28 Sep, 2007
Cover up?
Web service gives alibis for adulterers
PARIS—Looking to get away for a weekend fling without getting caught? A new French company provides would-be adulterers with custom-made excuses that help take the danger of discovery out of cheating.
Founded six months ago by former private eye Regine Mourizard, Web-based Ibila can cook up invites to phony weekend seminars, fake emergency phone calls from work, invitations to nonexistent weddings—anything to justify cheating spouses' absence.
Mourizard said her service is aimed at protecting couples and families by allowing adulterers to live their flings undetected.
"If the alibi is well done and the spouse doesn't suspect anything, this can sometimes save marriages," Mourizard told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Here's how it works: In an e-mail message or call to Ibila, the prospective client requests an alibi for a specific date and time. Mourizard concocts just the right excuse, taking into account the client's profession and personal circumstances.
She and her co-worker, a computer specialist, draw up fake restaurant and hotel bills, receipts and other documents to help shore up what Mourizard calls her "little white lies."
If the adulterer was supposed to have been away for a seminar, the company can even provide the kinds of freebies—pens, hats and tee-shirts—sometimes given at such events.
The simplest excuses cost euro19 (US$27), while more the more elaborate and time-consuming alibis can run upward of euro150 (US$207).
Mourizard, a 50-year-old mother of two, said it was her experience as a private detective that led her to open Ibila—Europe's second such service, she said.
"For 20 years, I worked to keep people from doing what they wanted to do. And I then thought, 'what if I help them do it, in a safe way?'"
photo courtesy images.google.com & story twincities.com, 9/23/07
Ephesians 4:25
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about telling the whole truth?
First of all, think again about today's story about the web service that's available to help people cheat on their spouses without getting caught. Seems almost unbelievable right?
But if we're honest...don't we have to admit that we often go to extreme trouble to try to cover up the real story about some sins in our lives?
Paul is saying that we should not only tell the truth, but we should not practice "falsehood". Maybe this was his term for "a little white lie".
Falsehood is any kind of deception. We may say the exact words needed to make our statement sound true or at least not untrue, but if in the back of our minds we know that we are misleading someone, we're guilty of falsehood. This is a form of lying.
Lying or practicing falsehood not only can destroy friendships, but it destroys trust. Satan tempts us to use this weapon in our personal relationships with family, at school, at work and especially at church. So what do we do?
Stay online with the Lord. His Spirit of Truth in us keeps us honest.
- Confess any way in which you may be struggling to be completely honest with others. Thank God for His forgiveness through Christ. Ask for His help in being full of integrity all the time in all your relationships.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder to strive for honesty in everything.
- Be willing to forgive those who have been guilty of "falsehood" with you.
- Whenever you find yourself guilty of "a little white lie" this week, make it right with the Lord and with the other person.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Today's scripture is written especially for relationships between followers of Christ. Pray for the Lord to help people (including yourself) in your youth group and church to be real and honest with each other.
- Every time you go online next week, let God remind you that He sees and knows everything, no matter what we do to try to cover up our lack of integrity.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE as a topic for study and discussion with your small group or youth group.
- Use today's story about the web based alibis to have a conversation with friends and family who need Jesus. Ask them what they think? Listen and you will learn a lot about their value system. Don't judge, but use the story to share part of your story - the part where God is teaching you about trying to be honest about everything.
26 Sep, 2007
Hurry for Halo!
Fans Line Up To Buy Microsoft's Halo 3 Game
New York: Microsoft Corp began its midnight sales of "Halo 3," the acclaimed alien shooter game that it hopes will widen its lead over Sony Corp in the battle for industry dominance.
While some aficionados lined up before dawn at a Best Buy store on New York's Fifth Avenue to grab a good seat for the launch extravaganza, others took advantage of the retailer's offer to let them pay for a copy of the game and pick it up at midnight or the next day.
Alex Escobar was the first one at the store's checkout counter, turning in a receipt to pick up his advance order.
"It is worth it. It is time to finish this fight," Escobar said, echoing the tagline for a game featuring a futuristic soldier battling to save humanity from an alien onslaught.
What had been a only a modest gathering earlier in the day had swelled to a crowd of about 500 people that cheered as buyers entered the store, resembling other big consumer debuts this year, such as the last "Harry Potter" book and Apple Inc's iPhone.
"Halo 3" is seen as the $30 billion video game industry's equivalent of a new Potter book and Microsoft is counting on the game to finally push its money-losing entertainment unit into profitability.
Microsoft is backing the game with a marketing blitz that includes celebrity-studded midnight sales events at some 10,000 retailers across the United States.
"Halo 3" is targeted firmly at the core Xbox audience of young males, for whom realistic combat games are a staple. It does little to widen the machine's appeal to a more casual audience that is being courted with tremendous success by Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii console.
photo & story courtesy gulfnews.com, 9/25/07
Matthew 6:25-33
Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about earthly possessions?
First of all, Jesus makes it clear that our focus must be on Heavenly values rather than earthly values. If we are obsessed to possess, we will find ourselves empty-handed and needy.
Secondly, Jesus said that the Father knows our needs and will supply them in His way. Can we be patient and trust Him to be our loving Father?
Today's story about the Halo 3 hurry is a vivid illustration of what people will do when they gotta have something right now! Playing video games is not the problem. In fact, I think if Jesus were walking planet earth today rather than 2000 years ago, He would have fun sitting down and playing a game with you. And...He would beat you...or maybe let you win?
Priorities are the problem. Can we be patient for the new games to arrive and spend that waiting time in line doing something for someone else? Would we stand in line to show our passion for Christ? Just wondering....
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Do a little honest evaluation. How are you doing with our culture's obsession for possessions? What are your priorities on a daily basis? Pleasure or serving? Possessions or giving? The earthly or the heavenly?
- Talk to God right now. Ask your heavenly Father to forgive you for ways in which you have been selfish or impatient about needs and wants. Ask His Spirit to help you depend on Him completely and see your needs and desires from His perspective. Thank your loving Father for His promise to take care of you in a way that He knows is best for you.
- For one month, keep a written record of what you want and buy. Every time you think of something you want to buy, ask yourself if you really need it or do you just want it? Could the money you spend be used in a better way? Do you think God would be pleased with the purchase? Honestly evaluate your attitude and actions - you might be surprised how this affects you and others!
