All posts by 5Q

The Power of Influence

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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”1

As a child in school in Australia Gordon had a problem with dyslexia, but nobody was able to diagnose his problem at the time. For years his mother took him to speech therapy, and he practiced saying, “Thora thrust thick thistles through the thinning hedge,” five thousand times!

What turned Gordon’s life around was his fourth grade primary school teacher, Miss Higgins, who called the class to order when they laughed at Gordon’s attempt to read before the class. You could imagine how terrible Gordon must have felt every time other kids poked fun at him because of his inability to read. I would have felt devastated. But thank God for an understanding teacher who said to the class: “Do not laugh at his reading. One day Gordon will be the best reader in the whole school.” Little did Miss Higgins or his school mates realize just who Gordon would become. And little did Miss Higgins realize that her encouragement planted the seed to motivate Gordon towards an extremely fruitful and productive life.

Today Gordon is known as the Reverend Dr., The Honorable Gordon Moyes, MHR.

Besides being the senior minister and superintendent of the very influential Wesley Central Mission in Sydney, Australia, Gordon has been a radio broadcaster for 44 years, the host of a weekly TV program on the National Nine Network for 26 years, and is a Member of the House of Representatives in the state government of New South Wales. Gordon is still dyslexic and still mirror reads God as dog—which presents quite a problem for a minister of religion!

In his appeal to the state government for children with dyslexia Rep. Moyes said, “The effect of dyslexia in society possibly includes unemployment, poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse and dependency and even family breakdown, and as a result dyslexic people are over represented in the prison population, are more likely to drop out of school, and often withdraw from their friends and family or attempt suicide.

“Children with dyslexia often have high IQs but poor reading and writing skills. They are often sent out of classes or to the back of the room as they become distracted because of the frustrating nature of their condition. You can understand my concern for such children of our members or in our Sunday Schools. Dyslexia is a disability, and the Government should supply support for such students.”2

May we all remember Gordon’s story and always be an encourager to children, teens, and adults who struggle with any kind of a handicap.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for every teacher and all who give the gift of encouragement to those who struggle with life’s handicaps. Thank you, too, for all who encouraged me when I needed it most. Please help me always to be sensitive, loving, kind and encouraging to any and all fellow strugglers who come into my life and/or who cross my path. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV).

2. http://www.cdp.org.au/main.asp.

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Blame Game or Wise Choice

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“So he [the business owner] called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’”1

“Two young boys were raised in the home of an alcoholic father. As young men, they each went their own way. Years later a psychologist who was analyzing what drunkenness does to children in the home searched out these two men. One had turned out to be like his father, a hopeless alcoholic. The other had turned out to be a teetotaler.

“The counselor asked the first man, ‘Why did you become an alcoholic?’ He asked the second, ‘Why did you become a teetotaler?’

“They both gave the same identical answer in these words, ‘What else could you expect when you had a father like mine?’ It’s not what happens to us in life but how we react to it that makes the difference. Every human being in the same situation has the possibilities of choosing how he will react, either positively or negatively.”2

It is true that children who grow up in a warm, loving, and caring family atmosphere are given a much greater start in life. However, there is no guarantee that they will become model citizens. They, too, like the rest of us, either consciously or unconsciously, make the choice in how they are going to live their life.

If we grew up in a less than desirable home atmosphere, we can choose to feel sorry for ourselves, play the blame game, and limp along in the shadows of life without a goal or purpose—and waste our life. Or, if we so desire, like President Ronald Reagan whom I understand also had an alcoholic father, we can choose to make something worthwhile with our life, grow through our difficulties, and with God’s help become the person God envisions for us to be, and, in so doing, invest our life in a worthwhile cause and noble purpose. The choice is ours.

I realize that it can be very difficult to honor a mother or father who is an alcoholic, an abuser, or an abandoning parent. However, I believe the greatest way we can honor such a parent is not to allow our past to determine our future. What an honor it would be for all of us parents should our children rise above their early setbacks to invest their lives wisely in doing good for others.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to overcome any and all setbacks I may have had in the past, and choose—with your help—to invest my life wisely so that, when I give an account of my life before you, 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. Luke 16:2 (NKJV).

2. From The West Side Baptist. Cited on www.sermons.com.

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Super Bowl Sunday

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“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”1

Sunday is Super Bowl Football Sunday in the U.S.A. and, at least a couple of years ago, media people claimed it would be televised to 186 countries in 18 languages! Thus, on Sunday millions of people around the world will be glued to their TV set watching a bunch of hefty men throw a leather ball filled with air, catch it and run—and belt the stuffing out of each other while they’re at it—and get paid unbelievable mega-dollars for doing it!

