Thursday, August 14, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
alom
That awkward moment when you
remember something funny, start
smiling like an idiot and everyone stares
at you wondering why you're smiling....
**Sweetu**
Friday, February 7, 2014
Doctor Know-All
One day, a rich man was robbed of his money. He went to Doctor Know-all and said, “Since your name is Doctor Know-all, you know who robbed me! Please come to my home for dinner tonight.” At dinnertime, the servants started serving the food. Seeing the first servant, the doctor said, “Oh, good! Here comes the first!” This scared the servant, who was actually one of the robbers.
The same thing happened with the second servant, who was the other robber. Thinking that they have been caught, the servants fell on their knees and apologized and returned all the stolen money. Everyone praised Doctor Know-all’s intelligence!
The Story of Joseph
This is the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph. Joseph had two dreams and told his brothers abort them. Dreams were thought to be messages from God When Joseph explained his dreams, he was really saying. “God is speaking.”
Jacob stayed on in the land of Canaan where his father had lived. This is the story of Jacob’s family. Joseph was 17 years old. He took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers. He used to bring bad reports to his father about what his brothers did.
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a special robe for him. His brothers knew that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them. So they hated him and were rude to him.
Once Joseph had a dream. When he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. He said, “Listen to the dream I had. We were all in the field harvesting wheat. When we were tying up the bundles, my bundle stood up straight. Your bundles came around mine and bowed to it.”
“Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?” his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and what he said about them.
Later Joseph had a second dream. He said to his brothers, “I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing to me.”
He told this dream to his father also. His father scolded him, “What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?” Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about it all.
Joseph’s brothers had gone to Shechem to take care of their father’s sheep and goats.
Jacob said to Joseph, “Go to Shechem and see if your brothers and the flocks are all right. Then come back and tell me.”
Joseph answered, “Yes, I’ll go.”
So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley.
Joseph arrived at Shechem and was looking here and there. A man saw him and asked him, “What are you looking for?”
I am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flocks,” he answered. “Can you tell me where they are?”
The man said, “They have already gone. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
When they saw him far away, they planned to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer. Come, let’s kill him and throw his body into a dry well. We’ll tell everyone that a wild animal killed him. Then we’ll see what happens to his creams.”
Reuben heard them end tried to save Joseph. “Let’s not dill him,” he said. “Just throw him into this well here, but don’t hurt him.” He said this, wanting to save him and send him hack to his father. When Joseph came to his brothers, they tore off his special robe. Then they threw him into the dry well.
While they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelite traders on their way to Egypt. Their camels were carrying spices and precious ointments. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and then telling a lie about him? Let’s sell him to these traders. Then we won’t have to hurt him. After all De is our own brother.” His brothers agreed. When the traders came by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the well mid sold him for 20 silver coins. The traders took him to Egypt.
At this time, Reuben was not there. When tie came back to the well and found Joseph missing, he was very sad. He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What am I going to do?”
Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They took the robe to their father and said, “We found this. Does it belong to your son?”
Jacob knew it was Joseph’s robe and said, “Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!” Jacob was in deep sorrow for a very long time. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he would not listen. He said, “I will keep mourning for my son until the day I die.”
Joseph in Egypt
Genesis 41.14-46
Many things happened to Joseph in Egypt. The LORD was with him and lie became successful. But he as blamed for something he did not do and put in prison for a time. He helped many people while in prison. God’s spirit helped Joseph to explain dreams. The king of Egypt had a dream and sent for Joseph.
Joseph was immediately brought out of prison. He came before the king, shaved and clean. The king said to Joseph, “I had a dream. No one can explain it. I hear that you understand dreams.”
Joseph answered, “Your Majesty, it is God who helps me to understand!”
The king said, “I dreamt that I was standing on the bank of the River Nile. Suddenly seven fat cows came up out of the river and were eating the grass. Then seven thin cows came up. They were the most bony cows I have ever seen. The thin cows ate up the fat ones. But still they looked just as thin as before. Then I woke up. Later I had another dream: I saw seven heads of grain growing on one stalk. They were full and ripe. Then seven thin and dry heads of grain came up. They swallowed the full ones. I told the dreams to the wise men. But none of them could explain them to me.”
Joseph said to the king, “The two dreams mean the same thing. God has told you what he is going to do. The seven fat cows and the seven full heads of grain are seven years of plenty. The seven thin cows and the seven thin heads of grain are seven years of famine. There will be seven years of rich harvests all over Egypt. After that, there will be seven years of famine. People will forget all the good years, because the famine will be terrible. It will ruin the country. You saw the same thing twice. It is planned by God. He will make it happen soon.
“Your Majesty must find a wise and able man and put him in charge of the country. You must also appoint other officers. They should collect a fifth of the grain during the seven years of plenty. Let them store up the grain in the cities and keep it safe. The food will be enough for the country during the seven years of famine. In this way the people will not starve.”
The king and his officers agreed to this plan. He said to them, “We will never find a better man than Joseph. He has God’s spirit in him.” The king said to Joseph, “Cod has shown you all this. It is clear that you are wiser than anyone else. I will put you in charge of my country. All my people will obey your orders. You will be second only to me. I now appoint you governor over all Egypt.”
The king then put his own ring with the royal seal on Joseph’s finger.
He also put a fine linen robe on him. He placed a gold chain around his neck. He gave him the second royal chariot to ride in. Joseph’s guard of honour went ahead of him and cried out, “Make way! Make way!” The king put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt. He said to Joseph, “I am the king. I order that no one in Egypt shall do anything without your permission.” He gave Joseph an Egyptian name. He also gave him an Egyptian wife, the daughter of a priest.
Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve the king of Egypt. He travelled all over the land.
Joseph surprise his brothers
Genesis 43.29-34
Joseph’s plans were followed. When the seven years of famine came, Egypt was well prepared with plenty of grain.
Because of the famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. But they did not know that the man in charge was Joseph. Joseph pretended they were spies. But Joseph really loved his brothers. They told Joseph about their father and how they had left their youngest brother at home.
When they left, Joseph secretly put their money back into their sacks. He told them that they could not buy any food next time, unless they brought their youngest brothel; Benjamin. Joseph was very keen to see his own .younger brother:
Jacob’s sons refused to go to Egypt for more food without Benjamin. At last things were so bad that Jacob let Benjamin go to Egypt, even though he was afraid he would never see him again.
When Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, he said, “So this is your youngest brother, the one you told me about. God bless you, my son.” But Joseph left quickly, because he was about to cry. He went to his room and cried. Then he washed his face and came out. Without showing his feelings, he ordered the meal to be served. Joseph was served at one table and his brothers at another. The brothers were seated at a table in front of Joseph, in the order of their age. This was a real surprise to them! Food was served to them from Joseph’s table. Benjamin was served much more than the rest of them. They ate and drank as much as they could.
The missing cup
Genesis 44.1-34
Joseph ordered the chief servant, “Fill the men’s sacks with as much grain as they can carry. Put each man’s money on top of the grain. Put my silver cup in the top of the youngest brother’s sack, together with the money for his grain.” The servant did as he was told. Early in the morning the brothers went on their way with their donkeys. They had only gone a short distance from the city. Joseph said to his chief servant, “Hurry after those men. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you done wrong to me when I was so good to you? Why did you steal my master’s silver cup? He uses it not only for drinking, but also for telling the future.”
When the servant caught up with them, he repeated Joseph’s words. They answered him, “What do you mean, sir, by talking like this? Believe us, we have done no such thing. You know that we brought back the money we found on top of our sacks. Why then should we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? Sir, if the cup is found with any one of us, let him be put to death. The rest of us will become your slaves.”
The servant said, “All right, but only the one who has stolen the cup will become my slave. The rest of you can go free.” So they quickly lifted down their sacks. Each man opened his sack. Joseph’s servant searched carefully, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. At last, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers were shocked! They loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.
When they came to Joseph’s house, they bowed down before him. Joseph said, “What have you done? Didn’t you know that I have my way of finding out?”
“What can we say to you, sir?” Judah answered. “How can we explain this? Through this God has shown us our sin. All of us are now your slaves, not just the one who was found with the cup.”
Joseph said, “Oh, no! I would never do that! Only the one who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you are free to go back to your father.”
Judah went up to Joseph and said, “Please, sir, let me speak to you. Don’t be angry with me. You are like the king himself. Sir, you asked us, “Do you have a father or another brother”? We answered, ‘we have a father who is old, and a younger brother, born to him in his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. His father is so fond of him”. Sir, you told us to bring him here, so that you could see him.
We answered that the boy could not leave his father. If he did, his father would die. Then you said, ‘You cannot come to see me again unless you bring your youngest brother.’
“We went back to our father and told him what you had said. Later he told us to return and buy more food. We answered, ‘We cannot go. We will not be allowed to see the governor, unless our youngest brother is with us’. Our father told us, ‘You know that I had only two sons born to my wife Rachel. I have already lost one. He must have been torn to pieces by wild animals. If something happens to this one, I will die of sorrow in my old age’.
“And now, sir,” Judah continued, “if I go back to my father without the boy, he will die. He is so old and loves the boy so much. He will die of sorrow. What is more, I told my father that if I did not bring the boy back to him, I would bear the blame all my life. So now, sir, I will stay here as your slave in place of the boy. Let him go back with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I cannot bear to see my father die of sorrow. ”
Joseph tells his brothers who he is
Genesis 45.1-20,25-28;46.5-6
Joseph was no longer able to keep back his tears. His servants saw him crying. So he sent them out of the room. Then Joseph told his brothers who he was. He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. The news was also taken to the king’s palace. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But when his brothers heard this, they were very frightened. They could not speak. Then Joseph said to them, “Please come closer.” They did! He said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me. It was really God who sent me here to Egypt to save people’s lives. This is only the second year of the famine. There will be five more years with no harvests. God sent me here to save you and your children in this wonderful way. So it was not really you who sent me here, but God! He has made me the king’s highest official. I am the governor of this whole country.
“Now hurry back to my father and tell him what his son Joseph says, ‘God has made me governor of all Egypt. Come to me quickly. You can live in Goshen, where you can be near me. Bring your children, your grandchildren, your sheep, your goats, your cattle, and everything else that you have. I can take care of you. There will be five more years of famine. I do not want my own people and their animals to starve.”
Joseph continued, “Now all of you, and you too, Benjamin, can see that I am really Joseph. Tell my father of my great position here in Egypt. Tell him about everything that you have seen. Hurry, and bring him here.”
He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and began to cry. Benjamin also cried as he hugged him. Then, still weeping, Joseph hugged each of his brothers and kissed them. After that his brothers began to talk with him.
When the news reached the palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, the king and his officers were pleased. The king said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their animals and return to the land of Canaan. Let them bring their father and their families back here. I will give them the best land in Egypt.”
So they left Egypt and went back home to their father Jacob in Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is the ruler of all Egypt!” Jacob was so surprised! He could not believe them!
But they told him all that Joseph had said to them. When he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to take him to Egypt, he knew this wonderful news must be true. “My son Joseph is still alive!” he said. “This is all I could ask for! I must go and see him before I die.”
So Jacob set out for Egypt with his whole family. His sons put him, their small children, and their wives in the carts. They took their flocks and everything they had with them.
Jacob stayed on in the land of Canaan where his father had lived. This is the story of Jacob’s family. Joseph was 17 years old. He took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers. He used to bring bad reports to his father about what his brothers did.
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a special robe for him. His brothers knew that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them. So they hated him and were rude to him.
Once Joseph had a dream. When he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. He said, “Listen to the dream I had. We were all in the field harvesting wheat. When we were tying up the bundles, my bundle stood up straight. Your bundles came around mine and bowed to it.”
“Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?” his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and what he said about them.
Later Joseph had a second dream. He said to his brothers, “I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing to me.”
He told this dream to his father also. His father scolded him, “What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?” Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about it all.
Joseph’s brothers had gone to Shechem to take care of their father’s sheep and goats.
Jacob said to Joseph, “Go to Shechem and see if your brothers and the flocks are all right. Then come back and tell me.”
Joseph answered, “Yes, I’ll go.”
So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley.
Joseph arrived at Shechem and was looking here and there. A man saw him and asked him, “What are you looking for?”
I am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flocks,” he answered. “Can you tell me where they are?”
The man said, “They have already gone. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
When they saw him far away, they planned to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer. Come, let’s kill him and throw his body into a dry well. We’ll tell everyone that a wild animal killed him. Then we’ll see what happens to his creams.”
Reuben heard them end tried to save Joseph. “Let’s not dill him,” he said. “Just throw him into this well here, but don’t hurt him.” He said this, wanting to save him and send him hack to his father. When Joseph came to his brothers, they tore off his special robe. Then they threw him into the dry well.
While they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelite traders on their way to Egypt. Their camels were carrying spices and precious ointments. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and then telling a lie about him? Let’s sell him to these traders. Then we won’t have to hurt him. After all De is our own brother.” His brothers agreed. When the traders came by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the well mid sold him for 20 silver coins. The traders took him to Egypt.
At this time, Reuben was not there. When tie came back to the well and found Joseph missing, he was very sad. He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What am I going to do?”
Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They took the robe to their father and said, “We found this. Does it belong to your son?”
Jacob knew it was Joseph’s robe and said, “Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!” Jacob was in deep sorrow for a very long time. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he would not listen. He said, “I will keep mourning for my son until the day I die.”
