Is Your Job A Mismatch For Your Gifts?

Is your job a mismatch for your gifts?
by Rick Warren

Each of you should go on living according to the Lord's gift to you, and as you were when God called you. This is the rule I teach in all the churches. 1 Corinthians 7:17 (TEV)

"If you are in a job that does not match the gifts, interests and abilities God gave to you, then give serious consideration taking steps to get out of it and into the job God has called you to."

God does not expect you to glorify Him with gifts you don't have. But He does expect you to glorify Him with gifts you do have.

To fulfill God's will for you life, you need work that expresses what God made you to be. If you're in a job that is not using the talents, gifts, abilities, and interests that God gave you, you may want to pray about whether or not you're in a mismatched job.

This is a serious problem and it's a spiritual issue. It is far more important than you may think it is -- because God has given you your gifts, talents and abilities, and one day He's going to say, "What did you do with them?" And do you want to say, "Well, I spent my life at a job that didn't use them."

Now, I know this raises some questions, you may be saying, "Rick, what if my current job doesn't express my gifts?" As someone committed to your fulfillment in life, living for the purpose God designed you for, I urge you toward this: If you are in a job that does not match the gifts, interests and abilities God gave to you, then give serious consideration taking steps to get out of it and get into the job that God has called you to by the very nature of who you are.

It's a very important issue for your spiritual life: Get into what God made you to be. The first step you need to take is some self-appraisal.

You need to ask yourself, "What did God make me to be? And, as the Bible says, "... Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you ...." (Romans 12:3, Phillips NT) During this appraisal, you may even discover that you are in the very job God wants you to be, and you can develop a new attitude about your work.

"Each of you should go on living according to the Lord's gift to you ..." (1 Corinthians 7:17, TEV) Pray about this - Are you in a job that doesn't match who God made you to be, or are you exactly where God wants you to be?
Tags: God's Will, Mismatch Job

Our Office Work Is God's Plan

Your work is part of God's plan
by Rick Warren

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

"The gifts, the abilities, the talents, even the interests you have they were genetically encoded into you by God."

Your work can be an act of worship. No matter what you do, it's never just a job if you are a believer. This is because God designed you with talents, gifts and interests that He wants used for His glory.

You are custom-made. There's nobody like you in the whole world. And the gifts, the abilities, the talents, even the interests you have they were genetically encoded into you by God. God made you with a specific mission in mind and He wants you to use the gifts he's given you in your work.

The Bible says you are God's workmanship. The Greek word used for workmanship is poema. That's where the English word poem comes from you are God's poem! You are God's work of art. You are God's masterpiece.

Your work is part of God's plan for your life and that is why, as you work, you worship God.
Tags: God, Workmanship, Poema, Work Of Art, Masterpiece, Gifts, Abilities, Talents

No Communication In Telecommunication Company

I have submitted my application for a telephone / broadband line via Telekom Malaysia Berhad at their TM Point, Bandar Puchong Jaya branch on 3 February 2011 under application reference number of 1-73TETA. On the day of registration, the man behind the counter said that my application can't be processed but my application will be recorded in their system.

The reason on why it can't be processed was due to insufficient lines being available in my Phase 2A residential area. Neighbours in Phase 1 and 2 (the nearest Phase 2 house is just five houses away). I took it as it is thinking that they know best. I was requested to call back within the next few working days to check on the application. The following numbers were given; 100 or 1-300-888-123 and all I needed was just to quote my reference number of 1-73TETA.

I called them once three times within the month of February 2011. Called them once at the end of March 2011. Called them once in the month of April 2011. Was given a report number of 1-444220995 but I deemed it as just a formality sake.

All these five calls were useless and futile.

The ladies at those call centres have standard response to each of my calls, that is they will record my concern / complain and will submit a report. That I will be contacted in due course after a few working days or I was requested to call them again if I didn't receive any calls from them.

It's 9 May 2011 today, more than three months since I have submitted my application.

To add insult to injury, my next door neighbour (meaning to say it's a Phase 2A resident) on the left has gotten their phone line installed just after Chinese New Year. I managed to catch the technician who came out from the neighbour's house as I was at home on that weekday. Spoke to the technician who said that there are plenty of lines available for my residential area to cater for the new Phase 3 area that has issued CF recently. I relayed my situation to him and he told me to just tell the people at the call centre to issue an instruction to install a line at my house. Don't need to submit any report anymore. Such a simple task but Telekom Malaysia Berhad made it so hard and cumbersome.

Further to that, a close friend who is living at the next street (it's also in the Phase 2A area) submitted an application towards end February 2011 / early March 2011 (can't recall exact date) has gotten their telephone line by mid March 2011. It took them two weeks plus only. This friend of mine submitted their application at the same TM Point centre as mine.

