Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 14 – No. 0412 January 28, 2012
Thought for the week: "There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." – James Madison, 1788
"The graveyards are full of indispensable men." – Charles de Gaulle
"You can pretend to be serious; you can't pretend to be witty." – Sacha Guitry
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, but others judge us by what we have already done." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"When at a loss for the right word, try silence." – Unknown
"We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents." – Eric Hoffer
"A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired." – Alexander Hamilton, 1775
She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye.
When the left insists that we cannot legislate morality, it is lying. All law is someone's interpretation of morality—someone's decision that THIS is right and THAT is wrong. The question is: Whose morality will prevail? The left has every intention of imposing its morality on society. Senate Democrats have announced hearings on legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and legalize same-sex "marriage."
This is why it is so important for men and women of faith to be involved in the political arena. Yes, prayer is important, but action is necessary, too. David didn't just pray that God would defeat Goliath; he picked up stones and fought.
By Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families. End of Day Report. http://www.cwfpac.com/.
5. First It Was the Catholics ... Restricting Religious Freedom
Important message from Chuck Colson of BreakPoint regarding how the current administration in Washington is continuing to restrict religious liberty.
Folks, I've been warning for more than a year now that the Administration is constricting religious liberty bit by bit. It has abandoned any defense of traditional marriage. It is promoting gay rights abroad at the expense of religious rights. And I've documented that the Administration, beginning with Secretary of State Clinton, has intentionally used the phrase "freedom of worship" instead of "freedom of religion," implying that one's faith is a private matter—and that exercising that faith in public is not a protected right.
Well, if the Administration's latest move [re restricting the conscience of Catholics] isn't proof of that, I don't know what will be.
I'm reminded of the famous saying of German pastor Martin Niemoeller, referring to the horrors of Nazi Germany:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I
did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did
not speak out—Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was
no one left to speak for me."
Folks, all Christians [need to] speak out against this latest attack—and every attack—on religious liberty. Please, I plead with you, sign—and get your friends to sign—the Manhattan Declaration in support of religious liberty. Do it today at http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/the-declaration/read.aspx.
Because pretty soon no one will be left to speak out for us.
As a full-time ethicist—can you believe there is such a thing?—I spend most of my time talking about right and wrong with parents and politicians, kids and corporate managers, journalists and generals.
One thing I've learned is that ethics—being a good person and doing the right thing—is easier said than done. Ethics, or the lack of it, is everywhere. It's in the news, in schools, in the workplace, in sports, in parenting—you name it.
Ethics would be easy to adhere to if we never wanted to do things we know are wrong. Unfortunately, if you're like me, there's a constant struggle between what I want to do (my desires) and what I should do (my ethical duties).
I want to avoid taxes, pay lower insurance premiums, and have the freedom to go through the "10 Items or Less" line with 14 items. Business executives want larger profits, politicians want more power, lawyers want to win.
Too often, our wants overcome our ambitions toward honor and virtue. We lie occasionally or cheat a little. As a result, there's a hole in our moral ozone, and it's getting bigger. It's going to take moral courage and real character to repair that hole.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."1
A Daily Encounter reader writes, "I have an atheist friend with whom I am trying to share the gospel. His response to me is that he can't find one shred of evidence that Jesus ever existed. He believes that the Bible is nothing but a bunch of stories. He claims that extraordinary stories require extraordinary proof. Any hint on what I can present to him? My faith is firm, but I cannot seem to budge him."
Hello Kevin (name changed), there's an old saying that says, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." There is much truth in this.
The fact is that most people basically believe what they want to believe—what is the most convenient for them—regardless of the facts. Oftentimes, refusing to believe in God isn't so much an intellectual problem as it is a moral problem. That is, if a person believes in God, he knows that he is responsible and accountable for how he lives and behaves. To not believe in God gives him the false security that he is accountable to no one but himself. In a sense he becomes a god unto himself—and a law unto himself. Ultimately, this is a dangerous path to follow.
So what can you do to convince an avowed atheist of the reality of God? Not likely through an intellectual argument because he is bound to be too defensive and closed-minded. Regarding his claim that Jesus never existed, you could ask him if he believed that Julius Caesar existed. However, because his mind is already made up—that is closed to any evidence—he won't be convinced even though both persons are as valid as each other. The existence of both persons is a fact of history.
One of the most positive things you can do is to pray that God will help you to be "as Jesus" to your atheistic friend, and grant that he will see Jesus in you, and, in time, want the same for himself. This may or may never happen. However, if he is ever going to "see" Jesus, chances are it will need to be through you. Also, let him know in a low key way that you are always available should he ever need you. Years ago, when I was in the Australian national service, I gave my weekend leave pass to a fellow serviceman who desperately wanted to be home for that weekend. He was so impressed that he, knowing that I was a Christian, wanted to become a Christian, too.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so live that others will 'see Jesus' in me, and grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want you in their life, too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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