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a resource for your youth group or small group to get other followers of Jesus thinking about what He taught in Matthew 6:25-33.
- Email this DAILYBIDE to a friend or family member and then follow it up with a conversation to see what they think?
- Get some friends who need Jesus together to play video games. Look for an opportunity to ask them if they saw today's Halo 3 story and what they thought about it. Trust Jesus for the nudge to share what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE - it's part of your story.
25 Sep, 2007
Marathon man
This story will make you feel tired!
Running for their lives - one marathon at a time
Words can't describe what Tim Borland is doing. But numbers can.
Borland ran 26.2 miles Friday in less than five hours. It was his 19th consecutive day of completing the equivalent of a marathon.
He's got 44 more to go.
Borland, 31, is running in the spirit of children suffering from a rare and often misunderstood disorder called ataxia-telangiectasia. The disease, known as A-T, is terminal.
The Californian plans to run a 26.2 miles a day for 63 days, pushing a stroller carrying a child with A-T or the name of one who who died from it, punctuating his journey at the finish line of the New York City Marathon. He hopes to raise awareness of A-T along the way.
"I felt it was the calling of my life," he said.
If he accomplishes his goal, Borland will run more than 1,640 miles through Nov. 4, the date of the New York City Marathon. Not many people have tried to run that far in so little time.
What is ataxia telangiectasia?
It is a rare, degenerative disease usually not seen until a couple years after birth. First signs include lack of balance and slurred speech in young children. The disorder gradually lessens muscle control and commonly is accompanied by immunodeficiency problems and cancer. There is no cure nor any way to slow its progression.
photo & story courtesy statesman.com, 9/22/07
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NLT)
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about His strength?
Let's start by thinking some more about Tim Borland, the guy running 26.2 miles a day for 63 days! Unbelievable! I'm a casual runner. I need exercise, so I run a marathon during the course of a week and even then I'm really tired!
I talked to friends who run marathons (for real) and they can't imagine running one a day, for 63 days! 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 scripture 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 and God's Story scripture 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 63 marathon man as a conversation starter to learn more about their story.
- Tell a running friend about today's story by directing them to http://www.communityatcp.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=318&srcid=353
24 Sep, 2007
Real forgiveness
Do we live out what we believe?
Amish donate cash to school gunman’s widow
PHILADELPHIA - An Amish community that lost five girls in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting massacre last year has donated money to the widow of the gunman.
The Nickel Mines Accountability Committee, which was set up to handle more than $4.3 million in donations from around the world after the shootings, said it had given an unspecified "contribution" to Marie Roberts, a mother of three.
Her husband, Charles Carl Roberts, a local milk truck driver who was not Amish, tied up and shot 10 Amish schoolgirls aged 6 to 14 in their classroom last Oct. 2, killing five of them before turning the gun on himself.
After the shootings, members of the deeply religious Amish community in Lancaster County about 60 miles west of Philadelphia, said they wanted to forgive the gunman.
In a statement released on behalf of the community, the committee said, "Many from Nickel Mines have pointed out that forgiveness is a journey, that you need help from your community of faith and from God ... to make and hold on to a decision not to become a hostage to hostility.
"It is understood that hostility destroys community," it said.
The Amish, descendants of Swiss-German settlers, eschew many aspects of modern life such as cars and telephones, and place particular importance on the principle of forgiveness.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story freerepublic.com, 9/15/07
Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)
14
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about forgiveness?
Jesus makes it real plain, even though it seems far from simple. If we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. Why?
Because when we don't forgive others, we are acting as if we don't need God's forgiveness just as much as those who have sinned against us. God forgives us because of His mercy and grace. His forgiveness is not the direct result of us forgiving someone else, but it is based on our willingness to come clean and repent of our own sin.
Have you noticed that it is much easier to ask God to forgive us than it is to forgive others?
We know that Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. We believe what He taught about forgiveness. Are we living it? Abiding in Christ will make us want to forgive like Jesus forgives.
The updated story of the Amish giving money to the wife and children of the murderer who killed their loved ones in the school shootings is an amazing example of living out the words of Jesus.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Talk to God right now. Thank Him for His forgiveness for your sins through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Confess the lack of forgiveness toward others in your own life. Ask His Spirit to empower you to stay so connected to Jesus every day that you will forgive others as Jesus does.
- Whenever you ask God to forgive you of some sin, ask Him to remind you if you have forgiven someone who has wronged you?
- Keep a written journal for two weeks and answer these three questions every day: (1) Was I willing to love others like Jesus? (2) Am I willing to forgive those who wronged me today? (3) Am I trusting God because He is in control, no matter what?
How can we connect today's story and God's Story and our story to others?
- If someone needs your forgiveness, trust Jesus to give you the love you need to give it. If you need someone to forgive you, trust Jesus to give you the humility and courage you need to ask for it.
- Use this incredible story of the Amish being willing to forgive the murderer and now give money to his family as a conversation starter with someone in your storysphere (circle of influence). It should help you learn the story of someone else and give you the opportunity to share part of your story.
- Encourage your family, your small group, or your youth group to pray for the Amish community and the family of the murderer in Pennsylvania. Use this time to also pray for the need for your family or group to be able to forgive as Jesus forgives.
21 Sep, 2007
Abusing or Abiding?
"For kids, meth is death."
Survey: Some teens find meth easy to get
WASHINGTON - Nearly a quarter of teens say it would be "very easy" or "somewhat easy" to gain access to methamphetamine, a survey released Tuesday shows.
One in three teens also believes there is only a "slight risk" or "no risk" in trying meth once or twice, according to the study by The Meth Project, a nonprofit anti-drug group that produces gritty ads to show the perils of meth abuse.
And about one in four teens said there are benefits to using meth. Twenty-four percent of teens agreed with the statement that meth "makes you feel euphoric or very happy," while 22 percent said meth "helps you lose weight" and 22 percent said it "helps you deal with boredom."
Lawmakers and government officials said the survey highlights the need for an aggressive public education campaign to inform kids about the dangers of the highly addictive stimulant.
"For kids, meth is death," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "And if we really want to do something about improving the survival of our adolescents and help them become healthy adults, we've got to tackle this problem head on."
The survey for The Meth Project was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and questioned 2,602 junior and senior high school students ages 12-17 at 43 schools across the country.
story courtesy yahoo.com, 9/19/07
Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about using alcohol (or drugs)?
