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 Dick Innes


Weekend Encounter

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

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Vol. 18 - No. 5016  December 10, 2016

 
Thought for the week: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." – Annie Dillard
 
    INDEX
1.   Words of Wisdom
2.   On the Lighter Side
3.   On Resisting Terrorism
4.   Stress Management
5.   Less Stress
6.   Formation of Character
7.   Lessons From Lego
8.   Receive Daily Encounter Devotional  Without Charge
9.   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

"Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous—not just to some people in some circumstances, but to everyone all the time." – Thomas J. Watson

"The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears." – Unknown

"Hell has no exits. Heaven needs none." – Unknown

"You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself." – Zig Ziglar

"My life as a writer consists of 1/8 talent and 7/8 discipline." – John Irving

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." – Albert Einstein

"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted." – Aldous Huxley

"Just as iron rusts from disuse, even so does inaction spoil the intellect." – Leonardo da Vinci

Index

2. On the Lighter Side

I Know Something...

I figured that at age seven it was inevitable for my son to begin having doubts about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Sure enough, that day came. One day he said with an ominous tone, "Mom, I know the secret of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy."

Taking a deep breath, I feared his innocence had been betrayed. I asked him carefully, "What is that?"

Without hesitating he replied, "They're all nocturnal."

– By way of Aiken's short laugh. To subscribe       Aikensshortlaugh-subscribe@topica.com

Index

3. On Resisting Terrorism

The three greatest scourges of the 20th century—Nazism, Japanese militarism, and Soviet Communism—were defeated through war or continued military resistance. More were killed by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao outside of combat than died in World Wars I and II. War, as Sherman said, is all hell, but as Heraclites admitted it is also "the father of us all." Wickedness—whether chattel slavery, the gas chambers, or concentration camps—has rarely passed quietly into the night on its own. The present evil isn't going to either.

Victor David Hanson, NRO in-house historian. Cited on Sermon Fodder http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sermon_Fodder/

Index

4. Stress Management

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter." It depends on how long you try to hold it. "If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

"If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.

"Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"

– Author Unknown. Submitted by Joy Innes

Index

5. Less Stress

Some of the following statements are wise ... others tongue-in-cheek!

  • Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
  • Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
  • Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
  • Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
  • If you lend someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
  • Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
  • Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
  • Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
  • The second mouse gets the cheese.
  • When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
  • Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
  • You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
  • Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
  • We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
  • A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
  • Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today ... I did.

– From an email. Author unknown.

Index

6. Formation of Character

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (464.3)

In his book, Character is Destiny, Pepperdine professor Russell Gough is emphatic about the virtue of personal accountability and the importance of recognizing our power and responsibility to shape our own character, and thus, our future, by consciously choosing our words, deeds and attitudes.

One chapter builds on the diary of Anne Frank, written while she was hiding from the Nazis. This precocious 15-year-old wrote that "the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."

This is such a vital point. Everywhere we see evidence that we're becoming a nation of unaccountable victims, whiners and wimps all too ready to pass off responsibility to someone else.

Satirist Ambrose Bierce poked fun at this tendency when he defined responsibility as "a detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor." The parade of recently indicted CEOs added a new object of blame to this list—"It was the people who worked for me!"—as they claimed to be victims rather than perpetrators of frauds that enriched them.

Everywhere we turn, we see people blaming personal shortcomings and social ills on circumstances beyond their control or on an irresponsible media, greedy businessmen, corrupt politicians, irresistible economic pressures and every manner of psychological syndrome.

Even while facing likely death from an unspeakably evil regime, Anne Frank knew no external power could make her become a bad or good person. She knew she had choices, including how to react—in actions and attitudes—to circumstances beyond her control.

What temptations we resist and surrender to are always a matter of choice. Each of us can be as good as we are willing to be.

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. Lessons From Lego

Sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?"1

Today's Daily Encounter Lego illustration is by Steve Klusmeyer who writes:

"Life might be less complicated for all of us if we each received our own LEGO kit at birth. Yes, I realize there is a choking hazard for children under three. But when you are old enough, you can learn a lot from LEGOs. I have learned that:

"Size doesn't matter. When stepped on in the dark, a 2X2 LEGO brick causes the same amount of pain as a 2X8 brick.

"All LEGO men are created equal (1.5625 inches tall). What they become is limited only by imagination.

"There is strength in numbers. When the bricks stick together, great things can be accomplished.

"Playtime is important. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you are building, as long as you're having fun.

"Disaster happens. But the pieces can be put back together again.

"Every brick has a purpose. Some are made for a specific spot—most can adapt almost anywhere—but every one will fit somewhere.

"Color doesn't matter. A blue brick will fit in the same space as a red brick.

"No one is indispensable. If one brick is unavailable, another can take its place.

"It doesn't always turn out as planned. Sometimes it turns out better. If it doesn't, you can always try again."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember that I have a part to play in your body, the Church, and that I am not any more or less important than any other member. Help me to play my part faithfully that my life will bring honor and glory to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 12:14-17 (NIV).
2. Steve Klusmeyer.
http://tinyurl.com/q4bm7

Index

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

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

Over 100 million e-mail Daily and Weekend Encounters are now sent to subscribers worldwide every year!

Click HERE for more samples of Daily Encounter

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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 400,000+ subscribers, and every week Weekend Encounter is going to 6,000+ 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 2000 in the past 12 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
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     San Clemente, California 92673-0119
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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. Bible concordance and Bible helps
 2.  E-Word Today for a daily Bible reading
 3. To find your ZIP+4 Area Code in the U.S.A.
 4. How to find and write to your U.S. Representative
 5. ASK ... Smart answers fast
 6. Send a FREE greeting card for all occasions
 7. To check the weather in your area
 8. Hoax Web Sites
 9. Plus many more sources of helpful information

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

Index

17. 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

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PO Box 73545
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