Joseph in Egypt
Genesis 41.14-46
Many things happened to Joseph in Egypt. The LORD was with him and lie became successful. But he as blamed for something he did not do and put in prison for a time. He helped many people while in prison. God’s spirit helped Joseph to explain dreams. The king of Egypt had a dream and sent for Joseph.
Joseph was immediately brought out of prison. He came before the king, shaved and clean. The king said to Joseph, “I had a dream. No one can explain it. I hear that you understand dreams.”
Joseph answered, “Your Majesty, it is God who helps me to understand!”
The king said, “I dreamt that I was standing on the bank of the River Nile. Suddenly seven fat cows came up out of the river and were eating the grass. Then seven thin cows came up. They were the most bony cows I have ever seen. The thin cows ate up the fat ones. But still they looked just as thin as before. Then I woke up. Later I had another dream: I saw seven heads of grain growing on one stalk. They were full and ripe. Then seven thin and dry heads of grain came up. They swallowed the full ones. I told the dreams to the wise men. But none of them could explain them to me.”
Joseph said to the king, “The two dreams mean the same thing. God has told you what he is going to do. The seven fat cows and the seven full heads of grain are seven years of plenty. The seven thin cows and the seven thin heads of grain are seven years of famine. There will be seven years of rich harvests all over Egypt. After that, there will be seven years of famine. People will forget all the good years, because the famine will be terrible. It will ruin the country. You saw the same thing twice. It is planned by God. He will make it happen soon.
“Your Majesty must find a wise and able man and put him in charge of the country. You must also appoint other officers. They should collect a fifth of the grain during the seven years of plenty. Let them store up the grain in the cities and keep it safe. The food will be enough for the country during the seven years of famine. In this way the people will not starve.”
The king and his officers agreed to this plan. He said to them, “We will never find a better man than Joseph. He has God’s spirit in him.” The king said to Joseph, “Cod has shown you all this. It is clear that you are wiser than anyone else. I will put you in charge of my country. All my people will obey your orders. You will be second only to me. I now appoint you governor over all Egypt.”
The king then put his own ring with the royal seal on Joseph’s finger.
He also put a fine linen robe on him. He placed a gold chain around his neck. He gave him the second royal chariot to ride in. Joseph’s guard of honour went ahead of him and cried out, “Make way! Make way!” The king put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt. He said to Joseph, “I am the king. I order that no one in Egypt shall do anything without your permission.” He gave Joseph an Egyptian name. He also gave him an Egyptian wife, the daughter of a priest.
Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve the king of Egypt. He travelled all over the land.
Joseph surprise his brothers
Genesis 43.29-34
Joseph’s plans were followed. When the seven years of famine came, Egypt was well prepared with plenty of grain.
Because of the famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. But they did not know that the man in charge was Joseph. Joseph pretended they were spies. But Joseph really loved his brothers. They told Joseph about their father and how they had left their youngest brother at home.
When they left, Joseph secretly put their money back into their sacks. He told them that they could not buy any food next time, unless they brought their youngest brothel; Benjamin. Joseph was very keen to see his own .younger brother:
Jacob’s sons refused to go to Egypt for more food without Benjamin. At last things were so bad that Jacob let Benjamin go to Egypt, even though he was afraid he would never see him again.
When Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, he said, “So this is your youngest brother, the one you told me about. God bless you, my son.” But Joseph left quickly, because he was about to cry. He went to his room and cried. Then he washed his face and came out. Without showing his feelings, he ordered the meal to be served. Joseph was served at one table and his brothers at another. The brothers were seated at a table in front of Joseph, in the order of their age. This was a real surprise to them! Food was served to them from Joseph’s table. Benjamin was served much more than the rest of them. They ate and drank as much as they could.
The missing cup
Genesis 44.1-34
Joseph ordered the chief servant, “Fill the men’s sacks with as much grain as they can carry. Put each man’s money on top of the grain. Put my silver cup in the top of the youngest brother’s sack, together with the money for his grain.” The servant did as he was told. Early in the morning the brothers went on their way with their donkeys. They had only gone a short distance from the city. Joseph said to his chief servant, “Hurry after those men. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you done wrong to me when I was so good to you? Why did you steal my master’s silver cup? He uses it not only for drinking, but also for telling the future.”
When the servant caught up with them, he repeated Joseph’s words. They answered him, “What do you mean, sir, by talking like this? Believe us, we have done no such thing. You know that we brought back the money we found on top of our sacks. Why then should we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? Sir, if the cup is found with any one of us, let him be put to death. The rest of us will become your slaves.”
The servant said, “All right, but only the one who has stolen the cup will become my slave. The rest of you can go free.” So they quickly lifted down their sacks. Each man opened his sack. Joseph’s servant searched carefully, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. At last, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers were shocked! They loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.
When they came to Joseph’s house, they bowed down before him. Joseph said, “What have you done? Didn’t you know that I have my way of finding out?”
“What can we say to you, sir?” Judah answered. “How can we explain this? Through this God has shown us our sin. All of us are now your slaves, not just the one who was found with the cup.”
Joseph said, “Oh, no! I would never do that! Only the one who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you are free to go back to your father.”
Judah went up to Joseph and said, “Please, sir, let me speak to you. Don’t be angry with me. You are like the king himself. Sir, you asked us, “Do you have a father or another brother”? We answered, ‘we have a father who is old, and a younger brother, born to him in his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. His father is so fond of him”. Sir, you told us to bring him here, so that you could see him.
We answered that the boy could not leave his father. If he did, his father would die. Then you said, ‘You cannot come to see me again unless you bring your youngest brother.’
“We went back to our father and told him what you had said. Later he told us to return and buy more food. We answered, ‘We cannot go. We will not be allowed to see the governor, unless our youngest brother is with us’. Our father told us, ‘You know that I had only two sons born to my wife Rachel. I have already lost one. He must have been torn to pieces by wild animals. If something happens to this one, I will die of sorrow in my old age’.
“And now, sir,” Judah continued, “if I go back to my father without the boy, he will die. He is so old and loves the boy so much. He will die of sorrow. What is more, I told my father that if I did not bring the boy back to him, I would bear the blame all my life. So now, sir, I will stay here as your slave in place of the boy. Let him go back with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I cannot bear to see my father die of sorrow. ”
Joseph tells his brothers who he is
Genesis 45.1-20,25-28;46.5-6
Joseph was no longer able to keep back his tears. His servants saw him crying. So he sent them out of the room. Then Joseph told his brothers who he was. He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. The news was also taken to the king’s palace. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But when his brothers heard this, they were very frightened. They could not speak. Then Joseph said to them, “Please come closer.” They did! He said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me. It was really God who sent me here to Egypt to save people’s lives. This is only the second year of the famine. There will be five more years with no harvests. God sent me here to save you and your children in this wonderful way. So it was not really you who sent me here, but God! He has made me the king’s highest official. I am the governor of this whole country.
