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firstIMPRESSIONS
What makes the difference between a winner and loser? Often times one thing: Persistence! Persistent people begin their success where most others quit. One person with commitment, persistence and endurance will accomplish more than a thousand people with interest alone. The Bible says “Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (CEV) What are three keys to success? Persistence: The more diligently we work, the harder it is to quit. Persistence is habit; so is quitting. Performance: Never worry about how much money, ability or equipment you are starting with. Just begin with a million dollar’s worth of determination. Consider the postage stamp. Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to something until it gets there. Patience: In the Far East, the people plant a tree called the Chinese Bamboo. During the first four years they water and fertilize the plant seemingly with no results. Then the fifth year they again apply water and fertilizer – and in five weeks’ time the tree grows ninety feet in height! The obvious question is did the Chinese Bamboo Tree grow ninety feet in five weeks or did it grow ninety feet in five years? The answer is: it grew ninety feet in five years. Because if at any time during those five years the people had stopped watering and fertilizing the tree it would have died. There are many times that our dreams and plans do not appear to be succeeding. We are tempted to give up and quit trying. Instead, we need to continue to water and fertilize those dreams and plans, nurturing the seeds of the dream and vision God has placed within us. Because we know that if we do not quit, if we display perseverance and endurance, we will also reap a harvest. (Galatians 6:7) Remember – It is not what you have, it is what you do with what you have that makes all the difference! Don’t Give Up!!! Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.22. Live for God, on purpose, never quitting and never giving up! |
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More than forty years have come and gone since those third grade experiences I had. And, although my writing today bears little resemblance to my elementary school papers, it was the discipline of following those guidelines that enabled me to learn to write correctly. Similarly, there are guidelines that we need to follow as Christians if we are to maintain an effective and fruitful life. If we deviate from the guidelines given to us, then our life tends to unravel around us. But, if we follow the guidelines, we are assured that we will have a great life! The Apostle Paul outlines seven key guidelines for us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. This Sunday morning, we will examine this passage as we learn “Guidelines for a Great Life.” Be sure to join us! (top)  The Law of Reciprocity!
“Give, and it shall be given unto you.” – Luke 6:38 Mother Teresa wrote: ‘One night a man came to our house and said, “There’s a family of eight children who haven’t eaten for days”. I took some food and went to see them. When I got there I saw the faces of little children disfigured by malnutrition. There was no sadness there, just the pain of hunger. I gave a sack of rice to the mother. She kept one half and went out carrying the other. When she came back I asked, “Where did you go?” She answered, “To my neighbors, they’re hungry also”. I wasn’t surprised that she gave, the poor are usually very generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we’re suffering we’re so focused on our own problems that we have no time for others’. That’s the law of reciprocity! It teaches you that: 1. You can give your way to great blessing. 2. What you do for others determines what God does for you. 3. Your gift is the key to your future, but you must be willing to give it. from The Word for Today, May 31, 2007; www.thewordfortoday.com.au (top)  The Bible and Cell Phones
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? This is something to make you go... hmm... where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think “where are my priorities?” And no dropped calls! (top)  The Master’s Voice
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27 During the mid-twentieth century, one of the most recognizable brand icons in America was a dog sitting in front of an old-time gramophone, head cocked, listening to the sound. That iconic image, owned by the RCA Victor record company, was taken from a painting by English artist Francis Barraud. The dog, Nipper, had been owned by Barraud’s brother who had recorded his voice on early phonograph records. After the brother died, Barraud inherited Nipper and the gramophone and records. Whenever the records with Nipper’s master’s voice were played, the dog would sit in front of the gramophone listening to his master’s voice. That’s a beautiful image of the relationship between Jesus Christ and us. He has gone away from earth, so we can no longer hear His physical voice. But we sit in front of His Word, and kneel before Him in prayer, and listen for our Master’s voice. The Bible was given to be the voice of the Lord until He returns, and prayer is how we confirm what we believe He has spoken to our hearts. How easily can you pick out the Master’s voice from all others? Listening for the Master’s voice is a sign of loyalty and longing-an indication that we are eager to hear and obey. from Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Today’s Turning Point” daily devotional of May 30, 2007. www.TurningPointOnline.org (top)  Post Modernism
