Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 15 – No. 4713 November 23, 2013
Thought for the week: "A lie told often enough becomes the truth." – Vladimir Lennon
"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit." – Paul J. Meyer
"To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge." – Benjamin Disraeli
"You are the one that has to make it happen." – Anon.
"Don't sacrifice your future on the altar of the immediate." – Anon.
"Success is the ability to embrace a worthwhile goal and employ all of your powers for the achievement of that goal." – Anon.
"When our thinking becomes fragmented, we lose our sense of purpose. Instead of pursuing worthwhile goals, we drift through life, wasting time, money and relationships. We put time and money into things that bring temporary pleasure. Talents, ambitions and joy are wasted on pointless pursuits. We end up feeling life is empty." – Charles Stanley
A confident little boy was practicing baseball. He said: "I'm going to be the greatest baseball player in the world!" Then he threw the ball up and made a huge swing and missed.
He picked up the ball again and said: "I'm going to be the greatest baseball player in the world!" threw the ball up, took a great big swing, and missed again.
Once more, he said: "I'm going to be the greatest baseball player in the world!" as he threw the ball in the air, made his biggest swing yet, and missed the ball yet again.
He raised both his arms and cheered: "Hooray! I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"
Do you remember Nikita Khruschev's quote of September 29, 1959, when he appeared at the U.N. and banged his shoe on the podium.
Here's what he said:
"Your children's children will live under Communism. You Americans are so gullible. No, you won't accept Communism outright, but we'll keep feeding you small doses of Socialism until you will finally wake up and find that you already have Communism. We won't have to fight you; we'll so weaken your economy until you fall like overripe fruit into our hands."
"THE GIFT OF LISTENING:
But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
"THE GIFT OF AFFECTION:
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
"THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER:
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, 'I love to laugh with you.'
"THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE:
It can be a simple 'Thanks for the help' note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
"THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT:
A simple and sincere, 'You look great in red [blue or white],' 'You did a super job,' or 'That was a wonderful meal,' can make someone's day.
"THE GIFT OF A FAVOR:
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
"THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE:
There are times when we want nothing better, than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.
"THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION:
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You."
One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.
Terry and his dad Glen were walking along the shore and came upon a scorpion struggling in the tide, trying to get back to the sand. Glen tried to scoop the creature up, but the scorpion stung him and fell back into the tide. Glen tried again and was stung again.
Terry said, "Dad, leave him alone! He's not worth saving."
But Glen tried one more time. This time he was successful and threw it onto the sand.
Terry said, "Why waste time on an ornery critter who's too stupid to know it's being helped?"
Glen answered, "Son, the scorpion stings by instinct. It's his nature. I chose to help him because that's my nature."
Glen was teaching his son a profound moral lesson about being human. Like other species, we're born with an instinct for survival and a disposition towards selfishness. Yet, blessed by a sense of compassion and the power to reason, we also have an instinct to think and act beyond our self-interest.
Human nature is complex. It's as much in our nature to be kind, loving, and generous as it is to be cruel, selfish, and dishonest. We can nurture or ignore our nobler instincts.
Some people act like scorpions. Trapped by negative instincts and response patterns, they think it's their nature and hide behind the belief, "That's the way I am."
No one is born with good or bad character.* We're born with the capacity to have either, to choose our ultimate nature. When we choose to be good, we are good.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
*Ed. Note. While character becomes a choice we need to remember, as God's Word says, that we are all born with a sin nature, and with God's help, we need to realize this and develop a noble character. See Romans 3:10 and 23.
A word from God's Word, the Bible: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.... For every man shall bear his own burden."1
Sometimes the Bible seems to contradict itself. Today's scripture is a prime example where it says, "Bear one another's burdens ... for every man must bear his own burden."
Actually, the explanation is simple. In the original language, the first burden represents a burden such as a heavy rock or a weight that one person cannot carry alone because it is far too heavy.
The second burden represents one that each one must carry for himself because it is like a knapsack, one that each individual is quite able to carry.
When we carry another person's knapsack for him, we are being codependent and contributing to the over-dependent's not wanting to take responsibility for himself. This makes us a part of his sickness.
Then there are those people who want God to carry their knapsack. No such luck. God isn't codependent. God will help us where we can't help ourselves. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus, who willingly gave His life to save us from the consequences of our sin. But God will not do for us what we can and need to do for ourselves.
And then some people expect those who are carrying a heavy rock burden to just give it to Jesus! This can be a cop-out because we don't want to help bear another's burdens. It's so much easier for us if they will just take it to the cross and give it to Jesus!
A dear friend just lost a loved one. The grief was tearing her heart to shreds. Could you imagine how insensitive I would have been had I said, "Just take it to Jesus." Yes, she needs to take it to Jesus but she also needs to take it to safe, understanding friends who will perhaps say nothing, but just sit and cry with her, hug her and hold her hand—and be "as Jesus" to her.
We are to weep with those who weep, comfort the sorrowing, hold the hand of a fallen friend and help him/her to his/her feet again. We are to bear one another's burdens when they have been given a "large rock" to carry. And we are to get out of the way of rescuing those who don't want to carry their own "knapsack" burden.
This is one vital way how we fulfill the law of Christ. We serve God by serving people.
Suggested prayer: "Thank you God that you bore my burden of sin when Jesus went to the cross for me. Please help me to be responsible and bear my own 'knapsack' but always be available to help those whose 'rock burden' is far too heavy for them to carry alone. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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