Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 11 – No. 1009 March 07, 2009
Thought for the week: "Man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible." – St. Augustine
A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. 'Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray,' the priest said. 'No,' said the minister. 'I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.' 'You're both wrong,' the guru said. 'The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor.' The repairman could contain himself no longer. 'Hey, fellas,' he interrupted. 'The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole.'
"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'"
The Bible differs from all other books in that it never wears out. Other books are read and laid aside, but the Bible is a constant companion. No matter how often we read it or how familiar we become with it, some new truth is likely to spring out at us from its pages whenever we open it, or some old truth will impress us as it never did before. Every Christian can give illustrations of this." – William Jennings Bryan
Chuck Swindoll observes that "Critic Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, correctly argues that television is converting us from a 'word-centered culture' to an 'image-centered culture.' Even the news broadcasts are under increasing pressure to entertain more than to inform.
"Ted Koppel, the penetrating host of Nightline, calls this 'Vannatizing' (after Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune's celebrity hostess, whose role on the highly rated game show is a matter of looking cute and saying 'hello' and 'bye-bye'). Toddler talk. Don't think, just look. Don't question, relax. 'There's not much room on television for complexity,' says Koppel. 'We now communicate with everyone and say absolutely nothing'" (Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional, 4-29-03).
A teacher once wrote me about a parent with clout at her school who asked her to change attendance records to make her child's record look better. The teacher said she thought long and hard about the request but eventually refused, knowing it would make the parent angry.
First, I commended her moral courage. I wish it didn't take courage to do the right thing, especially in such a clear case as this, but in the real world people with power often retaliate when they don't get what they want. This can make your life difficult.
Moral courage is the much-needed bodyguard of conscience and character. The personal costs of putting our integrity on the auction block are so high that we simply have to take the risk. Once we start on the slippery slope of moral compromise, it's hard to resist the downward slide.
My first instinct was that the parent who subjected the teacher to this corrupt and corrupting request was a thoroughgoing villain, but I suspected she was a basically decent mom so intent on helping her child that she just ignored her moral brakes.
It's wrong to ask someone to lie or cheat, though, and when it comes from someone with power, it's even worse. Power is intimidating even when it's not used.
But unswerving integrity can also be intimidating. Clearly improper requests deserve an immediate, firm, and dignified response that leaves no ambiguity that they're inappropriate. Be careful not to be self-righteous, but let people who ask worry about what you think of them.
If they persist, let them—not you—worry about the consequences.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.' Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.'"1
The author of an article in U.S. Catholic magazine tells of the time when he was not ready for the opportunity of a lifetime. Like many young men, he dreamed of playing baseball in the big leagues but never really thought the opportunity would come his way. Suddenly, it materialized as he was scanning the want ads for a summer job. The Toronto Blue Jays were having tryouts in his hometown. His baseball cleats were rusty and his pony league uniform was layered with dust, but he decided to go for it! Why not!
After arriving at the tryout site, his anxieties soared. "How long ya been practicing for this?" one hopeful asked another." "'Bout six months. Wished I started sooner," he moaned.
Our would-be big leaguer had already struck out. He knew it and it was too late to do anything about it.2 He simply hadn't prepared for his day of opportunity.
One of the things I learned in the Boy Scouts many years ago, something I've never forgotten, was their motto: "Be Prepared."
Other mottos I've never forgotten are these: "It's better to be trained and not called than to be called and not trained," and "Opportunity comes to pass—not to pause!"
It's extremely important that we prepare ahead of time for this life, including the following: getting an adequate education to prepare for meaningful life work (and preparing for a second and even a third profession if necessary in our rapidly changing world) ...as well as training for marriage ... parenting ... and for old age.
It's even more important and critical that we prepare now for the hereafter. In Bible times King Agrippa had the opportunity of a lifetime when the Apostle Paul invited him to believe in and accept Jesus as his Savior. As far as we know he never did do this and he missed not only an opportunity for a lifetime but for all eternity. "He was an Almost Persuaded."
Don't be an "Almost Persuaded." If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, be sure to do this today as this is a day of opportunity for you. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."3
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see that life is full of opportunities—opportunities to serve you in a myriad of ways—opportunities to reach out and help others. Help me always to be ready and use these opportunities to glorify you. And above all, help me to be sure of my salvation and not end my life as an 'almost persuaded.' 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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