“Now hurry back to my father and tell him what his son Joseph says, ‘God has made me governor of all Egypt. Come to me quickly. You can live in Goshen, where you can be near me. Bring your children, your grandchildren, your sheep, your goats, your cattle, and everything else that you have. I can take care of you. There will be five more years of famine. I do not want my own people and their animals to starve.”
Joseph continued, “Now all of you, and you too, Benjamin, can see that I am really Joseph. Tell my father of my great position here in Egypt. Tell him about everything that you have seen. Hurry, and bring him here.”
He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and began to cry. Benjamin also cried as he hugged him. Then, still weeping, Joseph hugged each of his brothers and kissed them. After that his brothers began to talk with him.
When the news reached the palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, the king and his officers were pleased. The king said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their animals and return to the land of Canaan. Let them bring their father and their families back here. I will give them the best land in Egypt.”
So they left Egypt and went back home to their father Jacob in Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is the ruler of all Egypt!” Jacob was so surprised! He could not believe them!
But they told him all that Joseph had said to them. When he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to take him to Egypt, he knew this wonderful news must be true. “My son Joseph is still alive!” he said. “This is all I could ask for! I must go and see him before I die.”
So Jacob set out for Egypt with his whole family. His sons put him, their small children, and their wives in the carts. They took their flocks and everything they had with them.
Ali and the Sultan
Once there was a man named Ali. He was very funny and was always making fun of the sultan. Everybody knew about Ali’s jokes and the sultan himself, came to know about them. The sultan was very angry and called Ali to the palace. Clever Ali, on reaching the palace, began to sing the sultan’s praises. He loudly praised the sultan’s looks, wealth, and power. The pleased ruler then said to Ali, “Wonderful! You have made me very happy! As a reward you can choose one of these beautiful saddles!” When Ali returned with a donkey’s saddle on his back, everybody asked him what the sultan had said. Ali winked and replied, “The sultan was so pleased that he gave me one of his own robes to wear!” Everyone burst out laughing.
The Hermit And The Mouse
Long time ago, in the jungle of Malkand, there lived a hermit named Shalakya. Everyday at dawn he would take a dip in the holy Ganges, chant mantras, and worship God.
One evening when he was sitting near the banks of Ganges, he saw a small mouse hiding from the piercing eyes of a hawk. “Oh poor mouse! If I don’t take it along with me, the hawk would carry it off.”
So, Shalakya took the mouse to his hermitage.
“I will change this mouse to a girl,” he thought. “Then she would stay with me as my daughter, and look after me.” He transformed the mouse to a girl. He named her Apsara. With the passing years, she became a beautiful damsel. She took care of the hermit, brought flowers from the forest, and arranged for the puja. Shalakya decided to look for a groom for Apsara. Seeing the radiant beauty of Apsara, the hermit thought the Sun God would be the perfect match for her. He invited the Sun God with his spiritual powers.
The Sun God was spellbound by her beauty. “Ah! Beautiful maiden, would you like to marry me?” he proposed.
“I cannot marry you,” said. Apsara. “Your heat would be unbearable for me.”
The hermit then asked the Sun God, “Is there anybody more powerful than you; who would be worthy of my daughter?”
“The Cloud would make a better pair with Apsara,” he replied. “He can overcast me with his power.”
Then the hermit invoked the Cloud.
“The Cloud is like a vagabond!” said Apsara. “So I am not willing to marry him also.”
The cloud advised, “Mountain is more powerful than me. It can block my way.”
Now Shalakya invoked the mountain.
Apsara expressed her unwillingness. “The mountain is too heavy! I will be crushed under his weight!”
The mountain said, “The mouse would be the ideal match for you. He can dig up holes through me.”
Then sillakya called a mouse.
Apsara was delighted to see the mouse and thought it to be the perfect match for her. Seeing the glow on Apsara’s face the hermit transformed Apsara to a mouse.
The hermit blessed the Mouse couple and realized that.
One evening when he was sitting near the banks of Ganges, he saw a small mouse hiding from the piercing eyes of a hawk. “Oh poor mouse! If I don’t take it along with me, the hawk would carry it off.”
So, Shalakya took the mouse to his hermitage.
“I will change this mouse to a girl,” he thought. “Then she would stay with me as my daughter, and look after me.” He transformed the mouse to a girl. He named her Apsara. With the passing years, she became a beautiful damsel. She took care of the hermit, brought flowers from the forest, and arranged for the puja. Shalakya decided to look for a groom for Apsara. Seeing the radiant beauty of Apsara, the hermit thought the Sun God would be the perfect match for her. He invited the Sun God with his spiritual powers.
The Sun God was spellbound by her beauty. “Ah! Beautiful maiden, would you like to marry me?” he proposed.
“I cannot marry you,” said. Apsara. “Your heat would be unbearable for me.”
The hermit then asked the Sun God, “Is there anybody more powerful than you; who would be worthy of my daughter?”
“The Cloud would make a better pair with Apsara,” he replied. “He can overcast me with his power.”
Then the hermit invoked the Cloud.
“The Cloud is like a vagabond!” said Apsara. “So I am not willing to marry him also.”
The cloud advised, “Mountain is more powerful than me. It can block my way.”
Now Shalakya invoked the mountain.
Apsara expressed her unwillingness. “The mountain is too heavy! I will be crushed under his weight!”
The mountain said, “The mouse would be the ideal match for you. He can dig up holes through me.”
Then sillakya called a mouse.
Apsara was delighted to see the mouse and thought it to be the perfect match for her. Seeing the glow on Apsara’s face the hermit transformed Apsara to a mouse.
The hermit blessed the Mouse couple and realized that.
Just by changing the outer appearance one cannot change one’s inner self.
The Ill informed Barber
Seth Rajrath was a wealthy merchant who lived in a small town in southern India. One day misfortune befell him and he became a panper. All his wealth and business were lost and Rajrath became a sad man. As a wealthy man Rajrath had not only enjoyed a luxurious life but also had been a good man at heart. He gave alms to the poor. One day he sat dejected thinking to himself, “Oh, I cannot take this anymore. Poverty has humiliated me in front of many. I shall starve myself to death and escape this state of poverty and day-to-day insults. With such thoughts in mind Rajrath fell asleep.
As he slept he had a strange dream. A monk appeared before him who said to Rajrath, “Look at me carefully. I am a trillion gold coins disguised as a monk. Tomorrow I will visit you in this guise. You must hit me on the head mith a cudgel. Soon I will turn into gold.”
Next morning when Rajrath woke up, he pondered over his strange dream. “Such a dream is nothing but my wishful thinking.No such monk will visit me,” thought Rajrath.