Paul is talking about the use of alcohol (and this would apply to drugs)and how it can influence the mind and body.
Look at the notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:
5:18 Paul contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary "high" to being filled with the Spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk with wine is associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires. In Christ, we have a better joy, higher and longer lasting, to cure our depression, monotony, or tension. We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have but with how much of us the Holy Spirit has. Submit yourself daily to his leading and draw constantly on his power.
The survey on meth use among teenagers is reminding everyone about this dangerous problem for kids.
God's Word is reminding us how the abuse of alcohol or drugs can lead to a troubled self-centered life....which is the complete opposite of abiding in Christ.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- If you have been able to say no to drinking and using drugs, thank God for His strength.
- If you've been struggling with drinking, meth, huffing, smoking,or some other drug, ask God for strength and for the courage to talk to someone to help you and hold you accountable.
- Pray right now for a friend or family member who is struggling with the use of drugs and alcohol. Ask Jesus to show you how to reach out and help. Ask His Holy Spirit to fill and control you every day.
- Memorize Ephesians 5:18.
- Every day, pray for God's Holy Spirit to fill and control every part of your life.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Every time you see or hear someone using drugs or talking about it, pray for someone you know is struggling.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE to start a discussion or study in your youth group or small group about how you might apply Ephesians 5:18.
- The party scene is all around you. Look for those moments with your friends when you can talk and listen to them about their feelings about drinking and drugs. You might be surprised what you learn about their stories.
20 Sep, 2007
Game over?
Chinese Man Drops Dead After 3-Day Gaming Binge
BEIJING — A man in southern China appears to have died of exhaustion after a three-day Internet gaming binge, state media said Monday.
The 30-year-old man fainted at a cybercafe in the city of Guangzhou on Saturday afternoon after he had been playing games online for three days, the Beijing News reported.
Paramedics tried to revive him but failed and he was declared dead at the cafe, it said. The paper said that he may have died from exhaustion brought on by too many hours on the Internet.
The report did not say what the man, whose name was not given, was playing.The report said that about 100 other Web surfers "left the cafe in fear after witnessing the man's death."
China has 140 million Internet users, second only to the United States. It is one of the world's biggest markets for online games, with tens of millions of players, many of whom hunker down for hours in public Internet cafes.
Several cities have clinics to treat what psychiatrists have dubbed "Internet addiction" in users, many of them children and teenagers, who play online games or surf the web for days at a time.
photo & story courtesy foxnews.com, 9/18/07
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
What's the connection between today's God's Story scripture and the internet?
Even though Paul never imagined the internet or online games, he understood the principle that whatever you program into something determines the outcome. What we put into our minds determines what we think about, say, and do.
Paul is simply telling us (according to the Holy Spirit directing him) to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise.
How do Paul's words make you evaluate your current use of the internet?
If you're struggling with impure thoughts and attitudes or finding it difficult to manage your time, you will find it helpful to reprogram your mind with the kind of resources that Paul talks about in today's verse. Most important of all - make sure your priority is to spend time in God's Word and prayer.
The poor guy in China not only has "game over" but his life is over.
Are you addictded to the internet or to Jesus and His Truth!
- Take a minute to let God's Spirit lovingly convict you of anything that is dominating your thoughts other than that which pleases Christ. Confess it and thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask Him to reprogram your mind on a daily basis. Take another minute to praise Him for His work in your life.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder to fill your mind with the right stuff.
- Write out today's verse and stick it on your computer or in your organizer or one of your school books. This is part of "reprogramming" your thoughts.
- For one month, keep a written log or journal of the amount of time you're spending on the internet, with video games, tv, movies and God's word or other Christian resources. Take appropriate action and thank God for His help in making you more like Jesus.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- In your youth group or small group, brainstorm ways to use the internet and online games to get others involved who need to know Jesus.
- Use today's story about the Chinese guy dying after three non-stop gaming days to start a conversation with friends in your storysphere who need Jesus. Ask them what they think this guy's story might have been? Bored? Addicted? Listen carefully because you may learn more about their story as they express their opinion.
19 Sep, 2007
Do the bad guys always get away with it?
Simpson faces 7 felonies, including kidnapping
LOS ANGELES - 
The Ex-football star could get life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors filed formal charges Tuesday against O.J. Simpson, alleging the fallen football star committed seven felonies, including kidnapping, in the armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in a casino-hotel room.
Simpson was arrested Sunday after a collector reported a group of armed men charged into his hotel room and took several items Simpson claimed belonged to him.
Simpson, 60, was booked on suspicion of assault and robbery with a deadly weapon. District Attorney David Roger filed those charges and added kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to court documents.
The judge may set the bail at a hearing Wednesday in excess of $1 million because of the kidnapping charges, a local expert told NBC News.
photo & story courtesy msnbc.com, 9/18/07
Psalm 10:2-5
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
Psalm 10:11-14
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
13 Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about God's response to arrogance and injustice?
The writer of this part of scripture (believed to be David) was struggling with the same concern that we often have - why does it seem that evil people "get away with it" all the time? Why do the bad guys seem to be winning? Not only that, but they brag about it!
The answer in today's scripture is very clear - although God may seem to be "looking the other way" at times, we can be assurred that He is aware of every injustice. God is Holy and just. According to His Word, God hates the evil actions of the wicked and they will be punished, in spite of the fact that they usually believe they can "get away with it".
As everyone knows, O.J. was acquitted of murder years ago, even though the evidence against O.J. was overwhelming. His arrogance since the trial and his current actions cry out for God's justice.
That's why today's scripture is so important for us to remember and apply. God listen to the cries of the helpless. Eventually, because God knows every evil deed, His justice will be served. In God's time...
Be encouraged. God takes care of His followers. We can face the wicked and "bad guys" when we abide in the strength and grace of Christ.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Talk to God right now. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the evil in our world? Are you experiencing some evil actions or attitudes directed toward you? Let your loving Heavenly Father listen to your cries.....His Spirit will encourage you and lift you up....
- Whenever you read or see the news on television or the internet and it seems that evil is running rampant, take a deep breath and remember that every breath that every living being takes is a gift from God. He is in complete control. He loves you. He is just.
How can you connect today's story and God's Story scripture and your story to others?
