Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 8 – No. 2306 June 10, 2006
Thought for the week: "If you can read this, thank a teacher, and, since it's in English, thank a soldier." – Unknown
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." – Babe Ruth, baseball player
"The greatest thing in the world is not where we stand but in which direction we are going." – Unknown
"You are 100% emotional in everything you think, feel and decide. You decide emotionally and justify logically." – Brian Tracy
"Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" – John Wooden, basketball coach
"Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation." – William Arthur Wood, author
"I am responsible for my own well-being, my own happiness. The choices and decisions I make regarding my life directly influence the quality of my days." – Kathleen Andrus
A mechanic went to hear a visiting evangelist in a little town...
The preacher preached that night on money, and presented the sermon under three points. First point: "Make all you can." The mechanic nudged his wife and said, "That man is the best I've ever heard. He's no nitwit. He knows what it's all about. He is one smart man."
Second point: "Save all you can." This excited the mechanic and he whispered again, "This beats anything I've ever heard. He's smart enough to be President. This town has never had a preacher that could hold a candle to him." The preacher commended hard work and thrift, denouncing laziness and waste. The mechanic couldn't keep quiet. He whispered, "I've believed this all my life."
Third point: "Give all you can." "Oh my," exclaimed the mechanic, "now he's gone crazy. He has quit preaching and gone to meddling."
In an intensive care ward, all visitors are united by a single, awful thread: concern over a dying relative or friend.
Economic differences fade away. You'll see no sparks of racial tension there. Sometimes strangers will console one another or cry together quietly and unashamedly. All are facing life at its most essential. Many call for a [preacher] for the first time ever. Only the megaphone of suffering is strong enough to bring these people to their knees to ponder ultimate questions of life and death and meaning.
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.
Back in 1932 I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie, and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's South side.
One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting.
I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A Ford and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.
However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.
The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope.
Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.
People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead."
When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart.
For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie.
Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief.
Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody [that came into my head ... and the words] just seemed to fall into place: "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, Through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.
As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.
Two frogs named Will and Fern weren't looking where they were going and they fell into a deep pit. At first they thought it would be easy to jump out, but after 10 failed attempts they were getting desperate, and a crowd of animals gathered around the pit.
The consensus of the crowd was there was no way either could jump high enough, so they yelled out their verdict and urged Will and Fern to accept their fate and give up. The harder the trapped frogs jumped, the more the crowd yelled at them to surrender. Finally, Will fell back to the bottom and gave up. Fern refused to quit, and with one mighty last try she made it out of the pit.
The other animals were amazed and one asked her how she could keep trying despite the discouraging taunts of the crowd. Fern was shocked. "What do you mean, 'discouraging'? I'm a bit deaf. I thought you all were encouraging and rooting for me. I couldn't have done it without you."
A woman named Patty, a resident of a transitional housing program, gave a printed version of this story to my wife Anne. After a long period of homelessness and drug abuse, Patty wanted us to understand that positivism and support can really help people who seem down and out get up and out.
Patty said she got out of her own deep pit of despair because caring people at the housing program gave her the faith and confidence she needed to jump a little harder.
There are lots of ways to help others. We can educate them, feed them and house them, but we can also change their lives if we encourage and empower them.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"And a certain Jew named Apollos ... being fervent in spirit [enthusiastic] spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord ... who, when he was come, helped the believers greatly" (Acts 18:24-27, Paraphrase).
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm."
Enthusiasm is a wonderful gift, but the type that doesn't have deep roots can, when the trials of life seem overpowering, quickly fizzle out.
There's another kind of enthusiasm that can survive the deepest trials of life and motivate great souls to soar above the winds of adversity to achieve noble and worthwhile goals.
The word "enthusiasm" itself comes from "en-theos." "En" meaning "in" and "theos" meaning God. The word literally means "in God" or "inspired of God."
Thus true enthusiasm is that which has its roots not in human inspiration but in God. This enthusiasm is available to all who genuinely want it when they seek God and his will for their life with all their heart.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be so committed to you that I will find 'the great enthusiasm of life' that has its roots in you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
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