Just then the barber arrived to attend to Rajrath’s wife. She had summoned him for a manicure. A short while later Rajrath was taken aback when a monk arrived at his doorstep. He at once recognised him as the one whom he had dream of Rajrath was delighted and could not believe his luck. He soon ran into the house and got a cudgel. As soon as he hit the cudgel on the monk’s head, the monk turned into a trillion gold coins. Suddenly Rajrath became aware of the barber’s presence. He called the barber and said, “Here, take these two gold coins for yourself. Do not mention what you saw to anyone.” So saying he bid the barber a farewell.
The barber, greedy as he was and foolish too, thought, “If I can get some monks to visit me and I treat them the way Rajrath did then I too would become a wealthy man.” Little did he know about Rajrath’s dream.
The next day the barber rose early had a bath and in a pious mood visited the monastery. He went to the High Priest and said, “Sir, please pay me a visit with your disciples so that I can serve you with delicious food and receive your blessings.”
“You fool,” said the enraged Priest, “don’t you know that we do not go to people’s houses for food ? We have given up the luxuries of life.”
“But Sir, it was only a way to get you to visit me for I have some rare, holy manuscripts that I would give to the monastery. I shall also provide wrappings for the manuscripts which you have,” requested the barber.
Though the High Priest declined, some monks decided to visit the barber, enticed by the wrappings for their manuscripts. As soon as they entered the barber’s house the barber hit each of them on the head with a heavy cudgel. Soon all the monks lay moaning inflicted with head injuries. A passer-by who saw the sight in the barber’s courtyard informed the king’s soldiers who arrested the barber.
When the king enquired from the barber about the incident, he proceeded to narrate what he had witnessed at Rajrath’s house. Soon Rajrath too was summoned and was asked to present his story. Hearing the whole case the wise king commented.
“You acted without knowing. You were ill informed and you misjudged what you observed. I hope this incident stops you from committing further mistakes such as this.”
As he slept he had a strange dream. A monk appeared before him who said to Rajrath, “Look at me carefully. I am a trillion gold coins disguised as a monk. Tomorrow I will visit you in this guise. You must hit me on the head mith a cudgel. Soon I will turn into gold.”
Next morning when Rajrath woke up, he pondered over his strange dream. “Such a dream is nothing but my wishful thinking.No such monk will visit me,” thought Rajrath.
Just then the barber arrived to attend to Rajrath’s wife. She had summoned him for a manicure. A short while later Rajrath was taken aback when a monk arrived at his doorstep. He at once recognised him as the one whom he had dream of Rajrath was delighted and could not believe his luck. He soon ran into the house and got a cudgel. As soon as he hit the cudgel on the monk’s head, the monk turned into a trillion gold coins. Suddenly Rajrath became aware of the barber’s presence. He called the barber and said, “Here, take these two gold coins for yourself. Do not mention what you saw to anyone.” So saying he bid the barber a farewell.
The barber, greedy as he was and foolish too, thought, “If I can get some monks to visit me and I treat them the way Rajrath did then I too would become a wealthy man.” Little did he know about Rajrath’s dream.
The next day the barber rose early had a bath and in a pious mood visited the monastery. He went to the High Priest and said, “Sir, please pay me a visit with your disciples so that I can serve you with delicious food and receive your blessings.”
“You fool,” said the enraged Priest, “don’t you know that we do not go to people’s houses for food ? We have given up the luxuries of life.”
“But Sir, it was only a way to get you to visit me for I have some rare, holy manuscripts that I would give to the monastery. I shall also provide wrappings for the manuscripts which you have,” requested the barber.
Though the High Priest declined, some monks decided to visit the barber, enticed by the wrappings for their manuscripts. As soon as they entered the barber’s house the barber hit each of them on the head with a heavy cudgel. Soon all the monks lay moaning inflicted with head injuries. A passer-by who saw the sight in the barber’s courtyard informed the king’s soldiers who arrested the barber.
When the king enquired from the barber about the incident, he proceeded to narrate what he had witnessed at Rajrath’s house. Soon Rajrath too was summoned and was asked to present his story. Hearing the whole case the wise king commented.
“You acted without knowing. You were ill informed and you misjudged what you observed. I hope this incident stops you from committing further mistakes such as this.”
Ill informed men get nothing but remorse.
The story of my bro puppy – seasor
The best friendship day i had ever had ………it was a sunday ….My dad me ,my sis d my bro went out .we told our mom we r goin 4 a dinner but actually we went 2 buy a puppy .we went 2 a place called kakde city where i met seasor d his sis .they both were soooo cute d naughty little puppies ,they could hardly walk but they tried 2 run.we decided 2 take d girl pug so we took d girl pug d went home .my mom was suprised but she did not mind having a dog,d next day my dad thought it will be better if we had a dog d went d exchanged d girl pug d got my sweetie seasor .thats how seasor came 2 us .he became really friendly with us d we loved him.it was a great experience with him .1 year later in nov 11 we all left 4 a tour d as seasor had breathing problem d we did not know HE HAD A PROBLEM he left us .now he is not with us but he always has a place in many people’s heart specially us .TODAY IN MEMORY OF HIM I AM GOING 2 FEED 5 STREET DOGS………………WE ALL LOVE SEASOR……….The Lion And The Crane
The Bodhisatta was at one time born in the region of Himavanta as a white crane; now Brahmadatta was at that time reigning in Benares. Now it chanced that as a lion was eating meat a bone stuck in his throat. The throat became swollen, he could not take food, his suffering was terrible. The crane seeing him, as he was perched an a tree looking for food, asked, “What ails thee, friend?” He told him why. “I could free thee from that bone, friend, but dare not enter thy mouth for fear thou mightest eat me.” “Don’t be afraid, friend, I’ll not eat thee; only save my life.” “Very well,” says he, and caused him to lie down on his left side. But thinking to himself, “Who knows what this fellow will do,” he placed a small stick upright between his two jaws that he could not close his mouth, and inserting his head inside his mouth struck one end of the bone with his beak. Whereupon the bone dropped and fell out. As soon as he had caused the bone to fall, he got out of the lion’s mouth, striking the stick with his beak so that it fell out, and then settled on a branch. The lion gets well, and one day was eating a buffalo he had killed. The crane, thinking “I will sound him,” settled an a branch just over him, and in conversation spoke this first verse:
”A service have we done thee To the best of our ability, King of the Beasts! Your Majesty! What return shall we get from thee?”
In reply the Lion spoke the second verse:
“As I feed on blood, And always hunt for prey, ‘Tis much that thou art still alive Having once been between my teeth.”
Then in reply the crane said the two other verses:
“Ungrateful, doing no good, Not doing as he would be done by, In him there is no gratitude, To serve him is useless.
”His friendship is not won By the clearest good deed. Better softly withdraw from him, Neither envying nor abusing.”And having thus spoken the crane flew away.
