Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 15 – No. 4313 October 26, 2013
Thought for the week: "The world's a better place because Michelangelo did not say, 'I don't do ceilings.'" – Ron Clarke
"The work of the individual still remains the spark that moves mankind forward." – Igor Sikorsky
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream." – Mark Twain
"Bob Hope was often asked why he doesn't retire and go fishing. He had one stock answer, 'Fish don't applaud.'" – Unknown
"Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." – Angela Akers
"Give me a lever and a place to stand, and I will move the world." – Archimedes (287 B.C.-212 B.C)
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure." – Colin Powell
This has got to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It appeared in the Atlanta Journal.
SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant.
I'm a very good looking girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire.
Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Rub me the right way and watch me respond.
I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I'm yours.
Call (404) 875-XXXX and ask for Daisy.
Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society about an 8-week old black Labrador retriever.
It's been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying, "It got lost" to "I lost it." Indeed, being accountable, and understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happen, are crucial signs of emotional and moral maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good character.
Bilking consumers out of pennies has now become a billion-dollar business. The National Observer noted that short weighing on food, gasoline, home fuel oil, packaged hardware items, and pills cost the American public some six to twelve billion dollars per year.
In an effort to curb this swindle, whether accidental or intentional, many states are spot-checking weights and measures.
Pennsylvania investigators discovered that 15.5 percent of all prepackaged foods checked were short-weighted, with some stores shorting on 25 percent of the packages checked. A three-day Kansas investigation turned up evidence that 30 percent of all meat packaged in eleven stores were short-weighted.
In Arkansas, officials checked one-pound cans of vegetables to find none that contained sixteen ounces. And Tennessee officials found prepackaged pork chops short-weighted by up to thirty-one cents. Officials have tabulated forty-eight ways to cheat in weighing meat in front of customers and many markets are apparently using some of them.
C.R. Hembree, as quoted by Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, 1996).
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.
Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.
After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire.
The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with ... and remember that time waits for no one.
So, stop waiting...
Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home.
Until your kids leave the house.
Until you go back to school.
Until you finish school.
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married.
Until you get a divorce.
Until you have kids.
Until you retire.
Until summer.
Until spring.
Until winter.
Until fall.
Until you die.
There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.
When the famous violinist Paganini played a concert in one of the great halls of Europe, it was equivalent to the draw of a modern rock concert. The story is told of one such night in Paris.
As Paganini appeared on the stage, the excited buzz of the audience turned to expectant applause. But as the maestro began to play, a string broke on his exquisite violin. Any concern passed quickly as the artist picked up the tune on his remaining three strings. Unbelievably, another string snapped—followed moments later by a third string. Now the buzz in the audience was more anxious, even disgruntled, it wasn't expectant anymore. But the old maestro just raised his hand, calling for silence. As the audience became quiet again, he made a simple announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen—Paganini—and one string."
What followed was easily the most amazing musical performance that crowd had ever seen, or ever would see—as the master played a rich and flawless melody—on one string.
When did the master most powerfully demonstrate his skill? When he had the least to work with—one string. When does the Lord Jesus, our Master, most powerfully demonstrate how much He can do? When He has the least to work with. When our strings are broken and we have almost nothing left, that's when He plays His masterpieces.
"Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."1
Did you ever stop to think how very important you are in God's economy and his plans? Pretty much throughout the entire Bible when God had a work to be done, he chose and called an individual to lead. True, he chose the nation of Israel to be his special people, but he chose individuals to lead this nation to do his work. God has a place for you and me too in his plan. It may not be a gigantic role, but it is an important one.
Think of the twelve disciples, for example, who were all a vital part of God's mission. Half of them never said anything that is recorded in the New Testament. And if I remember correctly, three of them said only a word or two that was recorded. And Andrew who didn't have much to say but in his own quiet way brought Peter, who became the early church leader and evangelist, to Jesus. Andrew was also the one who brought the boy with the two loaves and fishes to Jesus that Jesus used to feed the multitude. It was only Peter, James, and John that we heard much from.
So, be your task great or small, God wants to use you to be a part of his plans and what he is doing in your world today. All we need is to be available. As the anonymous poet wrote:
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
You see it's up to you!
In the words of Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one. But still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
Don't ever forget how very important you are, not only to your loved ones, your work, but also to God. Remember, too, if it's going to be, it's up to you and me!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I'm available. Please use me to be a part of your plans and what you are doing in the world in which I live. Use me to be as Jesus in some way to make a difference in someone's life today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 1:40-42 (NIV).
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