WISDOM 智慧
作弄聰明人
從前有一個掘金的人，他發現一個礦脈是在他居住的鄉鎮地底下。 但他對自己說：「如果消息傳出去，每個人就回去挖掘。」所以他就想了一個計畫。 他說：「傻瓜很容易騙過去，但這鎮上有許多聰明人，我要怎樣才能阻擋他們發現這金礦呢？」 不久後他想到一個巧計；他跑到隔州去買了一大塊黃鐵礦（假的金子），把它們分成一千塊，埋在他的鎮上、河川裡、溪谷間、任何一個可以想得到的地方。 然後他拿了一塊最大塊的跑到鎮上大街上叫著說：「我發現金子了，我發現金子了！」 這個在他的鎮上造成不小的騷動，接著成打的人潮拿著鑿子跟鐵撬出去。 幾天後，一百塊假金子被發現了，全鎮籠罩著極大的歡樂。 但是當人們將找到的金塊戴到鎮上的珠寶商處時，卻換來壞消息。『都是假的！』人們的心碎了，喜樂的心轉為愁苦。 但是鎮上的聰明人很謹慎，沒有那麼冒然，他們取笑鎮上的人。 然後，這個人開始策劃，他收購所有的假金子，也收購了所的鐵撬、鑿子跟設備。 每隔一段時間就有人拿真的金子給他，而不拿給鎮上的珠寶商。 鎮上的聰明人一聽到有假金子變成真金子的謠言就發出朝笑。 所以，他繼續挖金礦也作弄了聰明人和愚昧人。
To Fool a Wiseman
There once was a man who was digging for gold. And he discovered a large streak of gold, deep under his town. But he said to himself, “if word gets out about this, everyone else will grab it”. So he tried to devised a plan. “It’s easy to fool a fool”, he said, “I’ve done that many times, but there are many wise people in this town, how will I keep them from finding this gold?” After a while, he thought of an ingenious plan. He went across the state and purchased a large load of Iron Pyrite (fools gold). Then he then planted 1000’s of pieces all over his town, in rivers, creeks, gullies, and everywhere one could imagine. Then he took the largest piece and ran down the main street screaming, “I’VE FOUND GOLD, I’VE FOUND GOLD.” This caused quite a commotion in his little town, and soon dozens of people were out with picks and shovels. In a few days, 100s of pieces were found, and there was a great euphoria covering the town. But when people started taking their pieces to the town jeweler, he gave them the terrible news. “All FAKES.” The people were heart broken, their euphoria turned into gloom. But the wise people of the town, who were cautious and not so quick to rush in, they got a good laugh out of it. Then the man who devised the plan, slowly started to buy up all the fake pieces, all the Picks, shovels and other mining equipment. And every once in a while a real piece of gold would surface, but people would take it to him, instead of the town jeweler. And the wise people of the town would scoff whenever a rumor came up about real gold. So he continued to mine to gold in peace, fooling both the fools and the wise men.
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有兩個人走進了森林時，他們正好遇到熊。第一個人到達他的背包裡取出一對運動鞋。 “為什麼你會取出運動鞋﹖” 第二個人問道。 “你不可能跑得比熊快” ，“我不可能跑得比熊快，” 第一個人說回答 ，“ 我只須跑得比你快。”
Two men are walking in the woods when they come across a bear. The first man reaches into his knapsack and pulls out a pair of sneakers.“Why are you putting on sneakers?” asks the second man. “You can’t outrun a bear.”“I don’t have to outrun a bear,” said the first, “I just have to outrun you.”
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兩名政治候選人無意中被安排在一個細小的新英格蘭鎮公園參與競選集會。
在一論冗長的演講後，候選人走向人群，向他們握手，親吻嬰孩和心情非常愉快。
突然，天空打開了和開始下雨，其中一名候選人與若干的忠誠支持者逃到附近的一家餐館躲避。然而，另一名候選人，繼續向著人群移動--握手，親吻嬰孩等等。
「那個人是一個堅持的人」一個當地人注意到。 「很容易的肯定知道，投票時要投票給那一位。」「是」另一個當地人同意，「肯定不會看著自己投票支持給那個在雨外面沒有進來的沒腦傻瓜」。
Two candidates for political office inadvertently scheduled simultaneous campaign rallies in the same park of a small New England town.
After a lengthy round of speeches, the candidates worked their way through the crowd--shaking hands, kissing babies and beaming mightily.
Suddenly, the skies opened and it began to rain.
One of the candidates fled to take shelter in a nearby restaurant along with half a dozen regulars. The other candidate, however, continued to move through the crowd--shaking hands, kissing babies, etc.
“That man’s persistence,” observed one of the natives, “sure makes it easy to know who to vote for.”
“Yep,” another native agreed. “Sure can’t see myself voting for a moron who hasn’t the brains to come in out of the rain.”
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一個東方人一直夢想擁有自己的養牛場，最終在懷俄明州他有足夠的錢去購買並拓展自己夢想。
他就沖去拜訪他們好朋友，問說：「那牧場應起什麼名？」
被譽為新牛仔的朋友就說：「這是一個地獄的時刻，很難一致的。」我們終於定名為「雙R懶洋洋L三合一馬蹄鐵巴爾–7幸運鑽石牧場」。
「哇！」他的朋友感到深深的烙印就說：「牛在哪裡？」又說：「全都死在那烙印下！」
An Easterner has always dreamed of owning his own cattle ranch, and finally made enough money to buy himself the spread of his dreams in Wyoming.
“So what did you name the ranch?” asked his best friend when he flew out to visit.
“We had a hell of a time,” admitted the new cowboy. “Couldn’t agree on anything. We finally settled on the Double R Lazy L Triple Horseshoe Bar-7 Lucky Diamond Ranch.”
“Wow!” His friend was impressed. “So where are all the cows?”
“None of them survived the branding.”
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在1937年建築師法蘭克洛伊萊特為業希巴德約翰遜建成一所的房子。在一個雨茫茫的徬夜約翰遜款待了一些專貴的賓客來晚膳，但屋頂卻開始漏水。漏下來的水滴約翰遜的身上，而且準準的滴在他的禿頭上，他生氣了！他致電在亞利桑那州菲尼克斯的賴特。「法蘭克」他說：「我們非常喜歡你為我們所建的這好美麗的房子，但我想對你說，它漏水，正好在我和專貴的賓客面前，滴在我的頭上。」在所有客人都聽見下，賴特就回答說：「嗯！阿希，你為什麼不移開你的椅子？」
In 1937 architect Frank Lloyd Wright built a house for industrialist Hibbard Johnson. One rainy evening Johnson was entertaining distinguished guests for dinner when the roof began to leak. The water seeped through directly above Johnson himself, dripping steadily onto his bald head. Irate, he called Wright in Phoenix, Arizona. “Frank,” he said, “you built this beautiful house for me and we enjoy it very much. But I have told you the roof leaks, and right now I am with some friends and distinguished guests and it is leaking right on top of my head.” Wright’s reply was heard by all of the guests. “Well, Hib, why don’t you move your chair?”
Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, Jan, 1992, p.14.
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一個尋找智慧的找尋者，他花了三個星期，很困難的和極度疲勞的爬上一座高、很多岩石的山。到達了山頂，他找到了智者----年老的古魯(印度教的導師)。他問道：「智者，怎樣可以使我的生活更愉快﹖」 那智者回答：「首先，當您下次想要到這裡來，就到山的另一邊並且乘搭纜車。」
In a seeker’s search for wisdom, he spent three painful and grueling weeks climbing a tall, rocky mountain. At the peak, he found a wise, old guru and asked, “Wise Man, how might I make my life happier?”
The Wise Man responded, “To begin with, the next time you want to come up here, go to the other side of the mountain and take the tramway.”