And when the great Teacher, Gautama the Buddha, told this tale, he used to add:
”Now at that time the lion was Devadatta the Traitor, but the white crane was I myself.”
The Iron eating mice
Allan and Bailey were childhood friends. They grew up to be prosperous merchants. Their houses were filled with luxuries of life. It so happened that once Allan suffered a great loss in his business. He decided to go to another city to find a new means of livelihood, earn some money and return to his native town to start a new business.
Allan took an iron balance beam inherited from his ancestors and went to Bailey’s house. There he said, “Dear friend, I would like to pawn this heavy and precious beam for some money. I need the money to invest in some small-time business in the city.”
“You do not need to ask dear friend,” said Bailey. “You may leave your property with me.” Thus assured, Allan went to the city with the money leaving the iron-beam in Bailey’s care.
One day Bailey thought, “What a heavy ironbeam it is! It must weigh about 60 kilos. Why give it back to Allan when I can keep it for myself.” So he hid the ironbeam in his storeroom.
After a few months, Allan returned as a rich man as his sound investments had paid well. He went to meet his friend Bailey with some gifts. He intended to take back the iron-beam he had pawned.
Allan said to Bailey, “Dear friend, now I am back, I would like you to take this money and return the iron balance beam I had kept with you.”
“Oh dear,” exclaimed Bailey with a forlorn expression, “How do I give it back to you ? The mice have eaten your balance beam.”
At this, Allan was surprised as he knew that mice could not eat iron. He at once realised Bailey’s wicked intentions. Without showing any surprise or comprehension on his straight face Allan said, “Yes, my friend, it may be so for all things in the universe are here for their allotted time. Anyway let it be. But now I am going to the river to take a bath, would you be kind enough to send your son Ashley with me? He can take care of my clothes as I take my bath.”
To this Bailey readily agreed and let his son Ashley accompany Allan. He did so as he was conscience-stricken at his cheating deed.
Allan took Ashley along with him to a river which ran by a mountain. There was a cave in the mountain where Allan hid Ashley. He, then blocked the cave’s mouth with a huge rock to prevent Ashley’s escape. Allan returned to Bailey. When Bailey asked about Ashley’s whereabouts, Allan said in a woeful voice, “Friend, I am sorry to bring you this sad news. Your son Ashley was carried away by a arge hawk when I was taking my bath.
“But that’s not possible,” said Bailey. “Whoever heard of a hawk carrying away a young boy? It is unbelievable!” exclaimed Bailey.
“Why, dear friend,” retorted Allan, “when I can be taken in by the tale of the iron-eating mice why don’t you believe what I tell you?”
Then Bailey realised that Allan had comprehended his cheating act. He at once felt even more guilty and promptly asked for Allan’s forgiveness. He promised to return Allan’s iron balance beam and Allan led Bailey to rescue Ashley from the mountain cave.
Allan took an iron balance beam inherited from his ancestors and went to Bailey’s house. There he said, “Dear friend, I would like to pawn this heavy and precious beam for some money. I need the money to invest in some small-time business in the city.”
“You do not need to ask dear friend,” said Bailey. “You may leave your property with me.” Thus assured, Allan went to the city with the money leaving the iron-beam in Bailey’s care.
One day Bailey thought, “What a heavy ironbeam it is! It must weigh about 60 kilos. Why give it back to Allan when I can keep it for myself.” So he hid the ironbeam in his storeroom.
After a few months, Allan returned as a rich man as his sound investments had paid well. He went to meet his friend Bailey with some gifts. He intended to take back the iron-beam he had pawned.
Allan said to Bailey, “Dear friend, now I am back, I would like you to take this money and return the iron balance beam I had kept with you.”
“Oh dear,” exclaimed Bailey with a forlorn expression, “How do I give it back to you ? The mice have eaten your balance beam.”
At this, Allan was surprised as he knew that mice could not eat iron. He at once realised Bailey’s wicked intentions. Without showing any surprise or comprehension on his straight face Allan said, “Yes, my friend, it may be so for all things in the universe are here for their allotted time. Anyway let it be. But now I am going to the river to take a bath, would you be kind enough to send your son Ashley with me? He can take care of my clothes as I take my bath.”
To this Bailey readily agreed and let his son Ashley accompany Allan. He did so as he was conscience-stricken at his cheating deed.
Allan took Ashley along with him to a river which ran by a mountain. There was a cave in the mountain where Allan hid Ashley. He, then blocked the cave’s mouth with a huge rock to prevent Ashley’s escape. Allan returned to Bailey. When Bailey asked about Ashley’s whereabouts, Allan said in a woeful voice, “Friend, I am sorry to bring you this sad news. Your son Ashley was carried away by a arge hawk when I was taking my bath.
“But that’s not possible,” said Bailey. “Whoever heard of a hawk carrying away a young boy? It is unbelievable!” exclaimed Bailey.
“Why, dear friend,” retorted Allan, “when I can be taken in by the tale of the iron-eating mice why don’t you believe what I tell you?”
Then Bailey realised that Allan had comprehended his cheating act. He at once felt even more guilty and promptly asked for Allan’s forgiveness. He promised to return Allan’s iron balance beam and Allan led Bailey to rescue Ashley from the mountain cave.
The Brahmin and the Crooks
In a village, there lived a poor Brahmin priest.He was pious, dutiful and very superstitious.
One day, the Brahmin left for a neighbouring Village to collect a gift that he had been promised from a rich landlord. Finishing his job in the neighbouring village, he was on his way back carrying his gift-a fat and healthy goat on his shoulders.
Three hungry crooks crossed his path. They saw the healthy goat on the Brahmin’s shoulders and whispered, “That is a very plump goat. Let us trick the Brahmin and take the goat away. We can then make a tasty dish out of it”
They soon made a plan. The three of them went in separate ways.
The first one stopped the Brahmin and exclaimed in horror, “Oh my god! Such a respected priest and carrying a dog on his shoulders? Don’t you know that it is a sin to touch a dog, or a rooster, or a donkey?”
The Brahmin lost his temper. “You stupid fellow, are you blind? Can’t you see it is a goat, not a dog?”
“Don’t be angry,” replied the first crook. “If you think it is not a dog, then please carry on. But isn’t it ridiculous that you are carrying a dog?”
The Brahmin hardly walked a few more yards when the second crook stopped the Brahmin and looked at him in shock.
`How can a reputed priest like you carry a dead calf on the shoulder?” exclaimed the crook.
The Brahmin yelled, “Are you blind too? This is a healthy and live goat and you say he is a dead calf. You are an ignorant fool!”
“All right, sir,” said the second crook. “Please forgive me. Do as you please.”
“What’s wrong with everyone?” wondered the furious Brahmin as he hurried towards his home. “The whole world has gone mad?”
Now it was the turn of the third crook to the Brahmin’s path. “Sir, why are you carrying a donkey on your shoulders? It is going to bring you misfortune.”
Now the Brahmin was confused. Three people have said that the goat was something else. “Have I been given a ghost that keeps changing into a dog, a dead calf or a donkey!” he wondered. “I don’t want this creature.”
“Before it turns into something else, I better get rid of it.” Confused and scared, he threw the goat to the ground and took to his heels.
Coming out of their hiding place, the crooks took the goat and laughed at the stupidity of the Brahmin. Listening to others blindly, he got duped.
One day, the Brahmin left for a neighbouring Village to collect a gift that he had been promised from a rich landlord. Finishing his job in the neighbouring village, he was on his way back carrying his gift-a fat and healthy goat on his shoulders.
Three hungry crooks crossed his path. They saw the healthy goat on the Brahmin’s shoulders and whispered, “That is a very plump goat. Let us trick the Brahmin and take the goat away. We can then make a tasty dish out of it”
They soon made a plan. The three of them went in separate ways.
The first one stopped the Brahmin and exclaimed in horror, “Oh my god! Such a respected priest and carrying a dog on his shoulders? Don’t you know that it is a sin to touch a dog, or a rooster, or a donkey?”
The Brahmin lost his temper. “You stupid fellow, are you blind? Can’t you see it is a goat, not a dog?”
“Don’t be angry,” replied the first crook. “If you think it is not a dog, then please carry on. But isn’t it ridiculous that you are carrying a dog?”
The Brahmin hardly walked a few more yards when the second crook stopped the Brahmin and looked at him in shock.
`How can a reputed priest like you carry a dead calf on the shoulder?” exclaimed the crook.
The Brahmin yelled, “Are you blind too? This is a healthy and live goat and you say he is a dead calf. You are an ignorant fool!”
“All right, sir,” said the second crook. “Please forgive me. Do as you please.”
“What’s wrong with everyone?” wondered the furious Brahmin as he hurried towards his home. “The whole world has gone mad?”
Now it was the turn of the third crook to the Brahmin’s path. “Sir, why are you carrying a donkey on your shoulders? It is going to bring you misfortune.”
Now the Brahmin was confused. Three people have said that the goat was something else. “Have I been given a ghost that keeps changing into a dog, a dead calf or a donkey!” he wondered. “I don’t want this creature.”
“Before it turns into something else, I better get rid of it.” Confused and scared, he threw the goat to the ground and took to his heels.
Coming out of their hiding place, the crooks took the goat and laughed at the stupidity of the Brahmin. Listening to others blindly, he got duped.
MORAL
Have faith in yourself. Don’t believe others blindly.
Mouthology...............
A Professor was traveling by boat. On his way he asked the sailor:
“Do you know Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Geography, physiology?
The sailor said no to all his questions.
Professor: What the hell do you know on earth. You will die of illiteracy.
After a while the boat started sinking. The Sailor asked the Professor, do you know swiminology & escapology from sharkology?
The professor said no.
Sailor: “Well, sharkology & crocodilogy will eat your assology, headology & you will dieology because of your mouthology
The sailor said no to all his questions.
Professor: What the hell do you know on earth. You will die of illiteracy.
After a while the boat started sinking. The Sailor asked the Professor, do you know swiminology & escapology from sharkology?
The professor said no.
Sailor: “Well, sharkology & crocodilogy will eat your assology, headology & you will dieology because of your mouthology
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
THE MIDAS TOUCH
We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and said he would grant him a wish. The king was delighted and said, "I would like everything I touch to turn to gold." The stranger asked the king, Are you sure?" The king replied, "Yes." So the stranger said, "Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the golden touch." The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn't be true. But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his clothes, and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window and saw his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into gold and he couldn't read it. Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and the glass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to himself, "I can't eat and drink gold." Just about that time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a gold statue. There were no more smiles left.
The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The stranger asked, "What would you rather have, your food and loving daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?" The king cried and asked for forgiveness. He said, "I will give up all my gold. Please give me my daughter back because without her I have lost everything wo rth having." The stranger said to the king, "You have become wiser than before" and he reversed the spell. He got his daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he never forget for the rest of his life.
What is the moral of the story?
1. Distorted values lead to tragedy.
2. Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy than not getting what you want.
3. Unlike the game of soccer where players can be substituted, the game of life allows no substitutions or replays. We may not get a second chance to reverse our tragedies, as the king did.
Helping Others...
A man was driving his car, when he saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road. He saw that she needed help. So he stopped his Pontiac near her Mercedes and got out. He smiled, while he was approaching her, still she was worried, as nobody had stopped for hours. Moreover, he did not look safe, as his appearance was so poor and shabby. He could see, how frightened she was, so he tried to calm her: „ I‘m here to help you, don‘t worry. My name is Bryan Anderson“. The tire was flat, so he had to crawl under the car. While changing the tire, he got dirty and his hands were hurt. When the job was done, she asked how much she owed him for his help. Bryan smiled. He said: „If you really want to pay me back, the next time you see someone, who needs help, give that person the needed assistance. And think of me“. A the same evening, the lady stopped by a small cafe. That place looked dingy. Then she saw a waitress, nearly eight months pregnant, wiping her wet hear with a towel. The waitress had a sweet friendly smile, although she had spent on her feet the whole day. The lady wondered, how someone, who has so little, can be so kind and giving to a strange. Then she remembered Bryan. The lady had finished her meal and paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress went to get change and when she came back, the lady was gone. She left a note on the napkin: „You don‘t own me anything. Somebody once helped me, just like now I‘m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, do not let this chain of love end with you“. The waitress found four more one hundren bills under the napkin. That night the waitress came home earlier. She was thinking about the lady and the money she left. She was wondering, how the lady could know, how much she and her husband needed it? Especially now, when the baby will soon arrive. She knew, that her husband worried about that, so she was glad to tell him good news. Then she kissed him and whispered „Now everything will be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson“. |
The Ship of Friendship
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”
“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered “
The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”
“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered “
Moral: For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us (Congregational Prayer). Value your friends, don’t leave your loved ones behind.
Gift from Daughter
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.”
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, “Don’t you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, “Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They’re all for you, Daddy.”
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
Moral: In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this.
The Praying Hands
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder’s children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.
They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht’s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.”
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, “No …no …no …no.”
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, “No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look … look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother … for me it is too late.”
More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer’s hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer’s works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.
One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply “Hands,” but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love “The Praying Hands.”
Mora: The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one – no one – ever makes it alone!
Submitted By: Tahir Alom, India
Smartest Man in the World
A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute and yelled to the passengers that they better jump, and he himself bailed out.
Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.
The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out.
The lawyer then said, “I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The priest looked at the little boy and said, “My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace.”
The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “Not to worry Father. The smartest man in the world just took off with my back pack.”
Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.
The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out.
