Monday Manna

2007-07-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.7.30
你更多相信誰? 你自己或是神?
當我為「投資健全的心智」這份通信編輯一篇文章時，一個句子跳出來在我眼前。「…應該是100%信賴神的時候了，而不是僅僅叫祂來參與我正在做的這件事。」這是對我們這些自稱耶穌的跟隨者作決定時一個很尖銳的描述。我們很容易拿現有的資訊來制定我們的方向，然後要求神加入我們已經決定的事; 卻很難將我們的決定權順服地擺上，去求問祂的方向，然後真的等候祂的答案。
為什麼不先聆聽神的方向就做決定會有大問題?原因就在於—再怎麼棒的想法也不一定總是符合神更偉大的計畫。但我們若完完全全順服在神面前，結果往往出乎人意料。
大衛王的經驗提供了一個很好的見證。撒母耳紀下第7到第10章記載了大衛王一生中最榮耀的時光，神在他身上展現了無比的恩寵，建造他成為以色列人的王又使他勝過他的仇敵，他應該最有資格認為自己的想法是出於神的人了。然而當大衛決定要為神建殿(因為他想到自己住在宮殿裡，但神的約櫃卻仍然放在帳幕中) 時，他知道神對於祂自己要成就的事都有特別的旨意，所以行動前他找了先知拿單確定建殿是否真為神的旨意?
一開始，建殿看起來似乎是一個很棒的主意，因為拿單馬上就同意大衛了。的確，建聖殿是神要成就的事，這個主意很棒，大衛的動機也是對的，但問題是—神不要大衛本人建。我們後來才知道神選擇別人建聖殿是因為神說: 「你不可為我的名建造殿宇; 因你是戰士，流了人的血。」 (歷代志上28章3節) 神修正了拿單原本的「以為」。這件事也提醒了我們—神的計畫不總是在我們的常識裡。而大衛也謙卑地順服了神希望的事，所以大衛的兒子所羅門才能承受後來的榮耀。
我們每一個人都能應用這個故事裡的教訓在我們的生命當中，包括個人的經濟。首先，我們必須檢視我們是否100%在經濟上順服神? 或者我們只是要求祂來參與我們現在正在做的事? 這需要經常的查驗，因為即使我們曾經順服神，但我們有那樣的傾向就是會把順服的部分逐漸又收回自己的掌控之下。當我們確信我們的心會順服神的回答，下一步就是求神顯現祂的旨意。以下是一些我們需要求問神的一些特定的領域:
你的工作或職場上未來的道路
退休計畫和存款的數目
目前的和未來的慈善奉獻
家庭計畫/關於小孩的事/教養小孩的決定
生活方式和其他購物計畫
也許神希望你在上述某一個領域有不尋常的決定。所以一但你禱告了，也求神顯明祂的旨意在某一個特定的事上，你就要積極地尋求祂並傾聽祂給你的回答。如果我們帶著一顆開放的心，信實的神會向我們顯明其他我們需要順服的領域。
通往真正的經濟自由始於順服和明瞭一切都是屬於神，我們只是祂的管家。我們常被欺騙去相信神的計畫和個人的利益是完全不搭嘎的。但只有當我們放下自己關心的事並且開始順服神的時候，我們才會開始明白神的計畫和我們的利益其實是緊密結合的。當我們得到最大的滿足時也就是當神得到祂最大的榮耀時，而這一切的都始於我們的順服和願意跟隨祂的帶領。
思想 / 討論題目
1. 當你在做決定的時候你讓神參與多少(如果有的話)?解釋你的答案。
2. 你是否覺得你曾經有那樣一個時刻，即使是短暫的，你100%相信神在你生命中不同的領域引領你，特別是經濟方面? 你認為這樣完全的委身是可能的嗎?為什麼? 或為什麼不可能?
3.假設今天你面對一個關於你的職業、家庭、生活方式或經濟方面重大的抉擇，你會有多順服(這個旨意是很清楚的即便它違反你自己的決定)?
4. 你是否曾經有這樣的經驗—當時你覺得你的決定是最好的，所以結果不如預期時，你覺得相當沮喪。然而現在你回頭一看，卻覺得還好當時你的希望沒有被成就。如果你有這樣的經驗，請描述它並且說說你從中學了什麼?
備註:如果你手上有聖經，想要複習關於這個主題的經節，以下是一些建議:
詩篇37: 4, 5∕箴言3: 5, 6, 16:3, 9∕以賽亞書55:8, 9∕耶利米書29:11, 13
CBMC 中華民國總會
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TEL：886-2-2581-4937 FAX：886-2-2542-4169
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MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
July 30, 2007
WHO DO YOU TRUST MORE – YOURSELF OR GOD?
By: Mark Biller
As I edited an article for our newsletter, Sound Mind Investing, a sentence leaped off the page at me: "...the time had come to trust God 100% instead of asking Him to join me in what I was doing." That's a piercing description of the choice we have as followers of Jesus Christ when making decisions. It's easy to take available information, set our course, and then ask God to join us in what we've decided to do. It's much harder to surrender a decision to God, ask for His direction, and then actually wait for an answer.
The problem with setting our own course without first hearing God's direction is that even seemingly great ideas don't always fit God's plan. Surrendering completely to God often leads to surprising outcomes.
King David's experience offers a great illustration. If ever someone could have reasonably assumed their thoughts were being led by God, it would be David in 2 Samuel 7-10. These chapters cover the glory years of David's life. God had shown him incredible favor, established him as king, and given him victory over his enemies. As David reflected, it bothered him that the Ark of the Covenant was sitting in a tent while he was living in a palace. So David decided to build God a temple. But David had learned that God can be very particular about how He wants things done. So before taking action, he consulted the prophet Nathan to confirm this plan was indeed God's will.
At first, this seemed such a good idea that Nathan immediately agreed David should proceed. Building a temple was something God did want to happen. The idea was right. David's motive was right. The problem was God didn't want David to build it. Only later do we learn why God chose someone other than David to build the temple: "You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood" (1 Chronicles 28:3). God corrected Nathan's assumption, reminding us His plans don't always line up with our common sense. David was humbly surrendered to do whatever God wanted, so David's son, Solomon, was given the honor.
Each of us can apply the lessons of this story to our lives, including our personal finances. First, have we really surrendered our finances 100% to God, or are we merely asking Him to join us in what we're doing? This requires regular check-ups. Even if we have done this before, we all have a tendency to gradually reassume control of areas that were once fully surrendered. When we're sure our heart is surrendered to God's answer, the next step is to simply ask Him to show us His will. Here are a few specific areas to ask the Lord about:
your job or career path
retirement plans and amount of saving
current and future charitable giving
family plans/children/child care-work decisions
lifestyle and other purchase choices
Could it be that God desires something out of the ordinary from you in one of these areas? Once you've prayed and asked Him to reveal His will in a particular area, be diligent to look and listen for His answer. If we come with an open heart, the Lord is faithful to show us any other areas we need to surrender.
The path to true financial freedom begins with surrender and the realization God owns everything anyway. We are merely His managers and stewards. Too often we believe the deception that God's plans and our personal best interests are separate. But as we lay down our agenda and begin to surrender to God, we come to realize His plans and our best interests are perfectly aligned. We get maximum satisfaction in the same place He gets maximum glory. The journey to that place begins with our surrender and a willingness to follow His lead.
Mark Biller is the executive editor of the Sound Mind Investing financial planning newsletter and website. You can read more about Sound Mind Investing and its investment principles at http://www.soundmindinvesting.com/.
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. How much do you involve God in your decision-making – if at all? Explain your answer.
2. Do you think you have ever reached a point – even temporarily – where you trusted God 100 percent in directing different areas of your life, especially your finances? Do you think such total commitment is even possible? Why or why not?
3. If you were to face a major decision today – in your career, your family, your lifestyle or your finances – how willing would you be to submit to God’s will once it became clear, even if it was contrary to your own desires?
Have you ever gone through a time when you felt certain that you knew what was best, you were extremely disappointed when the situation turned out very differently from what you had hoped and desired, but in retrospect were happy that your own will was not carried out? If so, describe it. What did you learn from that situation?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses:
Psalm 37:4,5; Proverbs 3:5,6, 16:3,9; Isaiah 55:8,9; Jeremiah 29:11,13

2007-07-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.7.23
僱主與員工關係的界定
僱主與員工或上司與屬下之間的恰當關係應該是什麼？
在今日的職場，我們看到有許多難以估計的可能性。有些僱主的態度是：「我已提供了一個工作。我們也談好了酬勞。他們還期待什麼？他們在這裡就是要做任何我要他們做的事。假如他們不喜歡，我也沒辦法。」而有些員工的態度是：「直到找到更好的工作之前，我都在這裡。老板要我做什麼，我就去做，但別期待我會做更多。畢竟這只是個糊口的工作，並不是我的生命。」
在另一邊，我們發現有些僱主誠摯地關心員工的利益。這些僱主除了製造產品或提供服務、賺取利潤和取悅股東外，還想激勵員工發揮他們最大的能力－－去了解他們的天份與才能，給他們機會，讓他們的技能與專業技術完全發揮。同樣地，有些員工視工作為一個呼召，一個去服事別人的方式，也能實現他們生命的獨特目的。
在我工作三十多年間，遇過以上兩種老板，也有介於兩者之間的。我覺得有些老板只把我當作一個工具，一個可以完成事務或企劃的工具。然而，有些老板認為我不只於此。他們非常尊重我，也告訴我他們很重視我。他們要看到我成為卓越的人，也願意盡他們所能使之成真。我一直很感謝這些老板－－以及他們的公司。
但僱主與員工每天的互動是否有一個完美的模範？我們可在書店、圖書館、網路和各樣有關職場的演講中找到建議。其中一個值得我們考慮的來源是聖經。許多經文都談到工作，但以弗所書6章5-9節特別與此議題有關：
「你們作僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。不要只在眼前事奉，像是討人喜歡的，要像基督的僕人，從心裡遵行神的旨意；甘心事奉，好像服事主，不是服事人…你們作主人的待僕人，也是一理，不要威嚇他們，因為知道他們和你們，同有一位主在天上，祂並不偏待人。」
這不只是上司與屬下的關係，此經文也傳達互相尊重與順服的關係。「員工」二字可替代經文中的「僕人」，因僕人在當出聖經寫作時，是指志願的勞役，而不是被逼迫、被剝削權利的奴僕。同樣的，「僱主」或「老板」也可取代文中的「主人」。
在上司不在時，員工也要有全心委身的精神，誠懇、勤奮地工作。對那些相信上帝的員工而言，他們要認真地工作，就好像要直接向上帝報告一樣。
這經文提醒僱主對員工有管家的責任，要鼓勵、協助他們，而不是藉著威脅或不合理的壓力尋求增加生產力。當正面、互相支持的環境被建立，產量與員工滿意度自然都會提升。
思想 / 討論題目
你會如何形容你的老板與員工的整體關係？實際相處時，看起來如何？你覺得這關係如何影響公司員工的生產力與滿足感？
請描述你曾經歷過最好與最差的工作環境。兩者有何差異？
對於以弗所書6章5-9節所建議的工作關係，你有何看法？你認為在今日的職場中可行嗎？為什麼？
若將聖經的那些原則應用在你工作的地方（或任何職場），你認為會有何長期的影響？若試著開始實施那些原則，你想在短期內會有什麼問題？
註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
路加福音12章42-48節，16章1-12節；哥林多前書4章2節；歌羅西書3章17、23節；雅各書2章14-17節
CBMC 中華民國總會
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
July 23, 2007
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES – DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP

By: Robert J. Tamasy
What should be the proper relationship between employers and employees? Or between supervisors and subordinates?
In today’s workplace we see an incredibly wide range of possibilities. There is the employer’s attitude that, “I have provided a job and we have agreed on compensation. What else do they expect? They are here to do whatever I ask of them. If they don’t like it, too bad.” And there is the corresponding employee’s attitude: “I’m here – at least until I can find something better. I will do what I’m assigned to do, but don’t expect me to do any more than that. After all, it is just a job; it’s not my life.”
At the other end of the spectrum, we find some employers who maintain a deep, sincere interest in those that work for them. Their desire, beyond producing goods or services, making a profit and pleasing stakeholders, is to empower workers to maximize their capabilities – to realize their gifts and talents and give them the opportunity to put their skills and expertise to full use. And some employees, in a similar way, see their jobs more as a calling, a way to serve others and fulfill their unique purpose in life.
During my working career of more than three decades, I have worked for both kinds of employers – and types in between. Some bosses I have had seemed to regard me as little more than a tool, a means for getting specific tasks and projects accomplished. Others, however, saw me as more than that. They treated me with great respect and communicated how much they valued me. They wanted to see me excel and were willing to do whatever they could to make that possible. I will always be thankful for those individuals – and their companies.
But is there a model, an ideal template for how employers and employees should interact on a day to day basis? We could find many business books with their recommendations in bookstores and libraries, as well as on the Internet and at various workplace conferences. One source that deserves to be considered is the Bible. In many passages it addresses work issues, but one in particular – Ephesians 6:5-9 – has particular relevance:
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord…. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”
Rather than a relationship of superiority and subjection, this passage conveys a relationship of mutual respect and submission. The word “employees” could easily be substituted for the word “slaves,” since when these words were written it referred to a voluntary servitude, not a condition in which individuals were coerced and deprived of rights. Similarly, the words “employers” or “bosses” could replace the word “masters.”
Employees are urged to work respectfully and sincerely, diligently even when their superiors are not watching, and with a wholehearted, fully committed spirit. For those workers having a personal relationship with God, they should be just as devoted in carrying out their work as if they were reporting directly to God Himself.
Employers are reminded of their stewardship responsibilities toward those who work for them, to encourage and assist them in their responsibilities, not to seek increased productivity through threats or unreasonable pressure. When a positive, mutually supportive environment is established, work output and worker satisfaction grow.
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press) and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress).
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. How would you describe the overall relationship between your employer and its employees? What does this look like in practice, and how do you feel it affects the productivity and contentment of the company’s staff?
2. Describe the best working environment you have ever experienced. Also describe the worst working environment that you have encountered. What were the differences between the two?
3. What is your overall reaction to what the suggested Bible passage, Ephesians 6:5-9, says about working relationships? Do you think it is realistic for today’s workplace? Why or why not?
4. What do you think would be the long-term impact of implementing those principles where you work – or in any workplace, for that matter? Would you anticipate any problems in the short-term of trying to introduce those principles?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that concern this topic, turn to the following passages:
Luke 12:42-48, 16:1-12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 3:17,23; James 2:14-17

2007-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.7.16
你憂慮什麼？
兩位商人談論著目前經濟環境的不確定性。傑克說：「我快要失去工作，而且我的房子要被銀行拍賣了－－但我不憂慮。」他的朋友鮑伯問：「你怎能不憂慮呢？」傑克回答說：「我已僱用一個專業憂慮師。他負責替我憂慮，所以我不需憂慮了！」
鮑伯問：「這樣的服務要花你多少錢？」傑克說：「每年50,000美元。」鮑伯驚訝地問：「50,000美元！你怎麼付得起這麼多錢？」傑克回答：「我不知道，那是他要憂慮的事！」
憂慮是你學習來的。沒有人是天生就會憂慮，這是從生活中學習來的反應。你是從兩種來源學會憂慮：
你從經驗學會憂慮。經過多年的錯誤、失敗、沒實現的願望和期待，你發現事情不會完全按照我們想要或期待的方式發生。從這些經驗，你就形成憂慮的習慣。
你從別人的示範中學會憂慮。你的周圍有許多示範者。研究顯示孩童常常接收父母的憂慮。焦慮、害怕的父母就養出焦慮、害怕的孩子。
好消息是，因為憂慮是學習來的生活反應，所以不憂慮也是可以學習的。克服憂慮的第一步是去了解一個基本的普世真理：憂慮是沒有用的。從憂慮中你從未獲得任何好處，它只是徒然浪費你的精力。
憂慮無法改變任何事。憂慮無法改變昨天，也無法控制明天，只會讓你今天過得很痛苦。憂慮從未解決問題。它不能幫你付帳單，也無法醫治病痛。它只會使你無法動彈，妨礙你採取適當的行動，所以你無法解決問題。
憂慮就像在賽車時，將引擎放在空檔－－這不能讓你往前進，只是在浪費燃料。如箴言12章25節：「人心憂慮，屈而不伸（沉重使他喪氣）。」
除此之外，憂慮還誇大問題。憂慮玩弄你的想像力。你是否曾經注意到，當你憂慮一個問題，那問題就變得愈來愈大，且愈難解決？每次你在腦中重覆你的憂慮，你就會再加上一些細節，並增加它的強度－－擴大問題的嚴重性，使自己覺得更糟糕。
要如何解決呢？告訴上帝什麼事讓你憂慮，祂是（可能也是唯一）能影響事情的人。「應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保守你們的心懷意念」（腓立比書4章6-7節）。
思想 / 討論題目
你是否常常憂慮－－或者你認識常常憂慮的人？什麼樣的事會讓你（或其他人）憂慮？
你是否同意本文作者所說：「憂慮沒有一點好處」？為什麼？
有人說：「我們所憂慮的事中，有90%不會發生。」那麼，為何人們還是花那麼多時間與精力去憂慮不會發生的事？你會建議如何解決憂慮的問題？
你曾否將你所擔憂、焦慮或害怕的問題或可能發生的問題告訴神？若有，結果如何？是否有幫助－－或只是一廂情願的想法？
註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
以賽亞書41章10節；耶利米書29章11節；馬太福音6章25-34節，10章28-31節；路加福音10章32-34節；提摩太後書1章7節
CBMC 中華民國總會
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 July 16th, 2007
WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?
By: Rick Warren

Two businessmen were talking about the uncertainties of the current economic climate. Jack said, "I'm about to lose my job and our house is in foreclosure – but I don't worry about it." His friend Bob asked, "How can you not be worried?" Jack answered, "I've hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me. That way I don't have to worry!"
“What do you pay for that service?” Bob asked him. "$50,000 a year," Jack answered. Hearing this, Bob gasped, "$50,000! Where are you going to get that kind of money?" Jack replied, "I don't know. That's his worry!"

WORRY IS SOMETHING YOU LEARNED TO DO. There is no such thing as a born worrier. It is a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:

1. You learned to worry from experience. After years of mistakes, failures and unfulfilled hopes and expectations, you have discovered that things do not always turn out the way we want or expect them to. Out of these experiences, you formed the habit of worrying.

2. You learned to worry from examples. There are many models around you. Studies show that children usually pick up their parents’ worries. Anxious, fearful parents raise anxious, fearful kids.

The good news is that since worry is a learned response to life, it can be unlearned! The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize one basic, universal truth: it is useless. You derive no benefit from worrying. It is "stewing without doing."
Worry has never changed anything. Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today. Worry has never solved a problem, it has never paid a bill, and has never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you, inhibiting your ability to take proper remedial steps, so you can't work on the solution.

Worry is like racing a car engine in neutral – it doesn't get you anywhere, it just uses up fuel. As Proverbs 12:25 tells us, "An anxious heart weighs a man down."
On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem, it seems to get bigger and more difficult to solve? Every time you repeat your concern over and over in your mind, you tend to add details and increase its intensity – amplifying the situation so you feel worse.

So what is the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what is worrying you. He is someone – perhaps the only One – who can do something about it. "Don't worry about anything. Instead pray about everything; tell God what you need and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Rick Warren is the author of the highly acclaimed, best-selling book, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life.
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Are you a person that worries a lot – or do you know someone like that? What kinds of things cause you – or the other person – to worry?
Do you agree with Rick Warren’s statement that worrying serves no benefit? Why or why not?
It has been said that more than 90 percent of the things we worry about never occur. Why, then, do you think that people expend so much time and energy worrying about such things? What would you suggest as a remedy to this problem?
Have you ever talked to God about problems – or potential problems – that had you worried, anxious or fearful? If so, has been the result? Did you find it helpful – or did it seem to be merely the equivalent of wishful thinking?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to look at some other passages that deal with this topic, consider the following:
Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 6:25-34, 10:28-31; Luke 10:32-34; 2 Timothy 1:7

2007-07-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.7.9
經歷夢想的破滅
我最近喜歡看的一部電影是「面對巨人」。這是關於一個球隊克服重重障礙與逆境的故事。這部電影的DVD也提供有關本片演員生命中一些激勵人心的故事。
其中一個故事特別吸引我的注意，那是電影中飾演總教練之妻的那位女演員的故事。那位女演員從小就很想要成為演員，她甚至為了追求這夢想而搬到大城市，但結果令她失望。
後來她的丈夫因為工作的關係，全家搬到喬治亞州的艾巴尼鎮。這是美國東南部的一個小鎮。當她開車進入艾巴尼鎮時，她認為自己成為電影演員的夢想破滅了。因為她知道在這鳥不生蛋的地方，她無法把演戲當作職業。
她向上帝哭訴，她失去一生夢想的挫敗與痛苦。但她宣告：即使她無法演戲，她還是要讚美上帝。她不知道雖然艾巴尼鎮似乎不可能讓一位演員有發揮的機會，但在神沒有不可能的事。後來她就在這小鎮被「發掘」，使她能在「面對巨人」裡擔任一個角色。
我們許多人都珍惜自己生命中的夢想，但最終都很失望。這些夢想可能是有關事業上的雄心壯志、婚姻與家庭生活或個人的目標與成就。有時這些夢想並不屬於我們，我們的手必需放開這些夢想－－不論這有多困難。然而，有時我們夢想的破滅只是神為了引導、塑造我們未來的過程。如詩篇37篇4節所教導：「又要以耶和華為樂，祂就將你心裡所求的賜給你。」
我們的動機是關鍵：我們夢想的潛在動機是什麼？若我們的眼目定睛在神為我生命的計劃，而不是堅持自己的計劃，要求按自己的方式。神就可能賜給我們心中所願－－即使這意味著改變我們心中所願。
藉著扼殺我們的夢想，許多時候上帝可以成就祂在我們身上的計劃，而不是成就我們所想要的。祂可能會同意我們的夢想，但對我們為何要那個夢想，會有不同的意見。
有時神可能要我們的夢想破滅，因為那不是祂要你有的夢想。祂可能有一個不同的計劃，一個更好的計劃，即使在當時還看不出來。
若你已很努力，但夢想尚未成真，你就要以禱告的心思考你這夢想的動機。你是為了討神的喜悅，或討自己的喜悅？
思想 / 討論題目
你是否有一個夢想或雄心壯志－－不論是很久以前或就在最近－－這夢想若破滅，你會很難接受嗎？若有，這夢想是什麼？若放棄，會有何感覺？
現在你是否有何特別的夢想，讓你開始擔心它不會成真？你為何認為這夢想可能破滅？
你是否願意接受你長久以來的夢想或目標可能不在神給你的計劃裡，或者祂可能會讓你完成那夢想－－但是以一個超乎你想像的方式？
本文作者引述詩篇37篇4節：「又要以耶和華為樂，祂就將你心裡所求的賜給你。」若用你自己的話改寫，你會如何寫？你相信這句話嗎？
註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
詩篇37篇5節；箴言3章5-6節，16章3節；耶利米書29章11、13節；路加福音11章9-13節
CBMC 中華民國總會
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
July 9, 2007
EXPERIENCING THE DEATH OF A DREAM
By: Rick Boxx
One of my newest favorite movies is “Facing the Giants,” the story of a sports team that overcomes some major obstacles and adversity. The DVD for this film also provides some inspiring stories about the lives of actors and actresses that portrayed some of the characters.
One story that particularly captured my attention was told by the woman who played the wife of the head coach in the movie. The actress told about her passion to be an actress that she had developed at an early age. She even moved to a major city to pursue that dream, only to be disappointed.
Eventually her husband’s career prompted their family to relocate to Albany, Georgia, a small town in the southeastern portion of the United States. As she was driving into Albany, she came to the conclusion that in making the move, her dreams of acting were dying. This was no place, the actress realized, to begin to establish a career as a performer.
She cried out to God, acknowledging the pain of admitting defeat and the loss of a lifelong dream. But she declared that although it appeared she would never act, she still wanted God to know she still would praise Him. Little did she know that although Albany, Georgia seemed an unlikely, even impossible place for an aspiring actor, this didn’t seem so impossible for God. This in fact became the place where she was “discovered,” and her acting role in “Facing the Giants” was one evidence of that.
Many of us have cherished dreams in our life that result only in disappointment. They may involve ambitions in business or professional life; they may relate to marriage and family life; or they may concern goals for personal achievement. Sometimes these dreams are not our destiny, and we need to release them – no matter how difficult that may be. However, there are other times when the apparent death of our dream is just part of the process God has for guiding and shaping our future. As Psalm 37:4 teaches, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Our motive is the key: What is the underlying motivation for our dream? If our eyes are fixed on God’s plan for our life, rather than insisting on our plan and demanding our own way, then God can give us the desires of our heart – even if it means changing what our desires are.
By killing a dream, many times God accomplishes his goal of prying our fingers off something that He Himself may want for us, but not for the purposes or reasons that we have in mind. He may agree with what we want, but have different ideas about why we should want it.
Other times God may want our dream to die, because it’s not His dream for you. He may have a different plan, a better plan, even if it does not seem that way at the time.
If you are wrestling with a dream that doesn’t seem to be becoming a reality, prayerfully consider your motives for this dream. Are you delighting in the Lord, or are you delighting in yourself?

