Gibson's story is all over the news, look for opportunities to use this in conversation to listen to the story of others and share your own story about Jesus in your life.
2 Aug, 2006
Time Is Running Out
I saw a woman die yesterday.
This is not what you expect to see when you go into a discount store to pick up a few items. As I was shopping, suddenly there was a frantic commotion near customer service. Evidently, this lady in her 60's had realized something was wrong and had approached the counter where she collapsed face down. She never moved. It may have been the horrible heat outside or perhaps she had a previous health issue, or both.
Store staff worked on her for a few minutes till paramedics arrived. It was like what you see on television, but this was real. More valiant efforts, but still no response.
After quite some time, the rescue workers lifted the woman's lifeless body onto a stretcher. I recognized that color. Having worked as a pastor, I had seen death before, but it is always a very sobering and spiritual moment. Her time in this life had run out.
I found myself wondering about this woman's life. What was her story?
What is her story now in eternity?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
A Time for Everything
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; (ESV)
What does today's scripture (God's Story) teach us about the timing of death?
God's Spirit gave Solomon the words to write. His main point in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is that God has a time for everything. God has a plan that includes the different cycles of life, including death.
God's timing for everyone's death is important and perfect. This may seem unfair to some people and give great peace to others. Either way, remember that since God is the Creator and in control, He knows best. Keep in mind, that God is love and He can do no wrong.
So, the key to peace with God's timing is to know Him through Christ and confidently accept the fact that He offers eternal life in Heaven after death. God knows what is best for each of us in light of His perfect plan for building His eternal Kingdom.
If someone doubts or is bitter toward God for His timing and plan, he or she will probably experience discouragement, rebellion and endless confusion in life.
You can take heart in remembering that God has planned the exact second when our time runs out. His timing is always perfect.
How can you connect today's God's Story to your story?
- Daily thank God for His perfect plan and timing in everything.
- Write down in your journal (or somewhere you'll be reminded) the answer to this question: If you knew that your time would run out one week from right now, what would you do? How would you live your life during this next week?
- Talk to God right now in prayer. Thank Him for being in control of everything. Thank Him for loving you and having a perfect plan for every part of your life, including death. Express any fear or questions you have...He will listen and love you. Confess any way in which you tend to minimize the time God has given you in life. Ask His Spirit to help you use your time wisely and to live as if your time were about to run out.....
How can you connect today's God's Story and your story to others?
- Keep in mind that time is running out for everyone. Every second that goes by brings everyone another second closer to death. This doesn't mean that you should panic and start cramming Jesus down everyone's throat. God does the work through His Spirit. He just calls each of us to live out the reality of Jesus in us and look for opportunities to learn the stories of others and then connect our stories and God's Story to their lives.
- Pray regularly for Jesus to show you how to use your time effectively in sharing His Good News with others.
- Take a mini hourglass (you probably have one inside a board game that you don't use any more) and set it by your computer or your bed or on your desk. For the next couple of weeks, turn it over a few times every day and watch time run out. Let Jesus remind you of the great privilege and responsibility He has given all of His followers to tell God's Story.
