Dosa Itu Menyakitkan

 Dosa Itu Menyakitkan

Baca: Ibrani 2:10-18

Ia telah menyerahkan nyawanya ke dalam maut dan karena Ia terhitung di antara

pemberontak-pemberontak, sekalipun Ia menanggung dosa banyak orang. —Yesaya

53:12

Cepat atau lambat kita semua merasakan dampak menyakitkan dari dosa.

Kadang-kadang ini disebabkan karena beban dosa kita sendiri dan rasa malu karena

telah gagal dengan begitu mengenaskan. Di lain waktu, mungkin beban dosa orang

lain yang menekan kita—seseorang telah mengkhianati, menipu, mengabaikan,

mengejek, mencurangi, atau membodohi kita.

Pikirkan suatu masa ketika beban rasa bersalah atau rasa sakit itu begitu

beratnya sehingga Anda tidak dapat beranjak dari tempat tidur. Sekarang, coba

bayangkan beratnya beban dari kombinasi duka yang disebabkan oleh dosa setiap

orang terhadap keluarga Anda, gereja Anda, lingkungan Anda. Tambahkan lagi

dengan penderitaan oleh dosa yang dialami setiap orang di kota, propinsi, negara

Anda, dan seluruh dunia. Sekarang, coba bayangkan akumulasi duka yang disebabkan

oleh dosa yang telah terjadi sepanjang abad demi abad sejak penciptaan.

Bukankah tidak mengherankan bahwa beratnya beban dari seluruh dosa ini begitu

sangat menekan Yesus pada malam Dia dipanggil untuk menanggungnya? (Mat.

26:36-44). Di hari berikutnya, bahkan Bapa-Nya yang terkasih meninggalkan-Nya.

Tidak ada penderitaan lain yang sebanding dengan penderitaan yang dialami Yesus.

Dosa menempatkan Yesus pada ujian yang terbesar. Namun, kasih-Nya memampukan Dia

untuk menanggungnya, kekuatan-Nya untuk menopangnya, dan kuasa-Nya untuk

mengatasinya. Berkat kematian dan kebangkitan Yesus, kita dapat sangat yakin

bahwa dosa tidak akan dan tidak mungkin menang. —Julie Link

Apakah Allah tak mengenal derita manusia

Yang merusak hidup fana kita?

Tentu tidak, Kristus telah merasakan

Ketika dosa dan maut Dia kalahkan! —D. De Haan

Kubur Kristus yang kosong menjamin kemenangan kita atas dosa dan kematian.

Christ's empty tomb guarantees our victory over sin and

death.

Baca: Ibrani 2:10-18

Ia telah menyerahkan nyawanya ke dalam maut dan karena Ia terhitung di antara

pemberontak-pemberontak, sekalipun Ia menanggung dosa banyak orang. —Yesaya

53:12

Cepat atau lambat kita semua merasakan dampak menyakitkan dari dosa.

Kadang-kadang ini disebabkan karena beban dosa kita sendiri dan rasa malu karena

telah gagal dengan begitu mengenaskan. Di lain waktu, mungkin beban dosa orang

lain yang menekan kita—seseorang telah mengkhianati, menipu, mengabaikan,

mengejek, mencurangi, atau membodohi kita.

Pikirkan suatu masa ketika beban rasa bersalah atau rasa sakit itu begitu

beratnya sehingga Anda tidak dapat beranjak dari tempat tidur. Sekarang, coba

bayangkan beratnya beban dari kombinasi duka yang disebabkan oleh dosa setiap

orang terhadap keluarga Anda, gereja Anda, lingkungan Anda. Tambahkan lagi

dengan penderitaan oleh dosa yang dialami setiap orang di kota, propinsi, negara

Anda, dan seluruh dunia. Sekarang, coba bayangkan akumulasi duka yang disebabkan

oleh dosa yang telah terjadi sepanjang abad demi abad sejak penciptaan.

Bukankah tidak mengherankan bahwa beratnya beban dari seluruh dosa ini begitu

sangat menekan Yesus pada malam Dia dipanggil untuk menanggungnya? (Mat.

26:36-44). Di hari berikutnya, bahkan Bapa-Nya yang terkasih meninggalkan-Nya.

Tidak ada penderitaan lain yang sebanding dengan penderitaan yang dialami Yesus.

Dosa menempatkan Yesus pada ujian yang terbesar. Namun, kasih-Nya memampukan Dia

untuk menanggungnya, kekuatan-Nya untuk menopangnya, dan kuasa-Nya untuk

mengatasinya. Berkat kematian dan kebangkitan Yesus, kita dapat sangat yakin

bahwa dosa tidak akan dan tidak mungkin menang. —Julie Link

Apakah Allah tak mengenal derita manusia

Yang merusak hidup fana kita?

Tentu tidak, Kristus telah merasakan

Ketika dosa dan maut Dia kalahkan! —D. De Haan

Kubur Kristus yang kosong menjamin kemenangan kita atas dosa dan kematian.

