Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 16 – No. 2814 July 12, 2014
Thought for the week: "There are three billion women who don't look like super models and only eight who do." – Anita Roddick
"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." – Andrew Carnegie, Industrialist
"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are an excellent leader." – Dolly Parton, Entertainer
"Stop stewing and start doing!" – Denis Waitley
"No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come." – Victor Hugo
"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air." – John Quincy Adams
"Goals are like stepping-stones to the stars. They should never be used to put a ceiling or a limit on achievement." – Denis Waitley
As an assistant professor, I taught during the day and did research at night. I would usually take a break around eight, however, to play the strategy game, Warcraft, online with a teammate.
One night I was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With him at the helm, our troops crushed one opponent after another, and after six games we were undefeated. Suddenly, my fearless leader informed me his mom wanted him to go to bed.
Born over sixty years ago in Yugoslavia, she responded to God's call on her life while still a teenager. A missionary's strong challenge to give her life to teaching in India resulted in her appointment to the city of Calcutta. Some months later she saw a sight which completely revolutionized her life, and would ultimately bring her worldwide fame as Good Housekeeping magazine's "Most-Admired-Woman" selection. What was the sight?
A homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter, being eaten by rats. Compassion compelled her to beg an abandoned Hindu temple from the government and convert it into a crude make-shift hospital for the dying. A comment of her's became her life's thrust: "If there is a God in heaven, and a Christ we love, nobody should die alone." This woman who established colonies for over 10,000 lepers in 28 cities was interviewed by Malcolm Muggeridge from the BBC News. "Mother Teresa, the thing I noticed about you and the hundreds of sisters who now form your team, is that you all look so happy; is that a put-on?"
She replied, "Oh no, not at all. Nothing makes you happier than when you really reach out in mercy to someone who is badly hurt."
Service is its own reward. True mercy begets genuine joy.
– Robert Schuller, The Be-Happy Attitudes,
pages 135-137.
International evangelist Luis Palau recalls the first time he ever asked God to directly answer a prayer. Luis was supporting his mother and siblings by working in an Argentine bank. A bank strike had shut down the local economy, and money was exceedingly tight. Luis prayed and asked God for money to pay for bus fare to his job the next day.
Just to demonstrate that even international evangelists start out as spiritual babies, notice that Luis Palau left home really early the next morning just in case he had to walk to work. Already he didn't trust that God would answer his prayer. On the way to the bus stop, he searched the ground for loose change. Surely that would be God's method for answering his prayer. Someone would drop the money, Luis would find it, and he would ride to work in comfort.
But there was no change to be found on the sidewalks. On his way to the next bus stop, Luis encountered a man who needed some help getting his car started. He stopped to help, then continued on his way. A few moments later, the man pulled alongside Luis and offered him a ride. This man happened to work at the building across the street from the bank.
– Luis Palau, with Ellen Bascuti, The Peter Promise (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Discovery House Publishers, 1996), pp. 43-45. Cited on www.sermons.com
5. The Shoe-shine Boy
A certain downtown businessman became fond of the little boy who shined his shoes every day. He did such a good job that one day the businessman asked him, "Son, how come you are so conscientious about your work?" The boy felt complimented. He looked up to the man, and said, "Mister, I'm a Christian and I try to shine every pair of shoes as if Jesus Christ were wearing them."
The businessman saw something genuine in the Shoe-shine boy. Soon after that he began reading his Bible. When he decided to be a Christian himself, he credited his decision to the little boy who shined every pair of shoes "as if Jesus Christ were wearing them."
– Charles R. Leary, Mission Ready!, C.S.S. Publishing
Company, 1990.
Noah really needed an A on a term paper. His friend Jason told him that lots of kids "recycled" papers they didn't write and offered to give him a paper his older brother had gotten an A on three years ago. When Noah asked him for advice, his father hoped his son wouldn't cheat, but he didn't want to be judgmental. So he said, "Son, it's your life. I can't tell you what you should do. It's a personal decision."
I think that's shabby parenting. Noah's dad declined to provide moral guidance and lost an opportunity to strengthen Noah's values and his own credibility as a reference point. Kids need parents to bolster their moral will power to resist temptations. His reluctance to intervene and influence is an abdication of responsibility.
What's more, his noncommittal response is not an expression of moral neutrality, but a statement that conveys the moral judgment that honesty and integrity are optional.
True, this is a personal decision. Noah has the power. He can choose to be honest or dishonest, ethical or unethical—it's his call. But the real question is one of propriety: he didn't ask his dad, "What can I do?" but "What should I do?" This is a question about ethics, and it can't be dodged or evaded.
If we want our children to build good values and a strong character based on virtue, we have to be willing to teach and advocate those virtues. Sometimes that means saying, "That's wrong!"
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27, NKJV).
I live at the top of a half-mile-long very steep hill and for exercise for several years I used to ride my mountain bike down and up our hill at least three times a week. It was great fun riding down but riding up was another story ... and it never got easy. "Do you enjoy riding?" someone asked. My answer? "I love having ridden."
Joy and I now got to the local gym up to three times a week. Good physical exercise has many benefits. It gives an immediate benefit in that it is a great stress reliever, offsetting some of the adverse effects of stress. It also produces endorphins in the brain that helps one feel much better emotionally than when we don't exercise regularly. Plus, it helps keep one's body in shape; is great for the circulatory system, and helps keep one keep fit physically. Furthermore, as Paul suggests, discipline of the body helps to maintain discipline in other areas of life.
Self-discipline in every area of life is a never-ending challenge, but the dividends of living a disciplined life are well worth every effort put forth. Discipline never happens by chance. It is a choice—a fresh choice every day!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to realize the importance, not only of physical discipline, but discipline in every area of life. And give me the courage to face and confront every barrier in my life that fights against self-discipline. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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