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猶太教士和教士發生交通意外，而且是很嚴重的。兩車同時是全部毀壞，但是神職人員驚奇地沒有受傷。他們從車裡爬到車外面之後﹐猶太教士看見教士的衣領，並且說：「我是一個猶太教士，你也是一個教士；請看我們的汽車，沒有什麼可以保留的。但我們都沒有受傷，這一定是從上帝而來的一個標記。上帝一定意味我們在其餘的日子，應該見面和成為朋友，並且和平的生活在一起。」教士回答，「我完全同意你的意見，這一定是從上帝而來的一個標記。」
猶太教士繼續：「請看看這裡，這裡是另一個奇蹟。我的汽車全部毀壞，然而這瓶 ‘Mogen David’酒卻沒有打破，一定是上帝想我們喝這酒和慶祝我們的好運」，然後他將酒遞給教士。教士同意，並且大喝了幾口，並且將酒遞回給猶太教士。猶太教士立刻將瓶蓋蓋上和將它交回到教士的手中。教士問， 「你不喝一點嗎﹖」
猶太教教士回覆，「不了……我認為我都是等待警察到來。」
A rabbi and a priest get into a car accident and it’s a bad one. Both cars are totally demolished but amazingly neither of the clerics is hurt. After they crawl out of their cars, the rabbi sees the priest’s collar and says, “So you’re a priest. I’m a rabbi. Just look at our cars. There’s nothing left, but we are unhurt. This must be a sign from God. God must have meant that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace the rest of our days.” The priest replies, “I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God.”
The rabbi continues, “And look at this. Here’s another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of Mogen David wine didn’t break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune.” Then he hands the bottle to the priest. The priest agrees, takes a few big swigs, and hands the bottle back to the rabbi. The rabbi takes the bottle, immediately puts the cap on, and hands it back to the priest. The priest asks, “Aren’t you having any?”
The rabbi replies, “No...I think I’ll wait for the police.”
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Quotes引證 :
用自己的頭控制自己；用自己的心控制別人。
To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others use your heart.
智慧有兩個部份；一是說的很多，另一則是不說甚麼。
Wisdom has two parts: 1) Having a lot to say. 2) Not saying it.
有兩種聰明。一種是即時說出聰明的話語；一種是在當時不說任何話。
There are two kinds of cleverness. One consists of thinking of a bright remark in time to say it. The other consists of thinking of it in time not to say it.
你可以當一個傻子，但，不要作愚笨的人。機智和智慧往往在於看起來像傻子的人。
You may be an idiot, but try not to be stupid. The Wit and Wisdom of Forrest Gump
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WITNESSING 見證
愛得華.約拿單是普林斯頓第三任校長，該校有獨特的傳統，他也是美國一位偉大的思想家，有個不能控制脾氣的女兒。但，就像這個例子，這個毛病一向不為外人所知。一位有能力的年輕人愛上這個女兒並且試圖尋求與她結婚。愛得華.約拿單很快地回答這位年輕人說：「你不能與她結婚。」但，年輕人回答說：「但是我愛她」；愛得華.約拿單再次說：「你不能與她結婚。」這年輕人問：為甚麼？因為我女兒配不上你。這年輕人繼續問：但，她難道不是一位基督徒嗎？愛得華.約拿單回答說：是的，我女兒是個基督徒，但，神的恩典可以給一些人，卻不能叫某個人能夠活出這個恩典。
There is a tradition that Jonathan Edwards, third president of Princeton and one of America’s greatest thinkers, had a daughter with an uncontrollable temper. But, as is often the case, this weakness was not known to the outside world. A worthy young man fell in love with her and sought her hand in marriage. “You can’t have her,” was the abrupt answer of Jonathan Edwards. “But I love her,” the young man replied. “You can’t have her,” said Edwards. “But she loves me,” continued the young man. Again Edwards said, “You can’t have her.” “Why?” asked the young man. “Because she is not worthy of you.” “But,” he asked, “she is a Christian, is she not?” “Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 936)
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一個非基督教教會的律師出席了懷疑的服務，並聽取部分的證詞知道誰是他為自己的陰暗交易，未能滿足他們的誠實義務。 “你是怎麼想的證詞？”一個人問他在關閉該服務。他回答說：“請律師是有巨大差別的證詞和證據。
A non-Christian lawyer attended a church service and listened incredulously to the testimonies of some who were known to him for their shady deals and failure to meet their honest obligations. “How did you like the testimonies?” a man asked him at the close of the service. He replied, “To a lawyer there is a vast difference between testimony and evidence.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 937)
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正當一位陸軍救助隊長在倫敦海德公園傳講耶穌基督的福音時，一位男子從人群中打斷他的傳講，這位男子說，我們沒有反對拿撒勒的耶穌，但我們反對你這個基督徒；因為，你沒有提昇基督徒的美好榜樣（也許這位救助隊長沒有真正去幫助有需要的人）。
A Salvation Army captain was preaching in Hyde Park in London when a man in the crowd interrupted him. “We haven’t anything against Jesus of Nazareth,” he said, “but we have something against you Christians because you ain’t up to sample.”
(from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 939)
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一次一個聲稱是基督徒的人賣了一大捆很差的乾草給某上校 , 這上校曾責罵他 , 這位教會成員抱怨說 :「我也是一個士兵。」「你 !」上校厭惡地喊道 :
「你是那一類的士兵 ?」「我是一名十字架的軍兵。」the skinflint 說着用手做出厭惡誇張的動作。「這可能是 , 」上校說 : 「但是自從我認識你 , 你一直在休假。」
Once a professing Christian sold a bale of poor hay to a certain colonel who rebuked him, and the church member whined, “I am a soldier too.” “You!” exclaimed the colonel in disgust. “What kind of soldier are you?” “I am a soldier of the cross,” said the skinflint with a detestable flourish of the hand. “That may be,” said the colonel, “but you’ve been on a furlough ever since I knew you.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 940)
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羅伯史皮爾說：在領導基督徒工作30年後，在促進基督徒的進步上，有關於最大使命的問題，對基督徒群體而言，我做的是失敗的服事；這使我得到一個結論，也就是我要認罪悔改。
Robert E. Speer said: “After thirty years of leadership in Christian work, it is my conclusion and conviction that the greatest missionary problem is just the failure of Christian people to live up to their profession.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 941)
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就像一位基督徒警察在禱告會中的禱告一樣，他說：喔，主啊，在我們的臉上，賜給我們一張感動人的臉和表情，好叫我們執行勤務時，當面對這些有困難的人們時，他們願意面對我們，並且帶領他們願意尋求我們的協助。
Be like the Christian policeman who prayed at prayer meeting, “O Lord, put something in our faces as we walk about, that people in trouble may see and so be led to seek our help.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 917)
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世紀英國一位自然神論者，安瑟倫可林，有一天在散步時，遇見一位坦誠的鄉下男子。這位鄉下男子問他何時可以進教會認識真理。安瑟倫反問說：請問你在教會作甚麼？這位男子回答說：敬拜讚美神。安瑟倫又問：你所信的神是偉大的或是小的？男子回答說：這位神既是大也是小的神。安瑟倫在問說：這位神如何能既是大也是小呢？男子解釋說：先生，這位真神就算是天堂中的天堂也無法包含祂；並且，祂是如此的小，以致於祂可以居住在我心中。後來，這位不信的安瑟倫宣告說，從這位坦誠的鄉下男子所說的話裏，是最有效用的教導！是勝過反對他的那些有學問的醫生和作家們。這個單純的鄉下男子確實地，對真神有正確的概念，聖經中的神，是所有事物中，偉大的心靈；並且，耶穌基督可以居住在相信者的心中。
The famous English deist, Anthony Collins of the 17th century, met a plain countryman one day while out walking. He asked him where he was going. “To church, sir.” “What are you going to do there?” “Worship God.” “Is your God a great or a little God?” “He is both, sir.” “How can He be both?” “He is so great, sir, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him; and so little that He can dwell in my heart.” The unbeliever Collins later declared that this simple answer from the countryman had more effect upon his mind than all the volumes which learned doctors had written against him. This simple countryman had indeed the right concept of God, the God of the Bible, who as a spirit is the Creator of all things and yet indwells the heart of His believing creatures in the person of Jesus Christ. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 918)
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一位著名的無神論者曾經說過，“我能站在所有的爭論基督教辯護士，但我有一個小僕人誰是耶穌基督的門徒，和她的好，純潔，誠實，真實的生活，有時我蹣跚。”一個不可抗拒的論點為福音的實力是一個重生，奉獻人生是一個示範的生命基督。世界上的生命可能會錯過看到神的性質，但也不能錯過它在生活中看到的那些男人和女人誰擁有生命的基督。多麼美妙的想法知道，我們作為人類可以成為攜帶者的壽命，神與我們的生活可以成為反射的生命。
A famous atheist once said, “I can stand all the arguing of Christian apologists, but I have a little servant who is a disciple of Jesus Christ, and her good, pure, honest, truthful life staggers me sometimes.” The one irresistible argument for the gospel’s power is a regenerated, consecrated life which is a demonstration of the life of Christ. The world may miss seeing the life of God in nature, but they cannot miss seeing it in the lives of those men and women who have the life of Christ. What a wonderful thought to know that we as human beings can become the carriers of the life of God and our lives can become the reflectors of His life. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 919)