Christ's empty tomb guarantees our victory over sin and death.

build, access and manage your IT infrastructure and web applications

Lowongan April 2011

Kami mencari karyawan:

Application Support
- mengerti PHP/MySQL
- mengerti VisualBasic
- female diutamakan
- lokasi kerja: Jakarta Pusat
- fresh graduate welcome

Kirim cv ke fanky@dayaciptamandiri.com

Kontak kami utk detail di 08121057533

build, access and manage your IT infrastructure and web applications

ISTERI YANG BERAKAL BUDI

Amsal 19:1420 RENUNGAN INI BUKAN HANYA BUAT PARA ISTERI, TETAPI JUGA BAGI SEMUA WANITA
Banyak wanita khususnya kaum ibu merindukan hidupnya supaya menjadi wanita bijak. Dengan mengikuti seminar2 wanita bijak atau berbagai macam ibadah wanita agar dapat berubah menjadi wanita yang bijak dan berakal budi.Amsal 19:14 berkata: Rumah dan harta adalah warisan nenek moyang, tetapi isteri yang berakal budi adalah karunia Tuhan".Saya ingin membagikan kepada anda khususnya kaum wanita agar menjadi wanita yang berakal budi. Ketika anda menjadi wanita yang berakal budi maka anda dapat menjalani hidup ini dengan bijak. Jika anda berakal budi itu adalah karunia Tuhan. Apakah ciri2 wanita yang berakal budi?Inilah ciri2 wanita yang berakal budi:

1. Isteri yang berakal budi adalah yang Hidupnya tidak berorientasi pada rumah dan harta warisan (ayat 14).Wanita yang berakal budi adalah wanita yang tidak berorientasi pada harta warisan dari nenek moyangnya, namun ia berorientasi pada karunia Tuhan. Jika wanita berorientasi pada kasih karunia Tuhan, maka Tuhan akan memberikan akal budi yang luar biasa. Jika akal budi dari Tuhan itu datang maka justru rumah dan harta akan mengikuti anda.

2. Isteri yang berakal budi adalah isteri yang Hidupnya tidak dalam kemalasan (ayat 15)
Ciri seorang isteri yang berakal budi adalah hidupnya tidak dalam kemalasan. Jika anda menjadi wanita yang malas, maka suami atau keluarga anda akan kelaparan. Orang yang malas adalah orang yang tidak berakal budi, bukan hanya itu orang yang malas adalah orang yang tidak memiliki masa depan. Orang yang malas sama dengan tangan yang lamban, dan tangan yang lamban mendatangkan kelaparan/kemiskinan.

3. Isteri berakal budi adalah isteri yang Hidupnya memiliki belas kasihan (ayat 17)
Salah satu sifat wanita adalah "keibuan", keibuan itu tidak bisa dipisahkan dengan kelemah-lembutan, dan kelemahlembutan itu tidak bisa dipisahkan dengan belas kasihan. Jadi salah satu ciri wanita yang berakal budi adalah memiliki belas kasih ketika melihat orang lain dalam kesulitan/kelemahan. Jika kita melakukan ini, maka kita sedang memiutangi Tuhan , dan Tuhan akan membalas perbuatan anda. 

4. Isteri yang berakal budi adalah isteri yang Hidupnya dapat mengajar anak-anaknya (ayat 18)Salah satu ciri isteri yang berakal budi adalah ia dapat mengajar anak-anaknya. Sekalpun anaknya harus dihajar, namun jangan meninginkan kematiannya. Hajaran anda harus memberikan pengharapan perubahan hidup seorang anak. Tugas seorang wanita dirumah adalah medidik dan mengajar anak-anaknya.

5. Isteri yang berakal budi adalah isteri Hidupnya tidak cepat marah (ayat 19)Survei membuktikan seorang isteri marah pada saat tidak memiliki uang/hidupnya dalam kekurangan. Coba janganlah lekas marah ketika kebutuhan tidak terpenuhi, namun doakan suami anda. Jangan cepat marah menghadapi suami, menghadapi anak, menghadapi berbagai persoan, kuasai diri. Orang yang cepat marah memperbesar kebodohan (ams 14;2906. Isteri yang berakal budi adalah isteri yang mau menerima nasihat dan didikan (ayat 20)
Untuk mendapatkan akal budi di masa depan, jadilah wanita yang dapat dinasihati dan di didik, baik oleh suami, oleh mentor anda atau di gereja, persekutuan.

Selagi komunitas anda membangun kerohanian anda ikutilah itu. Jika anda tidak menerima nasih dan didikan maka sehebat-hebatnya anda, anda akan kehabisan energi menjalani hidup ini, yang ada adalah anda sebagai wanita akan semakin bodoh.

Semoga bermanfaat. Tuhan Memberkati
build, access and manage your IT infrastructure and web applications

Why grounding is critical to data center uptime

by Tom Turner
Courtesy of Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine

You can gain a competitive edge with your customers by understanding and then offering network grounding/bonding expertise.



Data centers need to achieve unprecedented levels of uptime to keep pace with modern business demands To achieve these uptime goals, data center managers are paying increased attention to facility infrastructure issues, including the network grounding system.

If you're a contractor, understanding network grounding can give you a competitive edge by advising your customers on how to improve network availability.

Proper grounding of data center equipment, often called network grounding or the data center grounding infrastructure, is defined by TIA/EIA-942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, and goes beyond the requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC) to protect equipment and improve system reliability.

