becoming

the trail of a family becoming

2007: In Review

雖然不算是整體生活的回顧,但至少在blog和網絡之中,我會記下這些:

  1. 講授加拉太書的主日學讓我深入反省NPP對了解保羅思路的貢獻。我相信,保羅的聖靈論和教會論將成為兩個纏繞我一生的題目。
  2. 參加了全年唯一一個自己選擇參加的Conference — Ray Vanderlaan 的Walk As Jesus Walked。對他的熱衷和Dynamic,有很深的體會。但始終還是不太攪得通他對猶太文化的重視和保羅那種「十架後」的舊約詮釋,可怎樣接軌。
  3. 坐在food-court裡,面對著一大群中學生剛剛放食飯,令我想到關於「反霸權」到「成為霸權」的事。
  4. 面對著很多信徒馬虎的事奉表現,我(有點氣憤地)寫下:「不是一個人的」。
  5. 意外地,竟然中獎
  6. 開始(並於十月完成)《釋我傷痕》的耶利米哀歌的系列講道。不管別人的評價怎樣,我總覺得這是一個「不講,便會遺憾一世」的題目。
  7. 好友Charis和Anson的小女兒Alethia出世
  8. 一張假的十蚊紙,引發我對試探的思考
  9. 寫了一篇題為「無名火」的post,但因引起家人和朋友的不安,所以刪出了那篇,留下另一篇無關痛癢的
  10. 亦因如此,同月,開始另一個Blog,將或會引起不安的反省在另一處地方留下。
  11. 看了Karen日見成熟的反省,有感而發的也來「論安逸」。
  12. 七一周末,我選擇帶女兒去了Canada Day慶祝(Instead of 香港回歸十週年)。事後,有感這是一種有意識的身份宣示行動。
  13. Jocelyn開始返學
  14. 作迦南團契的retreat講員。這次機會讓我對自己日後所要傳的信息有了很清楚的領受。
  15. 侵華老兵金子安次的傳記,帶來了很久不能平復的震撼
  16. 估不到引文「失去了解的落差」,成為目前為止,引起最多迴響的post。就連原作者張小鳴也來湊熱鬧
  17. 寫了blog內第一篇Politics類的post,是關於莊德利在「三十天內的政治自殺」。
  18. 在眾聖日,寫下了一直沒有機會寫下對楊牧谷牧師的追憶。真的,對他,我未敢忘懷。
  19. 從女兒的一句「媽咪呢?」,我體會到思念,從來就不容易
  20. 延續「不是一個人的」,再寫了「天才•恩賜•奮進」,算是我對「老油條信徒」的解讀和抗議。

2006 Highlights
2005 Highlights

巴基斯坦

在Buffalo的酒店電視中,得知貝羅齊爾遇刺身亡的消息。頓時間,這邊小朋友的快樂笑聲,與那邊小市民的絕望哭號,形成生與死、天堂與地獄的強烈對比。

真的,請你為巴基斯坦的政局與人民禱告。

[links: vineat, karen]

To Remind You

Jim’s post today echoes my earlier posts in regard to the NanKing Massacre in 1937.

Yes, worth pondering indeed!

南京和平宣言

七十年前的12月13日,是南京歷史上一段最黑暗日子的開始。這一天,侵華日軍佔領中國首都南京並開始了長達六星期的燒、殺、淫、掠,致使我30萬同胞罹難,強姦婦女的事件兩萬餘起,全城建築三分之一被毀,公私財產損失難以計數。慘絕人寰的空前浩劫,不僅給中國人民留下了不能忘卻的災難記憶,也激起了全世界愛好和平人士的義憤和反思。

今天,一片佔地面積111畝、建築面積2.5萬平方米、展陳面積9800平方米、整體設計寓意為‘和平之舟’的嶄新建築群,從南京大屠殺江東門集體屠殺‘萬人坑’遺址上落成。江蘇省暨南京市各界代表和專程前來的中外賓朋在這里隆重集會,舉行沉痛悼念南京大屠殺30萬同胞遇難70週年暨侵華日軍南京大屠殺遇難同胞紀念館擴建工程竣工儀式。700萬南京人民要在‘12.13’這個警報拉響、警鐘長鳴的日子裡,以眼前這座記載侵略暴行和戰爭悲劇、也寄託民族希望和人類理想的歷史紀念館昭告世人:

古都金陵在侵華日軍南京大屠殺期間經受了舉世罕見的深重苦難。七十年來,它所積澱、引發和匯集的歷史教訓和精神蘊涵,遠遠超越了時空的局限。它鐫刻著‘遇難者300000’的觸目驚心和戰爭罪魁禍首的萬劫不復,更凝聚著無數生命的吶喊與控訴、國際友人的聲援與救助、懺悔者的良知與反省,以及來自四面八方的探索與求證……

值此悼念南京大屠殺30萬同胞遇難70週年暨侵華日軍南京大屠殺遇難同胞紀念館新館開館之際,我們向五大洲的兄弟姐妹們發出呼籲:當今世界正在發生前所未有的歷史性變革,求和平、促發展、謀合作是各國人民的共同心願…作為一座飽經戰爭創傷的歷史文化名城,南京人民渴望和平、熱愛和平,我們將以更大的熱忱投入到改革開放與和平發展的實際行動中去,致力於‘和諧社會’的建設;堅決反對任何歪曲歷史、混淆是非的倒行逆施;堅決反對戰爭暴力,反對恐怖主義,反對任何形式的危及平民生命和財產的非正義行為。

為了讓白骨得以入殮,讓冤魂能夠安眠,把屠刀化為警鐘,把逝名刻作史鑒,讓孩童不再恐懼,讓母親不再悲泣,讓戰爭遠離人類,讓和平灑滿人間,一切愛好和平的團體和人士團結起來,為建設一個和平、和諧、和解的新世界而共同奮鬥!

