Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 15 – No. 3413 August 24, 2013
Thought for the week: "True merit, like a river; the deeper it is, the less noise it makes." – Edward Frederick Lindley Wood
"Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." – Phillips Brooks
"You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." – Unknown
"You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are." – unknown
"For as he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he." – The Bible (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV)
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate [think] on these things." – The Bible (Philippians 4:8, NKJV).
"The difference between a politician and a statesman is: a politician thinks of the next election and a statesman thinks of the next generation." – Mames Freeman Clarke
A client brought a litter of Golden Retriever puppies to the local veterinary clinic for inoculations and worming.
As the look-alike pups squirmed over and under one another in their box, the experienced vet realized it would be difficult to tell which had been treated and which hadn't. The vet turned on the water faucet, wet her fingers and moistened each dog's head as she finished giving each one the necessary shots.
After the fourth puppy, the vet noticed her hitherto talkative client had grown silent and was looking rather reverent.
As the animal doctor sprinkled the last pup's head, the owner leaned forward and whispered, "I didn't know they had to be baptized, too."
Some time ago two Native Americans were observing the construction of a lighthouse. One particular day they again walked over to watch the construction. The lighthouse was all set up with the lights, the bell, and the horn. But the day the lighthouse was to open, the worst of all fogs came in.
One of the Native Americans said to the other, "Lights shine, bell rings, horn blows, but fog comes in just the same."
We've never had more lights shining, bells ringing, and horns blowing in the church than we have today ... and ... we've never had more fog."
– Vance Havner. Cited in Parables, etc.
July 2005.
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper— not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly
cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the
spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler,
runs with the child, then stands aside to let the
youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. "Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf."
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. "Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind."
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. "Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden."
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud. "Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely."
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. "Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry."
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. "Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job."
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest. "Thank you, Lord, for life."
Think of the most ethical person you know. Do a lot of people come to mind or only a few? Are you having trouble thinking of anyone?
If I asked that question of the people who know you well, how many would name you? Almost all? About half? Just a few?
Unless this commentary makes you more humble, you will probably be among the vast majority who say that half or more of the people they know would think of them as an ethical role model. That's highly unlikely. It's more probable that almost no one you know would put you at the top of the list. Let's face it, that's a tough roster to get on.
Surveys show that about 95 percent of us want others to think of us as highly ethical, so our delusion of grandeur regarding our moral reputation is probably a case of wishful thinking. But wishful thinking won't do it.
I wish I were thin. Unfortunately, my slim ambitions won't change my waist size. For me, thinness will be an elusive dream until I convert my desire to actions: exercising regularly and eating moderately.
It's the same with being ethical. Most of us suffer from moral flabbiness. This doesn't mean we're bad, but it does suggest we can be better. What we need is a "Be a Better Person" fitness program to tone up our character and strengthen our ethics. Just like working on our waist, hips, or arms, we could work on our honesty, fairness and responsibility.
Who knows? If you really work at it, you could even make the list.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you to stay ethically fit because character counts.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."1
I read how, some years ago, "A missionary physician in one of China's hospitals cured a man of cataracts. A few weeks later 48 blind men came to the doctor from one of China's wilds, all holding on to a rope guided by the man who had been cured. He had led them in this way, walking in chain for 250 miles to the hospital."2
Would to God that we who were once blind and healed spiritually by Jesus, the Great Physician, would do our utmost to lead others to Jesus, the only one who can cure spiritual blindness, and in so doing give people the gift of forgiveness for all their sins and, with it, the gift of eternal life.
To have our witness be credible, however, it is imperative that we, too, "with unveiled faces reflect the Lord's glory" and more and more be transformed into Jesus' likeness so that people will always "see Jesus" in us. "With unveiled faces" means being open-faced, genuine, personally honest, authentic, and not phony in any way. Nathanael is an excellent example to follow. When "Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him ... said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit [guile]!'"3
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a person in whom there is no guile or deceit, and always reflect your glory in all circumstances so that people will always 'see Jesus' in me. And please help me to be transformed into your likeness and use me to be a living, effective witness for you in helping to introduce many others to you for your healing and forgiveness. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
Note: To help introduce others to Jesus, please consider joining with ACTS to be a People Power for Jesus Partner. There is no charge. All you need is the desire to bring/introduce others to Jesus, have an e-Mail account, and access to the Internet. For more information see: www.actsweb.org/people_power.
1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV).
2. Sunday School Times. Cited in Lee, Paul Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, p.1614.
3. John 1:47 (NKJV).
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