Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 16 – No. 3114 August 02, 2014
Thought for the week: "The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example." – Thomas Morell
One morning Emma woke up with a start. Her husband Jim asked what was the matter. She told him, "I just had a dream that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"
"You'll know tonight," Jim said.
That evening, Jim came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, Emma opened it, only to find a book entitled, The Meaning of Dreams.
English: I Love You
Spanish: Te Amo
French: Je T'aime
German : Ich Liebe Dich
Japanese: Ai Shite Imasu
Italian: Ti Amo
Chinese: Wo Ai Ni
Swedish: Jag Alskar Dig
Lithuanian: As Tave Meliu
Remember the day I borrowed your brand new car and I dented it?
I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it would rain, and it did?
I thought you'd say, "I told you so," but you didn't
Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you zealous, and you were?
I thought you'd leave me, but you didn't.
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car rug?
I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal, and you showed up in jeans?
I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't.
Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do,
But you put up with me, and you loved me, and you protected me.
There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you returned from Vietnam.
But you didn't.
"Though many of us have seen pictures of a huge eagle's nest high in the branches of a tree or in the crag of a cliff, few of us have gotten a glimpse inside. When a mother eagle builds her nest, she starts with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks, and a number of other items that seem entirely unsuitable for the project. But then she lines the nest with a thick padding of wool, feathers, and fur from animals she has killed, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs.
"By the time the growing birds reach flying age, the comfort of the nest and the luxury of free meals makes them quite reluctant to leave. That's when the mother eagle begins stirring up the nest. With her strong talons she begins pulling up the thick carpet of fur and feathers, bringing the sharp rocks and branches to the surface. As more of the bedding gets plucked up, the nest becomes more uncomfortable for the young eagles. Eventually, this and other urgings prompt the growing eagles to leave their once-comfortable abode and move on to more mature behavior."1
In the past year, did you keep the money if a cashier gave you too much change? Did you lie to your boss, a customer, or a significant other? Did you use the Internet for personal reasons at work? Did you distort or conceal facts on a resumé or in a job interview? Did you inflate an expense or insurance claim? Did you make unauthorized copies of software or music?
Have you ever lied about your child's age to save money, or provided your youngster with a false excuse for missing school? If it was the only way to get your child into a better school, would you lie about your address?
We've posted an integrity assessment here so you can see how you measure up with respect to questions like these.
A lack of integrity in any of the everyday matters above may be just a moral misdemeanor compared to the felonious sorts of fraud and corruption that have shredded the economic foundation of our country. Nonetheless, they demonstrate an unwillingness to walk the talk when it comes to honesty.
Most of us stray from our highest ethical ambitions from time to time, but we do so selectively, convincing ourselves that we're justified and that occasional departures from ethical principles are inconsequential when it comes to our character.
Most of us judge ourselves by our best actions and intentions, but children who watch everything we do may be learning from our worst.
No one expects you to be perfect, but you might find it informative to take the test and see if you stray from the straight and narrow path of your own ideals too far or too often.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"My son [and/or daughter] give me your heart ... for out of it are the issues of life."1
Zig Ziglar tells the story about an elderly man playing an organ in a cathedral in Europe. He was playing sad and melancholy music. It was sad because this was his last day as organist of the cathedral. He was being replaced by a younger musician.
At dusk, somebody stepped into the cathedral. Seeing the younger man, the organist stopped playing, locked the organ and slipped the key into his pocket. He was approached by the young man, who simply said, "Please, the key."
On receiving the key, the young organist went to the organ and began to play.
While the old man had played beautifully and skillfully, the young man played with sheer genius. Incredible music came rolling out of that beautiful old organ.
This was the world's introduction to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The old man, with tears in his eyes, said, "Suppose—just suppose—I had not given the master the key!"
Have you given the Master of Life the key—the key to your heart and to your life?
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I surrender the key to my heart and life to You. Please make me the man/woman of God You want me to be. Do with my life as You will. Please use me to be a part of what You are doing in the world today. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."
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