Too Much Of A Good Thing

If what I was taught in my biology classes was accurate, 55-70% of the adult human body is made up of good ol' H2O (this figure varies from source to source). This being the case, doctors, nutritionists -- and naturally -- bottled water companies everywhere urge us to be sure we are drinking sufficient quantities of this life-sustaining serum. Some have even suggested water is second only to oxygen in its essential properties for sustaining life. It is hard to argue with that, I suppose.

So, you can't get too much water, right? Sounds good...only it is not true. In January 2007, a 28-year-old mother of three lost her life as a result of water intoxication. Poisoned by water?!?! "Impossible!" you say? I would have thought so myself before reading of this incident.

The young was competing in a contest run by a Sacramento morning radio show. The challenge was to determine which contestant could drink the largest quantity of water in a brief period of time without using the "facilities." The so-called "winner" (really though...does anyone actually win here?) would be awarded a brand new Nintendo Wii video gaming system. She died just hours after the conclusion of the contest.

This sad story made me think about how too much of a good thing can indeed be harmful. In this case, something as good -- yea, essential -- as water turned out to be fatal! Is this not true in other areas as well? Truly, anything that would impede my ability to serve the Lord, giver of all things good (James 1:17) is something which must be kept in check. Time investments in areas such as recreation, bodily exercise, my "9 to 5," and even time spent with friends and loved ones are all WONDERFUL God-given blessings. However, consider how too much of any good thing can be fatal to your soul.

Let us learn to be betters managers of our time. Work hard, play hard, enjoy family time to your fullest...but for your OWN sake...do not allow the trappings of life so monopolize your valuable God-given minutes that you drift from the side of your gracious and benevolent Savior.

Too much of a good thing...the outcome is almost always a bad thing.

r2

It's The Thought That Counts

Having trouble deciding what to get the friends and family on your gift list? Here's an idea: Animal feces?? Hey, like they say, "It's the thought that counts." Aye, but who in the world thought of this?!?!

Sure enough, as further proof you can purchase virtually anything on the internet auction giant, eBay, an organization has placed Rhino dung up for sale.

The International Rhino Foundation is auctioning seperately on four pieces of dung from endagered species of Rhino. The proceeds will help fund conservation efforts.

Each piece is dried, mounted in a clear trophy case, and labeled with the kind of rare Rhino that produced it. How fancy!

At the time of this writing, there had been 43 bid between all four......um.......items. The high bids thus far range from $510 to $560. Shipping costs $16, which makes me wonder how the ones shipping these items will respond to the question, "Does this package contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?"

For the record, close-up photos of the Rhino droppings were available, but I refuse to gross our loyal Food For Thought readers out with that sort of imagery.

So, if you are one who participates in the tradition of gift giving during the holiday season, what are you giving? The kids want the latest and greatest toy, the teenagers want the slimmest, coolest cell phones and mp3 players, and the adults want gadgets, cash, and stuff to lay around the house. This certainly is not intended to discourage such a tradition -- I enjoy gift giving myself.

However, when all the kids' toys have been donated to Goodwill, when the teenagers' cell phones and iPods have been replaced by ones with newer technology, when all that stuff laying around the house has been sold for unbelievably low prices at yard sales, what will be left?

Yes, when all is said and done, all that expensive "stuff" will have the same end as the Rhino dung!

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10, NKJV

The phrase "burned up" in the New King James version could more literally be rendered, "laid bare." The English Standard Version translates that phrase with one word: "exposed." For, on that day, even that which was our pride and joy will be exposed for what it truly was: a temporary treasure.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?
2 Peter 3:11, NKJV

So amid all the gift giving this holiday season, remember to give what really counts. Your love toward your fellow man, your righteous example and counsel to your children or grandchildren, and the gift of eternal life to any who would know the gospel.

r2

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a poet. Poetry can be an effective teaching tool. I sometimes wish I had such a talent, but I have always been convinced it is wise to recognize one's own limitations.

Nonetheless, when I come across an especially outstanding poem, I like to share it with others. The following is from the pen of a man named James Smith, whom I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote this thought-provoking poem:

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

It was a sheep, not a lamb that strayed away,

In the parable we are told;

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray...

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

Out in the meadows, out in the cold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought:

Back to the flock and into the fold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray!

For the lambs follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead,

For the sake of the lambs today,

If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost

Some sheep may have to pay.

Paul's God-breathed admonition to Timothy was to, "be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12, NKJV). Never underestimate the impact your faithful service to the King of Kings (or lack thereof) has on those around you.

r2

Procreating For Prizes!

Here is a story you may have heard about out of Russia.

A Russian region of Ulyanovsk has found a novel way to fight the nation's birth-rate crisis: It declared September 12th the "Day of Conception," and for the third year running gave couples time off from work to procreate.

The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia's national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12th festivities win money, cars, refrigerators, and other prizes.

Ulyanovsk, about 550 miles east of Moscow, has held similar contests since 2005. Since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has been on the rise.

Russia, with one-seventh of Earth's land surface, has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world. With a low birth rate and a high death rate, the population has been shrinking since the early 1990s.

In his state-of-the-nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the most acute problem facing Russia and announced a broad effort to boost Russia's birth rate, including cash incentives to families that have more than one child.

Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has added an element of fun to the national campaign.

The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, a sport utility vehicle. Other contestants won video cameras, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

So, it amounts to procreating for prizes. Is there anything morally wrong here? Not so far as I can tell. One would simply hope these Russian parents will be even more interested in a proper upbringing of these children than they are in the prizes that may result. If God has blessed you with children, take this moment to remember His counsel regarding the priceless treasure that is yours:

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5, ESV

r2