antsfordessert's Xanga

Does the sheep reflect the shepherd?

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:46:52 GMT

I am pondering on this question. I believe that the fruits reveal the health of the tree. I believe student's report card grades or their learning curve reflects the skill of a teacher. I believe that children's character reflects their parent's upbringing. Of course, it's not 100% reflection, but it the end can give enough hint of how it came about, right? I am asking b/c i really don't know where else to put this thought... do(oes) the sheep reflect the shepherd? Can we know how great or not so great is a leader in ministry based upon the ppl they're been entrusted to teach, pastor, care, develop, serve, and bless? I am questioning myself. I wonder if I am doing a good enough job. I know i'm not amazingly great, but still, am I even good enough? Can I look at character, the life style, the values of the youths that are entrusted to be led by me and know if i've done a decent job. Do I or should i take credit for their accomplishments or their failures? Am i part of their journey that leads toward the valley or the mountain peak? Or are these questions to ask in the first place? Do i have the right to even ask this?
Yeah...well..i am unsure tonite (today). Maybe it'll be clearer later today... what i do know is that I am not feeling great about being in leadership right now.

Earthquake update 5/17/08

Mon, 19 May 2008 17:47:37 GMT

updated letter from Rev. Lo about the earthquake relief work from CCHC's end.

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

五一二大地震，不單震破了許多房屋，也讓很多人心碎。現在，我明白了什麼是「慘不忍睹」；但由於工作需要，我只能用心去感受實情，尋找一切可以伸手援助的辦法。以下是一些跟進情況：

1. 角聲中國兒童村及我們的合作夥伴華恩基金會今日已通過了下列兩個議案：

接受有關人員建議，與災區民政局聯繫，表達本團讓三明市及河池市的兩個兒童村接收四川孤兒的意願。
探討在四川地震重災區綿陽地區建立一個特困兒童村的可能性。

2. 我們知道災區有多所學校倒塌了，重建學校是未來的重要任務。預計建一所學校約需六百萬人民幣。我們有信心透過各界的幫助捐獻，可以承擔這責任，我們已預備了接受了這項長線工作。

3. 角聲羅省總監李偉強牧師在停留四川期間，除監督救災款項使用情況外，他將尋找機會與當地教會聯絡，請他們長線協助關顧當地的需要。李牧師亦將探訪受災家庭，希望給他們比較具體的援助。

很感恩的是，向中國紅十字會籌款一百萬人民幣的承諾，已在今日(五月十七日) 達到目標；並已即時匯給中國紅十字會。同時，李偉強牧師已購機票，預備在五月廿一日進入四川災區；這是透過中國紅會的安排的。同時，我們已聯絡了在四川成都的川兒的父親葉先生，請他在本地協助李牧師。幾年前，角聲曾幫助過這個家庭，已建立了美好的關係，在我們聯繫葉先生的當日，他正在災區作救援工作中。

我雖然人在香港，無法在這非常時刻照顧紐約及其他分會賑災情況，但讓我深感欣慰的，是同工們反應快速而準確，在此，也謝謝同工們的努力。其實，努力承擔救災責任之同時，我也有點為角聲的經常費情況擔心，雖然相信天父會看顧，但人總是常常失信的；若弟兄姊妹有感動，也可以紀念角聲同工及事工上的需要，謝謝。

你們的同工

勞伯祥

5/17/08

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:28:42 GMT

Update from China...
sorry that this is in Chinese, but according to my understanding, the overall info is that CCHC has sent $100,000 over to China already. The team led by Pastor David Lee will be literally handing over the money to the ppl at Sichuan next Wednesday. This money is solely for the purpose of rebuilding their homes/structures there in the future. Also, part of the teams work are to give them emotional and spiritual support. All of this work is in partnership with the Red Cross over in China.
Please keep praying and keep asking for support of this relief effort.

"This is Rev. David Lee from the LA chapter. Rev. Lo has asked me to forward the following information for you to post on the site regarding the earthquake:

一. 中國紅十字會的官方網站, 並對外發放以下消息, 角聲的捐款, 是他們收到第一筆來自海外的捐款. (crcfvip.blog.sohu.com/87289518.html)

2008-05-14 | 美国角声基金会通过中国红基会向地震灾区捐赠100万元

标签：角声基金会地震

为了帮助灾区人民度过难关，中国红十字基金会响应总会关于积极开展抗震救灾工作的紧急呼吁，面向社会接受捐款捐物。美国角声基金会得知情况后连夜召开紧急会议，决定率先捐款100万元用于灾区的紧急救援，并初步定于下周前往灾区察看受灾情况，并承诺继续捐赠款物用于灾区的重建工作。

据悉，美国角声基金会是由一批有爱心的美籍华人发起并在美国登记注册的一个公益组织，长期以来一直致力于国内的慈善事业。

二. 李偉強牧師 (角聲南加州分會總監) 將於下週三到達四川省災區, 一方面把捐款帶他們, 另一方面把海外華人的問候和關懷, 帶給他們. 雖然目前當地的通訊和交通尚有困難, 但在中國紅十字會的協助下, 將得到特別的安排. 目前我們計劃先到災場, 再到個別受害家庭探望和慰問, 希望能真正做到"錢到, 人到, 心到" , 不單是金錢的捐贈, 更親身前往, 為災民帶來心靈的鼓勵和關懷. 李牧師將把所見所聞, 並個別災民的故事, 帶回美國華人社區, 發動更多關懷的行動, 並希望在八月期間, 再次前往災區, 一方面參與重建工作, 另一方面, 與災民建立一種長線的關係.

