Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 17 – No. 1215 March 21, 2015
Thought for the week: "The difference between a politician and a statesman is: a politician thinks of the next election and a statesman thinks of the next generation." – James Freeman Clarke
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels—men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion." – Dwight D. Eisenhower
"And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts." – Abraham Lincoln
"There is no such thing as separation of church and state. It is merely a figment of the imagination of infidels." – W.A. Criswell
"We must fight against those radical minorities who are trying to remove God from our textbooks and Christ from the nation. We must take back what is rightfully ours." – Jerry Falwell
"God gives us oranges—not orange juice." – Unknown
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).
A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party. Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice. After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.
When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
4. He Saved a Life and, in Turn, Another Life Was Saved
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the
farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
6.You Can't Lose by Relentlessly Pursuing Excellence
By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (August 1, 2014)
As I embark on a pilgrimage with my 65-year-old little brother to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, I am also frantically trying to complete a book on "The Exemplary Policing Organization."
As my two worlds collided, I got to thinking about what it means to be exemplary, to be one of the best ever at something — to be worthy of inclusion in a hall of fame.
At the root of this has to be a relentless pursuit of excellence and a combination of humility and hubris — the humility to realize that, however good you are now, you could be better, and the hubris to believe you are good enough to be better.
It also occurred to me that while being among the very best may be the ultimate goal, the only way to achieve that goal is to continually strive to be better. Being better than you were before does not necessarily make you one of the best, but it is the only road to where you want to go.
And even if you do not end up in the hall of fame of what you do, being better is still better. You can't lose by relentlessly pursuing excellence.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you
are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."1
Several years ago a close family friend whom I shall name "Cynthia" (not her real name), experienced a very
painful divorce. However, instead of getting into a recovery program or group to deal with her grief, Cynthia got involved with a single man who she envisioned would take care of her for the rest of her life. He was a very capable man, was very successful in terms of what many consider in today's world to be successful, and extremely wealthy—but he was an angry man and very mean to Cynthia, and even after several years of "using" Cynthia, refused to marry her. Tragically, she refused to accept any friendly advice, and instead, chose to stay involved with this man.
Several years ago now, Cynthia's friend had an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He has been in assisted living ever since. His family, fearing our friend might inherit some of his money, had her cut out of his will, and refused to allow Cynthia to even visit him where he now lived.
So what did Cynthia do to avoid facing and resolving her pain? Tragically, she turned to alcohol to deaden her pain. Today she is a hopeless alcoholic and has had to be hospitalized. Furthermore, she is in denial and,
like any alcoholic, unless she is willing to admit that she is an alcoholic and is willing to seek help, her situation is hopeless.
Cynthia's problem started long before she even took her first drink. It started when she became involved with a fellow who only wanted and used her for her body, was mean to her, and she made the choice to stick with him no matter what—all because of money—the money she
never received, or will ever receive!
Cynthia's choices not only made her; they destroyed her. Always remember, too, that the choices you and I make will make us.
We are also reminded of God's Word that says, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."2
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please forgive me for all the bad choices I have made in the past and help me to make wise and careful choices today and in the future, remembering that the choices I make, will make me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."
NOTE: If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, and thereby receive God's forgiveness for all your sins, for help read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.
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