Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful, analysis and would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl shoul d pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
'Oh, how clumsy of me,' she said. 'But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.'
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY?
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think. Start your day with this thought provoking story and have a fruitful day.
Have a week filled with positive thoughts and sound decisions.
May God grant us the wisdom to think outside the box. True wisdom comes only from Him, no matter how learned we think we are.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Faced problem? Then we solve it together
My first appraisal in this company is very much different from the previous appraisal I experienced. Most of the time managers or bosses will just comment on your performance and pointing out the areas that you need to improve.
This time, my new boss asked a few questions, “How are you doing in the company?” “Any areas you feel that the company needs to improve”, and “Are you happy working in the company?”
In the end we asked him whether he has any comment on us.
His answer was simple. ‘This is an appraisal, and appraisal is meant to appreciate, not comment or complain on each others performance.’
He told us his experience during his fresh while dealing with 2 workers in a factory. He was not happy with the workers because they didn’t do a good job and didn’t really respect him. He complained to other departments, and what he found is that everyone is facing the same problem. One day, a friend came to him and said, “No matter how good or how bad your worker is, at least they get the job done.” He added, “You are the supervisor, when they face problem, it is your responsibility to help them.” “When they get the job done, appreciate them.”
As an engineer, we faced problems everyday. There are problems not only on the technical side, but also the human management side. When somebody did something wrong or forgot of something, we tend to blame or argue with that person. So, instead of wasting those times arguing, why not we face the problem, and solve it together?
Let us help and support each other, no matter what circumstances.
God bless.
This time, my new boss asked a few questions, “How are you doing in the company?” “Any areas you feel that the company needs to improve”, and “Are you happy working in the company?”
In the end we asked him whether he has any comment on us.
His answer was simple. ‘This is an appraisal, and appraisal is meant to appreciate, not comment or complain on each others performance.’
He told us his experience during his fresh while dealing with 2 workers in a factory. He was not happy with the workers because they didn’t do a good job and didn’t really respect him. He complained to other departments, and what he found is that everyone is facing the same problem. One day, a friend came to him and said, “No matter how good or how bad your worker is, at least they get the job done.” He added, “You are the supervisor, when they face problem, it is your responsibility to help them.” “When they get the job done, appreciate them.”
As an engineer, we faced problems everyday. There are problems not only on the technical side, but also the human management side. When somebody did something wrong or forgot of something, we tend to blame or argue with that person. So, instead of wasting those times arguing, why not we face the problem, and solve it together?
Let us help and support each other, no matter what circumstances.
God bless.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A Peaceful Morning
I woke up this morning
I felt strings of music flowing through my body
So peaceful…
It was the Holy Spirit
God wants to tell me something
God wants me to lay down all my burden, and to spend more time seeking Him.
His love cleanses me.
My sins have been forgiven.
The past will no longer hunt me down.
Because He will always be with me.
My soul has been restored, my life has been renewed.
I find peace and joy.
Thank you Jesus, for you never forsake me.
You pulled me out of my misery.
And continue to mold me to become a better person.
So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20
Let's get started again...
I felt strings of music flowing through my body
So peaceful…
It was the Holy Spirit
God wants to tell me something
God wants me to lay down all my burden, and to spend more time seeking Him.
His love cleanses me.
My sins have been forgiven.
The past will no longer hunt me down.
Because He will always be with me.
My soul has been restored, my life has been renewed.
I find peace and joy.
Thank you Jesus, for you never forsake me.
You pulled me out of my misery.
And continue to mold me to become a better person.
So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20
Let's get started again...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Discipline of Marriage
Marriage, for men, is not just for self gratification, having kids or to satisfy sexual needs. In order for men to have a successful marriage, one needs to have:
1. Sacrificial Love :
‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.’ Eph 5:5.
Are you willing to love with a willingness to sacrifice, even unto death?
2. Sanctifying Love
‘ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blamnless.’ Eph 5: 26-27.
Loving your spouse is not to love her as a saint, but as a sinner.
3. Self Love
‘Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.’ Eph 5:28.
In other words, she is me.
Marriage is the second most important relationship in your life. In fact, the relationship with God comes first. If you can’t build a strong relationship with God, do you think you can handle marriage?
Pray that God will guide us.
1. Sacrificial Love :
‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.’ Eph 5:5.
Are you willing to love with a willingness to sacrifice, even unto death?
2. Sanctifying Love
‘ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blamnless.’ Eph 5: 26-27.
Loving your spouse is not to love her as a saint, but as a sinner.
3. Self Love
‘Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.’ Eph 5:28.
In other words, she is me.
Marriage is the second most important relationship in your life. In fact, the relationship with God comes first. If you can’t build a strong relationship with God, do you think you can handle marriage?