(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: http://us.f906.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=rboxx@integritymoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, http://www.integrityresource.org/.
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Can you think of a cherished dream or ambition – in the distant past or even recently – that you found extremely difficult to see die? If so, what was that dream and how did it feel to let go of it?
Do you have any special dreams right now that you are starting to worry about never seeing become reality? Why do you think this might be the case?
How willing are you to accept that a long-cherished dream or goal may not be in God’s plan for your life, or that He may in fact enable you to achieve it – but in a very different way than you had imagined?
Rick Boxx quotes Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” How would you rephrase this verse in your own words? Do you believe it?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following verses:
Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 3:5,6, 16:3; Jeremiah 29:11,13; Matthew &7-12; Luke 11:9-13

2007-07-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.7.2
言語是大規模毀滅的武器
「週一嗎哪」過去談了許多次言語的使用與濫用。在今日的世界裡，全天候的電視和廣播脫口秀與評論性節目、網路和其他自我表達的管道不斷激增，所以這主題比以前更重要了。
最近有一個受歡迎但有爭議性的廣播脫口秀主持人，因在節目中所作的即興評論，受到嚴厲的批評。他所說的話本來是為了幽默及娛樂，但卻不能取悅指導此節目的道德團體。最後，那廣播評論員從他擔任多年的職位上被解僱。
有一句諺語是：「棍棒和石頭會傷及筋骨，但咒罵傷不了人。」此話應被廢棄，因這不是真的－－從來都不是。嚴厲、無情的話語所造成的傷害，比身體所受的傷害更痛苦、更長久，雖然這二者都不應該。
這問題當然也發生在各種不同形式的傳播媒體。夫妻間、父母與子女間或兄弟姊妹間，在生氣衝動時，或沒有仔細思考時所說的話，會造成家中相當大的痛苦。在職場中，大家的期待很高，工作的壓力也很大，情緒性的字眼常常像尖銳的刀刃深深地刺傷人。
無情話語背後的動機有很多，例如沮喪、敵意、羨慕、驕傲、嫉妒、憤怒。許多時候，一旦說出不適當的話，我們希望能收回，把它像垃圾一樣丟到窗外。遺憾的是，通常傷害已造成，苦毒的想法在腦中已留下一道深刻的痕跡。
這要如何解決呢？生活中有許多事都是無意識的，甚至包括不經意說出的話。我們能如何避免在與我們共事的人、所關心的人、甚至所愛的人心中造成言語的傷害？聖經舊約中的箴言有一些值得我們思考的意見：
保護你的話語如同珍貴的財物。就像那脫口秀的主持人，因不經思考的無情話語，而付出高昂的代價。我們也應了解不論那句話在當時多麼恰當，不三思而言會有嚴重的後果。事後才說：「我不是那個意思」是一個薄弱且不被接受的理由。「謹守口的，得保生命；大張嘴的，必致滅亡」（箴言13章3節）。
不讓情緒控制你的舌頭。要了解輕率、情緒性話語的潛在危險，這些話會讓你事後悔恨。在說出口前，先仔細思考所要說的話，可使你免於事後補救話語所造成的傷害。「寡少言語的有知識，性情溫良的有聰明」（箴言17章27節）。
有疑慮時，保持靜默。一位政治家曾說：「寧願保持靜默，被認為是笨蛋，也不要開口釋疑。」尤其在被脅迫或有情緒的情況下，我們很容易想到什麼就說什麼。然而，我們必需小心，不要說出自己負擔不起其損失的話語。「愚昧人若靜默不言，也可算為智慧；閉口不說，也可算為聰明」（箴言17章28節）。
思想 / 討論題目
你是否聽過「棍棒和石頭會傷及筋骨，但咒罵傷不了人」，或類似的話？你對這句話有何看法？
最近是否有人在強烈的情緒下，說出傷害你的話？或是你自己在強烈的情緒下，說出傷害別人的話？結果如何？
新約雅各書稱舌頭是「在百體裡是最小的，卻能說大話…是火；在我們百體中，舌頭是個罪惡的世界」（雅各書3章5-6節）。你是否同意這說法？為什麼？
你認為應該採取什麼步驟，才能避免因說出不恰當、無情或不經思考的話所帶來的毀滅性後果？箴言中的經文是否有幫助？
註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言4章24節，10章19-21節，10章32節，11章13節，12章14節，12章18節，15章1節，16章23節，18章2節
CBMC 中華民國總會
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
July 2nd, 2007
WORDS REMAIN ‘WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION’

By: Robert J. Tamasy
We have devoted several past editions of “Monday Manna” to the use – and abuse – of the spoken word. It appears that in today’s world, with the proliferation of round-the-clock TV and radio talk shows and commentaries, the Internet and other outlets for self-expression, this issue is as important as ever.
Recently a popular and controversial syndicated radio talk show host underwent severe criticism for impromptu comments he made on his program. The statements he had made, intended to be humorous and entertaining, failed to amuse members of the ethnic group to which they were directed. Ultimately the radio commentator was terminated by the network from the job he had held for many years.
There used to be an adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It is time to put that saying to rest once and for all. It is not true – and never was. Damage inflicted by harsh, insensitive words often can be more painful and longer-lasting than striking someone physically, although neither is acceptable.
This problem is certainly not restricted to the various forms of broadcast media. Words spoken during an angry impulse – or simply without careful consideration – between spouses, parents and children, or siblings, can cause considerable pain in the home. In the workplace, where expectations can be very high and job pressures very intense, emotionally charged words often pierce as deeply as a sharpened blade.
Motives behind harsh words can be many – frustration, hostility, envy, pride, jealousy, anger. Many times, once inappropriate words have been given voice, we wish we could retrieve them like trash thrown out of a window. Unfortunately, the harm is usually already done; poisonous thoughts leaving a deep mental imprint.
What is the solution? So much of life is spontaneous, even words that are uttered carelessly. How can we avoid inflicting such verbal destruction on people we work with, care for, even love? The book of Proverbs, found in the Bible’s Old Testament, has some ideas well worth considering:
Protect your words as precious possessions. Just as the talk show host paid a high price for words spoken thoughtlessly and with extreme insensitivity, we also should be aware of the consequences of poorly considered comments, no matter how fitting they seem at the moment. “But I really didn’t mean how it sounded” is generally a weak and unacceptable defense. “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3).
Don’t let emotions rule your tongue. Remain consciously aware of the potential dangers of making rash, emotional statements you could later regret. Pausing to carefully consider what you are about to say can save you from having to try to undo or remedy the hurtful impact of words unwisely spoken. “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered” (Proverbs 17:27).
When in doubt, keep quiet. A statesman once said, “Better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Especially under duress, or in emotionally charged situations, we are tempted to speak thoughts as soon as they arise. However, we need to be cautious not to give someone a piece of our mind that we cannot afford to lose. “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Proverbs 17:28).
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press) and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress).
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: www.cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” or something similar? How do you react to such a statement?
2. Can you recall a time recently when someone said something hurtful to you in a moment of intense emotion – or when you spoke harmful words to someone out of your own emotional state? What was the result?
3. The New Testament book of James calls the tongue “a small part of the body, yet it makes great boasts…a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body” (James 3:5-6). Do you agree with those statements? Why or why not?
4. What steps – if any – do you think you (or someone that you know well) should take to avoid the destructive consequences of expressing inappropriate, insensitive or inconsiderate thoughts? Are any of the insights from the verses in Proverbs helpful?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that concern this topic, turn to the following passages:
Proverbs 4:24, 10:19-21, 10:32, 11:13, 12:14, 12:18, 15:1, 16:23, 18:2

2007-06-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪

服事全球工商界
2007.6.25
昂貴的物品－是福氣或負擔？
在1976年我向朋友買了一只二手的勞力士錶，我付他150美元。買了那錶之後的六年間，我每天都戴著它。那期間我花了六百多美元的修理費，甚至有一次我還寄到瑞士去清潔及潤滑。漸漸地，我覺得每天戴著這麼昂貴的手錶太不實際了。我覺得開法拉利跑車去上班還比較合理。
有一天，我到芝加哥參加一個商展，遇到一位陌生人願意付1,200美元現金買我那只勞力士錶。雖然我尚未計劃賣錶，但當時我毫不猶豫，立刻就賣給他。然後第二天，我去一家我很喜歡的百貨公司，用50美元買了一只非常便宜的錶，讓我淨賺1,150美元，我實在太快樂了。我很愛那只勞力士錶，也很欣賞它的精湛手藝，但它已變成一個不必要的負擔。
老牌影星保羅紐曼有多次被拍到，戴著與我同款式的勞力士錶。那一款式就一直被稱為「保羅紐曼錶」。可能他戴起來比我實用多了。
在賣掉我那勞力士錶之後，我開始注意到廣告上那款勞力士錶的價格是3,000美元以上。目前那款錶的標價是17,000美元。而最近一次拍賣會上，那款錶以84,000美元成交。
我是否後悔以1,200美元賣掉那勞力士錶呢？一點也不。當然，我寧願我是以$17,000賣出，而不是$1,200。但對我而言，擁有17,000美元的錶會是一個很大的負擔。這負擔比我戴上它的快樂還大。可能只有我是這種感覺，但我絕不要戴價值那麼高昂的錶，要花工夫保護它的安全，還要定期保養修理。這些都太麻煩了！
聖經新約希伯來書12章1節說：「就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程。」昂貴的錶、汽車或吉他，本身並非不好，但它們一定會成為我們的重擔，阻礙我們過不為「物質」憂慮、自由自在的生活。
我認識一些人因擁有非常昂貴的照相機，就不把照相機帶出門；因有昂貴的樂器，就從不彈奏它；因有昂貴的汽車，就不開出去。我想，擁有這些會帶來某種程度的快樂。但對我而言，它們是使我不能自在享受生活的負擔。我不是擁有它們，而是它們擁有我。
我現在戴的錶是從一個賣場的小攤販買來的。那不是勞力士錶，但也運作得很好，告訴我準確的時間。而且我已決定，當它停止運轉，我不必費心去修理或保養。我只要把它丟掉，再買一只就好了。它可能不像勞力士那麼有名，但對我而言，它的方便性就很值得了。
思想 / 討論題目
你是否同意本文作者對勞力士錶的態度？你會不會質疑，他沒有先評估那錶當時的價值，就衝動地賣錶？為什麼？
他認為：昂貴的物品帶來許多麻煩，使我們的生活增加不必要的複雜性。你是否同意這論點？請解釋。
你現在（或過去）擁有最昂貴的東西是什麼？若你突然遺失那東西，你會有什麼感覺？
「不是我擁有它們，而是它們擁有我。」你對這主張有何看法？你認為這句話是什麼意思？你是否同意？我們要如何被物品所擁有？
註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言11章28節，15章6節，15章16節，18章11節，30章8-9節；馬太福音6章19-34節，19章16-24節；路加福音12章16-21節
CBMC 中華民國總會
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
June 25, 2007
EXPENSIVE THINGS – BLESSING, OR BURDEN?
By: Jim Mathis
In 1976, I bought a used watch from a friend. It was a Rolex Daytona Cosmograph. I paid him $150 for it. I wore it every day for the next half dozen years. During that time I spent about $600 to $700 to keep it in proper running condition. This even included sending it to Switzerland on one occasion for cleaning and lubrication. Gradually it became apparent to me that wearing such an expensive watch every day was not practical. In a way, it seemed to make as much sense as commuting to work in a Ferrari. One day I was attending a trade show in Chicago when a man I had never met offered me $1,200 in cash to purchase the watch off my arm. Even though I had not been planning to part with the watch, I sold it to him immediately, without hesitation. Then I went to a favorite department store the next day and bought a very inexpensive watch for $50, leaving me with a tidy profit of $1,150. I could not have been happier. I loved the Rolex, and appreciated its fine workmanship, but it had become an unnecessary burden. Over the years Paul Newman, the legendary actor, has been photographed several times wearing a watch exactly like my old Rolex, and that model has since become known as the “Paul Newman Watch.” Perhaps he found the watch to be more practical than I did. Not long after I sold my Rolex, I began to notice ads from people offering to buy Rolex Daytona watches for $3,000 or more. The current book value for that particular model, as I understand it, is $17,000. And recently one was sold at an auction for $84,000. Do I regret selling my Rolex for $1,200? Not at all. Certainly I would rather have $17,000 than $1,200. But to me, possessing a $17,000 watch would be a tremendous burden, even greater than the watch was to me before I decided to sell it. This may be true only of me, but I could never wear a watch that valuable, and the chore of keeping it safe and in good working order would have been far too bothersome. In the Bible’s New Testament, Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us lay aside every weight…and run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Expensive watches, cars, or guitars are not bad things in themselves, but they can certainly weigh us down and hinder our ability to live as freely as we would like, unencumbered by worries about our “stuff.”
I know people that have cameras so expensive that they never take them out of the house; musical instruments so expensive that they never get played; and cars so expensive that they never get driven. I suppose the knowledge that you have them brings a degree of pleasure, but to me they are burdens that keep us from life. Rather than owning them, they seem to own us. The watch that I wear now I bought at a kiosk at a local shopping mall. It is not a Rolex, but it works just fine, telling me the time very accurately. And I have already decided that when it stops, I don’t have to bother with any complicated repairs or maintenance. I can simply throw it away and buy another one. It may not carry the prestige of a Rolex, but for me it more than compensates for that with its convenience.
Jim Mathis is Executive Director for CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., where he oversees Homer’s Coffee Shop. He and his wife, Louise, formerly were co-owners of a camera and photo processing shop in Overland Park, Kansas.
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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Web site: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. Did you agree with Jim Mathis’s attitude toward his Rolex watch? Do you question his impulsive decision to sell the watch, rather than first determining the “going rate” for the time piece? Why or why not?
2. Do you agree with his contention that costly possessions can be more trouble than they are worth, that they can bring unnecessary complications into our lives? Explain your answer.
3. What is the most valuable material possession that you have – or have owned in the past? How would you feel if you suddenly lost it or had it taken away from you?
4. What is your reaction to the comment that sometimes, instead of owning valuable things, they can “own” us? What do you think that statement means, and do you agree with it? How can we avoid being “possessed by our own possessions”?
If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages:
Proverbs 11:28, 15:6, 15:16, 18:11; 30:8-9; Matthew 6:19-34, 19:16-24; Luke 12:16-21

2007-06-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.6.11
職場上的危險

想像一下，當你辛苦地為你新成立的公司招募一批員工，卻發現在你所僱用的人中，每10人就有6人是不值得信任的。

根據約瑟森道德協會所作的研究，這比例很快就會成為職場常見的現象。他們調查36,122名高中生，發現61%過去一年曾作弊，39%曾為了省錢而說謊，28%曾偷商店的貨品或金錢。

這些學生代表了我們下一代的領袖。他們未來的僱主需要知道，公司文化將來可能面臨的風險。因為這叛逆的世代就代表他們公司的文化。「雖然不誠實在學校非常盛行，但這些年輕人一進入職場，不誠實的行為會立刻消失。」這種假設是不真實，且不切實際的。

約瑟森的研究強調只有2%的作弊、說謊者被抓到，且只有一半的人受到糾正、處罰。我們可以合理地推論：其他98%的人不會相信，不道德的行為是不能被接受的。

因為這些年輕人尚未被要求去面對不道德、不誠實的後果，所以他們再次欺騙的可能性非常高。他們認為自己錯誤的行為不會被發現。事實上，有些人會變得更大膽，願意冒更大的風險－－都是為了自我中心的目標，即使這樣的行為會損害自己的公司。

因為職場有這逐漸增加的現象，招募員工的挑戰就愈來愈大。若你要在公司維持高道德標準，在來應徵的人當中，能分辨出可靠的人格特質就變得很重要。僱用品格高尚的人當然會變得更困難，但花力氣去分辨，在這高競爭的工商界，很可能會帶來更大的效益。

在出埃及記18章，葉忒羅給女婿摩西一個很有智慧的建議，在21節：「要從百姓中揀選有才能的人，就是敬畏神、誠實無妄、恨不義之財的人，派他們作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長管理百姓。」

這項建議最困難的部份在於，決定誰符合這些標準。然而，事先知道要尋找那些特質，就可幫助我們挑選。我們都要「能幹」、道德標準比別人高的人為我們工作。我們要渴望成功、卓越的人，但不要為達目的不擇手段。

若你負責聘僱年輕員工，我建議你參考葉忒羅的意見。若你如此做，你就能在39%值得信任的人中選出員工，而不是從61%不誠實的人中選出員工，最後損失慘重。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你是否觀察到你辦公室裡，道德行為與整體正直有任何負向的改變？若是，這現象是如何變明顯的？

2. 你是否同意，若年輕人沒學到不誠實的行為會有重大的後果，當他們進入工商界他們就還是維持不道德的態度與行為？為什麼？

3. 在你工作的場所，有沒有正式的規章，讓員工知道那些是可被接受、被期待的道德行為？若有，是什麼規定？若無，你認為可採取什麼步驟，在員工互動時，促進並鼓勵正直？

4. 你對葉忒羅提供給摩西的建議有何看法？用在21世紀的職場是否合適？請解釋。

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言10章9節，11章1節，11章3節，12章19節，13章17節，19章5節。20章17節，20章25節

CBMC 中華民國總會
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
June 11, 2007

DANGER ON THE WAY FOR THE WORKPLACE
By: Rick Boxx

Imagine the difficulty of trying to staff a new business if you were to discover that six out of every 10 employees that you have hired were not trustworthy.

This could soon become an everyday reality in our workplaces, according to a study conducted by the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Their survey of 36,122 high school students discovered that 61 percent of these young people have cheated on an exam in the past year, 39 percent have lied to save money, and 28 percent have stolen merchandise or money from a store.

These students represent our next generation of leaders. Their future employers need to be aware of the potential risk to their corporate culture that will be presented by those who are a part of this wayward generation. It seems unrealistic and impractical to presume that the dishonesty that has become so prevalent in educational institutions will suddenly disappear once the young people enter the workplace.

The Josephson study underscores the fact that only two percent of these cheaters and liars are caught, and only half of those receive any kind of corrective punishment or discipline. The remaining 98 percent, we can reasonably conclude, have little or no reason to believe that ethical misconduct is unacceptable.

Because these young people have not been required to face the consequences of unethical and dishonest behavior, the likelihood that they will cheat again in some manner remains very high. They simply assume that their wrongdoing will remain undetected. Some, in fact, will become more bold and willing to take even greater risks – all in the name of achieving their self-centered objectives, even if such action compromises the organizations that employ them.

Because of this looming workplace reality, significant hiring challenges are going to arise. Being able to identify positive, dependable character qualities among prospective employees will become critical if you desire to build a workplace that promotes high integrity and ethical standards. The art of hiring quality people certainly will be more difficult, but the additional effort most likely will pay even greater dividends in the competitive business environment.

In Exodus 18, Jethro gave his son-in-law, Moses, wise counsel about what kind of people he should hire. In verse 21, Jethro said, “But select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

The difficult part of this advice involves determining which individuals meet these criteria. However, knowing in advance what qualities to look for will help. We all want “capable” men and women working for us, individuals who recognize a moral and ethical standard higher than themselves. We want people with a desire to succeed and excel, but without employing dishonest practices to attain those goals.

If you are in a position of hiring young people, I recommend that you review and seek to implement the advice of Jethro. If you do this, more than likely you will end up being able to select workers from among the 39 percent of students who have been trustworthy, rather than the 61 percent that may prove costly because of their dishonest and unethical character traits.

(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, http://www.integrityresource.org/.

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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Web site: http://www.cbmcint.org/
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Have you observed any negative change in ethical behavior and overall integrity in your workplace? If so, how has this become evident?

2. Do you agree that if young people do not learn that there are consequences for dishonest actions, they will retain their unethical attitudes and practices upon entering the business and professional world? Why or why not?

3. At your organization, are there any formal codes or guidelines to inform employees of acceptable, expected ethical practices? If so, what are they? If not, what steps do you think can or should be taken to promote and encourage integrity and honesty in all interactions?

4. What do you think of the advice that Jethro offered to Moses – is it reasonable for applying to the 21st century marketplace? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following verses from the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 10:9, 11:1, 11:3, 12:19, 13:17, 19:5, 20:17, 20:25

2007-06-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.6.4

領袖都到哪去了？

艾科卡是一位非常卓越的執行長，他曾經成功地拯救了汽車製造商克萊斯勒。最近他寫了一本書「領袖都到哪去了？」我尚未閱讀這本書，但這書名確實提出了一個有趣的問題－－領袖都到哪去了？

若你要20個人定義或描述優秀的領導，你可能會得到20個非常不同的觀點。對有些人而言，領導就是完全控制屬下所做的事。有的領袖喜歡「微管理」，堅持要知道並管理發生在周遭每件事的細節。有的領袖則比較願意放手，授權給屬下。

對所有領袖而言，雖然沒有一種領導方式是理想的，但我們還是要談論授權給屬下的領袖。以下是中國哲學家老子所寫道德經中的一段話：
「太上，不知有之；其次，親而譽之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。功成事遂，百姓皆謂：「我自然。」
（最佳領袖，讓人民幾乎感覺不到他的存在；次好領袖，會讓人民尊崇讚揚；再次一等，讓人民害怕；再次一等，讓人民痛恨。當領袖把事情做完後，人們會說：「這是我們做的。」）

有趣的是，這同樣的原則也出現在聖經中，但是以一種稍微不同的方式說出：「凡事不可結黨，不可貪圖虛浮的榮耀；只要存心謙卑，各人看別人比自己強。各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事」（腓立比書2章3-4節）。

在我作生意的初期，我有一個經理堅持定期與一位員工一起工作。對有些領袖而言，這種行為是自貶身份。他們說：「領袖只要下命令，屬下就去做。」但對我那經理而言，這是他為屬下設立典範的方式。他說：「我絕不要任何人去做我也不願做的事。」而且，我發現他說到做到。他謙卑地認為別人與他一樣平等，即使他們擔任較不重要的角色。而且我們感受到他將我們的利益擺在第一位。

不幸的是，我很少看到其他領袖有和他一樣的態度。大部份的領袖都太了解自己擁有權力、高人一等的地位，他們怕我們忘記這一點，所以常常提醒屬下自己的「優越」。然而這不是領導，而是自我中心，且有時是濫用權力。

以下是聖經對領導的另外兩項觀察：
領袖隨時都知道跟隨者的需要。為了有最佳表現，員工的基本需要必須被滿足－－適當的薪資與合適的工作環境，對複雜的工作提供足夠的支援，領袖清楚的溝通，敏銳於員工所面臨的個人問題。「你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群…羊羔之毛，是為你做衣服；山羊是為作田地的價值」（箴言27章23-26節）。

在動盪的時刻，領袖提供穩定。當領袖軟弱，跟隨者會困惑，且會導致混亂。當領袖沒有發揮功能，任何人都能擔任這角色。一位堅強的領袖會清楚說明公司的方向與目標，如此跟隨者才能支持，並對這共同的使命作出貢獻。「邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存」（箴言28章2節）。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你如何定義或描述好的領袖？

2. 在你共事過的人中，誰是最佳領袖？

3. 現今的世代很少有領袖會藉著關心跟隨者的最佳利益，去真正地激勵鼓舞跟隨者。你同意這論點嗎？為什麼？

4. 現今的市場有許多的不確定，領袖能作什麼去鼓舞人們信任自己與自己的公司？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言10章9節，11章17節，15章33節，24章5-6節，26章16節，29章4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
June 4, 2007

WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Lee Iacocca, an extremely high-profile executive that was credited with salvaging the automobile manufacturer then known as the Chrysler Corporation, has recently written a book called “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?” I have not read the book, but the title does raise an interesting question – where have all the leaders gone?

If you were to gather 20 people in a room and ask them to define or describe good leadership, you probably would get 20 very different points of view. For some, leadership means completely controlling what subordinates do. Other leaders like to micro-manage, insisting on knowing and managing every detail of what’s going on around them. Others prefer a more hands-off, delegative approach.

While there is not one particular style that is ideal for all leaders, there is something to be said about the leader who empowers those that work for him or her. Consider, for instance, this statement from the ancient Tao Te Ching, written by the Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu:

“But as for the best leaders, the people hardly notice their existence, the next best the people honor and praise, the next the people fear, the next the people hate. But when the best leader’s work is done, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’”

Interestingly, this same principle is presented in the Bible, but stated in a somewhat different way. Philippians 2:3,4 tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Early in my business career, I had a manager that insisted on working alongside each of his employees on a regular basis. For some leaders, such a gesture would seem demeaning. “The leader gives the orders, others do the work,” they might say. But for Joe, the manager, it was his way of setting an example for those reporting to him: “I never ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do,” he explained. And as I observed, he meant what he said. In humility, Joe regarded others as equal to himself, even if they held less important roles, and we sensed that he kept our best interests foremost.

Since then, unfortunately, I have encountered relatively few leaders that have shared this same attitude. The majority of them have been too aware of their exalted positions of authority and, lest we forget, made sure to remind their subordinates frequently of their “superiority.” This is not leadership, however, but self-centeredness and sometimes, abuse of authority.

Here are two other related observations from the Bible about leadership:
Leaders maintain awareness of their followers’ needs. To perform to maximum effectiveness, employees must have basic needs met – adequate compensation, suitable working environment, sufficient assistance for complex projects, clear communication from leadership, and sensitivity to personal issues they may be confronting. “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds…the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field” (Proverbs 27:23-26).

Leaders provide stability in turbulent times. When leadership is weak, confusion results and can lead to chaos. When there is a leadership vacuum, anyone can step in. A strong leader clarifies the company’s direction and goals, so those who follow can support and contribute to the corporate mission. “When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order” (Proverbs 28:2).

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

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: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Web site: http://www.cbmcint.org/

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How would you define or describe a good leader?

2. Who is/was the best leader you have ever been associated with? What were some of the qualities that made that person an effective leader?

3. Do you agree with the contention that there are relatively few contemporary leaders that truly motivate and inspire by demonstrating that they keep in mind the best interests of those that follow them? Why or why not?