Apparently major sports events are not only a health hazard for the players, but also for viewers. An issue of the British Medical Journal reported that on the day in June of 1996 when the Dutch team was knocked out of the European football championship, there was a 50% increase in heart attacks of men—not women! They said it was probably caused, not only by the emotional stress of screaming and hollering when your team is either winning or losing, but at the same time consuming too much alcohol and fatty foods!

Super Bowl parties with friends can be lots of fun, but what boggles the mind are the things we value most in today’s society. Sports for millions is almost a religion! In fact, According to Wikipedia, “Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day. In most years, the Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast; Super Bowl XLIV, played in February 2010, became the most-watched American television program in history, drawing an average audience of 106.5 million viewers.”2

As Chuck Colson stated, “Every once in a while, events line up in a way that allows us to see things as they really are. [An] example was the deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa within a week of each other. The juxtaposition of the hype and hysteria over the jet-setter, Diana, and the muted response to the death of Mother Teresa gave us a glimpse into how shallow and empty our culture truly is.”3

I’m not against sports—except about some of the “obscene” pay scales—in some professional sports, which, again, shows where today’s values are (at least in the West). Pity school teachers and those who are making an impact on our society that they aren’t given more recognition and appreciation.

Having said this, for Christians our values are not here on earth (hopefully) but in heaven where God keeps the books and gives rewards—rewards that are eternal! We won’t be judged for our sins because Christ accepted that judgment for us on the cross, but we will be judged and rewarded according to our faithfulness in loving and serving God.

If only we Christians were as enthusiastic about reaching as many people around the world with the gospel as will be reached with football this Sunday!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, it is so easy for some of us, including me, to get caught up in the values of this world. Help me to always remember that this life is temporal and to live with eternal values in mind. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).

2. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl

3. BreakPoint, Chuck Colson. Copyright (c) 2001 by Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. BreakPoint with Chuck Colson is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

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More about Prayer

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“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”1

A Daily Encounter reader wrote to me saying that Christ’s promise of “ask and you will receive” was a painful lie.

I think that for some people prayer is like a magic wand that is supposed to remove all of life’s difficulties. Not so. Neither is prayer a lucky charm to gain special favors. Nor is it a painkiller like taking a giant aspirin: “Take God three times a day and you won’t feel any pain!” as John Powell put it.

These things are never the purpose for prayer. First, for God to answer prayer, we need to be in a right relationship with him through Jesus Christ. Second, we need to pray in harmony with God’s will as seen in his Word, the Bible. Third, our prayers need to be sincere and truthful from the heart. In fact, prayer is communicating our heart to God. When we adhere to these requirements, God always answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is “yes;” sometimes it is “no;” and sometimes it is “wait a while.” God always knows what is best for us. He will give us wisdom, guidance, and direction if we ask for it, but he will not do for us what we can and need to do for ourselves.

When Abraham sent his servant to seek a bride for his son, Isaac, the servant said, “I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”2 There he found Rebekah who agreed to become Isaac’s wife. The point I am making is this: when Abraham’s servant acted responsibly and did his part, God did his part and directed him in the way that he should go.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so I that can read and understand what your Word, the Bible, teaches and therein see the direction of my life that you would have me take. Help me always to pray in harmony with your will and see what my part is and act responsibly. Every day I will commit and trust my life and way to you, and trust you to guide me in the way that you would have me go. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.

For further help read, “How to Pray Effectively” online at: http://tinyurl.com/good-morning-God

1. Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

2. Genesis 24:7 (KJV).

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Perception Vs Reality

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“According to your faith will it be done to you.”1

A Daily Encounter reader wrote, “I’m still out there seeking what God’s plan for me is, but how can I go from the cradle to the grave without ever having any prayers answered. I have stepped out of my so-called comfort zone often in my life, but no great discoveries or blessings have I found. How do I get a job like yours where I can publish doggerel and shopworn biblical phrases for fun and profit?”

“Dear, Terry,” (not his real name), I replied, “You can get a job just like mine—minus the doggerel, the shopworn biblical phrases and the profit—if you do the same as what I had to do; that is, spend several years getting trained in Bible school, college and graduate school, and working part time all the while, to pay for the privilege, at any job I could find, including scrubbing floors. It also took many years to build the ministry of ACTS International, and I continue to work 60-70 hours a week, including working a second part-time job to help support myself.”

True, God feeds the birds of the air, but he doesn’t throw the food into their nest. God’s will is never handed to us on a silver platter. God gave the ancient Israelites the Promised Land but, even with his help, they had to battle to gain every inch of it. Had God not given it to them, they never would have been able to conquer it. God has a plan for you and me too, but we also have to work diligently—with God’s help—to see it achieved in our life.

