Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 13 – No. 4011 October 01, 2011
Thought for the week: "We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God." – Dwight L. Moody
"God never intended for us to make crowds or monolithic church structures.... Today we run the church as a business.... The business makes money, and the money builds buildings. We've created an audience, not an army." – Barry St. Clair, Founder, Reach Out youth ministry
"Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth." – Franklin D. Roosevelt
"You will know the truth and the truth will make you ." – Jesus Christ
"Emotional illness is avoiding reality at any cost. Mental health is accepting reality at any cost." – M. Scott Peck
"I saw the angel in the marble, and I chiseled until I set it ." – Michelangelo
"Every unshed tear is a prism through which all of life's hurts are distorted." – Unknown
Q: What are the four seasons?
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink?
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes?
A: Premature death.
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized" (e.g. abdomen)?
A: The body is consisted into three parts—the brainium, the borax, and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A.E.I.O and U.
Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.
Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby.
Q: Give the meaning of the term, "Caesarean Section."
A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome.
Submitted by Babs Eggleston. Source, parables.etc, September, 2005
In the course of life's journey
we rub shoulders with many people,
Some are warm and open,
others afraid and closed.
Some we connect with,
others come and soon are gone.
Some linger awhile.
But every now and then...
either through fate or by chance
or because of a Higher Power...
In an unexpected moment
we are touched by a smile
that lingers in the memory.
We meet again and the more
we do the more we know
that we have met a friend
and we'll be friends forever.
Next to God
there is no greater gift in life
than a forever-friend.
I hope that we can be such friends.
During the Reagan era, Vice President George Bush represented the United States at Leonid Brezhnev's funeral. The Soviet leader died during the height of Russian atheism, and before the collapse of communism. At that funeral, Mr. Bush saw one of the most remarkable gestures by Brezhnev's grieving widow. As the soldiers prepared to close the lid over Brezhnev's body, his wife quickly reached out and drew the sign of the cross on his chest. She stood at the epicenter of atheistic power yet cried out for the power of the Cross.
As William Law, the 18th century Anglican wrote, "What message from heaven speaks louder to us than the daily dying and departure of our fellow creatures does?" Death is indeed life's strongest reminder that we need the salvation which comes only through Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross.
A Daily Encounter subscriber writes, "Thank you for today's message. I fell while walking, bruised my eye, nose and hand. I know I will be sore tomorrow; however, instead of my all too often usual, 'why me.' I said, 'Thank you God that I did not break my glasses and can continue my walk.' Thanks for the reminder to be thankful."
One of my constant prayers is, "Dear God, please give me a thankful heart and help me always to live with an attitude of gratitude."
One of my favorite poems is called "The Dash." Written by Linda Ellis shortly after her grandmother's death, it's an eloquent invocation to live one's life thoughtfully.
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of
his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the
beginning to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth and spoke the
following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash
between those years.
For that dash represents all the time she spent alive
on earth,
And now only those who loved her know what that little
line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own—the cars, the
house,the cash—
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend
our dash.
So think about this long and hard—are there things you'd
like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still
be rearranged.
If we could just slow down long enough to consider what's
true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives like we've never
loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear
a smile,
Remembering that this special dash might only last a
little while.
So when your eulogy's been read with your life's actions
to rehash,
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you
spent your dash?
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Linda has a website where you can order printed copies of the full poem and read more than a dozen other uplifting verses.http://lindaellis.net/
According to an article in an English magazine, "A true friend is one who has the courage to disagree with us when we are in the wrong, and advise us for our own good, rather than let his sympathy or sentimentality cause him to agree."
Charles Spurgeon once said, "Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trail had they not found a friend."
Dr. Alfred Adler, internationally known psychiatrist, based the following conclusions on a careful analysis of thousands of clients: "The most important task imposed by religion has always been 'Love thy neighbor.' It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow man that has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury on others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring."
It may not be the most desirable, but it is true that we can live without romantic love, but we cannot live healthy without at least one loving friend.
As Dinah Craik so eloquently said, "Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."
And, oh, the priceless value of having at least one such deep abiding friendship. Thank God for the gift of friendship.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a loving friend and be a friend to fellow sinners as you are a loving friend to me. And help me to find at least one loving friend with whom I can be totally open and honest without fear of judgment or rejection. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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