Pray that God will guide us.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
作丈夫
作一个顺服的妻子固然不容易, 作一个丈夫的显然更难...
爱妻子的丈夫，
- 能够负起责任来，
- 能够保护，
- 能够安排，
- 能够预备，
- 能够供给，
- 能够在家庭里作头
神分派一个男人就要作男人，
- 他要爱，
- 他要主动，
- 他要负起家庭的责任来，
- 他要安排家庭里一切的事情。
神爱一个男人作男人。
反过来说，神恨一个男人像女人那样。
http://www.cc1w.net/nituoshen/33.jidutushenhuo/chapter27.html
爱妻子的丈夫，
- 能够负起责任来，
- 能够保护，
- 能够安排，
- 能够预备，
- 能够供给，
- 能够在家庭里作头
神分派一个男人就要作男人，
- 他要爱，
- 他要主动，
- 他要负起家庭的责任来，
- 他要安排家庭里一切的事情。
神爱一个男人作男人。
反过来说，神恨一个男人像女人那样。
http://www.cc1w.net/nituoshen/33.jidutushenhuo/chapter27.html
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
貪 念
来分享一篇很有意思的文章...
有兩個乞丐，每天同時經過一戶富貴人家。
這家的主人，每天丟銅板給他們， 比較高大的那位乞丐總是大聲喊著：
多謝主人！你真是仁心大愛，做好事，願你長命百歲，永遠健康！」
但是另外一位瘦削矮小的乞丐，只是輕輕地說：「感謝上主的恩典。」
這家的主人每天都丟銅板到窗外，而每天也同時飄來兩種感謝的聲音，
一個感謝他，另一個感謝主。
人起先不覺如何？漸漸地開始有一點不舒服，那種不舒服的感覺一直累積，
直到有一天，他想：
「奇怪！是我給他錢，他不謝我，卻去謝主，
我要給他一點教訓，讓他明白他應該謝的是我。」
主人到麵包店，叫師傅烤了兩條大小一樣的吐司，
將一條挖空塞了珍貴的珠寶，然後再把它封起來，
兩條麵包看起來完全一樣。
乞丐來的時候，他把那個普通的麵包交給瘦小的、只會感謝主的乞丐，
而把那條藏著金銀珠寶的麵包，交給高大、每天謝他的乞丐，
主人心想：「讓你知道，謝我跟謝主的差別在哪裡！」
那個高大的乞丐拿到麵包，覺得好重，
心想：「這麵包一定沒有發好，鐵定不好吃。」
他一向喜歡佔便宜，所以對矮小的乞丐說：「我這條吐司麵包跟你換好嗎？」
他沒說理由，瘦小個乞丐也沒有問，
心裡想著：「這應該也是主的安排！」就跟他換了；
第二天，那個瘦瘦小小的乞丐，就再也沒有來乞討了，
他決定回去看望他的爸爸媽媽，準備過另一種新生活，他好感謝主！
主人看到高大的乞丐又來乞討，就問：「你的吐司麵包吃完了嗎？」
胖胖高大的乞丐回答：「吃了啊！」
「啊！裡面的金銀珠寶呢？」主人問。
金銀珠寶？」乞丐這下才明白，吐司麵包的沉重是因為裡面包著珍寶，
他說：「我以為是發酵不好，所以把它跟我朋友的交換了。」
主人終於明白，感謝主跟感謝他的差別在哪裡了，
感謝他只是想貪求更好，而感謝主卻是怡然自得的無所貪念啊！
這是一篇很好的文章，不論你是否基督徒，都值得看一看！
我們認為是負面的事，神 卻有正面的回應。
你會說：「這是不可能的。」
神卻說：「凡事都能。」（路 18:27 ）
你說：「我太累了。」
神說：「我給你安息。」（太 11:28）
你說：「沒有人真正關心我。」
神說：「我愛你。」（約 3:16; 約13:34）
你說：「我支持不住了。」
神說：「我的恩典夠你用。」(林後12:9; 詩 91:15）
你說：「有很多事情，我不能解決。」
神說：「我必指引你的路。」(箴 3:5-6）
你說：「我不能作這事。」
神說：「你凡事都能作。」（腓 4:13）
你說：「我不能。」
神說：「我能夠。」（林後 9:8）
你說：「我不能原諒自己。」
神說：「我寬恕你。」（約壹1:9;羅8:1）
你說：「我應付不來。」
神說：「我會供應你的所需。」（腓4:9）
你說：「我很害怕。」
神說：「我賜給你的，不是一個膽怯的心。」(提後 1:7）
你說：「我經常憂慮和沮喪。」
神說：「將一切的憂慮卸給我。」(彼前5:7）
你說：「我的信心不夠。」
神說：「我所分給各人的信心，是我量度 過的。」（羅12:3）
你說：「我不夠聰明。」
神說：「我給你智慧。」（林前1:30）
你說：「我覺得很孤單。」
神說：「我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。」（來13:5）
請傳閱，或許今天正有人需要它！
這是一篇很好的文章，不論你是否基督徒，都值得看一看！
我們認為是負面的事，神 卻有正面的回應。
有兩個乞丐，每天同時經過一戶富貴人家。
