Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009

As I am writing this there is only less than 5 hours left for the year 2009. It has really been an eventful year. Academically, I finished my doctoral program this year at the Institute for Worship Studies by completing my thesis on worship discipleship; and has started the Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in spiritual formation. Ministry-wise, I have realigned my ministry at AFC and focused a lot more in restoration ministry and personal work than in program production. I have also started working part-time at my home church, Westside Baptist Church, and have determined to pursue full time pastoral ministry at a local church in a long run. I have also started writing a column for Christian Times, a renowned chinese Christian newspaper in Hong Kong. And I have also started hosting 2 short segments on two different radio programs, both aired during prime time, at AM1320. Spiritually, I have been profoundly renewed at a prayer retreat in Hong Kong and gained a revitalized passion for prayer. Personally, I shred over 20 lbs and started exercising regularly to restore my health. And finally at home, we are expecting our third child (a boy, again).

As you can see there has been many changes. But as I reflect upon my journey in the last few years, it has always been full of changes. I guess change has become one of my themes. I am not afraid of changes, because I am certain that God is holding my hands and leading me. I consider all these changes adventures in life where I can grow in Christ. As long as I am useful to His ministry, any change is ok with me.

I can foresee more changes coming in 2010: my plans to take 3 courses this year at Fuller, the plan to spend more time on the ministry at my home church, the completely realigned (including many new) ministries at AFC with many new staff members joining, and the arrival of our third boy in April. I hope that it will continue to be a fruitful adventure as it was in 2009.

Blessed New Year.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

10年改變生活50事物


click image to enlarge

你的生命被改變了幾多?

原文出自明報2009/12/24副刊

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Monday, December 28, 2009

unemployability

近日機構在招聘,廣告上寫明,有興趣應徵者,需撰寫一篇五百字以內、題目自選的時事評論文章,並在應徵信寫明希望加入機構的原因和個人履歷,一併遞交。

結果,過百份的申請,只有七份是有齊這三項文件的。

請留意,我不是說有七份合適的申請。我是說,只有七份完整的申請。

其餘那些「申請」,有超過六成,連最基本的求職信也沒有。當然,也不要去追究那些「求職信」,大部分也是連上款也沒有換、沒有註明公司名稱、所應徵的職位等,可以漁翁撒網式發出去的那種「求職信」。

老實說,如此敷衍、「求其」的求職申請,這幾年好像已經成為了家常便飯。

人家在招聘廣告寫得明明白白的要求,你卻偏偏送來一個「做一半、不做一半」的申請。怎樣解釋這行為呢?可能性有三:第一,招聘者提出的要求太高、太麻煩;我明白在後現代文化高舉個人觀感的前提下,要求是高與否,確實見仁見智。不過,求職市場也是自由市場,若然認為招聘者要求太麻煩,不去應徵就是了,何苦又要浪費時間力氣,送個半桶水的申請過來呢?第二,求職者沒有看清楚招聘的要求。對不起,這只代表你做事極不小心;世界上是沒有僱主會選擇做事粗枝大葉的人當員工的。第三,就是求職者基本上是在漁翁撒網。要為某個申請而特製應徵文件,機會成本太高了;倒是把按照最高公因數原則製作、可以「一雞幾味」的求職信和履歷至為划算。說不定招聘者對提出的要求也其實並不怎麼認真的,就算沒有交齊一份完整的申請,僥幸的話也能「博」一個面試機會?

香港有很多年青人、大學生經常大聲疾呼,埋怨社會沒有給他們機會,就算有學歷,但仍然難找工作,薪酬又偏低。這次的應徵者當中,不乏碩士畢業生,有的還打著響噹噹銜頭來,以現今講求儲證書、儲文憑、儲學位的角度看,他們絕對可以堪稱為「有為青年」。我想,他們對於自己「竟然」連面試的機會也沒有,大概也真的會理直氣壯地認為社會對他們不公,又或埋怨自己生不逢時,遇上這百年一遇的金融海嘯。他們就是從來沒有想過,問題可不一定在社會、或在經濟環境,而在於自己待人處事的態度。

我有一個朋友,是中小企老闆,她告訴我在過去五年裡所聘請過的年青畢業生,大概有一半,會在協議上班的頭一天「no show」。我相信有不少人也嚐過被年青人在求職面試時放鴿子的滋味。

這顯然不是能力、技能或有沒有機會的問題。這不是unemployment的問題,是unemployability的問題。我們的年青人,從哪時開始變成了這樣子?求其是正常,懂得「偷雞」叫醒目,以小搏大是叻仔。你對他們有要求,是你麻煩;他們做不到,是社會的錯、是世界欠了他們的。


我最近也在請人,對文中的現象深有同感。我到現在,連一份「完整的申請」也沒有。

原文出自iQuest 格思,作者柳天蕙

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

大學生的面貌

再見了,天子門生。


click image to enlarge

原文出自 Fast Company

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Bearing Life


Nearing the end of his ministry, Jesus was opening to his disciples a reality that his mother had long lived within. For from the moment Gabriel had told her she was “favored, ”she knew herself to be “in-graced” by God. She carried a son who would come to us “full of grace and truth.” And she carried him as that same grace poured through the Father’s heart to meet her moment-by-moment need.

And so, as von Balthasar so beautifully says, “she bears what she lets herself be borne by.” (The Threefold Garland)

“You are in me, I am in you.” We, too, are borne by what we bear. It is the mystery of faith. Like Mary, like Joseph, we carry within us a reality much greater than we can contain. We, too, are surrounded by the very grace that renews us from the inside out.


Blessed Christmas

原文出自Song of Assent blog by Dr. Carla Waterman

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Friday, December 04, 2009

Tiger Woods will survive

Michael Jordan couldn’t keep it in the pants. His wife eventually left him. He’s fine. Magic Johnson couldn’t keep it in the pants, contracted HIV, married his long-suffering girlfriend. He’s fine too. R. Kelly PEED on somebody. Also fine. People are amazingly forgiving of celebrities. Especially those with penises. Especially those worth nearly a billion dollars in endorsements and still have years of playing time left in them. Most of golf’s fans are men. The golf reporters who live and die by having access to Woods want this mess to go away (lest they piss off THE MAN by being forced to report on it). It’s going to fucking die … eventually.

For now he’ll just have to let it burn like gonorrhea. But this too shall pass.

悲哉,善忘的世界。忘記了的東西,就不能得到醫治。

原文出自Se7en Magazine,多謝 Benjamin Wong 提供

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  • 正如林一峰話齋,閱讀,也是一種 state of mind。
  • 所以不限文字,還有聲音影像一切雜崩能東西,都在涉獵反思消化乾坤大挪移之列。
  • 看重的只有一個字:Insight

Disclaimer

I work at Westside Baptist Church. Of course, that doesn't mean they agree with everything I post or link here. Everything here is my personal opinion and is not read or approved in advance. Consider yourself warned.