Then my neighbour (two doors away on the right and also a Phase 2A resident) received their telephone line at end April 2011.

What the heck has happened to my application?

Being a large public listed company, Telekom Malaysia Berhad has really got a lot to answer. Whatever excuse that they are going to give is actually absurd by now and if they do give one, they are actually treating their customers as fools.

Some people just had no sense of pride in their work or plain lazy or has no idea on how to resolve my issue. They can't think out of the box.

Why? Because they monopolise the telecommunication industry.

Recently, they had just talked about having the High Speed Broadband serving the whole nation. Here, a common citizen can't even get a normal telephone line and they are talking about high speed broadband for the whole nation?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I'm calling them a bluff and just painting the wrong picture.

They have more than a million Streamyx subscribers and even after launching the HSBB servicee more than a year ago, they have only gotten 60,000 Unifi subscribers. I'm not suprised if people are not getting their applications processed at all.

I'm saying that there's no communication system in Malaysia's largest telecommunication company i.e. Telekom Malaysia Berhad. It has been proven with my case here and I'm about to make their sixth attempt to check with them on my application's status.

I bet that they will tell me the same response which is "I will submit this report of yours and our people will call you within a few working days." It's all a bluff and many people should be sacked as they have failed their KPI for three months continuously.

So shameful to see Telekom Malaysia Berhad being a sponsor of Manchester United at the same time. My favourite football team is of world class status and how could it tie itself with a company that is of "First Class Facility But Third Class Mentality".
Tags: Telekom Malaysia Berhad, TM, Unifi, Streamyx, High Speed Broadband, HSBB, Broadband, Telecommunication Company

Defend My Right? But That's Not The Right I Want

The Malaysian Chinese Association's ("MCA") president is so thoughtful that he has gone over to Kelantan, who's on the verge of banning gambling in the form of lottery tickets, to negotiate on behalf of the non-muslims telling them that this has infringed the non-muslims' rights.

It was mentioned that he will defend the rights of the non-muslims. It's a big statement indeed. But is that the right that is applicable to all non-muslims. Is MCA wasting their time and other people's time. Many non-muslims would have preferred MCA to do something more useful and beneficial for Malaysia as a whole, not just for the non-muslims.

One questions, was it stated in the constitution that non-muslims must have those lottery rights?

If not, what right has PAS infringed?

Wait wait ..... it was mentioned that Big Sweep lottery was affected. Who owns Big Sweep and for that matter, who owns the other lottery tickets scheme in Malaysia?

And if PAS is stubborn and proceeds with their moves, MCA is sure that a legal suit will be brought against PAS. One of the reasons given is that Federal law permits the lottery schemes so it must prevail, not the state law.

Did you defend the rights of the non-muslims when the Christians had their bibles compounded and subsequently conditions were imposed for Bahasa Malaysia bibles in Peninsular Malaysia? If the government tells you not to interfere or said nothing, will you challenge the government in court?

Be consistent in your defending of non-muslims' rights. If you want to defend, please defend in all situations and not on selective basis. Please don't tell us that you have insufficient hands or your hands are tied due to specific laws. And why only non-muslims' rights?

Out of nowhere, MCA publicity bureau got involved by saying that PAS has the final say in the Pakatan Rakyat. Just weeks ago, DAP was mentioned to be taking that role. Maybe weeks later, it would be PKR's turn to take that final say role.
Tags: Malaysian Chinese Association, MCA, PAS, DAP, PKR, Lottery Tickets, Big Sweep, Non-Muslims' Rights

A Call For Patience

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA

(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

Address: 10, Jalan 11/9, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 1463, Fax: (03) 7957 1457

Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

7th April 2011


A call for patience and careful consideration

The statements of regret and appeals for forgiveness expressed by the Government of Malaysia with respect to the impounding and stamping of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, the Alkitab, resonate deep within the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).

As a body that brings together a wide cross-section of the Christian community in Malaysia, we know about the sinfulness of man and have experienced the forgiveness of God. As such, we receive these expressions with all the sincerity with which they are offered.

We believe the Government’s proposals represent a basis for further dialogue and engagement towards a viable long-term and comprehensive solution.

As such, CFM feels that this process ought not to be hurried. Its constituent bodies are currently undertaking their own internal consultations prior to responding collectively to the 10-point resolution proposed by the Government.

We call for patience and perseverance, and continued prayer and quiet reflection, as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our deliberations.


Yours sincerely,


(signed)
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia
Tags: Christian Federation of Malaysia, CFM, Bahasa Malaysia Bible, Alkitab, Christian Community

Being Labelled As An Extremist Christian

Looks like what was stated in the Christian Federation of Malaysia's ("CFM") media statement as per my previous blogpost has been deemed extreme and hence, the CFM has also been labelled as extremists in requesting for its Constitutional rights to be recognised.

