MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
February 27, 2006




WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE WHEN EVERYTHING FAILS?

By: Ken Korkow

I consulted with a physician recently. Actually, I ended up meeting with two doctors –a general practitioner and also a specialist that spent time with me to discuss my chronic headaches.

During the exam I told the general practitioner, "I like my line of work better than yours." With a surprised look, the doctor asked, "Why?” "Because no matter what you do, all your patients eventually die,” I explained. “But through my work, I get to see people make changes that impact all eternity."

This opened up a great conversation during which I was able to talk with him about God and Jesus without falling into the “religion trap.” It was such a worthwhile time that it was even worth the head pain.

As I thought about our conversation, it also prompted me to reflect on how we often expend great amounts of effort and resources with false or unrealistic expectations about what will result. For instance, we tend to think with the “right” doctor and pills, the “right” education, “right” job, “right” spouse, “right” car, even the “right” golf clubs, life will make be everything we expect and we will “live happily-ever-after.” Unfortunately, everything fails.

WAR FAILS: We have had a “war to end all wars,” World War I. But it didn't end all wars. And we won't eradicate terror through military means. I try to support government leaders, and we pay our taxes. We even supported our son when he joined the military. But I know we will continue to have murder and terror on this earth. We always have, and always will, until Jesus Christ makes His promised return.

EDUCATION FAILS: My mother was a teacher. My wife was a teacher. My mother-in-law was a teacher. Our oldest daughter is a teacher. I have a master's degree. But I do not have an illusion that society will improve each time we spend more money on education. As I observe my bright, intellectual friends I don't sense that they have greater “net happiness.” In fact, I appreciate more than ever the truth of King Solomon's insight: "For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases" (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

TECHNOLOGY FAILS: Last Sunday I showed my wife, Liz, a picture from the local newspaper. It showed a beautiful living room in a beautiful house. But the chairs and sofa were not arranged to facilitate conversation. Instead, they were all positioned for the best view of the big-screen television set. Technology – cell phones, e-mail, computers – increases daily stress, but decreases relational intimacy and our love for one another.

LAW FAILS: Today our society has more laws in effect than ever, and we spend huge amounts to fund police departments, law enforcement and judicial systems. Yet today's newspapers carry article after article recounting examples of man's unabated inhumanity to man.

RELIGION FAILS: Systems of rites and robes, bells and smells, programs and projects simply become man's best attempt at self-improvement. But self-improvement or religious rituals could not satisfy our Creator. Instead, He sent Jesus Christ to pay our debt on a crude wooden cross. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The expectation that medicine, military power, education, technology, laws or religion will provide fulfillment, peace, joy, hope or security is foolishness. They all fail. No matter who you are or what you do, the heart’s hunger can be satisfied in only one way – through a personal, growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Ken Korkow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., where he serves as an area director for CBMC. This is adapted from the “Fax of Life” column that he writes each week. Used with permission.
CBMC INTERNATIONAL: Robert Milligan, President
1065 N. 115th Street, Suite 210 ▪ Omaha, Nebraska 68154 ▪ U.S.A.
TEL.: (402) 431-0002 ▪ FAX: (402) 431-1749 ▪ E-MAIL: mmanna@cbmcint.org
Web site: http://www.cbmcint.org/ Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. When was the most recent time that you had high expectations that were not fulfilled. How did it feel?


2. Can you think of a time when you felt that if you only had the “right” job, or the “right” education, the “right” opportunity, the “right” spouse, or the “right” whatever in your life, that your problems would be over? What was that like – and do you still feel that way? Why or why not?


3. This week’s writer cites military power, education, technology, the legal system and religion as elements of society that have failed to fulfill their promises to create an ideal world. Do you agree? If so, is it because these are incapable of bringing about the necessary changes, or they just have not been sufficiently “developed” yet? Explain your answer.


4. What is your response to the suggestion that our greatest, deepest longings and expectations in life can be realized only through Jesus Christ?


NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to our life’s expectations, consider the following verses:

Psalm 37:4,5; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3;Jeremiah 29:11, 33:3; John 14:2-3


週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.2.27

當所有辦法都失敗時，還有什麼其他選擇？

我最近去看了兩位醫生，一位是一般醫生，另一位是專科醫生。為的是要治療我的慢性頭痛。

當我接受檢查時，我對醫生說：「和你的工作比較起來，我比較喜歡我的工作。」那位醫生帶著驚訝的表情問：「為什麼？」「因為無論你怎麼努力，你所有的病人最終都會死。但透過我的工作，我可以看到人們生命的改變，並且影響到永遠。」我解釋道。

這就展開了一段很棒的對話，因為在這對話中，我可以與他談論神與耶穌，而不會落入「宗教陷阱」。那段談話真是寶貴，甚至我頭痛也是值得的。

當我回憶那段談話時，也讓我想到我們常常花許多精力與資源在錯誤或不切實際的期待。例如，我們認為只要有「好的」醫生和藥物，「好的」教育，「好的」配偶，「好的」車子，甚至「好的」高爾夫球桿，生活就會如我們所預期，「從此過著幸福快樂的日子」。不幸的是，每件事都可能失敗。