[link]

Dignifying words from a middle-aged woman

Gillian Gibbons, the teacher who had been convicted of insulting Islam for allowing schoolchildren in Sudan to name a toy bear Muhammad. She made this statement on her arrival at Heathrow Airport earlier this week:

I’m very glad to be back and I’m a little shocked about all the media attention that I have been getting.

I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends and having a good rest, and I’m hoping that you’ll give me space in order to do that.

It has been an ordeal, but I would like you to know that I was well-treated in prison and everybody was very kind to me.

I was very sorry to leave Sudan.

I had a fabulous time there. It is a really lovely place and I managed to see some of the beautiful countryside while I was there.

The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and extremely generous, and until this happened to me I only had a good experience.

I wouldn’t like it to put anybody off going to Sudan. In fact, I know of a lovely school that needs a new Year Two teacher.

I would like to thank all the people who have worked so hard to secure my release or make my time in prison more bearable.

In particular, I would like to thank Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi who came to rescue me.

The ambassador and his staff in Khartoum, who were absolutely fantastic – I couldn’t have got through the ordeal without their support.

I’d like to also thank the British consul in Dubai who smoothed our progress through the airport.

My school, called Unity High School. The support I have received there from them is legendary and I’m going to miss my class and my colleagues enormously.

Also Emirates airline, who were absolutely fantastic, looking after us and making sure we were safe and getting us on and off planes.

And everybody else who sent me messages of support.

I haven’t read any of them yet, but I’ve been told all about them and it’s very nice that people have been thinking of me and taking the time and trouble to send me a message.

And also my long-suffering family and all my friends in Liverpool and the rest of England.

———————-

These gracious & dignifying words from a middle-aged woman create a sharp contrast against the ridiculous actions of the Sudanese regime.

Alive, still

No, I am still alive.

Just swamped with all the happenings and craziness of life and work.

——————-

If you still haven’t got a chance to express your support to the “comfort women” motion 291, please do so by filling out this online petition, before 3pm today.

BTW, where have all the Christians gone?

三十天內的政治自殺

莊德利在三十天內,從一個PC minority的預測,到最後連自己的一席也不補。除了用他自己競選的標語,慨嘆說句果真”leadership matters”之外,你覺得發生了甚麼事?

我不懂太多選戰策略與政治宣傳手段。但若我們換個角度,以希(臘)羅(馬)文化中的英雄神話傳說來看,這個本來人人看好的英雄John Tory,當不能再以他獨有的眼光去帶領別人了解自己身處的故事時,這個英雄其實就注定死亡。

從他改變宗教學校撥款的那一剎,他與他對手的分野(不論好壞)便開始變得模糊起來。換句話說,神話故事中的對頭(Antagonist)突然變得與這英雄沒有兩樣。當對頭變得不再突出,英雄也就沒有了要克服的挑戰,連帶自己存在也就變得可有可無。

跟隨者非但看不見他們的英雄一步一步邁向成功,相反卻看見他慢慢邁向自掘的墳墓裡…

這樣的政治自殺,還可以怪誰?

Earthquake struck the Pakistan-India border

From World Vision (updated Oct 10)

At 9:00 a.m. local-time Saturday a 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Pakistan causing large-scale destruction to homes, buildings, and infrastructure. Reports estimate the death toll is more than 20,000 people, a number that’s expected to rise.

Meteorologists say the earthquake, whose epicentre was 80 kilometres northeast of the capital Islamabad, is the strongest to hit the country in over a century. Neighbouring India and Afghanistan have also reported widespread damage resulting from the quake.

World Vision is There
Staff members in Pakistan met with the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations on Saturday to coordinate the response. World Vision will lead a team to assess damage and humanitarian needs in the Pakistani districts of Abbottabad, Battegram, and Mansehra. Officials report at least 70 per cent of homes in Mansehra have been destroyed. World Vision staff members will also assist with the response in the districts of Shangla and Kohistan.

The Challenge Ahead
Relief teams working in Pakistan and neighbouring countries face many obstacles and dangers as they work to reach survivors. Aftershocks, measuring 5.9 to 6 on the Richter Scale, have added to the destruction. Landslides triggered by tremors have closed major roads. Communications systems have been knocked down. Local officials report that entire villages have been wiped out.

Immediate Needs
To prevent more deaths in the aftermath of the earthquake, it is critical to reach survivors with emergency items as quickly as possible. Items to be distributed include:

    * Food
    * Water
    * Tents
    * Blankets
    * Medicine

Click here to donate.

Please pray that all missing people will be found from under the rubble. Pray for those who lost their loved ones and homes to be comforted. Pray for those who need medical care to quickly get the care they need.

Please stop for a moment from asking "why?". Please stop saying how near the end times is. Please, for the love of God,

Pray.