4. With all of the uncertainties of today’s marketplace, what can leaders do to inspire confidence and trust in themselves and their organizations?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that concern this topic, turn to the following passages:

Proverbs 10:9, 11:17, 15:33, 24:5-6, 28:16, 29:4

2007-05-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.5.28
你知道自己有多特別嗎？

自己家兼辦公室的好處就是時間可以彈性運用。當有需要時，即使在我的工作時間裡，也可以處理個人和家人的事。這讓我有機會，每週一次帶我3歲的孫女去幼稚園。

有一天我去學校接她，一路上她不停地說著那一天發生的事。她的說話技巧比一些成人還要好。當她說到某件事時，她的評論讓我不禁大笑。在我止住笑後，我告訴她：「妳非常特別！」她毫不遲疑，正經八百地回答：「爺爺，你以前不知道我特別嗎？」

我的小孫女很幸福，有愛她的父母與祖父母常常告訴她，她很特別，所以她對這一點毫無疑問。她把自己的特別當作事實接受，正如她知道草是綠的，天是藍的。不幸的是，我們許多在工商專業界工作人，對自己的「特別」不是那麼有把握。

我們可能知道自己有獨特的能力、技巧、經驗和天賦。但我們真認為自己「特別」嗎？在職場上的人常常被認為是「可丟棄的資源」，當他們的價值減少，或有人可用更少的錢做同樣的工作，他們就被迅速丟棄。有些老闆對員工的好表現吝於稱讚，好像讚美是褻瀆，不可說出口。

所以在職場上，我們有些人從未聽過別人說我們有多特別、多寶貴。然而，在聖經裡，我們可以看到宇宙的神認為我們非常特別。例如，我們很熟悉的經文說：「神愛世人，甚至將祂的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信祂的，不至滅亡，反得永生」（約翰福音3章16節）。這節經文所提到「一切信祂」的人，也包括你！在另一節類似的經文，聖經說：「惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了」（羅馬書5章8節）。換句話說，即使我們不值得祂愛，祂還是接納我們。請思想聖經以下經文所說，在神眼中，我們的特別之處：

神對我們有特別的計劃。若有一公司歡迎我們加入，這公司的管理部門對我們有特別的計劃，讓我們擔任這組織中的某個職位。這種感覺實在很棒！在我們想到神之前，神已有清楚的意念－－對我們的生命有特別的計劃。「我知道我向你們所懷的意念，是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。你們尋求我，若專心尋求我，就必尋見」（耶利米書29章11，13節）。

神對我們有特別的呼召。在職場及個人生活中，我們有一個特定的角色，這角色是特別設計來要我們去擔任。知道這一點會帶來極大的滿足與喜樂。聖經說，基督的跟隨者也有非常特別的「工作內容」。「固然是被人所棄的，卻是被神所揀選所寶貴的；你們來到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成靈宮，作聖潔的祭司…」（彼得前書2章4-5節）。

神為我們預備了特別的地方。記得你第一次看到你的辦公室時的興奮感，因為那地方是特別為你預備的。在聖經裡，耶穌也以永恆的觀念說同樣的話：「在我父的家裡，有許多住處；若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了；我去原是為你們預備地方去」（約翰福音14章2節）。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 當你早上醒來，你是否覺得自己是特別的（請誠實回答）？為什麼？

2. 在你的公司，主管會不會強調員工的特質，讓員工覺得自己有價值，且特別？若你是可以說出別人價值的主管，你是否有抓住機會說？請解釋。

3. 若有人問你，你會說出自己有什麼特質，以顯示自己真的是一個獨特的人？

4. 聖經中有許多經文談到神對信徒的態度，他們在祂眼中的特別之處。這對你有什麼的意義？哪一節經文對你有特別的意義？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
詩篇37篇3-6節，40章1-5節；箴言16章3、9節；約翰福音17章20-26節；羅馬書8章28-31，35-39節
MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 28, 2007

DO YOU KNOW HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE?

By: Robert J. Tamasy

A benefit of working out of a home office is flexibility. When necessary, I can address personal and family needs during the course of my workday. It also has afforded me unique opportunities, such as when I was taking my then three-year-old granddaughter to her preschool class once a week.

One day I picked her up at the school and listened as she talked non-stop about her day. She already had better conversational skills than some adults that I knew. At one point, her comments made me laugh out loud. After I had regained my composure, I told her, “You are very special!” Without hesitation, she matter-of-factly replied, “You didn’t know that, Pop?”

My little granddaughter is blessed with loving parents and grandparents who indeed frequently tell her how special she is, so she does not doubt that at all. She accepts it as fact, just as she knows grass is green and the sky is blue. Unfortunately, many of us who labor in the business and professional world are not as confident about our “special-ness.”

We may be aware of unique abilities and skills, experience and gifts we bring to our chosen vocations, but do we really regard ourselves as “special”? Too often, people in the workplace are regarded as “disposable resources,” quickly discarded whenever their value diminishes or someone arrives who can do the same work for less money. Some bosses act as if they believe compliments and commendations for good performance are as offensive as profanity, unacceptable to be uttered.

So at least some of us may never hear, in the workplace, how special and prized we are. There is one place, however – the Bible – where we can see without question that the God of the universe regards us as very special. For instance, a familiar passage declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The “whoever” mentioned in that verse includes you! In a similar passage, the Bible states, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In other words, even though we are not worthy of His love, God accepts us. Consider more of what the Bible says about our “special-ness” in God’s sight:

God has special plans for us. Doesn’t it feel good to be welcomed into a company knowing the management has special plans for how we will fit into the organization? Long before we had given God a thought, He already had clear intentions – a specific design for our lives. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’” (Jeremiah 29:11, 13).

God has a special calling for us. In the workplace, as in life, knowing we have a definite role, specially designed for us to carry out, can bring incredible fulfillment and joy. The Bible says that followers of Christ also have very special “job descriptions.” “…rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

God has a special place for us. Remember the excitement you felt the first time you were shown to your own office or work station, knowing that place had been reserved especially for you? In the Bible, Jesus says the same is true in an eternal sense. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you…” (John 14:2).

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 www.leaderslegacy.com or 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
Please direct any requests or change of address to: www.cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Be honest – when you awoke this morning, did you feel special? Why or why not?

2. At your workplace, is any emphasis given to making employees feel valued and special? If you are in a position of responsibility where you can give expressions of worth to others, do you use that opportunity? Explain your answer.

3. If someone were to ask you, what personal qualities would you cite to show that you truly are a unique, special individual?

4. Several passages from the Bible are listed that express God’s attitude toward those that are His followers – their special-ness in His eyes. What, if anything, does that mean to you? Do any of the verses cited have any particular meaning for you?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages on this topic, here are several to consider:

Psalm 37:3-6, 40:1-5; Proverbs 16:3, 9; John 17:20-26; Romans 8:28-31, 35-39

2007-05-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.5.21

攻擊、或逃避－－或其他更好的方法？

許多年前，在大學上心理學時，我學到當面對衝突時，人類的兩個反應是攻擊或逃跑－－也就是逃避問題或反擊。從那時起，我就發現逃避或報復是最自然的反應。但這是正確的反應嗎？

耶穌在當時，常常被認為是激進派，祂在今天還是如此。例如，祂不像心理學家，祂對衝突建議一個非常不同的回應：「不要與惡人作對，有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打。有人想要告你，要拿你的裏衣，連外衣也由他拿去。有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里」（馬太福音5章39-41節）。祂說，這種回應是能夠使衝突變為建立良好關係的唯一方法。

衝突是人類常看到的情形，它發生在各個階層：在我們的家庭中、與朋友的關係、在職場、在政界、在國際關係、甚至在宗教場合。我們處理衝突的方式顯示我們的個性與器度。不論情況如何，衝突的解決方式都一樣。耶穌所教導處理衝突的方法與我們的自然反應完全相反。這方式似乎很奇怪，但它可補救破裂的關係。

史丹利．馬克士是一家高級百貨公司的創辦人。他說，曾有一位婦人來店抱怨她的輪胎沒用多久就磨損了。經理向她解釋說，他們百貨公司沒有賣輪胎，而且根本沒有汽車部門。但那婦人堅持她的輪胎是在這家百貨公司買的，且要他們立刻換輪胎。

雖然史丹利有權拒絕那婦人的索賠，但他最後多走一里路。他為她買了一組好輪胎，並為她付換機油的錢。他其實不需這麼做，但這種超級的客戶服務使他的百貨公司成為零售業的傳奇，且為他帶來一大群非常忠誠的顧客。

我們周圍有些人似乎總是在逃避困難，而不解決問題。面對自己受到的不公平待遇，其他人則選擇反擊、報復。但耶穌建議一個除了反擊或逃避以外的第三種選擇－－用愛心與理解回應－－這是最好的方法。

以色列的所羅門王被認為是世界上最有智慧人，他也提供一個類似的觀察。他發現不需用憤怒回應一個生氣的人：「回答柔和，使怒消退；言語暴戾，觸動怒氣」（箴言15章1節）。用仁慈的態度回應一個惡意的評論或甚至是嚴重的言語冒犯，才是真正高尚的品格。在以上三種回應衝突的方式中，用愛心回應當然是最困難的，且需要極大的力量與自制力才能作到。

在工商界，我已學到，用愛心與同情去回應問題，是建立顧客忠誠度的理想方法。當顧客不公平地抱怨時，我們很容易反駁。但若他要求你「陪他走一里路」，而你走超過一里路時，通常你不止得到一位朋友，也得到一位終身客戶。

在我所經營的咖啡店裡，有顧客抱怨咖啡不夠熱。雖然我可以證明那溫度夠熱，但我不會反駁。我只是道歉，並將他們的咖啡再加熱一點。如史丹利所說：「顧客永遠是對的。」他的意思是，若你以他們認為對的方式對待他們（即使他們是錯的），結果會讓你驚奇。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 當你面對衝突時，你一向如何回應？你是逃避或攻擊？請舉一個最近的例子。

2. 耶穌建議我們，面對不公平待遇時，不要攻擊或逃避，而要以耐心、愛心及理解去回應。你對這建議有何看法？你認為在今天的工商專業界，這種作法是否合適、合理？請解釋。

3. 面臨顧客明顯的錯誤，你對史丹利的回應有何看法？你認為他為何要那麼做？那種作法是否實際？

4. 請想想你曾面臨的衝突，最後是以逃避或攻擊收場。若你選擇以尊重、同情、理解回應對方，結果會有何不同？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言12章16節，14章29節，16章32節，18章19節；26章21節；馬太福音5章13-16節，33-37，43-48節

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 21, 2007

FIGHT, OR FLEE – OR SOMETHING BETTER?

By: Jim Mathis

Years ago in a college psychology class, I learned that when faced with conflict, the two human responses are “fight” or “flight” – the choice of either fleeing from the problem or fighting back. Since then I have observed that running or retaliating seem to be the most natural responses. But are they the correct responses?

In his day, Jesus was often regarded as a radical and in many ways, he remains so today. For instance, unlike the psychologists, he suggested a very different response to conflict: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic,
let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:39-41). Such responses, he was saying, are the only ways to turn conflict into positive relationships.

Conflicts are a normal part of the human experience. They occur at all levels: in our families, relationships with friends, in the workplace, in politics, in international relations, even in religious environments. How we handle conflict says a lot about us – it reveals our character, as well as our stature in society. Regardless of the setting, accepted rules of conflict resolution are the same. Perhaps this is why Jesus’ teaching about how to deal with conflict seems so contrary to our natural response. It may seem radical, but it can also be very redemptive.

Stanley Marcus, a founder of the upscale Neiman-Marcus department stores, told the story about a woman who came into the store complaining that the tires on her car had worn out prematurely. The store manager explained Neiman-Marcus did not sell tires and did not even have an automotive department. But the woman insisted that she had purchased the tires at Neiman-Marcus and wanted them replaced immediately.

Although he had every right to refute the woman’s claim, Stanley Marcus essentially went the extra mile. He bought her a new set of tires and for good measure, also paid for an oil change. He did not need to do this, but such outrageous customer service made the Neiman-Marcus chain a legend in retailing and enabled them to develop a large, extremely loyal customer base.

All around us, some people always seem to be running from trouble rather than staying and dealing with issues. Others choose to constantly fight, retaliating against every perceived injustice. But Jesus suggested that rather than fight or flight, a third option – to respond with love and understanding – is the best choice of all.

A similar observation was offered by King Solomon of Israel, reputed to be the wisest man of all time. He observed that rather than responding to an angry person with anger, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Responding to an unkind comment or even a serious spoken offense in a kind manner is a true mark of character. Of the three possible responses to verbal conflict, responding in love and grace is certainly the hardest and requires the greatest strength and self-control.

In the business world, I have learned responding to a problem with love and compassion is the ideal way to build customer loyalty. It is easy to fight back when a customer complains unjustifiably. But if they ask you to “walk with them a mile” and you go beyond that, more often than not you gain a friend – and a customer – for life.

In the coffee shop I manage, I have had customers complain their coffee was not hot enough, even when I could prove that it was the recommended temperature. But whenever that happens, rather than disputing with them, I simply apologize and warm it a little more. As Stanley Marcus used to say, “The customer is always right.” What he meant is if you treat the customer as if he or she is right, even when they are not, the results will amaze you.

Jim Mathis is Executive Director for CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., where he oversees Homer’s Coffee Shop. He and his wife, Louise, formerly were co-owners of a camera and photo processing shop in Overland Park, Kansas.

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
Please direct any requests or change of address to: www.cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What is your typical response when you are faced with conflict? Do you prefer to flee, or to fight? Give a recent example.

2. What do you think about Jesus’ suggestion that rather than either fighting or fleeing, we simply respond to injustices we suffer with patience, love and understanding? Do you think this is appropriate and reasonable in today’s business and professional world? Explain your answer.

3. What do you think of Stanley Marcus’s response to the customer who was clearly in error? Why did he react in such a way, in your opinion? Was it realistic?

4. Think of a situation when a conflict in which you were involved did result in either the flight or fight response. How might it have turned out differently if the parties involved had chosen instead to treat one another with respect, compassion and understanding?

If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages:

Proverbs 12:16, 14:29, 16:32, 18:19, 26:21; Matthew 5:13-16, 33-37, 43-48

2007-05-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

2007-5-14
在變化無常的世界裡有信心

想像你的手緊緊地握住高空鞦韆的把手，眼睛看了看80英尺以下的地面。當你深呼吸，從平台上盪出去，就將腦中的一切疑慮拋開，不去擔心你的表演夥伴是否會接住你。

當你盪得愈來愈高，到達最重要的關鍵點，你是否會鬆開把手，放掉自己的所有控制權？或者你會繼續握緊鞦韆的把手，盪回平台上，讓你的夥伴和觀眾失望？

若你鬆開把手，就是向夥伴展現你毫不懷疑的信心，相信他/她會掌握準確的時間，且有足夠的力量接住你。你的這個希望是根據過去的經驗，但這一刻還是未知數。幾年前我看馬戲表演時，看到了空中飛人扣人心弦的演出。一位飛人表現出信心，另一位展現精準，都同樣地吸引人。

聖經新約希伯來書11章1節：「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」我們許多人都會面臨需要我們有某種程度的信心才能作出的決定，雖然那決定不一定是在80英尺的高空中盪鞦韆。我們信心的焦點可能是，我們要將一件重大的企劃案交給一位員工處理，而這位員工不一定能做得像你這麼好。或者，你的公司要建造或購買一個新設備，但你不確定在新設備完工時，營業收入是否足夠支付那設備的費用。

在工商界，尤其是21世界中，每一天的風險都需要我們有某種程度的信心去因應。當然你也可以堅守幾件確定的事，而避開不確定的事，但這可能會導致災難。若你逃避風險，可能只是暫時安全，後來可能會遭遇更惡劣的狀況。另一方面，藉著信心的一躍，可能帶來更大的報酬和更光明的未來。偉大的領袖、光榮的成就、和卓越的公司都是願意靠信心行動的結果。有時甚至是在事實似乎與重大決定相反的時候。

若你面臨事業上或個人生命中的關鍵時刻，請思想你的信心是在誰或什麼事上，然後就準備放開鞦韆的把手，將你的信心展現在你所信任的人或事上。這就是為何有成千上萬的人，每天工作都以禱告開始，表達他們對上帝的信心，因為神知道哪些事是我們盼望的。他們的禱告所反映的，不是他們想要的事物，而是對上帝的信心，因他們所敬拜、所服事的神是信實的，是關懷他們的，神會引導他們的思想、話語及行動。

摩西死後，約書亞承接帶領兩百萬以色列人的艱難任務。約書亞可能不確定自己是否能面對未來的困難，但上帝不斷地告訴他：「當剛強壯膽！」約書亞要如何剛強壯膽？上帝告訴他如何做到：「我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為你無論往哪裡去，耶和華你的神必與你同在」（約書亞記1章9節）。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 在你的工作中，你是否曾覺得像空中飛人的表演者，必須信任夥伴在你鬆手時會接住你？若是，請描述那情況並說明那感覺。

2. 本篇週一嗎哪引述希伯來書11章1節：「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」另一個翻譯這麼定義信心：「我們所盼望之事的實體，我們尚未看到之事的證據。」你同意這個定義嗎？你會如何用自己的話解釋信心？

3. 你是否曾將你每天的工作視為信心的表現？或者這對你而言是一個新的看法？請解釋。

4. 面對今日商場上未知和不確定的事，你是否已發現禱告是處理這些事的最佳辦法？為什麼？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
馬太福音6章28-34節，17章20-21節；羅馬書1章17節，10章17節；以弗所書6章16節；希伯來書10章22-23節，11章6節

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 14, 2007

FLYING FAITH IN A FICKLE WORLD

By: Rick Boxx

Imagine your hands firmly gripped on the trapeze handle as you glance down 80 feet or more at the floor below. As you take a deep breath and shove off from the trapeze stand, you push any doubts from your mind; doubts about whether or not your aerobatic partner will be waiting to catch you when needed.

As you swing higher and higher you arrive at the crucial defining moment. Are you going to release the handle of the trapeze, along with your total control over the outcome, or are you going to hang on and return to your perch, disappointing the crowd – and your performing teammate?

If you release the handle you are unequivocally demonstrating your faith in your partner, that his or her timing – and grasp – will be perfect. Your hopes would be based on your past experiences, but this moment is still in question. As I watched a Cirque du Soleil performance some time ago, I witnessed this incredible scenario play out in just moments. The faith required on the part of the participants, and the precision with which it was handled, were equally impressive.

In Hebrews 11:1 of the Bible’s New Testament, we are told, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Many of us are faced with decisions that require us to exercise some measure of faith, even if it’s not exactly flying on a trapeze 80 feet in the air. The focus of our faith may be a major project that must be passed off to an employee who may or may not be able to do it as well as you could. Or maybe it involves building, or buying, a new facility for your business, with no guarantee on whether your sales will be strong enough to cover the cost when the work on the structure is completed.
In the business world, perhaps even more than ever in the 21st century, each day brings risks that require some degree of faith. Of course, you could cling to the few things that seem assured, avoiding the uncertain, but that could lead to disaster. If you avoid the risk you may be safe for now, but likely will encounter serious embarrassment – or worse – later. Taking a leap of faith, on the other hand, can bring great rewards and a bright future. Great leaders, accomplishments, and companies all result from the willingness to act in faith, sometimes even when the facts seem to contradict critical decisions.
If you are faced with a defining moment in your business, your career – or even your life – consider carefully who or what your faith is depending on, and then be prepared to let go of the handle of the “trapeze,” demonstrating your faith in the object of your trust. This is why millions of people – men and women – start each work day with prayer, expressing their faith in the God who knows for certain the things we can only hope for, who clearly sees those things that we cannot. Their prayers reflect not wishful thinking, but confidence and assurance that the God they worship and serve is faithful and attentive, and will guide their thoughts, their words and actions.
In the Old Testament, Joshua had assumed the daunting task of leading two million Israelites after the death of Moses. If anyone felt challenged about being sure of what he hoped for and certain of things he could not see, it was Joshua. But God repeatedly said to him, “Be strong and courageous.” How could Joshua do this? God told him how: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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
Please direct any requests or change of address to: www.cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. In your business or professional career, have you ever felt like a trapeze artist that was flying through the air, trusting that your partner would not fail to catch you if you let go? If so, describe the situation and what the experience was like.

2. As we saw in this “Monday Manna,” Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Another translation defines it as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Do you agree with these definitions? How would you state what faith means in your own terms?

3. Have you ever regarded your typical work day as an act of faith, or is this a new perspective for you? Explain your answer.

4. In facing the unknowns and uncertainties of today’s workplace, have you found prayer a valuable resource in dealing with these issues? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following:

Matthew 6:28-34, 17:20-21; Romans 1:17, 10:17; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 10:22-23, 11:6

2007-04-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.4.30

悲傷變為喜樂，失敗變為成功

前不久有一位智者觀察到一件我想了許久的事，他說：「悲傷是打開喜樂的門，而苦難是通向平安的路。」悲傷變為喜樂，苦難變為平安？這是什麼意思？這怎麼可能？畢竟我們一般人都會盡量避免悲傷與苦難。

當我繼續思想這似非而是的吊詭話語，我想到另一個必然的原則：「一味地追求成功，會走向驕傲與傲慢」。若悲傷、困苦與失敗會幫助我們走向喜樂、平安與謙卑，那麼成功（從未受過挫折）就很容易使我們陷入自我中心，太過於喜愛自己的成就，或太著迷於自己的事。

最近我訪問一位領袖，他說在他成長的過程中，因為父親灌輸他強烈的工作觀念，所以他相信若他夠努力，就絕不會失敗。但有一次，不論他多麼努力，他還是無法扭轉劣勢。

對那位領袖而言，那個危機變成一個使他有深刻學習的美好經驗。那危機使他改變了作生意的方法，也革命性地改變他對員工的看法。失敗並沒有減少他對殷勤努力工作的重視，但那是他第一次認知自己的有限。更重要的是，他了解自己需要倚靠神賜下他所缺乏的智慧與力量。

聖經也討論到這些議題－－喜樂常常隱藏在悲傷裡，而失敗是通往成功的道路：

當目標達成時，喜樂就代替痛苦。不論在商場、在家中或個人生命裡，往目標邁進的過程中，我們常經歷痛苦、沮喪。耶穌基督了解這一點，祂以生產為例向門徒說明，使他們對耶穌將面臨的痛苦有心理準備：「婦人生產的時候就憂愁，因為她的時候到了。既生了孩子，就不再記念那苦楚，因為歡喜世上生了一個人」（約翰福音16章21節）。耶穌知道他們會為祂的死，經歷極大的悲傷，但幾天後，他們的悲傷會被無限的喜樂取代。「你們現在也是憂愁，但我要再見你們，你們的心就喜樂了。這喜樂也沒有人能奪去」（約翰福音16章22節）。

失敗顯示出在何處我們可以找到成功。比起成功，我們可從失敗中得到更多。成功可能是許多我們無法控制的因素所造成的，可能純粹是幸運，或者在因我們在剛好的時間且在剛好的位置上，或是因我們努力且主動。但當我們失敗時，則很容易準確地指出失敗的原因。若我們誠實，許多時候我們會發現失敗的原因在於自己。那是幾世紀以前，以色列王大衛的發現：「我凡事平順，便說：『我永不動搖。』…但你掩了面，我就驚惶。…我向耶和華懇求說：『求你憐恤我。』你已將我的哀哭變為跳舞…給我披上喜樂」（詩篇30篇6-11節）。

身處在這個講求實際的世界裡，我們會發現自己常常相信、倚靠自己的公司、職位、財物、力量與能力。但這些可能一瞬間就消失，唯一不動搖，值得你信賴的錨是上帝。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你曾否發現悲傷可生出喜樂，或苦難的結局是平安？若你或你認識的人曾經歷過這種情況，請說明那時的情形及結果。

2. 成功又如何？你可否想到什麼例子，不論是你自己或你周遭的人，因為不斷的成功，而變得驕傲，甚至傲慢？結果如何？為什麼？

3. 我們都經歷過失敗，不論在職場或個人生活中，失敗教導你什麼重要的功課？

4. 本文是否改變你對悲傷或失敗的態度？在你現在所面臨的情況中，雖然你正在忍受悲傷與失敗的感覺，若你的注意力改放在最後的產品－－喜樂與成功上，你是否能以希望與期待去面對？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
約書亞記1章6-9節；傳道書7章2-5節；羅馬書12章3節；哥林多後書7章5-10節；雅各書4章9-10節

CBMC
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TEL：886-2-2581-4937 FAX：886-2-2542-4169
E-Mail：cbmc@ms26.hinet.net

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
April 30, 2007

SORROW LEADS TO JOY, AS FAILURE LEADS TO SUCCESS
By: Robert J. Tamasy

Some time ago a wise individual made an observation that I found myself pondering for days. He said, “Sorrow is the door to joy, and affliction is the path to peace.” What did he mean, sorrow leads to joy, and affliction to peace? How could that be? After all, if there is anything that we typically seek to avoid, it is sorrow and affliction.

As I continued to consider that striking, paradoxical statement, I arrived at another insight that seemed to be a corollary principle: “Unrelenting success is the way to pride and arrogance.” If sorrow, affliction and failure can serve to lead us to joy, peace and humility, then it would seem that success – untarnished and unrestrained by life’s setbacks – can easily cause us to get caught up in ourselves, to delight too eagerly in our accomplishments or become too enthralled with our own press clippings.

Recently I interviewed a man who declared that because his father had instilled such a strong, unrelenting work ethic into him as he was growing up, “I honestly believed that I could not fail if I worked hard enough.” There was only one problem. The time came, he admitted, when “I failed and no matter how hard I worked, I could not turn (my dire situation) around.”

