By Iris Lo
Two months ago, I was on a plane bound for Taiwan to begin my one-year journey away from home as a Partner of OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) to do part-time missionary work whilst “tent-making” as a children’s English teacher. Having never lived on my own before and being fresh out of university, I felt like I had been plucked out of my sheltered life and dropped into an entirely new world. I am currently a part-time teacher at an English school and a helper at a new church-plant in the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I’ve been pushed to learn Mandarin, to drive a scooter, and to look after myself.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
「一見如故」第一章：台灣
原文：盧詠莛 | 中譯： 蔡穎
兩個月前，我搭乘飛機前往台灣，開始了離家為期一年去作「海外基督使團」的宣教事工，並且由當英文老師來維持生活。今年大學剛畢業的我，從未有自己隻身在外的經歷，突然覺得自己從一個備受呵護的生活中被拽出來、丟進了一個全新的世界。我現在臺灣高雄市一所英文學校作教師，也在當地一所新植堂的教會裡幫忙。因這裡的環境，我被迫學習國語、騎機車、並照顧自己的日常生活。儘管很想家，而且結識新朋友以及建立一個新生活很費力，但是上帝依然信實，祂的神性及祂對我的愛不曾改變。我也從「海外基督使團」的同伴和其他宣教士身上體驗了上帝的慈愛。遇到了這些從世界各地而來、堅守信仰的基督徒們，使我預先體會到以後在天堂裡的美好！
兩個月前，我搭乘飛機前往台灣，開始了離家為期一年去作「海外基督使團」的宣教事工，並且由當英文老師來維持生活。今年大學剛畢業的我，從未有自己隻身在外的經歷，突然覺得自己從一個備受呵護的生活中被拽出來、丟進了一個全新的世界。我現在臺灣高雄市一所英文學校作教師，也在當地一所新植堂的教會裡幫忙。因這裡的環境，我被迫學習國語、騎機車、並照顧自己的日常生活。儘管很想家，而且結識新朋友以及建立一個新生活很費力，但是上帝依然信實，祂的神性及祂對我的愛不曾改變。我也從「海外基督使團」的同伴和其他宣教士身上體驗了上帝的慈愛。遇到了這些從世界各地而來、堅守信仰的基督徒們，使我預先體會到以後在天堂裡的美好！
Monday, August 10, 2009
What I Learned from Moses
By Sharon Chan
We were driving westbound on Bridgeport road. Our car had just started moving again after stopping at a controlled intersection. We started to speed up for about fifty metres when traffic comes to a stop.
“What’s going on?” I question aloud. We peer past the vehicles stopped all around us. From between the two westbound lanes, weaving throughout the attentive drivers, was a disoriented looking man. He was a young person and he looked utterly confused and lost. He ducked his head to look into our vehicle as he walked past, a deeply anxious look in his eyes. A couple of pedestrians on the sidewalk, as well as two vehicles with their hazards lights on, seemed to be phoning the police.
We were driving westbound on Bridgeport road. Our car had just started moving again after stopping at a controlled intersection. We started to speed up for about fifty metres when traffic comes to a stop.
“What’s going on?” I question aloud. We peer past the vehicles stopped all around us. From between the two westbound lanes, weaving throughout the attentive drivers, was a disoriented looking man. He was a young person and he looked utterly confused and lost. He ducked his head to look into our vehicle as he walked past, a deeply anxious look in his eyes. A couple of pedestrians on the sidewalk, as well as two vehicles with their hazards lights on, seemed to be phoning the police.
