This Should Keep Us All Thinking

This is a true story of something that happened just few years ago at USC. There was a professor of philosophy there who was deeply commited atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend entire semester to prove God couldn't exist. His students were very afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. Sure some had argued in class at times, but noone had ever really gone against him because of his reputation.

At the end of  every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students :

"If there's anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"

In twenty years no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say : "If there's anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"

"Because anyone who believes in God is a  fool. If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"

Well, a few years ago there was freshman who happened to enroll. He was Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for 3 months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.

Finally the day came. The professor said : "If there's anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted "You FOOL!!If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the gound and breaking

The professor proceeded to drop the chalk. But as he did, it slipped out his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and  then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and His power through Jesus.

You have 2 choices :

1. Pretend you never read this

2. Pass this along to your Christian and Non-Christian friends, giving them encouragement we all need everyday.

When you choose option 2, you have chosen to STAND UP. In light of the many jokes we tell to one another for a laugh, this is a little different. This is not intendeed to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intendeed to get you thinking....  Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world is going to hell. Isnt it funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says? Isnt it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven, provided they dont have to believe, think, or say, or do anything the Bible says? Or is it scary? Isnt it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan?  (Who, by the way, also "believes" in God) Isnt it funny how you can send a thousand of jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire? But when you start sending the messages regarding to the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Are you laughing?!? Isnt it funny how when you go to tell someone this, you wont? Because you are not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for telling them. Isnt it funny how I can be more worried about what people think of me than what God thinks of me? Will YOU pass this on? I did.

Watch here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuoGb-Nhfw

This Should Keep Us All Thinking

An Old Man and His Dog

An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice - grassy, woody areas, just what a ‘huntin’ dog and man would like, but, it had a sign saying ‘no trespassing’ so they walked on.

They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. “Welcome to Heaven” he said. The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him.

The gatekeeper stopped him. “Dogs aren’t allowed, I’m sorry but he can’t come with you.” “What kind of Heaven won’t allow dogs? If He can’t come in, then I will stay out with him. He’s been my faithful companion all his life, I can’t desert him now.

” “Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil’s on this road and he’ll try to sweet talk you into his area, he’ll promise you anything, but, the dog can’t go there either. If you won’t leave the dog, you’ll spend Eternity on this road ” So the old man and dog went on.

They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside. “Excuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?” “Of course, there’s some cold water under that tree over there. Make yourselves comfortable ”

“You’re sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs weren’t allowed anywhere.” “Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?” ” No sir, that’s why I didn’t go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn’t come in. We’ll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won’t come in if my buddy here can’t come too, and that’s final. ”

The man smiled a big smile and said “Welcome to Heaven.”

“You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren’t?”

“That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it’s too late. The dogs come here, the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn’t allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man’s companions in life, why would he separate them in death?”

Moral Lesson:

Human beings always SUSPECT that God has the same way of thinking as us, such as God will kick an animal. God will take side to one religion, God will punish those who don’t worhip God the way one religion teaches, etc. In the reality, who knows? Only heaven knows.

ONE THING TO NEVER FORGET

Your presence, is a present to the world.

You’re unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be, what you want it to be.

Take the days, just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.

You’ll make it through, whatever comes along.

Within you, are so many answers.

Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don’t put limits on yourself.

So many dreams, are waiting to be realized.

Decisions are too important, to leave to chance.

Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy, than worrying.

The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.

Don’t take things too seriously.

Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember, that a little love goes a long way.

Remember, that a lot of love goes forever.

Remember, that friendship is a wise investment.

Life’s treasures, are people… together.

Realize, that it’s never too late.

Do ordinary things, in a extraordinary way.

Have health, hope and happiness.

Take the time, to wish upon a star.

And don’t ever forget….

For even a day….

How very special you are.

I Will Move The Rock

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The LORD told the man he had work for HIM to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The LORD explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s mind such as: “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.”

Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. “Why kill myself over this?” he thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.”

And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the GOD. “LORD,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

To this the LORD responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and
to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done.”

“I, my friend, will move the rock,” says the LORD.

At times when we hear a word from GOD, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what GOD wants is just simple obedience and faith in HIM…

“By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains; but it is still GOD who moves the mountain.”

Mujizat Nyanyian Seorang Kakak

   Kisah nyata ini terjadi di sebuah Rumah Sakit di Tennessee , USA . Seorang ibu muda, Karen namanya sedang mengandung bayinya yang ke dua. Sebagaimana layaknya para ibu, Karen membantu Michael anaknya pertama yang baru berusia 3 tahun bagi kehadiran adik bayinya. Michael senang sekali akan punya adik. Kerap kali ia menempelkan telinganya diperut ibunya. Dan karena Michael suka bernyanyi, ia pun sering menyanyi bagi adiknya yang masih diperut ibunya itu. Nampaknya Michael amat sayang sama adiknya yang belum lahir itu.

   Tiba saatnya bagi Karen untuk melahirkan. Tapi sungguh diluar dugaan, terjadi komplikasi serius. Baru setelah perjuangan berjam-jam adik Michael dilahirkan. Seorang bayi putri yang cantik, sayang kondisinya begitu buruk sehingga dokter yang merawat dengan sedih berterus terang kepada Karen; bersiaplah jika sesuatu yang tidak kita inginkan terjadi.