This crisis, as it turned out, proved to be a wonderful and profound learning experience for this leader, one that ultimately transformed his approach to business and revolutionized his perspective of the people who worked for him. Failure did not diminish his appreciation for the value of hard work and diligence, but for the first time he was able to recognize his own limitations. Even more important, he realized his need to rely on God for the wisdom and strength he did not possess on his own.

The Bible speaks directly to these issues – the reality that joy often is concealed within a wrapping of sorrow, and that failure can clear the path to success:

Joy replaces pain when the goal is attained. Whether in business, home life or personal pursuits, we often experience pain and distress in the process of pursuing desired goals. Jesus Christ understood this. Speaking to his followers to prepare them for agonies he soon would face, he used the analogy of birth: “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come, but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (John 16:21). Jesus knew while they would experience intense grief at his death, days later their sorrow would be replaced by limitless joy. “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22).

Failure reveals where true success is found. For some reason, we typically learn more from failure than from success. Success can result from many factors beyond our control – ranging from simple luck to just being in the right place at the right time – as much as it can come from hard work and initiative. But when we fail, it seems easier to pinpoint the cause. Many times, if we are honest, we discover that the cause for failure lies with ourselves. That is what David, king of Israel, understood centuries ago: “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken,’…but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy…. You turned my wailing into dancing…you clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:6-11).

Living in a tangible world, we find ourselves tempted to trust and depend on our companies, positions, material possessions or innate strengths and abilities. But any and all of these can be lost in moments. The only immovable, trustworthy anchor is God.

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

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever found joy being birthed out of sorrow, or peace becoming the end result of affliction? If you have experienced this, or someone you know has, describe the circumstances and how this came about.

2. What about success? Can you think of examples, whether in your life or the lives of people around you, which show how repeated success led to pride and perhaps even arrogance? How did that come about – and why?

3. We all have experienced failure at one time or another. What are some important lessons that failure has taught you, whether in the workplace or in your personal life?

4. Does this discussion change your attitude at all toward sorrow or failure? Are there any situations you are now facing that you can approach with a greater sense of hope and expectation if you concentrate on the end products of joy and success while you endure present sorrow or feelings of failure?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to this topic, consider how the following verses convey vision:

Joshua 1:6-9; Ecclesiastes 7:2-5; Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 7:5-10; James 4:9-10

2007-04-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.4.23
尋求別人的利益

我現在正在研究為何有些人無論做什麼事都會成功，而有些人做任何事卻總是不順利。

我認為在聖經的新約中可找到一個線索。在腓立比書2章4節使徒保羅寫道：「各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。」聖經的另一種版本用這樣的方式來陳述這個勸告：「將自己放在旁邊，幫助別人前進。不要只想為自己得利益。要忘掉自己，幫助別人。」

這不只是一個好的聖經忠告，也可能是我所能想到最好的商業忠告。齊格樂是一位激勵人的演說家，也是商業諮詢師。他常說：「你可以得到生命中所有你想要的事物，只要你幫助別人得到他們想要的。」

在我經營的咖啡店裡，最近有的員工必須提早下班，有的又必須晚一點才能上班。我們試著去順應每個員工的需求，但問題是，若有一人要提早下班，或晚一點上班，或請病假，別人的計劃就必須改變。若有一人要晚一點上班，就意味著另有一人的下班時間要比原先計劃的更晚。若有一人想要將自己的計劃放在對工作的承諾之上，就意味著另有一人必須取消約會、改變晚餐計劃，或錯過一個重要的會議。

遺憾的是，我們通常不這麼看事情。我們將自己作的決定視為與別人無關，不會影響別人，或只有一點影響。然而在許多狀況中。我們的決定和選擇對別人有直接的影響。選擇去遵守一個承諾，可能有時會不方便。但遵守那承諾，可能會大大加強我們的能力，去符合一個重要的需求，或達到一個非常渴望的目標。

將別人的利益放在自己的利益之上或之下，長期下來會有一個結果－－贏家或輸家。自私一定會導致損失，尋求別人的利益則會將勝利帶給每一個人。

在我所經營的「荷馬咖啡店」裡，我們很幸運，在員工還很年輕時，他們就開始學習應用這個原則。我很高興能幫助這些年輕人去塑造他們的工作習慣，大大地增加他們成為贏家的機會。因為他們已學到服務、努力和尋求別人利益（即使要有某種程度的犧牲）的重要性。

我們常聽到「成為第一名」，而且自我中心似乎是我們每個人都有的特性－－至少有某種程度。將別人放在我們之上，需要一定程度的謙卑。願意為了別人的利益，而自己居下位。但不論在職場、在家中或在社區裡，謙卑總是一個吸引人的特質－－可能因為這特質很不容易找到。

所以，若你真的要與眾不同，更吸引別人注意，就要將別人的利益放在自己的利益之上。可能這行動就會漸漸成為你的習慣。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 在你工作的場所中，你曾否看過有人願意將別人的利益放在自己利益之上？那是如何做到的？你認為結果會是什麼？

2. 對於將別人的利益放在自己利益之上，你有何看法？這種作法是否有威脅性，因為一個人若不保護自己的利益，就會有危險？請解釋。

3. 本文引述齊格樂的話：「你可以得到生命中所有你想要的事物，只要你幫助別人得到他們想要的。」你對這句話有何看法？在你工作或生活中，你可否想出印證這句話的情形？

4. 要能將別人的利益放在第一位，必須要培養謙卑的態度。你認為謙卑如何能幫助我們將別人的利益放在第一位？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言16章19節，18章12節，29章23節；馬太福音23章11-12節；使徒行傳20章19-21節；彼得前書5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
MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
April 23, 2007

LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS
By: Jim Mathis

One of my ongoing pursuits is trying to figure out why some people are successful at whatever they want to accomplish, while others always seem to be floundering, struggling at everything they do.

I think that one clue is found in the New Testament of the Bible. In Philippians 2:4, the apostle Paul writes, “Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others.” Another version of the Bible states this admonition in this way: “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

This is not only good biblical counsel, but also possibly the best business advice I can think of. Motivational speaker and business consultant Zig Ziglar has often said, “You can get everything in life that you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

At the coffee shop I manage, we have had a few issues lately with people either leaving early or arriving late to work. We try to accommodate people’s needs, but the real problem is that if one person has to leave early, arrive late, or call in sick, somebody else’s plans must change. One person being late for work means somebody else has to work later than they had planned. One person’s desire to put their own plans ahead of their work commitment means somebody else has to cancel an appointment, change dinner plans, or miss an important meeting.

Unfortunately, we often do not see things this way. We see the decisions we make as being isolated, with little or no impact on others. Yet in many cases, our decisions and choices have direct impact on others. Choosing to keep a promise may sometimes be inconvenient, but fulfilling that commitment may greatly enhance someone else’s ability to meet a critical need or achieve a highly desired goal.

The ability (or inability) to put other’s interests ahead of your own, over the long haul, translates to one thing – winners and losers. Selfishness always results in loss. Looking out for others always results in victory, for everyone involved.

We have been very fortunate in our business at Homer’s Coffee House to be involved in helping young people begin to learn and apply these principles early. It is a delight being able to help shape the work habits of these young people, greatly increasing the chances that they will be labeled with the winners, because they have learned the importance of service, hard work, and looking out for the interests of others – even when it requires some degree of personal sacrifice.

We often hear comments along the lines of, “Look out for Number 1” (yourself), and being self-centered seems to be a trait we all share – at least to some degree. Putting others ahead of ourselves requires a degree of humility, a conscious willingness to subordinate ourselves for the benefit of others. But whether it is in the workplace, the home, or in the community, this humility is always an attractive quality – perhaps because we see it so rarely.

So if you really want to be different and attract attention, practice putting others ahead of yourself. You might even find this kind of behavior habit-forming.

Jim Mathis is Executive Director for CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., where he oversees Homer’s Coffee Shop. He and his wife, Louise, formerly were co-owners of a camera and photo processing shop in Overland Park, Kansas.

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Have you seen examples in your own workplace of people willing to put the interests of others ahead of their own? How was this accomplished, and what do you think was the result?

2. What do you personally think of this idea of putting other people ahead of yourself? Does it seem threatening in any way, reflecting a concern that if a person does not protect his or her own interests, they could be jeopardized? Explain your answer.

3. What do you think of the Zig Ziglar comment that was quoted, “You can get everything in life that you want, if you help enough other people get what they want”? Can you think of a current situation where this advice might prove helpful, where you work or in any of your other life pursuits?

4. It is suggested that a key to successfully putting the interests of others first is to cultivate an attitude of humility. How do you think this can – or should – be accomplished?

If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages:
Proverbs 16:19, 18:12; 29:23; Matthew 23:11-12; Acts 20:19-21; 1 Peter 5:5-6

2007-04-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.4.16

投資人際關係

今日職場上的科技與高效率帶來許多好處，但它們也造成的一些嚴重的後果。例如，當我們要因應如浪潮而來的電子郵件、語音留言、工作上愈來愈多的責任，我們發展並維持長期友誼的能力似乎面臨更大的挑戰。

在工商專業界的許多人，包括我自己，都在時間管理和如何設定優先順序上受到良好的訓練，使我們在工作上更有效率。這可以增加我們個人的生產力，使我們每天可做更多的事。但我擔心這些愈來愈多的工作量會影響我們長期的人際關係。

當我們不斷追求成功時，有一個常被忘記的因素是：通常是透過人們的共同努力，分享他們個別不同的天份與技巧，去完成一個共同的使命，才能達到成功與勝利。我最親密的朋友都會在我最需要他們的時候來幫助我。但我們忙碌的行程使我們很難去培養這些寶貴的友誼。因為如此，我有時在想，將來在我喪禮的那天，來參加的人可能只有那些覺得有義務要參加的人，而不是與我有深厚感情的人。

在聖經新約中的路加福音第10章，有一段有名的事件。有一次，耶穌拜訪馬大和馬利亞兩姊妹的家。馬大是個完美主義者，她花許多時間殷勤地為耶穌和祂的朋友們準備一頓飯。而她的妹妹馬利亞卻坐在耶穌的腳旁，將寶貴的時間用來與主親近，而不是忙著為祂做事。

馬大因馬利亞沒有幫她預備而生氣。就這一點，我們不能怪馬大。因為確實有許多事要做，而她也需要妹妹的幫忙。當耶穌沒有責備馬利亞，叫她幫忙做事時，馬大變得更生氣。

然而，對於馬大的抱怨，耶穌給了一個另人驚訝的回答：「馬大！馬大！妳為許多的事，思慮煩擾；但是不可少的只有一件，馬利亞已經選擇那上好的福分，是不能奪去的」（路加福音10章41-42節）。

當我思想這段經文，我覺得這對我是一個很好的提醒，希望對你也是。那就是：我們所建立的人際關係遠比我們所完成的工作重要。當然，完成我們被呼召的目標是很重要的，但我們也需要記得人際關係的價值，且認知將時間投資在朋友身上，比投資在工作上更重要。

我們的工作永遠會在那裡，等著我們去注意、去處理。但被忽略的友誼會變脆弱，時間一久，甚至不存在了。請想想：今天你是否需要聯絡某個人，一位重要的人，他/她與你的寶貴關係是你不願失去的？

思想 / 討論題目
1. 有些人天生就比別人更容易保持良好的人際關係。你在維持人際關係上（不論是個人或工作上）是否作得很好？或者這一點對你很重要？為什麼？

2. 在建立和培養工作中重要的人際關係上，你有那些障礙、困難？你是否認為建立職場友誼的環境已改變？若是，是變得更容易建立友誼，或變得較不易？

3. 你是否曾失去一個重要的朋友，或者友情變冷淡，因為你沒有花足夠的時間在他身上？你可以採取什麼步驟（或想採取什麼步驟），使這種情形以後不會再發生？

4. 當有人請教你時，你會建議他們如何維持工作需求，同時還是保有寶貴的人際關係？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言17章17節，18章24節，27章10節，27章17節；約翰福音15章13-15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
April 16, 2007

TIME DEVOTED TO RELATIONSHIPS IS NEVER WASTED
By: Rick Boxx

Technology and greater efficiency in today’s workplace have brought many benefits, but they also have resulted in some costly consequences. For instance, as we try to cope with the flood of e-mails, voicemails, and increased responsibilities in our jobs, our capacity for developing and maintaining long-term friendships seems to be confronting greater challenges each year.

Many people in the business and professional world, including myself, have received helpful training in time management and in how to establish priorities to become more effective at work. This may improve the bottom line in terms of our individual productivity and get more items checked off on our daily to-do lists, but I’m concerned about how these escalating demands are affecting our long-time relationships.

An important factor often forgotten in our relentless pursuit of success is that accomplishment and triumph usually result from people working together, sharing their respective talents and skills to achieve a common mission. My closest friends are the ones that have often stepped in to offer assistance when I needed them most. But our busy schedules are making it increasingly difficult to cultivate these valuable relationships. Because of this, I sometimes wonder if one day my funeral will be attended primarily by people who merely feel obligated to be there, rather than by people who were committed to our mutual friendship.

In chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke, in the Bible’s New Testament, there is a well-known account of a time when Jesus was visiting in the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha was the perfectionist, and spent much of the time working diligently to prepare a meal for Jesus and his friends. Meanwhile, her sister Mary chose instead to sit at the feet of Jesus, devoting precious time simply being with her Lord, rather than becoming caught up in doing something for Him.

Martha became extremely annoyed with her sister for not helping with the preparations. And in one respect, we cannot blame her – obviously there was quite a bit of work to be done, and she could have used her sister’s aid. It seems Martha even became upset with Jesus for not rebuking Mary and telling her to get busy doing something.

In answer to this complaint, however, Jesus offered a startling reply that is recorded in Luke 10:41. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”

As I have thought about this passage, it serves as a good reminder to me, and hopefully to you, that the relationships we build are more meaningful and ultimately more significant than the tasks we complete. It’s important that we accomplish the goals that we feel called to do, of course. But we also need to remember the value of relationships and recognize when it’s more important to set aside our projects, if only for a few minutes, and invest time in a friend.

Our work will always be there, waiting for our attention and action. But neglected friendships tend to weaken and, over time, even die. I wonder: Do you have someone today you need to get in contact with, an important person whose valued relationship you would hate to lose?

(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Some people are naturally more relationship-oriented than others. How effective are you in maintaining relationships, both personally and professionally – or is this even important to you? Why or why not?

2. What are some of the hindrances or obstacles to building and cultivating important relationships that you have encountered on the job? Do you think the climate for establishing workplace friendships is changing and if so, has it become more positive or more negative?

3. Can you think of one or more significant relationships that you have lost or seen deteriorate because you have not been able to devote enough time to them? What steps could you take – would you like to take – to keep this from happening in the future?

4. If someone were to ask you, what advice would you offer for striking a reasonable balance between satisfying job demands and protecting valued relationships?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following:

Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, 27:10, 27:17; John 15:13-15

2007-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

2007-4-9
願景驅使我們行動

若無那些有願景的偉大人物，我們會如何？今天我們認為開車是理所當然的，但不到100年前，大部份的人都想像不到會有自行驅動的交通工具。我現在正用電腦寫這篇專欄，但我還記得，早年我在新聞界時，手動打字機被認為是一項藝術。最近我動了一個成功的心臟手術，這樣的技術與科技在20年前還是不可能的。

今天每一樣讓我們生活舒適、享受和方便的發明，都是來自有願景的人。他們發現有需要、有問題時，就主動回應，透過極大的決心、堅忍、嘗試和錯誤，最後終於有了我們今天受惠的發明。

例如，過去這一年，我很榮幸認識一些為地毯業帶來革命性改變的人。在1950年以前，地毯非常昂貴，只有富裕的家庭才買得起。但因為這些人的願景、想像力和巧思，地毯現在可以大量製造，而且有無數的樣式、顏色和織法，使地毯變得便宜且適合家庭、辦公室、旅館、購物商場、學校和餐廳使用。

然而，願景並不是少數精英的專利品。當你每天去工作，你個人的願景就決定你工作上的效率，以及你長期事業和整個人生的成功與否。若你擔任領袖，你的願景不僅影響你部屬的生產力，也影響他們是否有熱忱和能力，以團隊合作的方式去完成一個共同的使命。

在「領導是門藝術」一書中，傢俱製造公司的主管麥克斯．第培瑞解釋願景的重要性：「沒有願景的人常常努力去尋找希望。一個組織若不顧現實狀況，可能可以勉強運作一段時間，但絕不會成功。一個組織若無願景，就只是一個組織，只能勉強生存，而不是真正地活著；只能達到短暫的目標，而不是邁向潛在的可能性。」

聖經是本古老的書，卻奇妙地適合現代，是日常生活與工作的好指南。它對願景也有深刻的觀察：

對一個社會和企業而言，願景可能攸關生死。一個清楚表達的願景，提供人們思考和行動的方向。若沒有願景，就產生困惑與混亂。「沒有異象，民就放肆」（箴言29章18節）。另一種翻譯是：「沒有啟示，人民就沒有自制力。」

領袖的願景促進團結。當領袖說出願景，就設定每個人主動權的範圍，並使大家對使命有共識，提供焦點給跟隨者。若無願景，每個人就去做他們認為對的事。「那時以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行」（士師記21章25節）。

願景提供保障與次序。願景幫助我們回答以下問題：「為何我們走到這裡？」「我們在做什麼？」當人們每天來上班時，他們想知道自己應該做什麼。為了公司整體的益處，他們可以如何成功地貢獻。若沒有澄清這些事，領袖和公司都會失敗。「邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存」（箴言28章2節）。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 對你的生命而言，你認為那一件（或兩件）事是最重要的創作、革新或發現？你認為「有願景的人」如何使你有這樣的發展？

2. 你的公司是否鼓勵並培養願景？請解釋。

若是，請舉一例說明你如何看到願景被付諸行動。
若否，你是否認為缺乏願景阻礙了你們公司的進步？

3. 你認為自己是否是一個有願景的人？為什麼？

4. 你認為一個人或一個組織可以如何發展願景，去激發別人的熱忱，使他們為共同的目標行動？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
創世記1章26-30節；創世記41章41-57節；出埃及記18章5-26節；馬太福音28章19-20節

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
April 9, 2007

WE NEED VISION TO MOBILIZE US INTO ACTION

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Where would we be without the great people of vision? Today we take automobiles for granted, but little more than 100 years ago, self-propelled vehicles were far beyond the imaginations of most people. I’m using a computer to write this column, but I can recall – in my early days of journalism – when the manual typewriter was still considered “state of the art.” Recently I underwent successful heart surgery that involved techniques and technology that were impossible only 20 years ago.

Each of the innovations that today make our lives so comfortable, enjoyable and convenient came about because people of vision recognized and responded to needs and problems they have observed and, through great determination, perseverance, trial and error, ultimately arrived at solutions that we benefit from today.

Over the past year, for example, I have had the privilege of getting acquainted with some men that have revolutionized the carpet industry. Prior to the 1950s, indoor carpet was extremely expensive and available only to the most affluent individuals and families. But because of the vision, imagination and mechanical ingenuity of these men, carpet now can be mass-produced in countless styles, colors and textures, making it economical and suitable for homes, offices, hotels and motels, shopping malls, schools, and restaurants.

Vision, however, is not exclusive to some elite minority. As you go to work each day, your personal vision helps to determine your effectiveness in your job, as well as success in your career long-term and your life overall. If you hold a position of leadership, your vision will influence not only the productivity of your staff, but also affect their enthusiasm and ability to work together as a team in accomplishing a common mission.

In Leadership Is An Art, furniture manufacturing company executive Max DePree explains the importance of vision: “People without vision constantly struggle to find hope. Organizations without a view of reality may stumble along for a while but will never succeed. Organizations without a vision remain mere organizations, surviving but not living, hitting temporary targets but not moving toward potential.”

The Bible, an amazingly contemporary guide for everyday life and work, also gives observations about vision:

Vision can become a matter of life and death, for a society as well as for a business. An expressed, clearly articulated vision provides people with direction for their actions and their ideas. Without vision, confusion and chaos result. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Another translation states, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint….”

A leader’s vision fosters corporate unity. As leaders communicate their vision, this defines boundaries for individual initiative and brings about a common sense of mission, providing focus for those who follow them. Without it, everyone tends to do whatever seems right in their own eyes. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25).

Vision provides security and order. Vision helps to answer questions like, “Why are we here?” and “What are we doing?” When people arrive for work every day, they want to know what is expected of them and how they can successfully contribute to the overall good of the company. Without such clarity, leaders – and their organizations – often fail. “When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order” (Proverbs 28:2).

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

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What do you consider the one or two most significant inventions, innovations or discoveries to your life? How do you think that “people of vision” contributed to bringing about these developments?

2. Is your place of business somewhere that vision is encouraged and nurtured? Explain your answer.

If so, give an example of how you have seen vision in action. If not, do you believe a lack of vision has hindered the progress of your organization?

3. Do you regard yourself as a person of vision? Why or why not?

4. How do you think a person – or an organization – can develop a sense of vision that mobilizes others and stimulates enthusiasm for their collective goals and objectives?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to this topic, consider how the following verses convey vision:

Genesis 1:26-30; Genesis 41:41-57; Exodus 18:5-26; Matthew 28:19-20

2007-04-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.4.2

復活節的省思：回家的喜悅

（編者註：在耶穌受難的前夕，祂說了這段鼓勵我們的話：「我去原是為你們預備地方去。我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裡去；我在那裡，叫你們也在那裡」（約翰福音14章2-3節）。因為下主日就是復活節，所以我們從藍登．艾爾康的暢銷書「天堂」中摘錄了以下的文章。這篇文章描述基督徒將來有什麼。）

我很喜歡看水族館裡來自海洋的魚類，但總覺得哪裡不對勁。牠們不屬於那裡，水族箱不是牠們的家。神造魚的時候，不是要牠們住在小小的玻璃箱中，牠們應該住在大海洋中。我想魚不知道有更好的地方，但我很想知道牠們的本能是否會告訴牠們，真正的家是在別處。我知道我們的本能告訴我們，這墮落的世界不是我們的家，我們應該住在更好的地方。神學家唐納．布洛渠說：「我們最大的痛苦不是焦慮，或甚至罪惡，而是想家（一種鄉愁或根深柢固的渴望想與神一起在家中）。」

基督徒的奴隸有一首歌唱道：「回家與神同在」，還有「馬車帶我回家」。基督徒總是將去天國認為是回家。當耶穌說祂去為我們預備地方，祂是說要為我們建立一個家。為了準備進天國，我們必需了解家的意義。

你曾否在一個旅程中，每個人都生病，每件事都出錯，旅遊變得很痛苦？那時你想要作什麼？想回家。在想像中，你可感覺到你舒服的床，享受家裡煮的菜，彷彿看到家人與朋友在壁爐前一起歡笑，談著你們旅行中那裡出錯。不論我們多享受在外的探險，我們還是期待回家。知道我們能回家，這信念會支持我們繼續往前走－－這就是天國對我們的作用。這會使我們繼續往下走，因為那是我們永恆的家、歡迎我們的避難所，它會等著我們，呼喚我們的名字。

我不想美化家。我知道許多人在家中有不愉快的經驗。但我們真正的家在天上。天家有我們屬世家庭的所有好處，而且好許多倍，但卻沒有一樣是不好的。

諺語說：「你無法回到原來那個家。」這意思是，當我們離家後，家改變了，我們也改變了。我們那個舊房子可能被破壞了、被賣掉了、重新整修過或荒廢了。相反的，當這一生結束時－－特別是當我們抵達新天新地時－－神的子女將可以第一次真正回家。因為我們在天上的家不會被燒毀、被水沖走、被風吹垮，我們不必擔心當我們回家時，家是否還在那裡。新天新地永遠不會消失，它會賦予「家」美好永恆的意義。

我們夫妻與家人、朋友度過許多美好的時光－－在聖誕節、在度假時或平常吃完晚飯後，而且我們會說：「再沒有比這更好的了！」不論你的生活有多困難，你一定說過這樣的話吧。你是否想到生命中有一次，即使很短暫，卻非常美好？但那不是真正的美好。

在新天新地裡，最普通的時刻都比此生最美好的時刻好。你想保留或持續此生最美好的時刻，但卻無法做到。但天國會比那更好，不需害怕生命會結束、悲傷會來臨、夢想會粉碎或關係會破裂。

我們的被造是為了一人和一個地方。耶穌就是那人，天國就是那地方。若你認識耶穌，我將會與你一起在那復活的世界。有我們所愛的主和我們所珍惜的朋友在一起，我們將一起開始最後的探險，一個壯觀的新世界正等著我們去開發並統治。耶穌將會是所有事物的中心，而喜樂將會是我們所呼吸的空氣。而且當我們想說：「再沒有比這更好的了！」那將會是真正的美好。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 這是一篇不一樣的「週一嗎哪」，但因為是復活節，所以適合在此時刊出。復活節快要來臨，這是基督徒最重要的節日。你對本文作者所說的，有何看法？

2. 你是否曾在一個非常好的地方，但內心深處還是非常想回家？請描述那狀況。

3. 你曾否非常享受某一段時光，你和作者一樣認為「再沒有比那更好的了」？現在回顧那段時光，是否還是那麼美好？

4. 若真有天堂（死後永遠的生命），這信念對我們如何過每一天的生活（我們工作的方式、我們與他人的關係、我們的重要決定），會有何影響？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
馬太福音28章1-20節；馬可福音16章1-20節；路加福音24章1-53節；約翰福音20章1-31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
April 2, 2007

AN EASTER REFLECTION: THE JOY OF BEING HOME
By: Randy Alcorn
(Editor’s Note: On the eve of His death, Jesus offered these encouraging words: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). Since Easter is next Sunday, we offer this excerpt from Randy Alcorn’s best-selling book, Heaven, in which he describes what lies ahead for Jesus’ followers.)
When I see fish from the ocean in an aquarium, I enjoy watching them, but feel as if something's wrong. They don't belong there. It's not their home. The fish weren't made for that little glass box; they were made for a great ocean. I suppose the fish don't know any better, but I wonder if their instincts tell them that their true home is elsewhere. I know our instincts tell us that this fallen world isn't our home—we were made for someplace better. Theologian Donald Bloesch suggests, "Our greatest affliction is not anxiety, or even guilt, but rather homesickness—a nostalgia or ineradicable yearning to be at home with God."
Christian slaves sang of "goin' home to live with God" and a chariot "comin' for to carry me home." Christians have always thought of going to Heaven as going home. When Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us, he spoke of building us a home. To anticipate Heaven, then, we need to understand the meaning of home.
Have you ever been on a trip that became miserable, where everybody got sick or everything went wrong? What did you want more than anything? To go home. In your imagination you could feel your comfortable bed, taste a home-cooked meal, and picture the company of family and friends laughing together in front of the fire, telling stories about what went wrong on your trip. No matter how much we enjoy our adventures away, we anticipate coming home. Knowing we can come home is what keeps us going—and that's what Heaven should do for us. It should keep us going because it's our eternal home, the welcome refuge that awaits us and calls our name.
I don’t mean to romanticize home. I know many people have had terrible experiences at home. But our true home in Heaven will have all the good things about our earthly homes, multiplied many times, but none of the bad.
The adage says, "You can never go home again." It means that while we were gone, home changed and so did we. Our old house may have been destroyed or sold, been renovated or become rundown. In contrast, when this life is over—and particularly when we arrive on the New Earth—God's children will truly be able to come home for the very first time. Because our home in Heaven will never burn, flood, or be blown away, we'll never have to wonder whether home will still be there when we return. The new heavens and New Earth will never disappear. They'll give a wonderful permanence to the word home....
My wife and I have spent wonderful moments with family and friends—at Christmas, on vacation or simple times in the family room after dinner—and we've said those enchanting words: "It doesn't get any better than this." No matter how difficult your life has been, you have said this about some magnificent moment, haven't you? Can you think of even one time in your life when, even for a fleeting moment, that seemed to be true? Well, it isn't true.
The most ordinary moment on the New Earth will be greater than the most perfect moments in this life—those experiences you wanted to preserve or hang on to but couldn't. It can get better, far better, than this—and it will. With no fear that life will end or tragedy will descend, that dreams will be shattered or relationships broken.
We were all made for a person and a place. Jesus is the person. Heaven is the place. If you know Jesus, I'll be with you in that resurrected world. With the Lord we love and the friends we cherish, we'll embark together on the ultimate adventure, in a spectacular new universe awaiting our exploration and dominion. Jesus will be the center of all things, and joy will be the air we breathe. And even if we think "it doesn't get any better than this"—it will.
Randy Alcorn has written extensively about finances from a biblical perspective, including his books, Money, Possessions & Eternity and The Treasure Principle.

