6 Sep, 2007

Teen Trades Hacked iPhone For New Car

What he did

George Hotz, 17, of Glen Rock, N.J., unlocked the iPhone so it can be used with cellular networks other than AT&T's. The job took 500 hours, or about eight hours a day since the iPhone's June 29 launch.

What he got

Hotz, left, posted on his blog that he traded in his modified iPhone for 'a sweet Nissan 350Z,' like the one, right, and three 8GB iPhones in a deal with CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company. Terry Daidone, co-founder of CertiCell, also promised the teen a paid consulting job.

Hotz said he will send the three new iPhones to the three online collaborators.

photos & story courtesy statesman.com, 8/29/07

What would you trade?

Always looking for a better deal...right?

Mark 8:36-37 (NLT)

36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about pursuing earthly gain?

Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes provide some insight:

8:36,37 Many people spend all their energy seeking pleasure. Jesus said, however, that worldliness, which is centered on possessions, position, or power, is ultimately worthless. Whatever you have on earth is only temporary; it cannot be exchanged for your soul. If you work hard at getting what you want, you might eventually have a "pleasurable" life, but in the end you will find it hollow and empty. Are you willing to make the pursuit of God more important than the selfish pursuits? Follow Jesus, and you will know what it means to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as well.

Trading a hacked iPhone for a new car is a sweet deal. Is it?

Imagine the impact we could have on this world, if we pursued Christ's Kingdom rather than being willing to trade our spiritual values.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
  • Thank God that His best is waiting in His eternal Heaven! Ask His Spirit to help you make an honest evaluation of your pursuits in life. Thank Jesus that He will satisfy your needs. Ask Jesus to show you every day how to keep from trading what is temporal for the eternal.
  • Memorize today's scripture as a reminder of how to focus on what's really important in life.
  • Write down a list of changes that Jesus may want you to make that truly reflect eternal values rather than earthly ones.

How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture to the lives of others?

  • Ask your friends if they think George Hotz got a good deal by trading the hacked iPhone for a new car? Ask them what they would be willing to trade in order to have more in this life? In the life after death?
  • Use this DAILYBIDE as a discussion starter in your youth group or small group.
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

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