karin_zhoc's Xanga

What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:34:10 GMT

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

Go watch this interesting slam poetry below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuFnP5N2uA&feature=related

感恩不住感動不已

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:47:24 GMT

還記得在一九九九年一月十六日，我作出了人生最重大的決定---決志信主，跟隨主耶穌! 回望信主的年日，生活有起有跌，或順或逆，上帝的恩手一直沒離開過我，總拖帶我走人生每步路，並在我生命中賜下很多豐盛的恩典。

十年後的六月十四日，我作出了人生另一重大決定--- 受洗加入基督，與神立永遠的約! 那天我笑得非常燦爛，那份從心而發的喜樂溢於臉上。洗禮當天的情景，仍常在腦海中迴盪著。有很多零碎的歡樂片段仍教我回味不已!

當中最難忘的必定是洗禮的時刻。還記得我站在旁邊，等待踏進洗禮池時，我的心情既興奮又緊張，剎那間竟看見男友在台下不遠處注視著我，向我展現笑容，我興奮得不停揮手回應，那份靈裡默契是最窩心的。期待已久的一刻終於來臨，我小心翼翼地踏進洗禮池。我想我應是洗禮肢體當中最緊張的一個，甫進入池中，潘耀倫牧師就在耳邊提醒我:「行過少少，踩過一點。」正在震騰騰的我心想: 不得了，再過一點，深恐我會失平衡呀! 那刻我也顧不得儀態，死命抓住牧師的手! 哈! 想起也很好笑! 潘牧師最終成功捉緊我的手為我祈禱，之後他便把聖杯倒在我的頭上為我施洗。完成了! 那溫暖的池水猶如上帝的愛緊緊環繞著我，深深觸動我的心靈! 我從未如此徹底感受到神的愛，從未這樣切實地經歷神的同在，哈利路亞! 感謝主!

在洗禮中，我感受到身邊人對我的愛鍚、支持和祝福，更重要的是神賜我敏感的心讓我看見祂美善的作為! 我看到身邊弟兄姊妹由我報洗禮到跟長老以及牧師會談，他們一直支持守望我，為我代禱。人生中能夠有這班同路人一同成長，共走窄路，實在好得無比! 我又看到上帝在我等候洗禮過程中，打開我的心，讓我體會到家庭福音的迫切。小信的我最初很擔心未信主的父母家人會反對我洗禮。但上主最明白我的需要，祂賜我信心和勇氣，為我預備合適機會在家庭中表明我的信仰及洗禮的決心。結果竟然超乎所想所求，我的家人不但欣然接受，更願意前來觀禮，實在太感恩了! 看著未信主的家人，特別是我的父母，由最初對基督教強烈反感轉變成現在漸漸軟化接納，我感受到聖靈一直在他們剛硬的心動工! 我亦看到身邊流失了的肢體或未信主的家人朋友，因著我的洗禮而來到教會，上帝讓我知道福音不能只存留在我的生命中，祂催迫我要更努力傳揚祂，透過我的生命成為流通管子，讓身邊人得著上帝而來的福樂!

洗禮不是人生的終點，乃是靈程的新開始。往後的日子，願我更盡心竭力追求靈命長進，多作主工，作主忠心又良善的僕人，以生命見證榮耀神!

邀請您出席我的洗禮

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:18:33 GMT

親愛的弟兄姊妹及各方好友:

感謝神! 我終於洗禮啦!!

得蒙上帝的保守及帶領，不經不覺我已信主十年了! 回望信主的年日，生活有起有跌，或順或逆，上帝的恩手一直沒離開過我，總拖帶我走人生每步路，並在我生命中賜下很多豐盛的恩典。今天我堅決多走一步，踏進洗禮池受浸，與神立永遠的約，一生跟隨主耶穌基督! 現誠邀您出席小妹的浸禮，詳情如下:

日期: 6月14日(日)
時間: 3:00pm 至 6:00pm
地點: 五旬節聖潔會永光堂二樓小禮堂

我實在盼望您能抽空前來見證我人生的重要時刻! 深知道時間有點倉促，若未能出席也不要緊，有您的祝福及代禱感恩已足夠了! 若您能出席的話，請盡早回覆，好讓我為您作出適當安排! 再一次，謝謝您成為我生命中的小天使!

Karin

感謝神! 我做到了!

