greatest_dad's Xanga

生活

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:48:07 GMT

近日此地天氣壞透了。早上還好好的，在伏案工作的當兒，卻陣陣雷聲大作，從僅有的隙裡看看，外面全黑了，不一會，雨點狠狠地敲打屋頂。最懾人的還是那雷電交加的樣子……

It never rains here; man it pours!

他們說是雨季的日子，今年還來晚了，下的還少呢!

「『正常』的過去會是怎樣一回事？」

這樣的天氣，害得我運動也少了。正想出去跑步或游泳，總是被攔住了。

像那天，趁著毛毛雨，趕緊在下班後到附近的游泳池。才游了六個塘，就被忽然的強光照亮池底的境像所嚇怕。上到池邊，才知我是最後一個。再回想最近看過的新聞，至少有二個人在大雨下運動被閃電擊中身亡或身體永遠受創……身是擦乾了，但背脊倏地涼了濕了。

昨天黃昏還好，沒有太陽，地上濕濕的，但雨已經停了。換好衣服，離開住處就往外跑，跑了十公里。夜裡沒作甚麼就睡了。

今早六點就起來。精神爽利。

七點，清潔地方，洗地、廚房、灶頭、廁所、洗衣服、床單

實在的成功感，肯定人的存在啊!

中午要回學院了，下午還得到市區參加同事孩子的婚禮。

明早要教主日學。

晚上，啊，晚上到朋友家看「車仔對曼聯」，他們還特地為我作菜呢!

星期天，等不及了。

馬可福音註釋寫作進度

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:43:51 GMT

馬可福音的序言(一1-8)和卷首場景(一9-13)已經完成了初稿。下過將全力update近年的學術討論，藉此豐富有關經文的詮釋和討論。最費心思的，還是將艱澀複雜的學術討論深入淺出地與信仰生活相連。

教牧自殺

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:44:22 GMT

研究院的同學在「相書」（Facebook）上轉載了近日usatoday一篇有關美國教牧自殺個案上升的文章:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-10-28-pastor_suicides_N.htm

香港也許還未在這個階段裡，但文章提及教牧和領袖面對的困局，卻值得身處壓力、緊張壓迫社會的同道正視。無論是教牧抑或教會領袖，不論是那一種危機，面對的還不僅是個人的爭扎，也牽連其家人和會眾。事件曝光帶來震撼是一回事，但除非能坦誠正視、面對處理，否則隱藏的炸彈一旦爆發造成的傷害更驚人，更可怕是，不知不覺中帶來更深更廣更扭曲的思想和價值，那傷害才真是無法估計。

The end of a week, the beginning of another

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:40:54 GMT

Woke up, washed the floor, living room and kitchen.

Took a shower while brewing a full pot of coffee with a lot of cinnemon.

Fixed a cheese vegetable sandwich...

It's another day to start, thanks be to God the Faithful One.

Today's goal:

1. Reply e-mails

2. Finish the Prologue of Mark's Gospel, at least

3. Prepare for Sunday school (only two weeks, it'll be fine)

Elaine Paige

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:24:20 GMT

She stands at 5 ft. but sings like roaring waves and acts like gorgeous mountains. Wonderful artist. Breathtaking.

Conversion... again

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:57:39 GMT

It came unexpectedly...

I was just doing what I have been doing usually, thinking and writing, yes even chatting online checking out something rather insignificant.

Somehow music went into my ear. No, my mind; no, my heart.

Then I started asking what the Lord has meant to me? Or does He mean anything to me at all? Despite that I am a pastor and a Bible teacher. Despite that I have been doing something seemingly for Him or in His name for a long while... I am not sure about all that.

I asked myself, "Have I been changed upside down, right side up by Him? Do I love Him? Am I scared by Him and His grace? Have I surrendered all to the King? Do I therefore trust Him?"

I can't quite see, yet I am beginning to see...

Conversion... again...

開筆再寫

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:22:35 GMT

終於交稿了--「更大的工作:約翰福音和書信中的門徒意義」。

接著就要開始寫《馬可福音注釋》了。說好了明年(2010)年底交稿，我倒是希望能在年中完成。

畢竟，在過去幾年間，斷斷續續已經寫了四萬多字，如果字數定於十五萬字，我想準時交稿應該不會有太大問題。

寫完了馬可，四卷福音書就剩下馬太福音沒寫。會寫嗎？這刻還沒有明顯的計劃或感動。

還是把《馬可》寫好……

A painting I like

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:26:54 GMT

A painting (oil on carnvas) recently done by Naomi. I like it. It reminds me of the paintings of El Greco (1541-1614). The rear mirror on the compartment reminds me of a Renaissance painting... the author and title of which I do not recall.

Any way, a night scene, looking out from a Star Ferry to the enchanting Victoria Harbour.

Friday evening and Saturday morning

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:47:05 GMT

Friday 23 October, 2009

Last night our school held a Apprevision (Appreciation and Vision sharing) reception at the National University of Singapore. I was told this is the first ever they have in the history of the school. So it was quite an event for us, staff, students, faculty members have been really into it, each taking up their responsibilities. It is a small school but every one is involved with joy and anticipation. I am new to the community so I have the least to do. Still I invited friends of mine to join, though the primary addressees are Baptist leaders/servants. I have got to know more about the possibility and reality our school is facing and also Baptist churches at large in Singpore are as well. The Chair of the Board made a passionate and honest speech, appealing to the attendants to claimownership of the school. "The Board doesn't own the Seminary, the Principal does not, not even the Convention. It is you who own the Seminary..." Stewardship and servanthood and accountability is what ownership is all about. So please pray for our ministry here at Sinagpore.

Saturday 24 October, 2009

After devotional time, got to business...

Washed the floor of the whole flat, fought the stain on the stove, did the dishes (though not many indeed, just one plate, one bowl, one spoon, a pan) clean the furniture.

The toughest is kitchen floor. Still not too bad.

But cleaning a more than 500 sq. ft. flat by myself is not too comfortable either. The good part is that there are not too many items herein the flat. So it is like wiping and washing an open floor... rather easy.

The Joy of Teaching

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:41:32 GMT

He has been listening attentively...

He told me he read my stuff (on preaching) before he came here. That is kind of nice to hear, but I don't expect much. This is not derogatory in any means, just that I don't know much about them and there.

Until the first time he preached... shocked me. A lot could be polished and improved, of course. "But if it is the first time he gets to preach, that is really something." I talked to myself. Not that he is appealing or elegant or powerful or charismatic, but that he is attentive to the text and preaching from the text, with the text. That's kind of rare, positively said. Rare even with my 16 years in Hong Kong.

Rare because he would finish his sermon one week at least before the assigned date. He brings me the sermon text and asks me to comment on it before he is about to preach. I read and mark and think... then I would explain to him the next day. As he listens, he stares at the text and thinks deeply, you can tell from the way he looks. His lips, originally closed and gradually open and finally turn to a grin. Then he raises his eyes looked sparkling and inspired, uttered, "Thank you, teacher!"

He's got it. Yes he's got it.

Joy of teaching. Seeing a person enlightened is like witnessing a new life born.

Joy of teaching the Bible. Seeing a person inspired is like visioning many more aspiring for the New Life from above.