NAME DROPPER

January 14, 2011Read: Mark 9

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward." --Mark 9:41

All week long, I've had this thought running through my mind: He who knows us best, loves us most. I'd like to break it down, if I may.

"He who knows us." Have you ever considered that God actually knows you? If someone famous knew you, how would that make you feel? You'd likely want to do a little name-dropping now and then, huh? Come to think of it,  over the last few years, I've met some pretty big stars, but I bet not one of them can actually glance up at the sky and count them. But God can.

"He who knows us best." We all have close friends, spouses, parents, and siblings. Some of us even have twins! But nobody -- and I mean nobody -- under the sun knows you better than the Son Himself. From thoughts we haven't even thought to the ones we wish to forget, He knows us best.

"He loves us most." Here's the kicker. He actually loves us. He doesn't like us or tolerate us. He doesn't excuse us or simply endure us.  He loves us. More than you love your kids, your husband or grandmother. Imagine?

You know,  it's really not a matter of how far we'll go in this life, but more about where we'd be without Him.

I feel like name-dropping. How 'bout you?

--J.P.

DID YOU KNOW? Consider the Cost

Three hundred billion dollars. That's a "3" followed by 11 zeros. Forgive the food reference, but that's a lot of cheddar. Sadly, this number now represents the amount of money that the U.S. and Canada combine to spend each year on obesity and weight-related problems. And since we insist on being better whenever possible, it's worth noting that $270 billion of that price tag rests with the U.S.

The $300 billion total cost in the United States and Canada is the result of: increased need for medical care ($127 billion); loss of worker productivity due to higher rates of death ($49 billion); loss of productivity due to disability of active workers ($43 billion); and loss of productivity due to total disability ($72 billion), said the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

This number, while staggering, should serve to motivate you in 2011. Let's strive to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

Source: Business Week

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