這家的主人，每天丟銅板給他們， 比較高大的那位乞丐總是大聲喊著：
多謝主人！你真是仁心大愛，做好事，願你長命百歲，永遠健康！」
但是另外一位瘦削矮小的乞丐，只是輕輕地說：「感謝上主的恩典。」
這家的主人每天都丟銅板到窗外，而每天也同時飄來兩種感謝的聲音，
一個感謝他，另一個感謝主。
人起先不覺如何？漸漸地開始有一點不舒服，那種不舒服的感覺一直累積，
直到有一天，他想：
「奇怪！是我給他錢，他不謝我，卻去謝主，
我要給他一點教訓，讓他明白他應該謝的是我。」
主人到麵包店，叫師傅烤了兩條大小一樣的吐司，
將一條挖空塞了珍貴的珠寶，然後再把它封起來，
兩條麵包看起來完全一樣。
乞丐來的時候，他把那個普通的麵包交給瘦小的、只會感謝主的乞丐，
而把那條藏著金銀珠寶的麵包，交給高大、每天謝他的乞丐，
主人心想：「讓你知道，謝我跟謝主的差別在哪裡！」
那個高大的乞丐拿到麵包，覺得好重，
心想：「這麵包一定沒有發好，鐵定不好吃。」
他一向喜歡佔便宜，所以對矮小的乞丐說：「我這條吐司麵包跟你換好嗎？」
他沒說理由，瘦小個乞丐也沒有問，
心裡想著：「這應該也是主的安排！」就跟他換了；
第二天，那個瘦瘦小小的乞丐，就再也沒有來乞討了，
他決定回去看望他的爸爸媽媽，準備過另一種新生活，他好感謝主！
主人看到高大的乞丐又來乞討，就問：「你的吐司麵包吃完了嗎？」
胖胖高大的乞丐回答：「吃了啊！」
「啊！裡面的金銀珠寶呢？」主人問。
金銀珠寶？」乞丐這下才明白，吐司麵包的沉重是因為裡面包著珍寶，
他說：「我以為是發酵不好，所以把它跟我朋友的交換了。」
主人終於明白，感謝主跟感謝他的差別在哪裡了，
感謝他只是想貪求更好，而感謝主卻是怡然自得的無所貪念啊！
這是一篇很好的文章，不論你是否基督徒，都值得看一看！
我們認為是負面的事，神 卻有正面的回應。
你會說：「這是不可能的。」
神卻說：「凡事都能。」（路 18:27 ）
你說：「我太累了。」
神說：「我給你安息。」（太 11:28）
你說：「沒有人真正關心我。」
神說：「我愛你。」（約 3:16; 約13:34）
你說：「我支持不住了。」
神說：「我的恩典夠你用。」(林後12:9; 詩 91:15）
你說：「有很多事情，我不能解決。」
神說：「我必指引你的路。」(箴 3:5-6）
你說：「我不能作這事。」
神說：「你凡事都能作。」（腓 4:13）
你說：「我不能。」
神說：「我能夠。」（林後 9:8）
你說：「我不能原諒自己。」
神說：「我寬恕你。」（約壹1:9;羅8:1）
你說：「我應付不來。」
神說：「我會供應你的所需。」（腓4:9）
你說：「我很害怕。」
神說：「我賜給你的，不是一個膽怯的心。」(提後 1:7）
你說：「我經常憂慮和沮喪。」
神說：「將一切的憂慮卸給我。」(彼前5:7）
你說：「我的信心不夠。」
神說：「我所分給各人的信心，是我量度 過的。」（羅12:3）
你說：「我不夠聰明。」
神說：「我給你智慧。」（林前1:30）
你說：「我覺得很孤單。」
神說：「我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。」（來13:5）
請傳閱，或許今天正有人需要它！
這是一篇很好的文章，不論你是否基督徒，都值得看一看！
我們認為是負面的事，神 卻有正面的回應。
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Hold My Hand
Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.
This applies in our relationship with God as well. His hand is always there to assure our safety so that we won't fall into the river. On the other hand, are we ready to lend our hands to others who are in need?
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.
This applies in our relationship with God as well. His hand is always there to assure our safety so that we won't fall into the river. On the other hand, are we ready to lend our hands to others who are in need?
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