Grounding by tier

TIA-942 has adopted the tier definition provided by the Uptime Institute (www.upsite.com). Tier I is the lowest level, which allows 28.8 hours of site-caused information technology downtime per year. By contrast, Tier IV data centers used within financial institutions, Web hosting organizations, healthcare and others with the greatest need for critical uptime, have availability rates of 99.995%. This requires the data center be designed to experience only 0.4 hours of downtime annually-less than 5 seconds per day (Industry Standard Tier Classifications Define Site Infrastructure Performance, authored by W. Pitt Turner IV, John H. Seader, and Kenneth G. Brill and available at: www.upsite.com/file_downloads/PDF/Tier_Classifications.pdf). Building data centers to meet tier requirements is a complex process, encompassing expertise in a wide range of technical specialties, including architecture, cabling infrastructure, electrical design, environmental control, and fire protection. To make this task more manageable, TIA-942 provides design guidelines to help meet the uptime requirements of each tier level.



For example, when designing a Tier I data center, TIA-942 states, "A data center grounding infrastructure is not required, but may be desirable as an economic method to satisfy equipment manufacturers' grounding requirements." At Tiers III and IV, the data center infrastructure grounding system is absolutely required.

Contractors are ideally positioned to provide much of the network grounding system, and those who understand these requirements can provide a value-added service-the expertise to help customers understand and implement the necessary grounding system to improve their data center.

Network grounding design

The two goals of the grounding system are to equalize electrical potentials and to create a low resistance path to ground. Five basic principles are used when designing a grounding system to accomplish these goals:

The grounding system shall be intentional. Careful planning must be given to network grounding, just like any other system deployed in the data center. As the grounding system is no more reliable than its weakest link, only high-quality components can be used and trained professionals must make all connections.

The grounding system shall be visually verifiable. When implemented properly, you should be able to visually inspect every component of the grounding system, from the equipment, to the rack, to the common bonding network (CBN), to the earth. Such a system can be inspected for degradation and is accessible during moves, adds, and changes (MACs), ensuring long-term system reliability and scalability.

The grounding system shall be adequately sized. TIA-942 provides guidelines for each component of the grounding system. Improper use of the guidelines can reduce network availability and cause premature equipment failure that contributes to increased operating costs.

The grounding system shall direct damaging currents away from equipment. A grounding system that complies with TIA-942 requires each rack to bond directly to the CBN, thereby directing current away from sensitive electronics. For instance, a common error is to daisy-chain racks together. During a surge event, the entire row of daisy-chained racks becomes energized with stray current, potentially resulting in additional damaged equipment.

All metallic components in the data center shall be bonded to the grounding system. The goal is to have all conductive materials at the same electrical potential to minimize current flow. Current flows when there is a difference in potential between components. If the current flows across a piece of equipment, damage may occur. Equipment, racks, cabinets, ladder racks, enclosures, and cable trays must be bonded to the grounding system. (Additional information is available in the white paper, Facility Considerations for the Data Center, authored by American Power Conversion, Cisco Systems, and Panduit Corp.)

The grounding section of TIA-942 offers guidelines that meet the basic principles and adds additional details specific to the modern data center environment. One important issue is the creation of electrical continuity throughout racks and cabinets. Because most racks and cabinets are made of painted components that are bolted together, there is no guarantee that electrical continuity exists from one rack component to the next. In the data center, rack and cabinet continuity is important for safety; electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection; and the proper grounding of switches, servers, and power strips. Continuity may not exist if the installer fails to scrape paint between sections of rack or use specially designed paint-piercing hardware.

Network grounding installation

A licensed electrician is required to bond the AC power panel. Additionally, the electrician typically installs the busbar network throughout the building. The communications installer can complete the grounding of the busbar to the equipment. Often, electricians are hired to build the grid of CBN conductors under the raised access floor. Even in this case, little thought is given to how the grounding network bonds to the equipment.

Alarmingly, numerous data centers in operation today have grounding busbars in place, and a grid of CBN conductors under a raised floor, but not a single rack or cabinet bonded to the CBN. It is clear that the data center owner intended to have grounding; however, if the racks and cabinets are not bonded to the grounding system, then there is no protection. Creating electrical continuity within racks and cabinets is best accomplished during initial installation. This is also the best time to create the bond from the rack to the CBN before it is forgotten. Equipment that is installed on the racks should be bonded at this time.

It makes sense that the contractor who installs racks, cabinets, and equipment is in the best position to create the parts of the grounding system that go along with the installation. Collectively, this lets you be better positioned with customers by providing valuable information that educates data center decision-makers on how to protect their investment.

You should include a separate line item in bid submittals for upgrading to a TIA-942-compliant grounding system, even if the data center has not requested such an upgrade. This inclusion lets you make a competitive bid, to engage the customer in a conversation about TIA-942 grounding, and ultimately to create some distance from your competition.

Common problems and solutions

Data centers often run into trouble with their grounding systems when any of the following mistakes are made:

Using the wrong type of grounding connectors. For example, connectors that use setscrews to fasten the conductor can loosen over time, degrading the electrical bond.

Applying hardware, such as screws and washers, that are not designed to make an electrical bond, resulting in ungrounded equipment.

Failing to create an electrical bond between the structural components of racks and cabinets can trap currents within sections of them, resulting in potential safety hazards, failure of ESD protection, and ungrounded equipment.

A kitted grounding system can help installers avoid the mistakes that plague data centers. Key features of a good grounding system should include:

Permanent copper compression lugs that do not loosen over time.

