ACTS International
Home Page of ACTS International
Home Page of ACTS InternationalHow to Find and Know God without having to be religiousLife Help Articles dealing with faith, family, and practical helps for purposeful livingDaily and Weekend Encounters with more than a third-of-a-million worldwide subscribersSupport the Work of ACTS International a not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible for U.S. donorsCurrent report on the ministries and services of ACTS InternationalOnline Store of ACTS ... ACTS CommunicationsAbout ACTS International
ACTS International Home Page Click here for the current issue of  Daily Encounter
         
     
   
Tell a Friend Site Map Share and/or Bookmark
   
         
   
 Dick Innes


Weekend Encounter

Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes          
Published by: ACTS International

To receive the email edition of Weekend Encounter (without charge) click on the Subscribe button.

Privacy policy: We do not sell or rent subscriber's e-mail
addresses to anyone. We value your privacy.

 
Global Communications Outreach:
Learn how to be a missionary right from your own home and have a vital part in worldwide gospel outreach by becoming an ACTS People Power for Jesus Partner. Click HERE There is no charge.

Vol. 18 - No. 4616  November 12, 2016

 
Thought for the week: "When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others." – Peace Pilgrim
 
    INDEX
1.   Words of Wisdom
2.   On the Lighter Side
3.   Blind Eye to the Telescope
4.   On Abortion
5.   A Cowboy's Guide to Life
6.   Deal or No Deal
7.   Walking Witnesses
8.   Receive Daily Encounter Devotional  Without Charge
9.   Receive Weekend Encounter E-mail Edition  Without Charge
10.   Know God ... Without Having to Be Religious
11.   Seven Pillars of Character
12.   Prayer Partners Needed
13.   Please Help Support Weekend Encounter
14.   Helpful Books
15.   Free Services
16.   ACTS in Action Report; Archives for Daily and Weekend Encounter
 

1. Words of Wisdom

"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety." – Abraham Maslow

"When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier." – Roy Disney

"No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things." – Channing Pollock

"Self-esteem—an estimation of who I am apart from what I do." – Nathaniel Brandon

"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." – Dwight Eisenhower

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." – Samuel Johnson

"What you allow, you encourage." – Unknown

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." – Norman Schwarzkop

Index

2. On the Lighter Side

Bill was a frequent user of a pay telephone at a popular truck stop, and was greatly inconvenienced when the phone went out of commission. Repeated requests for repair brought only promises. After several days, Bill again contacted the phone company and told them there was no longer a rush. The phone was now working fine... except that all money was being returned upon completion of each call. A repairman arrived within the hour!

– Cited on ArcaMax.com

Index

3. Blind Eye to the Telescope

When Lord Horatio Nelson was fighting the Battle of Copenhagen, his senior officer, Sir Hyde Parker, also known as "Old Vinegar," hoisted the flag signaling retreat. Nelson deliberately put his telescope to his blind eye and said, "I do not see it."

If he had surrendered when it looked like defeat, he would not have captured twelve Danish ships. I don't see defeat. Do you? When you're fighting the Battle of Perspective, Satan will hoist his flag, trying to discourage you. Remember to put a blind eye to the telescope. Refuse to see the retreat flag. Keep going forward.

– Kent Crockett, I Once Was Blind, But Now I Squint (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004), p. 139.

Index

4. On Abortion

Almost Wasn't Born ... Charles McCarry can claim a varied career. In addition to being the author of The Tears of Autumn and The Last Supper, he served as assistant to the Secretary of Labor in the Eisenhower cabinet and has done two stints in the CIA. But he almost wasn't born.

Says McCarry, "My mother became pregnant with me at the age of 39. She had nearly died while giving birth to my only sibling. Her doctor, who believed the second pregnancy was a serious threat to her life, advised an abortion. The advice made sense but my mother refused to accept it. Just before she died at age 97, I asked her why. She replied, "I wanted to see who you were going to turn out to be."

In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, quoted in Feb. 1990, Reader's Digest.

* * * * * *

C. Everett Koop, M.D., formerly the Surgeon General, states that during his 35-plus years of practicing medicine, "Never once did a case come across my practice where abortion was necessary to save a mother's life."

Sanctity of Life, C. Swindoll, Word, 1990, p. 23 Heartbeat

* * * * * *

Medical authorities determine a person to be "alive" if there is either a detectable heartbeat or brain-wave activity. With that in mind, it is eye-opening for some to realize that unborn children have detectable heartbeats at eighteen days (two and one-half weeks) after conception and detectable brain-wave activity forty days (a little over five and one-half weeks) after conception. What is so shocking is that essentially 100 percent of all abortions occur after the seventh week of pregnancy.

Sanctity of Life, C. Swindoll, Word, 1990, pp. 11-12

Index

5. The Cowboy's Guide to Life

As seen in an email ... it's worth a re-read even if you have already read these down-to-earth words of wisdom.

  • Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
  • Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.
  • Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
  • Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
  • Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
  • If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.
  • You cannot unsay a cruel word.
  • Every path has a few puddles.
  • Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
  • Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
  • If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
  • The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with looks at you in the mirror every mornin'.
  • Always drink upstream from the herd.
  • Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
  • Remember: Don't squat with your spurs on.
  • Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
  • If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
  • Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
  • The best sermons are lived, not preached.
  • It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
  • It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
  • Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.
  • Meanness don't jest happen overnight.
  • When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

Index

6. Deal or No Deal

by Michael Josephson of Character Counts (460.1)

Sarah's mom agreed to let her 16-year-old go to a party if she promised to be home by midnight. But as the Cinderella hour approached, Sarah did a quick risk/reward calculation. She knew her mom would be angry and probably ground her, but she was having so much fun she decided it was worth it. Sure enough, when she got home at 2:00 a.m., her mom was waiting for her, enraged that Sarah had violated her promise but relieved she was safe.

"Breaking your word was bad enough," her mom said, "but how could you be so cruel and selfish not to call and say you were safe? I was worried sick." Sarah finished off an evening of bad choices with another: "You forced me into agreeing. The curfew was unfair. As to your worrying, that was your choice. I was perfectly safe. Just tell me the punishment and let me go to bed."

This is ugly.

Sarah's first mistake was to think she had a right to break her promise because she was "forced" into it. Mom's proposition was "Deal or no deal?" Sarah made a deal and, like it or not, she was morally bound to keep her word.

Her second mistake was to think she could buy off the moral duty to keep her promise simply by accepting punishment. Her mom's trust wasn't mended because Sarah paid a penalty. Ultimately, the issue was not about curfews and parties; it was about trust and credibility. Her lack of remorse and accountability only made things worse, critically damaging her relationship with her mom.

Her third mistake was to think, despite her refusal to accept responsibility for inflicting mental anguish on her mom, that she wasn't responsible. She was. If she bothered to think about it, Sarah knew her conduct would cause gut-wrenching worry, every bit as painful as a punch to the stomach. A person is ethically accountable for the predictable consequences of their actions.

In a nutshell, Sarah did not act with character. She was untrustworthy, irresponsible, disrespectful and unkind. It will take her a long time to build the healthy bonds of trust that both she and her mom want and need.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

© 2005 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation's leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character education program, CHARACTER COUNTS!  For further information visit www.charactercounts.org.

Index

7. Walking Witnesses

Sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV).

I have read how, "while attending a university in London, Mahatma Gandhi became almost convinced that the Christian religion was the one true, supernatural religion in the world. Upon graduation, and still seeking evidence that would make him a committed Christian, young Gandhi accepted employment in East Africa and for seven months lived in the home of a family who were members of an evangelical Christian church. As soon as he discovered that fact, he decided that here would be the place to find the evidence he sought.

"But as the months passed and he saw the casualness of their attitude toward the cause of God, heard them complain when they were called upon to make a sacrifice for the kingdom of God, and sensed their general religious apathy, Gandhi's interest turned to disappointment. He said in his heart, 'No, it is not the one true, supernatural religion I had hoped to find. A good religion, but just one more of the many religions in the world.''¹

Let us remember that as children of God we are not called to do witnessing but we are Christ's witnesses. This is true wherever we are, wherever we go, whatever we do—in all things at all times we are being witnesses. I recall reading years ago the following words on a poster in the office at the college I attended.

The living truth is what I long to see, I cannot live on what used to be, So close your Bible and show me how The Christ you talk about is living now.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember that as a child of yours, I am being a witness for you in all things at all times. Help me to so live that my life will always be a good witness and be used to help win others to you. May people, seeing Jesus in me, want Jesus for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Evangelical Illustration

<:))))><

Index

8. Receive Daily Encounter E-mail ... Free

Daily Encounter, a free weekday e-mail inspirational from ACTS International is now going to 400,000+ subscribers. Scores of letters from around the world have come from readers saying how much they are being helped by this brief, practical devotional.

Over 17.5 million e-mail Daily, Weekend and Prayer Encounters are delivered to subscribers every year!

Click HERE for more samples of Daily Encounter

NOTE: Some ISPs (especially AOL) now use e-mail filtering software that allows you to add e-mail addresses to your 'buddy', 'safe', or 'approved' list. Please be sure to add acts@actsweb.org to yours so you won't miss any issue of Daily Encounter.

Index

9. Receive E-mail Edition of Weekend Encounter ... Free

NOTE: Some ISPs (especially AOL) now use e-mail filtering software that allows you to add e-mail addresses to your 'buddy', 'safe', or 'approved' list. Please be sure to add acts@actsweb.org to yours so you won't miss any issue of Weekend Encounter.

