How Hot Are You?

Those who spend any time at all on Facebook have seen the myriad of Quizzes pertaining to the level of "hotness" of self, friends, coworkers, etc. If you expect to take one of those, look somewhere else.

However, I have some new ideas (or maybe just new to me) on how to be hot in regards to your physical life, spiritual life, and more. 

--

Steam conversion is often depicted as the ideal scenario in firefighting tactics for structure fires. The reason is simply a matter of science. Fire is extinguished when it is cooled faster than it can produce heat. One gallon of water, for each degree of temperature rise, will absorb 1 BTU (British Thermal Unit) of heat. Steam, on the other hand, will absorb 970 BTUs with each gallon of steam applied. Furthermore, water vapor, produced when water increases from boiling point to one degree above boiling, has 1700 times more volume (space taken by the vapor) than liquid water. In essence, the steam acts as both a cooling agent (absorbing BTUs) and as an asphyxiant (taking up too much space to let oxygen in). The result, my friends, is an extinguished fire.

While this might be a little advanced in fire tactics for those readers who are not involved in fire service, I promise I have a point in this explanation. Only 1 degree in increased effort can increase efficiency by more than 1000%. Just imagine what you can do in life if you just take up every challenge with just one degree more in effort! 

If you are wondering where this all comes from, I want to write for you an excerpt on the latest book I am reading. 

At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train. Applying one extra degree of temperature to water means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine - a beautifully uncomplicated metaphor that ideally should feed our every endeavor - consistently pushing us to make the extra effort in every task, action, and effort we undertake. Two-twelve 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 tremendous differences. So simple is the analogy, that you can stop reading right now, walk away with the opening thought firmly planted in your mind and benefit from it for the rest of your life.

If there were to be one word that makes the difference between hot water and steam, it would be discipline. What if you got up 15 minutes earlier? [but I'm just so tired] What if you spent just 5 minutes more in prayer and scripture each day? [but I'm just so busy] What if you went just that additional degree for a customer in need of service? [Well, they weren't going to award me the sale anyway] What if you... Well, that list could go on forever. Ultimately, the answer is simply and excuse of why we don't. But what if we did? The extra discipline could make the difference in a saved marriage, a respectful son or daughter, or even another person won over for the Kingdom of God. 

Scriptures make a similar statement about people's faith level: 

Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version)

¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Naturally, this blog is always going to direct us in the context of a life of faith, but the lessons of this particular post are applicable across the board. 


What parts of you life could you go the extra degree? 


I have recently been putting links to Amazon on the books which I find most useful for my personal and spiritual growth. If you are interested in joining in these adventures with me, click the links and purchase a copy. Then, post your thoughts! Do you have additional books on a particular topic that would be beneficial for all of us, post them also in the comments section for all to see!