Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 12 – No. 1010 March 06, 2010
Thought for the week: "In his excellent book on the history of Rome, Caesar, and Christ, historian Will Durant observed, 'A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has first destroyed itself from within. The essential cause of Rome's decline lay in her people and her morals.'" – Greg Laurie
"The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone." – Orison Swett Marden
"Sometimes our candle goes out, but is blown into flame by an encounter with another human being." – Albert Schweitzer
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." – Beverly Sills
"We have a right to choose our attitude." – Viktor Frankl
"Among the English language's many puzzling words is 'economy,' which means the large size in toothpaste and the small size in automobiles." – Seen on Mickey's Funnies
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's. And guess what they might have planned for you? Not much." – Jim Rohn
Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place, I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!"
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one."
"I have lived Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'"
Those Muslims (Islamists) again—they are difficult to understand. We are constantly told that all the terrorist attacks (not a politically correct term) are by "radical" Muslims, or by "extreme" Muslims. In Pakistan, where so many Christians have been murdered by Muslims, the official line is that those are "radicals"—but a Pew Global Attitudes Project poll this month disclosed that among all Pakistan Muslims, 78% favor death for those who leave the Islamic faith, and 83% favor stoning adulterers to death. Seems like "radical" or "extreme" is the norm.
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." – Ronald Reagan
"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." – Ronald Reagan
"You cannot make the weak strong by making the strong weak." – Ronald Reagan
"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." – Ronald Reagan
"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government, but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." – Ronald Reagan
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." – Ronald Reagan
"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting." – Ronald Reagan
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." – Ronald Reagan
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book." – Ronald Reagan
"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." – Ronald Reagan
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." – Ronald Reagan
In my book, The Power of Character, Dr. Laura Schlessinger writes that her radio show didn't become a success until she abandoned the nonjudgmental strategy of the traditional psychologist/family counselor and began to challenge, chastise, and encourage her listeners to think of their behavior in terms of right and wrong. Believing that we're all obligated to discern and honor moral boundaries and ethical principles, she popularized discussion of conscience and character as personal obligations, not abstract concepts.
As a law professor, I felt a similar need to distance myself from the "Who am I to judge?" legalistic perspective taught in law school in favor of a more complex outlook that included moral judgment. Sure, clients may prefer nonjudgmental advice focusing on what works rather than what's right, and patients in counseling may prefer talking about feeling good rather than being good, but universal standards of right and wrong cannot be ignored.
The middle ground between self-righteous finger-wagging moralists who scold and condemn everyone who lives by different standards, and the "whatever works for you" relativists with no moral backbone at all, is found by understanding that "Your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose."
In other words, a person's need for happiness or freedom does not justify endangering or injuring others. Thus, if the concept of character is to mean anything, we should judge and disapprove of untrustworthy, disrespectful, irresponsible, unfair, and unkind conduct.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."1
A Daily Encounter reader writes: "About your 'I Hate Religion' article. It seems pretty judgmental to me. Are you saying that the ONLY right way to worship the one true God is Christianity? If you are, I have a little quote for YOU, 'Judge not lest ye be judged.'"
Hello, Judy (name changed), you ask if I am saying that the only way to God is Christianity. Actually, I'm quoting Jesus and God's Word. Jesus said without apology, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And again, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."2
In actuality, had there been any other way to God, why would Jesus, the Son of God, have come to earth to die on the cross for our sins? Furthermore, I would much rather listen to what God has said than listen to what man-made religions say. Also, when we decide what is/are the way/s to God, we put ourselves above God and his Word. This is a very dangerous path to follow.
As Jesus also said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."3
Yes, it is true that Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."4 At the same time God's Word also says, "But he that is spiritual judges all things."5 In other words, while we are not to be judgmental towards people, we are to be wise and judge what others do, say, and teach.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a love for your Word so that I will always know the truth of what you say, and so that I am not deceived by what others say—no matter how comfortable their words may be. Help me to always choose the way of your Truth, no matter how uncomfortable and unpopular that may be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
Note: See God's way based on God's Word, the Bible, for "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.
1. John 14:6 (NIV). 2. Acts 4:12 (NKJV). 3. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV). 4. Matthew 7:1 (NIV). 5. 1 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV).
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