R. Paul Stevens Marketplace Lecture

God Does NOT Have a Wonderful Plan for Your Life ……

Offered by Vocatio Creation
In partnership with North Point Alliance Church & HKPES
31 May 2010

With Cantonese translation    英語演講、粵語傳譯

In today’s world most people are in fairly continuous vocational transition. Vocational decision-making is then not a once-for-all event but a lifetime process. In such a mobile society the heart of vocational living is a continuous process of discerning God’s purpose.

But for some Christians, concern “to be in the center of God’s will” leads to guidance anxiety. A plan, like a blueprint, is something that we must follow in slavish detail. But God does not have a wonderful plan for our life. He has something far better – a wonderful purpose! A purpose is like a fast-flowing stream that carries a boat along, within which life is full of decisions, adjustments, redirections, mistakes and even second chances.

And God’s purpose is not hard to find. Guidance is essentially a pagan concept. What Scripture offers is far better than guidance; it offers the Guide. The Bible is more concerned with our relationship to the Guide than our being in “the center of His will,” a concept not actually found in the Bible. Lacking signs and supernatural direction, Christians can still confidently move forward in their lives for good reason – if they are prepared to engage in a lifetime journey of discerning God’s calling.

大多數現代人都不斷轉變工作；因此，事業抉擇是一個終生不斷的過程，不能一勞永逸。於此流動的社會，基督徒若要按著上帝的召命來過一生，就要持續辨識祂在我們人生中的目的。

但有些信徒卻非常焦慮，擔憂自己是否「活在上帝的旨意之中」。他們以為，上帝的計劃就像鉅細無遺的藍圖一樣，必須依足跟從，否則一失足成千古恨。可是，上帝對我們的一生並沒有一個美好的計劃，祂有更佳的禮物──美好的目的！目的就如泛舟於急流上，當中充滿選擇、調校、重整、錯誤，但亦有翻身的機會。

上帝的目的並不難尋。引導基本上是一個異教徒的觀念，聖經所提供的遠較引導為優，它啟示了上帝這一位引導者。聖經看重我們跟上帝的關係，過於我們是否「活在祂的旨意之中」（其實這個觀念並非源自聖經）。即或沒有徵兆或超自然的導引，基督徒仍可在人生路上昂首邁步，只要我們作好準備，持續辨識上帝在自己生命中的呼召。

About R. Paul Stevens

R. Paul Stevens is Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He has been a pastor for 20 years, a student counselor with IVCF and a businessman. From 1999 until 2005 Paul was the David J. Brown Family Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College. His mission is to empower ordinary people to integrate their faith and life from Monday to Sunday. He does this through teaching, coaching, advocating and writing.

When

31 May 2010 (Monday) 7.30-9.30pm

Where

North Point Alliance Church (1/F, Fortress Metro Tower, 238 King’s Road, North Point; Fortress Hill MTR Exit B)

宣道會北角堂 （北角英皇道238號康澤花園一樓；炮台山港鐵站B出口）

Cost

$120 (registration with full payment on/before May 10)
$150 (registration with full payment after May 10)

Register

To register, please download the flyer here and return the registration form with your cheque payment made payable to Vocatio Creation Limited to Suite A, 12/F, Empire Land Commercial Centre, 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Alternatively you may deposit the fees into our Hang Seng Bank account 768-121790-883 and fax us the payment slip together with the form. A ticket will be sent to you on receipt of your registration with full payment. No refund will be considered after registration but transfer is permitted.

For further information, please contact us at:

Tel: (852) 2144 4900
Fax: (852) 3575 7414
Email: rps@vocatiocreation.com.hk.
URL: www.vocatiocreation.com.hk

General Terms & Conditions

Application & Payment

  1. Please send the registration form with your payment in crossed cheque made payable to “Vocatio Creation Limited” to: Suite A, 12/F, Empire Land Commercial Centre, 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Alternatively you may deposit the fees into our Hang Seng Bank account: 768-121790-883. Please fax the payment slip together with your registration form to us at (852) 3020-1774. Please note we do not accept applications in person at our above mailing address.
  2. If you enroll in more than one person, please fill out a separate registration form for each applicant. Please list out all the applicants on the bank receipt or on the back of the cheque.
  3. Registration is complete only if it is accompanied by full payment. Fees paid are not refundable. Fees will only be refunded if the lecture is full or cancelled. No refund will be considered after registration but transfer is permitted.

Admission

  1. Admission is made on a first-come first-served basis. Late applications will only be considered if there are still vacant places.
  2. We reserve the right to cancel the event if there is insufficient enrolment or unforeseen difficulties arising from mounting the retreat. We may, at our discretion, refuse to admit an applicant.
  3. Your admission will be confirmed by email and/or letter, but we shall not be responsible for any delivery failure. Please contact us if you do not receive our confirmation 5 days before the event starting date.
  4. We will make every effort to ensure that the retreat meet at the place and time advertised, and with the same speaker(s). However, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary. 

Adverse Weather Arrangements

  1. If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the Typhoon Signal No.8 or above is hoisted by 5:30pm, the lecture will be cancelled.
  2. If the Typhoon Signal No.8 or above is hoisted during the lecture already in progress, the lecture will be immediately suspended.
  3. If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is hoisted during the lecture already in progress, the lecture will be continued.