Hardware, such as thread-forming screws and paint-piercing washers, and studs that cut through the durable finishes that coat data center racks and cabinets, thereby creating a metal-to-metal connection (bond).

Components, such as hardware and jumper cables, that are tested for their ability to create electrical bonds and carry current.

Additionally, the kitted system should comply with TIA-942 and fit any rack or cabinet that complies with the EIA-310D standard. Everything necessary to provide a TIA-942-compliant installation should be included in the kit, such as grounding strips, busbars, and jumpers for creating electrical continuity throughout a rack or cabinet; antioxidant to guarantee the long-term reliability of the electrical bonds; and instructions that describe the proper installation techniques (helps simplify ordering of grounding components and minimizes the risk of overlooking details).

Each component and connection in the system is critical to creating a low-impedance grounding path. In addition to using components that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the jumper assemblies within the kits should also be listed to UL 467 Grounding and Bonding Equipment as a means of further certifying their applicability to grounding.

Ideally, components that make up the grounding kits are tested to determine their ability to function during real-world conditions, such as earthquakes, lightning strikes, and AC power faults. Telcordia Technologies' NEBS Level 3 test of power connectors simulates response to these events and other scenarios that are likely in the data center environment. (For more information, see The Electrical Distributor, January 2004, "Minimize Service Interruptions." www.tedmag.com). NEBS Level 3 is the most stringent test available to the industry, and power connectors that meet NEBS Level 3 should be specified for data centers at every tier level.

Business booster

Network grounding provides a win-win opportunity for you, and for data center managers. If you, as a contractor, understand the value of a well-designed system, you can provide expert consultative services and enhance your positioning as a valuable partner.

To avoid the problems that are common in network grounding systems, you should implement only engineered solutions that comply with accepted industry standards, such as TIA-942 and NEBS Level 3. And following proper network grounding practices will provide your customers with the highest level of network grounding capability.

Tom Turner is business development manager at Panduit Corp. (www.panduit.com)
build, access and manage your IT infrastructure and web applications

KEDAULATAN ALLAH

Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:56 am (PDT)
KEDAULATAN
ALLAH:
Sebuah Ajaran
Alkitabiah
 
oleh:
Denny Teguh Sutandio
 
 
 
Beginilah firman TUHAN, Raja dan Penebus Israel, TUHAN semesta alam:
"Akulah yang terdahulu dan Akulah yang terkemudian; tidak ada Allah selain
dari pada-Ku.
(Yes. 44:6)
 
 
 
Judul Kedaulatan Allah ini rupanya merupakan judul
yang sudah lazim didengar di telinga banyak orang Kristen. Konsep kedaulatan
Allah sering kali disalahmengerti oleh banyak orang Kristen. Ada yang
mempercayai kedaulatan Allah terlalu ekstrem hingga meniadakan tanggung jawab
manusia (tidak bisa dibedakan dari konsep takdir), di sisi lain ada yang secara
kognitif percaya bahwa Allah itu berdaulat, namun hidupnya masih berpusat pada
diri. Sebaliknya, ada juga orang Kristen yang percaya bahwa Allah itu tidak
berdaulat karena Ia tidak mengerti apa yang terjadi di kemudian hari. Jika
terjadi penyimpangan makna kedaulatan Allah dan penyangkalan bahwa Allah itu
berdaulat, lalu apa sebenarnya arti kedaulatan Allah? Benarkah kedaulatan Allah
meniadakan tanggung jawab manusia? Seberapa signifikannya kita percaya pada
kedaulatan Allah?
 
Konsep kedaulatan Allah sebenarnya bukan hanya
inti dari theologi Reformed yang ditegaskan oleh Dr. John Calvin, namun itu
adalah inti berita Alkitab. Dari Perjanjian Lama sampai dengan Perjanjian Baru,
Alkitab dengan konsisten mengajar kita bahwa Allah adalah Allah yang berdaulat
dan berkuasa atas segala sesuatu baik di Sorga maupun di bumi. Dari Kejadian 1
saja, kita telah membaca dengan jelas bahwa Allah berdaulat dan berkuasa
menciptakan bumi dan segala isinya dengan firman-Nya, lalu menciptakan manusia
dari debu tanah. Kemudian, setelah mencipta, Ia juga memelihara ciptaan-Nya,
khususnya manusia. Meskipun manusia jatuh ke dalam dosa (Kej. 3), Allah yang
berdaulat tetap memelihara mereka hingga mereka memiliki banyak keturunan. Di
Kejadian 7, kita juga melihat betapa Allah berdaulat menurunkan air bah untuk
membumihanguskan manusia yang luar biasa bejatnya pada waktu itu. Ia juga
berdaulat memilih dan memanggil Abram SAJA keluar dari Urkasdim untuk menuju ke
tanah yang Dia janjikan (Kej. 12). Tindakan Allah ini mengajar kita bahwa Allah
yang berdaulat adalah Allah yang berhak memilih siapa pun yang dikehendaki- Nya
untuk menjadi umat-Nya (bdk. Rm. 9:15). Berarti, tindakan pemilihan Allah (predestinasi)
yang membuktikan kedaulatan Allah adalah sebuah ajaran Alkitabiah! Kovenan
(perjanjian) -Nya dengan Abram (Abraham) terus dinyatakan kepada Yakub dengan
mengingatkannya bahwa Ia adalah Allah Abraham, nenek moyangnya dan Ishak,
ayahnya (Kej. 28:13). Untuk membebaskan umat-Nya dari perbudakan Mesir, Ia
menggunakan cara-cara yang dahsyat untuk mengalahkan Mesir dan menyelamatkan
umat-Nya (Kel. 14:16-30). Meskipun umat-Nya, Israel tegar tengkuk, Allah adalah
Allah yang setia pada janji-Nya, sehingga berulang kali Ia memanggil umat-Nya
kembali kepada-Nya. Dengan kata lain, Allah yang berdaulat adalah Allah yang
setia pada kovenan-Nya! Jika kita mengerti bahwa Allah sejati adalah Allah yang
setia pada janji-Nya, bagaimana dengan kita? Ketika Allah berjanji memelihara
hidup dan keselamatan umat pilihan-Nya, biarlah kita tidak lagi meragukan
janji-Nya dan percaya penuh akan janji-Nya yang adalah ya dan amin itu! Itulah yang
disebut iman (iman berarti percaya penuh pada janji Allah).
 
