Creative Solutions

Ideas can come from the strangest places. Creative genius comes to people who are open to new ideas and seeing different ways of doing things.

For example, in 1964 the freighter Al Kuwait, which was carrying 6,000 live sheep capsized and sank in Kuwait's harbor. The sunken ship with its decomposing cargo was presenting a serious threat to the country's water supply through its desalination processing plant.

To overcome the problem the ship had to be raised and moved to a safe place without falling apart and dumping its poisonous contents into the nation's water supply.

Karl Kroyer, a Danish engineer working in Kuwait came up with a novel idea. He pumped 27 million ping-pong balls into the freighter's hull which slowly raised it to the surface.

And where did he get this idea? From a Donald Duck comic book. Somebody sank Donald's boat and he and his feathered friends raised it by filling it with ping-pong balls!

When it comes to creative and meaningful living the most valuable resources are found in the Word of God, It pays to know what it teaches and hide its truths in one's heart.

Dear God
please give me
a greater love
for your Word,
and help me
to live by its principles
so it will truly be
'a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.'

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayerz

Random Thoughts

The Beauty and Meaning of Life

In speaking about the meaning and purpose of life, one insightful writer said, "It is not about writing great books, amassing great wealth, achieving great power. It is about loving and being loved. It is about savoring the beauty of moments that don't last, the sunsets, the leaves turning color, the rare moments of true human communication."

When we realize that the essence of life is not in power, performance, or possessions but in loving relationships—both with our fellow man and with God—and in appreciating the beauty of his creation, and fulfilling his purpose for our lives, we will have discovered what others may take a lifetime to learn.

Dear God

give me the wisdom

to understand

that the beauty

and true meaning of life

is not found in power,

performance,

or possessions,

but in loving relationships

the human heart yearns for,

and in loving and serving You.

 

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayerz

I Know It But I Can't Explain It

Oldies but goodies: "The pedestrian had no idea which way to go, so I ran over him." That, says the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, is among a list of explanations the company has received for automobile accidents.

Others include: "The other car collided with mine without warning me of its intention." 

"I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had the accident." 

"As I reached an intersection, a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision." 

"I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment." 

"The telephone pole was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end." 

"The guy was all over the road. He had to swerve a number of times before I hit him." 

"The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth."

But Metropolitan says the strangest reason of all is, "An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished."

I guess, it's a human trait that too many of us want to justify ourselves whenever we do wrong or fail to do what we know we should.

However, it's only when we get real and admit our mistakes that we can learn from them, grow, and find forgiveness—from God and others. 

Dear God, 

please help me 

to be mature 

and honest enough 

to admit when I make a mistake, 

quit playing the blame-game, 

and accept full responsibility for all of my actions. 

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayerz

Earning the Right to Criticize

It's always easy to know what to do when we don't have to do the job, and very easy to criticize others when we're not doing the work ourselves.

Some time ago when I was a member of a large group and things weren't going too well, I was asked what I thought about the situation and what could be done to improve things. I said that I didn't feel I had the right to criticize unless I was prepared to do something about it. I was, however, prepared to help, and several of us working together saw things greatly improve.

In this instance, as it is in many other instances, criticism without offering help would have only served to make matters worse and cause further dissension among the group. So, if we're not willing to put our shoulder to the wheel and do our bit, let's not stir up dissension through negative criticism. Furthermore, might I add that journalists, politicians, authors, and even preachers don't have the right to name others and confess their sins in public, without having first confessed their own sins in public.

Dear God

please deliver me from ever

having a negative, bitter, or critical attitude,

and wherever I see a need,

may I be willing to help

if I am able to.

 

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayerz