Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 17 – No. 0615 February 07, 2015
Thought for the week: "If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." – Samuel Adams, 1776
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out—a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward's father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.
"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it—but all that had gone before."
Trustworthiness • Be honest
• Don't deceive, cheat, or steal
• Be reliable—do what you say you'll do
• Have the courage to do the right thing
• Build a good reputation
• Be loyal—stand by your family, friends, and country
• Respect Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule
Respect • Be tolerant and accepting of differences
• Use good manners, not bad language
• Be considerate of the feelings of others
• Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone
• Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements
Responsibility • Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead
• Persevere: keep on trying!
• Always do your best
• Use self-control
• Be self-disciplined
• Think before you act—consider the consequences
• Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes
• Set a good example for others
Fairness • Play by the rules
• Take turns and share
• Be open-minded; listen to others
• Don't take advantage of others
• Don't blame others carelessly
• Treat all people fairly
Caring • Be kind
• Be compassionate and show you care
• Express gratitude
• Forgive others
• Help people in need
Citizenship • Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate
• Get involved in community affairs
• Stay informed; vote
• Be a good neighbor
• Obey laws and rules
• Respect authority
• Protect the environment
• Volunteer
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."1
Today's Daily Encounter is from the book, Broken Chains, by Doug Batchelor.
A naturalist visiting a farm one day was surprised to see a beautiful eagle in the farmer's chicken coop. Befuddled, he asked, "Why in the world is that eagle living with chickens?"
"Well," answered the farmer, "I found an abandoned eagle's egg one day and laid it in the coop, and a chicken adopted it and raised the creature after it hatched. It doesn't know any better; it thinks it's a chicken." The eagle was even pecking at grain and strutting awkwardly in circles.
"Doesn't it ever try to fly out of there?" asked the naturalist, noticing that the bird never lifted its gaze. "No," said the farmer, "I doubt it even knows what it means to fly."
The naturalist asked to take the eagle a few days for experiments, and the farmer agreed. The scientist placed the eagle on a fence and pushed it off, bellowing, "Fly!" But the bird just fell to the ground and started pecking. He then climbed to the top of a hayloft and did the same thing, but the frightened bird just shrieked and fluttered ungraciously to the barnyard, where it resumed its strutting.
Finally, the naturalist took the docile bird away from the environment to which it had grown accustomed, driving to the highest butte in the county. After a lengthy and sweaty climb to the hillcrest with the bird tucked under his arm, he peered over the edge and then spoke gently: "You were born to soar. It is better that you die here today on the rocks below than live the rest of your life being a chicken. It's not what you are."
Then, with its keen eyesight, the confused bird spotted another eagle soaring on the currents high above the bluff, and a yearning was kindled within it. The naturalist threw the majestic beast up and over the edge, crying out, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"
The eagle began to tumble toward the rocks below, but then it opened its seven-foot span of wings and, with a mighty screech, instinctively began to flap them. Soon it was gliding gracefully, climbing in ever-higher spirals on unseen thermals into the blue sky. Eventually, the mighty eagle disappeared into the glare of the morning sun. The bird had become what it was born to be.2
Have you discovered your God-given purpose and potential—and have become or are becoming all that you were born to be?
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover my God-given life purpose and potential and become all that You have envisioned for me to be and do. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."
Note: Be sure to check Dick's book, You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing, at www.actscom.com/store.
1. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).
2. Doug Batchelor, Broken Chains, Pacific Press, 2004. Cited in WITandWISDOM, Richard Wimer. http://www.witandwisdom.org/.
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