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Admittedly, this is a different “Monday Manna,” but it is appropriate because Easter, the most important Christian celebration of all, is approaching. What is your general reaction to what Randy Alcorn is saying?

2. When was the last time you found yourself somewhere, even a very nice place, and down deep you still felt a longing to go “home”? Describe that time.

3. Have you ever had a moment – or longer – when you were enjoying yourself so much that you thought, as Alcorn suggests, “It does not get any better than this”? Looking back, does it still seem that way now?

4. If there truly is a Heaven – and eternal life after death – what influence, if any, should that belief have on how we approach life on a daily basis: The way we work? Our relationships with others? Our important decisions? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses:

Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-31

2007-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2007.3.19

透過團隊創造能量

商業界正進行一場革命。世界各地的許多公司也開始重建「跨功能團隊」。經理人正利用人類行為的一項基本事實：

當人們一起工作時，就更有創造力和生產力。

對一些企業領袖而言，員工相互激盪出生產力的觀念似乎很新。但這觀念已存在一段時間。事實上，幾千年前聖經就這麼說：
「兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了」（傳道書4章9-10節）。

然而，只是把一群人聚在一起並不能組成一個團隊。他們必須學習如何彼此相處，以及如何有效率地一起工作，必須訓練他們建立團隊的技巧。在工作時，若你是團隊中的一員，或者你想增加你自己和同事的生產力，我建議你討論並實行以下5項創造能量的原則：

 強調彼此的優點。人們被肯定時就會表現得更好。然而，若常常受到批評，他們就不會綻放光采。好的原則就是努力去鞭策，而不是去刺傷。你若能成功地作到這一點，就增加團隊的價值。

 絕對不要彼此控制。許多人喜歡去控制事情，和做事情的人。但極端的控制大多會造成反效果。玩控制遊戲有很多方式：「質問者」－藉著問題操控。「威嚇者」－藉著生氣操控。「殉道者」－藉著罪惡操控。「冷漠」－藉著漠不關心和/或被動去操控。

 鼓勵自由地提出意見。絕不要同時徵求並評估意見。這麼作只會使人們的創造力枯萎。要讓參加者覺得有趣，你自己也要參與！重視每個人的意見，即使你不同意。

 以合作代替競爭。為了建立團隊，你必須營造合作的氣氛，而不是競爭的環境。你是與別的公司競爭，而不是在公司內部競爭。幫助每位員工和每個部門看到並了解公司的大藍圖（你的全盤目標），他們才會了解自己那部份的工作如何幫助整個公司。

 將你所擁有的給出去…然後看著它增長！這是一條有效的屬靈定律。無論你需要更多什麼－能量、意見、權力－無論你想要增加什麼，學習在團隊裡與人分享，你一定回收更多。

將成果歸功於別人，請記得你們是一個團隊！

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你公司的工作環境和文化是否贊成、鼓勵團隊工作？若是，這是如何達成的？若否，你認為為何會如此？

2. 身為團隊的一員，你的表現如何？你是否享受團隊合作，彼此分享力量；或者你比較喜歡獨立作業？請解釋。

3. 你對本文作者的「5項創造能量原則」有何看法？你是否認為它們是實用且實際的？為什麼？

4. 聖經中的箴言27章17節說：「鐵磨鐵磨出刃來，朋友相感也是如此。」在個人生活中，或工作中，你是否發現這是真實的？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言6章6節，11章14節，15章22節，30節25節；馬太福音25章21-23；以弗所書4章29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 19, 2007

CREATING ENERGY THROUGH TEAMWORK
By: Rick Warren
A revolution is taking place in the world of business. Around the world, companies are starting to restructure around “cross-functional teams.” Managers are capitalizing on a basic fact of human behavior:

People are more creative and more productive when they work together.

For some business leaders, this idea of worker synergy and productivity seems new, but actually it has been around for a while. In fact, several thousand years ago, the Bible stated it this way:
“Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

However, just putting a group of people together does not make a team. They must learn how to relate to each other and work together effectively. They must be trained in team-building skills. If you are a part of a team at work, or if you’d like to increase the productivity of yourself and those you work with, I suggest you discuss and agree to practice these six energy-creating principles:

• Emphasize the best in each other. People blossom with affirmation. They will not flourish, however, under constant criticism. A good guideline is to strive to give more strokes than pokes. Every time you succeed at doing this, you increase the value of the team.

• Never try to control each other. Many people like to control what is being done and those who are doing it, but exerting extreme control is generally counterproductive. There are many ways to play the control game: “Interrogator” –controlling through questions. “Intimidator” – controlling through anger. “Martyr” – controlling through guilt. “Aloof” – controlling through apathy and/or passivity.

• Encourage the free flow of ideas. Never try to create or solicit ideas and evaluate them at the same time. To do so will dry up team creativity. Let the participants have fun, and join in it yourself! Value everyone’s opinion, even when you disagree with them.

• Replace competition with cooperation. To build a team, you need to foster a cooperative spirit, not a competitive environment. Your competition is found at another business, not in your office. Help every person and every department to see and understand the big picture – your overall goals – so they will realize and appreciate how their part helps the whole company.

• Give away what you have… and watch it multiply! This is a spiritual law that really works. Whatever you need more of – energy, ideas, authority – whatever you have and desire to increase, learn to share it with others on your team. You will inevitably receive more back.

Yield the credit to others. Remember that you’re a team!

Rick Warren is the author of the highly acclaimed, best-selling book, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life.
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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Does the working environment and culture at your company endorse and promote teamwork? If so, how is this achieved? If not, why do you think that is the case?

2. How would you evaluate yourself as a “team player”? Do you generally enjoy working as a part of a team, sharing in one another’s strengths or do you prefer to work independently? Explain your answer.

3. What is your reaction to Mr. Warren’s “six energy-creating principles”? Do you think they are practical and realistic? Why or why not?

4. A verse in the Bible, Proverbs 27:17, says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man (or woman) sharpens another. Have you ever observed this to be true personally, or where you work?

NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider some of the following passages that relate to teamwork and team-building:

Proverbs 6:6, 11:14, 15:22, 30:25; Matthew 25:21-23; Ephesians 4:29

2007-03-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

2007-3-12
克服職場中的「巨人」

很少有電影像最近上演的「面對巨人」那樣觸動我的心，讓我感動到流淚。這部電影帶著觀眾像坐了一趟情感的雲霄飛車，也讓我熱淚盈框。影片的重要場景是在格蘭教練（一所小型高中的橄欖球教練）跌入個人和事業的谷底之後。當他面對自己的失敗，並想著未來方向的不確定時，這位體育教練走到一個轉捩點，且對他的橄欖球隊員們有重大的影響。

在休息室開會時，格蘭教練問他的隊員們：「誰能告訴我10年前哪一隊贏得州冠軍？」沒有人給他答案。「那麼5年前呢？」他問到。還是沒人知道答案。

他要隊員們了解，幾年後沒有人會記得他們球賽的結果，不論是贏或輸。所以他們應重新思考打球的目的。在教練眼中，隊員們只是為了自己的榮耀去贏得比賽，而心中沒有一個更大、更長久的目的。

我相信這教練的回答是恰當、符合聖經、且用正確的觀點看競爭。他勉勵隊員們開始去為了榮耀神而打球，不是為了榮耀自己。他的重點是，即使他們輸球，只要他們盡了全力，且是為榮耀神而打的，在神眼中他們就是成功的。

初代教會的主要領袖之一，使徒保羅勸勉哥林多城的信徒：「所以你們或吃或喝，無論作什麼，都是為榮耀神而行」（哥林多前書10章31節）。他們需要一個終極的目的，一個清楚的理由，去作每件事。

在任何組織裡，清楚的目的是非常重要的。在商場上，許多人相信賺錢是他們的主要目的。領袖們太專注於賺取利潤，他們就破壞了人際關係，他們的正直也受到挑戰，有時甚至被破壞。然而，當我們生命的結束時，所有我們賺的錢都留給別人，而我們的身體也被埋在地底下。

你又如何呢？你工作的目的是什麼？我們都需要城實地評估自己做事的理由，就是那些佔據我們許多注意力和精力的事。而且我們要問，那些理由是否真的值得我們付出那麼多精力？

當你每天走進你的辦公室、職場，你是否為了賺錢，或要得到專業上的聲譽，或者你有一個更大，神所賜下，最終會榮耀神的目的？

思想 / 討論題目
1. 若你喜愛某項運動，你是否記得15年前，或甚至是7年前，誰贏得冠軍？或者你對娛樂界比較有興趣，你是否記得18年前誰贏得奧斯卡最佳男主角、女主角或最佳影片，或是6年前誰得到最佳歌手的獎項？在你的行業中，12年前哪一家公司被認為是最傑出的？

根據你的答案，我們所重視、強調的成就有何意義？

2. 若你要說明你的目的，不論是工作或個人生活上的，會是什麼？

3. 你是否同意我們的生命應該由一個終極目的所引導，那目的是大於我們自己的？請解釋。

4. 「我們最終的目的是榮耀神」，你對這觀點有何看法？你是否相信神已給你恩賜、能力和技巧，使你每天能應用在工作中？或者你覺得你所獲得的一切，都是自己一人努力的結果？

註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
傳道書5章8-20節；以弗所書2章170；歌羅西書3章17，23節；提摩太後書3章16-17節

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
March 12, 2007

OVERCOMING THE ‘GIANTS’ IN THE WORKPLACE
By: Rick Boxx

It’s a rare movie that can stir me emotionally, moving me to tears, but the recent film, “Facing the Giants,” had my eyes filled for much of the time as it took the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotion. A pivotal scene in the film came after Coach Grant, a football coach for a small high school, hit rock bottom personally and professionally. As he wrestled with his failures and pondered the uncertainties of his future direction, the athletic coach arrived at a turning point that had a significant impact on members of his football team.

During a locker room meeting, Coach Grant asked his team, “Who can tell me who won the state championship 10 years ago?” No one could give him the answer. “How about five years ago?” he asked. There was still no one who knew the answer.

He wanted his players to realize that if years later no one would remember their football results, whether they had won or lost, then they probably should reconsider their purpose. In his opinion, they were simply trying to win football games for their own glory, without a bigger, more enduring purpose in mind.

I believe this coach’s answer was an appropriate, biblical response, putting the matter of competition in its right perspective. He urged the team to begin playing football to glorify God, not themselves. His point was that even if they lost games, as long as they had performed to their best capabilities and had done so to God’s glory, they would be successful in His eyes.

The apostle Paul, one of the foremost leaders of the early church, exhorted believers in the city of Corinth, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). They needed to have an overriding purpose, a clear reason for everything they did.

Clarity of purpose is critical in any organization. In business, many people get caught up in the belief that making money is their primary purpose. Leaders become so focused on generating profits that they damage relationships, and their integrity is challenged – sometimes even destroyed. At the end of our lives, however, it becomes evident that all the money we made stays behind in someone else’s hands, while our earthly bodies are placed six feet underground.

What about you? What is your purpose at work? We all need to honestly evaluate the reasons behind the things we do, those things that command much of our attention and energy. And we need to ask whether those reasons are truly worthy of all of our efforts.

When you arrive at your office, your workplace, each day, are you there simply to make money or gain prestige professionally, or do you have a greater, God-given purpose that will ultimately glorify God?

(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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: cbmcint@cbmcint.org
Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. If you have a favorite sport, can you remember who won the championship 15 years ago, or even seven years ago? Or if you are more interested in entertainment, can you recall who won the Oscar for the best actor, actress, or motion picture 18 years ago, or who received the award for best singer six years ago? In your own industry, which company was recognized as most outstanding 12 years ago?

Based on your answers, what does that tell you about the relative importance of accomplishments on which we tend to place such high value and give so much emphasis?

2. If you were to state your purpose, either professionally or personally, what would it be? Have you ever even given thought to consciously formulating a purpose that involves more than surviving each workday?

3. Do you agree with the idea that our lives should be guided by an overriding purpose that is bigger than ourselves? Explain your answer.

4. What is your reaction to the idea that, ultimately, our purpose should be to bring glory to God? Do you believe that God has given you the gifts, abilities and skills that you utilize in your work each day – or do you feel that all you have attained has been the result solely of your own hard work and dedication?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following:
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17,23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2006-08-03T23:37:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
July 31, 2006
HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO YOU
By: Rick Warren

One of the most common problems in the workplace, or in the home, is poor communication. Even your best ideas, plans or suggestions are worthless if you can't communicate them effectively. Every year companies lose billions in potential profits because they ignore outstanding ideas or suggestions from employees.

Communication is not automatic. Just because someone is hearing you say something doesn't mean they are really listening. Fortunately, there are seven skills all of us can develop that can help to ensure that people will listen to us when we speak. Interestingly enough, these simple, yet profound – and amazingly contemporary – guidelines are presented in the pages of the Bible:

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME! Timing is the first key in effective communication. You may be ready to talk, but your audience ready, or even willing, to listen? Never drop a bomb – a startling, unexpected statement or announcement – that your hearers are not prepared to receive. "There is a right time and a right way to do everything” (Ecclesiastes 8:6).

2. PLAN YOUR PRESENTATION. Carefully think through what you intend to say first. When what you need to communicate is critical, take the effort especially to plan your introduction and supporting illustrations. Don't begin what you are going to say with cumbersome details that could obscure your primary objectives. Take a hint from TV, where directors move from the long shot to the medium shot to the close-up. "Intelligent people think before they speak. What they say is then more persuasive" (Proverbs 16:23).

3. BEGIN WITH HIS OR HER (YOUR HEARER’S) NEEDS. A listener is always asking questions like, "Why should I listen to this?" and, "How will it benefit me?" If you can answer these two questions at the outset, you will have your audience’s undivided attention – they will understand why what you have to say is significant to them. "Speak only...according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

4. LISTEN FIRST! We usually get into trouble when we make assumptions, especially when trying to communicate important information. Before you concentrate on what you intend to say, be willing to listen to the other side first and gain their perspective. "Be quick to listen and slow to speak" (James 1:19).

5. SAY IT POSITIVELY. No one likes to hear bad news. Learn to be both realistic and optimistic at the same time. You are never persuasive when you are abrasive, or negative! If you have bad news, say it up front in a factual, non-personal way. Then quickly move into a more positive, constructive mode. "The mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is" (Proverbs 16:21).

6. CLARIFY YOUR CONCLUSIONS. Summarize and recap what you’ve said to make certain that you have been properly understood. Be specific. Restate what you have decided on – and what you haven't – to ensure agreement. "Agree with each other in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2).

7. END WITH AN ENCOURAGING WORD. Exit lines – your closing words – are important. Even if the discussion was heated and both sides took some heavy shots of criticism, try to end on a positive, affirming note. "A word of encouragement does wonders!" (Proverbs 12:15).

Rick Warren is the author of the highly acclaimed, best-selling book, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life.
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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Rick Warren points out that hearing –which could be defined as the physical act of receiving sound waves – is not the same as listening – interpreting and giving meaning to what we hear. How often do problems occur at your workplace that you think could be attributed to the failure to listen?

2. The responsibility for listening does not lie solely with the “audience,” what communications experts call, “the receiver.” The speaker (or “sender”) also carries some of the responsibility for making sure that he or she communicates successfully. What practical steps do you think a person can take to ensure that people listen to what is being said?

3. How would you rate yourself as a listener? Explain your answer. What steps do you think you could take to improve your listening skills?

4. Do you agree that information, good or bad, should be communicated as positively as possible? Why or why not? How easy is it to communicate information in an affirmative manner, without trying to be manipulative or ignoring the realities of a difficult situation?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to look at some other passages that deal with listening and communicating effectively, consider the following:

Proverbs 15:1, 15:4, 18:13; Philippians 2:3,4; Colossians 4:6; James 3:5-6, 9-12

如何讓人留心聽你所要表達的

無論在職場上或者在家庭裡，彼此的溝通不良一直是個常見的問題。即使有絕佳的主意、規劃或建議，你如果無法有效的表達也是枉然。許多公司每年失去賺取值數十億美金的利潤，只因他們忽略了許多內部職員提出的寶貴意見。

良好的溝通並非自動生成，當有人聽見你所說的並不意味他們真的把你的話聽進去了，幸好這裡有七個要點我們可以來力行以確保人人能留心聽進你所要表達的。值得一提的是，這些簡單，又有深度---卻又令人驚奇的當代---的首則都呈現於聖經裡。

一、選擇適當的時機：這是良好溝通的第一要務，你可能已經準備就緒，但是至於你的聽眾呢？他們此時聽得入耳嗎？請勿對你的聽眾投震撼彈 --- 即任何對未預備妥善的聽眾給予令他意外、突如其來的聲明 ”各樣事務成就，都有時候和定理” (傳道書 8 章 6 節)

二、好好計畫你所要表達的內容：首先用心思想你所要講明的當你所要表達的是具有關鍵性的，應盡力去規劃你的引言及輔助圖示，不要一開頭就提及一些會模糊你主要議題的瑣碎細項，要效法電視導播，將鏡頭由長距、到中距、乃至到特寫，“智慧人的心, 教訓他的口, 又使他的嘴, 增長學問”(箴言 16 章 23 節).

三、一開始即順應你聽眾的需求：聆聽者往往一開始會問“我為何需要留心聽這事?”及“這對我會有什麼好處？” 如果你能一開始就有效的對這兩個問題做出回應，聽眾將會專注留心聽你所要陳述的，因他們現已明白你所說的對他們有多重要。“只要隨事說造就人的好話，叫聽見的人得益。” (以弗所書 4 章 29 節)

四、留心聽先：當我們，特別是在溝通重要資訊時，所做出的種種假設往往讓我們陷入麻煩。在你專心於你所要表達的之前，要首先留意聆聽另一方，瞭解到他們的觀點，“…要快快的聽，慢慢的說…”(雅各書 1 章 19 節)

五、正面、積極地表達：沒有人會喜歡聽壞消息，表達時內容要兼顧到能同時真實而且正面。當你的話語尖酸而又負面時，你要表達的不會有任何說服力！如果有壞消息，可用務實、對事不對人的方式儘速表達，然後很快的帶入較正面、具建設性的內容。“心中有智慧, 必稱為通達人; 嘴中的甜言, 加增人的學問.” (箴言 16 章 21 節).

六、闡明你的結論：對你所說的作個總結並且確定聽眾確實明瞭你所要表達的。具體明確的總結出你們所決議的和未決議的。以落實眾人對結論的一致。“要在主裏同心.” (腓立比書 4 章 2 節)

七、以鼓勵的言語做結尾：結尾的那幾句是很重要的，即使雙方討論中場面激昂且言語有所指責對方, 請試圖以正面, 激勵的言語收尾 “…一句良言, 使心歡樂.” (箴言 12 章 15 節)

迴響/題目討論

一、華里克指出聽(hearing) --- 即物理上接收到聲波的動作，不同於用心聽(listening) --- 詮
釋我們所聽見的。你覺得在你的工作場所，因為沒有好好聆聽而導致問題發生有多麼頻
繁呢？

二、留意聽的責任並非全落在聽眾，學者稱之為”接收者”的身上講員(或”傳送者”)也需擔負
一部分的責任以確保成功的雙邊溝通，你認為有那些步驟能確保人人所聽見的，就是所
要傳達的?

三、你覺得如果給自己打分數，你是個怎麼樣的聆聽者？有什麼步驟能夠讓你在這方面有所
進步？

四、你同意無論消息好壞，皆需用正面的方式來表達？為什麼？你覺得以激勵的方式，而且
在不影響或忽視真實的難處狀況下，來傳達訊息的困難度有多高呢？

註:若你有聖經並且想要察看與此主題相關的其他章節, 請參考以下經節：箴言 15 章 1 節:5章 4 節 ; 18 章 13 節 ; 歌羅西書 4 章 6 節 ; 雅各書 3 章 5~6 節, 9 ~ 12 節

2006-07-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
July 17, 2006

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF MENTORING

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Mentoring is a popular buzzword in today’s business and professional world. Everyone seems to agree that mentoring younger, less experienced staff is beneficial, and many companies have attempted to institute mentoring programs with varying degrees of success. If you ask individuals who have been involved in such programs, however, assessments of their experiences range from “very good” to “a complete waste of time.”

My own experience has shown that this wide range of attitudes toward mentoring is largely influenced by expectations. Many people anticipate a genuine relationship with the person who is mentoring them, so if their mentors approach it as merely an assignment, or even an inconvenience imposed on them, it’s not likely that the mentoring experience will be a positive one for either of them.

The root problem is that we tend to regard mentoring as a “program” – just another item or task on the daily or weekly “to-do” list. However, as David A. Stoddard and I point out in our book, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential, mentoring is best viewed as a process, or even a journey that two people undertake together.

We view mentoring as a “whole-person” endeavor, recognizing that people are complex and multi-faceted (intellectual, physical, spiritual and social), that their personal lives inevitably affect their professional lives – and their professional lives have impact on their personal lives. While a narrow-focused, one-dimensional approach to mentoring can certainly have some value, younger people seem most attracted to mentors willing to offer insights and wisdom they have accumulated related to all aspects of life, including family life and finances, as well as workplace issues. They desire to learn from someone who has been farther down the road of life’s experiences.

Although the Bible does not use the word “mentoring,” it does present some valuable truths that can enhance the mentoring process. Consider the following:

Mentoring is mutually beneficial. In mentoring relationships, we suggest using the terms “mentor” and “mentoring partner,” because both can – and usually do – learn and benefit from one another in the process. If nothing else, the mentor gains different perspectives on life and work from the younger ”partner.” Proverbs 27:17 says,“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Mentoring ideally functions as a team effort. Often men I mentored have come to my aid just as I have assisted them, providing valuable counsel for situations I was facing, or giving support and encouragement in various ways. And we have been able to work to resolve problems together “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Mentoring in an enjoyable undertaking. Mentoring is not having “all the answers.” Often it requires only a listening ear, a caring heart, or simply the willingness to offer sound words of counsel or encouragement as they are needed. “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23).

Mentoring is a valuable investment. You may be wondering, “Why should I go to the trouble of mentoring someone?” The answer is simple: As you give of yourself – your time, energy, and wealth of knowledge and understanding, you receive the satisfaction of helping others. “Since you are precious in my sight, and because I (God) love you, I will give…people in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:4).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran of more than 30 years in professional journalism, he is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace, and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress). For more information, see www.theheartofmentoring.com or 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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you have a mentor? If so, describe what that mentor has meant to you. If not, would you like to have to a mentor – and how would you envision that person being of help to you?

2. Have you ever tried mentoring someone else? Describe what that was like. Has it proved to be a positive experience for you? Why or why not?

