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 Dick Innes


Weekend Encounter

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

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Vol. 10 – No. 0608  February 09, 2008

 

For God so lo

V

ed the world,

That he g

A

ve

His on

L

y

Begott

E

n

So

N

 

 

T

hat whosever

Believeth

I

n Him

Should

N

ot perish,

But have 

E

verlasting Life

   


God's Valentine Greeting
    John 3:16

 
Thought for the week: "There is no right way to do a wrong thing." – Unknown
 
    INDEX
1.   Words of Wisdom
2.   On the Lighter Side
3.   Qualities of an Atheist
4.   Laughter Is the Best Medicine
5.   Daring Self-Sacrifice
6.   A Tribute to Lincoln
7.   Heartprints of Kindness
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.   To Submit a Prayer Request
14.   Please Help Support Weekend Encounter
15.   Helpful Books and Cassette Messages
16.   Free Services
17.   ACTS in Action Report; Archives for Daily and Weekend Encounter
 

1. Words of Wisdom

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." – Edmund Burke, Irish statesman

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." – Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Some Christians end up as backsliders because they are conquered by a sinful habit that is inconsistent with their Christian discipleship. Instead of giving up the habit, they give up their church and faith." – W. Werning

"The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer." – F. B. Meyer

"Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed." – Peter Drucker

"Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you!" – William H. Danforth

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." – Dale Carnegie

Index

2. On the Lighter Side

Advertising Blunders

Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again.

Our experienced Mom will care for your child. Fenced yard, meals, and smacks included.

Dog for sale: Eats anything and is fond of children.

Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.

Stock up and save. Limit: one. Semi-Annual after-Christmas Sale.

Three-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.

Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with round bottom for efficient beating.

Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting-off-head illusion. Blue Cross and salary.

Dinner Special—Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00

Source: Smile a Day Humor e-Newsletter, Smile a Day is ministry of cheer from Net 153 Publications http://net153.com.

Index

3. Qualities of an Atheist

Atheism is rationally ridiculous. The most anyone can claim about the non-existence of God is agnosticism—to say you don't know. But as soon as one takes the atheist's viewpoint, he/she opens him/herself and his/her philosophical system to a dilemma.

No finite being can say there is no God, for outside the limits of his knowledge God may exist. To be an atheist one must claim to know everything. Of course, this is one of the attributes that only God processes. Therefore, the only way one can prove God doesn't exist is to be God, which is rationally ridiculous.

Bill Gordon, source: Pulpit Pieces Weekly Sermons, Illustrations, and More net153@net153.com

Index

4. Laughter Is the Best Medicine

According to a study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help in the prevention of heart disease. The researchers found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease.

Researchers compared the humor responses of 300 people. Half of the participants had either suffered a heart attack or had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 were healthy, age-matched participants who did not have heart disease.

The study showed that people with heart disease were less likely to recognize humor or use it to get out of uncomfortable situations. They generally laughed less, even in positive situations and they displayed more anger and hostility.

"The ability to laugh—either naturally or as a learned behavior—may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Michael Miller, M.D., F.A.C.C., Director of the Center for Preventative Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We know that exercising, not smoking, and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list. The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be—exercise, eat right, and laugh a few times a day."

Blue Cross of California

Index

5. Daring Self-Sacrifice

It was May 21, 1946. The place, Los Alamos.

A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction.

But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction. By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room ... As he waited for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, "You'll come through all right. But I haven't the faintest chance myself." It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.

Nineteen centuries ago the Son of God walked directly into sin's most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life. By that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.

George Vandeman. Cited on KneEmail,
kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org

Index

6. A Tribute to Lincoln

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (501.3)

[Lincoln's birthday Feb 12, 1809]

I'm an Abraham Lincoln groupie. By sheer good fortune, my son Justin was born on Lincoln's birthday. My daughter, Abrielle, was named after him, and our dog is named Lincoln. I collect Lincoln memorabilia, and my favorite place in Washington D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial where I stand in awe of his magnificent eloquence and his legacy of honor, courage, compassion, humility, and humor.