我從摩西那裡學到什麼？
原文：陳沙崙 ︱中譯：趙泰和
我們正在Bridgeport路上駕車向西行，在十字路口停了一會後，我們又繼續向前行，加速行駛了50米左右忽然大家都停了下來。
「怎麼回事？」我問道。我們向四週的車輛張望，在兩條西行車道間，一個迷失方向的人從中走了出來，是一名年輕人，看起來十分迷惑。當他走過的時候，他低下頭來朝我們的車裡看著，眼神充滿了焦慮，行人道上有幾個人好像在給警察打電話。
我們正在Bridgeport路上駕車向西行，在十字路口停了一會後，我們又繼續向前行，加速行駛了50米左右忽然大家都停了下來。
「怎麼回事？」我問道。我們向四週的車輛張望，在兩條西行車道間，一個迷失方向的人從中走了出來，是一名年輕人，看起來十分迷惑。當他走過的時候，他低下頭來朝我們的車裡看著，眼神充滿了焦慮，行人道上有幾個人好像在給警察打電話。
Cry 《呼喊》
By Kiera Lhys | 中譯：小米
My God, my God,
Why hast Thou forsaken me?
Hear my cry, quoted from Your Son.
How do You expect me to live in this earth
Surrounded by hate, sorrow, and frustration?
Why are You so far when I need you most?
My child, my child,
Why have you so little faith?
Does not every tempest give way to peace?
Does not My hand carry you through all adversity,
And in all your times of trial and fear?
Why doubt My love for you when I display it most?
Within every cloud, there is a silver lining.
After every storm appears a rainbow.
With every death, there is a new life.
After every Winter comes Spring.
While you are shaking your fist at heaven in fury,
God is holding you the closest in comfort.
我的神，我的神，
你為什麼離棄我？
聽我的呼喚，它本是你兒子在吶喊
你怎麼能指望我在這樣的世上活下去？
到處是仇恨、是挫折、是哀傷！
為什麼在我最需要你的時候，
你卻離我那麼遠？
我的孩子，我的孩子
為什麼你的信心只有那麼一點？
每場風暴不都一一平息了嗎？
我不是牽著你的手，度過所有艱險？
在你歷經磨難、在你膽怯時，
我不是總在你身邊嗎？
為什麼在我最愛你的時候，
你卻開始懷疑我的愛？
每片雲彩，都有一條銀邊
每次風雨過後，便有彩虹乍現
每一個消亡生命背後，是一次新生
冬天過後，迎來的是春天
當你朝著天堂，揮舞你憤怒的雙拳
神正緊緊抱著你——安慰不歇……
My God, my God,
Why hast Thou forsaken me?
Hear my cry, quoted from Your Son.
How do You expect me to live in this earth
Surrounded by hate, sorrow, and frustration?
Why are You so far when I need you most?
My child, my child,
Why have you so little faith?
Does not every tempest give way to peace?
Does not My hand carry you through all adversity,
And in all your times of trial and fear?
Why doubt My love for you when I display it most?
Within every cloud, there is a silver lining.
After every storm appears a rainbow.
With every death, there is a new life.
After every Winter comes Spring.
While you are shaking your fist at heaven in fury,
God is holding you the closest in comfort.
我的神，我的神，
你為什麼離棄我？
聽我的呼喚，它本是你兒子在吶喊
你怎麼能指望我在這樣的世上活下去？
到處是仇恨、是挫折、是哀傷！
為什麼在我最需要你的時候，
你卻離我那麼遠？
我的孩子，我的孩子
為什麼你的信心只有那麼一點？
每場風暴不都一一平息了嗎？
我不是牽著你的手，度過所有艱險？
在你歷經磨難、在你膽怯時，
我不是總在你身邊嗎？
為什麼在我最愛你的時候，
你卻開始懷疑我的愛？
每片雲彩，都有一條銀邊
每次風雨過後，便有彩虹乍現
每一個消亡生命背後，是一次新生
冬天過後，迎來的是春天
當你朝著天堂，揮舞你憤怒的雙拳
神正緊緊抱著你——安慰不歇……
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Not for the Faint-hearted
By Linda Yang
Want a job that’s multi-faceted and has variety and challenges? Check out this description of a week below.
