8 Sep, 2006
Nepal boy claims to be shortest in world
KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal's shortest boy is waiting for word from the Guinness World Records, where he has applied to be named the shortest in the world.
Khagendra Thapa Magar, 14, is only 20 inches tall and weighs 10 pounds.
According to Min Bahadur Thapa, president of the Khagendra Thapa Magar Foundation, they are expecting to receive a reply from London-based Guinness World Records in the next few days. The foundation was set up to collect funds for the boy.
There was no listing on the Guinness World Records' web site on a shortest boy category, but Thapa claimed their closest competitor was 25 inches tall.
The boy and family members are currently touring south Nepal, seeking support for the foundation.
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 8/30/06
How tall are you?
If you're a regular reader of DAILYBIDE, you're experiencing some highs and lows this week. Yesterday, we looked at one of the tallest teenagers in the world and today we're seeing one of the shortest.
Sort of sounds like the Christian life doesn't it? Lots of highs and lows! This is why it's so important for us to keep a focus on abiding in Christ, becasue that's how we will keep growing in spiritual maturity.
What does today's verse from God's Story teach us about growing taller in our faith?
Paul, the writer, is passing on some encouragement from Epaphras who was a hero in the early church. He was a leader who helped keep the Colossian church going during some real highs and lows. His brief greeting was packed with God's truth for us to know and apply:
- we must pray for our growth and the growth of other believers
- God is the One Who brings about spiritual growth in our lives
- we stand tall spiritually when we obey all of God's will
When I saw today's story about the teenage boy in Nepal who is 20 inches tall, my heart broke for him. He will never look normal or mature and he can't help it. A rare disorder has stunted his growth.
We don't have an excuse for being short on Christ-likeness or showing a lack of spiritual maturity. The common disorder of sinful selfishness is what stunts our spiritual growth.
This should break our hearts when we see it in our lives and in the lives of our friends who are Christ followers. Does it?
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Pray right now....talk to God about your spiritual shortness and your desire to stand tall in Christ-like maturity.
- Pray every day for God to grow you and other believers around you.
- Make a list of 5 actions you can take to stand tall spiritually and 5 actions/attitudes in your life right now that are stunting your spiritual growth. Follow through on what you learn.
- Remember how your mom or dad would measure your height and mark it on a wall to keep track of your physical growth? Keep a written journal where once a month you evaluate if you are growing or shrinking spiritually.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray for the spiritual growth of three friends or family members every day. Once a month, write them a note or do an act of kindness for them to encourage them. Ask them how you can pray for them.
- If you aren't in a small group with at least 3-4 friends who want to grow spiritually, start one. Show them today's DAILYBIDE with the teenage boy attempting to get in the Guinness Records. The first time you get together, lay on the floor so that everyone is shorter than 20 inches. Agree on a plan to grow together.
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