Index

10. Know God ... Without having to be religious

Click on: How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian -- without having to be religious. Know God

Index

11. Seven Pillars of Character

The first of these six pillars of character are from Michael Josephson of Character counts to which I have added a seventh:

  • Trustworthiness
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Fairness
  • Caring
  • Citizenship
  • Personal Honesty

Index

12. Prayer Partners Needed

One of ACTS greatest needs is Prayer Partners to stand with us as we seek to share the gospel with millions of people around the world through E-mail and the Internet and to win the lost to Jesus. If you would like to be an ACTS Prayer Partner, please subscribe to the Prayer Encounter list. Approximately two prayer reports are emailed monthly. Thank you.

Index

13. Help Support Weekend Encounter

    "Changing the World . . . One Person at a Time" 

Weekend Encounter and Daily Encounter are just two of the ways the nonprofit organization, ACTS International, is working to improve the spiritual and emotional life of many thousands of people around the world.

Every weekday Daily Encounter is going to 415,000+ subscribers, and every week Weekend Encounter is going to 6,300+ subscribers worldwide-many of whom are in places where it is forbidden to spread the Christian gospel and message. Plus we reach several hundred thousand more every week through our advertising. As a result every day we are seeing an average of 5-6 salvation responses from around the world-over 2200 in the past 9 months!

If you find value in the free Weekend Encounter and/or Daily Encounter, we hope you will be comfortable donating at least $26. That's only 50 cents a week for an entire year (tax-deductible in the U.S.). You can donate in one of the following ways:

Donate Online: You can donate online at ACTS secure web site. Click HERE on ACTS support donations.

Donate Through PayPal:You can donate securely through PAYPAL. Click HERE on PayPal. Where it says Payment For: type in Donation.

Donate by Telephone: ACTS accepts credit card donations by phone by calling 1-949-940-9050.

Donate Through Postal Mail: If you prefer to write a check or money order, please send it and make it payable to:

     ACTS International
     P.O. Box 73545
     San Clemente, California 92673-0119
     U.S.A.

Index

14. Helpful Books

Oprah Winfrey: "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi." - Oprah Winfrey

Books:

Books by Dick Innes, Editor of Weekend Encounter

   You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing
   How to Mend a Broken Heart
   I Hate Witnessing-A Handbook for Effective Christian
      Communications

On SALE at: https://actscom.com/books_sale_5-14.php

Index

15. Free Services

 1. To donate FREE (to you) food for the hungry
 2. For FREE Bible concordance and Bible helps
 3. E-Word Today for a daily Bible reading
 4. To find your ZIP+4 Area Code in the U.S.A.
 5. How to find and write to your U.S. Representative
 6. ASK Jeeves ... your questions answered fast
 7. Send a FREE greeting card for all occasions
 8. To check the weather in your area
 9. Hoax Web Sites
10. Plus many more sources of helpful information

GO TO:
http://www.actsweb.org/links.php

Index

16. ACTS in Action Report and Encounter Archives

ARCHIVES: Daily and Weekend Encounters

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."


Know God

ACTS International
PO Box 73545
San Clemente, CA 92673-0119
U.S.A.

To receive the email edition of Weekend Encounter
without charge click on the Subscribe button.

Privacy policy: We do not sell or rent subscriber's e-mail
addresses to anyone. We value your privacy.

 
   
         
   
Site Map   Top
   
     
         
Find Peace With God footer
 
  ARTICLES
About God
About Faith
Relationships
Success/Failure
Solutions
Recovery
Ask the Teacher
Better Living Tips
Friendship
Words of Love
Words of Inspiration
People Power for Jesus
Simple and Effective Witnessing for Christ

SITE TRANSLATIONS
Spanish Espanol
French Francois

  DEVOTIONS
Devotionals
Daily Encounter
Weekend Encounter
Encuentros Diarios
Archives
Subscribe
When God Is Silent
Prayer Partners
  Needed

Special Needs

BIBLE HELPS
Helps and Studies
Today's Reading
Annual Reading

  QUOTES AND TESTS
Today's Quotes
Happiness Test
Stress Test

ACTS IN ACTION

ACTS Websites
ACTS in Action Report

COMMUNICATIONS

Syndicate ACTS Articles
"I Hate Witnessing"
   Audio—No Charge

Opening Closed Minds
Effective Communications
Jesus, the Communicator
Punching Holes in
   the Darkness

  REPORTS
About ACTS
Be an ACTS Friend

MISC.
People Power Invite
Links
Weather
Privacy Policy
Snail-Mail List
Contact Us/Feedback

ACTS BOOKSTORE
Online Bookstore


Site Map
Report problems to ACTS International
All pages in this site © Copyright 2005-2024 by ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545, San Clemente, CA 92673 U.S.A.
 
HOME   Daily Encounter  Find Peace With God