Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 12 – No. 2310 June 05, 2010
Thought for the week: "The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example." – Thomas Morell
"A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back." – Unknown
"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." – Frank Outlaw
"A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart." – Unknown
"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." – Glenn Clark
"Two basic rules of management are: 1) whatever you allow, you encourage, and 2) whatever employees will do for you, they will do to you." – Michael Josephson
"He who does nothing for others does nothing for himself." – Goethe
Senator Richard Neuberger once said the experience of contracting cancer changed him.
"A change came over me which I believe is irreversible. Questions of prestige, of political success, of financial status, became all at once unimportant. In their stead has come a new appreciation of things I once took for granted—eating lunch with a friend, scratching Muffet's ears and listening for his purr, the company of my wife, reading a book or magazine in the quiet cone of my bed lamp at night, raiding the refrigerator for a glass of orange juice or a slice of coffee cake. For the first time I think I am actually savoring life. I shudder when I remember all the occasions that I spoiled myself—even when I was in the best of health—by false pride, synthetic values, and fancied slights."
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
There is a legend about a king who decided to set aside a special day to honor his greatest subject. When the big day arrived, there was a large gathering in the palace courtyard. Four finalists were brought forward, and from these four, the king would select the winner.
The first person presented was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told that this man was highly deserving of the honor because of his humanitarian efforts. He had given much of his wealth to the poor.
The second person was a celebrated physician. The king was told that this doctor was highly deserving of the honor because he had rendered faithful and dedicated service to the sick for many years.
The third person was a distinguished judge. The king was told that the judge was worthy because he was noted for his wisdom, his fairness, and his brilliant decisions.
The fourth person presented was an elderly woman. Everyone was quite surprised to see her there, because her manner was quite humble, as was her dress. She hardly looked the part of someone who would be honored as the greatest subject in the kingdom. What chance could she possibly have, when compared to the other three, who had accomplished so much?
Even so, there was something about her; the look of love in her face, the understanding in her eyes, her quiet confidence.
The king was intrigued, to say the least, and somewhat puzzled by her presence. He asked who she was. The answer came: "You see the philanthropist, the doctor, and the judge? Well, she was their teacher!"
The woman had no wealth, no fortune, and no title, but she had unselfishly given her life to produce great people. There is nothing more powerful or more Christlike than sacrificial love. (Chad Ballard, SermonCentral newsletter, 7-31-06)
Disdain for money is a common theme among moralists and philosophers. But money's not the problem. It's what people do to get it and what they do with it when they get it.
In Fiddler on the Roof, a poor man sings of his daydreams of the wonderful life he'd have if he were a rich man. And surely it would be better. As someone once said, "I've been poor and I've been rich. Rich is better."*
Yet the Biblical warning that "love of money is the root of all [kinds of]evil" reminds us to be aware of the difference between need and greed.
It's one thing to make money a central goal to escape poverty and provide for basic necessities. It's quite another when it becomes our primary motivation and measure of success, or when we equate happiness or worthiness with wealth.
The love of money can have a powerful narcotic effect on our values. It can push us toward, or keep us in, unhealthy relationships and unsatisfying careers. It can lead us to undervalue the importance of relationships and work. It can make us into workaholics who neglect family and friends. And it can spawn dishonorable conduct that pollutes our souls and makes us unworthy, despite our net worth.
According to an old Hasidic saying, "One who thinks money can do everything is likely to do anything to get it."
Perhaps Swiss philosopher Rousseau said it best: "The money you have can give you freedom, but the money you pursue enslaves you."
The challenge is to put the value of money in perspective. In the end, the question is: How much are you willing to pay to have money?
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
* This famous quote has been attributed to various people including Mae West, Sophie Tucker, and Gertrude Stein.
"For he [God] understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here."1
I recall watching an interesting TV program commemorating the life of Gregory Peck, the well-known actor, soon after he passed away. Obviously, we know little about the personal lives of famous actors—except for what the tabloids would like to have us believe. Nevertheless, I have always had a great admiration of the talents of this gifted actor.
As we were watching this program, I said to Joy, my wife, how it struck me how fleeting life is. A man reaches a peak of fame and, if he is fortunate enough, may stay there for a few years, and then he is no longer. Life is over. It reminded me that that is also true of me. Here today; gone tomorrow.
I'll never forget some of the last words of a very close friend of mine who, in his mid-forties, became the victim of cancer, and said to me before dying, "I am so angry because there was so much more I wanted to do with my life that I never got around to doing. And now it's too late."
When I come to the end of life's journey, I don't want to have regrets. I want to know that, even with my human frailties, I gave life my best shot having invested it in eternal values. I wish the same for you also.
You have probably read the wonderful quote credited to Stephen Grellet, the 18th/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."
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the wonderful privilege you have given to me to be able to serve you. I'm available. Help me to invest whatever life I have left in eternal values and to have a part—no matter how small—in your plans and what you are doing in the world in which I live, and to do it now. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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