戰爭失敗：當我們打第一次世界大戰時，我們認為這場大戰可以結束所有的戰爭，但它並沒有結束所有的戰爭。透過軍事措施我們無法根除恐怖份子。我支持政府領袖，我也付稅，我甚至支持兒子去從軍。但我知道在這世界上將繼續有謀殺和恐怖行動。這些狀況會不斷地發生，直到耶穌基督所應許的第二次降臨。

教育失敗：我的母親是老師，我的妻子是老師，我的岳母是老師，我的大女兒也是老師，我有碩士學位。但我並不幻想若花更多錢在教育上，社會就更進步。當我觀察我那些聰明、有智慧的朋友們，我並不覺得他們比較快樂。事實上，我更欣賞所羅門王所看到的真理：「因為多有智慧，就多有愁煩，加增知識的，就加增憂傷」（傳道書1章18節）。

科技失敗：上個禮拜天，我把報紙上的一張照片指給我的妻子看。那照片是一棟漂亮房屋的美麗客廳，但所有的椅子和沙發都不是安排來方便談話，而是安排去看大螢幕的電視。科技（包括手機、電子郵件和電腦）增加我們每天的壓力，卻降低人際間的親密度和彼此的愛。

法律失敗：今天我們有比以前更多條法律在行使，我們也花很多錢來設立警察部門，執法和司法制度。但今日的報紙有許多文章都在詳述人們有增無減的殘暴行為。

宗教失敗：儀式、長袍、鐘聲、敬拜程序和各種企劃都只是人想要自我提昇的方法。但自我提昇或宗教儀式並不能滿足我們的創造者，所以祂差遣耶穌基督到十字架上為我們償還罪債。「神使那無罪的替我們成為罪，好叫我們在祂裡面成為神的義」（哥林多後書5章21節）。

期待藥物、軍事力量、教育、科技、法律或宗教會帶來滿足、平安、喜樂、希望或穩固，這期待是愚不可及的。這些都會失敗，無論你是誰，無論你作什麼事，人心的饑渴只有一種方式能滿足－－透過耶穌基督與神建立個人、成長的關係。


思想 / 討論問題

1. 最近那一次，你有很高的期待，卻落空了？ 你有什麼感覺？


2. 你是否覺得，只要有「好的」工作、「好的」教育、「好的」機會、「好的」配偶或「好的」任何東西，你的問題就可解決？ 那是什麼樣的情況？ 你現在是否還有這樣的期待？ 為什麼？


3. 本文作者說軍事力量、教育、科技、法律或宗教都無法創造理想的世界。你同意嗎？ 若同意，是否是因為這些都無法帶來所需要的改變？ 或者它們只是還沒「發展」完全？ 請解釋。


4. 「我們生命中最大、最深的渴望與期待只能透過耶穌基督來實現。」你對這建議有何反應？



註：若你有聖經且想要看有關我們生命之期待的其他經文，請看：
詩篇37篇4-5節；箴言3章5-6節，16章3節；耶利米書29章11節，33章3節；約翰福音14章2-3節


CBMC
台灣台北市104松江路22號7樓
TEL：886-2-2581-4937 FAX：886-2-2542-4169
E-Mail：cbmc@ms26.hinet.net

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
March 6, 2006





THE DOWNSIDE OF SELF-PROMOTION

By: Robert J. Tamasy

We live in a world in which self-promotion is not only accepted, but also seems to be encouraged – even expected. I remember several decades ago when Cassius Clay (who later adopted the name, Muhammad Ali) became the world’s heavyweight boxing champion. “I am the greatest!” was his self-proclamation. To his credit, the gifted boxer usually backed up his claim.

We see numerous examples of self-promotion throughout the sports and entertainment worlds. Professional football and basketball stars pose and strut after executing outstanding plays, making certain that everyone noticed. Athletes demand to have their contracts be renegotiated, contending that they are “underpaid and under-appreciated.” Movie stars and TV celebrities wear outlandish clothes and exhibit bizarre behavior, all in the name of publicity and marketing.

Self-promotion also has become commonplace in today’s business and professional world: Sales executives telling anyone who will listen how they have exceeded monthly and quarterly quotas. Ambitious managers lobbying for increased responsibility – and with it, higher compensation and rewards. Top executives that become nationally – even internationally – known through massive TV and print media coverage, often becoming more easily recognized than the corporations they lead.

Self-promotion, however, is hardly a phenomenon of the 20th and 21st centuries. This practice is as old as time. In the Bible’s Old Testament book of Daniel, for example, we are told of Nebuchadnezzar, the noted Babylonian king, who boldly declared, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Extremely impressed with himself, this king was!

However, despite the fact that self-promotion seems to have become more the rule today than the exception, doesn’t it seem disturbing at times to observe people that are always seeking to draw attention to themselves? People who seem to be shouting, “Hey, look at me. Look at who I am. Look at what I have done!”?

