04/08/01: Why We Love Children, Believe in Easter?

Hi,

How was your week? I had a great one. I just accepted a job with Avery
Dennison, headquartered in Pasadena. However, my first project will be
based in Singapore. I will be the Director for Special Projects, working
with the general manager in Singapore on strategic planning and expanding
our market in the other ASEAN countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Philippines, etc.)

Many of you know that I had really wanted to work on a project in China,
but the VP in charge of Asia Pacific thought that I would learn more on a
first project based out of Singapore. Now, instead of traveling more
extensively throughout China, I will have an opportunity to travel widely
in Southeast Asia. Some of you have wrote me in the past years to tell me
about your great experiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, northern Thailand,
Indonesia, etc, and now I hope to follow in your footsteps and explore
these exotic locales.

I leave for Singapore this coming Saturday for a two week trip to
Singapore, Bangkok, Rayong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and back to Singapore.
Then I come back to southern Cal for a week of orientation in Pasadena.
The timing works out well, because on May 4th, I will fly up to the Bay
Area for Mag Wong & Boda Chen's wedding on May 5th. If you're in the Bay
Area that weekend, I hope to see or talk to you!

If you have any friends in Southeast Asia, I would love to meet them and
get their advice about living and working in Southeast Asia. Please send
me their contact info. Thanks!

My project in Singapore should last 8 - 9 months. If you ever need a place
to crash in Singapore (since it is a gateway city to other travel
destinations), you're welcome to stay in my living room. Even if you're
not stopping in Singapore, let me know if you'll be visiting Hong Kong,
Taiwan, etc, and maybe I'll meet up with you. Singapore is fairly
centrally located. I look forward to seeing those of you again already in
Asia!

This coming Sunday is Easter. Easter and Christmas are the two of the most
important events for Christians. If you don't know who Jesus Christ is, or
do not yet have a personal relationship with Him, I strongly encourage you
to visit a church this coming Sunday. Many churches I know have a special
service this coming Sunday geared towards people who want to learn more
about Jesus, why he came to Earth as a human and died for our sins on the
cross. If you ever wanted to visit a church service, this coming Sunday is
the best week to visit. Let me know if you're interested in visiting a
church in your city, and I'll try to connect you to a good church to visit.

Last week's puzzle (#196) is: "Two thick ropes hang from a high ceiling
attached to hooks three feet apart. The ends touch the ground. Without
using anything else, and considering that you will die if you fall from
one-quarter of the height of the room, how can you cut the largest amount
possible of each rope with a knife?"

Phil Lin's correct answer: You can get most of the rope. Tie two ropes
together at the end close to the ground. Climb up one rope (A) and cut off
the other rope (B) at the top. If hook B is big enough, then string the
free end of rope B through the now empty hook B and tie the free end to
your self. Using hook B as a pulley, hold your self up by holding rope B
on your side of the hook. The tension on rope A is released and you can
now cut rope A off from its hook. Lower yourself down using the pulley
system you made. If the hook B isn't big enough, use part of the rope in
rope B to make a ring hanging from the hook.

Since this email is so long, there won't be a puzzle or thought provoking
question this week.

Jennifer Deniega forwarded the humor piece. The inspirational piece is
about Easter, sent to me originally by Brent Chinn.

Enjoy!

-Josh.
______________________________________________

Why We Love Children

A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later..."Da-ad..."
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?"
"No. You had your chance. Lights out."
Five minutes later: "Da-aaaad..."
"WHAT?"
"I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??"
"I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to spank you!!"
Five minutes later... "Daaaa-aaaad..."
"WHAT??!!"
"When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a drink of water?"
_________________________________

Do You Believe In Easter?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She
was the patient of doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a
gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith
Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was
because of Edith Burns.

When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black
Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.
Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my
name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the
meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse,
Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood
pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe
in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about
Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church,
and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter,
and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I
believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After
being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took
a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you
reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient."
With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have
cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you
think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my
precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that
I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty
giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns
is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was
closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not
show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would
have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near
home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my
room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room
with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to
patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith
Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis
made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a
"religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it
all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married
three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had
the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked
in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and
I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well,
you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested." Edith
said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until
you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die
because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God
loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis
Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw
iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come,
because God told me that today is your special day."

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do
you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until
you asked, and now that you have asked..." Edith Burns took her Bible and
shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus
Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, " Oh, I want to believe that with all of my heart, and
I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited
Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk
out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day
it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of
her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies
because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies
and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was
in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible.
There was a sweet smile on her face.

When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was
dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many
mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and
there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face
toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "Happy
Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a
table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis
Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"