Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 13 – No. 1011 March 05, 2011
Thought for the week: "Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon." – Elizabeth Cady Stanton
A priest is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.
After watching the boy's efforts for some time, the priest moves closer to the boy's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder, leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring.
Crouching down to the child's level, the priest smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?"
I'm sure you are aware of the old saying that says, "Don't confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up." Also, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."
Just watch interviews on TV: People see what they want to see; hear what they want to hear; expose themselves only to messages they want to hear; and they will distort any message to make it match their perception of reality, or to try and make it say what they want it to say. It's called selective hearing, selective observation, selective perception, and selective distortion.
It's been said that the line between childhood and
adulthood is crossed when we move from saying, "It got lost" to "I lost it."
Indeed, being accountable, and understanding and accepting the role our choices
play in the things that happen, are crucial signs of emotional and moral
maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good
character.
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Two dear friends were inflicted with the soul-searing, heart-rending pain of death. One lost her lifelong companion and soul mate, a gentle man who lived a good life of 70 years. The other had to say goodbye to her innocent newborn son, the victim of a neurological anomaly.
I've tried to process these personal tragedies in the context of notorious homicides including the killing of Ed Thomas, a beloved teacher-coach in Iowa who was shot by a mentally ill former player, and the conscienceless murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, a Florida couple revered for caring for and loving 19 children, including a dozen with special needs. How can we explain the deaths of the good and the innocent?
In his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Harold Kushner, whose young son died of a rare disease, shares his struggle to understand undeserved suffering and to keep his faith. He found no comfortable answers, thoughtfully discussing and ultimately rejecting classic answers given by religionists: God has a hidden purpose that we cannot and need not understand; suffering is a test or a lesson, or death leads our loved ones to a better place.
Rabbi Kushner writes that he finally found peace of mind when he gave up the idea that everything happens for a reason, or that God causes or purposefully allows everything to happen. It's futile and foolish to expect the consequences of natural forces and human nature to conform to our notions of fairness. "God doesn't send us the problem," he says. "He gives us the strength to cope with the problem."
If we want to move beyond our grief and find continuing meaning in our lives, we shouldn't ask, "Why did this happen?" but "What am I going to do with the life I have now?"
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."1
A troubled Daily Encounter reader writes: "The circumstances of my birth were not good. My mother, newly wedded to her husband, had me by another man. Ever since I found this out in my teenage years (when my parents finally got divorced after a horrible marriage), I have felt like an outcast, as if I were cursed because I was born in a sinful manner. I know a child of God cannot be cursed because Jesus hung on a tree for us, but it's very difficult to overcome this feeling at times. I often feel as if God has rejected me. Is this possible?
Dear Michael (name changed), even though you may not feel it right now, let me assure you that you are not rejected by God. He loves you and me regardless of our feelings and no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do—or whatever anyone has ever done to us. God loves us all with an everlasting love. If truth be known, there must be millions of people who were never planned or even wanted, but are still loved and accepted by God no matter what.
Some years ago when my youngest son was still a teen, he was very angry at me about something that I have long since forgotten, but I will never forget what he said. He blurted out in a very angry manner, "Well, why did you have me anyhow?"
I immediately replied (and genuinely meant it), "Because you are a part of God's eternal plan!"
And Michael, this is also true of you and every child that was ever born. All are known by God from the foundation of the world. You, too, are a part of God's eternal plan. God loves you eternally. Jesus died on the cross for YOU. And if you have never accepted God's gift of forgiveness and salvation by receiving Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to do that today. For help, please read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" online at: www.actsweb.org/christian.
Also, at the beginning of every day I encourage you to pray the following prayer:
"Dear God, again today I commit and trust my life and way to you. Please guide me in the way that I should go, and help me to become the person you want me to be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
Note: And, Dear Reader, I encourage you to do the same as I have been doing pretty much every day since my youth and plan on praying this prayer every day until the day I go to be with the Lord.
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