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一位偉大的佈道家莫雷坎尼說，基督徒是一個讓人容易相信神的人。因為你在他們當中出現時，對其他人來說，相信神是容易的嗎？又有一位偉大的科學家帕司科說：我看見基督所做的每一件事，都重複地發生在基督的跟隨著身上。並且其他的作者也說：假如你不能證明、見證你是有剛強地聖潔能力，不要強調在你的血管中，有忠誠的血統，不要強調你是神所生的，這些話都沒有益處。
Murray McCheyne, that great preacher, said, “The Christian is just a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.” Is it easy for others to believe in God because of your presence among them? And that great scientist Pascal said. “I saw that everything that came to pass in the life of Christ must be repeated in the lives of His followers.” And another author said, “Say not that you have royal blood in your veins, say not that you are born of God, if you cannot prove your pedigree by daring to be holy.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 925)
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在一個週日早晨，一位傳道者，注意到一位男士，出現在他主日最好的聚會。在週日傍晚，這位男子出現在服裝工作場所。這位牧者後來對這個男子說：你政要去工作嗎？他回答說「不是」，他接著說：但是，這個早晨有些事激動我去找尋我的兄弟。我知道他沒有週日服裝可以上教會，並且，我知道假如我穿上週日服裝之後，之後，他就不能來參加聚會了。所以，我為他穿上工作服裝，以便他能穿上週日的服裝，能出席主日聚會。
A preacher, one Sunday morning, noticed a man in the congregation in his Sunday best. In the evening that same man was there in working clothes. The preacher afterward spoke to him. “Are you going to work?” “No,” was the reply, “but this morning something was said that stirred me to go and seek my brother. I knew he had no Sunday clothes, and I knew he would not come if I put on my Sunday clothes. So I put on my working clothes for him, and here he is.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 926)
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一位小女孩，在孩子轉變的時期中，如同現在的情形，在浸信會教會體制中，不是禱告的主體。一位年長的女執事問這個小女孩說：在妳回答之前，現在，妳是一個罪人嗎？小女孩回答說：是的，我比以前更覺得自己是個有罪的人。那在妳身上，有怎樣的改變呢？這個女執事回答說：我不太能夠完全地說明這個改變，但，在犯罪之後，我習慣變成一位犯罪「空轉者」，叫所犯的罪像濃水一樣地流出來，現在，從罪惡中，我希望成為一位犯罪「空轉者」而不致真正去犯罪。
A little girl, in the days when the conversion of children was not the subject of as much prayer as now, applied for membership in a Baptist church. “Were you a sinner,” asked an old deacon, “before this change of which you now speak?” “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Well, are you now a sinner?” “Yes, sir, I feel I am a greater sinner than ever.” “Then what change is there in you?” “I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “but I used to be a sinner running after sin, and now I hope I am a sinner running from sin.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 927)
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一個意思是，世俗的陸軍中士被保存，這是他證明了他的戰友們：“有一個私人公司誰是轉換。我們給了那傢伙一個可怕的時間。一天晚上，他走了進來，從站崗，很疲倦，濕，睡前他跪祈禱。我想到了他在一邊的頭和我的靴子，他只是去與他的祈禱。第二天早上，我發現我的靴子邊打磨精美的床上。這是他回答我。它只是打破了我的心，我得救的那一天。“這真的是一個見證基督教忍耐。
A mean, worldly army sergeant was saved, and this was his testimony to his fellow soldiers: “There is a private in our company who was converted. We gave that fellow an awful time. One night he came in from sentry duty, very tired and wet, and before going to bed he got down to pray. I struck him on the side of the head with my boots, and he just went on with his prayers. Next morning I found my boots beautifully polished by the side of my bed. That was his reply to me. It just broke my heart, and I was saved that day.” That is really a testimony of Christian longsuffering. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 928)
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一位尋求基督信仰復興的婦女，在禱告時，跪在一位牧師面前，似乎有些事困擾她。這位牧者慈祥地問她說：這樣（指跪下禱告）是作甚麼呢？妳已經全人降服在神面前了嗎？這婦女啜泣地說：我試著降服在神面前。牧者再問：然後，會有甚麼事呢？她回答說：這就是基督徒對待我的方法。當我變成一個僕人時，我害怕我會失去在我家中的地位。這位牧者不以為然並且不等待地告訴我說：那就放棄這個地位，神將要賞賜其他更好的恩惠。因為，請妳想想，是誰為妳工作呢？這位婦女抬起頭說：是你，牧師。你是我們的救星！當這婦女抓住牧師，直到這一時刻，她沒有瞭解到，原來她並沒有降服在神面前，而是降服在人面前。
Once a clergyman knelt down by a young woman bowed in prayer who was seeking Christ at a time of revival. Something seemed to worry her. “What is it?” asked the minister kindly. “Have you surrendered your all?” “I have tried,” the woman sobbed. “What is the matter, then?” “It’s the way Christian people have treated me. I am afraid I shall have to give up my place in the family where I work as a servant. The man is so cross and impatient with me.” “Give it up then. God will supply something better,” said the minister. “For whom do you work?” The woman raised her bowed head. “For you, sir.” “It’s our June!” gasped the minister, not having realized who she was until that moment. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright # 930)
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曾經有一位商人，他是很世俗化又是個無神論者。他最後被神榮耀地更新了。在聚會中，被問到在他的轉變中有何特別之處，他回答說：我的一位職員就是最好的榜樣。他繼續說：這個年輕人是基督教信仰的典範，他所做的更勝過他所說的。這年輕人不是對跟隨者同時說出神的祝福與邪惡的話。當我說出誓言時，他沒有責備我，但，讓我深深地感覺到他的憂傷。當我陷入忿怒且激動的態度時，雖然他不說一句話，然而，我可以感受到他的哀傷之情。我敬重他能如此地引導我，在她出現時，以致我能克制自己，也逐漸地打破世俗化和無神論這兩個觀點。事實上，這個人，雖然沒有對有說出任何宗教教導的內容，沒有任何人像他一樣，對我有很好的支配影響力。感謝他的幫助，在神的帶領下，我現在有歡喜快樂是因藉著我們的主耶穌基督，能夠有永生的盼望。
There was once a merchant who had been a very worldly, godless man. He was finally gloriously converted. On being asked what had been especially the means of his conversion, he replied, “The example of one of my clerks.” He went on to say, “This young man was one whose religion was in his life rather than in his tongue. He did not bless God and speak evil of his fellowmen. When I uttered an oath, he never reproved me; but I could see it deeply pained him. When I fell into a fit of anger and behaved in a violent manner, though he spoke no word to that effect, I could see how painful the scene was to him. My respect for him led me to restrain myself in his presence and gradually to break off both these habits. In fact, this man, though he never spoke a word to me on the subject of religion, exercised an influence for good over me wielded by no other human being. To him, under God, I am indebted more than to any other for the hope of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ in which I now rejoice.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 908)
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我記得有一次我接受一位年青的傳道者的邀請 , 到他的教會講道。他說 :
「我還記得你很多年前在我父親教會傳道。我的母親已經工作了一夜 , 吃過晚飯後 , 你洗碗碟 , 我永遠不會忘記。我忘了你的講章 , 但沒有忘記你在我母親家裏洗碗碟。」
I remember at one time I received an invitation from a young preacher to speak in his church. He said, “I remember when you preached at my father’s church many years ago. My mother had worked all night, and after dinner, you did the dishes. I’ll never forget that. I forgot your sermon, but I haven’t forgotten your doing dishes at my mother’s home.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 909)
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在伊索寓言中，一位旅行者在一家旅店中，娛樂觀眾，由於他的表演令人驚奇而聲名遠播。他說：我曾經在羅茲表演。並且，羅茲那裏的人們，你們是知道的，是有名的跳躍。在一個院中，我完成了一項跳躍是沒有人能相提並論的。事實上，假如我在那裏的話，我可以證明給你們十個人看。有一位聽眾問道：我們需要到羅茲去見證你的跳躍表演嗎？只要想像你現在就在羅茲並且要表演你的跳躍給我們看就可以了。
In Aesop’s fables a traveler was entertaining some men in a tavern with an account of the wonders he had done abroad. “I was once at Rhodes,” said he, “and the people of Rhodes, you know, are famous for jumping. Well, I completed a jump there that no other man could equal within a yard. That’s a fact, and if we were there I could bring you ten men who would prove it.” “What need is there to go to Rhodes for witnesses?” asked one of his hearers. “Just imagine you are there now and show us your leap.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 912)
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有位宣教士向一群印度教婦女傳福音，他很驚訝地發現其中一位婦女站起來就走開。不久，她又回來，比之前更專心聽道。宣教士問她：「為什麼我才講到一半，妳就離開了？」那婦女說：「你說得那麼精彩，我感到很有興趣，因此我出去問問你的工人，看你的生活是否就像你所教的。他說是的，所以我回來，想聽更多有關於耶穌的事。」
A missionary who was speaking to a group of Hindu women was surprised to see one of them get up and walk away. Soon she returned and listened more intently than before. “Why did you leave in the middle of my message?” asked the missionary. “I was so interested in the wonderful things you were saying that I went to ask your servant if you live like you teach. He said you do. So I came back to hear more about Jesus,” said the woman. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 895)
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剛從印度回來的兩個人，正在談話。一位是運動員，另一位是宣教師。運動員說：我在印度25年，我從來沒有見到一位當地人能夠被改變，像你們基督徒所說的那樣。宣教師回答說：這是很奇妙的事。宣教師接著說：你見過老虎嗎？運動員回答說：好幾百次。並且，我射擊過牠們有12次。宣教師繼續說：然而，我在印度這麼多年，但，我從未見到一隻老虎。宣教師又說：但，在基督福音的權能下，我看見數百位當地人們歸向救主。正如你所看見的，一位是正在尋找老虎，一位是正在引領靈魂。
Two men returning from India got into conversation. One was a sportsman and the other a missionary. “I’ve been in India for twenty-five years, and I never saw one of the natives converted as you Christians claim,” said the sportsman. “That’s queer,” said the missionary. “Did you ever see a tiger?” “Hundreds of them,” was the reply, “and I’ve shot dozens of them.” “Well, I’ve been in India for many years,” said the missionary, “but I’ve never seen a tiger. But under the power of the gospel of Christ I’ve seen hundreds of the natives of India turn to the Savior.” You see, one was looking for tigers, the other was looking for souls. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 576)
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一位曾經批評慕迪為有關搶救靈魂的男子，來找他，慕迪有禮貌地聆聽並且問他說：那你要如何搶救靈魂呢？這個人，向後仰，支吾其詞地說他不能做搶救靈魂的事。慕迪回答說：很好，我喜歡這個搶救靈魂的方法，這個方法是你所不能做的。
A man came up to Moody once and criticized him for the way he went about winning souls. Moody listened courteously and then asked, “How would you do it?” The man, taken aback, mumbled that he didn't do it. “Well,” said Moody, “I prefer the way I do it to the way you don't do it.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 146)
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阿濟斯.聖法蘭西斯有一天對許多他的跟隨者說：讓我們走遍村莊去傳道。當他們走在路上時，他們遇見一個卑下的步行者，他背負極大的重擔。法蘭西斯不慌不忙地謹慎聽他訴說他哀傷的故事。
當到達村莊時，法蘭西斯告訴他的行裏看管同伴說：用一些時間和心思在水果和蔬菜攤裏，農夫們的身上，並且和小孩子們在街上玩。在回來的路上，他們遇見一位農夫$背負很重的乾草，法蘭西斯花時間和心思在他身上、關心他。早晨過去了，他們一行人回到從早出發的修道院。
一位跟隨者非常失望地問他說：法蘭西斯兄弟，你說你要去傳道，這整個早上已經過去了，可是卻沒有傳揚真道。聖法蘭西斯回答說：但，我已經用各種方法去傳揚真道了。
St. Francis of Assisi one day said to several of his followers. “Let us go to the village over the way and preach.” As they went, they met a humble pedestrian who was greatly burdened. Francis was in no hurry and listened carefully to his tale of woe.
When the village was reached, Francis talked with the shopkeepers, spent time with the farmers at their fruit and vegetable stalls, and played with the children on the streets. On the way back, they met a farmer with a load of hay, and Francis spent time with him. The morning gone, the group reached the monastery from where they had set out in the early morning.
One of the followers, who was greatly disappointed, said to Francis. “Brother Francis, you said you were going to preach. The morning is spent and no sermon has been given.”
And the saintly Francis replied, “But we have been preaching all the way.” (Tan #3104)
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On a dangerous seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving station. The station was just a hut with only one boat. But in it, a few devoted members kept watch over the ever-churning, turbulent sea. With little thought for themselves, they would go out day and night tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the lost. Many lives were saved by this brave little band. They faithfully worked together as a team both in and outside the lifesaving station. In time, it became quite a famous place.
Some of those whose lives had been saved, along with others along the seacoast, wanted to become associated with this little station. They were willing to give their time and energy in support of its objectives. New boats were purchased. New crews were trained. This little station that was once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant thus began to grow.
Some of its members were unhappy that the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided. So emergency cots were replaced with lovely furniture. Rough, hand-made equipment was discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut, of course, had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture, systems, and appointments. By the time it was completed, the lifesaving station had now become a popular gathering place, and its objectives began to shift. It was now used as a sort of clubhouse, an attractive building for public gatherings. Saving lives and feeding the hungry and strengthening the fearful and calming the disturbed rarely occurred by now.
Fewer members were interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professional lifeboat crews to do the work. The original goal of the station wasn’t altogether forgotten, however. The lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club’s decorations. In fact, there was a lifeboat preserved in the “Room of Sweet Memories” with soft, indirect lighting, which helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel.
About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the boat crews brought in loads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty. Some were terribly sick and lonely. Others were black and Hispanic and Middle Eastern and were “different” from the majority of the club members. The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered. A special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built “outside” and “away from” the club so victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up “before” coming inside the club. At the next meeting, there were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the members. Most of the people wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities altogether and place all involvements with shipwreck victims somewhere else. “It’s too unpleasant,” they said. “It’s a hindrance to our social life. It’s opening the doors to folks who are not ‘our kind.’” Well, as might be expected, some still insisted upon saving lives, that this was their primary objective. The only reason for existence was ministering to “anyone” needing help regardless of their club’s beauty or size or decorations. They were voted down. They were told, in fact, that if they still wanted to be involved in saving lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast! And so they did. As years passed, the new station experienced the same old changes. It evolved into just another club. And yet another lifesaving station was begun. History continued to repeat itself. And if you visit that coast today, you’ll find a large number of exclusive, impressive clubs along the shoreline, owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving of lives. Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved. Every day they perish at sea, and so few seem to care . . . so very few.
Quote from Charles R. Swindoll’s Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life in his book Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998, pp. 89-91.
