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

Endless Stuff

Recently while stumbling around the "information superhighway," I came across one individual's list of the strangest items ever sold on eBay. These are merely the opinions of that author, but I am in agreement...these are some strange items...and they actually sold for real money on "the Bay." So, without any further ado, I give you the strangest items ever sold on eBay:

Girlfriends: Some girls auctioned their services as 'imaginary girlfriends', who would send the winning bidder pictures of themselves and loving letters, which they could use to pretend they had a girlfriend.

Wedding dress: Nothing strange about selling a wedding dress, you might think - but this was the guy's ex-wife's wedding dress. And he modeled it, as well as writing a long screed about his ex-wife in the description.

TV part: Producers on the TV show Ally McBeal once used eBay to auction off a walk-on part on the show.

Kidney: One man tried to sell his kidney on eBay - after all, you only need one, right? Unfortunately it's illegal to buy or sell human organs. Good thinking, though.

Toenail clippings: A girl once sold her toenail clippings on eBay, one clipping from each toe. She got a $1 for the set - a low price for the years of joy they no doubt provided to the buyer.

Britney's gum: Someone picked up Britney Spears' chewed gum at a London hotel and decided it'd be a great thing to sell on eBay. Oddly enough, they were right - they got $263 for it. A Britney fan probably has it framed in their house.

Ghost: Yes, a ghost. In a jar. Well, why not? The ghost was, apparently, 'terrorising' the man who owned it, and so he decided to capture it and sell it on eBay to someone who might be able to give it a better home.

Virgin Mary sandwich: A seller offered a grilled cheese sandwich upon which the Virgin Mary had appeared to her - and the strange thing is, she genuinely seemed to believe it. This item, unbelievably, sold for $28,000. Some people just have too much money to waste, don't they?

Fighter jet: A state brokerage in Virginia sold a U.S. Navy F/A-18A Hornet jet fighter on eBay for just over a million dollars. It was, unfortunately, in pieces and so unusable, but they offered to put it back together and make it ready to fly for the low, low price of just another $9 million.

So there you have it. Pretty odd, huh? It would seem there is virtually no end to the variety of items people will sell....and, perhaps more surprisingly, BUY!

The Bible says...

When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
Ecclesiastes 5:11, ESV

An increase of property almost invariably brings an increase of expense. This is not to say that it is sin to own some things...even some nice things. The point within the context of the book of Ecclesiastes is to show the vanity in piling up "stuff" while turning a blind eye to the inevitable outcome of all things material.

All will be left behind...even the precious few knick-knacks we find in our possession at the end of life. Not to mention the things we just "had to have" at some point, only to be peddled for pennies on the dollar at a yard sale, or the items which now rest beneath thousands of tons of other people's "stuff they had to have" at the bottom of some landfill.

The point to draw from these thoughts and the crazy list of eBay sales above is that you and I will be wise to keep this world and its wares in proper perspective. Yes, enjoy the plastic and wooden blessings of life and be thankful for them. However, keeping proper perspective of these corruptible materials will be essential in inheriting the incorruptible possession in heaven that awaits those who love the Lord.

r2

What Are You Worth?

It has been estimated that if a man were reduced to his constituent chemical elements, he would be worth approximately $54.

Reflecting on a man's worth on the spiritual plane, however, every man is of infinite worth! Jesus asked,

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 16:26, ESV

So, friend, if you ever find yourself attached more to the physical portion of your existence, just remember where your true value lies!

r2

Moth, Rust, and Concrete

British violinist, David Garrett, is finding out the hard way how fragile even the most valuable items can be. Dubbed "the David Beckham of the classical scene," the 26-year-old Garrett tripped while leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance. His fall included tumbling down a flight of concrete stairs backwards.

Mr. Garrett fared decently, escaping the tumble without significant injury. Despite being in its protective case, the violin he was carrying over his shoulder did not fare so well. Much of the instrument was crushed upon impact. Garrett purchased the violin, a Guadagnini made in 1772, for $1-million in 2003.

Ouch.

Yet another reminder of the fragile nature of anything this world has to offer. Whether its money, real estate, automobiles, rare books, sports memorabilia, musical instruments, or anything else, there are just as many ways to lose our possessions as there are to acquire them.

Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33-34, ESV

This charge given by Jesus is one of those "easier said than done" items, but if we will challenge ourselves to implement this outlook in real life -- instead of merely acknowledging its philosophical merit -- contentment will be the result.

As for Mr. Garrett, he's playing a loaner Stradivarius (poor guy) until the company that insured what is now $1-million worth of sawdust replaces the irreplaceable.

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

Ehh....Close Enough

A bank teller in South Carolina refused to open a new checking account for a man after he handed her a $1-million bill (a photo of which is at right). Alexander Smith of Augusta, Georgia was arrested on forgery charges for attempting to pass off this counterfeit bill as legal U.S. tender.

By the way, the United States Treasury has never printed a $1-million bill.

Despite the fact that this case involved a somewhat obvious counterfeit bill, it still amazes me how precise many counterfeiters can be in their attempts at duplicating genuine notes. Add to that the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise sold every year (such as footwear, clothing, watches, electronics, DVDs, pharmaceuticals, etc), and this country has an epidemic.

There is something for you and I to consider here relative to matters of faith: You and I need to be on guard for counterfeit Christianity.

The Bible speaks of the danger of joining oneself to such a group:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV

Friend, be very cautious when it comes to your inner man -- the part of you that will exist throughout all eternity. Pay close attention to how the church you attend compares to the Scriptures. Are there any conflicts? Perhaps only small ones?

