Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 11 – No. 4109 October 10, 2009
Thought for the week: "Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working 24 hours a day for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force." – Tom Blandi
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Chinese Proverb
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." – James D. Miles
"You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory." – J. Donald Walters
"Universal laws are always in force whether you believe in them or not." – Brian Tracy
"Don't cut your conscience to fit this year's fashions." – Lillian Hellman
"Our challenge for today and every day is to make it a priority to spend time with the Lord in His Word. We may have to reorganize our schedule or wake up earlier. But it's worth the effort—discernment and wisdom await us if we put into practice the truths we absorb each day." – Dr. Charles Stanley
"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity, but with it you can accomplish miracles."
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To emphasize his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second, then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ by a former D student feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
"I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for five without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
"You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
"I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.
"I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
"I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
"I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
"I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.
"You want to know what I make?
"I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?" His jaw dropped, he went silent.
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
There's no doubt that our character has a profound effect on our future. What we must remember, however, is not merely how powerful character is in influencing our destiny, but how powerful we are in shaping our character and, therefore, our destiny. Character may determine our fate, but character is not determined by fate.
It's a common mistake to think character is fully formed and fixed early in life. It calls to mind old maxims like "A leopard can't change its spots" and "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." This perspective that our character is etched in stone is supported by a great deal of modern psychology emphasizing self-acceptance. As Popeye says, "I yam what I yam." The hidden message is: Don't expect me to be more, better, or different.
Ultimately, these views of humanity undervalue the lifelong potential for growth that comes with the power of reflection and choice. How depressing it would be to believe that we can't choose to be better—more honest, more respectful, more responsible, more caring. None of us should give up the personal quest to improve our character. Not because we're bad—we don't have to be sick to get better—but because we're not as good as we could be.
There are so many things in life we can't control: whether we're beautiful or smart, whether we have good parents or bad, whether we grow up with affirmation or negation. It's uplifting to remember that nothing but moral willpower is needed to make us better.
No, it isn't easy. But if we strive to become more aware of the habits of heart and mind that drive our conduct, we can begin to place new emphasis on our higher values so we become what we want our children to think we are.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?"1
Mike Atkinson in his Mickey's Funnies shares the following humorous story:
A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."2
Need I say more?
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of playing the blame-game and projecting my blind spots onto others—and judging them accordingly. 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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