   Karen dan suaminya berusaha menerima keadaan dengan sabar dan hanya bisa pasrah kepada yang Kuasa. Mereka bahkan sudah menyiapkan acara penguburan buat putrinya sewaktu-waktu dipanggil Tuhan. Lain halnya dengan kakaknya Michael, sejak adiknya dirawat di ICU ia merengek terus!

   Mami, … aku mau nyanyi buat adik kecil! Ibunya kurang tanggap.

   Mami, … aku pengen nyanyi! Karen terlalu larut dalam kesedihan dan kekuatirannya.

   Mami, … aku kepengen nyanyi! Ini berulang kali diminta

  Michael bahkan sambil meraung menangis. Karen tetap menganggap rengekan Michael rengekan anak kecil.

   Lagi pula ICU adalah daerah terlarang bagi anak-anak.

   Baru ketika harapan menipis, sang ibu mau mendengarkan Michael. Baik, setidaknya biar Michael melihat adiknya untuk yang terakhir kalinya. Mumpung adiknya masih hidup! Ia dicegat oleh suster di depan pintu kamar ICU. Anak kecil dilarang masuk!. Karena ragu-ragu. Tapi, suster…. suster tak mau tahu; ini peraturan! Anak kecil dilarang dibawa masuk! Karen menatap tajam suster itu, lalu katanya: Suster, sebelum menyanyi buat adiknya, Michael tidak akan kubawa pergi! Mungkin ini yang terakhir kalinya bagi Michael melihat adiknya! Suster terdiam menatap Michael dan berkata, tapi tidak boleh lebih dari lima menit!.

   Demikianlah kemudian Michael dibungkus dengan pakaian khusus lalu dibawa masuk ke ruang ICU. Ia didekatkan pada adiknya yang sedang tergolek dalam sakratul maut. Michael menatap lekat adiknya … lalu dari mulutnya yang kecil mungil keluarlah suara nyanyian yang nyaring “… You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey …” Ajaib! si Adik langsung memberi respon. Seolah ia sadar akan sapaan sayang dari kakaknya.Lagi sayang! bujuk ibunya sambil mencucurkan air matanya. Michael terus bernyanyi dan … adiknya kelihatan semakin tenang, relax dan damai … lalu tertidur lelap.

You never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.

 Denyut nadinya menjadi lebih teratur. Karena dengan haru melihat dan menatapnya dengan tajam dan terus,… terus Michael! teruskan sayang! … bisik ibunya …

The other night, dear, as I laid sleeping, I dream, I held you in my hands …

 dan sang adikpun meregang, seolah menghela napas panjang. Pernapasannya lalu menjadi teratur …

I’ll always love you and make you happy, if you will only stay the same …

     Sang adik kelihatan begitu tenang … sangat tenang.

   Suster yang tadinya melarang untuk masuk, kini ikut terisak-isak menyaksikan apa yang telah terjadi atas diri adik Michael dan kejadian yang baru saja ia saksikan sendiri.

   Hari berikutnya, satu hari kemudian si adik bayi sudah diperbolehkan pulang. Para tenaga medis tak habis pikir atas kejadian yang menimpa pasien yang satu ini. Mereka hanya bisa menyebutnya sebagai sebuah therapy ajaib, dan Karen juga suaminya melihatnya sebagai Mujizat Kasih Ilahi yang luar biasa, sungguh amat luar biasa! tak bisa mengungkapkan dengan kata-kata.

   Bagi sang adik, kehadiran Michael berarti soal hidup dan mati. Benar bahwa memang Kasih Ilahi yang menolongnya. Dan ingat Kasih Ilahi pun membutuhkan mulut kecil si Michael untuk mengatakan “How much I love you”.

   Dan ternyata Kasih Ilahi membutuhkan pula hati polos seorang anak kecil “Michael” untuk memberi kehidupan. Itulah kehendak Tuhan, tidak ada yang mustahil bagiNYA bila IA menghendaki terjadi.

Note:

Kadang hal-hal yang menentukan, dalam diri orang lain …

Datang dari seseorang yang kita anggap lemah …

Hadir dari seseorang yang kita tidak pernah perhitungkan …

Value Your Time

Jack baru saja mendapatkan pelajaran berharga.

Ia membuka sebuah kotak keemasan dan ia mendapati di dalamnya sesuatu yang sangat berharga juga secarik kertas yang sangat berkesan.

Waktu kecil ia tinggal bersama ibunya di sebuah kota kecil. Ia bertetangga dengan seorang duda yang istrinya sudah meninggal. Duda itu tidak mempunyai anak dan hanya tinggal sendiri. Pria malang itu melihat Jack bertumbuh dari seorang anak-anak, sampai kencan pertamanya, lulus dari kuliah, bekerja dan menikah. Jack adalah seorang pekerja keras yang gila kerja.

Ia bahkan tidak ada waktu untuk putrinya dan istrinya. Setelah ia menikah, ia dan keluarganya tidak lagi tinggal di sebelah rumah pria tua itu. Mereka pindah.

