Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 10 – No. 5008 December 13, 2008
Thought for the week: "Your talent is your gift from God. What you do with your talent is your gift back to God!" – Unknown
"So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied." – Helen Keller
"No one can defeat us unless we first defeat ourselves." – Dwight Eisenhower
"A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough." – Ronald Reagan
"The devil is content that people should excel in good works, provided he can but make them proud of them." – William Law
"A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life." – William A. Ward
"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." – Unknown
As a couple drove home from church one afternoon, they were talking about a friend who was going to be baptized that day. As they were saying how proud they were of him, their three-year-old daughter Elizabeth asked, "What does it mean to be baptized?"
Their 5-year-old son Joshua spoke up, "Oh, baptism—that's when the preacher washes all your senses away."
Back in April last President Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to America at a formal White House ceremony attended by thousands. The Pope delivered a stirring tribute to America, her people and our defense of freedom. Pope Benedict acknowledged what many elitists refuse to recognize—that faith has played an integral role in the founding and success of this nation. But he also reiterated that liberty does not mean licentiousness. Here are some excerpts from the Pope's message:
"From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God.
"Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience—almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.
"It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good. Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in Eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows time and again that 'in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation,' and a democracy without values can lose its very soul. Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent 'indispensable supports' of political prosperity."
"To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals—that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him." – Honore De Balzac
"It is not what you say you believe that is important, but what you model, encourage, reward and let happen." – Patricia Fripp
"Companies with clear written statements of values and principles are more dynamic and profitable than those without. People, too." – Brian Tracy
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." – Thomas Jefferson
Trustworthiness is essential to good relationships, and honesty is essential to trustworthiness. But being honest isn't simply telling the truth. It's also being sincere and forthright. Thus, it's just as dishonest to deceive someone by half-truths or silence as it is to lie.
But when does honesty require us to volunteer information that could be damaging or hurtful?
Should you say something when a good friend at work has begun to dress or act in a way that's damaging his or her credibility and generating ridicule? What if you find out a friend's husband (who is also your friend) is having an affair? Do you tell your brother bad things about a woman he's involved with?
These types of situations are extremely volatile, and it's easy to rationalize silence. It's a lot easier on you and, besides, telling hard truths, however well intended, can seriously damage relationships. Yet silence could also be viewed as a betrayal of trust when it's later discovered that you knew important information and withheld it.
When the ethical principles of honesty, respect, and caring are in conflict, there's no single right answer. If you're faced with such a situation, consider these four critical factors: motive, tact, tone, and timing.
Be sure and pure about your motive. Your intentions must be honorable, and you must have the well-being of your friend at heart. It's not about you.
Choose your words very carefully.
Avoid self-righteousness or accusations.
Choose a time and place that lends itself to a frank interchange.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"'Come, let us meet together on one of the villages on the plain of Ono.' But they were scheming to harm me."1
When Nehemiah and the Israelites had almost completed rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem several centuries BC, enemies were strongly opposed to their progress and sought through trickery to deceive Nehemiah and get rid of him. They tried to lure him away from his work and invited him to meet with them in the Plain of Ono.
But Nehemiah's reply was, "O no!" He knew their stories were fabricated and that they were lying. Just as well he did, otherwise he would have been destroyed and God's work frustrated. Nehemiah stuck to the job God commissioned him to do until the work was finished and the walls rebuilt. He didn't allow himself to be sidetracked. Whenever we get involved in God's work, there is always opposition. The enemy attacks at every opportunity and usually at our most vulnerable places. He is a master of deceit and we, like Nehemiah, need to be aware of his devices.
More often than not, he comes as an angel of light—seemingly as a teacher and promoter of truth. But many a sincere Christian has been deceived and led astray by these often authoritative-sounding, silver-tongued orators, and deceptive leaders who claim to be coming in the name of the Lord."Be careful," Jesus said to them [his disciples]. "Be on your guard against the yeast [false teaching] of the Pharisees and Sadducees [the religious leaders of Jesus' day]."2
At the risk of being overly repetitious, when in doubt, always pray for God to reveal to you the truth. And the more connected we are with our own inner truth—that is, the more honest we are with our own self—the easier and quicker we will "smell" (sense and discern) the false teachings of those who are not for real.
So, be on your guard and watch out for phony people with phony solutions.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a man or woman of truth so I will always have the insight to discern all false teaching and never be led astray from the true teachings of your Word no matter how eloquent or persuasive the teachers may be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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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
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