Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Today's Daily Encounter

Relationships: Does True Love Exist?  

"A new command I [Jesus] give you: Love one another. As
I have loved you, so you must love one another."1

A Daily Encounter reader asks, “Does true love exist? I
have had three broken relationships. Each one made big
promises he never kept. I have tried healing myself by
reading some inspirational articles, but nothing
worked. I always ask God, ’Why has all this happened to
me when I was true to them?’ Is there no one made for
me to give me love? I feel my life is full of regrets.
Please tell me what I need to do to heal myself?"

The number one issue Encounter readers write to me
about is poor relationships. Loving relationships--for
which we were created--are vital for healthy and
meaningful living. Without such relationships we limp
along in the shadows of life eking out a lonely, empty
and hollow existence--and very likely will die before
our time.

True love does exist but it is a fruit of personal
growth, maturity and wholeness--emotional and
spiritual--for only to the degree that we are made
whole will our attitudes, our behavior, our actions,
and our relationships be wholesome.

Speaking personally, I had a lot of emotional issues
from my childhood that I needed to acknowledge and
resolve before I found the love of my life. That took a
deep commitment not only to God, seeking His help, but
also for getting the counseling help I needed to
overcome my personal issues and deficiencies. 

Unfortunately, some Christians are expecting God to
bring the "right" person into their life. It doesn't
work this way. If we want to be attracted to the
"right" partner, we need to be the "right" partner.
Only healthy people are attracted to healthy people.
Actually, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we can
learn a lot about ourselves by looking at our
significant other relationships as we are basically as
healthy or as sick as the people we are attracted to. 

In earlier years why was I attracted to ladies who were
afraid to love? It was because I was unconsciously
afraid to love. This was because I had felt unloved as
a child and was subconsciously afraid of being hurt
again. To overcome my fear I needed to acknowledge it
and get the counseling help I needed to overcome. Was
it easy? No, at times it was extremely difficult but I
knew that unless I overcame my fear of love, I would be
running from love for the rest of my life. I
acknowledged my need when my pain was greater than my
fear. 

So, like the young lady who asked if true love existed,
if you are struggling with poor or impaired
relationships, start by asking God to confront you with
the truth about you and what it is in you that is
causing you to be attracted to bad relationships?
Without confronting this truth, you may be floundering
in painful relationships for the rest of your life. As
Jesus also pointed out, only the truth sets people
free. 

Then ask God to lead you to the help you need to guide
you through the healing and recovery process.
Unfortunately, in many parts of the world it can be
difficult to find qualified counseling help. However,
there is some free online lay counseling that can be
helpful. For counseling resources see
http://www.actsweb.org/counseling_resources.php. 

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see that
my poor relationships are Your wakeup call to awaken me
to the fact that there are unresolved relational issues
in my life. Please help me to see what these issues are
and help me to find the help I need for healing and
recovery. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."

1. John 13:34 (NIV).

<:((((><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

When My Child Was Lost  

"You are to go into all the world and preach the Good
News to everyone, everywhere."1

Dr. Leighton Ford tells the story about when his
daughter was young, quite a few years ago now. 

I was minding the children while my wife was shopping.
Debbie Jean had returned from school and was playing
with her four-year-old brother in the back yard. When I
called them to come in, Debbie Jean was missing. 

I walked up and down the street calling her
name--fearing the silence. 

Later (after she was found) I reflected on the
incident. During the nearly two hours that Debbie Jean
was missing, nothing else mattered. In my study were
books to be read, letters to be answered, articles to
be written, planning to be done--but it was all
forgotten. I could think of only one thing: my little
girl was lost. 

I had only one prayer and I prayed it a thousand times:
"O God, help me to find her." 

"How often," I ask myself, "had I felt that same
terrible urgency about people who were lost from God?" 

I had a similar experience when one of my baby sons was
with his grandmother and I feared both were lost. I
panicked a blue streak until I found them. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to realize
in the depths of my heart that people without You are
lost for all eternity. I'm available. Please make me
usable and use me to be as Jesus to every life I touch,
and do all that I can, in as many ways I can to help
win others to You. Thank You for hearing and answering
my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

Note: Please join with us to be a People Power for
Jesus partner at www.actsweb.org/people_power.

1. Mark 16:15 (TLB/NLT).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.


Today's Daily Encounter

Responsibility = Response Ability  

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind
your own business and to work with your hands … so that
you will not be dependent on anybody."1

One of the great principles we need to emphasize to
keep ourselves and our society healthy and productive
is the principle of personal responsibility. It's a
principle that needs, through repetition, to be
programmed into our belief system. It needs to be
taught and demonstrated in the home and at every level
of society--including among the highest business and
political leaders in our communities and nation. 

If people don't believe they are responsible, they will
not act responsibly. If they believe and know they are
responsible, most will consistently act responsibly. 

Obviously, we weren't responsible for our background
and upbringing, but we are fully responsible for what
we do about these and for what we become. The world
doesn't owe us a living. As the Bible teaches, if we
are unwilling to work we shouldn't eat. 

When we repeatedly do anything for others that they can
and need to do for themselves, we can make and keep
them over-dependent, immature and irresponsible. It is
not the loving thing to do. 

I remember reading about some sea gulls in a fishing
village that, for many years, fed on the scraps the
fishermen left. When the fishing industry in this place
closed, the sea gulls had forgotten how to gather food
for themselves. They died of starvation. 

The same principle applies to people. When we do things
to keep them over-dependent, we destroy their growth
and maturity. It's the same with God, He will bend the
heavens to touch the earth to do for us what we cannot
do for ourselves--such as giving His Son, Jesus, to die
on the cross of Calvary to pay the just penalty for all
our sins--but He won't do for us what we can and need
to do for ourselves. As another has said, “God feeds
the sparrows but He doesn’t throw the food into their
nest."

One effective way to program responsibility into one's
unconscious mind is by constantly saying to one's self,
either silently or out loud: "I am responsible. I am
responsible. I am responsible." And say it with the
feeling that you really mean it and believe it. Just
mouthing the words is meaningless. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I am responsible. Thank
You for granting me this freedom. Help me to remember
this and act accordingly always in all ways. Thank You
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Real Thing  

"They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could
not hear the law or the messages that the LORD Almighty
had sent them by His Spirit through the earlier
prophets. That is why the LORD Almighty was so angry
with them."1

I read how a fellow in France was asked where in Paris
he would most like to live. He said in the Eiffel Tower
because it was the only place he could be and not have
to look at it. 

This reminds me of what Jef Olson said about the movie,
The Godfather, Part III: "when the Godfather, Don
Corleone, is forced to visit the distinguished Cardinal
Lamberto to tell him the bad news that a legitimate
business deal involving the Vatican Bank has gone bad.
The bank is run by the Archbishop and a coalition of
Catholic businessmen. 

