Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 11 – No. 2709 July 04, 2009
Thought for the week: "Heaven is full of answers to prayer for which no one bothered to ask." – Billy Graham
"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons."
– Jim Rohn
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." – William Shedd
"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way." – Dennis Waitley
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." – Andre Gide
"People often tell me that motivation doesn't last, and I tell them that bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily." – Zig Ziglar
The world is not moved only by the mighty shoves of the heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." – Helen Keller
Pomp and What? A few years ago our choir did a Christmas Cantata at our church. On the evening of our first performance we were all lined up outside the Sanctuary waiting to march in to the opening strains of the overture. Our Pastor wanted us to march in time with the music so his final instructions were as follows: "Everybody march in like you did at your high school graduation. You know, Pomp and Circumcision." We all broke out in a fit of laughter and it took several minutes to regain enough composure to march in.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
Question: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
Answer: Psalm 117.
Question: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
Answer: Psalm 119.
Question: What chapter is in the center of the Bible?
Answer: Psalm 118.
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118.
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalm 118.
Ad these numbers together and you get 1188. And what is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer 118:8.
The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their life, and that they want to be in the center of God's will, just send them to the center of His Word—the Bible.
"It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8).
Editor's note: Is this incidence, coincidence or divine guidance? You be the judge.
Submitted by Wilma M. Prountzos. Source, Encounter magazine (Australia), Issue No. 5, 2008.
From birth to age 12 seemed like it took 20 years.
From 12 until age 16 felt like 15 years to me.
From 16 to age 21 was another 10 years.
From age 21 to age 30 was a tough 15 years.
From 30 to the age of 50 seemed like it only took about 8 years.
From 50 until age 60 was very strange—I went to bed one night at
50 and woke up 60!
After age 60 you get up in the morning, grab something to eat,
and presto it's midnight.
Value every year, every day, every hour and even every minute. Don't spend a lot of time looking forward to some 'certain event'; it will surely come soon enough. Spend your time and thoughts in the wonder and the miracle of "today". Grab hold of this day with passion, desire, love, and with a positive outlook. Life is a wonderful adventure. I sure wish I had found that out at the beginning of this journey.
Ray Lammie, "Thought for Today." To subscribe send a blank email to RIL3@aol.com with "Subscribe" in the Subject line.
6. Not Knowing What's Going to Happen Next [Re Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Etc.]
By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (625.2)
No matter how much we fear it, try to escape it, or ignore it, death comes to everyone. Wealth, fame, even wisdom and virtue provide no sanctuary.
It comes at its own time and place without regard for our readiness or its impact on survivors.
This week brought news of three deaths, each momentous in its own way as each life had its own unique path forged by circumstances and choices.
Ed McMahon, announcer, pitchman, and sidekick of Johnny Carson, died at 86. A former Marine Corps fighter pilot, his jovial nature attracted a large posse of friends and admirers and helped him achieve a hugely successful career and millions in earnings. None of these things, however, guaranteed happiness or security as his last years were spent in debt, ill health, and contentious litigation.
Farrah Fawcett, an iconic beauty known for her glamorous pin-up pictures and for being one of Charlie's Angels, died at 62 after a hard, long public battle with cancer. She died with her companion for 27 years, actor Ryan O'Neal, at her side, struggling with all her might to enjoy her relationships a little longer.
These obituaries were eclipsed by the sudden death of 50-year-old "King of Pop" Michael Jackson. The one-gloved, red-jacketed, surgically altered, moon-walking singer/dancer was, for more than a decade, the brightest star in celebrity heaven. Once able to buy anything he wanted including a private zoo and the bones of The Elephant Man, Jackson also died in debt and in emotional prison—never able to overcome a host of personal demons.
Gilda Radner, another celebrity who died early, said: "I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing...taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity."
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Ed. NOTE: No matter how famous a person is during his/her lifetime as God's Word says, "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment [by God]"(Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV). How incredibly tragic to end one's life on earth without making any preparations for eternity. Whatever you do make sure that you are ready. For help be sure to read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.
"It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."1
Again I would like to quote one of my many favorite one-liners that is from William Penn, the 18/19th-century French/American religious leader who said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."
Penn's words bring to mind one of my good friends who died at age 44 from cancer. I was with Graham shortly before he passed away and asked him how he felt being only 44 and given only a matter of weeks or a few months at best to live. One of the unforgettable things he spoke about was how difficult it was for him when some friends who visited him in the hospital rattled on with empty words, or said "the right thing" but without feeling or heart. He was dying and to him their words were empty, meaningless clichés. He wanted to talk about life, death, and being ready to meet God face to face—and issues that mattered.
He also said how angry he was because there were so many things he didn't get done and still wanted to do—but his time was up and he would never get them done. This was one of his big regrets. But his main regret was that he felt he hadn't spent enough time with his kids and family.
Graham's words remind me how temporal life is. None of us has any guarantee of tomorrow, so (not being fanatical about it) we do need to live every day with eternal values in mind.
So, do you have any unfinished business? Any impaired relationships that you can and need to resolve? Anyone you need to let know how much you love them? May I kindly suggest that you do it today! And, above all, do you need to get right with God? This I urge upon you to do today—now.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember the words of the poet who said, 'Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last,' and live life to the fullest-but with eternal values uppermost in my mind. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
NOTE: To be sure your life is right with God read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9
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