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享受海底世界一天，一位潛水員正在海拔20尺以下享受着海底世界。他看見一個潛水與他一樣深的人，但卻沒有穿潛水套裝。那位潛水員再往下20尺，但那個人幾分鈡後也一樣潛到那裏。於是，那位潛水員再往下25尺，但那個人幾分鈡後也一樣潛到那裏。那位潛水員感到很納悶。因此，他便拿出防水的冩字板，寫道：”您是如何在沒有裝備下潛到如此之深的呢？”那個人拿起冩字板，擦掉潛水員所寫的，然後寫道：”我正溺水，您儍的嗎？”
One day a diver was enjoying the aquatic world 20 ft below sea level. He noticed a guy at the same depth he was, but he had on no scuba gear whatsoever. The diver went below another 20 ft, but the guy joined him a few minutes later. The diver went below 25 ft, but minutes later, the same guy joined him. This confused the diver, so he took out a waterproof chalk-and-board set, and wrote, “How are you able to stay under this deep without equipment?” The guy took the board and chalk, erased what the diver had written, and wrote, “I'M DROWNING, YOU MORON!!!”
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諾貝爾和平獎得主德蕾莎修女在印度加爾各達行善四十餘年，救助了無數貧病的窮人。她常在街頭把已奄奄一息的人帶回收容所，為他們洗身、餵飯，給他們一個乾淨的舖位，為他們禱告，往往這些被她救回來的人，第二天就在她的懷中離開人世。雖然如此，但她也遭到一些人的批評。有人說她的作法太過於消極，未徹底檢討當地所以貧病的根源，從根本改善，以致加爾各達仍到處是乞丐、窮人、流浪兒。對於這種批評，德蕾莎的回答是：「你聽過魚的故事嗎？很久以前，一個好心人在海邊救起一條奄奄一息的魚，將牠放回海邊，有人告訴他：『這樣做有什麼意義？你今天救了一條魚，明天海浪又會把好幾百條魚衝到岸上，結果還不是一樣？』那個人這樣回答：『對那條被我救起來的魚來說，結果完全不同，我救了牠！』」
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聖方濟會修道會的創辦人聖法蘭西斯﹐本出身富裕﹐21歲從軍時﹐看見路人貧病交迫﹐遍地痲瘋﹐神的愛與呼召臨到他﹐就拋棄財富﹐立志效法像基督一樣的愛人、謙卑、順服。他出外傳天國的福音﹐身上不帶錢﹐穿極簡樸的衣服﹔別人給他什麼食物﹐他就吃什麼﹐常與窮人住在一起。他最愛的就是窮人與自然﹐更愛神﹐生命充滿喜樂與美好的靈性。據說﹐他每逢走在街上﹐就算一言不發﹐臉上的笑容與光彩也使路人感動﹐主耶穌的榮光由他身上散發出來。有一天﹐聖法蘭西斯邀請一個年青修道士與他一起進城去講道。他們進了城﹐一面走一面談﹐穿過大街小巷﹐就回到修道院。年青的修道士問﹕「師傅﹐我們什麼時候講道呢﹖」他回答說﹕「我們已經講道了。我們在街上走的時候﹐就是在講道。人們看見我們﹐注意我們﹐談論我們的品行﹐所以我們已經講道了。年青人﹐我們走路的時候如果不是講道﹐那麼﹐即使我們到那裡講一篇道也是無益的。」
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在第二次世界大戰期間，信仰天主教的德籍夫婦奧斯卡辛德勒（Oscar Schindler）及其妻艾蜜莉說服並用金錢向德國納粹佔領軍，從波蘭的奧斯威茲（Auschwitz）集中營裡抽調了近千名猶太俘虜到他們在波蘭克拉科經營的工廠中工作，使得這些猶太人逃過死劫。1945年1月27日是奧斯威茲集中營獲救的日子，被救的猶太人們收集了所有人身上的金子，打造了一個戒指贈送給贖救他們的辛德勒。但辛德勒卻心地說：他恨不得有再多一點的贖金，那就可以再多救一個人了。那些猶太人們對辛德勒甚為感激，他們在戒指環上刻了一句希伯來經文：「拯救一個人的性命，就是拯救了整個世界。」1995年1月27日是這些猶太人獲救五十週年的紀念日，而這段事蹟不久前才剛被猶裔美籍導演史蒂芬史匹柏拍成電影《辛德勒的名單》。在這一個紀念日上，有許多猶太人來到奧斯威茲集中營悼念。據聞辛德勒死後葬在耶路撒冷，希伯來大學之紀念館內放著一本書和一份名單，就是當時辛德勒所贖救的猶太人名單。
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一個少年傳道師很傷心對一位老牧師說「唉，人心真硬! 昨天我在街上走，碰見一老年人背著一捆柴回去。我向他講道，勸他悔改信耶穌，靈魂得救，天父很愛你。可是老人好像不願意聽，說: 「神那裹愛我，像我這樣老人還要勞苦背柴! 」老牧師按著說: 「一點不希奇! 莫怪他不信你的話。」少年傳道驚問說: 「怎樣不希奇?我對他講的話完全是聖經的話，他不信豈不怪。」老牧師嘆「唉！假使你當時放下他的重擔，替他背柴使他安息，然後才對他講道，他就信了。因為他不只聽見神的愛，並且親眼看見神的愛在你身上表現出來。」（楊信德，《新約聖經一般故事講道集》）-----聖方濟會修道會的創辦人聖法蘭西斯﹐本出身富裕﹐21歲從軍時﹐看見路人貧病交迫﹐遍地痲瘋﹐神的愛與呼召臨到他﹐就拋棄財富﹐立志效法像基督一樣的愛人、謙卑、順服。他出外傳天國的福音﹐身上不帶錢﹐穿極簡樸的衣服﹔別人給他什麼食物﹐他就吃什麼﹐常與窮人住在一起。他最愛的就是窮人與自然﹐更愛神﹐生命充滿喜樂與美好的靈性。據說﹐他每逢走在街上﹐就算一言不發﹐臉上的笑容與光彩也使路人感動﹐主耶穌的榮光由他身上散發出來。有一天﹐聖法蘭西斯邀請一個年青修道士與他一起進城去講道。他們進了城﹐一面走一面談﹐穿過大街小巷﹐就回到修道院。年青的修道士問﹕「師傅﹐我們什麼時候講道呢﹖」他回答說﹕「我們已經講道了。我們在街上走的時候﹐就是在講道。人們看見我們﹐注意我們﹐談論我們的品行﹐所以我們已經講道了。年青人﹐我們走路的時候如果不是講道﹐那麼﹐即使我們到那裡講一篇道也是無益的。」
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錯誤的信息有位理髮師認為他應該與顧客多分享一些信仰的問題，所以隔天早上太陽上昇時，他便起床而自言自語地說「我今天要向我第一個進門的客人做見證。」他開店門不久，有位男士進來說「我要刮鬍子」。理髮師說，「好，請坐，我馬上來。」這位理髮師跑進去作一個簡短的禱告：「上帝！這位第一個上門的顧客我要給他作個見證，請祢賜給我智慧來向他說對的話，阿門！」然後這位理髮師一手拿着刮鬍刀，一手拿聖經走出來，並且說「先生早安，我問你一個問題，你是否準備好要死了？」
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Quotes引證 :
Preach the gospel at all times -- If necessary, use words. Saint Francis of Assisi
Evangelism without theology is weak, theology without evangelism is dead.
Our job, after all, is to spread the gospel, not to guess what might happen to those whom it never comes. J. I. Packer
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WORK 工作
A study by the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University shows that Premier League clubs with long-term managers are more successful than those who change their managers frequently. The study, which uses data from the inception of the Premier League in 1992 until 2004, focuses on the short-term and long-term impact of managerial changes in the top flight of English football.
The average tenure for a Premiership manager is now 1.38 years, compared to 3.12 years in 2002, with many departures attributed to the fear of relegation. September 5, 2009
"England FC managers being sacked - they face hardest time ever"
http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/9/5/sports/4656390&sec=sports
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Friday, August 21, 2009
We may feel, as a community, that we're putting in too much time in the office. But we shouldn't be the first to complain.
That honor belongs to Seoul, which averages the longest working hours among 13 Asian cities included in a UBS study.
Seoul workers log on 2,312 hours a year, beating us by 17 hours.
At least we're better compensated: Hong Kong wages are higher than Seoul's, although our workers only earn roughly half of those in Tokyo, whose residents are the highest paid.