Suatu hari Jack mendapat telepon dari ibunya, “Ingat Pak Belser? Ia meninggal dunia hari Selasa lalu. Pemakamannya hari Kamis pagi.”

Kenangan masa kecilnya berseliweran dalam dirinya.

Ia mengenang kembali masa-masa kecilnya dengan Pak Belser.

“Halo?” suara ibunya membangunkannya.

“Iya bu, aku akan ke sana hari Rabu,” kata Jack

“tapi kupikir Pak Belser sudah lupa tentang diriku.”

“Oh tidak, Jack,” kata ibunya, “Pak Belser selalu ingat padamu.

Ia ingat akan hari-hari di mana kamu main-main di balik pagar rumahnya dan hari ketika kamu duduk di pangkuannya ketika istrinya meninggal.”

“Beliau orang pertama yang mengajariku ilmu pertukangan. Tanpa beliau, aku tidak akan mungkin terjun ke usaha ini.” kata Jack.

Sesibuk-sibuknya Jack, ia kemudian mengatur ulang jadwalnya di hari Rabu dan Kamis. Ia menghargai Pak Belser seperti ayahnya sendiri dan ia sangat ingin ada di sana ketika pemakamannya.

Hari Rabu malam ia tiba di kampung halamannya. Ia dan ibunya kemudian berjalan ke rumah Pak Belser untuk terakhir kalinya. Di beranda, ia mengintip ke dalam rumah Pak Belser.

Terbesit banyak kenangan tentang masa kecilnya. Sofa yang sering ia duduk, meja makan di mana ia pernah memecahkan piring, telepon di sudut ruangan dan hey…

Jack terdiam sejenak.

“Kotak emas di ujung meja itu hilang!” seru Jack.

Ibunya bingung. Segera Jack menjelaskan tentang kotak emas di ujung meja itu. Ukurannya tak lebih dari satu jengkal orang dewasa dan bercat emas di luarnya. “Pak Belser selalu mengatakan itu miliknya paling berharga dan akan diberikan kepada seseorang yang layak menerimanya. Tapi setiap kali aku menanyakan isinya, ia selalu menjawab ‘Pokoknya berharga deh’.”

Dan sekarang kotak emas itu sudah tidak ada lagi. Dugaan Jack, mungkin diambil oleh seorang keluarga jauhnya.

Dua minggu kemudian setelah pemakaman, seorang kurir mengantarkan sebuah paket untuk Jack. Nama Jack tertulis di atas paket itu dengan tulisan yang sangat sulit dibaca. Jack membuka paket itu… Di dalamnya ada sebuah kotak emas (persis seperti kotak emas Pak Belser yang hilang itu) dan sepucuk surat .

Jack membaca surat itu,

“Setelah kepergianku, tolong sampaikan kotak ini kepada Jack Bennet. Ini adalah harta paling berharga yang kumiliki.” Sebuah kunci ada dalam amplop itu, kunci untuk membuka kotak itu. Hatinya bergetar, tanpa sadar ia menangis terharu, Jack perlahan membuka kotak itu. Di dalamnya dia menemukan sebuah jam saku yang indah yang terbuat dari emas. Dengan perlahan Jack membuka jam itu.

Di dalamnya terukir kata-kata yang tak pernah ia lupakan seumur hidupnya,

“Terima kasih, Jack, untuk waktumu. Ini saya berikan jam untukmu, sesuatu yang paling berharga bagiku. Harold Belser.”

“Yang ia hargai dariku adalah… waktuku.” serunya perlahan.

Ia menggenggam jam itu beberapa saat. Kemudian ia menelepon sekertarisnya dan membatalkan semua janjinya untuk dua hari ke depan. “Mengapa?” tanya Janet, sekertarisnya.

“Aku ingin menghabiskan waktu untuk keluargaku,” kata Jack, “dan Janet, terima kasih untuk waktumu.”

Sobat, di dunia ini ada dua hal yang tidak bisa ditarik kembali: itu adalah perkataan dan waktu. Waktu yang sudah lewat tidak akan bisa dikembalikan lagi. Waktu tidak bisa dipaksa mundur, tidak bisa diperlambat dan juga tidak bisa dipercepat. Waktu akan terus bergerak maju dengan kecepatan konstan.

Kita tidak akan bisa kembali ke masa kanak-kanak.

Kita tidak bisa mengulang satu peristiwa yang sama di waktu itu.

Sudahkah Anda memberi waktu pada diri Anda dan sesama Anda ?

Sudahkah orang lain menghargai waktu yang telah Anda korbankan kepada mereka ?

REFLECTION : Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have

everything you desire

If you did, what would there be

to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn

Be thankful for the difficult times

During those times you grow

Be thankful for your limitations,

Because they give you opportunities for

improvement

Be thankful for each new challenge,

Because it will build your strength and character

Be thankfulfor your mistakes,

they will teach you valuable lessons

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,

because it means you’ve made an effort

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things

A life of rich fulfilment comes to those

who are also thankful for the setbacks

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they will become your blessings.