21 Oct, 2009
It's Not Pollite to Point
Man proves he has world's strongest fingers
Fu Bingli, a kung fu master from China, has proved he has the strongest fingers in the world.
Bingli – who has been studying martial arts for 32 years since the age of just seven – can stand upside down supporting himself on just one index finger.
On Monday he scooped the Guinness world record for completing 12 press ups on just one finger of his right hand.
"I've been training since I was seven years old and my index finger has as much strength in it as most people's entire body," said Fu of Lianyungang, eastern China.
For more visit: telegraph.co.uk
Matthew 23:1-4 (New Living Translation)
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about a practical way to show our friends God's love?
When we enter this story Jesus as just silenced the religious leaders with his response to their question. After he responds to their challenge he turns to the crowd and his students and launches into this speech. He leaves us with a spot that is tough for us all. He says to show respect to the people who are leaders even though we don't like what they are doing, but at the same time, we are challenged to not live in the same manner as those leaders.
Jesus, called us to something higher. He tells us in essence don't be like them, don't be less than them morally, but be more. Love people, offer them help, don't leave them to struggle alone with God. In some way this is a summons to live in community. To bare each others burdens, and to encourage each other as we learn to love Jesus more tomorrow than we did today.
How can we connect today's God's Story Scripture to our lives?
If you want to know how this connects to your life; take a moment and reflect. How do you respond to friends when they first start a relationship with Jesus? Do you start piling on all the things that they have to do, and all the things they have to stop? Yes, things will change and need to change as they get to know Jesus, but maybe we need to take it a step at a time. Like the Bill Murray film – "What About Bob?" – claims so often "baby steps."
We need to help our friends set realistic goals, like "tell three people about your decision," or "read the first three chapters of John over the next week." Then help them, go with them when they tell people, read John with them. Don't give them a bunch of stuff to do then walk away. That isn't loving and it doesn't help them.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to our friends?
This is a challenge better suited for you and your friends that already have a friendship with Jesus. Talk about how you respond when your friends meet Jesus for the first time. How will you react? Will you use "strong spiritual fingers" to help them along? Where will you start with them, maybe reading the book of John together? Whatever it is agree together that you will help them and encourage them along, not just give the "To Do" or "To Don't" list. Commit to living life with your friends as they get to know Jesus.
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