Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 12 – No. 4810 November 27, 2010
Thought for the week: "When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck." – Estee Lauder, Entrepreneur
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" – The Bible, Isaiah 5:20,21 (NIV).
"Things you do may go unsaid but it doesn't mean it goes unseen, for you model what you do more than what you say." – Bob Cavinder
"You are not a reservoir with a limited amount of resources; you are a channel attached to unlimited divine resources." – Unknown
"We fail to realize that mastery is not about perfection. It's about a process, a journey. The master is the one who stays on the path day after day, year after year. The master is the one who is willing to try, and fail, and try again, for as long as he or she lives." – George Leonard
"We become, in large part, the product of all the choices we have made along the journey of life." – Ray Lammie
"[There are] none so blind as those that will not see." – Matthew Henry, British Bible commentator (1662-1714)
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, "And all girls."
This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me after several weeks. I asked her, "Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?"
She replied, "Because everybody always finishes their prayers by saying 'All Men.'"
Please, Dear God,
Lead me in the way I need to go,
Teach me in the things I need to know,
Help me in the areas where I need to grow,
Use me in the way that will glory to your name show.
Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen.
One of [the President's] ... campaign promises was to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual (LGBT) agenda, and that promise included the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which had been signed into law by Bill Clinton, and to enact into law the Employment Non- Discrimination Act (ENDA) — both high on the list of must-do legislation by America's homosexuals.
To "change" the long held opinion of the American people on the concept of same-sex marriage is not an easy task. Already some 30 states have by solid majorities included in their constitutions the traditional, Bible-based concept of marriage as being between a man and a woman—yet at the same time, a few states have joined the 5 or 6 European countries which permit same sex marriage. The Catholic Church has been outspoken in its opposition to same sex marriage, as have been American Evangelicals— although the American Episcopal Church, in its huge Los Angeles diocese, has [earlier this year] ... installed an openly lesbian bishop, Mary Douglas Glasspool, who will join Vicky Gene Robinson as the other openly gay Episcopal bishop. Robinson's election has created a major schism in the world Anglican Communion.
Among the spokespersons on this subject is the movie star, former sex symbol, Raquel Welsh, who [in May] at age 70 made this comment, "I'm ashamed to admit that I myself have been married four times, and yet I still feel that it is the cornerstone of civilization, an essential institution that stabilizes society, provides a sanctuary for children and saves us from anarchy."
Related to this ongoing problem and the breakdown in the traditional family are these shocking statistics just released by the Pew Research Center, showing that since the findings in 1990, the number of children born out of wedlock have increased by 13%, from 28% in 1990 to 41% in 2008.
This, too, is an important subject for prayer, that the continuing efforts of the nation's homosexual minority will be thwarted, and that the Christian concept of homosexuality as a sin, condemned by God in His word, might once again prevail in America.
We ought never to forget or ignore the views of our Founding Fathers:
"The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity... I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." – John Adams, 1776
"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure ... are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." – Charles Carroll, 1800
I have seen some very talented people trip themselves up with a lack of integrity. When I was about seven, I went to the store with my dad who was the most honest man I ever met. I took a small rubber ball without paying for it. When my dad found out what I did, we went back to the store and I had to tell the woman behind the counter what I did. I'm still embarrassed when I think of it; embarrassed that I let him down.
No matter how much talent you have on the job, your employer or friends must be able to trust you. No one will hang around or employ a dishonest person for long. You might 'win' in the short run, but will always loose in the long run. My dad instilled that in me at a very early age.
Ray Lammie, Thought for Today. To subscribe send a blank email to belbarbara@aol.com with Subscribe in the Subject Line.
Tony and Tracy were newlyweds when they went to a friend's wedding. Tony drank too much, and when a seductive former girlfriend kissed him on the lips, he kissed her back inappropriately. Tracy was furious.
The next day, Tony was full of remorse. He apologized, sent flowers, pledged his absolute fidelity, and begged for forgiveness. Finally, Tracy absolved him.
Yet in the following months, she repeatedly referred to the incident. Tony protested. "Look, I admitted I was wrong. I've done everything I could to make amends. You said you'd forgiven me. Why do you keep rubbing my nose in it?"
Tracy said, "I have forgiven you, but I haven't forgotten what you did. And I don't want you to forget it either."
Clearly, Tracy hadn't forgiven Tony and was using his indiscretion as power over him.
True forgiveness involves more than saying the words. It involves letting go in a way that frees both parties from grudges and guilt. The phrase "forgive and forget" is often used because without forgetting, there is no true forgiveness.
Forgetting doesn't mean we don't remember an incident; it means we voluntarily let go of our right to punish an offender and fully and unconditionally release the wrongdoer from further penalty. In effect, we cancel the moral debt.
When a relationship has been damaged by a hurtful act, the victim can choose to hold on to righteous anger and pain or let them go so the wound can heal and the relationship can flourish. In the end, holding on to a grudge could damage Tracy's marriage more than Tony's indecent kiss.
Forgiveness doesn't come naturally and it isn't easy, but it's both generous and wise.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Moses answered [God], 'What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, "The LORD did not appear to you?"' Then the LORD said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' 'A staff,' he replied. The LORD said, 'Throw it on the ground.' Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it."1
I have read how "there was a 10-year-old boy, whose left arm was damaged and subsequently amputated. He decided to learn judo. His sensei (teacher) was an old Japanese judo expert.
"The boy learned quickly. After a short time, he had mastered one important move. He asked his teacher to teach him more moves. The sensei told him that this was all he would need.
"Soon after, the boy entered a tournament where his opponent was bigger and more experienced. The boy seemed outmatched. After a long match, the opponent seemed to lose concentration. Quickly, the boy took advantage and pinned what seemed to be his superior opponent.
"On the ride home, the boy asked his sensei, 'How could I win with this one move?' The sensei replied, 'You have mastered one of the difficult moves in judo. And a good defense against that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.'"2
Sometimes we don't think we have much to offer in service to God. But we all have at least "one thing in our hand." If we offer that willingly to God, he will use it for his glory. And as the writer of the above story said, "Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your greatest strength."
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the gift you have given to me. Help me to know what it is and how I can best use it for serving you and helping others. I want to be a winner in your book. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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