The reality is that what we see is what we get. It all lies in our perception, and that, no matter how distorted, becomes our reality. Distorted perception, like distorted eye lenses, distorts everything we see in life. It also distorts our prayer life, our faith, and our view of God. Jesus gave us a divine principle when he said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” With distorted faith our prayers will be distorted and the results will match our distorted perception of reality.

So how do we get to the stage where our perception is based on reality instead of our “reality” being based on our perception? Not easy. However, we get there by becoming real; that is, honest at the gut level with one’s self (that includes our true emotions and our motives), with God, and with at least one trusted friend. The fact is, the more dishonest I am with my inner self, the more I will distort all other truth—including God’s truth. Only personal gut-level honesty will deliver us from distortion so we can see reality as it truly is—and as God sees it.

As God’s Word says, “Behold, You [God] desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”2

For further help be sure to read, “Dare to Be Honest” at: http://tinyurl.com/dare-to-be-honest.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, please confront me with the truth about me. Help me to see myself as you see me so that I can, with your help, resolve every issue in my life that causes me to distort reality, so that I will become truly authentic in every area of my life—honest with myself, honest with others, and honest with you for the glory of your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 9:29 (NIV).

2. Psalm 51:6 (NASB).

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It’s What?

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“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”1

Alan Smith tells the story about a dignified, elderly woman who was among a group viewing an art exhibition in a newly opened gallery. When one contemporary painting caught her eye, addressing the artist standing nearby, she gasped, “What on earth is that?”

He smiled condescendingly. “That, my dear lady, is supposed to be a mother and her child.”

“Well, then,” reasoned the little old lady, “why isn’t it?”2

Having seen some modern art, I can appreciate her question.

Sadly, according to various reports I have read there is little difference in the life of the average Christian than that of the average non-Christian. If we don’t act like Christians, behave like Christians, live like Christians, and look like Christians, how will we ever impact the world in which we live for Christ?

To “look like Christians” we need to know what God’s Word teaches—and obey it!

And when we’re not sure how to act, we can ask ourselves the question: “What would Jesus do?”

And let us always pray that God will help us to be as Jesus to every life we touch . . . and to help us to “love one another.” As Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”3

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to so live that in everything I am and do I will ‘look like a Christian’—a true Christ follower—and be as Jesus to every life I touch, and in so doing help to impact the world in which I live. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV).

2. Alan Smith, Thought for the Day www.TFTD-online.com.

3. John 13:35 (NIV).

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Welcome Home

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“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”1

A Daily Encounter reader, C.A. wrote, “I returned home to New York City this morning after being away for 4 days visiting my Mom. At home, early on the first morning, I was awakened by the voices of my grandbabies, Charlene and Charles who were staying with us. As I came down the hallway to the bathroom, Charles was entering the hallway with his hands full of toys. He looked up at my face and said, ‘Grammie,’ dropped all his toys, stretched his arms upward for me to pick him up, gave me a kiss, and wrapped his little arms around my neck as I held him in my arms for a hug.

“It was such an overwhelming welcome that I continually thought about it until I realized that the lingering impact of the experience was so moving to me because I want Jesus to welcome me home just like that—with recognition, welcome, warmth, acceptance, love, and an all-enveloping embrace.”

That welcome home to heaven is available to everyone who has accepted Jesus as his/her Savior and has faithfully served the Lord [God] here on earth. Our service to God doesn’t get us into heaven. Only accepting Jesus as our Savior and his forgiveness for our sins does that. However, we will be rewarded for faithful service to God. How disappointing it would be when we meet Jesus face to face should we have nothing in the way of service to offer him. But how wonderful and rewarding to receive his welcome home knowing that we had served him to the best of our ability, and to hear his wonderful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, because you gave your life and died in my place on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins, help me to live my life in loving service to you every day for the rest of my life. Help me to so live that when I meet 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.”

Note: If you are not absolutely certain that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and thereby have received God’s gift of forgiveness so that you know that you know that you know you will go to heaven when you die, I urge you to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. Matthew 25:23 (NKJV).

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Not What—But Who

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“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”1

I have read how Hayley Mills, a child star at the time, was escorted through Disneyland. As she was led past hundreds of people standing in line, a security guard attempted to stop her. “Hey there,” he called to Haley’s escort, “who do you think you are? Walt Disney?” Imagine his mortification when the escort turned around and said, “As a matter of fact I am Walt Disney.”

As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” That certainly holds true to get into many places. Joy, my wife, had the opportunity to be a guest at the inauguration of President Bush. How come? Because of someone she knew. She was a very good friend of the mother-in-law of a high ranking military officer who was stationed at the White House. Joy phoned me from the ball room to share her excitement about seeing the president in person. Jokingly I kidded, “Have you touched the hem of his garment yet?”

