"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

1 Corinthians 9:24

Did you ever hear the story of the 300lb man who went to his preacher and said, "Preacher, I'm so depressed.  I've tried to lose weight and I can't!  I can't even get a date.  I feel like an outcast in society.  Can you help me?"

So the preacher replies, "Well, I think I can. Go home and be ready at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning."

At exactly 8:00 the next morning the doorbell rings and the man opens the door expecting the preacher to be there.  But instead, there stands a beautiful girl dressed in a sleek jogging outfit who says to him, "The preacher says that if you can catch me -- I'm yours."  Then she takes off running.  Well, this guy takes off after her, huffing and puffing, but of course, because of his bulk, he can't catch her.

This goes on every morning for 6 months...she's there at the door, and he chases her, eventually loosing 125 pounds.  Finally, trimmed down and toned up, one day, he almost catches her. So, he eagerly awaits the following morning, filled with anticipation believing he can actually do it!  The next morning he rings the doorbell, the door opens...and there stands a 300 lb woman, who says to him, "The preacher says that if I can catch you, you're mine!"

I first read this joke, and thought to myself -- this is a brilliant pastor!  He's utilizing different people's gifts and motivating them to run the race -- howbeit in a unique way.  LOL!

We have a race to run!  And there may be others struggling to run their own race, so let's find ways of motivating them to press forward -- to run the race, to win the prize!  'Cause... there's so much work to be done!