The lawyer then said, “I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The priest looked at the little boy and said, “My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace.”
The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “Not to worry Father. The smartest man in the world just took off with my back pack.”
Moral: Your job doesn’t always define you, but being a Good Human being Does.
The Monkey and The Crocodile
Once upon a time, a clever monkey lived in a tree that bore juicy, red rose apples. He was very happy. One fine day, a crocodile swam up to that tree and told the monkey that he had traveled a long distance and was in search of food as he was very hungry. The kind monkey offered him a few rose apples. The crocodile enjoyed them very much and asked the monkey whether he could come again for some more fruit. The generous monkey happily agreed.
The crocodile returned the next day. And the next. And the next one after that. Soon the two became very good friends. They discussed their lives, their friends and family, like all friends do. The crocodile told the monkey that he had a wife and that they lived on the other side of the river. So the kind monkey offered him some extra rose apples to take home to his wife. The crocodile’s wife loved the rose apples and made her husband promise to get her some every day.
Meanwhile, the friendship between the monkey and the crocodile deepened as they spent more and more time together. The crocodile’s wife started getting jealous. She wanted to put an end to this friendship. So she pretended that she could not believe that her husband could be friends with a monkey. Her husband tried to convince her that he and the monkey shared a true friendship. The crocodile’s wife thought to herself that if the monkey lived on a diet of rose monkeys, his flesh would be very sweet. So she asked the crocodile to invite the monkey to their house.
The crocodile was not happy about this. He tried to make the excuse that it would be difficult to get the monkey across the river. But his wife was determined to eat the monkey’s flesh. So she thought of a plan. One day, she pretended to be very ill and told the crocodile that the doctor said that she would only recover if she ate a monkey’s heart. If her husband wanted to save her life, he must bring her his friend’s heart.
The crocodile was aghast. He was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he loved his friend. On the other, he could not possibly let his wife die. The crocodile’s wife threatened him saying that if he did not get her the monkey’s heart, she would surely die.
So the crocodile went to the rose apple tree and invited the monkey to come home to meet his wife. He told the monkey that he could ride across the river on the crocodile’s back. The monkey happily agreed. As they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile began to sink. The frightened monkey asked him why he was doing that. The crocodile explained that he would have to kill the monkey to save his wife’s life. The clever monkey told him that he would gladly give up his heart to save the life of the crocodile’s wife, but he had left his heart behind in the rose apple tree. He asked the crocodile to make haste and turn back so that the monkey could go get his heart from the apple tree.
The silly crocodile quickly swam back to the rose apple tree. The monkey scampered up the tree to safety. He told the crocodile to tell his wicked wife that she had married the biggest fool in the world.
The crocodile returned the next day. And the next. And the next one after that. Soon the two became very good friends. They discussed their lives, their friends and family, like all friends do. The crocodile told the monkey that he had a wife and that they lived on the other side of the river. So the kind monkey offered him some extra rose apples to take home to his wife. The crocodile’s wife loved the rose apples and made her husband promise to get her some every day.
Meanwhile, the friendship between the monkey and the crocodile deepened as they spent more and more time together. The crocodile’s wife started getting jealous. She wanted to put an end to this friendship. So she pretended that she could not believe that her husband could be friends with a monkey. Her husband tried to convince her that he and the monkey shared a true friendship. The crocodile’s wife thought to herself that if the monkey lived on a diet of rose monkeys, his flesh would be very sweet. So she asked the crocodile to invite the monkey to their house.
The crocodile was not happy about this. He tried to make the excuse that it would be difficult to get the monkey across the river. But his wife was determined to eat the monkey’s flesh. So she thought of a plan. One day, she pretended to be very ill and told the crocodile that the doctor said that she would only recover if she ate a monkey’s heart. If her husband wanted to save her life, he must bring her his friend’s heart.
The crocodile was aghast. He was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he loved his friend. On the other, he could not possibly let his wife die. The crocodile’s wife threatened him saying that if he did not get her the monkey’s heart, she would surely die.
So the crocodile went to the rose apple tree and invited the monkey to come home to meet his wife. He told the monkey that he could ride across the river on the crocodile’s back. The monkey happily agreed. As they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile began to sink. The frightened monkey asked him why he was doing that. The crocodile explained that he would have to kill the monkey to save his wife’s life. The clever monkey told him that he would gladly give up his heart to save the life of the crocodile’s wife, but he had left his heart behind in the rose apple tree. He asked the crocodile to make haste and turn back so that the monkey could go get his heart from the apple tree.
The silly crocodile quickly swam back to the rose apple tree. The monkey scampered up the tree to safety. He told the crocodile to tell his wicked wife that she had married the biggest fool in the world.
Moral: Don’t underestimate yourself. There are bigger fools in this world.
VIRBAL WISEDOM
One fine day, Akbar lost his ring. When Birbal arrived in the court, Akbar told him "I have lost my ring. My father had given it to me as a gift. Please help me find it.” Birbal said ”do not worry your Majesty, I will find your ring right now.”
He said, ”Your Majesty the ring is here in this court itself, it is with one of the courtier. The courtier who has a straw in his beard has your ring.” The courtier who had the emperors ring was shocked and immediately moved his hand over his beard. Birbal noticed this act of the courtier. He immediately pointed towards the courtier and said, ”Please search this man.He has the emperors ring.”
Akbar could not understand how Birbal had Managed to find the ring. Birbal then told Akbar that a guilty person is always scared.
He said, ”Your Majesty the ring is here in this court itself, it is with one of the courtier. The courtier who has a straw in his beard has your ring.” The courtier who had the emperors ring was shocked and immediately moved his hand over his beard. Birbal noticed this act of the courtier. He immediately pointed towards the courtier and said, ”Please search this man.He has the emperors ring.”
Akbar could not understand how Birbal had Managed to find the ring. Birbal then told Akbar that a guilty person is always scared.
Moral: A Guilty Conscience need No Accuser.
The little mouse
Once upon a time there was a Baby Mouse and Mother Mouse. They lived in a hole in the skirting board in a big, warm house with lots of cheese to eat, where they wanted for nothing. Then, one day, Mother Mouse decided to take Baby Mouse outside of their home. Waiting outside for them was a huge ginger tomcat, licking it’s lips and waiting to eat them both up.
"Mother, Mother! What should we do?" Cried Baby Mouse, clinging to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused, staring up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath.
"Woof! Woof! Bark bark bark!" She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could.
"Wow, Mother! That was amazing!" Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily.
"And that, my child, is why it is always best to have a second language."
"Mother, Mother! What should we do?" Cried Baby Mouse, clinging to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused, staring up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath.
"Woof! Woof! Bark bark bark!" She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could.
"Wow, Mother! That was amazing!" Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily.
"And that, my child, is why it is always best to have a second language."
Moral: It’s always good to have a second language.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
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