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:01:57 GMT

來到這刻，洗禮的事情總算有新突破了! 感謝神! 我終於跟所有家人說出洗禮的決定了! 還記得起初接受牧師挑戰鼓勵，要逐一向家人表明洗禮意向時，心情戰戰兢兢的，總是沒有十足把握，內心有很多掙扎!心想他們會否接受我的信仰呢? 誰知上帝早已知道我的顧慮，為我預備合適時機!

於是，我按部署先致電跟家中另一基督徒二哥表明心跡，他鼓勵我要抱平常心，鼓起勇氣跟其他家人講出決定! 於是，我再告之「較易落手」的姐姐，順利過關，兼且成功邀請她和男友出席洗禮(若成事的話)! 接著趁有一天，搬走了的三哥回家吃晚飯時，飯桌上只有我、男友、媽媽、三哥及他女友，我又再鼓起勇氣和他們說出此事，心想: 三哥一向是個思想理智，批判性強的人，媽媽的反應又是我最擔心的，相信必定很大挑戰了! 正當大家正閒話家常時，我說:「嗯......其實我近排有個重要決定，都想同你地講，我諗住係教會洗禮。」想不到他們的反應竟然超出我想像! 話畢三哥已率先接受了，全無任何信仰攻擊，還說若有時間就抽空出席。至於媽媽則反應冷淡，表示拒絕出席洗禮。她的態度比以往的激動回應好得多了。

然後翌日晚上，我跟爸爸和大哥也說起此決定，他們的反應亦比預期溫和，雖然口中仍是堅決拒絕出席洗禮，但只少他們對我的決定已表達了尊重和接納。我深知道整個過程中上帝一直在背後推動我，賜我信心和勇氣說出心底話! 感謝神，在祂沒有難成的事! 我看到了!

在等候洗禮中，我看清楚自己更多! 原來我在生活中常為自己放置很多不必要的枷鎖，往往一邊將事情交付神，一邊又抓住憂慮不放，結果窒礙了上帝作工的機會。從洗禮的預備中，神給我很大的操練，學會等候及認真思考信仰，學會放手，讓神介入，憑信心去作，祂能成就出人意外的事情! 如今只差一點點，就可以洗禮了，成功與否，仍然是一個謎! 滿心期待這天的來臨!

等候洗禮的我

Sat, 23 May 2009 14:32:19 GMT

這陣子心中一直思想著洗禮的事。由交洗禮form，與長老會面，然後見牧師，整個過程我看神的拖帶保守，祂的恩典真的夠我用，更大大激勵我要立定心志，放下人生包袱，一心跟隨主!

剛過去的星期二我跟李淑儀牧師因洗禮緣故見過面了! 跟李牧師傾談的過程非常平安，且有很大得著和提醒。當中最深刻的是言談間李牧師問起我有否向父母家人說起洗禮的決定。此關鍵問題正牽動我一直以來最扎心的問題。其實自信主以來，父母也很抗拒基督教信仰，由初信時極之反感，到現在日子久了變成勉強接受。為免引起反感，由始至終，我也有所顧忌，沒有在家人面前具體表明自己基督徒身份，當然連最基本飯前祈禱也沒有，只能在心中禱告罷了。

在等候洗禮的過程中，心中一直牽掛著的就是家庭福音的逼切! 我感受到神一直催逼我要多走一步，在家人面前為祂作見證，在他們面前宣告我的信仰! 若問我最大的心願是什麼，必定是父母家人能夠信主，因我知道這是責無旁貸，是我必須承擔的使命! 然而，我的熱心一直只停留在背後默默為他們禱告，卻缺乏信心和動力去做好見證，傳福音給他們。李牧師鼓勵必須在洗禮前釋放我心中的牽掛，逐一主動向各家人，包括我的父母，三位哥哥和一位姐姐表明我洗禮的決心，然後我會再跟牧師見面。如今我決定接受此挑戰，在未知能否洗禮之前，向我的家人說清楚我洗禮的決定! 我親愛弟兄姊妹，我實在需要你們禱告上的支持啊!