We're also better off than Beijing and Taipei. In UBS terms, it takes a Hong Kong worker 14 minutes to earn enough to buy a Big Mac, against 20 minutes in Taipei and 44 in Beijing.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=21&art_id=86691&sid=25023170&con_type=1&d_str=20090821&sear_year=2009
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鐵路大門看守員要求每人入閘搭火車前出示車票。那些未能預備出示車票的人引起很多埋怨和咒罵。有一位看見這情況就對看守員說 :「你好像不迎合群眾。」他望上樓上一層 , 那裏有警察長的辦公室 , 並說 :「我並不關心任何是否迎合群眾 , 我只關心是否迎合我的上司。」
The gatekeeper at the railroad station demanded that everybody present his ticket before going through the gate to the train. From those who could not find their tickets readily there was much grumbling and swearing. One watching the scene said to the gatekeeper, “You don't seem to be very popular with the crowd.” He cast his eyes upward to the floor above, where the superintendent's office was, and said, “I don't care anything about being popular with this crowd; all I care about is to be popular with my superior.”
(from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 123)
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一個年輕人的父親對他不負責任的想法打分數，他的習慣是偷懶不切實際。這個老人寫上：「艱難的工作從來不會殺死人。」
這個年輕的說：「這是個麻煩，爸爸！我想要捲進一些有危險性的事情當中。」
---格特魯德司泰恩
A youth was being scored by his father for his flighty notions, his habit of shirking and general unreliability. “Hard work never killed anybody,” the old man added.
“That’s just the trouble, dad,” returned the youngster. “I want to engage in something that has a spice of danger in it.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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如果你是貧窮的工作。如果你有錢繼續工作。如果你是背負著看似不公平的責任的工作。如果你快樂靠右的工作。懶惰使空間的疑慮和恐懼。如果失望來的工作。如果悲傷壓倒你和親人的工作似乎並非如此。如果健康受到威脅的工作。當信仰滯後，原因失敗只是工作。當夢想破滅了，並希望似乎死的工作。如果你的工作，生活在危險之中。它確實是。不管你苦惱的工作。工作認真工作的信心。工作是最大的補救措施為身心痛苦。
If you are poor work. If you are rich continue to work. If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities work. If you are happy keep right on working. Idleness gives room for doubts and fears. If disappointments come work. If sorrow overwhelms you and loved ones seem not true work. If health is threatened work. When faith falters and reason fails just work. When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead work. Work as if your life were in peril. It really is. No matter what ails you work. Work faithfully work with faith. Work is the greatest remedy available for both mental and physical afflictions. Korsaren.
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“Work,” as Henry Drummond said on the death of his friend John Ewing, of Melbourne, “is given man, not only, nor so much, perhaps, because the world needs it, but because the workmen need it. Men make work; but work makes men. An office is not merely a place for making money; it is a place for making men. A workshop is not a place for making machinery only; it is a place for making souls, for filling in the working virtues of one’s life; for turning out honest, modest and good-natured men.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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WILLIE: “Paw, what is the difference between genius and talent?”
PAW: “Talent gets paid every Saturday, my son.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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The Years of Peak performance
Hard work is the trait all top stars have in common, but age is the wild card:
Track and field record breakers – 25 (at age of peak performance)
Major league baseball maps – 27
Chemists – 35
Economists – 36
Great inventions – 39
Economists -56
Philosopher – 64
Source: David w Galen son, Benjamin F Jones, Harvey C Lehman, Fortune 10/30/06
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「我要升職加薪。」一個人跟他的經理說。「有其他三間公司找我。」「如此是嗎﹖」經理要求。「是什麼公司在找你呢﹖」「電力公司、電話公司和煤氣公司」。
“I have to have a raise,” the man said to his boss. “There are three other companies after me.”
“Is that so?” asked the manager. “What other companies are after you?”
“The electric company, the telephone company, and the gas company.”
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一個新的受訓員想要一杯茶， 所以他撥了一個電話給配饍室但是撥錯了號碼。
當有人接聽時，他說：「請送一杯茶給我。」
電話另一邊的人說：「你知道你現在跟誰說話嗎？」
他回答：「不知道。」
那邊回答說：「你正與這個公司的董事說話。」
我朋友問：「你知道這邊是誰在說話嗎？」
那邊回答：「不知道。」
「謝謝！」他放下電話。
A new recruit wanted to have a cup of tea. So he dialed the number of the pantry but got the wrong one. When someone picked the phone he said “Please send me a cup of tea.”
“Do you know whom you are talking to ?” the other side asked.
“No.” he replied.
“You are talking to the director of this company.” the other side replied. Then our friend asked.
“Do you know who is talking on this side ?”
“No” the other side replied.
“Thanks.” And he put the phone down.
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一個年輕銷售員很失望，他失去一個很重要的銷售業務。 他與銷售經理討論這件事，年輕人聳聳肩說：「你能領馬到水邊，但不能叫他喝水。」。 經理說：「孩子，我給你一個建議：『你的工作不是叫牠喝水，是使牠口渴。』。
A young Salesperson was disappointed. He had lost an important sale. In discussing the matter with the Sales Manager, the young man shrugged. “I guess,” he said “it just proves you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.” “Son,” said the Sales Manager, “let me give you a piece of advice: your job is not to make him drink. It’s to make him thirsty.”
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辦公室時間表
9:00開始時間
9:15到達工作
10:00喝咖啡時間
11:00檢查電子郵件
11:30預備午餐
12:00午餐
2:00瀏覽互聯網
3:00小休
3:30檢查電子郵件
4:00準備回家
4:45回家
5:00完成時間
Office Timetable
9:00 Starting time
9:15 Arrive at work
10:00 Coffee break
11:00 Check e-mail
11:30 Prepare for lunch
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Browse the Internet
3:00 Tea break
3:30 Check e-mail again
4:00 Prepare to go home
4:45 Go home
5:00 Finishing Time
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兩位女士為到經營小企業的困難交換意見。 「我在上年開始了新的措施。」第一個女士說：「我堅持每一個雇員至少要每工作三個月就休息一星期。」「為什麼你要這樣做﹖」另一個問。她回答「這是一個最好的方法，讓我知道就算沒有他，工作也可以繼續的……」
Two women were comparing notes on the difficulties of running a small business.
“I started a new practice last year,” the first one said. “I insist that each of my employees take at least a week off every three months.”
“Why in the world would you do that?” the other asked.
She responded, “It’s the best way I know of to learn which ones I can do without.”
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一個愛爾蘭人誰具有了舒適的生活由他的頭部彎曲，彎曲他的膝蓋向英國國王看不起他的不富裕的同胞的智慧不小程度的蔑視。事有湊巧，他認為有必要越過邊界進入他共和國。在那裡，他來到一個國民在側面挖土豆的道路。
他的聲音，滴與不屑，嘲諷的奧蘭治，“如果你只知道討好國王，你就不必挖土豆。“
“先生，”國民黨均勻地答道：“如果你只學會了挖土豆，你就不會被動搖的國王！“
An Irishman who had acquired a comfortable living by bowing his head and bending his knee to the King of England looked down upon his less prosperous countrymen wit no small degree of contempt. It so happened that he found it necessary to cross the border into he Republic. There, he came upon a Nationalist digging potatoes at the side of the road.
His voice, dripping with disdain, the Orangeman jeered, “If you had only learned to flatter the king, you would not have to dig potatoes.”
“Sir,” replied the Nationalist evenly, “If you had only learned to dig potatoes, you wouldn’t have to be faltering the king!”
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Prison Or Work
IN PRISON.......You spend the majority of your time in an 8x10 cell.
AT WORK........You spend most of your time in a 6x8 cubicle.
IN PRISON.......You get three meals a day.
AT WORK........You get a break for 1 meal and you have to pay for it.
IN PRISON.......You get time off for good behaviour.
AT WORK........You get rewarded for good behaviour with more work.
IN PRISON.......A guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK........You must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself.
IN PRISON........You can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK.........You get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN PRISON.......You get your own toilet.
AT WORK........You have to share.
IN PRISON.......They allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK........You cannot even speak to your family and friends.
IN PRISON.......All expenses are paid by taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK........You get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from you salary to pay for prisoners.
