Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
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Vol. 14 – No. 4112 October 13, 2012
Thought for the week: "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God." – Abraham Lincoln
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." – Mark Twain
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." – Napoleon Bonaparte
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." – Johann Goethe
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." – Albert Einstein
"The wisest mind has something yet to learn." – George Santayana
"Skill to do comes of doing." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
How many songs never sung,
poems never written,
pictures never painted,
risks never taken,
bridges never crossed,
romantic words never spoken,
all locked inside a lonely heart–
the prison of another's making–
are left unexpressed
because somebody
shamed us, abandoned us,
or perhaps silenced us
with a cruel word,
a thoughtless deed,
and said or just implied
we were not good enough?
And tragically
we believed them—
so let this be the moment
we choose to believe them
no more ... and sing, sing, sing.
"Two years ago, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a pilot program in which Russian public school students would be required to take classes in either religion or ethics. The plan is part of an effort to re-moralize Russia after seventy-plus years of atheistic Communist rule.
"Under the plan, students would study the history of one of the four religions termed "traditional": Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. Or they could take a course in secular ethics.
"The two-year trial involving twenty percent of Russia's schools went so well that, according the Asia News, Vladimir Putin, the next president of Russia, plans to expand the program to every Russian school later this year."1
Obviously Russia has learned the tragedy of ruling out God and religion during the days Stalin and Lenin and the chaos it caused, while here in the U.S. and much of the Western world so many people in positions of leadership are doing everything they can to get rid of every vestige of God and Christianity from the public square.
Just a few short years ago I was at the Crystal Cathedral where Mikhail Gorbachev
was interviewed in person by Dr. Robert Schuller, Senior. Dr. Schuller asked Mr. Gorbachev why he was bringing God and religion back into Russian society, to which Mr. Gorbachev replied very simply, "Because the people need it."
"She's beautiful and she looks just like her mother" ... and with those words, a young unwed mother let go of a baby girl she had just brought into the world and never held in her arms. She knew if she saw the child, she would not be able to give her to the adoptive parents—and that was the best decision she knew she must make. Heart wrenching sorrow we can only imagine.... But God knows how to turn sorrow into joy, for that's not the end of the story!
Over forty years later, through computer technology, the mom, now married with a family, still loving that little child, was able to search and find the adoptive family name, and with great anxiety make a connection. For three years, letters and e-mail have been gone back and forth across the USA and mother and daughter began to connect. They finally met for the first time last year. That meeting began and ended with hugs, and a Mom was on her way back home with the words, "I love you" ringing in her ears. I saw the joy on a mom's face, the happy tears welling up in her eyes...the end of a long search and the beginning of a new life...
And that's how it is with God. He searches with love, compassion and great yearning until He at last finds us–each one of us–wherever we are. And He loves us and claims us for His own. What heavenly joy; what earthly peace! If you're needing it today, it's there for the asking–listen closely, for in the still of your heart, He will speak those wonderful words to you, "I love you, My child. You are mine." Let Him minister His love to your heart this day!
Scripture: "...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn thee (Jeremiah 31:3)."
Prayer: "Lord, thank You for finding me just where I was, for taking me just as I am, for bringing me back to You. Help me feel Your loving arms around me and Your words, "I love you" ring in my ears all day long! In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Copyright 2012 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved. Peggie's Place Fun 'n Faith devotional blog: www.peggiesplace.com/peggiesblog.htm
6. Notes to the Boss ... Ten Truths for the Person in Charge
By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (759.5)
Based on years of managing several organizations, including the Josephson Institute of Ethics, and extensive consultation with large and small organizations, I've distilled much of what I believe and advocate into "Ten Truths." I hope you find it helpful and that you share it liberally.
Everyone rationalizes; including you. (We're all smart and ethical in our own eyes.)
There are lots of things you don't know and lots of people who hope you don't find out. Your "open door" doesn't keep you in the loop.
What you allow, you encourage. Bad employees tend to come in pairs: the poor performer and the boss who fails to do what needs to be done.
Everyone says it can't happen here—until it does. No company is immune to bad judgment or weak character.
When someone tells you an honest but ugly truth, say thank you; if you "kill the messenger," you won't hear the truth again.
Doing nothing is doing something; the consequences of inaction are as potent as any action. Make decisions – it's your job.
No matter how many good things you do, you will be judged by your last worst act; resentment lasts much longer than gratitude.
Don't worry about being liked by everyone, but be sure you are respected and trusted.
Being the boss doesn't entitle you to be a jerk; treat people the way you want to be treated.
It's all about relationships—dealing with messy and petty personnel issues is an important part of your job, since workplace morale and job satisfaction are critical to success.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Then the righteous will answer Him [Jesus], saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'And the King [Jesus] will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'1
A Daily Encounter subscriber shared, "When we were on vacation in the UK last month, my daughter and I were walking down a side street where there was a church. It was raining. On the side of the church was a man sitting with a dog. The man was selling some kind of magazine—maybe the kind that some homeless people sell for spare change. The dog was lying down under an umbrella. I asked my daughter if we should give the man some spare change, but neither she nor I had any readily available, so we walked by.
"The next day we walked down that same street and the man and dog were on the other side of the street and we walked by again. That night I felt that God convicted me and it was as if he said to me, 'You passed me by two times, will you pass me by a third time?' So the next day I went to that street, got a larger denomination coin out, and gave it to the man. He wished me a very good day and as he did, I could see he had some kind of visual impairment. I realized afterwards that I actually had been the blind one. I had missed 'God Himself' sitting there as it were, in the rain, next to a dog who was sheltered by an umbrella."
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me always to be sensitive to those who are genuinely in need and realize that when I lend a helping hand, in your sight it is the same as if I were doing it for you. So help me God so to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
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