Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 10 – No. 4308 October 25, 2008
Thought for the week: "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." – William Arthur Ward
"Adversity affords unique opportunities to elicit superior performance from hidden talent that would otherwise remain dormant." – Ara Parsegian
"I believe that if there is one thing which pierces the Master's heart with unutterable grief it is not the world's iniquity but the church's indifference." – F.B. Meyer
"Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome." – Samuel Johnson
"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible." – Jonathan Swift
"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." – Jacki Joyner-Kersee
"If you think that education is expensive, try ignorance." – Derek Bok
My dad, an auto mechanic, received a repair order that read: "Check for clunking sound when going around corners." Taking the car out for a test drive, he made a right turn, and a moment later he heard a clunk. He then made a left turn and again heard a clunk.
Back at the shop, he opened the car's trunk, and soon discovered the problem. Promptly he returned the repair order to the service manager with this notation: "Remove bowling ball from trunk."
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
When my beloved 18-year-old son was murdered in 1996, I thought my life was over. When it finally sunk in that this vivacious child of mine was dead, I felt as if I were having a heart attack from head to toe. I was numb. In order to survive this twisted nightmare, I moved to a different level of consciousness.
During the trial, I wasn't allowed to speak to Robbie's murderer. On the day of the hearing, I got my first glimpse of Shawn. He stared at the floor as they led him into the dimly lit courtroom. Shadows masked his face, distorting his features, giving him a grotesque fiendish appearance. Although it was my decision not to take the stand, I made it clear to the judge that I wanted to speak with this evil perpetrator after his sentencing.
At the conclusion of the arduous proceedings, the judge summoned me to his chambers. Filled with rage and hatred, I followed the bailiff into a small, paneled office. My heart beat faster with each step as I prepared to meet the young man who took my son's life. Shawn stood in the corner, head down, crying like a baby. His hands and feet shackled; this trembling, pitiful 20-year-old wore little more than baggy orange prison garb. As I watched this boy, so forlorn—no parents, no friends and no support—all I saw was another mother's son.
Suddenly I found myself asking, "Can I give you a hug, Shawn?" He looked up, revealing a childlike face stained with tears and nodded his consent. The bailiff motioned me toward the prisoner. I walked over and put my arms around him. "I forgive you for this horrible thing you've done. I will pray for you every day that you're in prison. I would rather my Robbie be where he is than where you're going." Our eyes connected for a few moments, and then the bailiff escorted me from the room.
Shawn received a 20-to-40-year sentence. How do you compare that to the life of my son? No sentence could bring Robbie back. I still wonder what made Shawn commit this crime. He has given me several explanations, but I still don't have an answer. He has been in prison for five years now, and, so far, I'm his only visitor. Shawn's sentencing has given me no satisfaction, but I believe the compassion I felt in the judge's chamber that day was a gift from God.
Because of the abrupt changes in my life, I'm now part of a prison ministry. I know I could not heal the deep, dark places of hatred and revenge, imbedded within my heart and soul, had I not forgiven my son's murderer. Forgiveness has set me free.
Hatred and revenge won't bring back my beloved son, Robbie, but Shawn is someone's son too. The hatred has to stop somewhere. What better place to begin than with me?
* * * * * * *
Mary G. Lodge is a mother to five children, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She is a Stevens Minister in her church and enjoys speaking on the subject of forgiveness. Reprinted by permission of Mary Lodge. LODGEDOOR@aol.com
Copyright 2003, from "Serving Time, Serving Others, Acts of Kindness by Inmates, Prison Staff, Victims, and Volunteers." In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
A friend told me of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school. The elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminarians finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible. One day my friend asked him what he was reading. The man answered, "The Book of Revelation." Surprised, my friend asked if he understood it.
"Oh, yes," the man assured him. "I understand it."
"What does it mean?"
Very quietly the janitor answered, "It means that Jesus is gonna win."
That is the best commentary I have ever heard on that book. Jesus is going to win. That is the Biblical mindset. That is the confidence we need as we face the future when-God alone knows when-the river may begin to rise again.
Source: Vernon Grounds, Christianity Today, February 2, 1979. Cited on Sermon Illustrations, Net 153 Publications
Today, I want to talk about the qualities that generate trust.
First, I want to make clear that I'm talking about being trustworthy, not about trusting others. There's a relationship between the two concepts, but a decision to trust another is a choice, not a moral obligation. Being trustworthy, however, is an indispensable aspect of good character. We should always act so as to be worthy of trust—not because it's wise but because it's the right way to live.
Being worthy of full-bodied trust entails two distinct qualities: character and competence.
The attribute we first associate with trustworthy behavior is integrity. This crucial aspect of good character is demonstrated through scrupulous honesty and moral courage. If we want people to trust us or our organization, they must believe we'll consistently do the right thing, regardless of circumstances or pressures.
Other aspects of character include accountability and fairness. People trust those who accept responsibility for their choices and don't palm off blame to others. It's also important to be regarded as fundamentally fair.
But in business, confidence in character is not enough. Trust also involves the conviction that the person or organization will successfully do what is expected. This competency dimension embraces faith in ability, knowledge, and judgment as well as a belief that the person or organization will be reliable and responsive.
Reliability is established through diligence and follow-through while responsiveness involves respectful communication and demonstrated concern.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"For in the day of trouble he [God] will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."1
"In the movie, 'The Bear,' a bear cub whose mother died took up with a male bear. They traveled together. One of my favorite parts happened when they got separated and the little bear came upon a mountain lion. When the mountain lion came at the cub he stood up trying to scare it away. The mountain lion all of a sudden started backing away. The little bear cub thought he had scared him away but what had really happened was that the big bear came up behind the little bear. It wasn't the cub but the big bear that frightened the lion away. We may not look very frightening [to our enemy, the devil] but we have a Father that is all powerful [standing behind us]"2
For example: in the following poem, "Hide-and-Seek," I have written:
"Sometimes it seems that life / makes little or no sense / as we wander blind searching for a ray of light / to lead us to the truth / or to a God who isn't there. / But if we will stand still and / listen with our heart we will / hear a rustling in the leaves, feel the brush of angel's wings, / and sense the presence of a loving / Father playing hide-and-seek, waiting patiently / wanting us to find him."3
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I commit and trust my life and way to you on a daily basis, you are always present to be my guide and help—regardless of whether I feel your presence or not. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen."
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