by Richard Innes “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32 Sometimes I have a difficult time trying to understand the spirit of our age that has been described by some as a day of postmodernism. But what is postmodernism? The following insights by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr., in their book, “20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists,” help me to understand a little of what is happening in today’s secular world. And to help understand postmodernism Boa and Bowman summarize the major characteristics by using the acrostic P-O-S-T. P – Power Controls Knowledge: “According to postmodernists, all knowledge is political. That is, what people believe is shaped largely by their relationship to the political powers that govern the institutions (such as schools and churches) through which knowledge is transmitted.” O – Objectivity Is Dead: “Different cultures, different religions, and other types of communities have different perspectives that give them their identity. Postmodernists contend that these different perspectives should be celebrated and preserved, not challenged or critiqued.” S – Science Constructs Models; It Does Not Describe Reality: In contrast to science being an understanding of the world as it really is “Thomas Kuhn’s 1962 landmark book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions itself led a revolution in science... Kuhn has convinced a generation that science cannot and need not seek truth; its goal is rather an understanding of nature that meets the needs of the scientific community and of the larger society. Such a view of science, of course, implies that scientific theories are now to be assessed partly in terms of how well they support the values of those who pursue science.” T – Tolerance, Not Truth, Is Absolute: “The postmodernist understands tolerance to mean accepting people’s different beliefs and therefore refraining from criticizing or even disagreeing with those beliefs. Postmodernists are especially bothered by claims that a particular religious or ethical belief is the truth that all people ought to accept. Rather than examining such claims to see whether they hold up in light of the facts, postmodernists dismiss such claims as arrogant, narrow-minded, and intolerant.” Tragically, if we don’t correct course, postmodern political correctness will ultimately destroy us. Without access to the truth there is no reality, no freedom, no sense of direction, and no hope of salvation for mankind. No wonder so much of today’s world is floating in a sea of mass confusion. While we don’t agree with postmodernism, we do need to understand its basic tenets so we don’t get sucked into its empty, meaningless void. Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me discern the difference between what is truth and what is meaningless rationalization used to justify what postmodernists want me to believe. Help me always to base my beliefs on principles that are found in, and/or in harmony with, Your eternal Word, the Bible. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.” as seen in Richard Innes’ “Daily Encounters.” © Copyright 2007 ACTS International. Visit them online at http://www.actsweb.org. Work cited is “20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists,” by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr., Victor, Cook Communications Ministries, Colorado Springs, Colorado. p. 18-19 (top)  I Know Who I Am
I am God’s child (John 1:12) I belong to God! Do you know who you are!? (top)  Problem With Our Pews
A potentially dangerous situation has developed in the church sanctuary. The pews, which are as old as the church, have begun to dry out. This loss of moisture, and the subsequent loss of weight, has led to the distinct possibility that they might float free. This presents the possibility that during worship, a free-floating pew could damage a member or guest. Further, it is believed that even if a member or a guest were able successfully to dodge an oncoming free-floating pew, the evasive action would certainly disrupt the spiritual tranquility of the worshipping dodger. The problem was brought before a committee in the latter part of last year. The committee first considered using steel cables to anchor the pews to bedrock, which is 247 feet beneath the church. After receiving the cost estimate of $14,912.77 and extensive consultations with engineers, this idea was abandoned. The committee, after deliberating, decided that adding weight to the pews would be a better solution to the problem. The committee considered using brass scrap or lead ingots but they proved to be too expensive. Pig iron was found to be cheaper, but it, like brass and lead, had a certain lifeless quality. The committee searched for a medium density object which was both sparkling and vibrant. After sifting through all of the possibilities, the committee has opted to use warm bodies to weigh down the pews, and the committee is asking the membership to provide the necessary weight. This can be done by coming to church and, if possible, by bringing a medium density object (in the form of a friend or neighbor) with you. as seen in Rocky Henriques’ “The Timothy Report,” www.timothyreport.com, from May 28, 2007 (top)  The Last Impression...
Lesson to be learned from typing the wrong email address: A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel plans. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email. Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband’s funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: To: My loving wife Subject: I’ve arrived I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. sure is hot down here! By the way, every week after sending out firstIMPRESSIONS, I usually receive a notice that a dozen or so emails have “bounced,” with a note that says “no such user at this domain.” If you change email addresses, be sure to let us know so that you don’t miss any future issues! Also – in seven years of sending out firstIMPRESSIONS, we have never missed a single Friday. If you ever do not receive your issue, then there is most likely a problem with your email address receiving firstIMPRESSIONS. Looking forward to seeing many of you here at WFA this Lord’s Day as we share communion together, and worship our Lord Jesus Christ! See you then! |
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Yours for HIM, |
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Why is a bulldog’s nose slanted backwards? John Mason, in his book “The Enemy Called Average,” has a chapter entitled “The Nose of the Bulldog is Slanted Backward so He can Continue to Breathe Without Letting Go!”
Do you remember when you were first learning how to write? I surely do. The third grade teacher gave us specially lined paper – special because it had horizontal lines, in groups of three, down the entire length of the paper. The top and bottom line of each group of three lines was thick, while the center line was thinner and fainter.
We were given the instructions on how to form each letter, and then had to carefully draw each letter over and over again, practicing making the letters go all the way to the top line, or stopping at the faint center line. To do well, it was very important to stay exactly in the lines on the page.