3. Has the discussion of mentoring in this week’s “Monday Manna” given you any new ideas or perspectives?

4. What is your reaction to the idea of mentoring the “whole person”? Does that make sense – or does it sound threatening, too demanding, or even too overwhelming? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to mentoring and investing in other people, consider the following verses:

Luke 5:1-11, 27-32; Deuteronomy 34:5-9; Joshua 1:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:2, 3 John 4

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.07.17

竭力輔導 MAKING THE MOST OUT OF MENTORING

["Mentoring"相感或輔導 ] 在當今商業且專業的世界裡, 是一個流行的雜音,
每一個人似乎都同意教導年輕少經驗的幕僚是有益的, 而且很多公司都企圖
設立不同成功程度的輔導節目,如果你一一個別訪問 : "誰曾參與如此課程?"
那麼他們經驗範圍的評估答案, 是從" 很好" 到所謂" 完全浪費".

我自己經驗, 曾顯示出這個態度取向輔導的廣大面是大受期望所影響. 許多人
期盼與輔導遊他們的人 ,能有自然關係, 所以如果他們的顧問們達到只像是
一個派任,甚或擺在他們身上是一種不方便, 其實輔導經驗也未必然對他們
其中的人都是絕對需要的 .

這個根本問題, 是我們會傾向看待輔導像是一個" 節目", 那只是另一個每天
或每週該做的項目或工作. 無論如何,像大衛史特達和我在我們合寫" 輔導
的心" 這本書中指出：為使人們發展其最大潛力的十個證實原則， "輔導"
最好是被視為二人同工的一個過程或旅程.

我們看輔導如同 " 全人投入", 認知人是很複雜且多面的( 智能 , 體能,精神
和社會面). 他們個人生命不可避免會影響職業生命; 並且他們職業生命也影響到他們的個人生命 . 當一個狹隘焦點, 單一面的接近觸及到輔導時,一定能有
某些價值. 年輕人似乎更被輔導員吸引, 願提供他們所收集有關生命內心世界
和智慧的面面觀 . 包括家庭生活, 財務以及工作場所一些問題. 他們希望能從某個人曾有人生體驗的先師先祖學到東西.

雖然聖經沒用Mentoring輔導這個字, 它卻表現某些有價值的真理, 那是能加強教導進程 , 請思考下述:

輔導是彼此互惠. 在輔導的關係裡 , 我們建議用輔導和輔導夥伴的詞語, 因為這兩個詞一般表示從在做事和學習過程中 , 教和被教者彼此激勵互惠. 若無
別的收穫, 至少這個指導人從這位年輕夥伴在生命和工作上也可得到不同的
透視. 如箴言 27:17說 : 「鐵磨鐵,磨出刃來; 朋友相感也是如此」.

輔導的實際功能就像一個團隊力量. 我所教過的人,常常來到我面前成為我的
幫助. 就如同我曾幫助他們一樣, 他們為我所面臨的困境提供有價值的建議 , 在各種不同的路上給我支持和鼓勵, 那麼我們就能夠一起解決問題.「兩個人
總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的
同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了。」 ( 傳道書 4: 9-10).

輔導是在一種可愉悅的情況下進行的. 輔導是沒有 [全部答案] . 常常需要聆聽的耳朵;一顆關懷的心, 或只是願意當他們在需要時,願給予建議或鼓勵的良策
美語."口善應對 ,自覺喜樂; 話合其時, 何等美好." ( 箴言 15 : 23).

輔導是一件有價值的投資, 也許你懷疑為什麼我要自找麻煩去輔導別人 ?
答案很簡單. 當你給出你自己時間精力和知識了解度的資產時. 你得到助人之樂的滿足.「因我看你為寶為尊；又因我愛你，所以我使人代替你，使列邦人替換你的生命。」. (以賽亞書 43 : 4).

回應 / 討論題目

1. 你有一位顧問良師嗎 ? 如果這樣 , 請敘述那位輔導對你有何意義?如果沒有, 你想要有一位輔導員嗎? 你如何預見那個人會對你有所幫助?
2. 你曾否嘗試輔導某個人 ? 敘述那是像什麼樣子 ? 能證明對你必是絕對正確經驗嗎? 為什麼? 或為什麼不是?
3. 在本週一嗎哪裡曾討論相關輔導問題嗎 ?曾給你任何新想法或透視到什麼 ?
4. 對輔導全人的想法你持的是什麼反應 ? 你了解嗎 ? 或聽起來像威嚇又過於要求,甚或過度困窘不安嗎? 請說明你的答案.

附註如果你有一本聖經妳要查看其他敘述到輔佐和調查其他人的一些經節
請考慮省思以下章節 :
路加 5 : 1-11, 27-32; 申命記 34: 5-9; 約書亞 1: 1-9; 提摩太後書 : 2: 2,
約翰三書 : 4 節

註 : 若你有聖經並且想要察看與此主題相關的其他章節, 請參考以下經節 :
箴言 11章 17節, 22章 4節, 29章23 節; 路加福音 9章 23節; 彼得前書 5章 5~6節

CBMC
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TEL：886-2-2581-4937 FAX：886-2-2542-4169
E-Mail：cbmc@ms26.hinet.net

2006-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business communit June 26, 2006

HOW TO DEAL WITH A PERSONAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
By: Austin Pryor

In assessing the credit health of consumers, a major business publication stated earlier this year:
"…consumers have run up the highest debt in…history, both in absolute terms and relative to income.... We believe most (consumers) will be able to meet their debt service payments. However, a minority of households whose debts are high (that) will be in more difficulty, especially if the economy falters as interest rates rise."

You don't want to be in that vulnerable minority during a time of rising rates. If the economy "falters,” are you ready? How a recession would affect you depends to a large extent on where you live, the industry you work in, and above all, your financial preparedness. Even people with high-paying jobs can be vulnerable. As the Bible says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

If you see potential trouble ahead, don't panic. There are steps you can take to reduce your vulnerability if you start immediately. Here are 10 suggestions:

1. Absolutely, positively, do not increase your present level of consumer debt. No more credit cards, no matter what. Stop buying non-essentials. Cut back on optional lifestyle spending. Quit carrying your ATM card with you. Place a priority on your mortgage payment and various insurance premiums.
2. Run toward your creditors, not away from them. Contact each one, explaining your budget situation and how much you have available. Be realistic. Show them a list of your other creditors, and how you are dividing your available money among them. Once you've made a promise to them, honor it at all cost.
3. Think twice before putting your house up for sale. The cost of real estate commissions, moving, and replacement housing often adds up to more than you're presently paying. Instead, contact your mortgage lender. They will generally work with people who display a responsible attitude. Ask for partial payments for a time, or to extend the loan to permanently lower the monthly payment.
4. Protect your career. Raise your on-the-job performance to new heights, and consider adding new skills. Cutbacks are more likely to affect the "average" worker. This is probably not the time to switch jobs; you don't want to be one of a company’s last hired employees if the economy worsens.
5. Raise cash by selectively selling assets. Every house is filled with items that are no longer used but in good condition. Advertise in "bargain mart"-type classified newspapers or online. Bicycles, boats, electronic and computer items sell quickly if priced right. If you have investments to sell, first sell the ones in which you have a loss. You can often use losses to offset your other income and reduce income tax obligations.
6. Borrow from your life insurance. Policies that build cash values allow you to borrow up to the "surrender value." If you don't pay it back (or die while the loan is still unpaid), the amount of insurance paid to your beneficiary will be reduced by the amount of the loan.
7. Borrow from the college fund. This is a decision for the whole family. If college is years away, you can work on replenishing the fund after your debt crisis is over. If college is coming up soon, your child might qualify for financial aid and government loans.
8. To conserve cash, temporarily stop funding your retirement plans. While many company plans allow you to borrow against your vested benefit, we would advise against it. This is truly a "last resort" measure.
9. Once a bill is paid off, don't reduce your debt-retirement budget. Take the money that you were using on that bill and put it toward your remaining highest interest rate debt.
10. Avoid bankruptcy. This should not be considered an option. It is a matter of personal and Christian integrity to pay your debts in full. The stigma of bankruptcy stays with you a long time and could affect future applications for employment and housing for years.

Austin Pryor is publisher of Sound Mind Investing, America's best-selling financial newsletter written from a biblical perspective. He has written the book, Sound Mind Investing. Read his investment advice at www.soundmindinvesting.com.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think people find themselves deeply in debt? Who is to blame, do you think, for this growing and seemingly pervasive dilemma?

2. Have you ever personally experienced a financial crisis? If so, what steps did you take to resolve it? If you are currently facing substantial indebtedness, have you considered seeking advice or other forms of assistance to ease your problem?

3. Which of the 10 suggested steps in this “Monday Manna” do you think seems most helpful? Are there any ideas that you had never considered before?

4. What difference could it mean, do you believe, if people were consider the warning from Proverbs that “the borrower is servant to the lender” before they accumulated large credit obligations?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this topic, consider the following passages:

Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 13:11, 22:26-27, 28:20, 30:8-9; Luke 16:1-13

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.6.26
如何處理個人財務危機
一份發行量很大的商業刊物在今年初評估消費者的信用健康情況，寫下了下面這段話：
「…消費者的債務已創歷史新高，不論是在絕對條件下或相較於收入的條件下…我們相信大部份的消費者可以清償債務。然而有少數家庭的債務高到難以償還，尤其若是經濟不振，利率升高，就更困難。」

當利率上升時，你一定不想成為受害的少數人。若經濟不景氣，你是否已準備好因應之道？經濟衰退會如何影響你，大部份是取決於你所住的區域，你所從事的行業，尤其是你的財務準備工作。即使高薪階級也可能受害。如聖經所說：「富戶管轄窮人，欠債的是債主的僕人」（箴言22章7節）。

若你看到前面可能發生困難，不要驚慌。你若能立刻開始一些步驟，就可減少你的受害程度。以下是10個建議：

1. 絕對不要再增加你目前的消費負債。無論如何，不要再辦信用卡，不買非必需品，減少生活時尚的花費，出門不帶提款卡。將你所有的抵押貸款和各類保險費排出優先順序。

2. 與你的債主聯絡，而不是躲避他們。聯絡你的每個債主，向他們解釋你的預算，以及你現有的資產。要切實際。讓債主知道你還有那些其他的債主，以及你如何分配你所有的給全部的債主。一旦你向債主們作了承諾，就要不計代價地實現諾言。

3. 賣房子前要三思。房地產仲介費、搬遷費用，以及新買的房子通常比現在的花費還高。相反的，你要聯絡你的抵押貸款銀行。他們一般都願意與有負責態度的貸款人配合。你可要求這段時間先償還一部分貸款，或延長貸款期限，以降低每月的還款額度。

4. 保障你現有的工作。提高你的工作表現，使其達到最佳狀態。並考慮增加新技能。裁員比較可能影響「一般」的員工。這時可能不是換工作的好時機。若經濟情況惡化，你不會希望自己是公司中最先被解聘的員工。

5. 選擇性地賣掉一些資產以換取現金。每個家庭都充斥一些自己不再使用，但狀況還很好的東西。可在「二手物品銷售報紙或網站」上登廣告。若價格合適，腳踏車、船、電子產品或電腦，可以很快賣出。若你要賣投資性商品，先賣掉你有損失的商品。你可用這損失來抵銷收入，就可扣抵所得稅。

6. 用壽險質借。增值型的保單可讓你貸提前贖回價值的金額。若你無法還款（或在貸款未還清時死亡），保險公司給付你受益人的保險金就會先扣掉你的貸款。

7. 向大會助學貸款基金借貸。這是一個為全家作的決定。若你的孩子要多年後才會讀大學，當你的財務危機解決後，你可再補充此基金。若你的孩子很快就要讀大學，你們就有資格得到財務補助和政府的貸款。

8. 為保留現金，可暫時不將現金存入退休帳戶。許多公司允許員工從自己的退休帳戶借款。但我們建議不要這麼做，除非真是萬不得已。

9. 一旦付清一項債務，不要減少你的債務清償預算。將原來每月用來償還那債務的錢，用來償還其餘債務中利息最高的債務。

10. 避免破產。不要將破產列入你考慮的選項。將所有債務還清是個人與基督徒的道德義務。破產的污名會跟隨你許多年，且會影響你將來的求職與購屋。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你認為人們為何會深陷債務？你認為這愈來愈多的普遍現象應怪誰？

2. 你個人是否曾經歷財務危機？若是，你採取什麼步驟去解決？若你現在就面臨龐大的負債，你是否考慮尋求建議或其他形式的幫助來減輕你的問題？

3. 本篇「週一嗎哪」所建議的10個步驟中，你認為那一個似乎最有幫助？有沒有那一項建議是你以前從未想到過的？

4. 若人們在累積大量債務前，有想到箴言的警告：「富戶管轄窮人，欠債的是債主的僕人」，你認為這會有什麼不同的結果？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他章節，請看：
出埃及記20章17；箴言13章11節，22章26-27節，28章20節，30章8-9節；路加福音16章1-13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

2006-06-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
June 12, 2006

FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND REST

By: Rick Boxx

In the business and professional world, we often discuss and hear about the importance of a strong work ethic. We place high value in someone who is willing to work diligently and, if necessary, put in extra time to complete important assignments. But is there ever a point where this focus on work ethic is overdone?

Have you ever dealt with a workload so large you felt your only hope was to work harder and longer? Then, after staying late and pouring yourself into the projects, you came back to work the next day only to find your pile of responsibilities had grown even bigger? Day after day you fight these battles until you finally reach the level exhaustion, utter frustration – or both.

Many of the troubled business owners who ask us to consult with them experience these feelings. They start off believing that if they just exert themselves harder, with more determination, they can dig their way out of the overwhelming load of work they are facing. However, instead of reducing this pressure, the workload only becomes larger. It’s like having a hole in your pocket: no matter how much money you put in it, nothing remains in it. The money keeps slipping through.

God designed our bodies to require sleep and rest. We may be able to push ourselves to the limit of our capacities for a while, but eventually it will take its toll; the result will be not only in a lack of productivity, but also physical exhaustion. Over the years I have discovered that God not only desires us to rest, but He also will see to it that our work gets accomplished – if we are working on the right priorities.

Psalm 127:1-2 emphasizes this concept: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

If your work seems endless, and sometimes unfruitful, it might be beneficial to re-examine what you are working on – and how you are approaching this work. Is the Lord building it, or are you? Are you getting enough rest? A lesson I have learned through personal experience is that God’s plan is the best plan. When He is doing the building, right at the center of our goals and endeavors, our work will get done. And this work will be achieved even as we take time for an appropriate amount of rest.

So if you have convinced yourself that the secret to business success is working harder and longer, sacrificing whatever is necessary – even adequate rest to restore yourself physically, or sufficient time to develop and maintain rewarding relationships – I would advise you to reconsider. Is the return on your labor really worth the magnitude of what it will cost you personally, socially and perhaps, over the long term, even professionally?

Work is good. God ordained it. We should do it to the best of our ability. Work is one way of being good stewards of our abilities, talents and gifts. However, work taken to excess is counterproductive and can carry negative consequences. So consider this advice: Take time to relax and enjoy life the way God intended – work in balance with an adequate amount of rest and leisure activities.

(Copyright 2006, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How would you describe your personal work ethic? What does your typical workweek look like: When do you arrive at work, when do you leave?

2. We all have encountered “workaholics” in the workplace. Perhaps you are one. Why do you think it is so easy for people to become absorbed, even controlled, by their work?

3. What do you think of the passage from the psalm that states, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late…”? Do you agree that this passage should be applied consistently to how we approach our everyday work responsibilities? Why or why not?

4. Do you believe that you are able to incorporate sufficient time in your typical day or workweek for rest and leisure activities? If you do, how do you accomplish this? If not, what steps do you think you could take to achieve a better work/rest balance in your life?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to look at some other passages that deal with the balance of work and rest, consider the following:

Proverbs 6:9-10, 10:5; Ecclesiastes 4:5-7, 5:12; Colossians 3:17, 23

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.6.12
找到工作與休息的平衡點

在工商專業界，我們常討論與聽聞有關工作倫理的重要性。我們給予願意辛勤工作，且若有需要願意加班完成重要任務者極高的評價。但我們是否過度強調這種工作倫理？

你所處理的工作量是否大到，只能希望自己更努力，且有更多時間工作？然後在熬夜盡力完成這企劃後，第二天回到辦公室，發現你的責任更大了！日復一日你不斷打拼，直到你最後精疲力竭，徹底洩氣。

許多來找我們諮詢的企業主都經歷過這種感覺。起先他們相信若自己更努力、更有決心，就可處理所有撲天蓋地而來的工作量。然而壓力沒有減少，工作只有變得更多。就像口袋裡有一個破洞，無論你放入多少錢，一塊錢也不會留下，錢不斷地掉出來。

神當初設計我們的身體是需要睡眠和休息。我們可能可以把自己推到極限一段時間，但最後一定會造成傷害。結果不只是缺乏生產力，身體也會受損。經過這些年來，我發現神不僅要我們休息，祂也要我們完成工作－－若我們工作的優先順序正確。

詩篇127篇1-2節就強調這觀念：「若不是耶和華建造房屋，建造的人就枉然勞力；若不是耶和華看守城池，看守的人就枉然儆醒。你們清晨早起，夜晚安歇，吃勞碌得來的飯，本是枉然；惟有耶和華所親愛的，必叫他安然睡覺。」

若你的工作似乎永無止盡，而且有時似乎沒有果效，你最好重新檢視你所做的工作－－以及你如何處理這工作。是主在建造它，或者是你在建造？你是否得到足夠的休息？我從個人的經驗中學到，神的計畫最好。當祂建造時，一定命中目標的核心，我們的工作就能完成。即使我們花適當的時間去休息，這項工作一定能即時完成。

所以，若你認為事業成功的祕訣在於更努力工作，工作時間更長，犧牲一切－－甚至使身體恢復精力的休息，或發展並維持人際關係的時間。那麼我要勸你重新思考，你努力的成果真的值得你付上那麼多個人健康、人際關係，甚至長期下來專業上的代價嗎？

工作是好的，神也命令我們要工作。我們應盡己所能將它作好。工作是我們管理運用自己能力、天份與恩賜的一種方式。然而工作過度是反生產力，且會帶來負面結果。所以，請思想這忠告：花時間去放鬆，並享受神要我們享受的生命－－以適當的休息與休閒活動來平衡工作。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 你會如何形容自己的工作倫理？你平常的工作情形如何：每天幾點上下班？

2. 在職場中我們都遇過「工作狂」，可能你就是其中之一。你認為為何人很容易被工作佔據，甚至控制？

3. 詩篇說：「若不是耶和華建造房屋，建造的人就枉然勞力…你們清晨早起，夜晚安歇，吃勞碌得來的飯，本是枉然…」。你對此經文有何看法？你是否同意這經節應該運用到我們每天的工作中？為什麼？

4. 你是否能每天或每週安排出足夠的休息和休閒活動？若能，你是如何作到的？若不能，你認為可採取什麼步驟去使工作/休息更平衡？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關工作與休息之平衡的其他章節，請看：
箴言6章9-10節，10章5節；傳道書4章5-7節，5章12節；歌羅西書3章17，23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

2006-06-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
June 5, 2006

EVERY JOB DESCRIPTION SHOULD INCLUDE HONESTY

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Honesty, it seems, is a trait we tend to associate with some professions more than others. For instance, we expect physicians to be honest. The same with school teachers, banking executives, clergy, and accountants. Perhaps this is why, on the rare occasions when we hear of someone in any of these roles accused of wrongdoing, we are so shocked and dismayed.

Then there are professions where honesty is not always assumed, where trust must be earned. These include used car sales people, lawyers, and politicians. This is because we either have had a personal experience with someone acting dishonestly in these professions, or we have heard about such instances from other people. However, I know several people who sell used cars that I trust implicitly. I also know a number of attorneys who have maintained lives of high integrity. And I have heard a rumor that an honest politician was recently found – and is now undergoing intense scientific study. They may even try to clone him. (Only kidding!)

The reality is, no profession is either honest or dishonest by its very nature. Some professions may present greater temptations to act in a dishonest manner, but honesty is an individual decision and commitment, whether you are a dentist, a car mechanic, an engineer, or a real estate salesperson. Ultimately, an honest lifestyle – a determination to live with integrity – comes out of one’s personal worldview, which shapes their values and governs their behavior.

If our only concern (our worldview) is our own best interests, to get what we want when we want it, as quickly as possible, then dishonesty may seem the most expedient way to accomplish that. However, if our desire is to serve and be of benefit to others, as well as ourselves, and we find motivation from something – or Someone – beyond ourselves, then honesty is the best, most rewarding and most fulfilling approach. Consider what the time-tested book of Proverbs, called by many “the book of wisdom,” has to say about honesty and dishonesty:

Our outward behavior reveals our inner selves. Just as a filled bucket spills its contents when it is bumped, our external actions reveal our inward character and motivations. “A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies” (Proverbs 12:17). “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies” (Proverbs 14:5).

Devotion to honesty pleases our Creator. Just as we would expect God to act toward us in an equitable, just manner, as His creations we are expected to reflect the Creator. “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” (Proverbs 11:1). “Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making” (Proverbs 16:11).

A lifestyle of deceit inevitably inflicts pain. Someone might ask, “What’s the harm in a little lie, a little stretching of the truth?” Dishonesty is painful – first to the person being deceived, and then to the one doing the deceiving – and when the lie is discovered, damage can be severe. “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor” (Proverbs 25:18).

Dishonesty ultimately results in dire consequences. It may seem that “good liars” can avoid suffering penalties, but dishonesty eventually is discovered and the cost – in terms of credibility and reputation, as well as material ramifications – will be substantial. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish” (Proverbs 19:9).

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

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you agree that we tend to regard some professions as being more honest than others? Is it fair to stereotype people in these professions? Why or why not?

2. How does a person maintain a commitment to honesty in a working environment where dishonesty is accepted, or perhaps even encouraged?

3. What do you think of the idea that a person’s worldview – their inner beliefs and motivations – shapes their values and subsequently, their outward behavior?

If this is true, how does a person go about changing his or her worldview to develop and maintain character qualities like honesty? In your opinion, does a belief that we are creations of God mean we should be accurate reflections of the Creator?

4. Does dishonesty always bring negative consequences? Can you think of any circumstances when someone you knew “got away” with acting dishonestly? If so, how did/do you feel about that?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider more principles on the topic of honesty and dishonesty, here just some additional passages from Proverbs on the topic:

Proverbs 12:19, 12:22, 17:4, 17:23, 20:17, 21:6, 24:26

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.6.5

每一種職業都應要求誠實

我們似乎認為某些職業比較需要誠實。例如，我們期待醫生、教師、銀行主管、神職人員和會計師要誠實。可能因為如此，當我們偶爾聽到這些行業中若有人做了不正當的事，我們會很驚訝、不安。

而在一些行業中，人們就不怎麼認為需要誠實，但他們卻需要努力去贏得別人的信賴。這些行業包括二手車銷售員、律師、從政者。這是因為我們曾經歷這些行業的人行事不誠實，或者我們從親友處，聽到他們不誠實的事。然而我認識許多賣二手車的人是我絕對信任的。我也認識一些律師維持高道德的生活。而且我還聽到一個謠言說：最近發現了一位誠實的政治家－－目前正進行密集的科學檢驗。他們甚至想複製這位政治家。（只是開玩笑！）

事實上，沒有那一個職業的本質是誠實或不誠實的。有些職業會面臨較大的試探，去做不誠實的事。但誠實是一個人的決定和委身，不論你是牙醫、汽車技工、工程師或房地產銷售員。誠實的生活方式（決定過正直的生活）終究是來自一個人的世界觀。這世界觀塑造出他的價值觀，也影響他們的的行為。

當我們唯一關心的事（我們的世界觀）是我們最大的利益，儘快去得到我們想要的東西，那麼不誠實可能是最方便的途徑。然而，若我們想要去服事別人，想要對別人也對自己有幫助，我們就是在自己以外的某事或某人上找到動力。這時，誠實就是最好、最有價值，且最能實現的方法。箴言經過時間的考驗，被稱為「智慧之書」。請思想它所提到的誠實與不誠實。

我們外在的行為顯示出我們的內在。就像一個裝滿液體的桶子，在受撞擊時，桶中的液體就會潑出來。我們外在的行動也顯示出我們內在的品格與動機。「說出真話的，顯明公義；作假見證的，顯出詭詐。」（箴言12章17節）。「誠實見證人不說謊話；假見證人吐出謊言。」（箴言14章5節）。

誠實能討造物主的喜悅。就如我們期待神以公平、公正對待我們。身為受造者，我們也被期待能反映出造物主的特性。「詭詐的天平為耶和華所憎惡；公平的法碼為他所喜悅。」（箴言11章1節）。「公道的天平和秤都屬耶和華；囊中一切法碼都為他所定。」（箴言16章11節）。

欺騙的生活形態會受到無可避免的痛苦。有人可能會問：「一個小謊話會帶來什麼傷害？」不誠實是痛苦的－－首先是對被騙的人，接著是對欺騙者－－而當謊言被揭穿時，傷害就很大。「作假見證陷害鄰舍的，就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。」（箴言25章18節）。

不誠實最終導致可怕的後果。似乎「善意的謊言」可以避免懲罰，但當別人發現你不誠實，其代價（不論是信用、名譽、物質）將會很重大。「作假見證的，不免受罰；吐出謊言的，也必滅亡。」（箴言19章9節）。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你是否同意我們會認為某些行業比較誠實？對這些行業的人刻板印象是否公平？為什麼？

2. 在欺騙被接受，或甚至被鼓勵的工作場所中，一個人要如何維持誠實？

3. 一個人的世界觀（內在信念與動機）塑造出他的價值觀和外在行為。你對這觀點有何看法？

若這觀點是正確的，一個人要如何改變他的世界觀，去發展並維持誠實的品格？我們是神的受造物，就表示我們應正確地反映造物主的屬性嗎？

4. 不誠實是否一定會帶來負面的結果？你是否看過你所認識的人雖不誠實，但還是能「逃脫」？
若是如此，你感覺如何？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關誠實與不誠實的原則，請看：
箴言12章19節，12章22節，17章4節，17章23節，20章17節，21章6節，24章26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

2006-05-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 29, 2006

YOUR FINANCES: FOCUSING ON THE BIG PICTURE
By: Austin Pryor

Perhaps you have heard the tale of three bricklayers working on a major project. When asked what they were making, the first said, "$18 an hour." The next replied, "We're making a wall to help support the roof." But the third said, "We're building a cathedral for worshipping God!" They were all engaged in the same task, but only one of them caught the bigger vision.