There is one place much greater than any inauguration ball, the White House, or Buckingham Palace where so many would like to be invited to. However, to be invited to this one place it is absolutely imperative that we know the only person who can get us in—yes, it’s into God’s heaven. And that person is Jesus. You may know about Jesus, but do you know him as your Savior? And does he know you? If not, I urge you to accept his invitation to meet him today. For help, be sure to read the article: “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian without having to be religious” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that your invitation to heaven is to ‘whosoever will may come.’ Thank you that that includes me. I confess that I am a sinner and thank you for dying in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins. I accept your invitation to come to you for my salvation, to ask for and accept your forgiveness, and to receive the gift of eternal life so that I will live with you forever in heaven. Thank you for your great gift of salvation and thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed this prayer and genuinely meant it, please let us know by going to www.actsweb.org/decision.php

1. Acts 4:12 (NIV).

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True Friendship

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“A friend loves at all times”1.

I remember years ago how a friend said that some people are “cursed with the affliction to give advice.” I had no idea what he meant. Sure sounded strange to me. Now I understand. He was talking about unsolicited advice; that is, giving advice where it is neither asked for nor wanted.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, people “offering unwanted advice or services” are officious. I think that word is close to “obnoxious.” Such advice can be thinly veiled criticism.

I’m not talking about going to a lawyer, an accountant, a car mechanic, or whatever when we need professional advice. What I’m talking about is when we share our struggles and feelings with a friend and they have a compulsion to tell us what we should or shouldn’t do, or how we should or shouldn’t feel. They are in fact putting us down in that they are assuming that they know our needs and understand our situation better than we do ourselves.

Even when some people want advice about a personal issue, it is more effective not to give it to them, but help them come up with their own options and solutions.

A good counselor doesn’t tell people what they should or shouldn’t do. He helps them see for themselves what they need to do.

What I want from a friend when I am feeling in the pits, is someone to listen to me with their heart, to give me their presence, and accept me as I am, and let me know that they care—not try to fix me—or someone who will weep with me when I weep. Such friends may be rare but they are worth their weight in gold.

In his book, Out of Solitude, Henri Nouwen wrote, “When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a true friend and to be there for those who are hurting, not to give them advice or try to fix them or resolve their problems, but to listen to them, accept their feelings, give them my presence, love them, and be as Jesus to them. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV).

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Being Real Part II

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”1

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to love open, honest, and authentic people—and how difficult it is to even like defensive, dishonest people who are living in denial?

A good definition of denial has been called Truth Decay. In the long run denial can be extremely destructive to one’s physical, mental and spiritual health—and also destructive to relationships, and to the emotional and spiritual health of families and societies.

True, as children many of us were forced to build defenses around our feelings in order to survive. However, as adults we need to rid ourselves of unhealthy defenses in order to fully live and fully love—that is, to live productive lives and develop healthy, lasting and loving relationships. As long as I live behind a mask—no matter how attractive that mask may appear—I can never feel loved because my mask is not me. Only real people can get close to others and experience intimacy and real love.

Furthermore, the more dishonest I am with my inner self (my true feelings and motives), the more I will distort all other truth—including God’s truth—to make it match my perception of reality, and use it to justify my behavior. Ultimately I end up unhappily believing my own lies.

So where do we begin to overcome the problem of denial, which may very well be the most destructive personal and societal problem we have?

First, let’s call denial what it is. It’s SIN—and a destructive sin at that. Remember, it’s just as big a sin to lie to myself as it is to lie to anyone else. We can call poison by any name we like, but poison is still poison. Same goes for sin. We can call it freedom of choice, misspeak, or by any other fancy name to give it a sugar coating and make it sound attractive, but that makes it all the more deceptive and dangerous.

Second, confession. Remember that we change the world one person at a time. The first person to start with is myself. I need to realize that I can be as guilty of the sin of denial as anyone else and come to God with a genuine and humble heart asking him to “search my heart” and reveal to me, no matter how painful it may be, any areas in my life where I may be in denial and to confront me with the truth about myself.

Third, realize that without access to the truth there is no healing or recovery of individuals or societies, and there is no freedom but self-deceptive bondage. As Jesus said, only the truth sets people free (see John 8:32). It is not without good reason that God “desires truth in our innermost being.”

Fourth, accept the fact that pain was the way into denial and pain is the way out of it. As they say in AA, “It’s not the truth that hurts us but letting go of the lies.” Indeed, facing one’s truth can be painful but incredibly freeing and ultimately fulfilling. I say painful because it usually takes painful experiences to break through our self-defeating defenses.

Finally, the pursuit of truth needs to be a life-long journey. It is a journey that leads to fully living and fully loving—and ultimately to life everlasting. Lies are of the devil and ultimately lead to hell here on earth and in the life to come.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the words of the psalmist, ‘Search me . . . and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ No matter what the cost, please deliver me from the sin of denial. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV).

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