"The Cardinal listens to the Godfather; then he says
something quite profound. He picks up a stone and says,
'Look at this stone. It has been lying in the water for
a very long time. The water has not penetrated it.'
Then he smashes the stone. 'Look,' he says peering at
the smashed insides of the stone, 'perfectly dry. The
same thing,' the Cardinal continues, 'has happened to
men in Europe. They have been surrounded by
Christianity for centuries, but Christ does not live in
their hearts.' 

"This is exactly what happened at the Temple in Jesus's
time. There were people there who had been surrounded
by the Temple for years, but the God of the Temple had
not been allowed to enter their lives nor penetrate
their hearts. As St. Paul once put it, They had the
form of godliness, but not the real thing." 2,3 

Like the man who would like to live in the Eiffel Tower
so as not to see it, there are many who hide from God
in church or in some religious ritual. And like so many
in Jesus' day, the hardest hearts may not be among the
ungodly, but among the religious who have all the
outward trappings of the godly, but their hearts, like
stones, are hard and cold--and they know not God. 

Very interesting too that the Apostle Paul wrote that
"there will be terrible times in the last days. People
will be … without love, unforgiving, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but
denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."4

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, when it comes to my
relationship with You, please help me to be sure that I
have the real thing and not just the outward trappings
of religiosity. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

Note: For help be sure to read “How to Be Sure You’re a
Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. Zachariah 7:12 (NLT).
2. 2 Timothy 3:5 
3. Rev. Jef Olson, "Reassessment of Ministry" cited on
eSermons.com.
4. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

One Way to God: Fact or Fiction?  

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes: "About your 'I Hate
Religion' article …It seems pretty judgmental to me.
Are you saying that the ONLY right way to come to the
one true God is through Christianity? If you are, I
have a little quote for YOU, 'Judge not lest you be
judged.'" 

Hello, Judy (name changed), you ask if I am saying that
the only way to God is Christianity. Actually, I'm
quoting Jesus and God's Word. Jesus said without
apology, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me." And again,
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved."2 

In actuality, had there been any other way to God, why
would Jesus, the Son of God, have come to earth to die
on the cross to give His life to pay the penalty for
all our sins? Furthermore, I would much rather listen
to what God has to say than listen to what man-made
religions have to say. Also, when we decide what is the
way (or ways) to God, we put ourselves above God and
His Word--which is a very dangerous path to follow.

As Jesus also said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For
wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to
destruction, and many enter through it. But small is
the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and
only a few find it."3

Yes, it is true that Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be
not judged."4 At the same time God's Word also says,
"But he that is spiritual judges all things."5 In other
words, while we are not to be judgmental towards
people, we are to be wise and judge what others do,
say, and teach. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a love for
Your Word so that I will always know the truth of what
You say, and so that I am not deceived by what others
say--no matter how appealing their words may seem to
be. Help me to always choose the way of Your Truth, no
matter how uncomfortable and unpopular that may be.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

Note: See God’s way based on God’s Word, the Bible,
for  “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. John 14:6 (NIV).
2. Acts 4:12 (NKJV).
3. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV).
4. Matthew 7:1 (KJV).
5. 1 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Vine and the Branches  

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains
in Me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit; apart from
Me you can do nothing."1

"A Bible scholar and pastor tells about a piece of wood
that he keeps on his desk. He took this piece of wood
from a vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley. It is a
section of vine out of which grows a branch. 

"The owner of the vineyard told him that if two people
were in a tug of war using this section of the vine, it
would break. However it would never break where the
vine and branch are joined together for that is the
strongest point of the vine. A vine, according to this
teacher, is different from a tree. If you pull on a
branch that goes into a tree, it will break at the
trunk of the tree--in a tree that is the weakest place.
But in a grapevine that is the strongest point--where
the branch is joined to the vine."2

Perhaps this is one reason Jesus likened those who
truly put their trust in Him as a branch grafted or
joined into the vine, the vine being Him. That bond is
unbreakable. As Jesus said, "And this is the will of
him [God] who sent me [Jesus], that I shall lose none
of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the
last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal
life, and I will raise him up at the last day."3 For
further help see: “How to Be Sure You’re a Real
Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that my bond to
Jesus is unbreakable, not because of anything I have
done (except to believe that Jesus died for my sins),
but because of what Jesus has done for me in giving His
life to save me from my sins. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. John 15:5 (NIV).
2. The Best of J. Vernon McGee, (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1988).
3. John 6:39-40 (NIV). 

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Life after Life Guarantee  

"For if we have been united with him in a death like
his, we will certainly also be united with him in a
resurrection like his."1

"There's an old story about a small boy who was walking
along the street with his parents during the Second
World War. They saw a house with a gold star hanging in
the window. 'What does that mean?' asked the boy. His
parents told him that it meant that that family had
lost a son in the war, and that star symbolized their
loss. Later on that evening, as the boy saw the first
star come out in the summer sky, the boy excitedly
exclaimed, 'Look! God lost a son, too!'"2

Regardless of the time of year may we ever be mindful
of the "so great a salvation" God provided for us
through the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on
the cross in our place to pay the penalty for all our
sins and, through His resurrection, to give us the
guarantee that we, too, will arise and be given the
gift of eternal life--that is, life after this
life--through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is God’s
promise to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior and therein have received God’s
forgiveness for all their sins*

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You not
only gave Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in my
place to pay the just penalty for all my sins, but also
that Jesus rose again giving me the hope and guarantee
of the resurrection for eternal life to live in Heaven
with You forever when Jesus returns for all who believe
in You and have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord
and Savior. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

*To be sure you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and
received God’s forgiveness see the article, “How to Be
Sure You’re a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. Romans 6:5 (NIV).
2. "The Grief of God," A sermon by Donald B. Strobe, of
East Lansing, Michigan 

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Cross of Christ  

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
the power of God."1

"Maybe you know the story of Sir John Bowring. A
brilliant man who spoke five languages, Sir John was
twice elected to Parliament. Knighted by the queen, he
served at one time as governor of Hong Kong. It's said
he wrote thirty-six books on a variety of subjects. If
you visit a library, though, you will only find one of
Sir John's writings. It's all we have left. And you're
likely to find it in a hymnal. 

"It's a poem which he wrote after a boat trip, sailing
along the coast of China. Passing Macao, a city
devastated by an earthquake, he spied the ruins of a
mission church. Protruding from those ruins was the
cross which had stood atop the chapel. The impact of
that cross caused him to write these memorable words:"2

In the cross of Christ I glory / Towering o'er the
wrecks of time / All the light of sacred story /
Gathers round its head sublime. 