A new version of this story could feature investors contacting their brokers to explore recommendations for their financial strategy. A spouse, or one of their children, comes along and asks what they're doing. One says, "Oh, just placing some mutual fund orders." Another replies, "I'm investing for our future." But the third responds, "I'm managing God's money for His glory."

Do you have a big vision for stewardship – how you manage your financial resources? Or do you think of it merely as paying the bills, putting some money into an investment account, and giving a little to support charitable causes? If your money management routine seems humdrum, you have lost sight of the big picture. Your financial decisions have the potential for life-changing blessings and eternal impact – for you, your loved ones, and those who benefit through your giving. Make sound decisions and, like the faithful stewards in the parable of the talents, your efforts will bring a smile to the Master. Make indifferent or undisciplined decisions and one day you will discover that you have wasted a lifetime of opportunities.

Here is a starter list, for instance, of common failures among young families: Failure to develop a spending plan that assures they end up with a monthly surplus rather than spending more than they earn. Failure to assign high priority to giving generously to God’s kingdom work. Failure to be responsible in the use of credit. Failure to drive a car or live in a home within your financial means. Failure to start and maintain a contingency fund. Failure to contribute strategically to a retirement account. Failure to learn basic principles for investing wisely.

None of these tasks is particularly difficult, but they all require self-discipline, effort and a degree of sacrifice. But the end result is worth it. Not only because we will enjoy greater success in money matters, but more importantly, living up to our potential brings glory to God, the ultimate giver of all our resources. In his book, Pierced by the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul, John Piper writes:

"God made us with the highest creaturely purpose in mind – to enjoy and display the Creator's glory. This is why we were made (‘All things were created through Him and for Him’ – Colossians 1:16). This is why we eat and drink (‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ – 1 Corinthians 10:31). This is why we pray (‘Whatever you ask the Father in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son’ – John 14:13). This is why we do all good deeds (‘Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven’ – Matthew 5:16).”

Piper adds, "That is why we exist – to display the glory of God.... When we fulfill this reason for being, we have substance. There is weight and significance in our existence. Knowing, enjoying, and thus displaying the glory of God is a sharing in the glory of God. Not that we become God. But something of His greatness and beauty is on us as we realize this purpose for our being—to image-forth His excellence. This is our substance.

"Not to fulfill this purpose for human existence is to be a mere shadow of the substance we were created to have. Not to display God's worth by enjoying Him above all things is to be a mere echo of the music we were created to make.”

Austin Pryor is publisher of Sound Mind Investing, America's best-selling financial newsletter written from a biblical perspective. He has written the book, Sound Mind Investing. Read his investment advice at www.soundmindinvesting.com.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. In your approach to managing your finances – whether personally or in your business – do you typically focus on the most immediate, pressing needs, or do you try to maintain a “big picture” perspective as Austin Pryor recommends?

2. What is one financial goal you could establish that would enhance your pursuit of broader, long-term financial objectives? What are some of the obstacles that could hinder you from working toward this goal?

3. Mr. Pryor lists common failures among young families. Which of these – if any – have you experienced personally?

Does this remain a problem in your financial stewardship, or have you been able to correct it – at least to some degree? Explain your answer.

4. Do you agree with the comments from John Piper in the excerpt from his book? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about these ideas of financial stewardship and dependence on God, consider the following passages:

Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:6-12; Matthew 6:19-21, 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

你的財務：專注於大視野

可能你已聽過這故事：有三個人在一個大工地砌磚。當別人問他們在作什麼，第一位工人說：「為了每小時18塊美金而工作。」第二位工人回答：「我們在築一道牆來支撐屋頂。」第三位工人說：「我們在建造一座大教堂來敬拜神！」他們作的是相同的工作，但只有一人看到較大的異象。

這故事的新版本可以是投資人請經紀人建議投資的策略。投資人的配偶或子女從旁邊經過，就問他們在作什麼。一位投資人說：「只是在買一些共同基金。」另一位投資人說：「我在為我們的將來而投資。」但第三位說：「我在管理神的錢，來榮耀祂的名！」

你對於管家的職份有沒有更大的異象－－你如何管理你的財務資源？或者你認為只是付帳單，把一些錢放進投資帳戶，把少數錢拿去資助慈善機構？若你的金錢管理似乎乏善可陳，你可能還沒看到異象。你的財務決定可能帶來改變生命的祝福和永恆的影響力－－不論是對你、你所愛的人或那些受惠於你施予的人。所以要作出健全的財務決定，就像聖經中有關才能的比喻，做忠心的管家，你的努力會使主人欣慰。若你的財務決定都是隨便作出來的，有一天你會發現你浪費了一生的機會。

這裡有一個初學者的清單，例如，年輕夫婦的普遍缺失：沒有設定支出計畫，以確保每個月有盈餘，而不是入不敷出。沒有將給神國度的奉獻擺在第一順位。沒有負責任地使用信用額度。所開的車子和所住的房子不在自己財務能力範圍內。沒有留一筆急用金。沒有存退休金。沒有智慧地學習基本的投資原則。

以上這些事都不是很困難，但都需要自律、努力和某種程度的犧牲。但最後的結果是值得的。不只因我們在金錢的事上能享受更大的成就，更重要的是，活出我們的潛能可以榮耀神（我們資源的賜予者）。作家約翰‧派普在他「被神話語刺透：為你靈魂的31個默想」一書中寫道：

「神是想要造出最高等生物的目的來創造我們－－去享受並表現造物主的榮耀。這是我們被造的目的（萬有都是藉著祂造的，又是為祂造的－－歌羅西書1章16節）。這是我們吃喝的目的（所以你們或吃或喝，無論作什麼，都要為榮耀神而行－－哥林多前書10章31節）。這是我們禱告的目的（你們奉我的名，無論求什麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀－－約翰福音14章13節）。這是我們行善的目的（你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父－－馬太福音5章16節）。」

「這是我們存在的目的－－表現神的榮耀…當我們實現了這個存在的理由，我們就得到生命的本質。我們的存在就有份量和重要性。認識、享受並彰顯神的榮耀是分享神的榮耀，並非我們成為神。當我們了解我們存在的目的，神的偉大與榮美就在我們身上－－反映出神的卓越。這是我們生命的本質。」

「人若沒有實現這存在的目的，我們被造的本質就只是影子。若沒有將神放在萬物之上，去彰顯神的價值，我們的被造就只是音樂的回音。」

思想 / 討論題目
1. 在你處理財務時－－不論是為個人或公司－－你是否定焦於最即時、最迫切的需要，或者你試著維持本文作者所建議的「大視野」觀點？

2. 你可設定那一項財務目標，來加強你追求更寬廣、更長遠的財務目的？為達此目標，你可能會碰到什麼障礙？

3. 作者列出年輕夫婦的普遍缺失。你個人是否曾經歷其中任何一項缺失？

這項缺失現在還是你財務管理上的問題嗎？或你已改正了－－至少某種程度的改善？請解釋。

4. 你是否同意約翰‧派普的觀點？為什麼？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關財務管家與倚靠神的其他經文，請看：
箴言3章9-10節；瑪拉基書3章6-12節；馬太福音6章19-21節，25章14-30節；哥林多後書9章6-7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

2006-05-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 22, 2006

EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF – AND WHY?

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Fear. This emotion seems to dominate our world today. We fear world health issues – bird flu, AIDS, plagues and virulent viruses. The rise of global terrorism holds us in a state of constant anxiety. Stock market performances plummet on fears generated by news of what could possibly happen in key industries. We fret about the potential for catastrophic economic collapse. The threat of global warming brings chills down our spines. We fear for the security of our jobs, or the long-term future of our businesses in the face of rapid, unpredictable and sometimes drastic changes.

Fear also becomes very personal. We fear growing old, and dying. If we have histories of family health concerns, such as heart disease or cancer, we are afraid of those, too. We fear that something dreadful may happen to ones we love. Decades ago, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself,” but most of us seem to disagree.

Entire industries have discovered that fear is good for business: We buy disability and long-term health care insurance, fearful that disabling injuries or lengthy illnesses could ruin us financially. We purchase specialized property insurance to safeguard against the loss of valued possessions. Radio commercials market high-tech communications systems that can provide rapid response in the event of an emergency while traveling in our vehicles, such as a collision, health crisis, even something as simple as locking our keys in the car.

Certainly, we are wise to exercise caution in our daily activities. And anticipating possible difficulties and challenges is part of good business planning. But living in a state of continual fear exposes us to constant stress that our minds and bodies don’t want or need. How, then, can we avoid – or at least minimize – fear when the world we live in is such a scary place? At times like this, faith is a valuable resource.

“Faith in what?” you might ask. We have learned that faith in ourselves, our abilities, our families and friends, even our companies, will let us down. That is why an overriding message of the Bible is that everything in our lives eventually will fail us except one – God. Consider just a few of the things it says about God, and fear:

God is always with us, no matter what. Like an ever-present friend, God promises to stand by us in good times and bad, poised to come to our aid. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Nothing can separate God and His followers. Many of us have suffered shipwrecked marriages, lost jobs, and had friends turn their backs on us. But God promises never to sever His ties with those who believe in and follow Him. “For I am convinced that neither life nor death…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Trust in God reduces fear of the unknown. Believing God is control of our circumstances, and that we can turn to Him in times of need, is a great antidote for fear. “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1).

Don’t harbor your fears; pass them on. One of the paralyzing elements of our fears is that we often feel we must deal with them alone – and that pressure can be crushing. God asks us to turn them over to Him. “Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you consider yourself a fearful person? Why or why not?

Do you know any other people who seem to live in constant state of fear and anxiety? Describe them.

2. Even people who are not generally fearful have some things that concern them to a significant degree. What are some things that bring fear or anxiety into your mind when you think about them?

3. Do you believe that faith is truly a resource for overcoming fear, or do you regard it as merely a crutch for weak people, individuals who are not strong enough to cope with life on their own? Explain your answer.

4. Do any of the Bible passages above strike you as particularly meaningful or significant? If so, which one(s) – and tell why?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider more of what it says about God and fear, here are some additional passages on the topic:

Psalm 66:16-20; Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 35:3-4; Luke 12:32; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7;1 John 4:16-18

你到底害怕什麼－－為何害怕？

恐懼，這情緒似乎佔據了我們今日的世界。我們害怕世界的健康問題－－禽流感、愛滋病、瘟疫、惡性病毒。全球恐怖主義的興起，更讓我們常在焦慮狀態中。主要工業可能發生問題的新聞一出現，股市就因恐慌而狂跌。我們因經濟可能災難性的崩潰而煩躁。全球氣候暖化的威脅，使我們背脊都冷起來。我們害怕工作不保。我們害怕在許久之後，我們的事業會面對快速、不可預測的改變。

恐懼也可能非常個人。我們怕老、怕死。我們若有家族病史，例如心臟並或癌症，這些也會令我們感到害怕。我們害怕可怕的事會發生在我們所愛的人身上。幾十年前，美國總統富蘭克林‧羅斯福說：「除了害怕本身，沒什麼事好害怕。」但我們大多數人似乎不同意他的話。

整個工商業界已發現，恐懼對商業有好處：我們購買殘障和長期健康保險，害怕受傷導致殘障或長期生病會摧殘我們的財務狀況。我們購買特別的產物險，以保障我們值錢財物遺失的危險。收音機裡的廣告，促銷高科技通訊器材，使我們在開車時若遇緊急狀態，如撞車、身體突感不適，甚至簡單到車鑰匙留在車內，而我們被鎖在車外，都可以迅速因應。

當然，我們可以有智慧地在每天行事中小心謹慎，並且良好的企業會預期可能有困難與挑戰。但持續在恐懼狀態下，會使我們的頭腦和身體有不想要和不需要的壓力。但是，當我們所住的世界是這樣一個可怕的地方，我們要如何避免－－或至少減低－－恐懼。在這時刻，信心是一項寶貴的資源。

你可能會問：「要相信什麼呢？」我們已學會對自己、自己的能力、家人、朋友、甚至公司有信心。但這些都可能讓我們失望。這就是為什麼聖經裡的一個重要信息是：我們生命中的每個人事物最後都會讓我們失望，除了神之外。請思想以下有關神和恐懼的事：

無論如何，神總是與我們同在。就像一位永遠陪在身邊的朋友，神應許無論順境、逆境，都會在我們身邊，隨時給予幫助。「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你，我必用我公義的右手扶持你」（以賽亞書41章10節）。

沒有任何事能將神和祂的跟隨者隔絕。我們許多人可能遭遇破碎的婚姻、失業、遭朋友背叛。但神應許絕不會切斷與相信並跟隨祂之人的聯繫。「因為我深信無論是死、是生、是天使、是掌權的、是有能的、是現在的事、是將來的事、是高處的、是低處的、是別的受造之物，都不能教我們與神的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的」（羅馬書8章38-39節）。

倚靠神可降低對未知的恐懼。相信神掌管我們的環境，並且在需要的時候，我們可向祂求助。這就是治療恐懼的特效藥。「耶和華是我的亮光，是我的拯救，我還怕誰呢？耶和華是我性命的保障，我還懼誰呢？」（詩篇27篇1節）

不要隱藏恐懼，要將它疏發出來。我們恐懼的一個僵化點是，我們常常覺得要獨自面對－－這壓力可能會壓垮我們。神要我們把恐懼卸給祂。「你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為祂顧念你們」（彼得前書5章7節）。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你認為自己是容易害怕的人嗎？為什麼？

你知道某人常常在恐懼和焦慮的狀態中嗎？請形式他/她的狀況。

2. 即使人們不害怕，有些事還是會讓他們擔心。有那些事是當你一想到就害怕或焦慮的？

3. 你是否相信：信心真的是戰勝恐懼的資源？或者你認為那只是軟弱之人的柺杖，因那些人不夠強壯，無法自行因應生活中的難處？請解釋。

4. 文中所列的經節中，是否有某一節對你特別重要、有意義？若有，是那一節？為什麼？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關神與恐懼的其他經文，請看：
詩篇66章16-20節；箴言29章25節；以賽亞書35章3-4節；路加福音12章12-32節；腓立比書4章6-7節；提摩太後書1章7節；約翰壹書4章16-18節

2006-05-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 8, 2006

THE POWER AND IMPACT OF A CARING REBUKE
By: Rick Boxx
In the world of today, benefits of the prevailing culture of “tolerance” have been offset by a notable pitfall. It has become common, even popular, to accept people and issues they struggle with, unchallenged. “Who am I to judge?” is the typical response to someone wrestling with destructive behavior. It’s not an issue of “judging,” but rather one of caring enough to confront people that are obviously doing harm to themselves and those around them.
In our pursuit of being “tolerant,” it has become increasingly rare to find someone willing to hold others accountable for their actions, or even to rebuke a wayward person. Some people would say this is as it should be, that we should not get involved in the affairs of others, no matter how troubled they may be. For this reason, it intrigued me when a friend told me about a major turning point in his life.

This man, whom I’ll call “Jim,” had talked for weeks with several other men in his accountability group about his struggle with alcohol – that rather than controlling his drinking, it seemed to be controlling him. He was not talking about having an occasional drink or two in a social setting; he became convinced that it had become an idol – an addictive, controlling force in his life. Each week he would complain to his “accountability partners” that he wanted to quit drinking, but continued getting drunk.
After several weeks of hearing the recurring complaint from Jim, one of his accountability partners, whom I’ll call “Rob,” finally became frustrated by Jim’s empty promises and good-sounding intentions.

Confronting him, Rob asked, “Jim, do you really want to quit drinking?” Jim assured him that he did. After a brief pause, Rob proceeded to challenge his friend: “I don’t know that you do. Every week I hear the same old story, without any results. Let me ask you a question – do you have liquor in your home?”

Jim hesitated as he replied, “Yes.”

That is when Rob struck the hardest blow: “How do you think you can quit drinking if you won’t even get the temptation out of your home? You need to destroy every drop of alcohol in your house. Until you are willing to do that, I don’t believe you are serious.”

Sounds bold, doesn’t it – and not very “tolerant.” Would you have the courage to confront someone that directly, whether the issue was drinking, gambling, dishonesty, or some other counterproductive behavior? Rob did, and thankfully, his stern but caring rebuke had the desired effect. Jim went home that same evening, emptied the contents of every bottle of alcohol he had and even destroyed the bottles. That was the beginning of the end of Jim’s struggle with drinking. Today he celebrates years of sobriety – and a life free from the enslavement of alcohol.

In the Bible, Proverbs 28:23 teaches, “He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.” Are you allowing poor behavior to go unchallenged in your workplace for the sake of tolerance? If so, consider the wisdom of this verse in Proverbs and Rob’s experience. A rebuke given in love and genuine concern for another person’s well-being will result in more favor than flattery, and it may save others from harm.
Copyright 2006, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.
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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. What do you think about the culture of “tolerance” that surrounds us today? What have been its benefits – and its drawbacks?
2. Would you have had the boldness, perhaps even courage, to confront a person like Jim? Why or why not?
3. Can you think of a time when you were the beneficiary of a stern, but caring rebuke, whether at work, at home, perhaps during your days in school, or while interacting with a friend? If so, how did it make you feel at the time – and what was the ultimate result of being confronted?
4. An adage states, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all.” Do you agree with that? What are the problems with that kind of philosophy?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about the positive value of a well-intended rebuke, consider the following passages:
2 Samuel 12:1-14; Proverbs 17:10, 27:5; Matthew 16:21-23; Galatians 2:11-14; Revelation 3:19

用愛心責備的力量與影響

在今日的世界，盛行的「寬容文化」之益處已被其重大的錯誤所抵銷。人們普遍接受行為不合理的人與事，不願去挑戰那不合理的人。「我是誰？怎麼有資格去論斷？」這是一般人對行為錯誤之人的反應。其實這不是「論斷」的問題，而是你是否夠關心那人，願意幫助他那傷害自己與周遭人的行為。
在我們追求「寬容」的過程中，很少人願意為他人的行為負責，或甚至去責備一個任性的人。有人會說：「不論別人有多苦惱，我們不應管別人的事。」因此，當一位朋友告訴我他生命中的一個重大轉捩點時，就激起了我的興趣。
這位我姑且叫他「吉姆」的人，連續好幾個星期告訴他小組中許多人，說自己有酒癮的問題。酒不僅控制他的飲食，也似乎控制他整個人。他不是只在社交場合偶爾喝一點，酒已成為他的偶像－－控制他生命的力量。每個星期他都向他的「責任夥伴們」報怨，說自己要戒酒，但卻還是繼續醉酒。
在聽了吉姆幾週來不斷的抱怨，其中一位責任夥伴，我姑且叫他「勞勃」，終於對吉姆的空洞承諾和表面好聽的話感到失望。
勞勃就問他：「吉姆，你真的要戒酒嗎？」吉姆向他保證真的。停了一會，勞勃繼續挑戰他的朋友：「我不覺的得你真想戒酒。每個禮拜我都聽你說同樣的話，但都沒有成果。讓我問你一個問題－－你家有沒有酒？」
吉姆遲疑了一下說：「有。」
這時勞勃揮出最重的一擊：「若你不把這誘惑趕出你家，你怎麼戒酒？你要除去家中的每一滴酒。除非你願意這麼做，否則我不相信你真的想戒酒。」
這聽起來實在太大膽，而且不「寬容」。你是否有勇氣去直接挑戰別人，不論他的問題是酒癮、賭博、不誠實或其他不好的行為？勞勃有這勇氣，而且要感謝他嚴厲但關心的責備，才有好的效果。那天晚上吉姆回到家，就把家中的每瓶酒都倒掉，甚至將酒瓶都敲破。從此吉姆就不再與酒掙扎。今天他可以慶祝幾年來都清醒的日子－－不再受酒精奴役。
在聖經中箴言28章23節教導我們：「責備人的，後來蒙人喜悅，多於那用舌頭諂媚人的。」你是否因為寬容，就容許辦公室中不好的行為？若是如此，請思考箴言這節經文的智慧。用愛心且為了那人益處的責備，會比諂媚得到更多喜悅，而且可使別人免於傷害。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你對今日盛行的「寬容文化」有何看法？它的好處與壞處各是什麼？

2. 你是否有膽識與勇氣去面對像吉姆的人？為什麼？

3. 你是否曾是嚴厲但出於關心之責備的受惠者，無論是在工作中、在家中、或在學校中、或與朋友互動中？若是，當時你感覺如何－－最後的結果又如何？

4. 有一句俗話說：「你若不能說出別人的好話，就什麼都不要說。」你是否同意這俗語？這種哲學會產生什麼問題？
註：若你有聖經且想要看有關善意責備之正面價值的其他經文，請看：
撒母耳記下12章1-14節；箴言17章10節，27章5節；馬太福音16章21-23節；加拉太書2章11-14節；啟世錄3章19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

2006-04-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
April 17, 2006

INDISPENSABLE STEWARDSHIP ADVICE
By: Austin Pryor

In considering biblical principles of financial management, the so-called “Parable of the Talents” from Matthew 25 in the Bible’s New Testament seems the universal “go-to” passage. It covers many topics: money belonging to the Master rather than the investors; handling finances involves a long-term assignment; the importance of rate of return; and faithfulness in the care and use of resources being even more important. This parable communicates key stewardship concepts – ownership and accountability. Other passages teach valuable principles as well:

The dangers of being in debt. “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).
The importance of saving for the future. “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has” (Proverbs 21:20).
The wisdom of diversifying our risk. “Give portions to seven; yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land” (Ecclesiastes 11:2).
God places high value in our giving to help others. “…you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish this work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means…” (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

Each of these passages is helpful in teaching what to do. But there’s still something missing. Years ago, I learned another extremely important verse that is rarely used in the context of stewardship. Talking about finances with a friend, I asked what he considered the single most important stewardship passage. Without hesitation, he replied, “Galatians 5:16.” In it the apostle Paul writes, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Or as a paraphrase puts it: “I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.”

Immediately I saw the wisdom of my friend’s answer. The thing that keeps us from a high level of commendable stewardship usually is not failing to understand what needs to be done. We know what needs to be done, thanks to passages like those above. But we don’t DO what needs to be done. We don’t execute the game plan. Why? Because it requires us to master, to a significant degree, what the Bible calls our “old natures.” This part of us wants what it wants, puts self-gratification as the focus of decision-making, and abhors self-sacrifice.

That’s why we fall short, isn’t it? Most people in debt are there because they spend too much on their wants. People who have not set aside money for emergencies or long-term savings have failed for similar reasons. The same is true of those who are relatively miserly toward God’s work in their charitable giving. Even many men and women who are devout in their faith have a tendency to “gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

I’m not saying spending money is necessarily wrong in itself. But the impulse to elevate spending on wants – before paying creditors what we owe, saving for the future, or giving to help others in the name of Jesus – comes from a drive to satisfy our own desires. This drive, unfortunately, often overwhelms our desire to obey God and please Him with our stewardship. If we don’t take control of our appetites, our appetites will take control of us!

But how do we do this? We can’t! But God’s Holy Spirit, who lives within every follower of Jesus, can do it. He strengthens and empowers us. When we submit to His direction and control, He builds “fruit” – qualities of His life (including self-control) into us. He can make us the kind of people He wants us to be; what we wish we could be. That’s why Paul says, “Live by the Spirit!” This truth makes following all other stewardship passages possible.

Austin Pryor is publisher of Sound Mind Investing, America's best-selling financial newsletter written from a biblical perspective. He has written the book, Sound Mind Investing. Read his investment advice at www.soundmindinvesting.com.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Austin Pryor discusses handling finances in terms of “stewardship” or management of resources for someone else, rather than ownership. Do you agree with this perspective? Why or why not?

2. Which of the principles of financial management that he presents seem most significant for you and your personal situation, or your business? Explain your answer.

3. Have you ever had a desire to use your financial resources in a way that would be more beneficial to others, rather than for just satisfying your personal wants and desires? If so, give an example and tell what you did – or did not do.

