Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 18 – No. 0516 January 30, 2016
Thought for the week: "Religion is not the way to God. Christianity in and of itself is not the way to God. Jesus Christ is the only way to God." – Dick Innes
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through Me." – Jesus Christ
"You can't push a river, but you can go with the flow." – Unknown
"You see things as they are and say, 'Why?' But I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?'" – George Bernard Shaw
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." – Jesus Christ
"We get damaged in damaging relationships. We get healed in healing relationships." – Dick Innes
"Failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying." – B.F. Skinner
"The difficulties, hardships and trials of life, the obstacles one encounters on the road to fortune are positive blessings. They knit the muscles more firmly, and teach self-reliance. Peril is the element in which power is developed." – William Matthews
The woman was delighted by the gift she had received. She said warmly to the young man, "At church tomorrow, I'll be sure to thank your mother for this lovely pie."
The boy suggested nervously, "If you don't mind, ma'am, would you thank her for two pies."
Winston Churchill seemed so dull as a youth that his father thought he might be incapable of earning a living in England.
G.K. Chesterson, the English writer, could not read until he was eight. One of his teachers told him, "If we could open your head we should not find any brain but only a lump of white fat."
Thomas Edison's first teacher described him as "addled," and his father almost convinced him he was a "dunce."
Albert Einstein's parents feared their child was dull, and he performed so badly in all high school courses except mathematics that a teacher asked him to drop out."
– Book of Lists, 1986, Irving Wallace, Wm. Morrow & Co., NY, NY.
Advertising genius, Alex Osborn, integrated creativity with everything he did—every day. Considered the "father of brainstorming"—a term he helped coin in 1939—Osborn devoted his life to promoting and teaching creative thinking. And the fiercest enemy of creativity, he believed, was criticism: "Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud. Any of us will put out more and better ideas if our efforts are appreciated."
A little boy named Bobby desperately wanted a new bicycle. His plan was to save his nickels, dimes and quarters until he finally had enough to buy a new 10-speed. Each night he asked God to help him save his money. Kneeling beside his bed, he prayed, "Dear Lord, please help me save my money for a new bike, and please, Lord, don't let the ice cream man come down the street again tomorrow."
Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the nineteenth century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town.
People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates three times.
Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed."
– From Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.
Cited in Parables.etc.
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"1
Theodore Roosevelt said, "It's not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of good deeds could have done better.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again...
"Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause...
"Who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement...
"And who, at worst, if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Every one of us has been given at least one talent; many have been given several. Regardless of whether we have one or many, what's important is to use well what God has given and entrusted to us and therewith give life our best shot.
Remember, too: "Only one life 'twill soon be past / Only what's done for Christ will last."
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, grant that I will so live today that when I stand before you face to face, I will hear your welcoming words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Matthew 25:21 (NIV).
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Oprah Winfrey: "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi." – Oprah Winfrey
Books:
Books by Dick Innes, Editor of Weekend Encounter You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing How to Mend a Broken Heart I Hate Witnessing—A Handbook for Effective Christian
Communications
Healing, Wholeness & Happiness by Dick Innes
Loving & Understanding People by Dick Innes
I Hate Witnessing by Dick Innes
God's Formula for Success by Dick Innes
Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
Healing of the Memories by David Seamands
1. Bible concordance and Bible helps
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"Because the world is hungry,
go with bread.
Because the world is filled with strife,
go with peace.
Because the world is filled with deceptions and lies,
go with truth.
Because the world would die without,
go with the love of God."