Meskipun mengalami pencobaan berat dari iblis
(yang dipakai Tuhan sebagai ujian), Ayub berani berkata, "Aku tahu, bahwa Engkau sanggup
melakukan segala sesuatu, dan tidak ada rencana-Mu yang gagal." (Ayb. 42:2) Luar biasa,
setelah melalui penderitaan, Ayub mengakui bahwa Allah yang dipercayainya
benar-benar berdaulat. Kedaulatan Allah bagi Ayub tidak hanya dimengerti secara
kognitif, namun dialaminya sendiri bahwa Allah yang berdaulat sanggup melakukan
segala sesuatu dan tidak ada rencana-Nya yang gagal. Di sini, Ayub mengaitkan
kedaulatan Allah dengan tindakan Allah berdasarkan rencana-Nya yang telah ditetapkan-Nya
dan itu pasti berhasil (tidak ada perubahan di dalam rencana Allah)! Karena
Allah yang berdaulat adalah Allah yang telah merencanakan segala sesuatu dan TIDAK
mungkin mengubah rencana-Nya, maka sebagai responsnya, kita sebagai umat-Nya
sudah sepatutnya hidup di dalam rencana-Nya. Hidup di dalam rencana-Nya berarti
hidup beriman pada apa yang telah direncanakan- Nya dan percaya bahwa apa yang
telah direncanakan- Nya itu adalah yang terbaik bagi Allah dan umat-Nya,
meskipun kita tidak mengetahuinya dengan jelas.
 
Melalui nabi Yesaya, Allah kembali mengingatkan
umat-Nya, "Akulah
yang terdahulu dan Akulah yang terkemudian; tidak ada Allah selain dari
pada-Ku."
(Yes. 44:6) Melalui firman-Nya ini, kita diajar bahwa Allah yang berdaulat
adalah Allah yang kekal yang melintasi ruang dan waktu, sehingga adalah
berbahagia jika umat-Nya mempercayakan hidupnya yang terbatas pada Allah yang
tak terbatas. Bahkan yang paling penting, Allah dengan tegas menghina
patung-patung berhala dan para pembuat dan penyembahnya, karena itu adalah
kesia-siaan belaka (Yes. 44:9-17)! Dengan kata lain, Allah yang berdaulat TIDAK
dapat dibandingkan dengan ilah-ilah palsu buatan manusia, karena ilah-ilah
palsu hanyalah buatan manusia yang tidak dapat melihat, mendengar, merasa, dll.
Di sini, kita dengan jeli melihat perbedaan siapa itu Allah sejati vs ilah
palsu. Seorang yang benar-benar menyembah Allah sejati adalah seorang yang
menyadari bahwa hanya Allah saja yang berdaulat, sedangkan si penyembah TIDAK
berkuasa apa pun, sehingga ia tak perlu membela Allah (Allah sejati TIDAK perlu
dibela), karena Kebenaran sejati tetap adalah Kebenaran yang mampu menunjukkan
diri-Nya sendiri (tanpa perlu ada seorang pun yang membela-Nya) ! Sedangkan
seorang yang "katanya" menyembah "Allah" (namun sebenarnya ilah palsu) adalah
seorang yang terus merasa diri berkuasa di mana ia akan terus-menerus membela
sesembahannya (yang disembah itu tak berkuasa, sedangkan yang menyembah itu
lebih berkuasa—ironis yang lucu), sehingga barangsiapa yang menghina
sesembahannya (atau utusan dari sesembahannya) , si penyembah akan marah-marah
dan melakukan tindakan anarkis yang mengancam si penghina itu! Makin si
penyembah ini marah-marah, makin membuktikan sesembahannya itu BUKAN Allah
sejati, meskipun mengaku sedang menyembah "Allah."
 
