Hey Friends,

This morning I read a great little booklet called, 212° The Extra Degree. It is a challenging and encouraging booklet to motivate us to continue our effort and not to quit. It is not a Christian book. I have found some of the most challenging and creative books are from secular authors. Strange that the worshippers of the creative and creator God don’t use it – creativity, that is. Just a pet peeve of mine – sorry to digress.

The axiom, or thought, of the booklet is that there is only one degree between 211° and 212°, but that one degree makes a lot of difference. At 211° you have hot water and at 212° you have steam, and steam can empower a locomotive. Steam can give the power to do what you need done. We are talking about one degree of difference. Most of us can turn up the heat one degree, can’t we?!?!  Keep in mind that 211° is hot water and 212° is boiling!

“Raising the temperature of water by one extra degree means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine – a beautiful, uncomplicated metaphor that ideally should feed our every endeavor – consistently pushing us to make the extra effort in every task we undertake. 212 serves as a forceful drill sergeant with its motivating and focused message while adhering to a scientific law – a natural law. It reminds us that seemingly small things can make a tremendous difference.” 

Remember, some of us have no one who really challenges us and I want to encourage you in the race. Discouragement can descend on any of us. Some of us are running this race “sort of alone” and that is not the way God developed and designed this to work out. Remember Jesus and 2 x 2?

I wonder, can you add one degree? Can you add a little extra effort? As I read my Bible, I see  that Jesus never let up for us - even all the way to the cross.

Just a thought,

Chris