Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace
-Hymn by John Greenleaf Whittier
Monday, September 28, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Addressing Gender Diversity as a Teacher
Firstly, I'd like to welcome myself back to blogging on the world wide web...I wonder how long this thread will last!
So, I'm studying Education in University at the moment and one of the topics we're covering is gender diversity. I honestly haven't been doing much thinking on this at all...and at the moment, I'm rather at odds with what we're encouraged to do.
Gender equality is a hot topic these days...it has been for some time. I learnt a new acronym today. GLBTIQ stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer. There's even an Australian representing body - The Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council. I think their logo is kinda cute with Australia being represented as a world...But I digress.
So, how am I to respond to this move of accepting gender differences as a Christian who aims to be an educator of children? For example, if I had a boy in my class who wanted to change his sex to female, how am I to respond to this? Being a Christian, I know that this goes against what God has made, male and female. However, the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians has a commitment to ensure that education is free from discrimination based on "gender" and "sexual orientation". Additionally, all states and territories prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
I don't know what sort of decisions I"ll have to make in the future, but I do know that I have the power to shape and change young children's lives. I hope I can do this in a God-glorifying way, even when legislation and society are against me.
So, I'm studying Education in University at the moment and one of the topics we're covering is gender diversity. I honestly haven't been doing much thinking on this at all...and at the moment, I'm rather at odds with what we're encouraged to do.
Gender equality is a hot topic these days...it has been for some time. I learnt a new acronym today. GLBTIQ stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer. There's even an Australian representing body - The Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council. I think their logo is kinda cute with Australia being represented as a world...But I digress.
So, how am I to respond to this move of accepting gender differences as a Christian who aims to be an educator of children? For example, if I had a boy in my class who wanted to change his sex to female, how am I to respond to this? Being a Christian, I know that this goes against what God has made, male and female. However, the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians has a commitment to ensure that education is free from discrimination based on "gender" and "sexual orientation". Additionally, all states and territories prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
I don't know what sort of decisions I"ll have to make in the future, but I do know that I have the power to shape and change young children's lives. I hope I can do this in a God-glorifying way, even when legislation and society are against me.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Experimenting with make-up!
Can you tell I'm having fun? xD So that i don't waste make-up I did two different eyes...haha.
Now that I'm working I have to wear make-up everyday...which is sort of lame because it takes time putting it on and off. And plus i have mono-eyelids so everytime I put eyeshadow on it smudges everywhere at the crease!
But parts of it is fun. It's cool how you can blend colours and brighten parts of you face up. It always surprises me how much you can change one's look just with it on... For example, in one of the youtube videos I watched, this is the before and after look:
But parts of it is fun. It's cool how you can blend colours and brighten parts of you face up. It always surprises me how much you can change one's look just with it on... For example, in one of the youtube videos I watched, this is the before and after look:
to
Surprising right?
Where I work (The Body Shop) the male sale assistants wear make-up too =P. But they look perfectly normal. I couldn't tell that they had and only found out when I asked them xD.
How has it been working there so far?
It's been alright. I was kinda bummed that they only gave me 2x3-hour shifts per week for two weeks when they said it would be around 25 hours/week. But next week I'll be getting 20 so I'm quite excited!
What do I do at work? Since it's just a christmas casual position they wanted me to specialise in gift wrapping. It sounds easy but it can get pretty stressful. In the group interview we had a gift wrapping relay. We spilt into two groups and had to wrap our present within 2 minutes, to then pass it on to the next person on your team. It was intense!
But Christmas time is worse because you have customers watching you wrap your present, and more customers in line waiting for their turn. I personally get more nervous when my manager is watching though.
But Christmas time is worse because you have customers watching you wrap your present, and more customers in line waiting for their turn. I personally get more nervous when my manager is watching though.
I don't only using paper wrapping; I use wood wool, boxes, tins, plastic to hot-air the gifts (you have to be careful with this in case you pop the plastic...). Some of the tins they have there are octagonally-shaped, some are oval shaped. There are even triangular prisms...haha - so yes! There is a lot! It's not a simple job to gift wrap :D.
I'm going to be so pro at the end of this. Muahahaha
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
My QOTD =)
"Isn't all of God's Word good for us, whether its first taste is bitter or sweet - a sensation which so often depends upon what else we have been chewing previously? It shouldn't be tampered with, or rejected, or grudgingly accepted. It should be willingly embraced as a gift of life from our loving Creator and Redeemer!" --> Peter Bolt
Monday, September 5, 2011
Blog awakening? xD
I've just decided to blog once again, and apparently so has elaine =P
I hope you like the new look of my blog!