Di
dalam Perjanjian Baru, kita juga mendapati bahwa Allah TETAP adalah Allah yang
berdaulat. Hal ini nampak pada firman dan tindakan Kristus sendiri ketika
inkarnasi. Kristus adalah Allah pribadi kedua yang tentu saja memiliki natur
Ilahi sekaligus manusia, sehingga Ia sangat mengerti kapan waktu yang tepat
untuk disalib. Tidak heran, ketika waktu Kristus belum tepat untuk disalib, Ia
menghindar (Mat. 12:14-15a). Dan ketika waktu-Nya telah tiba, maka Kristus
sendiri menyerahkan diri-Nya dengan sengaja pergi ke Yerusalem (Mat. 20:17). Bahkan
Ia sendiri menubuatkan apa yang akan terjadi kelak pada-Nya (yaitu
penderitaan- Nya) sebanyak 3x (Mat. 16:21-28; 17:22; 20:17-19). Setelah mati
disalib, pada hari yang ketiga, Ia bangkit dari antara orang mati.
Kebangkitan- Nya membuktikan bahwa Kristus juga berkuasa dan menang atas
kematian dan memberikan kuasa dan kemenangan itu kepada umat pilihan-Nya.
Setelah menampakkan diri-Nya kepada para murid-Nya dan menjelang kenaikan-Nya
ke Sorga, Ia sekali lagi menegaskan kedaulatan dan kuasa-Nya yang dahsyat, "Kepada-Ku telah diberikan segala
kuasa di sorga dan di bumi." (Mat. 28:18) Berarti, Bapa memberikan segala kuasa di Sorga
dan di bumi kepada Kristus, karena Kristus telah menyelesaikan semua tugas dari
Bapa (hal ini tidak berarti Kristus sebelumnya tidak berkuasa). Namun, apakah
berarti karena Kristus berkuasa di Sorga dan di bumi, maka para murid-Nya hanya
melongo dan mengamininya saja? TIDAK! Kristus langsung melanjutkan firman-Nya,
"Karena itu pergilah,
jadikanlah semua bangsa murid-Ku dan baptislah mereka dalam nama Bapa dan Anak
dan Roh Kudus, dan ajarlah mereka melakukan segala sesuatu yang telah
Kuperintahkan kepadamu. Dan ketahuilah, Aku menyertai kamu senantiasa sampai
kepada akhir zaman."
(Mat. 28:19-20) YA, Kristus memang berkuasa, namun itu TIDAK berarti umat-Nya
tidak perlu berbuat apa-apa. Kedaulatan Allah justru menjadi sumber, dasar, dan
pedoman bagi umat-Nya untuk mengerjakan kehendak-Nya, yaitu: memberitakan
Injil, memuridkan orang tersebut, membaptis, dan mengajar mereka melakukan
kehendak-Nya. Di sini, berarti kedaulatan Allah TIDAK pernah meniadakan
tanggung jawab umat pilihan untuk memberitakan Injil dan memuridkan orang!
 
Di
dalam Perjanjian Baru, ketika hari Pentakosta, di depan ribuan orang yang
berkumpul di Yerusalem, Rasul Petrus memaparkan konsep lain tentang kedaulatan
Allah dengan mengatakan, "Dia
yang diserahkan Allah menurut maksud dan rencana-Nya, telah kamu salibkan dan
kamu bunuh oleh tangan bangsa-bangsa durhaka." (Kis. 2:23) Di ayat ini, Petrus mengajar
kita bahwa Kristus disalib tentu menurut maksud dan rencana dari Sang Bapa,
namun penyaliban Kristus juga merupakan kesalahan dari orang Yahudi! Di sini
berarti, meskipun Allah menghendaki Kristus disalib, Ia tetap meminta
pertanggungjawaban dari orang yang telah menyalibkan Kristus! Dengan kata lain,
kedaulatan Allah TIDAK pernah meniadakan tanggung jawab manusia. Jangan selalu
menyalahkan Allah! Ketika kita terlambat kuliah atau mengajar atau bekerja,
memang keterlambatan kita ada di dalam kedaulatan-Nya, namun hal ini TIDAK
berarti Allah lah yang harus disalahkan, sebaliknya kitalah yang patut
disalahkan! Jangan menjadi orang Kristen fatalis yang selalu mengaitkan apa pun
dengan takdir!
 
Kedaulatan
Allah juga diajarkan dengan tegas oleh Rasul Paulus melalui surat-suratnya.
Surat Paulus yang paling jelas mengajarkan kedaulatan Allah adalah suratnya
kepada jemaat di Roma. Di surat Roma, Paulus dengan gamblang menguraikan konsep
pemilihan Allah (predestinasi) dari pasal 8 ayat 29 sampai dengan pasal 11
(khususnya Rm. 9:15). Konsep kedaulatan Allah juga ditegaskan Paulus ketika
mengajar jemaat Roma, "Kita
tahu sekarang, bahwa Allah turut bekerja dalam segala sesuatu untuk
mendatangkan kebaikan bagi mereka yang mengasihi Dia, yaitu bagi mereka yang
terpanggil sesuai dengan rencana Allah." (Rm. 8:28) Selain itu, di suratnya kepada jemaat
Efesus, Paulus pun dengan jelas mengajarkan konsep pemilihan Allah dengan
mengatakan, "Sebab
di dalam Dia Allah telah memilih kita sebelum dunia dijadikan, supaya kita
kudus dan tak bercacat di hadapan-Nya." (Ef. 1:4) Dari dalam penjara, Paulus kembali
mengingatkan jemaat Kolose yang sedang diracuni oleh ajaran sesat (Yudaisme dan
Gnostisisme) bahwa Kristuslah yang terutama (Kol. 1:15). Kedaulatan Allah juga
diajarkan Paulus melalui pengalamannya sendiri ketika Allah berdaulat TIDAK
mengabulkan permintaannya, namun memberi kekuatan kepadanya untuk menanggung
kelemahan itu (2Kor. 12:7-9). Di sini, kita belajar bahwa Allah yang berdaulat
adalah Allah yang bebas bertindak apa pun sesuai kehendak-Nya di mana Ia bebas
mengabulkan permintaan umat-Nya dan bebas TIDAK mengabulkan permintaan
umat-Nya, namun di balik semuanya, Allah memiliki kehendak yang terbaik bagi
Dia dan umat-Nya. Jaminan inilah yang menguatkan kita tatkala permintaan kita
dikabulkan atau tidak dikabulkan oleh-Nya, karena Ia sangat mengerti apa yang
kita perlukan. Mengapa Ia mengerti keperluan kita? Karena kita adalah
anak-anak-Nya yang telah diciptakan dan ditebus oleh Putra Tunggal-Nya,
Kristus.
 
