Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 11 – No. 2009 May 16, 2009
Thought for the week: "There is a hard law. When an injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive." – Alan Pato
"People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs, not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive." – Blaise Pascal
"What is beautiful is not always good, but what is good is always beautiful." – Unknown
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who sought and found out how to serve." – Albert Schweitzer, Humanitarian
"All the flowers
of all the tomorrows
are in the seeds
of today." – Indian Proverb
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak...because in your life you will have been all of these." –
George Washington Carver
"The greatest discovery of this generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitude." – William James
For a computer programming class, I sat directly across from someone, and our computers were facing away from each other. A few minutes into the class, she got up to leave the room. I reached between our computers and switched the inputs for the keyboards. She came back and started typing
and immediately got a distressed look on her face.
She called the teacher over and explained that no matter what she typed, nothing would happen. The teacher tried everything. By this time I was hiding behind my monitor quaking red-faced.
I started to type, "Leave me alone!"
They both jumped back, silenced. "What!" exclaimed the teacher.
I typed, "I said leave me alone!"
The kid got real upset. "I didn't do anything to it, I swear!"
It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. This conversation between them and HAL 2000 went on for an amazing five minutes.
Me: "Don't touch me!"
Her: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit your keys that hard."
Me: "Who do you think you are anyway?!" etc. Finally, I couldn't contain myself any longer and fell out of my chair laughing.
After they had realized what I had done, they both turned beet red.
Dan Rice III, a Daily Encounter reader writes, "I thought you'd appreciate the literal translation of the word, 'religion'. Latin ... re ligios... meaning ... return to bondage."
This is another reason why I hate religion ... but am totally sold on real Christianity. Religion, as another has said, is man's search for God, but true Christianity is God's search for man in giving his Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth dressed in a garment of human flesh to die on the cross to save us from our sins.
Be sure to read "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian—without having to be religious at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9
Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime!
She lived through two world wars and the worst financial depression in our history. As the President's wife she showed strength and leadership during a difficult time in America. Eleanor Roosevelt came from a special generation of survivors. A generation that set an example of the potential we all have to overcome any and all challenges.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." ... You must do the thing you think you cannot do." – Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady
From, Thought for Today by Ray Lamie. To subscribe, send a blank email to RIL3@aol.com with "Subscribe" in the Subject line.
Let's be honest. Ethics is not for wimps. It's not easy being a good person.
It's not easy to be honest when it might be costly, to play fair when others cheat, or to keep inconvenient promises.
It's not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints.
It's not easy to control powerful impulses, to be accountable for our attitudes and actions, to tackle unpleasant tasks, or to sacrifice the now for later.
It's not easy to bear criticism and learn from it without getting angry, to take advice, and to admit error.
It's not easy to feel genuine remorse and apologize sincerely, or to accept an apology graciously and truly forgive.
It's not easy to stop feeling like a victim, to resist cynicism, and to make the best of every situation.
It's not easy to be consistently kind, to think of others first, to judge generously, and to give the benefit of the doubt.
It's not easy to be grateful or to give without concern for reward or gratitude.
It's not easy to fail and still keep trying, to learn from failure, to risk failing again, to start over, to lose with grace, or to be glad of another's success.
It's not easy to look at ourselves honestly and be accountable, to avoid excuses and rationalizations, or to resist temptations.
No, being a person of character is not easy. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance."1
One man, whom I shall call Jerry, was divorced by his wife twenty years ago. She has long since been remarried to another man. But Jerry is still living under the delusion that she will come back to him.
Instead of growing through longsuffering, Jerry is groaning through suffering long ... which is a thief of peace and happiness, and has stopped him from getting on with his life (and growing)—and makes this kind of suffering worse than useless.
God's purpose for longsuffering is to help us grow, to learn patience, and become better, healthier, and more peaceful and fulfilled persons.
Suffering long is when we can change our circumstances (or at least our attitude) but keep doing what we've always done and expect different results. But as the old saying goes, "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
Unfortunately, when we are blind to the reality of what we are contributing to the situation we are in and keep hoping for change, too often we do more of the same of what we've been doing all along. And then as we remain in our pain, we play the excuse-game, the rationalization-game, and/or the blame-game ... blaming others, God or the devil for our misfortunes and miseries—but fail to take personal responsibility for changing ourselves!
And how do I know? Been there—done that! I wish they would have taught me this lesson in Sunday School—or even in college!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in the words of another, 'Grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me.' 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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