When the woes of life o'ertake me / Hopes deceive, and
fears annoy / Never shall the cross forsake me / Lo! it
glows with peace and joy. 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure / By the cross are
sanctified / Peace is there that knows no measure /
Joys that through all time abide.3

Still today the cross of Jesus Christ towers over the
wrecks of time--faded dreams, lost hopes,
disappointments, violent acts of terrorism, wars, and
the lack of peace. In the end, however, the cross of
Christ will triumph over all. It is the only hope of
mankind. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the Cross of
Christ and all that it means for lost mankind. Thank
You that in the end it will triumph over all evil,
sickness, sadness, sorrow, and death. Most of all I
thank You for the Christ of the cross who, on Good
Friday some two thousand years ago, gave His life in my
place to pay the just penalty for all my sins so that I
could be forgiven and receive Your forgiveness and that
gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV).
2. From www.sermons.com.   
3. Sir John Bowring, 1825.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
The Cross of Christ  

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
the power of God."1

"Maybe you know the story of Sir John Bowring. A
brilliant man who spoke five languages, Sir John was
twice elected to Parliament. Knighted by the queen, he
served at one time as governor of Hong Kong. It's said
he wrote thirty-six books on a variety of subjects. If
you visit a library, though, you will only find one of
Sir John's writings. It's all we have left. And you're
likely to find it in a hymnal. 

"It's a poem which he wrote after a boat trip, sailing
along the coast of China. Passing Macao, a city
devastated by an earthquake, he spied the ruins of a
mission church. Protruding from those ruins was the
cross which had stood atop the chapel. The impact of
that cross caused him to write these memorable words:"2

In the cross of Christ I glory / Towering o'er the
wrecks of time / All the light of sacred story /
Gathers round its head sublime. 

When the woes of life o'ertake me / Hopes deceive, and
fears annoy / Never shall the cross forsake me / Lo! it
glows with peace and joy. 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure / By the cross are
sanctified / Peace is there that knows no measure /
Joys that through all time abide.3

Still today the cross of Jesus Christ towers over the
wrecks of time--faded dreams, lost hopes,
disappointments, violent acts of terrorism, wars, and
the lack of peace. In the end, however, the cross of
Christ will triumph over all. It is the only hope of
mankind. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the Cross of
Christ and all that it means for lost mankind. Thank
You that in the end it will triumph over all evil,
sickness, sadness, sorrow, and death. Most of all I
thank You for the Christ of the cross who, on Good
Friday some two thousand years ago, gave His life in my
place to pay the just penalty for all my sins so that I
could be forgiven and receive Your forgiveness and that
gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV).
2. From www.sermons.com.   
3. Sir John Bowring, 1825.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
 
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Power of Love  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have eternal life."1

"Years ago, R. G. Lee told a powerful story about a
mountain school that had a hard time keeping a teacher.
It seems there was a group of big, rough boys who took
pride in running the teacher off. The biggest and
roughest of them all was named Tom. 

"A new young teacher won over the boys, however, by
letting them write the rules for the school--which were
very strictly enforced with a rod. For example,
cheating would be punished with five strokes of the
rod, and stealing with ten strokes, both to be given
with the offender's coat off. 

"Everything went well until one day Tom's lunch was
stolen. A frail little boy in hand-me-down clothes that
were too big for him admitted his guilt. The school
rules demanded that he be whipped. When the teacher
called the little fellow up front, he came whimpering
and begging to leave his coat on. The pupils insisted
he obey the rules and take off his coat. When he did, a
deathly silence settled over the room, for he had no
shirt on and his emaciated body looked like skin
stretched over bones. The teacher gasped and dropped
the rod. He knew he could never whip that little boy. 

"Suddenly, big Tom strode up and stood between the two.
'I'll take it for him, Teacher, for after all it was my
lunch he stole.' He shrugged out of his coat. 

"At the third blow the switch broke, and the teacher
threw it in the corner and said, 'That's all, school
dismissed.' 

"The frail little boy laid his hand on big Tom's arm
and through his tears said, 'Thank you, Tom, it would
have killed me.'"2

And that's exactly what Jesus did for you and me when
He died on the cross on Good Friday some 2000 years
ago--He took your and my punishment for all our sins so
we could be freely forgiven and given God's gift of
eternal life. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have eternal life." Do you believe that Jesus died
for your sins and, if so, have you accepted God's full
and free pardon? You can do that right now by praying
the following prayer: 

"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry
for all the wrongs that I have done and sins that I
have committed. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ,
died on the cross to pay the just penalty for all my
sins. Please forgive me. I invite You, Jesus, to come
into my heart and life as my Lord and my Savior. I
commit and trust my life and way to You. Please give me
the desire to be what You want me to be, and to do what
You want me to do. Thank You for dying for my sins, for
Your free pardon, for Your gift of eternal life, and
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus’s name, amen." 

If you prayed this prayer, please let us know by going
to: http://tinyurl.com/pgntm or for further help read:
“How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. John 3:16 (NIV).
2. Cited on www.sermons.com  

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

A Cry for Help  "When he [the blind beggar] heard that it was Jesus of
Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me!'"1

Clark Strand, a former Zen Buddhist monk, shared how
"two years ago, on board a midday flight out of
Memphis, Tenn., I suddenly found myself repeating the
words, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on
me!' 

"This would not have been remarkable had I been a
member of the Orthodox Church, which for more than a
millennium has used that prayer as its preferred method
of contemplation. For that matter, it would not have
been remarkable had I been a Christian of any kind. As
I was a Zen Buddhist who professed no belief even in
God, much less Jesus, it came as a bit of a shock. 

"I was on my way back from the bathroom when the plane
simply fell out of the sky. My feet kept lifting up off
the floor. I hung comically for moments on dangly
puppet legs, and then somehow I managed to make it back
to my seat. I had just buckled in when my wife turned
to me from across the aisle where she was sitting with
our two young children and said the four words no one
on an airplane ever wants to hear: 'Do you smell
smoke?' It was the moment we've all imagined. You look
forward and backward into the faces of the other
passengers (complete strangers, all but a few) and read
there the selfsame thought: 'So this is what it means
to die.' 

"Miraculously, just minutes later we were back on solid
ground. The plane, as we later found out, had developed
an electrical fire in the control console, and the
pilot, not knowing how long he could steer it, had
descended as fast as he could, driving her for all she
was worth, covering the 25 minutes back to Memphis in
just under 10 minutes flat. 

'When all seemed lost, it wasn't Mu I had cried out, or
even Buddha, but of all things, Jesus--in spite of
everything else I had ever believed or done. 

"Only later that night in the hotel room, with the
children in bed, did I remember the moment during the
flight when my spiritual life had taken a 180-degree
turn and, as it were, headed back to port."2

Need I say more? 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me not to wait until
I am in the midst of a life-threatening crisis to call
on You to have mercy on me and save me. Help me to do
that right now. And whenever I am in a crisis of any
kind, grant that my cry for help will always
automatically ascend to You. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer--and that You always do when I cry
to You for help. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."NOTE: If you have never prayed and asked God to
have mercy on you, please click HERE for "God's
Invitation." 
1. Mark 10:47 (NIV).
2. Clark Strand, a former Zen Buddhist monk, "At the
Root of It All."<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Wonderful or Wonder-empty  

"Behold, You [God] desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom."1 

Some people you meet are very warm, genuine and
connected. Others seem to be cold and distant. Their
life seems rather flat line, dull, and even boring. I'm
not talking about times of sickness, sadness or sorrow
but this is how they are much or most of the time. 