- If you are a teenager, O.J. 's murder trial took place when you were just a little kid. Keep in mind that the reason our nation remembers it so well, is because it is a story of a celebrity, incredible horror, and a great injustice. So, be ready to use the Truth of today's scripture. This new trouble for O.J. will be a hot topic in the news for a few weeks and it will probably come up in conversations at home, at school and in the work place. See it as another opportunity to learn the stories of others (as they express their opinions), share your own story and connect it to the Truth of God's Story.
- Pray for O.J. to recognize his sinfulness and come to God for forgiveness. Yes, this is part of God's Story. Though the Holy, just God punishes the wicked, His grace and mercy mean that He would forgive O.J. if he received Jesus Christ as His Savior. Amazing!
18 Sep, 2007
Who's at your door?
Ovard spotted two baby moose in her yard when she pulled into the driveway Tuesday. She immediately started looking for the mother moose, spotting the massive animal just before it plowed through her storm door and front door.
"There's a big gouge, and you can see where the whole front of the (moose's) body went right through it. It broke the wood frame," Ovard told the Idaho State Journal. "Try telling that to an insurance company."
Hoping to stop the moose from doing more damage, Ovard opened the sliding glass door in the rear of the home to give the animal an easier exit and then ran away as fast as she could. The moose, also frightened, turned and ran back out the front door.
A Fish and Game officer told Ovard the moose likely spotted its own reflection in a window, and forced its way into the home because it thought there was another moose nearby posing a threat to its babies.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story twincities.com, 9/15/07
Revelation 3:16-20 (NLT)
16
20
After reading today's God's Story scripture, what does it mean that Christ is "knocking at our door"?
We find the answer in Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes:
3:20 The Laodicean church was complacent and rich. They felt self-satisfied, but they didn't have Christ's presence among them. Christ knocked at the door of their hearts, but they were so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that they didn't notice that he was trying to enter. The pleasures of this world - money, security, material possessions - can be dangerous, because their temporary satisfaction makes us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction. If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God, and you won't need to worry about hearing his knock. Letting him in is your only hope for lasting fulfillment.
The woman in today's story was surprised to find a moose come through her door and into her house. Would anyone be surprised to find what you have let into your "house"?
When we keep the door of our souls open to the presence of Christ, we will be satisfied beyond belief. When worldly pleasures knock on our door, slam it shut!
- Thank God for the creative way He tells us His Story in His Word. Confess any way in which you may be living like the lukewarm church in Revelation 3. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness and for His relentless love which keeps Him knocking on our door even when we often shut Him out of our lives. Ask Jesus to give you the faith you need to find your satisfaction in Him and Him alone.
- Start every day by thanking Jesus for His presence in your life. Ask Him for the power to find your satisfaction in Him alone.
- This week, whenever you hear a knock at a door, let it remind you to evaluate whether or not you are living in Christ's presence?
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
Catch or rent a moose and go knock on a friend's door, or on a door of one of your school classrooms, or on the door of your boss or.....on second thought, maybe not. But you could share this DAILYBIDE with a friend or your youth group or your small group and talk about how letting Jesus through your door is going to help others who need Him, see God's Story in you.
17 Sep, 2007
Lost and found
Missing 3-year-old boy found alive in the Uintas
Searchers in Summit County located a 3-year-old boy who disappeared in the Uinta Mountains for most of one day.
Dispatchers said the boy, Benjamin Myrup, was alive and in good condition.
Benjamin wandered off about 8:45 a.m. while playing a game with four other young children at a campsite at Haystack Lake, about 24 miles east of Kamas and off of State Road 150.
A sheriff's office command post was established at nearby Washington Lake. Sheriff's search teams, comprising about 100 people, were on the ground and in the air.
"We're using every possible resource we have to do the search," said Sheriff Dave Edmunds said in the early afternoon. Dogs, riders on horseback and ATVs, as well as a helicopter and an airplane were deployed. A diving team was on its way to the scene too, said Lt. Dave Booth.
The Bardsley Foundation, a Utah charity which helps find missing people, organized volunteers on foot, horses and ATVs to meet at the Crystal Lake trailhead, near Trial Lake. The foundation was set up after the unsuccessful search for 12-year-old Boy Scout Garrett Bardsley, who disappeared from Cuberant Lake further up the road in August 2004.
Searchers were anxious because temperatures could dip into the low 30s overnight. Also, there have been reports of bears in the area.
photo & story sltrib.com, 9/11/07
Luke 15:1-7 (NLT)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4
What is the point of Jesus' parable in today's God's Story scripture?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:
15:3-6 It may seem foolish for the shepherd to leave 99 sheep to go search for just one. But the shepherd knew that the 99 would be safe in the sheepfold, whereas the lost sheep was in danger. Because each sheep was of high value, the shepherd knew that it was worthwhile to search diligently for the lost one. God's love for each individual is so great that He seeks out each one and rejoices when he or she is "found". Jesus associated with sinners because He wanted to bring the lost sheep - people considered beyond hope - the Good News of God's Kingdom. Before you were a believer, God sought you; and His love is still seeking those who are yet lost.
About 100 members of a search and rescue team in Utah committed themselves to find Benjamin, the 1 lost child. If you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you're part of the "99 in the sheepfold".
Are we committed to follow the Shepherd's lead in doing our part to help find those who are lost spiritually? Jesus wants us to be part of His rescue team.
- Thank God for sending Jesus to rescue you! Ask Jesus to give you His heart of love and compassion for people who are lost spiritually. Ask Jesus to show you how to be part of His rescue team. Ask Jesus to show you someone who needs to be "rescued". Pray for that person right now and the opportunity to share your "rescue" story with him or her.
- Pray every day for the opportunity to be used as part of Jesus' "search and rescue team".
- Learn more about using the 3Story way of life to help someone who is spiritually lost by checking out the resources here at 3Story.org.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- As God shows you a friend or family member who is "lost", pray for the opportunity to help lead them to be "found" by Jesus.
- Pray for the story of Benjamin being rescued to be used by God to help many others learn more about God's Story.
- Think about someone in your storysphere who is close to being "rescued". Tell him or her today's story and then ask if you can tell them your "rescue" story?
14 Sep, 2007
Look what I see!
With eyes wide open...
Can this man defend his eye-popping record?
Claudio Paulo Pinto is looking to defend his eye-popping record set one year ago. Literally. Pinto can pop his eyeballs out of their sockets at least 7 millimeters (0.3 inches), a national record for eye-popping according to RankBrasil, an organization modeled after the Guinness Book of World Records that lists Brazilian records. Pinto hopes to keep popping and keep the record.
A former driver, Pinto got a job scaring visitors in a commercial haunted house in Belo Horizonte, 210 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. But he now has international recognition for his ability
Pinto's ability is called "globe luxation." Doctors say it can strain blood vessels and nerves between the eyes and the head and feels unpleasant but usually doesn't cause lasting damage.
Pinto says he's been luxating his globes since he was 9 years old and "it doesn't hurt a bit."
photo & story courtesy anatomy.blogspot.com
Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
18 Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.
Why should today's God's Story scripture open up our eyes?
Part of our sin nature (which all of us are born with) includes the selfish perspective that we don't want or need anyone or anything telling us what to do. We think that rules get in the way of our "personal freedom". They keep us from doing what we want to do.
But the psalmist is obviously excited about God's instructions. Why?
It's because God's instructions and guidelines found in His Holy Scriptures were given to us because of His great love for us! God knows what is best for us and He wants us to find ultimate freedom which comes only when we surrender our will to His will. The Bible shows us how to do that. God's Word leads us in His path and helps us stay away from our own worldly paths which only lead to destruction.
This eye-popping truth was discovered by the psalmist and God wants us to see it too!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- You know how TV shows featuring wild stunts always do a disclaimer like "don't attempt this at home"? Well, you should not attempt to pop your eyes like the guy from Brazil, but each of us should attempt to let God help us discover today's "eye-popping" truth at home. It starts with your eyes being wide open! Talk to God right now. Be honest. Have you resisted seeing His Story (God's Word) as the authority in your life? Confess this and ask Jesus to forgive you and take over. Thank Him that His Word is not only perfect, but God has given it to you because He loves you so much and wants you to experience His best.
- Read Psalm 119:12-24 to see the bigger picture of the eye-popping truth of God's Word.
- Keep a written journal for at least two weeks (warning: this can become a habit!) for your daily Bible reading. Every day, look for and write down one "to do" that you find in God's Word. The effect on your life will open up your eyes even bigger to God's incredible Story and love and plan for your life.
How can you connect today's story and God's Story scripture and your story to others?
- Pray every day that Jesus will open up your eyes to see His Truth and the need for His Truth in the lives of your friends and family members who don't know Him as Savior. Ask Jesus to enable you to live like Him in a way that will allow the eyes of others to be open to seeing God's Story.
- Use today's story as an illustration to talk to someone in your "storysphere" to help explain your story - how Jesus helped you see your need for Him.
13 Sep, 2007
Do you ever play "air" guitar?
Japanese man remains air guitar champion
OULU, Finland - A Japanese man out-"played" challengers to win the Air Guitar World Championship for the second consecutive year at a contest in northern Finland.
Ochi Yosuke received the highest score from a panel of judges in the finals at the Teatria rock club near the Arctic Circle.
Apart from the glory, he received a custom-made Flying Finn electric guitar worth $3,400.
The talent on display was variable at best. The surprise of the qualifying round was Oulu native Hilkka "Gore Kitty" Suvanto, who has twice before scored the lowest points ever in that round but now achieved a perfect six from many of the judges.
However, it was Ochi who impressed the judges the most in the final showdown, ahead of Guillaume "Moche Pitt" de Tonquedec, of France and Austria's Max "Herr Jaquelin" Heller.
"It's great. We've seen all the nations, united nations, 'rocking on the free world' and that's good, that's great," de Tonquedec said.
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 9/8/07
Psalm 33:1-3 (The Message)
1-3 Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising.
Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs!
Play his praise on a grand piano!
Invent your own new song to him;
give him a trumpet fanfare.
What does today's God's Story scripture remind us about worship?
First of all, we are instructed to praise God! If we are genuine followers of Jesus, worship is a privilege, not an option.
Secondly, "right-living" people will naturally want to worship God. If you and I are in tune with what God wants for us and from us, our lives will sound great! Our obedience is an act of worship.
And now for the crescendo - we can be creative in our worship of God! This not about the instruments we use (guitars, grand pianos, trumpets), but rather the condition of our hearts and the focus of our minds.
Let's not "error" in our worship. Let's sing God a new song every day!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Do a daily "tuning" of our lives by confessing sin, receiving God's forgiveness through Christ, and offering our obedience as our act of worship.
- Every week, spend some time reading out of the book of Psalms which is a great way to let God help us live a life of genuine worship.
- For the next month, whenever you hear some great guitar skill, let Jesus remind you to praise Him with "right-living".
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture to others?
- If you recognize your own lack of "right-living" in front of those you are trying to connect to God's Story, go to them and apologize for faking your faith. It will help them understand how much you need Jesus every day and it may open up their eyes to the love found only in God's Story.
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a discussion starter with your youth group or small group. Have a little "air" guitar contest and then talk about real worship of Christ.
12 Sep, 2007
Tower of refuge and strength
A look at 9/11 then...now...and in the future...
The twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center smolder (top) after terrorists flew two jetliners into them on the morning of September 11, 2001. The towers would soon collapse, killing about 2,750 people and making the Empire State Building (bottom) the tallest building in the city for the first time since 1972.
(artist's rendition)
By 2011, Freedom Tower, built on the site of the former trade center, is expected to surpass the 1931 landmark in height, if not in the hearts of New Yorkers.
photo & text courtesy news.nationalgeographic.com and images.google.com
Psalm 61:1-3 (NLT)
Lead Me to the Rock
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
2 From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
3 for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
The striking "then and now" photo of the twin towers on 9/11 got me thinking about the "then and now" picture of our spiritual lives. Before we entrust our lives to Jesus we are headed for destruction without God as our tower of strength.
What is the "now" and "future" picture we see from David in today's God's Story scripture?
It sounds like David is writing this Psalm away from his home. Obviously God is not limited to any location in the world, because He created it and controls it.
David knows that he can cry out to God because he can trust Him. He wrote this when he was on the run from his enemies - during the days of Absalom's rebellion and Saul's attempts to kill him while hiding in the wilderness.
The terrorist enemies of America destroyed the towers in New York and our country can expect more attacks. No earthly power or might can guarantee our safety.
It's a different story with our Almighty, All-Powerful God. He doesn't promise us an escape from all trouble, every problem, or attacks from our enemy, Satan.
BUT, God promises to be our tower of strength and He is indestructible! Ultimately, we will find eternal refuge in Him. God will always be in the picture for you...now...and in the future.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Let the LORD know how you need Him to be your tower of strength right now. Call out to Him for safety by scrolling up to today's passage and use David's words as your prayer.
- Memorize today's scripture or place it where you will regularly see it. Use this to remind yourself to call upon the LORD to be your tower of refuge.
- Spend a couple of minutes in worship. If you've been connected to a church for awhile, you've heard the praise song, SHOUT TO THE LORD. Sing it to Jesus right now and/or go to: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Shout-To-The-Lord-lyrics-Chris-Tomlin/98056044A3424EF348256DF20024CAA8
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Your friends or family who don't know Jesus do not have God as their tower of strength right now. You can help connect them to this part of God's Story by being a source of strength to them in difficult times. It's as simple as caring, listening, and just being there for them.
- If you're in a big city with tall buildings, use it as a conversation starter to share part of your story - that God is your indestructible tower! If you're not in a city with tall buildings, use the imagery of the 9/11 towers to share this part of your story with others who need Christ.
11 Sep, 2007
Another 9/11 anniversary
What do you think about and feel when you see the 9/11 images?
Do you wonder where God was on 9/11?
photos courtesy images.google.com
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
How does today's God's Story scripture give us hope for the future?
Today's passage is written about the time when God's people were captives in Babylon. It's ironic that today's free world is fighting terrorists in modern day Babylon - Iraq. Jeremiah was letting the people know that God had not forgotten them. God loved them and planned to give them a new beginning! Even though they were captives, they could call upon God with courage because God's presence and grace would carry them through this difficult situation.
Today we remember 9/11. You will see many images and be reminded of the stories of heroism during one of America's darkest hours. You will be reminded of this country's lack of spiritual direction as politicians cast blame on each other for the reality of terrorism.
But I encourage you to remember that there is a war going on between Satan and God. Sin is the problem and Jesus is the solution. No matter how discouraging the future of this world may look, GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Are you trusting the loving, sovereign God in spite of the world around you? Are you relying on Jesus in the middle of a difficult situation in your personal life?
God has a promise for you. If you will seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him no matter what! Call upon Him with confidence because nothing can ever separate you from His love.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for His ultimate purpose for your life and this world. Ask God's Spirit to give you the faith you need to seek Him every day with all of your heart.
- Pray that God will use the difficult situations in your life to cause you to trust Him completely for your future.
- Pray that God will use today's anniversary of 9/11 to cause our country and people around the world to seek Him and His Truth.
- Pray for the safety of the men and women fighting terrorism. Pray that they will seek God in their difficult situation.
- Pray for the Islamic terrorists to seek after the one and only true God - the Father of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Ask Jesus to give you opportunities to share your story and God's Story as your have conversations in school, at work, and at home about the anniversary of 9/11.
- When you talk to someone in the middle of a difficult situation, share the hope you have because of the promise of Jeremiah 29:11-13. Offer to pray with this person.
- If you have a "deep thinker" friend who is questioning God's presence in our world, you may find the following quote from Christian author Ravi Zacharias helpful:
Why does God not make His presence more obvious? Many arguments are offered for why God “hides” in a world that seeks to see Him. The answer is ultimately found in the divine purposes of God. It is not that God has absconded or is absent; it is that there is a divine purpose behind His visibility or invisibility. If one can rightly read the clues, the mystery is opened up in profound ways. Just as evil can be understood only in the light of the ultimate purpose, so also must God’s presence or seeming absence be judged on the basis of His purpose.
quote courtesy: Light in the Shadow of Jihad: The Struggle for Truth by Ravi Zacharias (Multnomah Publishers, 2002)
10 Sep, 2007
Cool web sight
Spider web engulfs Texas park trail
WILLS POINT, Texas -- Entomologists are debating the origin and rarity of a sprawling spider web that blankets several trees, shrubs and the ground along a 200-yard stretch of trail in a North Texas park.
Officials at Lake Tawakoni State Park say the massive mosquito trap is a big attraction for some visitors, while others won't go anywhere near it.
"At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland," said Donna Garde, superintendent of the park about 45 miles east of Dallas. "Now it's filled with so many mosquitoes that it's turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs."
Spider experts say the web may have been constructed by social cobweb spiders, which work together, or could be the result of a mass dispersal in which the arachnids spin webs to spread out from one another.
Herbert A. "Joe" Pase, a Texas Forest Service entomologist, said the massive web is very unusual.
"From what I'm hearing it could be a once-in-a-lifetime event," he said.
Garde invited the entomologists out to the park to get a firsthand look at the giant web.
"Somebody needs to come out that's an expert. I would love to see some entomology intern come out and study this," she said.
Park rangers said they expect the web to last until fall, when the spiders will start dying off.
photo: images.google.com & story seattlepi.nwsource.com, 9/6/07
Job 8:13-15 (NLT)
13 The same happens to all who forget God.
The hopes of the godless evaporate.
14 Their confidence hangs by a thread.
They are leaning on a spider’s web.
15 They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last.
They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about security?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:
8:14-15 Bildad wrongly assumed that Job was trusting in something other than God for security, so he pointed out that such supports will collapse. One of people's basic needs is security, and many will do almost anything to feel secure. Eventually, however, our money, possessions, knowledge, and relationships will fail or be gone. Only God can give lasting security. What have you trusted for your security? How lasting is it? If you have a secure foundation with God, feelings of insecurity will not undermine you.
The "things" of this world can get us tangled up in a sense of false security, sort of like a spider's web.
In Christ and Christ alone, we are secure now and forever.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Let God's Spirit show you the earthly ways you are looking for security. Now let Jesus remove this false web of entanglement from your life.
- Whenever you see a spider's web, let Jesus remind you to not get caught in this world's web.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture to others?
Think of one person in your storysphere who is really interested in learning more about God's Story. Send him or her the photo in today's story and share what God is teaching you about the need for His security rather than getting tangled up in what this world offers.
7 Sep, 2007
Lucky Dog!
Helmsley's dog gets $12 million, but she leaves 2 grandchildren zilch
NEW YORK (AP) - Leona Helmsley's dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in her mausoleum in Westchester. But two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.
Helmsley left her beloved white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will.
She also left millions for her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was named to care for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer - so long as they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.
Otherwise, she wrote, neither will get a penny of the $5 million she left for each.
Helmsley left nothing to two of Jay Panzirer's other children - Craig and Meegan Panzirer - for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote.
But no one made out better than Trouble, who once appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels, and lived up to its name by biting a housekeeper.
"I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley mausoleum," Helmsley wrote in her will.
The mausoleum, she ordered, must be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year." She left behind $3 million for the upkeep of her final resting place, in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where she is buried with her husband, Harry Helmsley, and where the pair have a view of the New York skyline. Her son Jay Panzirer is also buried in the cemetery.
Helmsley died Aug. 20 at her Greenwich, Conn., home. She became known as a symbol of 1980s greed and earned the nickname "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as snarling, "Only the little people pay taxes."
1 Peter 1:3-5 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the future inheritance waiting for God's children?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:
1:4 The Jews had looked forward to an inheritance in the Promised Land of Canaan (Numbers 32:19; Deuteronomy 2:12; 19:8). Although the nation had received that right of inheritance, eventually they defiled their faith through the influence of foreign nations. The people's sins had caused the promise to become only a fading memory. Christians now look forward to another inheritance, a "priceless" inheritance - eternal life in the eternal city of God. God has reserved the inheritance; it will never fade or decay; it will be unstained by sin. The best part is that you have an inheritance if you have trusted Christ as your Savior.
Today's story about the hotel tycoon leaving $12 million to her dog is both nuts and sad! It's obvious that this Mrs. Helmsley was angry at her family and spiritually lost. She is now missing out on the heavenly inheritance that God offers those who have received his gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Because Christ's forgiveness is complete, we don't have to wonder if our loving Heavenly Father will suddenly change his mind and kick us out of His "will".
It's far better to be one of God's blessed children than a lucky dog!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Spend some time in prayer just thanking God for His promise of eternal life with Him and that nothing can remove the inheritance He has planned for you.
- When the daily grind and struggles of this earthly life start to get to you - stop and let God remind you of your eternal future.
- Whenever you see some "happy-go-lucky dog" running around, stop and thank God that in Christ, you are in His "will".
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture to others?
- Pray that this bizarre story of the Helmsley dog getting $12 million will cause people to think about life after death.
- Use this story to start a conversation with those in your storysphere who need Jesus. Ask questions like: What do you think Mrs. Helmsley's grand-kids are thinking about getting left out of her will? Do you know if you will inherit anything in some-one's will? May I tell you about what I've learned about my future inheritance?
6 Sep, 2007
What would you trade?
Teen Trades Hacked iPhone For New Car
What he did
George Hotz, 17, of Glen Rock, N.J., unlocked the iPhone so it can be used with cellular networks other than AT&T's. The job took 500 hours, or about eight hours a day since the iPhone's June 29 launch.
What he got 
Hotz, left, posted on his blog that he traded in his modified iPhone for 'a sweet Nissan 350Z,' like the one, right, and three 8GB iPhones in a deal with CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company. Terry Daidone, co-founder of CertiCell, also promised the teen a paid consulting job.
Hotz said he will send the three new iPhones to the three online collaborators.
photos & story courtesy statesman.com, 8/29/07
Mark 8:36-37 (NLT)
36
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about pursuing earthly gain?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes provide some insight:
8:36,37 Many people spend all their energy seeking pleasure. Jesus said, however, that worldliness, which is centered on possessions, position, or power, is ultimately worthless. Whatever you have on earth is only temporary; it cannot be exchanged for your soul. If you work hard at getting what you want, you might eventually have a "pleasurable" life, but in the end you will find it hollow and empty. Are you willing to make the pursuit of God more important than the selfish pursuits? Follow Jesus, and you will know what it means to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as well.
Trading a hacked iPhone for a new car is a sweet deal. Is it?
Imagine the impact we could have on this world, if we pursued Christ's Kingdom rather than being willing to trade our spiritual values.
- Thank God that His best is waiting in His eternal Heaven! Ask His Spirit to help you make an honest evaluation of your pursuits in life. Thank Jesus that He will satisfy your needs. Ask Jesus to show you every day how to keep from trading what is temporal for the eternal.
- Memorize today's scripture as a reminder of how to focus on what's really important in life.
- Write down a list of changes that Jesus may want you to make that truly reflect eternal values rather than earthly ones.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture to the lives of others?
- Ask your friends if they think George Hotz got a good deal by trading the hacked iPhone for a new car? Ask them what they would be willing to trade in order to have more in this life? In the life after death?
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a discussion starter in your youth group or small group.
5 Sep, 2007
Is hacking a gift?
New Jersey Teen Cracks the iPhone Code
A 17-year-old hacker has broken the lock that ties Apple's iPhone to AT&T's wireless network, freeing the most hyped cell phone ever for use on the networks of other carriers, including overseas ones.
George Hotz of Glen Rock, N.J., confirmed Friday that he had unlocked an iPhone and was using it on T-Mobile's network, the only major U.S. carrier apart from AT&T that is compatible with the iPhone's cellular technology. In a video posted to his blog, he holds an iPhone that displays "T-Mobile" as the carrier.
While the possibility of switching from AT&T to T-Mobile may not be a major development for U.S. consumers, it opens up the iPhone for use on the networks of overseas carriers.
"That's the big thing," said Hotz, in a phone interview from his home.
The phone, which combines an innovative touch-screen interface with the media-playing abilities of the iPod, is sold only in the U.S.
Calls to AT&T and Apple for comment were not immediately returned. The companies had not been in touch with Hotz, he said.
The hack, which Hotz posted Thursday to his blog, is complicated and requires skill with both soldering and software. It takes him about two hours to perform. Since the details are public, it seems likely that a small industry may spring up to buy U.S. iPhones, unlock them and send them overseas.
"That's exactly, like, what I don't want," Hotz said. "I don't want people making money off this."
He said he wished he could make the instructions simpler, so users could modify the phones themselves.
"But that's the simplest I could make them," Hotz said. The next step, he said, would be for someone to develop a way to unlock the phone using only software.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story abcnews.com, 8/24/07
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the abilities God has given us?
Peter is challenging two kinds of people in these verses - those who feel like they have no talents at all and those who think they are talented and can use them any way they want, without regard for others.
God has gifted each of us. Ask Him to help you identify yours and use them to serve Him! We honor Christ when we use our abilities to serve others and not just for our own enjoyment and benefit.
George Hotz, the 17-year-old hacker, is probably smarter than most of us can imagine. While the ethics of what he has done in cracking the iPhone code are in question, his ability is not. George has a bright future, especially if he chooses to use his God-given intelligence and abilities to please and honor God.
Each of us must recognize that though we may never understand the technology of an iPhone, God has a big call on our lives with the way He has gifted us.
God has not made us all the same. He never intended to - He loves variety! God planned and designed our differences and unique talents. We must be who He created us to be for His glory and to serve others.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for His unique way of creating you and everyone with unique talents and abilities. Even if you're not sure of your "special gifts" right now, praise Him because He has gifted you! Ask Him to show you your gifts and how to use them for His glory.
- Read other passages that give instruction about spiritual gifts and abilities: Romans 12:6-8, 1st Corinthians 12:8-11, and Ephesians 4:11.
- Pray regularly for God to help you discover your unique gifts and abilities.
- Ask your youth leader, pastor and Christian friends to help you identify your gifts and abilities.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Look for opportunities to use your God-given abilities to build friendships with people who need Jesus. God will show you how to learn to know their stories.
- The next time you and your friends are using your cell phones, bring up today's story about the iPhone hacker. Use it as a conversation starter to talk about what you have learned about God giving everyone special abilities.
- Ask your friends or family members about their abilities or point out to them the God-given abilities you see in them.
4 Sep, 2007
Back to school?
Top Ten Signs Of A Kid Having A Bad First Day At School (or at least five of them...thanks to David Letterman):
....Already voted "Least Likely to Succeed."
....Lunch was whatever he could scrape off the bottom of his desk.
....His school bus driver made him ride on the outside of the bus.
....Got tackled twice in gym class--three times in algebra class.
....You know the kid everyone picks on? He got picked on by that kid.
photo courtesy images.google.com & text cbs.com/latenight
John 3:1-7 (NLT)
3 Jesus replied,
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied,
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being teachable?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Jesus often went after this group of religious leaders because they rejected the truth of His message and led the Jewish people away from His good news of forgiveness. Nic was probably nervous about what his peers would think if they knew he was hanging out with Jesus. So he went searching for Jesus after dark, because he believed that Jesus had the answers to his questions.
Nic (at nite) was very intelligent and well educated, but he went to Jesus to be taught. He was teachable. That's the great lesson in today's God's Story.
Are you teachable? Do you go to Jesus with an open mind and heart so that His Spirit can teach you the Truth about God's Story?
After Nic learned the Truth, he became a follower of Jesus. No more sneaking around in the dark! Nic became a bold spokesperson for Christ! (See John 7:50-51.)
You might say that Nic had a really good first day at Jesus' school!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Be honest. Are you teachable? God already knows the answer to this question. Do you?
- Pray right now.....Thank God for His Truth. His Truth is absolute and never changes! Ask Jesus to give you a teachable attitude so that you might learn God's Truths and grow to become more and more like Christ.
- Write down a list of questions you have about God's Story and abiding in Christ. Keep it handy and keep digging in the Word until you discover Jesus' answers. Go to your youth leader or pastor or another follower of Jesus for help. (Do this during the day, because they need to sleep at night!)
- Be like Nic - speak up for Christ and share His Story and your story. God will use you to help answer to the questions that others have about His Truth.
- Read the rest of the story about Nic in John 3:1-21.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Since today is probably the first day of school for most of you, ask Jesus to give you a teachable attitude toward God and toward others in your school. Remember that others will be more willing to learn about God's Story if they see that there's something positive about your story.
- Use the start of the new school year as a conversation starter to learn more about the stories of others around you. You can start with simple questions about what they like and don't like and then you can probe deeper with questions about their feelings, their fears, their need for help in some way....
- Use David Letterman's (five of the Top Ten) as a humorous way to find out some signs that your friends really are having a bad day at school. Be ready to be a friend and help.
3 Sep, 2007
Working hard...
A little history lesson on Labor Day...
| For years Labor Day was an occasion not only to honor the achievements of labor but also to draw public attention to the plight of workers and such problems as child labor. These boys, documented in a photograph by Lewis Hine, were working long hours in an American textile mill in the early 1900s. |
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| photo courtesy of Corbis/Library of Congress |
Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Are you working today? No school! Day off?
I'm writing this DAILYBIDE on Labor Day, because I have to do my Youth For Christ job. When I'm done, I'm going to go do a little miscellaneous work because I have the day off from my normal work.
So I guess you could say that even though I have to work today, I get to do some other work that is hard to do when I'm working!
Sounds confusing doesn't it? Doesn't it seem like most people are confused about work? People often complain about having to go to work, but then complain when they're out of work. People often wish they didn't have to work so hard, but feel most fulfilled when they have worked hard. People often try to avoid working hard, but then get upset when they see others hardly working. Trying to figure this out is hard work!
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about work?
Ever since God created this world, He has given us work to do and wants us to understand why we should work. God wants us to glorify Him by honoring Him with our attitude and actions in work. We need to see work as an opportunity to serve God and worship Him.
If we have Paul's perspective to see work as something we do to honor the Lord, just think how this can affect our daily attitude about hours, wages, the boss, and those around us who aren't working as hard as us. We can work without complaining if we see our job problems and challenges as training ground to become more effective as representatives for Christ.
Labor Day originated to honor workers and bring attention to the problems of child labor.
God is into child labor - He want His sons and daughters to bring attention to Himself by honoring Him with cheerful, effective work!
- Thank God for the privilege of work. Ask His Spirit to give you God's perspective on work. Thank God that His Spirit is always at work in you, helping you want to obey Him and honor Him.
- Memorize today's verse. It will help you keep perspective the rest of your life!
- Pray every day to honor the Lord as you do homework, babysit, flip burgers, clean out the garage, clean the house, stand on the assembly line, do the late shift......
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray that others will be attracted to your story and God's Story as they see your work attitude and habits.
- If you are in a job situation that is not a good match for you, or you are being treated unfairly, pray that God will use this time to help you grow spiritually and that your response will give you the opportunity to connect your story and God's Story to their story. (Then pray for changes or perhaps a new job!)