Though a");
document.writeln("righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.1
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document.writeln("In his book, Peak Performers, Dr. Charles Garfield describes how the");
document.writeln("astronauts keep their spacecraft on course:
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On their flights between earth and the moon, it was said, the Apollo ships");
document.writeln("were off course much of the time. In each instance, the spacecraft would wander");
document.writeln("off its path and the crew would correct, again and again. And do you know what?");
document.writeln("It did not matter. What mattered were the results. They got to the moon. They");
document.writeln("got home. They did it by having the discipline and knowledge to get themselves");
document.writeln("back on course. They followed not a perfect path, but a critical path.
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document.writeln("Whether we are shooting for the moon, seeking to achieve a better personal or");
document.writeln("family life, or seeking to obey and serve God, whatever our goals, the");
document.writeln("principle is the same. There are always unpredictable and unexpected events");
document.writeln("that call for change and adjustment. Although the astronauts had to be precise");
document.writeln("in their calculations, they still allowed for mistakes and corrections. The");
document.writeln("person who does not allow for such adjustments will probably not reach his or");
document.writeln("her goals. As Charles Garfield explained, the critical path is the way to reach");
document.writeln("our destination.
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document.writeln("As followers of Christ, we will stumble at times, make mistakes, fail, and wander");
document.writeln("off course. When we fall or wander, however, the important thing is to get up,");
document.writeln("correct our course, and keep going.
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document.writeln("Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you that you are always with me to guide and");
document.writeln("direct my life and correct any wrong or harmful turns that I might make. Give");
document.writeln("me the willingness and ability to admit when I wander off course and the wisdom");
document.writeln("to correct my path. Fulfill the plans you have for me, and use me for your glory.");
document.writeln("In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
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document.writeln("1. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).
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document.writeln("The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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