若你巧合地看到我的部落格，現懇請你為我的需要祈禱:

1) 求主賜我信心和勇氣放膽將洗禮決定告之家人，並賜我屬靈智慧、耐心和合宜口舌面對家人言語間的信仰挑戰，漸漸接受我的信仰立場。
2) 求主挑旺我對家庭福音的熱心，不單藉未來的洗禮見證上帝，更要在家庭見證上活出信仰，賜我愛心和智慧將福音帶給家人。
3) 求主繼續帶領我每一位家人，藉著他們所經歷的人和事，可以對基督教改觀，對人生有更多的深思反省，漸漸接受信仰。

謝謝你們的支持與代禱! 我實在深感受到神正寸步不離地與我同心同行同工，盼望我終有一天能夠真真正正踏進洗禮池，與神立一生的約，永遠堅定跟隨主耶穌! 很奇妙，今天靈修時竟然讀到羅1:1-17 ，其中一句給我很大提醒:

「我不以福音為恥．這福音本是　神的大能、要救一切相信的。」(羅1:16)

再有新進展我會同大家分享的!

My recent updates

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:00:23 GMT

I suddenly come up with an idea to write my recent updates. Maybe that's a way to let my thoughts drift in calm and peace. Life in March is not easy as I am quite stressed out by two critical plans.

1. Plan on Master programme

To apply or not to apply? My mind wavered a lot in making the decision of Master study. To apply, I know how much stress and burden it would be to struggle and strike a balance between my work and study, not to mention the sacrifice of time on leisure and dating. To look on the bright side of things, Master programme is a stepping stone to further professional knowledge in teaching as well as English enhancement. Not to apply, life will be much easier as I can enjoy my job, much more fun, leisure and dating time. Yet, the scope of knowledge in my field will be quite narrow and it seems less competitive power without a Master. After serious considerations and consultations, I eventually applied MEd programme in HKU and CUHK.

Actually I've done two admission interviews before. Yet, without having interviews for ages, I was a bit nervous and got tongue tighten when having the group discussion. Both interviews turned out to be frustration which struck me to know my limitations in spoken English……Sigh! Maybe it's not that bad as I thought or I should not have demanded myself too much to perfection in the interview. I do have a positive self talk and encourage myself to set goals and strive for improvement in English. Anyway, probably I'll know the results in these two weeks. Hope everything's fine. I leave the result to my Lord as everything is under His will.

2. Plan on Baptism

Baptism is the most vital plan in my life. It is a holy ceremony which represents my commitment to and union with Jesus Christ. Having been a Christian for ten years, I think I need determination to follow Jesus wholeheartedly for the rest of my life. The questions coming up to my mind are Am I ready to get right with God before I am baptised in water? How is the meaning of faith in Jesus related to my life? Do I have life-altering experiences with the presence of God? Any obstacles in my life that hinder me to draw close to God? Do I dare declare my faith before my friends and family with good testimony?

Lord, please search my soul as I have so much hesitation......I need to admit that I leave behind the faith in God when I am in trouble and weak. Prayers and Bible reading seemed more like chore than pleasure to me.Yet, you know me very deeply. You are the only one who raise my spirit up and revive my soul. I need faith, humbleness, peace, wisdom and strength from You. May you work wondeful thing and make a difference on me through some trivial incidents. So that I can surrender my life to you with a pure heart!

Teaching Life in APSKT

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:35:43 GMT

It's been almost two months since the school year started. This is the second year of my teaching. Life is pretty hectic but enjoyable in APSKT. Different from being a P.5 class teacher last year,to be a P.2 class teacher this school year can be a new challenge to me. Young kids need much more love,care and patience than the older ones. I always need to keep my watchful eyes on their behaviours as lots of incredible things could happen out of your expectations. Just pick one interesting daily episode happened in my class. One day, my class was filled with strong smelly air. Gosh! Someone pooed in my class! I suspected that one boy did it. He didn't confess that at first. Then I tried to ask him to go toilet and check it out. Later, when the boy came back to the classroom, he was shy to tell me it's him who pooed over. With the help of the caretaker at school, he changed his pants finally. However, we could hardly take a breath of fresh air in class that day. Interesting huh? I can say, being a P.2 teacher is not easy but euphoric. I am really fond of the kids. Their innocent faces and lovely smiles mean a lot to me. They spark my passion in teaching.

Blessed is me who can make a difference through teaching in APSKT. The children are teachable and smart. The colleagues are caring and supportive. Sometimes I am stressed out by tonnes of workload. I can, however, derive great satisfaction out of heavy responsibilities and challenges. Praise the Lord as He's given me lots of grace there.

