Evacuation.

"什麼? Selah已經要evacuate了? 不是離我們家也很近嘛?" 加州乾燥, 山上一燒就一發不可收拾, firefights也進不去救火啊!~~ 我跟表妹們連奔回家, 準備packing. 打個電話給威達叔叔後就決定... 稍微打包一下, 可是沒想動了. 不要再燒了..... Father God, we need rain here in Southern California! Hear our prayers....

辛苦了, firefighters! Protect them, Father.

Thoughts from Class - Safe Church Environment & Sexual Education

I really like this Pastoral Servant Leadership class, primarily because Dr. Muthiah teaches so well! He's such a wise and exemplary professor; one whose behavior & preach is equivalently reflected like an ordained clergy! *Maybe he is?! I really like his teaching style; shows how much effort he puts into the curriculum.


We talked about how to teach smart people to learn, because well-educated people do not experience much failures. Their educations and successes have built into this defensive reaction that when challenge comes, they automatically shut down their learning system and tend to blame on others and thus are not learning at times where they need it the most. This was described in a business setting in the article, but it applies to even the churches we have today. How perfect and ideal do the churches seem like, yet is this safe for congregations to allow mistakes? Do the churches transparent enough to accept/admit people's vulnerabilities, including leaders like pastors, worship leaders, deacons or just anyone? And how would the congregations' responses be? I'm not sure how much does this apply to Chinese churches like mine, but I began to see & exam more and deeper if we're fostering a safe environment for people to accept who they are, where they are and the space they can grow into.


Sexual education is quite a no-talk topic in church, but I felt more concerned about it than before. Sexual harassment is often a huge issue in the States but not quite so in Asia. Am I becoming too Americanized? Yet I'm more conscious about it now. Ask for permission before I hug, is at least one step that I'll work toward to. Give people the option to say 'no' is a great way to help others setting the boundaries, at least I believe is so helpful and necessary for the children! =)

Pressure... less

Category: About.... me!


媽咪誇獎小鳳姐這我真是可以理解的, 因為小鳳姐真的活在個很知足的生活中.... 雖然已經30多了 *Sorry, 報料了 ^^" 但是能靠著 神, 即使還沒遇到好的對象, 也能享受地過單身生活. 愛姪子們, 照顧爸媽及家人親戚, 又天天喜樂.... 我想我現在缺乏的就是知足吧~ 常會默默地希望我的伴侶趕快出現! =p 已經有兩個朋友因為看到我facebook之前抱著Isabel的照片, 而以為我已經結婚生子了 @@ 我是希望啊~~ 可是, God has a better timing, and obviously it's later than what my agenda is.


其實跟喜歡的人在一起, 我是木訥的.... 是呆呆的. This sounds ridiculous, but... I have realized. 是要聽聽我哥的建議, 好好再次思想我的伴侶條件 - they've been neglected for a while, but I surely will pick it up again... praying about it.


知足 & be joyful! I'm pressure-less!


Btw, despite of my hectic schedule I still find time to blog... cuz... I need fresh air! & also good for pressure relief lol

Find Out Your Spiritual Gifts

Category: Church, Ministry Strength

About almost two yrs ago, Jonathan had Cornerstoners who were in Lillian & Peter's group to do a spiritual gift test, which I found to be interesting and helpful (the paper is still nailed up on my wall today) to see where I'm good at and perhaps could build up on that. Way before that, I've done at least once with this kinda test in Oikos LONG time ago! As I'm doing my philosophy of leadership paper today, I looked up online and saw a link that provides free test. About half way through, I thought it was gonna take a long time and even thought of quitting, but... thank God I sticked to the end. Contains a total of 108 questions, kinda gives good general directions of what spiritual gifts you might have from the Lord. The result was slightly different from the one I took before, mainly because the categories were set up differently. I don't know how many categories in total, but I think it does not divide up as in depth as the one I did before. For this time the top two I got were evangelism & serving =).

For those who want to discover/confirm your spiritual gifts, here's the link: http://www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php

.

I just couldn't believe people would bluntly say that President Bush is the worst president of all in presidency... 不然你來當當看.... #@$&*()$(*&#@)%(*&#@%)(#*&

隨意寫

現在打電話回家就像是開心的孩子... 聽到媽咪的聲音很滿足, 知道自己不是孤單的. 今晚我有莫名的難過... 覺得自己很怪, 覺得很難被了解, 覺得... 是不是我的問題. 媽咪的心總是向著需要的人, 她的generosity總是我的榜樣. So tiring today... why do I always make myself so busy, so occupied. Sleep time.... I really need rest.


Miss the food in Taiwan, also 鮮芋仙.

11/5

Yeah... changes come to America.


As I was watching McCain's concession speech from Biltmore Hotel at Phoenix, Arizona, with Kate at Applebee's, I felt speechless.. I was moved by it. So... it's President Obama.

There are times where we need to be encouraging, yet there are times where people just want to hear what they want to hear. 我之前也被經濟嚇到, 覺得這是最嚴重的問題... 不過, 到頭來, 還是敬畏 神最重要, 也是美國最應該奠定的基礎. I'll hold myself unto the belief that God is sovereign, and all things are under His hands. Politics真的不是最重要的, 能站立在話語上, 存愛神愛人的心, 真的需要 神不斷的恩典澆灌. 要為在上掌權的禱告啊.... 我能做的 (1 Tim 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness).