10 Jul, 2006

This will make you sick!

How often do you eat too much?

WIENER-EATER WINS 6TH STRAIGHT CONTEST!
By VERENA DOBNIK, AP Writer

NEW YORK - A 160-pound wonder from Japan set a new record by devouring a sickening 53 3/4 frankfurters in 12 minutes to win the annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition on Coney Island.

The feat earned Takeru Kobayashi, 27, his sixth straight title in the event, held at the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Brooklyn's seashore.

He broke his own record of 53 1/2 hot dogs, set at the same competition two years ago.

Thousands of raucous spectators jammed the streets in front of the hot dog stand, a block from the famed Coney Island boardwalk, to watch the competition and Kobayashi — a top-ranked eater who once ate 17.7 pounds of pan-seared cow brains to win $25,000.

His strongest competition was Joey Chestnut, a 220-pound civil engineering student from San Jose, Calif., who set an American record by eating 50 hot dogs during a qualifying tournament in Las Vegas.

photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 7/4/06

Proverbs 23:19-21

19 Hear, my son, and be wise,
and direct your heart in the way.
20 Be not among drunkards
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and slumber will clothe them with rags. (ESV)

What do you think today's scripture is teaching us?

That hot dogs are bad for you? Yes, they may be processed and unhealthy, but I think if Jesus were walking planet Earth today, He would love to come to your place for some hot dogs and onions on the grill!

Actually, I think there are several truths for us to think about: God has a path that He wants His children (Christ's followers) to stay on.

Overeating is a problem, just like drinking too much.

Getting drunk and being a glutton are signs of a lack of discipline, which lead to poverty, which is more than just a lack of resources - it's being bankrupt of the peace that comes with being on the right course with God.

How can we apply today's scripture to our lives?
  • Be honest with yourself and God (even though He already knows your real story) about anything in your life that shows a lack of discipline. It might be food, drinking, or____________?
  • Be careful about judging others. Teenagers and alcohol is a serious problem, but let's remember that way too often, food is the "fix" or "party" for many of us who follow Jesus.
  • In your journal, write down anything that is getting you off of God's path. Let Him help you make needed changes.
  • Whenever you eat hot dogs this summer, let it remind you of the truths in today's scripture.

Talk to God right now... Thank Him for the right course He has for you... for His Spirit to give you the discipline you need to stay on it... confess any struggle you are having with food or alcohol... ask Jesus to build intimacy into your life so that you will be satisfied in Him and Him alone.

How can you connect God's Story and your story to your friends and family who need Jesus?
  • Invite them over to your place and grill lots of hot dogs! Seriously, always look for the opportunity to deepen your relationships. Jesus often hung out with people and got to know them while they ate together.
  • Use the hot dog eating contest story as a conversation starter with your friends. Ask them what they like to fill up on or what makes them sick when they do? Then, do a gentle nudge with their thinking and ask them what fills their heart or soul? This may be an opportunity for your to share part of your story. You can talk about how you have discovered that only Jesus can really satisfy your soul.
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God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.