I hope you like the new look of my blog!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Chistianity
I came across a problem with someone and I used it to explain the concept of sin. What I learnt on camp has also helped me understand this more. Basically when our relationships go wrong, whether it's between friends, family, work etc etc, there is guilt and shame, as well as hurt. Hurt for the people around you and oftentimes for yourself as well.
So whenever someone sins, even though it seems so minor and insignificant, there is always someone who suffers for it. It’s incredibly unfair that they have to be put through it, but someone has to. Cause, effect and response. In my case, I was the cause of the problem, the effect is our hurt and our changed relationship was the response. Fortunately, this person had the heart to endure the hurt I had caused, forgive and love me still.
Jesus does this for all the people in the world. To do this - to take every single person’s sin away, no matter how great or small can only be done by someone Godly. No mortal can have a heart so big, so pure, so loving and just. This is what it means when you hear words like – for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son Jesus to take our sins away. Even though we are imperfect and broken souls, because God our creator loves us so much and still wants to have a relationship with us, he has made it possible through Jesus. That’s why the way into Christianity is only through Jesus.
It sounds so simple that it’s ridiculous almost, - that to become a Christian the only thing you have to do is accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and that’s it. For some of us, this act to accept and give your whole complete trust is hard (I know it was for me), but we shouldn't undermine it only because it is made easy for those who need it most.
For most people who are in great need of a redeemer out of fear or out of gain, this is very easy. But I believe that it’s made simple only because of His great love. He is willing to accept those who have no where else to go, who are easy to accept Him due to horrible situations or circumstances. When you think about third world countries, the people are in so bad a position that the only way they can live is to have God there with them. However, it’s because of his immense love that he can accept people like that - that he makes it easy for them to be with him in heaven. Now we, in no way deserve such godly love at all. This is why it’s only by His Grace that we are saved.
Lastly... about mocking unfaithful followers. How can a great religion be filled with so many of them? - Only because the God is loving enough to accept and forgive such unfaithfulness. So rather than judging our fellow Christians and criticizing them (something that we have no right to do - Romans 2), find the heart to help them be holy instead, for we are all sinners.
In conclusion!...(I never get to use this in essays but this is okay because it's a blog!!!) although it may be true that to be a Christian can be very easy, to live as a Christian is very difficult. How we live our Christian life will determine our riches in heaven, and we cannot judge this for ourselves or for anyone else, only God can. Personally I learnt for myself with a certainty that true forgiveness can only be done with love and that it results to a greater and more sustaining love. I know we all read this or hear about this a lot and I hope that we are loving enough for everyone to feel and experience this =).
Spread the love everyone =).
So whenever someone sins, even though it seems so minor and insignificant, there is always someone who suffers for it. It’s incredibly unfair that they have to be put through it, but someone has to. Cause, effect and response. In my case, I was the cause of the problem, the effect is our hurt and our changed relationship was the response. Fortunately, this person had the heart to endure the hurt I had caused, forgive and love me still.
Jesus does this for all the people in the world. To do this - to take every single person’s sin away, no matter how great or small can only be done by someone Godly. No mortal can have a heart so big, so pure, so loving and just. This is what it means when you hear words like – for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son Jesus to take our sins away. Even though we are imperfect and broken souls, because God our creator loves us so much and still wants to have a relationship with us, he has made it possible through Jesus. That’s why the way into Christianity is only through Jesus.
It sounds so simple that it’s ridiculous almost, - that to become a Christian the only thing you have to do is accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and that’s it. For some of us, this act to accept and give your whole complete trust is hard (I know it was for me), but we shouldn't undermine it only because it is made easy for those who need it most.
For most people who are in great need of a redeemer out of fear or out of gain, this is very easy. But I believe that it’s made simple only because of His great love. He is willing to accept those who have no where else to go, who are easy to accept Him due to horrible situations or circumstances. When you think about third world countries, the people are in so bad a position that the only way they can live is to have God there with them. However, it’s because of his immense love that he can accept people like that - that he makes it easy for them to be with him in heaven. Now we, in no way deserve such godly love at all. This is why it’s only by His Grace that we are saved.
Lastly... about mocking unfaithful followers. How can a great religion be filled with so many of them? - Only because the God is loving enough to accept and forgive such unfaithfulness. So rather than judging our fellow Christians and criticizing them (something that we have no right to do - Romans 2), find the heart to help them be holy instead, for we are all sinners.
In conclusion!...(I never get to use this in essays but this is okay because it's a blog!!!) although it may be true that to be a Christian can be very easy, to live as a Christian is very difficult. How we live our Christian life will determine our riches in heaven, and we cannot judge this for ourselves or for anyone else, only God can. Personally I learnt for myself with a certainty that true forgiveness can only be done with love and that it results to a greater and more sustaining love. I know we all read this or hear about this a lot and I hope that we are loving enough for everyone to feel and experience this =).