Tuesday. Office: email and phone correspondence, follow up on prayer request items and questions, mentor session with an intern, begin preparing material for the week–sermon, small group study, meeting agenda, Sunday bulletin article, Sunday school lessons, etc. Night: attend meetings because most people are not available during the day, make house calls.
Wednesday. Office: staff meetings, mentorship session with an intern, work on weekly materials, work on long-range projects–church-wide events, planning, etc, finalize Sunday materials and sermon PowerPoint slideshow. Night: lead a Bible study class.
Thursday. Office: recheck Sunday materials for publication, send materials to secretary for publication tomorrow, correspondence. Night: attend meetings, counselling sessions: pre-marital and marital counselling, occasionally dealing with crisis situations (e.g. death in a family, losing one’s job, discovery of serious health condition).
Friday. A day much like the day before. Check over finished bulletin as it comes in. More email and phone correspondence. Deal with things as they come up.
Saturday. Meetings galore! Leadership team meeting can last 3 hours. Attend fellowship group, or share at a small group when invited. Night: reserved for reflection on the Sunday message.
Sunday. Busiest day of the week is spent at church. Preach sermon during service. Teach Sunday school. Lunch gathering with some members. Sometimes meetings in the afternoon. Preach occasionally at a Mandarin language service in the evening.
Monday. Finally, Sabbath Day. A day of spiritual renewal and physical rest. Try not to attend to church-related activities unless it is an emergency. Time of prayer, reflection, connecting with family, and often the only time of the week to get groceries!
Want a job that’s multi-faceted and has variety and challenges? Check out this description of a week below.
Tuesday. Office: email and phone correspondence, follow up on prayer request items and questions, mentor session with an intern, begin preparing material for the week–sermon, small group study, meeting agenda, Sunday bulletin article, Sunday school lessons, etc. Night: attend meetings because most people are not available during the day, make house calls.
Wednesday. Office: staff meetings, mentorship session with an intern, work on weekly materials, work on long-range projects–church-wide events, planning, etc, finalize Sunday materials and sermon PowerPoint slideshow. Night: lead a Bible study class.
Thursday. Office: recheck Sunday materials for publication, send materials to secretary for publication tomorrow, correspondence. Night: attend meetings, counselling sessions: pre-marital and marital counselling, occasionally dealing with crisis situations (e.g. death in a family, losing one’s job, discovery of serious health condition).
Friday. A day much like the day before. Check over finished bulletin as it comes in. More email and phone correspondence. Deal with things as they come up.
Saturday. Meetings galore! Leadership team meeting can last 3 hours. Attend fellowship group, or share at a small group when invited. Night: reserved for reflection on the Sunday message.
Sunday. Busiest day of the week is spent at church. Preach sermon during service. Teach Sunday school. Lunch gathering with some members. Sometimes meetings in the afternoon. Preach occasionally at a Mandarin language service in the evening.
Monday. Finally, Sabbath Day. A day of spiritual renewal and physical rest. Try not to attend to church-related activities unless it is an emergency. Time of prayer, reflection, connecting with family, and often the only time of the week to get groceries!