Why are some people like the latter group? One of a
number of reasons is because they are repressed in
their emotional life. Chances are that they grew up
with a sense that emotions--especially negative
emotions--were not acceptable, so they learned early in
life to bury and deny them. Or they may have been hurt
deeply as a child and found that they had to stuff
their emotions in order to survive. It may sound crude
but it is a fact of life that the stuff we stuff stuffs
up our lives. This can cause all sorts of emotional,
physical, relational and/or spiritual problems.

Emotions are God-given and are a vital part of a
healthy, mature life. We are not talking about
emotionalism which is a cover of true emotions. We are
talking about being connected to our inner self and
being in touch with all of our God-given emotions. If
my emotions are buried and I am disconnected from them
and my inner self, I cannot be truly connected to
anyone else or to God at any kind of intimate level. At
best, my relationships will be very shallow. 

Furthermore, when emotions are repressed, instead of
life being wonder-full, it may be wonder-empty. As such
I will characteristically be bored with life.

If one’s life is wonder-empty, how do we overcome? How
do we get connected to our inner self? In younger days
my emotions were very much buried. I was doing all the
right things outwardly but inwardly I felt very empty
and, among other things, was disconnected to my emotion
of wonder. Much of this was caused by growing up in a
very dysfunctional family. I was taught that you
couldn’t trust your emotions, but my life was so empty
that I got down on my knees and asked God to give me my
emotions back anyhow. Whew, God answered in a way that
was the exact opposite of what I expected. My world
fell apart. I was rejected by the most important person
in my life and felt torn apart. But this was the
beginning of getting in touch with all my emotions and
my inner-self and learning to live and love again. 

It took a long time and a lot of counseling but I can
truly say that life for me has never been better. I am
physically healthier than I was at half my age and my
life is filled with love, loving relationships, and
fulfillment.

Apparently Renoir, the famous artist, kept painting in
his older years even though he was in great physical
pain. In relating to Renoir’s suffering his friend,
Matisse, said to him, "Why do you keep painting when
you are in so much pain?" to which Renoir replied, "The
pain passes but the beauty remains!" And so it is with
us, if we commit and trust our life to God and ask Him
to confront us with our reality so that we become fully
connected to our inner self, we may go through some
very painful experiences (that are often needed to
break through our defenses) but, in time, our pain will
pass but the beauty of our life will last forever. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in keeping with Your
desire please help me to be connected to my inner self
and always be honest with myself and with You, and thus
grow up into the fullness of my salvation. Thank You
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

1. Psalm 51:6 (NASB).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com


ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Strength out of Weakness  

"But He [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for
you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."1 

I read a few years ago the story of a 10-year-old boy
who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had
lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
 
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo
master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't
understand why, after three months of training, the
master had taught him only one move.
 
"Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be
learning more moves?"
 
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only
move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not
quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the
boy kept training.
 
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his
first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily
won his first two matches. The third match proved to be
more difficult, but after some time, his opponent
became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his
one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success,
the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent
was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a
while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned
that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a
time-out. He was about to stop the match when the
sensei intervened. "No," the sensei insisted, "let him
continue."
 
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a
critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the
boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match
and the tournament. He was the champion.
 
On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every
move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the
courage to ask what was really on his mind: "Sensei,
how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
 
"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First,
you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws
in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for
that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
 
“The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest
strength."2

Hmmm … very interesting. When it comes to life, for
some folk their biggest strength becomes their biggest
weakness. For example, as Jesus said about the wealthy
man, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God."3 The eye of the needle was
referring to a door in the wall of the city (as it was
commonly called) which was too small for a camel to go
through, meaning that it was impossible for a person
who trusts in his riches--or his fame, personality,
power or position--to get into God’s heaven.

On the other hand, when we acknowledge our weaknesses
and know that we need to depend on God for guidance,
wisdom, discernment, and deliverance from
temptation--this can become our greatest strength.
 
Suggested prayer, "Dear God, please deliver me from the
sin of pride and help me always to  remember to be
dependent on You for guidance, wisdom, direction, power
to overcome temptation, and for my eternal salvation.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1.  2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).
2. Thought for the Day, by Alan Smith,
http://www.tftd-online.com.
3.  Matthew 19:24 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Strength out of Weakness  

"But He [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for
you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."1 

I read a few years ago the story of a 10-year-old boy
who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had
lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
 
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo
master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't
understand why, after three months of training, the
master had taught him only one move.
 
"Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be
learning more moves?"
 
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only
move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not
quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the
boy kept training.
 
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his
first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily
won his first two matches. The third match proved to be
more difficult, but after some time, his opponent
became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his
one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success,
the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent
was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a
while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned
that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a
time-out. He was about to stop the match when the
sensei intervened. "No," the sensei insisted, "let him
continue."
 
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a
critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the
boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match
and the tournament. He was the champion.
 
On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every
move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the
courage to ask what was really on his mind: "Sensei,
how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
 
"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First,
you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws
in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for
that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
 
“The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest
strength."2

Hmmm … very interesting. When it comes to life, for
some folk their biggest strength becomes their biggest
weakness. For example, as Jesus said about the wealthy
man, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God."3 The eye of the needle was
referring to a door in the wall of the city (as it was
commonly called) which was too small for a camel to go
through, meaning that it was impossible for a person
who trusts in his riches--or his fame, personality,
power or position--to get into God’s heaven.

On the other hand, when we acknowledge our weaknesses
and know that we need to depend on God for guidance,
wisdom, discernment, and deliverance from
temptation--this can become our greatest strength.
 
Suggested prayer, "Dear God, please deliver me from the
sin of pride and help me always to  remember to be
dependent on You for guidance, wisdom, direction, power
to overcome temptation, and for my eternal salvation.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1.  2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).
2. Thought for the Day, by Alan Smith,
http://www.tftd-online.com.
3.  Matthew 19:24 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Discovering God's Will for You  

"I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is
within my heart."1

How do you know what God's will is for you? Or how will
you know if you are called of God? 

Brent Porterfield, quoting from Frederick Buechner's
book, Wishful Thinking, provides an answer well worth
pondering. Buechner "says that a good rule for finding
one's vocation is this: Our special mission in our life
is usually one of the following: 

   A. That which we'd love most to do and
   B. It is work that the world most needs to have
done. 

"Buechner says that if we really get a kick out of our
work, we have probably met requirement A, but if that
work is writing TV deodorant commercials, chances are
we haven't met requirement B. If our work is being a
doctor in a leper colony, we probably have met
requirement B, but if most of the time we are bored and
depressed by doctoring, chances are we have not only
bypassed A, we probably aren't helping our patients
much either. 

