"RISK LOOKING STUPID"-- DAVID BORDEN; TOM WINTERS

             RISK LOOKING STUPID

"Noah built a boat in his front yard before

   anyone knew what a "flood" really was.

Moses "freed " the people of Israel leading

   them to the edge of the impassable Red

Sea. David with a slingshot and some rocks

   --volunteered to fight Goliath- a supersized

warrior.

 Joshua told his troops they would defeat

   Jerico by marching around the city walls for six

days while blowing horns. Jesus put some

   mud on the eyes of a blind man and

proclaimed the man could see. There had to

   have been some snickers. The murmer of

akeptics. A few whispers among the crowd

   that voiced what others were thinking--

"This is really a stupid idea."

If you want to become the person God designed

   you to be, you need to risk looking stupid

every once in a while. Those in the Bible who

   did exactly that, accomplished some amazing

things. But they also picked up a lot of criticism,

   and even a few enemies, along the way. That's

because going against the grain of accepted

   wisdom and public opinion--- even when you

believe that God is leading you to do so---

   isn't easy. It takes humility, and faith. And the

results may not be what you expect. What's

   considered a "success"  in heaven may still be

labeled a "failure" here on earth.

But don't let that stop you from attempting what

   others may view as "stupid things." Welcome

disabled foster child into your home. Talk to the

   atheist next door about your relationship with

God. Accept the job with the smaller salary but

   bigger eternal dividens. Forgive the wrong

that seems unforgivable. Risk doing what God

   wants you to do, even when the task far

surpasses your own abilities. If it didn't, others

   might miss out on catching a glimpse of God's

invisible hand at work. And you could miss out

   on taking part in the adventure of a life time."