Self-educated, self-made, Lincoln was a skillful lawyer and effective politician whose character made his name almost synonymous with integrity. He was an inspirational leader who really believed in democracy—a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Empathy and compassion were in his blood. He felt the pain of others as deeply as any man could; yet duty made him a leader of our nation's bloodiest war.

Now one of the most esteemed men in history, he was great but humble; funny but often depressed. In his own time he was more often ridiculed than revered and was belittled as an unrefined bumpkin. But Lincoln understood the difference between real character and reputation, describing character as a tree and reputation as the shadow of the tree.

His face is carved on Mount Rushmore and adorns our pennies and five-dollar bills. But it is Lincoln's tree, his character, that stands so tall and strong. He honors our nation and proves what we are all capable of being.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

© 2007 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. Heartprints of Kindness

Sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you."1 "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."2

William Wordsworth also said it well: "That best portion of a good man's life; his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

The following well-known anonymous poem is well worth a reminder:

    "Whatever our hands touch –
    We leave fingerprints!
    On walls, on furniture
    On doorknobs, dishes, books.
    There's no escape.
    As we touch we leave our identity."

So for today's suggested prayer: "Dear God:

    'Wherever I go today
    Help me leave heartprints!
    Heartprints of compassion
    Of understanding and love.

    'Heartprints of kindness
    And genuine concern.
    May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
    Or a runaway daughter
    Or an anxious mother
    Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

    'Send me out today
    To leave heartprints.
    And if someone should say,
    "I felt your touch,"
    May they also sense the love
    that is deep within my heart.'3

"Thank you God for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV).
2. Proverbs 14:31 (NIV).
3. Author Unknown

Index

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

Daily Encounter, a free weekday e-mail inspirational from ACTS International is now going to 130,000 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 28 million e-mail Daily, Weekend and Prayer Encounters are delivered to subscribers 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. To Submit a Prayer Request

If you have a special prayer request please submit it to David Clark at: www.responda.co.uk/prayer.php. David is not on the ACTS staff but is offering this as a service to Daily and Weekend Encounter readers.

Helpers Needed: If you can help David pray for prayer requests, please could you go to:
www.responda.co.uk/member.php

Index

14. 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 130,000 subscribers, and every week Weekend Encounter is going to 10,300+ 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 5000 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
     U.S.A.

Index

15. Helpful Books and Cassette Messages

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

Books by Bestseller and Popular Authors:
   The Miracle of Kindness
   His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley, Jr.
     has topped the charts as the best marriage
     book available. More than one million couples
     have read it ... made their marriage sizzle.
   Fall in Love Stay in Love
   Just Hand Over the Chocolate ...
   Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships
   Sex Starts in the Kitchen
   Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
   Harried With Children
   Adolescence Is Not an Illness
   Show Time
   It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian
   On Sale at: http://www.actscom.com/store

Cassettes:

  Healing, Wholeness & Happiness by Dick Innes
  Loving & Understanding People by Dick Innes
  I Hate Witnessing by Dick Innes
  God's Formula for Success by Dick Innes
  Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
  Healing of the Memories by David Seamands...
  On SALE at:
http://tinyurl.com/2unmmy

More books, tapes and poems by D. Innes & others are also available at: http://www.actscom.com/store

Index

16. Free Services

 1. Bible concordance and Bible helps
 2. New Hope Crisis Counseling with trained
     lay/volunteer counselors. www.newhopenow.org
 
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 ... Smart answers 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

17. ACTS in Action Report and Encounter Archives

ARCHIVES: Daily and Weekend Encounters



          "Because the world is hungry,
              go with bread.
          Because the world is filled with strife,
              go with peace.
          Because the world is filled with deceptions and lies,
              go with truth.
          Because the world would die without,
              go with the love of God."



Know God

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

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