"Buechner concludes: 'The place God calls us to, is the
place where our deep gladness and the world's deep
hunger meet.'"2

Oswald Chambers described God's call this way: "The
call of God is like the call of the sea to the sailor.
Only he who has the nature of the sea within can hear
the call." 

Like a born-sailor who never rests until he answers the
call of the sea and launches out into the deep, when
God's Word is written in our heart, neither will we
find rest until we do what we know in our heart what it
is that God wants us to do. And when we answer that
call, we too, like King David, will delight in God's
ways and doing His work--no matter how humble or noble
that may be. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have a
plan and purpose for every Christian, and that includes
me. Like David of old, please give me a love for Your
Word and Your ways so that I, too, will know and
delight in doing Your will and answering Your call on
my life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Psalm 40:8 (NASB).
2. Brent Porterfield, www.eSermons.com.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Encourage One Another  

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other
up, just as in fact you are doing."1

King Duncan writes about Larry Doby who was one of
baseball's finest hitters. He is well known by baseball
fans because he was the first African-American to play
for an American League team. "The year was 1947. Doby
was a promising rookie for the Cleveland Indians but he
didn't look very promising his first time at bat. He
was tense and nervous. He swung at three pitches,
missed each of them, and struck out badly. He didn't
get within a foot of the ball. Slowly he walked to the
dugout with his head down. He sat on the very end of
the bench and rested his head in his hands. 

"A player by the name of Joe Gordon was on that same
Cleveland team. Joe was an outstanding second baseman.
He batted right after Doby. Gordon had a good record
batting against the pitcher who was on the mound that
day. But something quite extraordinary was about to
happen. Joe Gordon went up to the plate and missed
three pitches in a row--each of them by at least two
feet. He walked slowly to the end of the bench and sat
down next to Larry Doby. Then Joe Gordon slowly put his
head in his hands. 

"Did Joe Gordon strike out that day deliberately? We
will never know. However it is interesting to note that
every time Larry Doby went out on the field from that
day on, he first picked up Joe Gordon's glove and
tossed it to him."2

One would suspect that Joe Gordon probably did strike
out deliberately. Good for him if he did. Sad to say
there are some people in the church who are threatened
by anyone who might be able to do something better than
they can do or gain a little more recognition, so they
underhandedly seek to block them at every turn. Think
of how the religious people of Jesus's day treated Hm?
They were so green with envy, they eventually had Him
crucified. 

But thank God for the "Joe Gordons" who have the gift
of encouragement and exercise it generously! Let's all
encourage someone today. It could make a great
difference in their life--perhaps for eternity. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the many
people who have encouraged me along the way … have
cheered me on when I was dragging my feet … and lifted
me up when I have fallen. Please help me to do the same
for others. And above all, thank You for Your unfailing
faithfulness to and everlasting love for me, even when
I have been at my worst. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV).
2. King Duncan www.sermons.com 

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Strength out of Weakness  
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [my
problem] away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on
me."1
In his book, Confidence, Alan Loy McGinnis talks about
a famous study entitled "Cradles of Eminence" by Victor
and Mildred Goertzel, in which the family backgrounds
of 300 highly successful people were studied. Many of
the names of  those in the study were well known to
most of us--including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen
Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi,
Einstein, and Freud, all of whom were brilliant in
their fields of expertise. 
The results of this study are both surprising and
encouraging for many of us who came from a
less-than-desirable home life. For example:
"Three-quarters of the children were troubled either by
poverty, by a broken home, or by rejecting,
over-possessive or dominating parents.
"Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16
of the 20 poets came from homes where, as children,
they saw tense psychological drama played out by their
parents. 
"Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or
crippled limbs characterized over one-quarter of the
sample." 
These people who had confidence in their abilities and
put them to creative use all have had more weaknesses
and handicaps than many who have a lack of confidence
because of low self-esteem. So, what made the
difference? Probably by compensating for their
weaknesses they excelled in other areas. 
One man reported, "What has influenced my life more
than any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I
not stammered I would probably have gone to Cambridge
as my brothers did, perhaps have become a don and every
now and then published a dreary book about French
literature." The speaker who stammered until his death
was W. Somerset Maugham, as he looked back on his life
at age 86. 
"By then he had become a world-renowned author of more
than 20 books, 30 plays, and scores of essays and short
stories." 
Speaking personally, I too came from a psychologically
distraught, dysfunctional family. What made the
difference for me was a deep sense of God's call and my
faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ (with a lot of
hard work and growth). However, I tremble to think
where I would have ended up had it not been for my
Christian faith and practice. 
It's not what we have or don't have that matters in
life but what we do with what we have--and what we do
about facing and resolving our issues. It is very
important that we don't allow our past to determine our
future and that we use what we have to the best of our
ability. 
As another has wisely said, "I may have been a victim
in the past but if I remain a victim, I am now a
willing volunteer." And another, "Hope for the future
gives us power in the present!" No matter what our
background, when we commit and trust our lives daily to
God, we can and do have hope for the future. It's up to
us what we do in the present to resolve our past and to
become what God wants us to be in the future. 
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to see all that
You envision for me to become and do and that, with
Your help, I can become and do. Help me to realize that
I don't have to allow my past to determine my future,
and help me to face and resolve every issue in my past
that might be holding me back in any way. And above
all, thank You that when I daily commit and trust my
life and way to You, You help me to turn my weaknesses
into strengths. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."
1. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV).
<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
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  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Lest I Make a Mistake  

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises
again…."1

Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in
construction. On a construction site in which I was in
charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was
scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me
when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who
never made a mistake never made anything!" 

What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven!
Then we set about to correct my mistake. 

I think it was the late Robert Schuller who said, "A
high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he
reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we
too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling
our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.


In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our
failures than we do through our successes. The
important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from
our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As
another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime." 

I appreciate the words of the poet who said, 
I would rather stumble a thousand times
Attempting to reach a goal,
Than to sit in a crowd
In my weather-proof shroud,
A shriveled and self-satisfied soul.
I would rather be doing and daring
All of my error-filled days,
Than watching and waiting, and dying
Snug in my perfect ways.
I would rather wonder and blunder,
Stumbling blindly ahead,
Than for safety's sake
Lest I make a mistake
Be sure, be safe, be dead.2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to see Your plan
and purpose for my life, and with Your help, make a
total commitment to fulfilling it. Help me to learn
from my mistakes and never give up. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's
name, amen."

1. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).
2. Author Unknown

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Blow Upon Blow  

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our
Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have
been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come
praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."1

Jim Rohn says, "You can cut down a tree with a hammer,
but it takes about 30 days. If you trade the hammer for
an ax, you can cut it down in about 30 minutes. The
difference between 30 days and 30 minutes is skills."2

You could also put it this way: You can cut down a tree
with an axe in about 30 minutes, with a chain saw in
about five--so having the right tools for the job is a
big help too!

On the other hand, it may take 30 years or more to
replace that tree. So we need to be extremely careful
before we start cutting down anything of value as we
may never be able to replace it. Like blow upon blow of
a sharp axe, blow upon blow of cutting words can hurt
deeply, ruin a marriage, severely damage a friendship,
and destroy the self-concept of a child! 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, grant that my speech and
my conversation will always be seasoned with grace and
truth, and never be used to chop or cut anyone down.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus's name. Amen." 

1. James 3:8-10 (NIV). 
2. Cited on "Quotes From the Masters."

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Are You Jesus?  

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who
is the Spirit."1

Some time ago I read how "a group of salesmen went to a
regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured
their wives that they would be home in plenty of time
for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets
and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently
kicked over a table which held a display of apples.
Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking
back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for
their nearly missed boarding.

"All but one…. He paused, took a deep breath, and
experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose
apple stand had been overturned.

"He told his buddies to go on without him, told one of
them to call his wife when they arrived at their home
destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then
he returned to the terminal where the apples were all
over the terminal floor.

"He was glad he did.

"The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly
crying, and helplessly groping for her spilled produce
as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no
one to care for her plight.

"The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up
the apples, put them back on the table and helped
organize her display. As he did this he noticed that
many of them had become battered and bruised; these he
set aside in another basket.

"When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and
said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the
damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her
tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil
your day too badly."

"As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered
blind girl called out to him, 'Mister….' He paused and
turned to look back into those blind eyes. She
continued, 'Are you Jesus?'

"He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly
he made his way to catch the later flight with that
question burning in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?'"2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I am available, please use
me to be 'as Jesus' in some way today to every life I
touch, and grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will
want You for themselves. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

Note: If you have never committed your life to Jesus
Christ and would like to do that, be sure to read the
article, How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian. 

1. The Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
2. Author unknown.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Feelings  

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach
me wisdom in the inmost place."1

Some years ago I recall visiting the Moody Institute of
Science and putting on a special pair of eye lenses
which turned everything upside down. It was a weird
feeling. Dr. Moon, the director of the institute, in an
experiment wore these special lenses for something like
2-3 weeks (if I remember correctly) without opening his
eyes without these funny looking lenses. He wore black
eye patches when he went to bed to sleep. 

When he stopped using these special lenses, an amazing
thing had happened, his brain had made a radical
switch, and now everything he saw was upside down. It
took 2-3 weeks for his vision to come back to normal. 

In a broader sense, life is like that: if I
consistently do wrong when I know better, and don't
live the life I believe to be right, my mind will in
time (be it ever so slowly) do a radical switch and I
will end up unhappily believing the life I am living to
be right. I will cut off my feelings, justify my
behavior, and end up with what the Bible calls a dead
conscience--a dangerous path to follow. 

One could rightfully call this spiritual leprosy of the
soul. It is commonly thought that leprosy causes a
stricken individual to lose body parts. What happens is
that leprosy causes the loss of physical sensitivity
and feeling. Lepers lose fingers, toes and feet because
they no longer feel pain to protect their wounded limbs
and eventually body tissues are damaged beyond repair. 

When we deny our true feelings and deaden our
conscience, we no longer feel the pain of guilt or
godly sorrow. In so doing we distance ourselves from
God and are no longer aware of our need for His
forgiveness or our need for His gift of eternal life.
Deadening our conscience is a deadly way to live--and
extremely deadly for eternity. 

The only way back is the path of truth. That is, to
admit to ourselves what we have done regardless of how
we feel or no longer feel, confess our sinfulness to
God, ask for His forgiveness, believe that God gave His
Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for all our sins, and
accept Jesus as our Savior. 

For further help, be sure to read the article, “How to
Be Sure You’re a Real Christian" at:
www.actsweb.org/articles.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please confront me with
the truth about me. Help me to see any and every area
in my life where I have denied the truth and hidden any
sins and faults so that I can come to You, confess my
sins, and ask for and receive Your forgiveness and the
gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. Psalm 51:6 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Be Angry--Sin Not  

"In your anger do not sin."1

In one church where I was teaching I stated that it was
okay to be angry. One lady was absolutely amazed. She
could hardly believe her ears. She told me that she had
been taught all her life that Christians never get
angry. So she had reasoned in her mind: "Christians
never get angry. I'm always angry. Therefore I can
never be a Christian!" 

That night she was freed from 20 years of anguish and
received assurance of her salvation. She was indeed a
Christian because she had received Jesus as her Savior.
But she had never understood that anger is amoral; that
is, of itself it is neither right nor wrong. It's what
we do with it and how we handle it that matters. The
Bible actually teaches, "Be angry--sin not."

Anger itself (not rage, hostility, or bitterness) is a
God-given emotion. Its purpose is to fight evil and
right wrongs--to bring about change for good where
change is needed. This is how Florence Nightingale used
her anger. She was angry at the way wounded soldiers
were being treated, or rather, being mistreated, so she
did something about it. We are meant to use our anger
in the same way.

The reality is that everybody gets angry at one time or
another. Some people bury and deny theirs while others
lash out and hurt others. Neither of these is healthy,
right, nor Christian.

When expressing anger, we need to own it as our own,
and remember that the biblical principle is to speak
the truth in love. One way to do this is to say
something like, "I know my feelings are my
responsibility, but I feel angry and need to talk to
you about such and such." 

Never say to a person, "You make me angry" This is
because nobody can make me angry without my permission.
All others can do is trigger my anger, but the anger is
mine. And it is always my responsibility to handle and
express it in helpful and not in hurtful ways. 

Unfortunately, however, when we have a lot of
bottled-up anger or anger from the past that has never
been faced and resolved, our "anger button" can get
triggered very easily and we then overreact. What the
other person does to me is their issue; how I feel and
react is always my issue and my responsibility. To the
degree that I overreact that is always my problem. 

One of the great needs (at least in our Western
society) is to learn to identify our feelings--positive
and negative--to be honest about them, and learn how to
handle them in creative, rather than destructive, ways.
Until we do this, we have little chance of developing
wholesome and intimate relationships. 

As the Bible teaches, "If you are angry, don't sin by
nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you
still angry--get over it quickly, for when you are
angry [and don't resolve it] you give a mighty foothold
to the devil."2 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the gift of
feelings. Please help me to be in touch with all of
mine, be honest with them, and when expressing them,
help me to always speak the truth in love.3 Thank You
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus's name. Amen." 

For more on anger, click on "Taming Your Anger" at:
www.actsweb.org/articles. 
 
