Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 10 – No. 1908 May 10, 2008
Thought for the week: "Through this toilsome world, alas! / Once and only once I pass; / If a kindness I may show, / If a good deed I may do / To a suffering fellow man, / Let me do it while I can. / No delay, for it is plain I shall not pass this way again." – Author unknown
Wishing all mothers a very happy Mother's Day for Sunday, May 11.
A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does.
The next day in a written test, she included this question:
"My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I am strong and attractive. I pick up things. What am I?"
When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word "Mother."
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."1
It's also the little things that add up, over time, to destroy projects and relationships. As the old ditty goes:
It's the little things that bother us
And put us on the rack,
You can sit upon a mountain,
But you can't sit on a tack.2
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity. Yet, countless billions have not lifted a finger to prepare for the Day of Judgment! And like the grasshopper they will discover their need only when it is too late.*
The 18th-century British physician John Hunter, who was a pioneer in the field of surgery and served as surgeon to King George III, suffered from angina. Discovering that his attacks were often brought on by anger, Hunter lamented, "My life is at the mercy of any scoundrel who chooses to put me in a passion." These words proved prophetic, for at a meeting of the board of St. George's Hospital in London, Hunter got into a heated argument with other board members, walked out, and dropped dead in the next room.
Think of the five most successful people you know. Now think of the five happiest. How many made both lists?
Most people think of success in terms of possessions and achievements, while happiness is a state of mind. It's common to think success will bring happiness, but that's often not the case.
Think about what the people on your happy list have in common. I'll bet they have better-than-average relationships, especially with their spouses and children. Of course, other factors besides good relationships also tend to produce happiness—like good health, enjoying one's work, and having fun. And people driven by spiritual and ethical values usually are more content than those who measure success in terms of prosperity, pleasure, and peer approval.
Still, if I had to choose the one thing most essential to happiness, it would be good relationships.
Think about it. The happiness quotient of people who live high-flying lives of the rich and famous or the swinging lives of the young and beautiful is surprisingly low. Yes, these people experience plenty of moments of soaring satisfaction, but they become harder to duplicate and sustain. Often such people are left with an "Is that all there is?" feeling that can lead to depression and boredom.
No matter how rich, sexy, or famous one is, happiness is almost impossible for people who have hurtful and unsatisfying relationships. Yet people surrounded by the affection, love, and respect of others can find their way to happiness in spite of economic hardship, hard work, and even ill health.
That's good news. We can't all be rich, famous, or beautiful, but we can all find people worthy of our love.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"And then he [Jesus] told them, 'You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.'"1
I have often felt that much of my education taught me how to make a living and do a lot of good things, but it didn't teach me how to live or make a life. That I have had to learn the hard way—and am still learning how to do that.
Nevertheless, my education did teach me many valuable lessons. One that I have never forgotten was from my journalism professor. Time and again in bright red he would write on my papers, "Show me. Don't tell me!"
I took it to mean that in my writing I needed to illustrate important points with stories, which was the way that Jesus taught in his many parables.2
I like to apply the "show me—don't tell me" principle not only in my writing, but also in my teaching and especially in my witness for Christ. In other words, one of the greatest ways we can teach others and witness for Christ is to model true Christianity. Until we do this, our words won't carry much weight.
Like Mother Theresa wisely said in words to this effect: "Witness at every opportunity. Use words when necessary." And as another wisely said, "The living truth 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."
In other words, "To win some we need to be winsome."
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so live the Christian life that others, seeing what you have done in my life, will want you in their lives as well. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Jesus in Mark 16:15 (TLB).
2. See Matthew 13:35.
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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
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