IN PRISON.......You spend most of your life looking through bars from inside wanting to get out.
AT WORK........You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN PRISON......There are wardens who are often sadistic.
AT WORK.......They are called supervisors.
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銀行家：「為什麼你告訴我你有七年的銀行工作經驗，卻從來沒有在銀行工作過？」
年輕人：「你廣告上說要一個有想像力的年輕人。」
Banker : “What do you mean by telling me that you had seven years’ experience in a bank when you never had a job before ?” Youth : “Well, you advertised for a man with imagination.”
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一位從北方來的富有企業家，看見一位來自南方的漁夫，抽著煙懶洋洋的躺在他的船旁邊。
企業家問那漁夫：「你為什麼不出海打漁呢？」
「我今天已經打夠了！」漁夫回答。
企業家又說：「你為什麼不再多打一些呢？」
「多打一些又怎麼樣呢？」漁夫回答。
企業家說：「你可以多賺些錢買更好的馬達，修好你的船，把船開到水深之處，可以再多打一些漁，賺多些錢買尼龍網，然後可以得更多的漁，賺更多的錢，很快的，你就可以買二艘船….甚至可以買一艘快艇。到那時，你就可以成為一個富有的人，像我一樣。」
「那又怎麼樣呢？」漁夫回答。
「那時，你就可以真正享受人生了！」
「那你認為我現在正做什麼？」
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法官： 「你何時工作的？」
那人： 「這時以及那時(偶而)」
法官： 「你作何事謀生。」
那人： 「這裏一點及那裏一點(不固定的工作)」
法官： 「你在何处居住。」
那人： 「此地及那地(居無定所)。」
法官： 「年輕人,你將要入獄！」
那人： 「何時我可以出監獄。」
法官： 「近期或遠期。」
Judge “When do you work?”
Man: “Now and then.”
Judge: “What do you do for living?”
Man: “This and that.”
Judge: “Where do you live?”
Man: “Here and there?”
Judge: “Young man, you are going to jail”
Man: “When do I get out?”
Judge: “Sooner or later.”
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公司每一個人除了約翰都簽了新的公司退休福利合同，合同要求雇員負擔部分費用，餘額公司負責，但合同需要全部員工參與才有效應，約翰的老闆及同事多次勸他求他都沒有果効，因他認為這個計劃不能對現.最後公司的總經理叫他到辦公室。
經理說：「這裏有筆及退休福利合同文件，如果你不肯簽字，你將會被解僱。」
約翰立刻簽了字。
經理問他說「可否告訴我，你為何一直不肯早些簽字」
約翰回答說：「沒有人向我解釋得如此清楚。」
Everybody but John had signed up for an new company pension plan that required a small employee contribution. The company paid all the rest. Unfortunately, 100 % employee participation was needed; otherwise the plan was off.
John’s boss and his fellow workers pleaded with him over and over, but to no avail. John said that the plan would never pay off.
Finally, the company president called John into his inner office. The president said,” John, here’s a copy of the new pension plan and here’s pen .I want you to sigh the papers, now, and if you don’t you’re fired.
John signed the papers immediately.
The president asked, “Would you mind telling me why you didn’t sign earlier?”
John answered, “Nobody explained it to me so clearly before,”
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有一間公司老闆叫做John Smith，他奴役員工是出名的，這公司一個員工，到另一個公司去面談應徵工作，對方的人事部問他說：
人事部： 「你這這公司做了多久？」
員工： 「我做了二十年由1976，四月到1988，八月。」
人事部： 「這是不夠二十年。」
員工： 「先生，你不曾在JS手下做過事…」
There’s an employer named John Smith who has the reputation of being a real slave driver. The personnel director at another company was interviewing a job applicant who had been employed by Smith’s firm.
Personnel director: “How long did you work for the Smith firm.”
Job applicant: “20 years from April 1976-Aug 1988”
Personnel director: “That’s not 20 years.”
Job applicant: “Mister, you ain’t never worked for John Smith”
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在芝加哥，一间高科技公司的經理，他告訴我他的屬下時常進入他的辦公室告訴他各人工作的優先次序，他聆聽他們然後叫他們將文件放在桌上，當他們離開的時候，他會對他們說：「不要忘記第六規條」
曾有一位年輕人如此說： 「第六規條是的，當然！他回身走出辦公室突然停下來又問說：’什麼是第六規條?」
經理回答說： 「第六規條是勿把自己弄得過份嚴肅緊張.」
「先生謝謝，我會記得，但其他規條是什麼？」
回答說： 「沒有其他規條.」
One manager with a high tech company in Chicago told me how his subordinates were always coming into his office emphasizing the high priority of one thing or another.
He would listen to them and tell each one to leave their papers on the desk. Then as they were about to walk out the door, he would say, “Don’t forget Rule Six’
A young man once said, “Rule Six yes, of course.”
Then he turned to walk out but stopped and asked, “What is rule six?”
Rule Six is as follows: “Don’t take yourself too seriously.”
“Thank you sir, I’ll remember that. But what are the other rules?”
The reply was, “There are no other rules.”
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婦人陪丈夫去看醫生在身體檢查。檢查過後，醫生把病人太太請到旁邊，對她說﹕『除非你遵守以下規定，否則你的丈夫死定了。』
醫生繼續說﹕『你必須作的是，每天早上你要為他準備一頓健康的早餐。每天中午你要在家里為他在一份營養均衡的中餐。每天晚上你要為他準備一份豐盛的熱食。不要太羅唆給他壓力，也不要要求他作任何家事。還有，你要保持家中一塵不染，免得他受細菌感染。』
回家途中，丈夫問妻子，醫生對她說了些什麼。
她回答說﹕『他說你死定了。』
A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor's office for his checkup. Afterwards, the doctor took his wife aside and said, “Unless you do the following things, your husband will surely die.”
The doctor then went on to say, “Here's what you need to do. Every morning make sure you serve him a good healthy breakfast. Meet him at home each day for lunch so that you can serve him a well-balanced meal. Make sure that you feed him a good hot meal each evening and don't overburden him with any stressful conversation, nor ask him to perform any household chores. Also, keep the house spotless and clean so that he doesn't get exposed to any threatening germs.”
On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor said.
She replied, “He said that you're going to die.”
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有一天晚上，著名的英國核子物理學家盧瑟福，走進實驗室，看見他的一個學生仍俯身在工作台上。就問：「這麼晚了，你在做什麼？」學生答：「我在工作。」 「那你白天做些什麼？」「我也在工作。」「那麼你早晨也在工作麼？」
「是的，教授。」學生帶著謙恭的態度承認了；並期待著這位學者的讚許……。
盧瑟福稍稍沈吟了一下，隨即問道：「可是，這樣一來你用什麼時間來思考呢？」……
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猶太拉比 Sidney Greenberg：
在假曰我們可以將責任拋諸腦後。在聖日我們必須正視我們的貢任。
在假日我們盡情放鬆自己。在聖日我們努力儆醒保守。
在假日我們嘗試停止大腦的活動。在聖日我們尋求使靈魂重新得力。
在假日我們盡情隨心所欲。在聖日我們尋求神的充滿。
假日改變我們的心情，聖白改變我們的心靈。
假曰嬌縱我們的肉體，聖日滋潤我們的靈魂。
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『你想放一天假？』 『讓我們來看看到底你在問什麼？』『一年有365天可工作。扣掉52週，和每週末放二天假，只剩261天可工作；因為你一天有16 小時沒上班，再扣掉170天後，只剩91天可工作；你每天又花 30分鐘喝咖啡，相當於一年23天；現在只剩下22天。你通常一年請2天病假，所以又扣2天,剩下20天。公司每年給5個國定假日， 所以你工作只剩15天。公司很大方的每年給你14天的休假，現在你只剩1天可工作了，所以你也別想要再放一天假了！』
Let's take a look at exactly what you are asking for। There are 365 days per year available for work. There are 52 weeks per year in which you already have two days off per week leaving 261 days available for work. Since you spend 16 hours per day away from work, you have used up 170 days, leaving only 91 days available. You spend 30 minutes each day on coffee break that accounts for 23 days each year, leaving only 68 days available. With a 1-hour lunch period each day, you have used up another 46 days, leaving only 22 days available for work. You normally spend two days per year on sick leave; this leaves you only 20 days available for work. We offer 5 holidays per year, so your available working time is down to 15 days. We generously give you 14 days vacation per year which leaves you only 1 day available for work. So, in no way will I give you that day off !!