4. The writer suggests that a primary reason that we fail to carry out good intentions is because of what the Bible describes as our “sinful nature.” Do you understand what he is talking about? And if so, what is your reaction to this idea?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about these ideas of financial stewardship and dependence on God, consider the following passages:

Luke 9:23, 14:27; Acts 20:35; Galatians 2:20, 5:22-23; Romans 6:11; 1 Peter 1:13-16

對管家不可或缺的忠告

在思想聖經的理財原則時，大家都會想到的經節就是新約馬太福音25章「才幹的比喻」。這比喻談到許多主題：錢財屬於主人，而不屬於投資者；處理財務是長期的功課；回收率的重要性；忠心地保管、運用資源更是重要。這比喻告訴我們重要的管家觀念－－所有權和交帳的責任。其他的經文也教導了寶貴的原則：

負債的危險。「富戶管轄窮人，欠債的是債主的僕人」（箴言22章7節）。
為將來儲蓄的重要性。「智慧人家中積蓄寶物膏油，愚昧人隨得來隨吞下」（箴言21章20節）。
分散風險的智慧。「你要分給七人或分給八人，因為你不知道將來有什麼災禍臨到地上」（傳道書11章2節）。
神看重我們捐獻幫助別人的行為。「你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意已經有一年了。如今就當辦成這事。既有願作的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成」（哥林多後書8章6-15節）。

這些經文在教導我們應該作的事上很有幫助，但還是缺少了某種東西。幾年前，我學到另一節非常重要的經文，那經文很少被用在管家的事上。有一次我與一位朋友談到理財，我問他那一段經節是他認為最重要有關管家的經文。他毫不遲疑地回答：「加拉太書5章16節。」在這段經節中，使徒保羅寫到：「我說，你們當順著聖靈而行，就不放縱肉體的情慾了。」另一種寫法是：「我勸你們要單單順服聖靈的引導。祂會告訴你去那裡和作什麼事。這樣你就不會做出你罪性要你做的錯事。」

我立刻看出我朋友回答的智慧。使我們無法作成好管家的原因，常常並不是我們不知道需要做什麼。感謝神，我們有以上許多經文教導我們，所以我們知道應該要做什麼。但我們卻不去做應該要做的事，我們不執行計畫。為什麼？因為那樣我們就必須要能控制聖經所謂的「老我」。老我只管自己的需求，把自我滿足作為所有決策的焦點，厭惡犧牲自我。

這就是為什麼我們無法成為好管家。許多人負債是因為他們花太多錢在他們想要的事物上。沒有存錢以因應緊急需要或長期儲蓄的人也是因為同樣的原因。對聖工吝於奉獻的人還是因為同樣的原因。即使信仰虔誠的人也還是會去「滿足罪性的慾望」。

我並非說花錢就一定錯，但提高滿足自我需求的花費（將此花費置於清償債務、為將來儲蓄、為基督之名施予幫助別人等事之上）就是來自滿足自我慾望的衝動。遺憾的是，這種衝動常常凌駕於我們想要順服神，忠心地為神管家，討神喜悅的動力之上。我們若不掌控我們的慾望，慾望就會掌控我們！

但我們要如何掌控呢？我們無能為力！但在每位基督徒心裡的聖靈可以作到。祂會堅固我們，賜力量給我們。當我們順服祂的引導與掌管，祂就在我們裡面栽種「聖靈的果子」－－屬神生命的特質（包括節制）。祂會使我們成為祂要我們成為的那種人，也是我們想要成為的那種人。這就是為什麼保羅說：「靠聖靈而活！」這項真理使我們能夠去遵行其他有關管家經文的教導。

思想 / 討論題目

1. 本文作者用「管家」或為某人管理資源的說法來談論理財，我們並非財物的所有權人。你是否同意這觀點？為什麼？

2. 他所提到的理財原則中，那一項對你個人的情況，或對你的事業而言是最重要的？請解釋。

3. 你是否曾想用你的財物資源去造福別人，而不只是用來滿足個人的慾望？若是，請舉一例說明你做的事，或沒做的的事。

4. 作者提到我們無法行善的一個主要原因是聖經所形容的「罪性」。你是否明白這個論點？若是，你對這論點的看法如何？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關財務管家和倚靠神的其他經文，請看：
路加福音9章23節，14章27節；使徒行傳20章35節；加拉太書2章20，5章22-23節；羅馬書6章11節；彼得前書1章13-16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

2006-04-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
April 10, 2006

KNOWLEDGE: A BLESSING, OR A CURSE?

By: Rick Boxx

Not long ago I participated in a learning disabilities simulation. The teachers wanted each of the participants to gain an understanding of some of the difficult issues kids with learning disabilities must face.

One of the most heartbreaking realities was the condescending attitude exhibited by other students and some teachers toward these special children. During this exercise, a favored student was lavished with praise and positive encouragement, while the rest of us received harsh criticism for being slow, incompetent or stupid, simply because we could not complete the impossible assignment the teacher had given us.

If we have never suffered from learning disabilities, it becomes so easy to become judgmental and impatient toward those who struggle with gathering and processing information in practical ways for solving problems. “Knowledge is power,” someone has said, and those of us who have knowledge skills necessary for a specific task can find it hard to understand the sense of powerlessness for those who do not.

It occurred me recently that most of us fall victim to this type of offensive attitude from time to time, whether in a school, in the workplace or in other settings. A person with learning disabilities certainly experiences feelings of inadequacy

Knowledge, however, should be viewed as a gift, not as a weapon. In the Bible’s Old Testament, it says, “(God) gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:21). Knowledge should be distributed and shared to benefit and empower others, not to overwhelm or cripple them.

In the workplace, every business presents us with opportunities for using knowledge either positively or negatively. During my banking career, for example, I encountered several different approaches for utilizing knowledge in our loan committee meetings. Sometimes I became the brunt of attacks, so that more experienced, more knowledgeable individuals on the loan committee could demonstrate how much smarter they were than I was. On other occasions, however, I benefited considerably from someone’s greater knowledge as they graciously guided me in finding the proper conclusions.

Later, as I rose to positions of authority on loan committees for various banking institutions, there were times (I now realize with regret) that I crippled others by flaunting my knowledge, rather than using the knowledge I had been blessed with to help in developing other leaders.

In your spheres of influence – at work, in your community, and especially in your home – seek to identify the opportunities you have on a regular basis to shape others with your knowledge. Ask yourself: Do you typically use knowledge as a curse to others, or as a way of blessing them? When you are leaning toward driving home a key point, tempted to flex your intellectual muscle to make yourself look good, remember the apostle Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 8:1 “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”

Copyright 2006, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. In your workplace, can you think of any instances when someone flaunted or abused the knowledge they had to advance themselves and their interests over others? Do you think this is a common problem in today’s business and professional world?

2. How do you typically respond when you are around other people who are not as knowledgeable, or don’t seem to be as skilled at effectively processing knowledge, as you are?

3. What about the idea of viewing knowledge as a gift, a resource that should be used to benefit – even “bless” – other people: Do you agree with this concept?

4. At the end of this “Monday Manna,” we read the Bible verse that states, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” What do you think this means? And what would you suggest should be done to avoid becoming “puffed up” with knowledge?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:

Psalm 119:66; Proverbs 2:1-5, 10:14, 13:16, 17:27; Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; Daniel 2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 8:1-4, 13:2; Colossians 2:2-3

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.4.10

知識：是祝福或咒詛？

不久之前，我參加一個模擬學習障礙者的課程。老師要每位參加者了解有學習障礙的孩子所必須面對的困難。

最令人傷心的事情之一是其他學生和一些老師表現出優越的態度。在模擬練習中，一位受喜愛的學生得到許多讚美與鼓勵，而我們其他的人則受到嚴厲的批評，因為我們的動作慢、無能或愚笨，只因我們無法完成老師要我們作的困難功課。

若我們從未有學習障礙，對那些在收集、處理資訊去解決問題上有困難的人，我們就會變得沒耐心，會批評他們。有人曾說：「知識即力量。」而我們這些有知識技能去完成困難工作的人，卻很難了解沒有知識技能之人的無力感。

最近我想到我們大多數人，不論在學校、職場或其他場合，偶爾也會被別人的優越態度所冒犯。有學習障礙的人一定更經歷這種無能的感覺。

然而，知識應被視為一種恩賜、禮物，而不是武器。舊約聖經中說到：「祂將智慧賜予智慧人，將知識賜予聰明人」（但以理書2章21節）。我們應將知識與別人分享，造福別人，幫助別人更有力量，而不是讓他們窘迫，或使他們不便。

在職場中，每一種行業都提供我們機會去運用知識，不論是正面或負面。例如，我在銀行界時，在貸款委員會中我遇到許多運用知識的不同方式。有時我成為被攻擊的對象，使得更有經驗和知識的人顯得比我更聰明。而在有些場合中，比我更有知識的人優雅地引導我去尋得合適的結論，使我獲益良多。

後來，當我在許多銀行機構中的貸款委員會上升到主管的職位，有時我會炫耀自己的知識，使別人顯得無能（我現在很後悔地了解到這一點），而沒有運用神所賜的知識去幫助發掘其他領袖。

在你影響力所及的領域－－在職場上、社區裡、尤其是在家中－－要經常尋找機會，用你的知識去塑造別人。問自己：我是否用我的知識成為別人的咒詛或祝福？當你受試探，傾向要說服別人一個觀點，想要展現自己的聰明才智，使自己看起來比別人好，請記得使徒保羅在哥林多前書8章1節的警告：「知識是叫人自高自大，惟有愛心能造就人。」

思想 / 討論題目

1. 在你的工作場所中，你是否能想出某人炫耀、濫用他的知識，使自己顯得高人一等，並得到更多利益？你認為這是否是今日工商專業中的普遍問題？

2. 當你周遭人的知識不如你，或無法像你一樣有效地運用知識，你一向都如何對待他們？

3. 把知識視為禮物、恩賜，應該被用來作為造福，甚至「祝福」別人的資源。你是否同意這觀點？

4.在本篇「週一嗎哪」結尾，我們讀到聖經的話語：「知識是叫人自高自大，惟有愛心能造就人。」你認為這是什麼意思？為了避免我們因知識而自高自大，你有何建議？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關自誇的其他經文，請看：
詩篇119篇66節；箴言2章1-5節，10章14節，13章16節，17章27節；傳道書1章16-18節；但以理書2章20-22節；哥林多前書8章1-4；13章2節；歌羅西書2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

2006-04-04T23:27:00.000-07:00

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

WHERE ARE YOU GOING? – ARE YOU THERE YET?

By: Ken Korkow

You may have heard this story before, but it’s worth repeating because of the perspective it gives:

A boat was docked in a tiny seacoast village. A tourist from another country complimented the fisherman in the boat on the quality of his fish, and asked how long it had taken him to catch them. "Not very long," answered the fisherman. "But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the tourist.

The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family. The tourist, a successful businessman, then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The businessman interrupted, "I have an MBA from a very prestigious university’s business school. I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

“And after that?" asked the fisherman.

“With the extra money the larger boat will generate for you, you will be able to buy a second one, then a third one and so on, until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to a big city anywhere in the world! From there you can direct your huge new fishing enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the fisherman. "Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the businessman, enthused about his wise counsel.

"And after that?"

"Afterward? Well, my friend, that is when it gets really interesting," answered the businessman-tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" inquired the fisherman

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

The moral to this story is: Know where you're going in life – you may already be there!

In the Bible, Jesus expressed this principle in a different way: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21). A key to a successful, fulfilling life is establishing and maintaining the right priorities.

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: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: nbrownell@cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What is your reaction to this story about the fisherman and the businessman-tourist?

2. Do you think it is a common problem to become so focused on long-term ambitions that we can easily lose sight of what we already have? Explain your answer.

3. Thousands of years ago the king of Israel, Solomon, who was as renowned for his wisdom as for his wealth, wrote, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). What steps do you think might be helpful for striking a practical balance between striving for future goals and objectives and yet being able to appreciate and enjoy what we have already attained in the present?

4. The passage quoted at the end of this “Monday Manna” speaks about having an eternal perspective and setting eternal, rather than temporal, priorities? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to our this topic, consider the following verses:

Proverbs 18:11, 28:11; Ecclesiastes 1:1-11,2:17-26, 5:10-12

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界2006.3.27

你要走去那裡？－－你到達了嗎？

可能以前你聽過這個故事，但它實在發人深省，所以值得再看一遍：

有一艘小船停靠在一個小漁村的碼頭，一位外國觀光客稱讚那船上的漁夫捕了許多魚，又問他花多少時間捕了這麼多魚。漁夫回答：「沒多久。」那觀光客就問：「為何你不多花點時間，去捕更多魚呢？」

那漁夫解釋說，他的少數魚穫就足夠自己和家人的需要。那觀光客是位成功的商人，又問：「你其他的時間都作些什麼？」

「我早上起得很晚，捕一會兒魚，和我的孩子們玩耍，和我的妻子睡個午覺。晚上到村子裡去找我的朋友們小酌一番，彈彈吉他，唱唱歌。我享有充實的生活。」

那商人打斷他：「我在一所很有名望的大學商學院拿到企業管理碩士。我可以幫助你！一開始你應該每天多花一些時間打魚，這樣你就可以把多餘的魚賣出。有了這額外的收入，你就可以買一艘大一點的船。」

「然後呢？」漁夫問。

「大一點的船就會為你賺更多錢，你就可以買第二艘船、第三艘船、第四…，直到你擁有一整隊拖網船。那時你就不需要把魚賣給中盤商。你可直接與鮮魚處理場議價，或許甚至開你自己的處理場。然後你就可以離開這個小漁村，搬到世界上任何一個大都市！在大都市，你就可以直接指揮你的大型捕魚企業。」

「這要花多少時間？」漁夫問。「20年，或者可能要25年。」商人熱心地提出明智的諮詢。

「然後呢？」

「然後？我的朋友，然後就是最有趣的部份。當你的生意真的作得很大，你就可以開始銷售股票，賺幾百萬美元！」那商人觀光客笑著說。

「幾百萬？真的嗎？然後呢？」漁夫問道。

「然後你就可以退休，住到靠海邊的小村莊。早上起得很晚，和我的孩子們玩耍，釣一點魚，和你的妻子睡個午覺。晚上和朋友們飲酒作樂。」

這故事的教導是：明白你生活的方向、目標，可能你已經到達了。

在聖經中，耶穌用不同的方式表達這原則：「不要為自己積攢財寶在地上，地上有蟲子咬，能銹壞，也有賊挖窟窿來偷。只要積攢財寶在天上，天上沒有蟲子咬，不能銹壞，也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。」（馬太福音6章19-20節）。成功、充實生活的秘訣是維持正確的優先順序。

思想 / 討論題目
1. 你對於這有關漁夫和商人觀光客的故事，有何看法？

2. 你是否認為太專注於長程的雄心壯志，而忽視自己已經擁有的人事物，是一個普遍的問題？請解釋。

3. 幾千年前，以色列王所羅門以智慧和財富著稱，他寫道：「貪愛銀子的，不因銀子知足。貪愛利益的，也不因得利知足。這也是虛空。」（傳道書5章10節）。你認為應採取什麼步驟才可以幫助我們平衡努力達成未來的目標，而同時享受我們目前享有的人事物？

4. 本篇週一嗎哪最後引述的經文說道要有永恆的觀點，把永恆的事列為優先，而非現世的事。你是否同意？為什麼？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言18章11節，28章11節；傳道書1章1-11節，2章17-26節；5章10-12節

2006-03-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
March 20, 2006

PROVEN PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING YOUR NETWORK
By: Rick Warren

All leaders are devout believers in and practitioners of networking. To become president or CEO of a company or organization of considerable size, a person must rely on a massive network of friends, advisors and contacts they built over the previous years.

U.S. President George Bush, for instance, is reported to have continued his habit of personally staying in contact with his network through brief phone calls and writing notes every day. Even at the end of a busy day, he was known to pick up the telephone and make as many as 20 calls to friends across the nation.

SUCCESS IS RARELY A ONE-MAN SHOW. IT IS USUALLY A TEAM EFFORT.
Meeting people. Working with teams. Developing a list of trusted advisors. Having personal contacts in place when you need the resources. These all are aspects of networking. And today's technology has made it easier than ever before.

Telephone conference calls, fax machines, overnight mail, e-mail, and cellular phones are just some of the devices that today make it possible for you to stay in touch with far more people than you could even imagine just a few years ago. These innovative and life-changing tools are available to anyone who recognizes the benefits of networking. You no longer have to live near the people you network with on a daily basis. You can reach out and touch them as often as you want – through technology.

HOW CAN WE BUILD AN EFFECTIVE PERSONAL NETWORK?
There are many approaches for developing a network of people that can be useful to leaders in accomplishing their missions and goals. However, some of those methods can be self-serving and manipulative, designed solely for the leader’s purposes. An ancient but ever-timely resource, the Bible, gives what I consider to be six building blocks for constructing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships:

1. The leader must be CONSIDERATE. “Do a favor and win a friend forever; nothing can untie that bond” (Proverbs 18:19).
2. The leader must be CONFIDENTIAL. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13).
3. The leader must be CANDID. “An honest answer is the sign of a true friendship” (Proverbs 24:26).
4. The leader must be CONSTRUCTIVE. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend shapes a friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
5. The leader must be CONSISTENT. “A friend loves at ALL times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).
6. The leader must be COMMITTED. “Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more LOYAL than brothers” (Proverbs 18:24).

The point seems fairly obvious: If leaders desire networks of friends and advisors that are considerate, confidential, candid, constructive, consistent and committed, the leaders themselves must pave the way by example. In building a personal and professional network,

You will attract whatever you are!

Rick Warren is the author of the highly acclaimed, best-selling book, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. This is adapted for “Monday Manna” from one of Mr. Warren’s columns.
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. Do you have a network of friends, advisors and contacts? If so, how would you describe this – how does it function in conjunction with your daily work responsibilities?

2. What traits do you look for in a person who “qualifies” for your network? Why are these criteria important for you?

3. Do you consider yourself to be a part of another leader’s network? If so, what do you think you contribute through your relationship to help the leader function more effectively?

4. Do you agree with Mr. Warren’s “six building blocks” for an effective personal network? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to look at some other passages that deal with building a network, consider the following:

Proverbs 1:5, 20:18; Matthew 14:7-11; Mark 12:28-31; John 15:13-15

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界

建立人脈的原則

所有的領袖都是人脈的虔誠信徒和實行者。要成為具規模之公司或組織的董事長或總裁，一個人必須倚靠過去多年間許多朋友、顧問和接觸過之人們所形成的人脈。

例如，據報導，喬治˙布希總統一直有習慣與他的人脈們，每天藉著簡短的電話或短信保持聯絡。即使忙碌的一天結束後，他還是會拿起電話，撥多達20通電話給全美各地的朋友。

成功很少是單人秀，通常是團隊努力。多認識人，團隊一起工作，找出可信任的顧問，在你所需要資源之處有可接觸之人。這些都是人脈的不同層面。而且今日的科技使建立人脈比以前更容易。

電話會議、傳真機、快遞、電子郵件和行動電話就是今日可使你與許多人保持聯繫的發明。可聯絡人數之多，是幾年前無法想像的。任何認知人脈好處的人都可使用這些創新並改變生活的工具。你不需要每天與你要聯絡的人住得很近，就可隨時透過科技與他們聯繫。

我們如何建立一個有效的人脈？
有許多方式可建立一個幫助領袖完成使命和目標的人脈。然而有些方法是自私、操縱別人、只為了領袖的目的。聖經是一本古老但永遠適合當代的資源，它提供我們建立長期互惠關係的6個基石：

1. 領袖必須體貼。「幫助人，贏得永遠的友情，任何事都無法破壞這友誼」（箴言18章19節，信息版）。
2. 領袖必須保密。「往來傳舌的，洩漏密事。心中誠實的，遮隱事情」（箴言11章13節）。
3. 領袖必須率直。「應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴」（箴言24章26節）。
4. 領袖必須有建設性。「鐵磨鐵，磨出刃來。朋友相感也是如此」。（箴言27章17節）
5. 領袖必須前後一致。「朋友乃時常親愛，弟兄為患難而生」。（箴言17章17節）
6. 領袖必須忠誠。「濫交朋友的，自取敗壞。但有一朋友，比弟兄更親密」（箴言18章24節）。

重點相當明顯：若領袖希望人脈中的朋友和顧問是體貼、保密、率真、有建設性、前後一致並忠誠，領袖自己就必須先作榜樣來鋪路。在建立個人和專業的人脈上：

你將吸引與你同類型的人！

思想 / 討論題目

1. 你是否有朋友、顧問和接觸過之人們所形成的人脈？若有，你可如何形容它－－對你每天的工作有何幫助？

2. 你尋找何種「特質」的人成為你的人脈？為何這些標準對你很重要？

3. 你認為自己是否是另一位領袖的人脈？若是，你認為透過你們的關係，你貢獻出什麼去幫助那位領袖更有效地領導？

4. 你認同本文作者建立有效人脈的「6個基石」嗎？為什麼？

註：若你有聖經且想要看有關建立人脈的其他經文，請看：
箴言1章5節，20章18節；馬太福音14章7-11節；馬可福音12章28-31節；約翰福音15章13-15節

2006-03-17T21:28:00.000-08:00

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
March 13, 2006

DEALING WITH DISRUPTIVE, DIVISIVE EMPLOYEES
By: Rick Boxx

Some of the most difficult problems facing managers are people issues. A common complaint is the troublemaker. Many workplaces have them, people who go around and stir up dissension wherever they can. They make fun of others, start rumors, or display mean, insensitive behavior toward coworkers.

A company CEO I know had that kind of problem. A long-time employee of his had been an adequate performer in the organization for many years. As the business grew, and more interaction between him and others became necessary, however, this employee’s shortcomings became obvious. He would deride other employees, stir up dissension, and even make inappropriate remarks to – and about – the business owner. The CEO’s question to me was, “What do I do with this problem employee, now that he has been here for so many years?”

Proverbs 22:10 has the answer: “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.” When someone has been with the company for a long time, and these problems have not been addressed in the past, there must be a fair and proper way to approach the problem. But the end result should be one of two alternatives: Either the person changes, or the person must leave.

The steps I suggested that the CEO take to resolve this problem were:
Make sure the employee is made aware of the problem, explaining the situation thoroughly and offering specific examples of concern.
Clearly communicate to the employee future expectations and a reasonable time frame for necessary changes.
If positive changes are achieved, encourage the employee and monitor future behavior to prevent reverting to previous attitudes and actions.
If required changes do not occur, dismiss the employee.
Many kind-hearted managers would consider this action to be harsh and extreme. However, if you truly believe in developing people to be the best they can be, sometimes it is necessary to enforce discipline when necessary changes do not come about. If “mockers” (as the Bible describes them) are allowed to continue their inappropriate behavior uncorrected, they have no cause or motivation for changing. And their negative impact on the organization will continue.
As it says in Proverbs 9:12, “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Your insistence on changed behavior – or else – can be a catalyst that results in the divisive individual’s foolishness beginning a slow transformation into wisdom.
So if you have any troublemakers in your midst, consider King Solomon’s advice and drive them out – either through reformed behavior or their physical removal from your company. Such discipline may seem harsh, but over the long term it may well result in their becoming a productive and positive employee for the next employer.
Copyright 2006, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: http://us.f542.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=rboxx@integritymoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, http://www.integrityresource.org/.
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: http://us.f542.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=nbrownell@cbmcint.org
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Can you think of anyone in your workplace that fits the description of a “mocker,” someone who stirs up dissension or trouble among his or her coworkers? If so, describe or give examples of their unacceptable behavior.
What can be the long-term impact of failing to correct and discipline such an individual? What might be the effects on company morale and productivity?
3. Do you think the admonition to “drive out the mocker” is harsh and uncaring? Why or why not?
Would you change – or add to – the suggestions given for resolving a problem with a disruptive employee? Explain your answer.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 9:7-9, 14:9, 29:8; Philippians 2:3,4

週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.3.6
處理干擾、分化公司的員工
經理們所面臨最困難的問題之一就是人的問題。最普遍的抱怨就是有麻煩製造者。許多職場都有這種人，他們到處挑起紛爭、嘲弄別人、傳播謠言，或對同事不體貼、態度惡劣。
我認識一個公司的總裁就有這困擾。他的一位資深員工多年在工作上一直表現得不錯。當公司業務成長，那位員工就必需更多與其他同事互動。然而那位員工的缺點就變得愈來愈明顯。他會嘲弄其他同事，挑起爭端，甚至不適當地批評老闆。那位總裁問我：「我應如何處理這員工的問題，他已在我們公司那麼多年？」
箴言22章10節有答案：「趕出褻慢人，爭端就消除，分爭和羞辱也必止息。」當某員工在公司作了很長一段時間，過去這些問題都沒處理，必須要有一個公平且適當的方式解決這問題。但最後的結果應是以下二者之一：這人改變，或離開。
我建議那總裁解決這問題的步驟如下：
讓那員工了解這問題，將情況全面解釋清楚，並提出他的行為造成公司困擾的確實例子。
清楚地告訴那員工，公司對他將來的期待，並定出一段合理的時間讓他改變。
若那員工改過了，就鼓勵他，並繼續觀察他未來的行為，以免他恢復以前的態度和行為。
若那員工沒改過，就解聘。
許多仁慈的經理覺得這樣作太嚴厲、太激烈。然而若你真的相信可以訓練人們達到最佳表現，當沒有改變時，有時就需要嚴格執行訓練。若「褻慢人」（如聖經所描述）繼續他們不適當的行為，而不被糾正，他們就沒有動力去改變。而且他們對公司的負面影響將繼續下去。
如箴言9章12節所說：「你若有智慧，是與自己有益。你若褻慢，就必獨自擔當。」你若堅持那員工改變行為－－否則就解僱－－這會是個催化劑，使那引起公司不和的員工之愚昧開始慢慢變為智慧。
所以若你們中間有麻煩製造者，可考慮所羅門王的建議，將他趕出去－－藉著改變他的行為或解僱他。這樣的紀律似乎太嚴厲，但長期來看，會使那人對下一位僱主而言，成為有生產力且合群的員工。
思想 / 討論問題
在你的工作場所中，是否有人就是文中所述的「褻慢人」，在同事間引起紛爭和麻煩？若有，請舉例說明他們那不被接受的行為。
若沒有糾正和訓練那人，長期下來會有何影響？對公司的士氣和生產力會有何影響？
你是否認為「趕出褻慢人」的作法太嚴厲、太絕情？為什麼？
對本文所建議，解決干擾公司員工的步驟，你有無其他建議，或可增加的作法？請解釋。
註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言9章7-9節，14章9節，29章8節；腓立比書2章3-4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

2006-03-09T00:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-08T23:44:00.000-08:00

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

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