02/11/01: Three Wishes, Formula for Success

Hi,

How was your weekend? I had a great time this past weekend, especially
with some friends who I have not seen in a while. I also had fun dancing
at a friend's birthday party at a nightclub. It reminded me of my college
days, which were a long time ago.

I'm helping to organize a ski trip for my young adult group at church to
June Mountain, from 3/16-18. June Mtn is about half an hour north of
Mammouth, in northern California. Cost for food and lodging is only $70!
If you are interested in joining us, please let me know and I'll send you
more information.

Last week's thought provoking questions was on what ideal job would you
like to have if money was not an issue. Some of the responses include:

"Well, you know what my answer is: inner city teaching."
"I'd be a pediatrician working part time. :)"
"Wedding Planner"
"I'd like to be a VC."

"I'd split my time between 2 things. The first would be charity type work.
I'd like to figure out ways to get adequate food and healthcare to those
who don't have enough (in the US and abroad) and to help children be better
prepared for life (meaning getting poorer children the opportunity to have
the same kind of learning that others have, like computers, like normal
schools that aren't falling apart, cold and have no toilette paper). Doing
this type of work would give me a sense of accomplishment that I really did
something to help someone or many people. The second thing I'd like to do,
is get involved in astrophysics."

I also spoke to a friend Janice Kishi Chow, who is an occupational
therapist in San Francisco. She and her husband Ed Chow used to go to my
church in Boston. Janice started to do something that she's passionate
about, which is to paint. Please take a look at some of her paintings and
let her know what you think.

http://www.edandjanice.com/

So I guess Janice's ideal job may be to be a painter.

This week's thought provoking question is: "If you had to choose the best
book in history, which book would get the prize?"

Anna Man and Jennifer Deniega forwarded the humor and inspirational pieces,
respectively.

Enjoy!

-Josh.
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Three Wishes

A guy was walking along the beach in Malibu when he came across this salt
encrusted piece of metal. He worked for an hour or so to remove the salt.
Lo and behold, it was a very old oil lamp. The guy started to buff it to
remove the verdigris when "poof" a genie appeared.

This genie, like all genies, was so happy to be freed of the lamp that he
granted the guy three wishes.

"I wish to be a dollar richer than Bill Gates," says the guy.

The genie wasn't sure who Bill Gates was until the guy told him to check
Forbes magazine. When the genie called up Forbes from inside the lamp, he
learned that Bill Gates was indeed, the richest man in the world.

"Guy," the genie said, "You will forever be a dollar richer than Bill
Gates. What's your second wish?"

"Genie, I want the most expensive Porsche made: Fire engine red, on board
GPS and the finest audio system ever installed in an automobile."

"That's easy, Guy," says the genie. He waves his hand and best car anybody
had ever seen pops out of the lamp. The genie then asks the guy for his
third wish.

The guy mulls the problem over and over. A girl--nah, with billions and
billions of dollars he certainly had become a girl magnet. World peace?
Only wackos want that. The guy could not find anything that warranted using
his third and last.

"Genie," the guy said, "I can't think of anything now. May I save the third
wish for later?"

"Gee, this is most unusual. But you hold the hammer, and I can't escape
from this lamp until you make a third wish. Call me when you're ready," and
whoosh the genie disappears into the lamp.

The guy carefully picks up the now-ever-so-valuable lamp and places it in
the trunk of the fire engine red Porsche. He turns on the radio to balance
the sounds and makes all the other adjustments needed to get his great
audio system customized to his ears.

After that, he pulls off the beach and heads south along the Pacific Coast
Highway. Soon he's up to 60, then 70, then 80. The Porsche handled
perfectly. The guy is so happy that he begins to sing along with the
familiar commercial on the radio.

"Oh, I wish I was an Oscar-Mayer Wiener..."
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Formula for Success

The road to success is not straight.
There is a curve called failure,
A loop called confusion,
Speed bumps called friends,
Red lights called enemies,
Caution lights called family.
You will have flats called jobs, but
If you have a spare called determination,
An engine called perseverance,
Insurance called faith,
A driver called Jesus,
You will make it to a place called success!

Be blessed today and remember that everyday with God is a good day.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.