Let's go back to the counterfeit bill for a moment. The difference between the best "fakes" and the genuine article is minute -- undetectable by most! But go into a bank and try to open an account with counterfeit bills and see if they say, "Well, these bills do not match authentic currency....they cannot be real....but hey, they are VERY close. So we are going to accept them and open your account." Not going to happen, folks!!

Under the inspiration of God, one true apostle of Christ wrote to God's people regarding false apostles of Christ:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ESV

Here is a fact: Some people know very well they are deceiving souls, and some do not. The ones who do not know they are teaching falsely are themselves deceived. Now, whether one deceives another intentionally or unintentionally, the problem remains. The only solution is to expose them to truth and hope the heart is soft enough to be receptive thereto.

Let every last one of us always keep these questions before us:

1. Why do I believe what I believe?
2. Why do I worship in such a way?
3. Why am I a member of _______________ church?

If the answers ever become something other than, "Thus says the Lord," we can be certain that our source of authority has become something other than God's word; and any source of authority outside of that word will be woefully insufficient as we plead our case before the judgment seat of Christ.

Friend, let's get back to God's way of doing things.

r2

20 Ways To Simplify

Most of us think we are pretty busy. Most of us are right. While busy can mean productivity, busy can also mean a life that is “out-of-whack” in terms of priority.

Yes, work begets more work, hobbies beget more hobbies, stuff begets more stuff until the point where we step back in the one free moment we might have during a week and realize…. “It’s time to simplify!!"

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). The more “stuff” we have crowding our lives, the more danger we put ourselves in of dividing our loyalty that rightly belongs to the Lord.

Here is an excellent list of 20 ways to simplify, compiled by Dr. Steve Stephens:

1. Eliminate ten things from your life.
2. Cut back on T.V.
3. Escape to a quiet spot.
4. Set your own pace.
5. Get rid of clutter.
6. When you bring in something new, throw out something old.
7. Do only one thing at a time.
8. Say “no” at least once a day.
9. Enjoy the little things.
10. Take at least four breaks per day.
11. Determine what really matters.

12. Make peace with all people.
13. Tell the truth.
14. Appreciate beauty.
15. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
16. If you don’t have time, don’t do it.
17. Have a plan for everything and put everything in its place.
18. Share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with a friend every day.
19. Allow time to pray.
20. Thank God for what you have.

r2

Brotherly Love Conquers All

Tomorrow night (Friday, September 28th) at 8:00 p.m., the West Virginia Mountaineers will take the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They will line up against the South Florida Bulls in what is being hyped as one of the biggest games in all of college football this season, and as one of the biggest games in the history of the Big East conference.

The University of South Florida is an institution comprised of more than 40,000 undergraduate students in Tampa. It also happens to be the university my wife, Kelly, and I attended. We have been devoted fans of the Bulls (especially football and men's basketball) since our time there in the late 1990's and early 2000's.

Obviously, Kelly and I are "pumped" for Friday night's showdown on ESPN. We are in the middle of ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) country here, but we have at least two WVU Mountaineer fans that I know of here at Cold Harbor. I have been preparing both of these brothers for their defeat over the past two or three weeks, but I am not convinced they are ready to handle the deep depression that will set in when the clock reads 0:00 and the point total under "Bulls" is higher than that under "Mountaineers" (sorry guys, had to say it!).

I write all that to say this: No matter how passionate we may be about a sports team or any other interest in life, there ought to be nothing that supercedes these two things:

1. Our love for God
2. Our love for our fellow man

While we should be good and kind to everyone about us, our Christian brothers and sisters should occupy a unique reservation in the love we bestow (Galatians 6:10). Would you believe churches have been split and preachers have lost their jobs due to arguments about football games?!?! 'Tis true! What a tragedy when brethren place greater value on their allegiance to a sports teams (or anything else) than on their relationship in Christ.

It is so rewarding to have Christian brothers like Joe and Steve. We can enjoy the rivalry on the field, all the while maintaining our love for and commitment to Christ and one another.

Friend, never allow anything this world has to offer come between you and your Lord, nor you and your brother!

ps -- be sure to turn on ESPN2 tomorrow night @ 8:00 p.m. to see the Bulls stampede!!

r2

A Thousand "Thrones" Fit For A Thousand Kings

The Chinese are serious about their bathrooms. The city of Beijing recently opened a public restroom featuring 1,000 stalls spread out over 32,290 square feet and four floors.

"We are spreading toilet culture," said Lu Xiaoqing. "After they use the bathroom, they will be very, very happy."

Some of the urinals are uniquely shaped -- such as several crocodile heads, and several units that features a bust of the likeness of the virgin Mary. I'm not sure how or anyone else has any idea what Mary looked like, but I think it's safe to say that she never would have envisioned the day her supposed likeness was mounted on top of a toilet.

Officials have submitted paperwork to The Guinness Book Of World Records in an effort to be recognized as the largest public restroom in the world.

The first passage of Scripture to "pop" into my head as I read all about this "porcelain palace" was the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. In a book devoted almost entirely to declaring the vanity of "life under the sun," verses two through eleven (read them here) are especially applicable when we see useless, yet remarkably funny stories such as this.

All the work that went into constructing this facility and all the fanfare it receives will fade soon. As always, something bigger, better, more fancy, and more remarkable will come along soon enough.

The message is simple: In all our hustle and bustle and seemingly worthwhile pursuits in this life, remember what/Who is most important -- living for Christ and preparing oneself for judgment.

r2