1. Ephesians 4:26 (NIV).
2. Ephesians 4:25-27 (TLB), (NLT)
3. Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

AAAhhhhhhhhh!  

"Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God
and get away with it. You will always reap what you
sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful
desires will harvest the consequences of decay and
death. But those who live to please the Spirit [of God]
will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."1

You've undoubtedly read about the father and son who
were hiking in the mountains, but it stands repeating.
You may have had the same experience as they had. 

As they were walking along the son falls, hurts
himself, and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!" 

To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating,
somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!" 

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" 

He receives the answer: "Who are you?" 

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!" 

He receives the answer: "Coward!" 

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?" 

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" 

The voice answers: "I admire you!" 

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!" 

The voice answers: "You are a champion!" 

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. 

Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but
really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you
say or do. 

How true this is. Our life is pretty much a reflection
of our actions. If you want more love in the world,
create more love in your heart. If you want more
competence in your team, improve your competence. This
relationship applies to everything in all aspects of
life--life will give you back everything you have given
to it. 

Your life is not a coincidence. It is a reflection of
you.2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to always remember
that I will reap what I sow, so help me God to sow
seeds of love, joy, peace, beauty, kindness, courtesy,
and wonder and reap a multiplied harvest of the same.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT).
2. Author Unknown. From the Internet.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Character Counts  

"Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of
Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always
striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading]
that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear
conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual
growth], convinced and fully assured in everything
willed by God."1

A psychologist once noted three tests of a great
character: The capacity for great love; the capacity
for great enthusiasm; and the capacity for great
indignation. To which I would add a fourth: The
capacity for great integrity. 

First, the capacity for great love. No matter how
successful we might be in the eyes of the world or how
rich in material possessions, life--without love--is
empty and meaningless and chances are that we will die
long before our time. It may not be the most desirable,
but we can live without romantic love, but we cannot
live meaningfully or healthily without at least one
loving relationship. Every person needs to know that
they are loved, wanted, and needed by at least one
other person. 

Second, the capacity for great enthusiasm. The word
enthusiasm comes from the prefix, "en" meaning "in" and
the Greek root, "theos" meaning "God". In other words,
genuine and lasting enthusiasm is that which has its
roots en-theos; that is, in God. It has been said that
love makes the world go round; but it really is love
with enthusiasm that does this and, in turn, achieves
the noblest things in life for the benefit of mankind. 

Third, the capacity for great indignation. So many ask
or wonder how can a God of love become so indignant and
angry? If God didn't become indignant and angry at sin
and evil--which is totally destructive to those whom He
loves (us)--He wouldn't be God. He would be some kind
of spineless being at best and some kind of a demon at
worst. Also, if you and I don't get indignant and angry
at sin and evil, we don't really care for or love
righteousness. It isn’t possible to have one without
the other. There are many things in life that we need
to get indignant and angry about. In other words, we
need to love the things God loves and hate the things
that God hates. While God hates sin He loves the
sinner. We need to do the same.

And fourth, the capacity for great integrity. Integrity
means that we keep our word and do what we say we are
going to do, that we have high moral and ethical values
and live by them, that we live in harmony with the laws
of God and the laws of the land unless to do the latter
would defy the laws of God. 

I've borrowed today's title, "Character Counts" from
Michael Josephson, of Character Counts. However, the
character that really counts for both time and eternity
is character that has its roots in God. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to so live that
when I come to the end of my journey here on earth may
it be said of me: 'He/she was a man/woman of character
whose life reflected the Spirit of Jesus in all that
he/she did and said.' Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. Colossians 4:12 (AMP).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Commitment Contradiction, Part II  

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the
word but does not do what it says is like a man who
looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at
himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like."1

Could you imagine what our society would be like in the
West if we took away all the churches? And while I am
tremendously thankful for all the good work that
Christian churches have done--building schools,
hospitals, homes for the aged, overseas missions and
mission centers for the downtrodden, and numerous other
social works--it would appear that, in the average U.S.
church today, fewer than 10 percent of the people are
doing 90 percent of the work. 

Here's the rub with many of today's Christians, at
least in the United States. As George Barna, well-known
research specialist, calls it: "The Commitment
Contradiction." 

Following is what Barna’s research found: "One reason
why many evangelical churches across the nation are not
growing is due to the image that non-Christian adults
have of evangelical individuals [Christians]. In a
nationwide survey released by the Barna Research Group
of Ventura, California, among a representative sample
of people who do not consider themselves to be
Christian, the image of 'evangelicals' rated tenth out
of eleven groups evaluated, beating out only
prostitutes. Not good.

"Various studies conducted by Barna during 2002 ...
revealed that less than half of the people who describe
themselves as Christian also described themselves as
'absolutely committed to the Christian faith.' Less
than one out of every ten regular attendees of
Christian churches give 10%--a tithe--or more of their
income to their church."2

Tragically, instead of giving God of our first-fruits,
most of us who call ourselves Christian give God our
leftovers. Giving through tithes and offerings is God's
way to finance his work on earth. If every Christian
tithed their income and gave offerings--and invested
these wisely in God's work, God's work would be done on
earth. The hungry would be fed. The homeless would be
sheltered. The cold would be clothed. Worldwide
missions would flourish--and everyone in the world
would be given the gospel. 

Furthermore, the average church in America gives only
5% of its income to missions, spending 95% on itself.
Certainly we need buildings but I struggle with
multi-million dollar sanctuaries that are used only a
few hours a week--a practice that very few--if
any--secular business could justify. 

As Barna also noted, "The persecution delivered by the
[9-11] terrorist attacks has produced no increase in
spiritual practices, such as attending worship
services, reading the Bible, praying, or serving the
needy. Giving levels actually decreased last year."3

With terrorism on the increase throughout the world and
the likelihood of it increasing even more, we
Christians in America and the West need a Great
Spiritual Awakening before it is too late. For eternal
vigilance is still the price of freedom. 

And while we know that the only hope for any kind of
lasting peace in the world is by turning our lives over
to the Prince of peace--the Lord Jesus Christ, unless
we practice and live what we say we believe, we will
not make any significant impact on the non-believing
world. Furthermore, we will not stem the tide of evil
and terrorism, and we will not help make our world a
safer place in which to live for our children or our
children's children. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, may we Christians in the
West and in the U.S. in particular stop taking our
incredible freedoms for granted, and never forget that
these were bought with a price--the blood of servicemen
and women who gave their lives to protect us. And
remind us again of how greatly You have blessed us
because of the faith of so many of our founding fathers
who put their trust in You and gave You reverence and
honor. And may we repent of our sins, turn back to You,
and become serious about our commitment to You and to
our fellow man. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. James 1:22-24 (NIV).
2. Barna Research Online www.barna.org.
3. Ibid.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Commitment Contradiction, Part I  

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and
doesn't do it, sins."1

Have you ever noticed that God doesn't worry about
being politically correct? Today's politically
"correct" society has all sorts of fancy watered down
names for sin. We call a lie a fib (or “I misspoke"),
adultery an affair, abortion a viable means of birth
control, homosexuality an alternate lifestyle, etc.,
etc. But God doesn't beat around the bush. Sin is sin
is sin. To call poison by any other name would be
deadly. To call sin by any other name is also deadly.
If we do what we know is wrong, we sin. And if we know
to do good, and don't do it, we sin. 

