Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 13 – No. 3711 September 10, 2011
Thought for the week: "To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge." – Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister
"Life is a gift. Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift. There is nothing small about it."– Florence Nightingale
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." – Thich Nhat Hanh
"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use." – Ruth Gordon
"We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty instead of being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity." – Walter E. Cole, Korean War Hero
"Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die." – Malachy McCourt
"Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10, 12).
Today I would like for all of us to reflect on "Common Sense." The world, or should I say the people of this world, particularly this generation, seem to be living in an age when good old Common Sense doesn't make sense anymore. My parents told me about Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on her when making decisions. Today I read her obituary:
Obituary Common Sense....
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old she was since her birth records were long lost in bureaucratic red tape. She will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
Her health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teen suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened her condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received a better treatment than the victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by her parents, Truth and Trust; her husband, Discretion; her daughter, Responsibility; and her son, Reason. She is survived by three stepbrothers; I know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim. Not many attended her funeral because so few realized she was gone.
Let's all try to make some sense today and bring Common Sense back where she belongs.
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit.
The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone.
Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave.
He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.
Source, The Internet, as seen on Encounter magazine, Australian edition. October 2010
You Can't Fly With A Broken Wing is a great book that can be helpful for all ages. I bought some and gave them to those that had broken wings.
I sent one to my granddaughter in Florida and her mother.
My granddaughter let some of her friends from school read it, and they wanted to know where she got such a wonderful book. She said, "My grandmother from Ohio."
Don't just tell someone to buy the book. Buy it and give it to them on one condition: that when they read it, to pass it on to someone else that has a broken wing.
– From Joan M.
NOTE: This book by Richard Innes can be purchased on the ACTS online store at:http://tinyurl.com/yrjrnl
6. Righteousness Is Revealed in Conduct, Not Rhetoric
By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (671.2)
It's hard to look at the world and some of the people who seem to get ahead without occasionally asking ourselves why we should be ethical. However normal it is to think like this, the question should be off limits for people who profess strong religious beliefs. After all, what religion does not mandate morality?
To authentically religious people, the motivation toward virtue is grounded in the acceptance of a nonnegotiable duty to be a good person in the eyes of God, not in anticipation of personal benefits. Dishonest, irresponsible, or unfair conduct is simply wrong.
Although there are skeptics who are suspicious of the rhetoric of religious advocates and proselytizers, there is a positive correlation between religious conviction and virtue. I think the vast majority of deeply religious people draw guidance and strength from their beliefs and live better, if not perfect, lives.
Still, religious claims and even sincere convictions are no guarantee of genuine righteousness.
Besides disturbed individuals such as those who believe God commands them to perform horrible acts, discredited televangelist preachers, and priests who molest parishioners, we must face the fact that Bernie Ebbers of WorldCom and John Rigas of Adelphia, the masterminds of some of the world's greatest swindles, were highly vocal and visible about their Christian beliefs.
Whether such wrongdoers are mentally ill, hypocrites, frauds, or sincere believers with personal weaknesses, their stories remind us that we can't take for granted the link between religious claims and worthy conduct. It's not that religion fails people; it's that people fail their religion.
In the end, regardless of its source, righteousness is revealed in ethical and upright conduct, not rhetoric.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"1
"It is reported that the [former] newspaper counselor, Ann Landers, received an average of 10,000 letters each month, and nearly all of them from people burdened with problems. She was asked if there was any one problem that predominated throughout the letters she received, and her reply was that the one problem above all others seemed to be fear."2
Fear, to one degree or another, is common to all mankind. People are afraid of innumerable things: grasshoppers, bugs of all kind, snakes, spiders, mice, the dark, closeness, intimacy, losing their health, wealth, happiness, friendships, the unknown, ad infinitum. Some people are even afraid of success, and unconsciously set themselves up to fail. Others are so afraid of failure, they won't step out or even attempt to fulfill their life's ambition and goals.
The ancient king of Israel, King Saul, was so jealous of David that he set out to kill him. David had a right to be afraid and undoubtedly was. But because of his enduring trust in God, he was able to say with confidence, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man [King Saul] do to me?" When our trust is in God, we can confidently say the same. I like the words of the unknown poet who said:
I would rather stumble a thousand times
Attempting to reach a goal
Than to sit in a crowd
In my weather-proof shroud
A shriveled and self-satisfied soul.
I would rather be doing and daring
All of my error-filled days
Than watching, and waiting, and dying
Smug in my perfect ways.
I would rather wonder and blunder
Stumbling blindly ahead
Than for safety's sake
Lest I make a mistake
Be sure, be safe, be dead.
God has a specific goal and purpose for your life. It's okay to be afraid; just don't allow fear to control you. Commit and trust your life to God every day, and he will be with you. Step out in faith to do what you know and/or believe God wants you to do with your life. Don't waste your life—make it an investment in eternity.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I commit and trust my life and way to you, your Spirit is with me to guide and direct me in all that I am and do. Help me to discover my God-given life purpose, and give me the courage to step out in faith to become all that you planned for me to be, and to do all that you plan for me to do. And even when I am afraid, I choose to put my trust in you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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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."