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Quotes引證 :
A vocation is something you do for a living, an avocation something you do for a while, a vacation something you couldn’t stick at very long without being dead broke and dead tired. (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
Labor is man’s great function, He is nothing, he can do nothing, he can achieve nothing, fulfill nothing without working. Dewey.
Some men are like rusty needles; the best way to clean and brighten them is with work.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
The harder you work, the luckier you are. I worked like hell. Gerald Ford
Don’t be irreplaceable; if you cannot be replaced, you cannot be promoted.
Summer is the time when it is too hot to do the jobs it was too cold to do in winter.
A Hindu man once acknowledged to Mother Teresa the difference in what they do: “The difference in our social work is this: We are doing it for something, and you do it for somebody.”
Idle minds are the devil’s workshop or playground.
God milks the cow through you. Martin Luther
I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God...When I can do nothing else, it is enough to have picked up a straw for the love of God. Brother Lawrence
The average person puts only 25% of his energy into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%. Andrew Carnegie
Making a living is not the same as making a life. Live and Learn
What more people are looking for these days is less to do, more time to do it in, and more pay for not getting it done.
In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it. John Ruskin
Work is not a curse, it is the prerogative of intelligence, the only means to manhood, and the measure of civilization. Savages do not work. Calvin Coolidge
Work is not work. It’s a hobby that you happen to get paid for. Richard Barton, Expedia
Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render different results—tears will get sympathy, sweat will get you a change.
When two shepherds guard a sheep, it gets lost. Russian proverb
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Thomas Alva Edison
Once Edison was asked when he was planning to retire. Edison said that he’d retire on the day before his funeral.
A committee is a group of people who can do nothing individually, but as a group decide that nothing can be done.
A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. Helen Keller
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it’s lightning that does the work. Mark Twain
There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. William John Bennett
I had one year off (after England) and there was no pressure at all. That was absolutely awful. Sven-Goran Eriksson
Most of the things we do in life have purpose but not meaning. Play is directly the opposite: It has no purpose, but it gives meaning.
The difference between a job and a career is the difference between 40 and 60 hours a week. Robert Frost
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YOUTH 青年人
In the new "Crossing the Finish Line," William Bowen, a former president of Princeton University, argues that so many undergrads are dropping out (44 percent) that the country is in danger of losing its competitive edge to other nations....Interestingly, an analysis of eighth-grade reading and math test scores in North Carolina found that they were far more significant predictors of college enrollment than most other factors, including high school characteristics and student race. (Yahoo News)
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Eighty percent of adolescents have accessed pornography online with a fifth making their first visit by the age of 10, a survey said.
The average age at which respondents first download internet porn was 11.9, with most doing so at home.
Some 43.2 per cent of respondents said they gained access to sexual content though pop-up adverts. Salacious online forums, chat rooms and comic websites were also common ways to view such material.
The findings show that 86.4 per cent of adolescents visit pornographic websites at home.
Some 18.9 per cent of the youngsters looked at porn online for entertainment, 14 per cent used it to lean about sex, while 10.7 per cent said it satisfied their sexual needs.
The study was carried out by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Community Services Division and the Centre for Social Policy Studies at Polytechnic University’ department of applied social sciences. Some 1,426 questionnaires were received from pupils studying in Form Two and Form Four. (Excerpt)
“Internet Porn Viewed by 80pc of Youngsters” South China Morning Post, Jul 18, 2009
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Two thirds of the teenage girls interviewed by a social services team working with young drug abusers started taking drugs between the ages of 11 and 13.
But only one-third of the boys polled by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong’s social services team admitted taking drugs at that age. The team discovered that one youngster had started taking drugs when he was just seven.
“It is alarming that teenage girls started to abuse drugs at the age of 11,” North District youth outreach team leader Paul Lo Po-sing said.
“They are provided with free drugs like ketamine by male companions, and sexual abuse or indecent assault are frequently involved.
Church social workers interviewed 231 bys and girls in Tin Shui Wai and North District who took drugs, in March and April, in a bid to understand their behavior. Overall, 43 percent had their first drug experience between the ages of 11 and 13, and 51 percent between 14 and 15.
Of the 45 girls interviewed, 67 percent had their first drug experience when they were aged 11 to 13.
Half of the teenagers said they had personal experience of a drug overdose, and 82 per cent said they had friends who had overdosed.
Sixty-six percent said they had taken drugs in pubic areas, including staircases, parks and street corners, and 61 percent said they had at times taken drugs at a friend’s home. (Excerpt)
“Girls Taking Drugs from Early Age” South China Morning Post July 11, 2009
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Schoolkids seek intimacy and sex with cyber friends
The Standard, Hong Kong, Monday, July 13, 2009
http://thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=84715&sid=24544189&con_type=3
One in five school students aged 11 to 19 are happy to have face-to-face meetings with strangers they have met online and a significant number of them accept there could be sexual contact as a result.
A survey of 262 students by the charity group Caritas found 18 percent were ready to go alone on a real date with a cyber-friend.
Of those, eight percent said they accepted there could be intimate behavior. Three of the respondents admitted they had been intimate with at least 10 of their cyber friends. The survey also revealed more than 60 percent of the teenagers used chatrooms and forums to make friends.
Jacqueline Lok Yung-yung, a social worker with the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Service for Young People- Tak Tin, which carried out the survey between March and April, said some findings were worrying.
Among them was the fact that one out of five students who dated cyber friends admitting they engaged in intimate behavior - defined as caressing, full sex or both: "Teenagers are curious and they like adventures. Meeting strangers online provides excitement," Lok said.
There was also a tendency to actively search for romance online, with 7.3 percent saying that was what they were looking for.
The president of the Hong Kong Social Workers General Union, Peter Cheung Kwok-che, said the findings on intimate behavior were not surprising. He said social workers dealt with students who had intimate relationships with cyber friends, some as young as Primary Five.
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這段話寫在威斯敏斯特修道院土窖裡的一位英國國教主教的墓碑上：
當我年輕沒有負擔時，我的想像力是沒有界限的，我的夢想是改變世界。
隨著年紀與智慧增長，我發現世界不會改變，因此我决定將我的眼界縮小去改變我的國家。 但是它也不動如山。 當我邁入暮年，我決定做最後一次努力，我退而求其次只要改變我的家庭，這是我最親密的家，但是呀，我仍然一事無成。
而現在，我躺臥在我臨終之地，我突然體會： 如果我先改變自己，我可能就因此改變我的家庭。 藉著他們的鼓舞和激勵，我也許就能改善我的國家，而且，誰知道呢，我也許還改善了世界。 (匿名)
The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the Crypts of Westminster Abbey:
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, one in last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If only I had changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world. (Anonymous)
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一個老人聽說有一種藥，每一顆都能使他變年輕一點，他買了一盒以代替他每天必須吃的藥丸，在某天晚上他要睡覺前，他把整盒都吞掉。 第二天早晨，他的家人花了很大功夫來叫這個老人起床。 最後他揉著了他的眼睛說： 「好啦，好啦」，他抱怨著： 「起床可以，但是我不要上學」。
An old man heard about some pill that would restore his youth। He bought a box, but instead of taking one every day he swallowed the whole boxful one night before going to bed. The next morning his family had difficulty waking the old man. At last he rubbed his eyes. “All right, all right,” he grumbled, “I’ll get up, but I won’t go to school.”
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Quotes引證 :
在年輕的時候，感覺每一日都很短暫，以年計日卻感覺很遙遠; 當齒搖髮禿的時候，過去的年歲一眨眼就過去了，卻感覺度日如年。
In youth the days are short and the years are long; in old age the years are short and the days long.
一個行事隨便的孩子通常是由一個無知的中年人與一個空洞的老年人所照料。
A negligent youth is usually attended by an ignorant middle age, and both by an empty old age.
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