Who said that?

The Islamic Defenders Organisation (Pembela), an umbrella body representing nineteen Muslim non-governmental organisations has, on 28 March 2011, came up to say that these Christians should apologise and should use a proper channel to voice out. They suggested that the Committee for the Promotion of Religious Understanding and Harmony Among Adherents is the right place to settle this issue peacefully.

In the first place, the Christians had only issue a memorandum and didn't even stage a demonstration.

Secondly, the Christians are reminding the government of the Constitutional rights.

I think this Pembela has forgotten two things.
One - that the government has encouraged all students to study/learn in the Malay language during school age. No more English language except for one.

Two - that lots of people in Sabah and Sarawak speak/read in the Malay language only apart from their tribal language.

I believed that the Allah issue would be the main thing that caused thousands of Malay language bibles to be detained by the government.

Then the Valentine's Day issue was also thrown at the Christians.

Lately, even a dance movement by the name of Poco Poco has been linked to Christianity especially on its movements which signifies a cross. I almost fainted when I heard that.

These are all divide and rule signs and these are the things that will hold Malaysia back for years to come. Surprisingly, all these protestors are not concerned with the drastic drop in the Foreign Direct Investment or the terrible corruption that has plagued so many government agencies. But we are more concerned with which language the Christians would use or how certain events are linked to Christianity.

Even a Christian prayer rally that was held in Kuching on 23 March 2011, atteended by 3,000 people, was construed as going against the government. It was condemned by the Deputy Federal Minister, Joseph Salang Gandum telling the Christians not to make a fool of themselves.

Out of a sudden, Idris Jala in representing the government and in full view of the upcoming state election in Sarawak, the government has decided that everyone can import bibles of any language into Malaysia. Do I hear any protest from the Pembela now?

Suddenly you see the mainstream media potraying the government as the saviour in this issue.

You call this nation building or whatever you name it, 1Malaysia?

The Interlok book that will be used as a reference book in the secondary school is also another issue. Since there are so many people that are unhappy with it, why can't the government just remove it from being one of the recommended books. Such a simple step but the government insist that it has to be the book. Why? Again it talks about the minorities in Malaysia.

This is a pure divide and rule policy that will help those in power to rule the subjects by creating disharmony amongst Malaysians. Yet many Malaysians would fall for it.

And in many cases, new things will crop up to create a big news in order to cover other news that were hogging too much of a limelight.

This blogpost is not to stir any hatred or any discomfort among Malaysians but if any of the above issues have created tensions, blame it on the current government. Malaysia will not flourish as long as all the races are divided.

Anyhow, CFM has welcomed the government's green light as a positive move.

But then all this negative news have 'flown' all over the world and they are already laughing at us.
Tags: Divide And Rule Policy, Extremist Christian, Interlok, Malay Bible, Nation Building, 1Malaysia, Pembela, Allah, Bible, Christan Federation of Malaysia, Poco Poco Dance

Pay More For Fast Results

Heard of this phrase before "pay more for fast results"?

Two types of services will see an increase of prices / fees in due course which will hit people like me and you.

Firstly - legal fees especially for the fees to be paid to lawyers who will appear in court on your behalf. The Bar Council has announced a potential increase of about 300% to 400% of the legal fees. One of the reasons given for the increase is that the lawyers would have more responsibilities.

With such an increase, it's very doubtful that legal avenue would be out of reach for the general public and the services would only be available / reserved for those rich and powerful.

Even at this point of time, I have friends who are not willing to go to court even though they could hold the advantage of winning a case. Reason? It's already expensive now. To justify the huge increase, it was said that lawyers will have to resolve the cases at a quicker pace to match the courts' KPI where it has to close a case at a faster pace.

For this quicker pace, you and I would have to be prepared to pay through your nose.

Then out of a sudden, the central bank allowed for the huge increase of motor insurance premium between 250% and 450% which will take effect from 2012. However, the increase will be on a staggered basis up to year 2016 before the real premium is left to the market forces.

It was a joke to say that the low income people won't be greatly affected as it's being staggered over a period of four years. What about four years later? The existence of low income people in Malaysia has evaporated?

Main advantage for the huge increase - so that you and I can make a faster insurance claim.

On both of the above increases, the word "faster" is so vague. There's no dateline put on it and it's just plain talk again. Who will lose in the end? The consumers again.

And the government dare to say that the inflation rate is still below 5%?

Reading: Motorists to pay higher insurance premiums but will enjoy faster claims - Star

Reading: Price for faster ‘justice’ - Star

Tags: Legal Fee, Bar Council, Court, Lawyer, Motor Insurance Premium, Central Bank