心力衰弱者不宜！
原文：楊光︱中譯：楊愛程
想要找一份多層面、多樣性和多種挑戰的工作嗎？請看以下的一週日誌:
週二：辦公室：發電子郵件、打電話、跟進代禱請求和問題、與實習生面談、準備本週所要用的材料—講章、小組查經、會議議程、要印在主日崇拜程序單上的文章、主日學課程，等等。晚上：參加各種會議（因為人們白天無法與會），家訪。
週三： 辦公室：同工會議、與實習生面談、預備本週所要用的材料、籌劃長期事工—教會整體的活動、計劃等等、完成主日崇拜用的材料和與講章相配套的PowerPoint幻燈片。晚上：帶領一個查經班。
週四： 辦公室：再查核主日崇拜用的材料和主日崇拜程序單內容、送交秘書準備第二天刊印、通信。晚上：參加各種會議、輔導：婚前輔導、婚約輔導、不時處理危機情勢（例如，失去家庭成員、失去工作、發現嚴重健康問題，等等。）
週五：這天基本上與前一天相似，查閱即將付印的主日崇拜程序單，更多電郵和電話通訊、處理許多遇時發生的事情。
週六：這天總是有許多會議，而帶領團隊會議常常歷事三小時！還要參加團契聚會，或者應邀在某個小組分享信息。晚上：專為思想主日證道信息而保留。
主日：這是每個教會一週內最忙碌的一天：崇拜中證道、教主日學課程、與會友共進午餐、有時下午還要開會、有時還要在晚上聚會的國語堂證道。
週一：終於到了休息日，這天可以有靈性上的更新和身體上的休息，盡可能不參與與教會有關的活動，除非事出緊急。在這一天有時間作祈禱、與家人相處，也是一週內唯一採購日用物品的時候。
想要找一份多層面、多樣性和多種挑戰的工作嗎？請看以下的一週日誌:
週二：辦公室：發電子郵件、打電話、跟進代禱請求和問題、與實習生面談、準備本週所要用的材料—講章、小組查經、會議議程、要印在主日崇拜程序單上的文章、主日學課程，等等。晚上：參加各種會議（因為人們白天無法與會），家訪。
週三： 辦公室：同工會議、與實習生面談、預備本週所要用的材料、籌劃長期事工—教會整體的活動、計劃等等、完成主日崇拜用的材料和與講章相配套的PowerPoint幻燈片。晚上：帶領一個查經班。
週四： 辦公室：再查核主日崇拜用的材料和主日崇拜程序單內容、送交秘書準備第二天刊印、通信。晚上：參加各種會議、輔導：婚前輔導、婚約輔導、不時處理危機情勢（例如，失去家庭成員、失去工作、發現嚴重健康問題，等等。）
週五：這天基本上與前一天相似，查閱即將付印的主日崇拜程序單，更多電郵和電話通訊、處理許多遇時發生的事情。
週六：這天總是有許多會議，而帶領團隊會議常常歷事三小時！還要參加團契聚會，或者應邀在某個小組分享信息。晚上：專為思想主日證道信息而保留。
主日：這是每個教會一週內最忙碌的一天：崇拜中證道、教主日學課程、與會友共進午餐、有時下午還要開會、有時還要在晚上聚會的國語堂證道。
週一：終於到了休息日，這天可以有靈性上的更新和身體上的休息，盡可能不參與與教會有關的活動，除非事出緊急。在這一天有時間作祈禱、與家人相處，也是一週內唯一採購日用物品的時候。
The Radical Fringe of Christianity
By Vickie Chow
There is something consoling in the fact that there are millions of people around the world that share our belief and convictions as Christians. Knowing that we are all intricately connected as one family under God infuses hope into my future outlook for the world and instills warm fuzzies in my inner being. Now, before I get everyone to join hands and mislead you into a rousing chorus of Kumbaya amidst a swarm of laughing multi-ethnic children, I feel obliged to forewarn you that this article does not focus on this inner ring of Christianity, but rather I feel the need to address those Christians that are marching to the beat of a different drum—an angrier, more abrasive drum. I’m referring to those Christians who claim the gospel but engage themselves in activities that exemplify anything but Christ’s character.
There is something consoling in the fact that there are millions of people around the world that share our belief and convictions as Christians. Knowing that we are all intricately connected as one family under God infuses hope into my future outlook for the world and instills warm fuzzies in my inner being. Now, before I get everyone to join hands and mislead you into a rousing chorus of Kumbaya amidst a swarm of laughing multi-ethnic children, I feel obliged to forewarn you that this article does not focus on this inner ring of Christianity, but rather I feel the need to address those Christians that are marching to the beat of a different drum—an angrier, more abrasive drum. I’m referring to those Christians who claim the gospel but engage themselves in activities that exemplify anything but Christ’s character.