FIRST THINGS FIRST

Here's some fun for the day…….

TRIVIA:

What fort did Benedict Arnold promise to surrender to the British in return for money?

BRAIN RIDDLE:

What invention lets you look right through a wall?

JOKE:

Q:  Do moths cry?

A:  Yes, haven't you ever seen a mothball?

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:

God is here, doing His job, supplying just what we need exactly when we need it.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

I've been traveling a lot this summer and haven't had the time to post as regularly.  I finally had a bit of time and thought I'd share about a book I've been reading.  The book is called "Beautiful Outlaw" by John Eldridge.   It's a really good book that looks into the personality of Jesus.   When I think of the various artistic portrayals of Jesus, he's rarely smiling and usually has his hands in an odd, stiff pose.   That's a bit standoffish looking and not a good portrayal of the personality of Jesus.   The author mentions that reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off.   The effect is a dry, two-dimensional character.   This book takes a good look through Scripture to reveal what a fun, loving, playful and generous person Jesus was and is.  

There's lots of good parts to the book. A section I read recently was called 'First Things First".   It's a look into how we can often think that service for Jesus is the same thing as a relationship with him.  Eldridge compares this to having a friend that washes your car and cleans your house but never goes anywhere with you.   They're a 'faithful' friend, but you never talk.  It's not much of a relationship.

This resonated with me because I think it's very easy for people, me included, to get caught up in church to the point that you almost forget the main reason why you're there.   You're so busy doing things that you forget it's not about the church……it's about God….it's about Jesus.    Don't get me wrong, serving is great and necessary, just don't forget the main thing…..the main love……don't forget about God and fostering the relationship with Him.    I think back to the frustration Jesus had with the Pharisees.   They were so caught up in the rules and regulations of religion that they forgot the whole point.  They forgot what God is really about.

An interesting thing that Eldridge says in this part of the book is this:

"…. people most devoted to the work of the Lord actually spend the least amount of time with Him.   First things first.   Love Jesus."

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TRIVIA ANSWER:

West Point

BRAIN RIDDLE:

a window

Until next time…...

THE FINISH LINE…..RUNNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Here's some fun for the day…….

TRIVIA:
What is the only nations that borders both Pakistan and Bangladesh?

OPTICAL ILLUSION
Stare at the object and see if it starts to shimmer and move.   Try staring at the center and then try staring at the outside ring.  (I'm convinced it must be spinning.  haha)

JOKE:
Q:  Why does a moon-rock taste a little better than an Earth-rock?
A:  Because it's a little meteor


QUESTION TO PONDER:
When you open a bag of cotton balls, is the top one supposed to be thrown away?


COMIC FUN:

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:

Through our difficulties we develop greater levels of compassion for those around us

THE FINISH LINE….RUNNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

I recently finished Andy Stanley's book called "Louder Than Words".   There were many parts of the book I enjoyed and I thought I'd share one of those today.   One of the stories Andy Stanley mentioned in this book was the story of German Silva and the 1994 New York Marathon.

German Silva #10, Benjamin Paredes #24

Silva was born in an impoverished area of rural Mexico.   He had trained for years along with his friend Benjamin Paredes who was running the race as well.    Together they had assumed control of the race at the 23-mile mark.   Stride for stride, they matched each other through Central Park.

Silva felt he held the upper hand because if it came down to a sprint, he was the faster runner.    As he neared the final stretch, he began to ease ahead of Paredes.   Just ahead of Silva was a camera car that was setting the pace.   Silva focused on the back of the vehicle and steadily increased his lead.

With a few hundred yards to go, the car left Central Park South and made a right turn into the 7th Avenue entrance of the park.   Silva followed close behind.   Suddenly the cheers of the crowd turned to alarm.   Silva soon realized that he was going the wrong way.  The car he was following had turned off the course in order to clear a path for the finish line.   

Silva had given Paredes a 50-yard advantage.   He managed to catch up and crossed the finish line first with the smallest lead in the marathon's history, beating Paredes by less than 2 seconds.  

Andy Stanley makes the point that Silva was physically superior to his opponents, mentally focused and well prepared for the race.    But…..for a few seconds, he put all his focus in the wrong direction and it nearly cost him the race.

Life is race.  Everybody runs.  But it's not enough to run hard.  You've got to run in the right direction.

Define your personal finish line or you could find yourself winning a race you never intended to run.

Define what is really important in life.   Keep your focus on what is real and what is truly meaningful.   When you focus on the wrong thing….you just might end up losing the race.


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TRIVIA ANSWER:
India


Until next time……..