Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 13 – No. 0211 January 08, 2011
Thought for the week: "Jesus Christ was born into history, not into mythology." – Dorothy L. Sayers
"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises." – Demosthenes
"The virtue you would like to have, assume it is already yours, appropriate it, enter into the part and live the character just as the great actor is absorbed in ... the part he plays." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
"People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel." – Unknown
"Designing your product for monetization first and people second will probably leave you with neither." – Tara Hunt
"It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." – Adlai Stevenson
"Whenever pain is so borne as to be prevented from breeding bitterness or any other evil fruit, a contribution is made to rescuing God's creation from the devil's grip." – Leonard Hodgson
A middle-aged man entered a cocktail lounge and walked directly to the bar. "Do you have anything that will cure hiccups?" he asked the bartender. Without a word, the bartender reached down under the bar, picked up a wet bar rag, and slapped the man across the face with it.
Hey! What's the idea? The astonished man said. The bartender smiled, "Well, you don't have hiccups anymore, do you?" he asked.
"I never did," the man replied. "I wanted something to cure my wife. She's out in the car."
Like the trees of the forest,
may you find nourishment
in rain as well as sunshine,
Bend with the winds of misfortune
without breaking;
Give of yourself to others
to provide shade from the blistering heat,
Grow old gracefully and not
become rigid or unbending;
and above all
May you keep reaching ever upwards
towards heaven and to God.
President John Kennedy once said that a dinner for Nobel laureates was the greatest concentration of brain power ever gathered at the White House, except when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.
One of the most brilliant men ever! Obviously, he was a man ahead of his time.
"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe." – Thomas Jefferson
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." – Thomas Jefferson
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which, if acted, on would save one-half the wars of the world." – Thomas Jefferson
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." – Thomas Jefferson
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." – Thomas Jefferson
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." – Thomas Jefferson
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." – Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." – Thomas Jefferson
"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." – Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property—until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
Dr. John W. Keith of Oak Ridge, TN tells about a high school principal who, at the beginning of a New Year, decided to post his teachers' new year's resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren't my resolutions posted?"
She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions, he was astounded. This teacher's first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.
The tidal wave of praise and tributes commemorating Coach John Wooden's passing makes it hard to add something new. My effort is the following pledge derived from his "Pyramid of Success" and some of his favorite maxims. I invite you to take the pledge and pass it on to others.
I pledge to improve and safeguard my character and to myself be true, being faithful to my convictions in all I say and do.
I will strive to do what's right and let my conscience be my guide, knowing my worth is measured by what I am inside.
I'll take on each day enthusiastically and give every task my all.
I will not whine, complain, or make excuses, even if I fall.
I will live my life with purpose, thinking ahead and having a plan.
I will never allow what I can't do interfere with what I can.
I will find opportunity in adversity and do things right the first time through and never be afraid to change or try something new.
I will be patient, poised, and confident, working toward each goal, being sure to govern my emotions and demonstrating self-control.
I will count my blessings daily and be grateful for what I possess, getting joy from moderation and avoiding all excess.
I will work hard and take initiative in order to excel, and I'll make big things happen by doing the little things well.
I will pursue victory with honor, not letting praise or criticism change how I act, and I'll strive to be worthy of pride and emulation, in reputation and in fact.
I will be sincere, honest, and loyal, worthy of other's trust.
I will be respectful and responsible, doing what I must.
I will always act with fairness and show others how much I care, and I'll be a good citizen and always do my share.
I will live my life with dignity, passion, and fun, and make each day my masterpiece when all is said and done.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
*Derived by Michael Josephson of the Josephson Institute of Ethics from the writings and philosophy of Coach John Wooden.
"Choose you this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."1
"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is," said one insightful person.
To achieve anything worthwhile in life that has eternal value and dividends, we need to genuinely serve God. To do this we may need to go out on a limb and be willing to swim against the tide of popular thought, to be different but not odd, assertive but not aggressive, strong but not pushy, meek but not weak, honest and truthful but not unkind.
We may, at times, even be considered a little bit crazy, but as another has said, "You've got to be a little bit crazy because if you always keep both feet on the ground, you can never get your pants on!"
Seriously, to serve God, also means knowing what your God-given life purpose is; that is, knowing what God wants you to be and what he wants you to do with your life. It will include having a worthwhile goal and work into which you can put your heart and best efforts. But doing this can be scary because like Noah, Abraham and other men and women of faith we, too, (even if it isn't to the same extent) may need to step out in faith and go out on a limb! But remember, that's where the fruit is.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the courage and help me to so live in harmony with your will that, when necessary, I will not be afraid to go out on a limb, so that whatever I do—with your help—will be fruitful, productive and bring glory to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Joshua 24:15 (NIV).
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"Because the world is hungry,
go with bread.
Because the world is filled with strife,
go with peace.
Because the world is filled with deceptions and lies,
go with truth.
Because the world would die without,
go with the love of God."