David Lee"

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:54:12 GMT

Angry, sorrowful, confused, lost, trying to see what can be done...
These few weeks of natural disasters has taken a toll on my spirit. I feel semi-paralyzed emotionally and mentally. But then again, who am I, right??? Because of that, I seriously don't know how to respond. Sure, there are ways to help, but still I wonder what is the best help....
I am upset at the Myanmar government....so, what then?
Then there's the tornadoes' damage...and this week, the earthquake...

The one good news I have heard as of today is from CCHC..thank you God that we spent staff meeting talking and praying about this. And more so, we have taken a clear act to bring relief. So, currently, ppl can donate to the link below and EVERY CENT will be given to help the victims/relief work there. We have a direct acct from here to China that can take the money straight to the ppl in need. We already have a team in China ready to make a move once the passages to the destruction sites, places of need, ppl in need are open for entry. Or you can go to Red Cross international as well b/c CCHC is in partnership with them there as we speak.

http://www.heraldinternational.org/english/donation_other_english.htm

Friday, November 09, 2007

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:28:53 GMT

This perspective gives unique meaning to the way i see my family. What about you?

An Interesting Perspective

Most Christians realize that all believers are part of the family of God. After all, the family metaphor is a common one used to describe our spiritual relationships. But it's amazing how few Christian families practice the ramifications of this. If we're all God's children, what does that make each one of us to each other?

It makes us brothers and sisters. A father is a brother with his son. A daughter is a spiritual sister with her mom, and so on. This perspective on family life adds a tremendous ingredient to our relationships. We begin to treat each other differently because we value each other in a special way.

What happens when you look at your children as brothers and sisters in Christ? You value them for who they are, recognizing God's work in them. Parents sometimes view their children as projects, not people. It's been said, "The only thing you can take with you to heaven is your kids." By viewing them as spiritual brothers and sisters you add a helpful dimension to family life.

This concept doesn't minimize the importance of roles and responsibilities in family life. Children still need to learn obedience and honor and parents need to learn how to be firm without being harsh. But the way we carry on our roles in family life is tempered by our view of each other. It's an amazing thought to view our kids as brothers and sisters in Christ. All of sudden our perspective changes and their value increases in our minds.

This parenting tip is taken from the book, “Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids” by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:49:10 GMT

Soon, soon it's gonna be Thanksgiving..Oh yeah! It's gonna be Thanksgiving.
This was the song the performers sang at today's Shadow Box Theatre Tobias Turkey show--that I chaperoned for in Tobi's class. It was so much fun. It brought the child side out of me. I really miss being a child. There should be more opportunities for parents to switch roles from being mom & dad to being a child. It's not the same as being childlike with your own children. It's a different mode of joyfulness that is very refreshing. There should be places specifically develop for parents/adults to return to their childlikeness.
Anyway, this got me thinking about what I am thankful for. Normally, ppl are led to think in this way when the holiday draws close. Too bad it requires a holiday to remind us. But for me, I need it. It should be a daily thing, but somehow, my busy life style has often kicked my thankful spirit to a corner that I overlook carelessly. So in any case, i must take time to think about this for there really are more than enough to be thankful for--good and bad, rejoiceful and sorrowful, victorious and dead ends. NOw there's a fun thought to spend time on.

and YOU, I thank my Gracious Father for YOU.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:03:21 GMT

This is definitely true and funny!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things
were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning ... uphill … BOTH ways. Yadda, yadda, yadda..........

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia!

And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it! I mean, when I was a
kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter ... with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3's or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the
beginning and @#*% it all up!

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It
could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you
just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids' and the graphics sucked ass! Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens it was just one screen forever!

And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the
same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you
were just screwed!

Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!

You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on
Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire ... imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled.

You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980!

Regards,
The over 30 Crowd

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Wed, 30 May 2007 13:45:32 GMT

TECBC was an amazing experience for me (and the youths) this weekend- also for Tobi too. From a youth worker's perspective, I felt very rewarded to witness the hunger and thirst our youths (and 100 others) have for more of God. Watching all of them worshipping and praying to God, while standing on the sidelines, gave me much satisfaction and also the sense that all i've cried to
our Lord were being fulfilled during this w/e there.
To see some of you stepping out of your comfort zone/box and stretching yourselves to meet and embrace strangers (who actually aren't since we're all part of His body). To hear your wonderful sharings of what and how God is speaking to you directly from your BS, retreat of silence, QT's, etc. To know that this weekend's experience revealed how faithful and true God has always been to you. and To sense your deep desire to grow together again and so much more....all of this was so very humbling for me. In the end, I felt most blessed and rewarded. I love you kids...you all make me so proud. (I need to tell you more often..i'm learning as well)

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Wed, 23 May 2007 16:49:52 GMT

hey..how's it going. it's been so LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!

"God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place"

Msg proverbs 16:5

I was wondering- how would God look if he were to puke? What will happen to the earth? What will happen to us?

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:01:31 GMT

Something to ponder about:

When we spend time to meditate on Jesus, this may happen to us:

1. Because we may be all head- we are rational believer; therefore, we may DRY UP

2. Because we may be only heart- we are emotional believers; therefore, we may BLOW UP

3. Because we may be focus on the will only- we are mechanical believers; therefore, we may RUST UP

hmm...happens to many of us, right?