Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 18 – No. 4916 December 03, 2016
Thought for the week: "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand." – Chinese Proverb
"Freedom requires that we learn and put into practice the three R's: Respect, Responsibility and Restraint." – Fr. Brian Cavanaugh
"If all you do is all you're doing, all you'll get is all you're getting." – Brian Tracy
"Always give more in service, than you receive in payment, and customers will beat a path to your door." – Denis Waitley
"Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds." – Elie Wiesel, Author and Activist
"To adjust to changing times, follow unchanging principles." – Chris Long
"You can always tell your true values by looking at your behavior—especially under pressure." – Brian Tracy
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a debate that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
"One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
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 I can do.
There won't always be tomorrow ... to tell someone you care,
There won't always be tomorrow ... when you can just be there,
Do not leave unsaid ... words that may ease some strife,
Do not leave undone ... things that may change a life,
Waiting until tomorrow ... is just not good enough,
Do today what must be done ... get up off your duff,
Tomorrow is not promised ... you may not even have today,
Tell people that you love them ... right now while you may,
Hold a hand, share a laugh ... there's so much you can do,
Give a hug, play a game ... realize they love you,
Tomorrow is not promised ... so today is gold,
You may not have another chance ... to have and to hold,
Say out loud those kind things ... you would wish you'd said,
Tell people that you love them ... before you go to bed,
Reach out and hold a hand ... you may bring some light,
Into someone's loneliness ... bring brightness to their night,
Tomorrow may never come ... but you have today,
To spend some time with loved ones ... together you can pray,
Do not leave regrets ... live your life to the max,
On many peoples lives ... make sure you leave your tracks,
For you have this time, this day, this very hour. Do what you must do ... do all within your power
To mend broken bridges ... to say "I love you" ...
To rekindle friendships ... even to start anew.
There won't always be tomorrow when you can just be there,
There won't always be tomorrow ... so tell someone [today] you care.
A few years ago, Dave, a dear friend, went through a terrible throat surgery and long hospitalization. Though he's a professional motivational speaker who frequently talks about the power of positive thinking, he told me he was surprised to really see how much his attitude affected the amount of mental anguish and physical pain he experienced. Even more, he was surprised how much his attitude was affected by the attitudes of the health care workers he saw each day.
"You could just feel the difference between the few who genuinely cared about you as a person and those who thought of you as one of their daily burdens," Dave said. Unfortunately, the majority of men and women who came in and out of his room were coldly indifferent. They treated him as a medical problem rather than as a person suffering from a medical problem and he found the experience demoralizing, depressing and deeply disrespectful.
Many doctors and nurses seemed annoyed by his presence and his problems. They would often talk about his condition in front of him as if he weren't there. Most failed to demonstrate the slightest concern with the effect their callous words and demeanor might have on their patient. Dave found this attitude outright toxic.
In contrast, the few workers who went out of their way to lift his spirits and brighten his day with simple but sincere expressions of concern and encouragement weren't just good medical professionals. They were good people. These "angels of mercy" who bring their hearts to their work, knowing that mental sunshine and flowers can be as important as drugs, deserve our love and admiration.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1, NIV).
Certainly I believe that God does lead, direct, and communicate with us today. However, unless the word received is directly from the Bible or in direct harmony with biblical principles, it needs to be rejected. Remember that God never goes against his own Word—ever.
If we use "God-talk-Bible-babble" as a means of getting our own way—God-talk such as: "The Lord told me it is to be such and such a way," or "God told me you are to be my wife/husband," etc., etc.; or when we quote a Bible passage out of context (which is really a pretext), or even make inappropriate uses of such phrases as "Praise the Lord" when we hit our finger with a hammer (a good old "Ouch!" is more like reality); or when we blame God for our problems or for things that go wrong when it is entirely our own fault, or quote the Bible as a means of avoiding our own or another's reality, it is meaningless Bible-babble.
Bible-babble may sound impressive if we don't know what God's Word teaches. More often than not it is a defense against facing our fears and insecurities and as a means of avoiding personal responsibility. It is often a form of denial, which is always a self-deceptive and dangerous path to follow. If there is one thing I believe God wants us to be, it is to be real, to be honest, and to stop using Bible-babble. God always desires truth.1
One of the major problems with denial is that when we are in it, we deny that we have it.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of denial and using Bible-babble and God-talk when I am using it as a means of avoiding reality. Help me to be real always in all ways and at all times. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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