Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 9 – No. 4607 November 17, 2007
Thought for the week: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." – Abraham Lincoln
A preacher was giving the children's message during church. For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children's church.
On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation. He started out by saying, "I'm going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly.
"This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)..." No hands went up. "And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)..." The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. "And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it's excited (pause)..."
Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The preacher breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. "Well," said the boy, "I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!"
A construction crew was building a new road through a rural area, knocking down trees as it progressed. A superintendent noticed that one tree had a nest of birds that couldn't yet fly and he marked the tree so that it would not be cut down.
Several weeks later the superintendent came back to the tree. He got into a bucket truck and was lifted up so that he could peer into the nest. The fledglings were gone. They had obviously learned to fly. The superintendent ordered the tree cut down. As the tree crashed to the ground, the nest fell clear and some of the material that the birds had gathered to make the nest was scattered about. Part of it was a scrap torn from a Sunday school pamphlet. On the scrap of paper were these words: "He careth for you."
In December 2001, the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" was finally reopened to the public after having been closed for almost a dozen years. During that time, engineers completed a $25 million renovation project designed to stabilize the tower. They removed 110 tons of dirt, and reduced its famous lean by about sixteen inches. Why was this necessary? Because the tower has been tilting further and further away from vertical for hundreds of years, to the point that the top of the 185-foot tower was seventeen feet further south than the bottom, and Italian authorities were concerned that if nothing was done, it would soon collapse.
What was the problem? Bad design? Poor workmanship? An inferior grade of marble? No. The problem was what was underneath. The sandy soil on which the city of Pisa was built was just not stable enough to support a monument of this size. The tower had no firm foundation.
Winston Churchill exemplified integrity and respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men."
When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!"
Criticism. Nobody enjoys being criticized, even if it's done in a kind, loving way. But it's even more difficult to accept when the criticism is harsh or unfair. The fact is, however, that we all find ourselves from time to time in a position of being unfairly criticized.
Criticism—even destructive criticism—may serve a useful purpose. We need to listen to it and, if possible, profit by it. We ought to be humble enough to recognize that some criticisms are justly deserved. Even when critics are unkind and when they exaggerate our failures, there may still be some truth in what they say.
So, when faced with criticism, we need to look at the situation honestly and ask these questions: Is it true? If so, how can I overcome the condition that caused it? If not, is there something I can do to eliminate future criticism of the same type?
It was reported to Abraham Lincoln once that one of his cabinet members had called him a fool. Having verified the fact that Mr. Stanton had indeed referred to him in this manner, Lincoln said, "Mr Stanton is a wise man. If he said I am a fool, then I had better look into the matter."
It has been said, "We learn much from the disagreeable things people say, for they make us think, whereas the good things only make us glad."
For Christians, criticism should be a stepping stone to spiritual growth! It's an opportunity to learn what we're doing wrong and what we need to correct. It provides us with the motivation we need to change and mature.
"If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise. Those who refuse correction hate themselves, but those who accept correction gain understanding" (Proverbs 15:31-32, NCV).
Have a great day!
Alan Smith Thursday's Thought For The Day,
June 22, 2006, www.tftd-online.com
A friend sent me an e-mail with a link to a YouTube video telling me it was worth watching.
He was right.
What I saw was a Mr. Everyman named Paul Potts auditioning before American Idol's Simon Cowell and two other judges for a new European reality show, Britain's Got Talent.
Clearly, Paul, a paunchy, insecure 36-year-old cellphone salesman with bad teeth and a cheap suit, did not look like he had talent. When he announced his dream was to be an opera singer, you could see the skepticism, perhaps even sarcasm, on the judges' faces.
Within 30 seconds, however, everyone's preconceptions (including mine) were shattered by a powerful Pavarotti-like performance that literally brought the audience to tears and to its feet.
The performance was very good, maybe even superb, but I don't know enough about opera to be sure. What I do know is the experience was deeply moving.
I watched the video four times and cried each time because it was inspirational to see and feel an underestimated underdog transform an audience, which was ready to mock his misplaced ambitions, into a crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers.
Even the judge's "You must be kidding" attitude melted away as everyone rooted for Paul and felt uplifted realizing how much beauty can be hidden in such a humble package.
Paul went on to win the grand prize, including a recording contract and more than enough money to fix his teeth and get a new suit. His real gift, though, was not only his voice but his reminder of how wrong it is to judge a person by his or her looks.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
[Note from Dick Innes ... if you haven't heard Paul sing, I urge you to experience it too. I've been on the site quite a few times. It brought tears to my eyes too ... even one of the judges wiped tears from her eyes.]
Golfer Arnold Palmer has won hundreds of trophies but he never flaunts these. In his office is only one trophy on display. It is a small cup he received at his first professional win at the Canadian Open in 1955.
On his office wall is this lone framed plaque that reads:
If you think you are beaten, you are. / If you think you dare not, you don't. / If you'd like to win but think you can't, / it's almost certain you won't. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, / But sooner or later, the man who wins / is the man who thinks he can.
Life's battles, challenges, successes and/or failures are all fought, won or lost in the mind.
"Keep your heart with all diligence," said Solomon, "for out of it are the issues of life."2 The heart in the Bible refers to the total mind: the intellect, the will, and the emotions. And that's the "mind" we need to guard with all diligence, and daily commit and trust to God.
For "what the mind dwells on the body acts on." If you don't agree with this, just think how temptation works.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to guard my heart and mind with all diligence ... and keep my thoughts focused on things that are 'true, pure, and of good report.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
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