God's Coaching #319

God's Coaching #319

What do you get when you combine nearly 5 million dominoes, 90 workers, and two months of hard work? Answer: a world record! In 2009, 90 builders gathered in the Netherlands to help at the 11th Domino Day. Robin Paul Weijers, better known as “Mr. Domino,” had worked all year to design different patterns and techniques that would creatively knock down 4,491,863 blocks. Over the course of two months, the helpers carefully set up each domino until everything was just perfect.

Sometimes the workers, who came from 14 different European countries, used tweezers and rulers to place each block in the right position. Once everything was ready, a miniature globe ran down a ramp to knock down the first domino at 11 p.m. That single falling domino set off a chain reaction that toppled all 4,491,863 blocks. As the dominoes fell, they unveiled different images from around the world, including the Statue of Liberty, the Parthenon, Mount Rushmore, and other famous landmarks. While it took more than 60 days to set up, all the dominoes fell in about one and a half hours!

What’s the Score?

The old record of 4,345,027 falling dominos was set in 2008 at the same event by Mr. Domino. Watching that many blocks fall was amazing, especially as some of them set off bursts of fire or revealed hidden images. But sometimes the “domino effect” isn’t a good thing.

Have you ever told a lie and then had to tell another one to cover up the truth? The writer of Proverbs 30 knew the dangers of lying. That’s why he asked God to “help me never to tell a lie.” Lying can cause a chain reaction. Before you know it, you’ve done so many wrong things that you can’t count them all. God knew one bad decision would lead to another. That’s why he commands us to always tell the truth and to follow his rule book. But remember, when you mess up you don’t have to set off a chain reaction. You can ask God for forgiveness and stop yourself from being crushed by 5 million falling dominoes.

On the Ball

Can you remember a time you didn’t tell the truth? Ask God for forgiveness. Then find the person you lied to and admit what you did.

Coach’s Comment

O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Proverbs 30:7-8