Teaching and caring about the children is something I enjoy most in my job. The heart of matter is: If I value the importance of teaching, how could I influence my kids in a positive way? How could I be a life-inspiring teacher? What should I do to make teaching as a means of proclaiming God's love?

Teaching is a life-long process, a far-reaching goal and a self-discovery journey. It helps shape the present me. And now it's still processing.

<佳音處處送>音樂分享會後感

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:17:48 GMT

今天的音樂分享會總算順利完成!再一次經歷神的恩典充充足足地供應! 陽光普照的下午、合適的時間、黃大仙居民的參與、音響效果、司儀的配合、樂器的配搭、獻詩小組的落力演出......等等，最感恩的是在分享會進行期間天氣一直也很好，但到尾聲的時候竟然風雲色變，最後趕得及散場時才下起雨來。一切的預備就是這樣超乎想像的美好，感謝神!雖然音樂會當中亦有不少可改善的地方，就讓我們汲取寶貴的經驗，把音樂分享會繼續做下去，將神的愛和祝福帶給其他地區的居民!! 特別多謝晞文(真的很驚喜啊!^^)、AB軒、珊珊和男友前來捧場，你們的支持給我很大的鼓勵!

晚上跟男友說起下午的演出，他的意見雖有點逆耳，但卻一語中的，道出我常有的掙扎......事奉的焦點擺準了沒有? 究竟係著眼於自己唱成點? 定係整體唱歌的果效(聽歌的人收到的信息)緊要D? 最終你究竟為誰而唱? 一連串的疑問在心裡迴盪著，我沉默......是的，唱歌事奉就好比踩鋼線一樣，要在自身歌唱技巧和用心靈誠實去敬拜神兩者間取得平衡，絕不容許顧此失彼，這是很大的學習!求主賜我謙卑的心去唱歌!

此次演出的經驗確實點燃起我的事奉熱心，有什麼好得過用歌聲去事奉神呢! 感謝主使用我們的歌聲作你的流通管子傳達您的信息!我盼望繼續學好聲樂，以更美的歌聲讚美神!我只想盡心盡意盡力為您唱歌!

《佳音處處送》音樂分享會

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:23:11 GMT

《佳音處處送》音樂分享會
日期:2008年7月27日(星期日)
時間：下午２時３０分至３時３０分
地點：黃大仙上村舞台廣場（龍翔中心麥當勞對出）
形式：音樂獻唱，互動遊戲
對象：任何人士

我的教會事奉團隊So Care將於明天舉辦小型的音樂分享會，我亦是獻詩小組其中一員。良久沒唱歌的我，心情有點緊張......深知音響、獻詩小組及配樂也不是很專業，彼此配搭仍未夠完善，盼望主額外加力，賜下智慧和應變能力，讓明天在台上的各項安排能順利完成。祈求主讓更多的街坊朋友前來聆聽及玩遊戲，能夠認識信仰。

這陣子為了這個音樂會而練歌多了，再加上剛於上星期欣賞了BUCCAP的精彩演出，不禁憶起在BUCC練歌的日子，不知有多少次受歌詞所激勵而流淚。深體會到詩歌確可盛載神的道，在詩班裡所經驗到的屬靈覺醒和反思，實教我一生受用。看到新一輩的BUCC詩班員，我也為自己曾是香港浸會大學基督徒詩班一份子而感到光榮!!

與其緬懷過去，不如展望將來。近期開始不停為將來籌劃，想工作、想讀書、想進修、想結婚、想事奉、想......相信未來幾年，不論我或者身邊朋友生活上也會有很大的變化呢! 人愈大，人生責任愈多，思想亦變得複雜了。然而，我最想保存的還是那份單純信靠神的心，因為這樣我才有信心在這價值觀歪曲的社會不偏不倚地堅守信仰。

明天的音樂分享會要加油啊!

Frankie's Birthday 9.7.08

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:40:53 GMT

親愛的，生日快樂!

廿五是人生的新階段;

廿五是回顧過去，數算神恩的適時;

廿五是展望未來，定立大計的良機;

廿五是把握現狀，珍重所有所愛的時刻;

廿五是裝備自己，為主走更遠的路!

長路有我共你走

深信上帝必保守

感激基督愛暖透