The book of Proverbs in the Bible agrees, talking about the intrinsic value of having someone else to sing your praises than to lavish praise on yourself:

It’s better to be the recipient of praise than the one who bestows the praise. If you had to choose, which would you prefer – to talk about yourself in glowingly favorable terms, letting your hearers know how special and accomplished you are, or to have someone you respect and admire say positive things about you? Virtually all of us would rather receive words of commendation from someone else, because that indicates our efforts have truly been recognized and appreciated. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).

It’s a test of character to see how we respond when praise is directed our way. When someone commends you for work well-done, how do you respond? Do you nearly break your arm patting yourself on the back, or do you receive the praise with appreciation and humility, grateful for having the gifts, abilities and experience that were required to perform the praise-worthy action? “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man” (Proverbs 27:19). “The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives” (Proverbs 27:21).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress) and is author of the newly published book, Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press). For more information, see http://www.theheartofmentoring.com/ or http://www.rivercitypress.net/.

CBMC INTERNATIONAL: Robert Milligan, President
1065 N. 115th Street, Suite 210 ▪ Omaha, Nebraska 68154 ▪ U.S.A.
TEL.: (402) 431-0002 ▪ FAX: (402) 431-1749 ▪ E-MAIL: mmanna@cbmcint.org
Web site: http://www.cbmcint.org/ Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org


Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How aware are you of people who seem to specialize in self-promotion where you work? Are you one of them? Explain your answer.


2. What is your typical reaction when you see someone you work with shamelessly promoting himself or herself? Why do you think you respond in that way?


3. Thinking about the world of fame and celebrity – sports, entertainment, politics – who are some examples of “self-promoters” that quickly come to your mind?


4. Do you agree with the statement that how we respond to praise – when we receive it from others – is a test of character? Why or why not?


NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that concern self-promotion, or the absence of it, turn to the following passages:

Psalm 57:9-11; Proverbs 16:24; Philippians 2:3,4; 1 Peter 5:5,6




週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.2.27

自誇的負面觀感

我們所住的世界不只接受，也鼓勵－－甚至期待自誇。我記得十幾年前，當凱西亞˙克雷（後來改名為穆罕默德˙阿里）成為世界重量級拳擊賽的冠軍。他宣稱：「我是最偉大的！」還好這位有天份的拳擊手通常都所言不假，贏得勝利。

在運動界和娛樂界，我們看到許多自誇的例子。職業橄欖球和籃球名星在比賽中有傑出表現後，自命不凡，神氣十足，要每個人都注意他/她。運動員要求重新簽約，聲稱他們「薪資被低估，沒被充分賞識」。電影名星和電視名流穿著奇裝異服，展示怪異舉動，都是為了出風頭，促銷自己。

在今日的工商專業界，自誇也變得是件平常的事：銷售主管告訴別人，自己已經超過每月和每季所預定的銷售額。有野心的經理游說上級給他更多責任－－以及隨之而來的高報酬。透過電視和平面媒體的大量報導，高級主管變得全國－－甚至全世界皆知，比他們所領導的企業更有名。

然而，自誇並非20和21世紀才有的現象。這種現象其實和時間一樣久遠。例如在聖經舊約的但以理書中，有名的巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒大膽地說：「這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都，要顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？」（但以理書4章30節）。這位國王非常自豪！

雖然自誇似乎變成今日的常態，但有時看到某人總是想辦法吸引別人注意，實在有些不舒服。他們好像喊說：「嗨，看看我，看看我是誰，來看我所做的事！」

聖經中的箴言談到，讓別人讚美你比不斷地自誇更有價值：

與其說出讚美自己的話，不如成為接受讚美的人。若你可以選擇，你較喜歡那一樣－－用美好的詞彙形容自己，讓別人知道自己多麼特別，多麼有成就；或者讓你所敬重景仰的人說出對你肯定的話？幾乎每個人都寧願受到別人的稱讚，因為那意味著我們的努力真正地被別人肯定與欣賞。「要別人誇獎你，不可用口自誇。等外人稱讚你，不可用嘴自稱」（箴言27章2節）。

當我們被別人讚美時，我們回應的方式也是對品格的一項試驗。當別人稱讚你把工作做得很好，你會如何回應？你是否得意忘形，或是以感謝和謙虛的心接受，並為自己有這恩賜、能力和經驗去做出值得讚賞的行為而感恩。「水中照臉，彼此相符；人與人，心也相對」（箴言27章19節）。「鼎為煉銀，爐為煉金，人的稱讚也試煉人」（箴言27章21節）。


思想 / 討論題目

1. 在職場中，你是否能察覺善於自誇的人？ 你是否也善於自誇？ 請解釋。


2. 當你看到同事厚顏無恥地自我吹噓時，你一向如何回應？ 你為何那樣回應？


3. 想想這世上有名的人士中－－在運動、娛樂和政治界－－誰是「自誇」的例子？


4. 你是否同意，我們如何回應讚美－－當我們被別人稱讚時－－是對品格的試驗？ 為什麼？


註：若你有聖經且想要看有關自誇的其他經文，請看：
詩篇57篇9-11節；箴言16章24節；腓立比書2章3-4節；彼得前書2章5-6節


CBMC
台灣台北市104松江路22號7樓
TEL：886-2-2581-4937 FAX：886-2-2542-4169
E-Mail：cbmc@ms26.hinet.net