BEIJING TRIES TO "CIVILISE" RESIDENTS AHEAD OF OLYMPICS
BEIJING (AFP) - Beijing will launch a major "civilisation" campaign to target spitting, littering and etiquette in an effort to clean up the city's image ahead of the 2008 Olympics.
Beijing would set up trash boxes and provide sanitary bags for people to spit into on major streets and step up the enforcement of on-the-spot fines of up to 50 yuan (six dollars) for spitting elsewhere, the Beijing News said.
"If citizens can't afford the fine, they'll have to clean up the spit and the surrounding area," Zhang Huiguang, director of the Capital Civilisation Office, was quoted as saying.
In a November survey of 10,000 Beijing citizens, spitting and littering were ranked among the top five most disgusting habits, earlier press reports said.
The Beijing News said the campaign was part of plans to ensure the city was presented in the best possible light when it hosts the 2008 Olympics.
photo courtesy googleimages.com & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 02/20/06
The Message to the Church in Laodicea
14"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation:
15"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!16But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.
WHAT IS THE REASON WHY GOD SAYS HE WILL SPIT A CHURCH OUT OF HIS MOUTH?
The study notes in Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE give the answer:
3:16 Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't take a stand for anything; indifference led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, nominal Christian who is self-sufficient. Don't settle for following God halfway. Let Christ fire up your faith and get you into the action.
Beijing is going to clean up its image in time for the 2008 Olympics so that it can present itself in the "best possible light" to the world.
Do we need to clean up our act and obediently let God's Spirit fire up our faith? If we do, we will reflect His light to the world.
I don't want to be disgustingly lukewarm to God. Do you?
- Pray for Jesus to empower you to live out a hot faith every day.
- The next time you take a drink of lukewarm water...remember today's Word.
- Write down the ways in which you have a bent to not take a stand for Christ and His Truth. Review this every week with Jesus and you will experience His power to make some changes.
- Whenever you see someone spitting, or some spit on the ground, let this gross moment remind you to please God rather than disgust Him.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.