While I would disagree with a Buddhist monk on many
issues, I totally agree with his statement when he
said, "To know and not to do is not yet to know." 

To translate that into our Christian terminology it
could be: "To believe and not to act is not yet to
believe because I only truly believe that which
motivates me to action." Thus the Buddhist monk was
right on when he said, "To know and not to do is not
yet to know." 

If I say I am a follower of Christ and don't do
anything to help the poor, feed the hungry, care for
the downtrodden in my community and in other parts of
the world, nor support missions and those spreading the
gospel, then I am not a follower of Jesus regardless of
what I say I am. What I say is meaningless unless it is
backed by my actions. 

Every one of us can do something to be “as Christ" to
somebody. Even if we are bedridden, we can still
communicate Christ's love to those who are ministering
to us through a grateful and loving spirit, and we can
pray for these nurses and doctors, and for those who
are on the front line of action for Christ. 

Thus, to know and not to do is not yet to know; or to
believe and not to act is not yet to believe, for I
only truly believe that which motivates me to action. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a
'doer' of Your Word and not just a talker about it. And
please help me always to be faithful in being 'as
Jesus' in some way to every life I touch, ministering
to people at their point of need, and then
communicating Your love and the gospel message with
those who are lost and in need of the Savior. Thank You
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

1. James 4:17 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Gift of Encouragement  

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another--and all the more as you see the
Day approaching."1 

As a boy he worked long hours in a factory in Naples.
He longed to be a singer, and when he was only ten
years old, he had his first voice lesson. "You can't
sing. You haven't any voice at all. Your voice sounds
like the wind in the shutters," his teacher said. 

The boy's mother, however, disagreed. She believed that
he had a talent to sing. Though very poor, putting her
arms around him, she said, "My boy, I am going to make
every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons." 

Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid
off. That boy became one of the world's greatest
singers--Enrico Caruso!

We all need encouragement! We all--including, and
especially our children--need someone to believe in us.


As the Bible also teaches, "Encourage one another
daily."2 Note that it says daily! So let's be sure to
encourage someone today--and every day for the rest of
our lives. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for all the
people who, over the years, believed in and encouraged
me to achieve something worthwhile with my life. Help
me also to be an encourager to every person You bring
into my life--and especially to my loved ones. Thank
You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

1. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV).
2. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV).

<:((((><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Selective Attention  

"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to
hear? And don't you remember?"1 

The story is told of a man who once bought a new radio,
brought it home, and placed it on the refrigerator. He
then plugged it in, turned it to WSM in Nashville (home
of the Grand Ole Opry), and proceeded to do the most
unusual thing. He pulled all the knobs off! He had
already tuned in to all he ever wanted or expected to
hear, and so he chose to limit his radio reception to
one station. 

"Most unusual," we call it. But is it? Really? Many, if
not most of us, if we will be honest, do the same thing
in principle. Maybe not with our radios but we surely
do with our lives.

We all have what the communicators call selective
exposure, selective attention, selective comprehension
or perception, selective distortion, and selective
retention. That is, people expose themselves only to
messages they want to receive; hear only what they want
to hear; perceive or see things the way they want to
see them; twist and distort messages to match their
preconceived perception of reality; and they remember
only what they want to remember. Everything else is
filtered or blocked out. 

In other words, we hear, see, accept, remember, and
apply only that which we want to hear, see, accept,
remember and apply. Furthermore we believe only what we
want to believe--and for many of us we choose to
believe that which is convenient--regardless of its
moral or lack of moral value. For instance, people
accept abortion on face value because it is convenient.
They accept abnormal, immoral sexuality because it,
too, is convenient. And they reject God because, more
often than not, they don't want to change their
lifestyle and be accountable, much more than for any
intellectual reason. 

As I've said before, if we don't live the life we
believe, we will end up justifying and believing the
life we live--a very dangerous, self-deceptive, and
self-destructive path to follow. 

God's laws, all of them, are for our safety,
protection, and survival. They are as universal as the
law of gravity which holds the universe together. We
can't break the law of gravity. If we defy it, it will
break us. Or rather, we will break ourselves trying to
defy it. It's the same with God's moral laws. We can't
break them either. They, too, are universal. If we defy
them, it isn't God who will punish and break us, but
rather we will punish and break ourselves trying to
defy them. If we used our God-given intellectual
reasoning we would understand this. But we don't reason
this way--we reason to find ways to justify what is
most convenient for us at any given moment. 

How soon we forget that "blessed is the nation [and
individual] whose God is the Lord!" And as Jesus said,
"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to
hear? And don't you remember?" 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, open my eyes and give me a
listening, receptive heart so that I will see, hear,
obey and live according to Your words of eternal
life....Thank You for these words and for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. Jesus in Mark 8:18 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Making Your Life Count  

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your
might."1

You may have read about the thirty-eight-year-old
scrubwoman who would go to the movies and sigh, "If
only I had her looks." She would listen to a singer and
moan, "If only I had her voice." 

Then one day someone gave her a copy of the book, The
Magic of Believing. She stopped comparing herself with
actresses and singers. She stopped crying about what
she didn't have and started concentrating on what she
did have. She took inventory of herself and remembered
that in high school she had a reputation for being the
funniest girl around. She began to turn her liabilities
into assets. When she was at the top of her career,
Phyllis Diller made over $1 million a year. She wasn't
good-looking and she had a scratchy voice, but she
could make people laugh.2

Everybody is good at something ... even the person who
said he was a good example of what not to do! 

Seriously, what is it you like to do best? Even if it
is only one talent, start putting it to good use
today--right now. And then get the training you need to
sharpen that talent and ask God how you can use it to
serve Him and help others so you can make your life
count for something worthwhile. 

Don't wait for opportunities to fall into your
lap--they may or may not come. Make your own
opportunities. If you find a need, meet it. If you find
a hurt, heal it. 

With God's help you, too, can make your life count for
something truly worthwhile for time and eternity. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, again today I commit and
trust my life and way to You. What can I do for You
today? I'm available; please make me usable and use me
to help a wounded soul along the way, to bring a smile
to a saddened heart, to give comfort to a lonely child,
encouragement to a struggling teen, a sandwich to a
hungry man. Whatever it is, please use me today to be
'as Jesus' to every life I touch. Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV). 
2. Rick Warren, Making Your Life Count for Eternity.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.