Spread the love everyone =).
Monday, June 8, 2009
Man and Woman/Husband and Wife
This entry is a follow up on what Josh posted up today…I think I might reiterate a few things too.
So, Jesus says that "at the beginning the Creator made them male and female" (Matthew 19:4). Therefore, Genesis should be what we should refer to first and foremost. From what I have read, it does say that woman is man's helper ("I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18)), but it infers that although they have separate roles they are equal in God's sight.
I found a quote from Matthew Henry that explains this really well. He says, “"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him." (This has been taken out of Genesis 2:21-23)
In terms of their different roles, man should be the leader as mentioned in Ephesians 5:22-33. Genesis also illustrates this since God created man first. However, although woman was made to help and nourish man, it's important to realise that we complement each other. That woman is supposed to submit to their husbands is not "mindless, joyless submission, but active participation and response to loving leadership" (Joshua Harris). Nevertheless, I still think it's important for a wife to play an active part in the values of the husband's leadership, so that they both can agree on it and live by it. This way there is harmony in both parties, as well as a balance.
Today Josh clarified this part for me, saying:
“The male is made to lead, but to lead in a humble, christlike and servant hearted manner. Biblical male leadership isn't saying that the guy is like a dictator or he acts selfishly and is not Christlike, and when it says that women/wives submit to the men/husband, it is saying that on the terms that the man is obedient to Christ and is leading in that manner.
The fact is that, like you say, a lot of men are incapable of leading, and that is why people around the world are having ideas such as 'feminism' and women ordination (female pastors and elders) because men aren't stepping up, so women are taking their places, and reversing the God-given roles for men and women."
It makes more sense now, but my confusion still lies as to why the roles in leading a family have to be done by the husband and to which areas this extends to. I’m also still uncomfortable with the idea of inequality. Take the idea of male being the head of the house. I think that this is a result of tradition and society. Could Paul have written what he wrote simply because at the time, only men held the power?
A woman’s role was not to think and especially not to lead, which makes sense as they were less educated/not educated at all and inexperienced in these areas. Now this is different. Now we have more understanding in such matters, and are capable of fulfilling such roles. Because of this, it makes more sense that there is an equal say by both husband and wife. Both will have their strengths and weaknesses, and depending on this, wouldn’t it make sense that each will lead in their own area, as is needed/appropriate?
Maybe I’m taking this too seriously…I am trying to understand both sides of it though.
So, Jesus says that "at the beginning the Creator made them male and female" (Matthew 19:4). Therefore, Genesis should be what we should refer to first and foremost. From what I have read, it does say that woman is man's helper ("I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18)), but it infers that although they have separate roles they are equal in God's sight.
I found a quote from Matthew Henry that explains this really well. He says, “"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him." (This has been taken out of Genesis 2:21-23)
In terms of their different roles, man should be the leader as mentioned in Ephesians 5:22-33. Genesis also illustrates this since God created man first. However, although woman was made to help and nourish man, it's important to realise that we complement each other. That woman is supposed to submit to their husbands is not "mindless, joyless submission, but active participation and response to loving leadership" (Joshua Harris). Nevertheless, I still think it's important for a wife to play an active part in the values of the husband's leadership, so that they both can agree on it and live by it. This way there is harmony in both parties, as well as a balance.
Today Josh clarified this part for me, saying:
“The male is made to lead, but to lead in a humble, christlike and servant hearted manner. Biblical male leadership isn't saying that the guy is like a dictator or he acts selfishly and is not Christlike, and when it says that women/wives submit to the men/husband, it is saying that on the terms that the man is obedient to Christ and is leading in that manner.
The fact is that, like you say, a lot of men are incapable of leading, and that is why people around the world are having ideas such as 'feminism' and women ordination (female pastors and elders) because men aren't stepping up, so women are taking their places, and reversing the God-given roles for men and women."
It makes more sense now, but my confusion still lies as to why the roles in leading a family have to be done by the husband and to which areas this extends to. I’m also still uncomfortable with the idea of inequality. Take the idea of male being the head of the house. I think that this is a result of tradition and society. Could Paul have written what he wrote simply because at the time, only men held the power?
A woman’s role was not to think and especially not to lead, which makes sense as they were less educated/not educated at all and inexperienced in these areas. Now this is different. Now we have more understanding in such matters, and are capable of fulfilling such roles. Because of this, it makes more sense that there is an equal say by both husband and wife. Both will have their strengths and weaknesses, and depending on this, wouldn’t it make sense that each will lead in their own area, as is needed/appropriate?
Maybe I’m taking this too seriously…I am trying to understand both sides of it though.
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