Kepada
Rasul Yohanes, Allah mewahyukan diri-Nya yang berdaulat (melalui kedahsyatan
kuasa Kristus) melalui simbol 6 meterai yang dibuka di mana ketika Anak Domba (Kristus)
membuka meterai keenam dan terjadi gempa bumi, dll, maka Alkitab mencatat bahwa
semua orang dari tingkat tertinggi sampai terendah, dari terkaya sampai
termiskin berseru kepada gunung-gunung dan batu karang, "Runtuhlah menimpa kami dan
sembunyikanlah kami terhadap Dia, yang duduk di atas takhta dan terhadap murka
Anak Domba itu."
(Why. 6:16) Dari ayat ini, kita belajar bahwa Allah yang berdaulat adalah Allah
yang berkuasa memelihara umat-Nya dan mengalahkan semua musuh umat-Nya kelak di
akhir zaman, sehingga jaminan ini menguatkan kita tatkala kita harus menderita
aniaya, fitnah, dll. Di dalam penderitaan, jangan membalas musuh yang
menganiaya dan memfitnah kita, tetapi kasihi mereka dan serahkanlah semuanya
pada Allah, karena pembalasan adalah hak Allah (Rm. 12:19; Ibr. 10:30).
 
Setelah
mempelajari kedaulatan Allah secara ringkas dari Alkitab, bagaimana respons
kita? Biarlah kita makin dibakar hati kita untuk semakin mengenal Allah sejati
yang berdaulat, taat pada firman-Nya, dan menjalankan firman-Nya dengan
kegentaran sekaligus sukacita yang meluap berdasarkan pimpinan Roh Kudus. Amin.
Soli Deo Gloria.
"Tuhan sering kali menggunakan dosa-dosa orang lain untuk menyingkapkan kelemahan kita sendiri."
(Rev. Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters, hlm. 382

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10 reasons for quitting IT

Jack Wallen | February 25, 2011, 9:58 AM PST

Raise your hand if you've nearly quit your job on at least a few occasions. Go on. You don't have to be shy. We all know that IT is one of the more stressful careers you can choose. And unfortunately, universities don't teach you coping mechanisms for getting through the days/weeks/months that can turn into long years. Let's take a look at a few reasons you might decide to leave that beloved career in IT.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Stress

Don't let anyone ever tell you that a career in IT is easy going. It's a rare occasion that someone will have a job in the IT field where there isn't stress. Remember, IT is disaster management. When a client or user calls you, it's almost always an emergency that must be taken care of immediately. And when you are working on those jobs, you had better get everything right, as failure could cost you a contract or a job. What makes this worse is that the stress rarely lets up. Every minute of the day, you are working and working harder than you might expect.

2: Hours

If you want a Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 job, look elsewhere — IT seems to be a job you carry around with you 24/7. Not only do you put in more hours in the office (or the field) than your average professional, you also have to work outside the office to keep your skills up and make sure you're better than the guy standing next to you. And the people who aren't your clients or users (friends and family, for example) will want to take advantage of your knowledge and keep their computers running smoothly for free.

3: Getting paid

If you are an independent contractor, one of the most stressful issues you face is getting paid. I can't tell you how many consultants I know who have had to make threats or use an attorney to get paid. And when you're freelancing, if they don't pay you, you don't eat. That is some serious stress there. You don't have the advantage of having that regular check coming in weekly or biweekly. Honing your interpersonal skills is key to keeping those relationships as good as possible. Good relationships (even with not-so-good people) will go a long way to make sure you do eventually get paid.

4: People (in general)

This one I hate to mention. A long time ago, I was a positive, upbeat, people-loving kind of person. But after being in the consulting business, I've found myself getting taken advantage of, used, abused, unpaid, underpaid, unappreciated, and more. It's a constant fight to resist wanting to retreat to the woods and off the grid. That is not to say that people, in general, are bad. It's just that when you have your IT hat on, people seem to look at you in a different light. You are both savior and sinner in one stressed-out package.

5: The chain of command

Let's face it. Not many higher-ups understand your job. They think you should be able to get everything done on a shoestring budget, with no help, and you should treat end users as if they were better humans than yourself. And to make matters worse, the higher-ups want you to magically make those PCs last for more than a decade. This misunderstanding of both duty and technology does one thing: It makes your job impossible. When the powers-that-be begin to micromanage your department for you, every single bad element is exacerbated. You know your job and you know you know your job. Management does not know your job, but they don't know they don't know your job. It's all a vicious Mobius strip of stress.

