Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 11 – No. 0609 February 07, 2009
Thought for the week: "Nothing so tends to mask the face of God as religion; it can be a substitute for God himself." – Martin Buber
"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." – Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
"Leaders must learn to discipline their disappointments. It's not what happens to us, it is what we choose to do about what happens that makes the difference in how our lives turn out." – Jim Rohn
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." – Calvin Coolidge
"Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat." – Napoleon Hill
"It's not how LONG you live that counts, but HOW you live." – from Our Daily Bread
"The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open." – Unknown
Practicing the presence of God is a skill, a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practice scales every day in order to play beautiful music with ease, you must force yourself to think about God at different times in your day. You must train your mind to remember God.
"As a leader, your word is only as good as your last promise kept ... or broken." – Barbara "BJ" Gallagher
Does anything move us to disappointment and disgust more than someone not living up to their word? More often than not, it's the same people over and over. Maybe we have to take some responsibility for thinking they will change, and that their "I'm sorry" has any meaning.
Knowing whom we can depend on and planning accordingly makes good sense. "I promise" myself not to trust those who have proven, by past actions, that they have no idea what a promise really means.
Then again, those we can completely trust and count on—over and over no matter what the situation—deserve our cooperation whenever it's needed.
Source: Thought for Today by Ray Lammie. To subscribe send a blank email to RIL3@aol.com with Subscribe in the Subject line.
As I watched nearly five dozen eager graduates of the Los Angeles Police Academy throw their hats in the air celebrating their achievement, I knew they were the survivors of a rigorous training, but their journey wasn't over.
Ahead of them was a full year of supervised field training, and it was unlikely all of them would make it through their probation.
It's difficult to cut hard-working and hopeful probationers, but if an organization wants to create a culture of excellence, its gatekeepers (those in charge of hiring, training, retention, and promotion) must exercise clear-eyed objectivity and demonstrate unflinching courage by weeding out those who are unwilling or unable to be excellent.
In policing as in many other fields, the stakes are simply too high to knowingly accept less. No one wants a surgeon, teacher, or peace officer with marginal skills or a shaky character.
Yet everywhere we see signs of declining standards. Public and private organizations regularly lower their expectations due to political expediency, misplaced loyalty, forced diversity, or perceived necessity. Adequacy has become the shifting standard defined as "the best we can get."
Two results are inevitable when we lower standards: The quality of service sinks as fewer people strive for the best within them, and mediocrity becomes the norm as good people move up and out, leaving behind a growing proportion of so-so performers.
Two results are inevitable when we insist on excellence: Performance increases as everyone does better than they otherwise would, and some people are asked to leave.
Management can avoid its responsibility, but it can't dodge the consequences of shirking it. Excellence is achievable, but not without sacrifice and discipline.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."1
Letters such as the following are par for the course in the work that I do:
"My fiancée called off our wedding. How can I fill the hollow ache inside me?"
"My wife left me for another man. How can I even begin to think about the future?"
"After 30 years together, my husband has died. What meaning is there in life for me now?"
True, it's easy to believe the principle in today's Bible verse when we don't need it! But for heart-broken people it can seem that "joy in the morning" is a far way off.
The reality is that disappointment, heartache, grief, and sorrow come to all of us at some time or another. Sooner or later we are all going to lose an opportunity, our job, our investment portfolio, or a loved one.
And, as the poet said:
"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
And the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and debts are high,
You have to smile but you want to cry."
It takes time to work through and resolve our grief (and we need supporting friends to help us do this). But when we do, we can come out a more understanding and caring person ... and better able to support others who are going through sad times. And, in time, joy in the morning will replace our mourning!
For whatever encouragement it may be, try to remember that no matter how disappointed you are feeling or how much you are hurting right now, know that every heartache and loss has within it the seeds of opportunity. Hidden within each disappointment is a pearl of great price, which, when found, will dwarf your problem. The greatest success stories are written by people who, against seemingly overwhelming and often insurmountable odds, have accepted their trials and turned them into opportunities for personal growth and stepping stones on their pathway to success.
With God's help you and I can do the same. Trust him and choose friends who will empower you to do so.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in every disappointment, heartache, sorrow, and trial I experience, help me to always keep trusting my life to you and, in the process, will you please make something beautiful out of my life? Please do this for your glory, and thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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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
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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
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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...
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