Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 17 – No. 1715 April 25, 2015
Thought for the week: "Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell your storm how big your God is." – Unknown
"If you haven't the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you." – T.S. Eliot
Someone once said to Helen Keller, "What a pity you have no sight!" Helen Keller replied, "Yes, but what a pity so many have sight but cannot see!"
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me!" – Cited by Andy Chap
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as true strength." – Ralph Sockman
"The seeds of our death are present at the moment of our conception." – Dick Innes
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off your bow-lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain
Dr. Benjamin Porter visited the school yesterday and lectured on "Destructive Pests." A large number were present.
The sewer expansion project is nearing completion, but City officials are holding their breath until it is officially finished.
The ladies of the county medical society auxiliary plan to publish a cookbook. Part of the money will go to the Samaritan Hospital to purchase a stomach pump.
Columbia, Tennessee, which calls itself the largest outdoor mule market in the world, held a mule parade yesterday headed by the Governor.
The attorney general's office said yesterday that an autopsy performed on the headless body of a man found in Mason failed to determine the cause of death.
Weather: Sunny with a few cloudy periods today and Thursday, which will be followed by Friday.
Conventional wisdom tells us that, "When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount." However, in institutionalized organizations scientifically advanced strategies are often employed by doing the following:
Buying a stronger whip,
Changing riders,
Appointing a committee to see how other cultures ride dead horse,
Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included,
Reclassifying the dead horse as "living impaired",
Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse,
Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed,
Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position.
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put his boots on? He asked for help, and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet." She looked, and sure enough, they were.
It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on—this time on the right feet. He then announced, "These aren't my boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, "Why didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off. He then said, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear them."
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again. She said, "Now, where are your mittens?" He said, "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots."1
I can't help but wonder how many of my problems are either caused or greatly increased because of my foolishness or what I have done!
You're at the top when you clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person. That yesterday ended last night. and today is your brand new day.
You're at the top when you've made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and optimistic about the future.
You're at the top when you know that success (a win) doesn't make you; and a failure (a loss) doesn't break you.
You're at the top when you're filled with faith, hope, and love, and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy or thoughts of revenge. When you're mature enough to delay gratification and shift your focus from your rights to your responsibilities.
You're at the top when you know that failure to stand for what is morally right is the prelude to being the victim of what is criminally wrong.
You're at the top when you are secure about who you are so that you're at peace with God and in fellowship with man.
You're at the top when you've made friends with your adversaries and have gained the love and respect of those whom you know best; when you understand that others can give you pleasure, but genuine happiness comes when you do things for others.
You're at the top when you're pleasant to the grouchy, courteous to the rude, and generous to the needy.
You're at the top when you love the unlovable, give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless and encouragement to the discouraged.
You're at the top when you can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.
This is Rex Barker C.S. (Compassionate Servant) saying, "You're at the top when you know that he who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of all."
It's not easy to be honest when it might be costly, to play fair when others cheat, or to keep inconvenient promises.
It's not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints.
It's not easy to control powerful impulses, to be accountable for our attitudes and actions, to tackle unpleasant tasks, or to sacrifice the now for later.
It's not easy to bear criticism and learn from it without getting angry, to take advice, or to admit error.
It's not easy to feel genuine remorse and apologize sincerely or to accept apologies graciously and truly forgive.
It's not easy to stop feeling like a victim, to resist cynicism, or to make the best of every situation.
It's not easy to be consistently kind, to think of others first, to judge generously, or to give the benefit of the doubt.
It's not easy to be grateful or to give without concern for reward or gratitude.
It's not easy to fail and still keep trying, to learn from failure, to risk failing again, to start over, to lose with grace, or to be glad of another's success.
It's not easy to look at ourselves honestly and be accountable, to avoid excuses and rationalizations, or to resist temptations.
No, being a person of character isn't easy. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
As God's Word says, "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin."1
On December 19 "... the New Mexico Supreme Court voted unanimously to redefine marriage to include two men or two women. New Mexico joins 16 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing same-sex marriage, after Hawaii and Illinois passed similar laws last month.
"There are certain laws which judges, legislators, and even the people cannot change. They are called natural laws. The Declaration of Independence refers to these laws as the "laws of nature and of nature's God." These natural laws transcend time, cultures, and political institutions.
"Sir William Blackstone said any earthly law which is contrary to the natural law is no law at all. This view of law has shaped Western law and government for over 2,000 years. St. Augustine and Martin Luther King, Jr. shared this view of law. If there is a Creator God, then there must be a higher law which cannot be transgressed. We easily accept this view when it comes to the laws of physics such as the law of gravity. But the same is true of certain moral laws, among which include the sanctity of human life, marriage between a man and a woman, and religious freedom.
"When judges, legislators, or the people have the hubris to deceive themselves into thinking they can violate these laws without consequences, they are blind to history and the Scriptures. Deconstructing marriage will be the end of freedom or the beginning of a new revolution."2
The fact is that ALL of God's laws are for the health, well-being and protection of those whom God loves—us! When we disregard God's laws, we do so to the detriment of ourselves, our families, and our society. If we defy God's physical law, such as the law of gravity, we harm or even destroy ourselves. If we defy God's moral laws, we do the same thing.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, as our society more and more disregards Your Word and Your laws, the more we are on a pathway to self-destruction. Please send a great spiritual awakening which is a desperate need ... and please start Your work in me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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