23 Jul, 2010
Attention Getting Donkeys
Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers
London: Russian entrepreneurs, who wished to attract beachgoers to their private beach, have been questioned over a promotional stunt that involved parachuting a donkey.
The donkey, which was spotted soaring in the blue skies, shocked beachgoers as it screamed in fear while circling the Cossack village of Golubitskaya in the Krasnodar region of Russia last week.
It was dragged for several meters when it landed on the water before it was pulled out half-alive on to the shore.
The entrepreneurs, who had wished to attract guests, instead attracted the attention of regional police who learned of the flying donkey earlier this week and launched a probe.
"The donkey screamed and children cried. No one had the brains to call police," the Telegraph quoted Larisa Tuchkova, regional police spokeswoman, as saying.
She said people instead reached for their cameras and bombarded a local newspaper with phone calls.
Story and Photo found at http://news.google.com.
Balaam's Donkey
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?"
"No," he said.
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."
35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"
38 "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the princes who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.
What does today's God's Story Scripture have to say about attention getting donkeys?
In both Today's Story and today's God's Story Scripture a donkey was used to get someone's attention.
Could you imagine seeing either one of these scenes if you were passing by?
In today's God's Story Scripture, God used Balaam's donkey to get his attention. And as if that weren't enough, the "angel of the Lord" finally came to set Balaam straight. Balaam was going his own way. The angel tried to stop him, but only the donkey saw the angel. Why didn't Balaam see it the first few times? Maybe he was so convinced of his own way that he was oblivious to the angel. Maybe the angel wasn't visible to anyone except the donkey at first. No matter the reason, Balaam was so stubborn that God had to make a donkey talk to get his attention.
How about you? What would it take for God to get your attention?
- Is God trying to get your attention about some area of your life? Ask Him to keep showing up until you know what area He wants to work on.
- Is there a habit or way of life you've had a difficult time giving up since you decided to follow Jesus? Ask God to be your strength as your commit that area of your life to Him.
- Is there a big decision in your near future? Are you tempted to make your own plans and go your own way? Ask God to direct your steps so you are in step with His plans for your future.
- Is God wanting to use you to get someone else's attention to change some area of their life? Who is that someone else?
- Is God wanting to speak through you to give direction to a friend in need of making a big decision? Who is that friend?
- Is God wanting to put you in places where His Love can overflow out of your life and into the life of someone who needs His love? Who is that someone who needs His love?
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- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
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- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
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- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
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- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