6: Technology

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems like the whole of technology has rebelled against you and it looks like the singularity might very well be on the horizon? Those days will have you wishing you were walking out of the building with your belongings in a cardboard box. This has been one of the issues I have had to deal with since working with a consultancy that deals primarily with Windows clients. It seems that entropy has a strong hold on the Windows operating system, and every day is a battle to keep PCs and systems working. Some days you win that battle, some days you lose it. The days you win are always lost in the pile of days you lose.

7: Competition

One thing you can count on — there will always be someone better than you. But in the IT industry, it isn't a 1:1 ratio. Instead, it seems that for every one of you there are one hundred IT pros who are smarter, faster, and better equipped. That ratio is quickly realized in dollar signs. Remember, the IT landscape is constantly changing, and if you can't keep up, you may not be hired or remain employed. The longer I am in this business, the more I realize it's a young person's game. Being as agile as necessary, being able to work the necessary hours… it all adds up. I'm not saying us older folks can't run with the pack. We can. But every day we work is another day even more competition is added to the field, and the competition is fierce.

8: The cloud

Every time I hear an actor on TV speak the phrase "to the cloud" I want to pull out my hair and kick in the television. The cloud has been one of those aspects of IT whose definition has been, and probably always will be, in flux. What exactly is the cloud? Should I be using it? Is the cloud safe? How much does the cloud cost? I get hit with these questions all the time. Generally, I just answer by asking the clients if they've used Google Docs before. If they say "yes," I tell them they are already using the cloud. But that is never satisfying. Clients and end users want the cloud to be some magical experience that will make all their work easier, better, and faster. If only they knew the truth.

9: Lack of standards

Our lives would be infinitely better if some sort of standards could be applied, across the board, in IT. Many open source projects have done everything they can to achieve a set of standards, only to be knocked down by proprietary software. Those proprietary software vendors want to keep their code closed and not compliant with standards so they can keep their bottom line as padded as possible. I get that, I really do. But while they are refusing to conform to any sort of standard, they are causing end users and IT pros any number of horrendous headaches on a daily basis. There is no reason why standards can't be followed without preventing proprietary software vendors from making a killing.

10: Respect

The general public has a bad taste in its mouth for IT professionals. Why? There are many reasons. They've been burned before. They've been ripped off before. They've had consultants who only seemed to want to sell them bigger and better things. So long has this gone on, and so jaded has the public become, that IT pros have a hard time earning respect. Oh sure, when they see you walk in the door you are their best friend… for the moment. But the minute you get that one "impending doom" issue resolved, it's time to go off on you or insist you do more than they hired you to do (or more than you have time to do).

Thinking about quitting?

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10 things you gotta have to succeed in IT

By Jack Wallen | April 13, 2011, 8:44 AM PDT

I recently wrote a string of articles discussing various reasons to leave IT — and various alternative careers for dissatisfied IT workers. I received an amazing amount of feedback from readers who have always wanted to express similar sentiments. But that leaves out a huge swath of people: those who desperately want a career in IT, as well as those who are caught somewhere in Limbo, trying to answer questions regarding their ability to remain in their chosen field.

So I thought I would go about this topic from another angle to help those people decide whether they're made up of the stuff necessary for a career in IT. I'm fairly confident everyone agrees it's a tough field. What everyone may not agree on is what it takes to be a successful IT worker. Let's see if this list of 10 things fits your qualifications.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Thick skin

Let's face it. Workers in the IT industry get hit hard, from every direction. If you're not getting your chops busted by someone insisting you get a job done yesterday, you're getting torn apart because the client's QuickBooks data file can't be recovered. It doesn't seem to matter how much skill you have. If you can't take the biting comments and accusations of clients, you won't make it. Thick skin also helps you get through those periods when you, or your boss, doubts those skills you have. You don't want to have to leave at the end of the day thinking you have failed at every job you've done, just because someone had it in for you that day.

2: Persistence

The IT industry is an ever-changing landscape, and every day a new problem makes itself known. In some cases, those problems don't ever seem to want to go away. Without the ability to grapple with an issue for extended periods of time, you might find this industry more of a challenge than you care to take on. Viruses will always be an issue. Updates that tank systems will happen with more consistency than you want to deal with. End users will never really understand how computers work. If you don't have the persistent, stubborn nature necessary to meet these challenges, get out now or you will be beat down daily.

3: Youth

Although I like to think IT is a field not affected by age discrimination, it really is best suited for the younger professionals. There are numerous reasons for this. First, there are the hours. IT often requires far more hours than the usual 9-t0-5 job. When a company goes down, the administrator must respond — and this could easily mean any time of day, night, or week. Those hours add up and (generally speaking) only the younger workers can keep those types of hours up week after week. Add to that the energy required to keep systems and networks up, and it should be obvious the best IT workers tend to fall into that 25 to 45 age range. The good news? Even if you start at the age of 25, there's a 20-year career waiting for you.

4: Patience

Users and clients are endlessly frustrating. If you have little or no patience, those people will quickly drive you out of the field. And if they don't completely drive you away, they will at least drive away your joy for the human race. Without patience, you won't stand a chance in the IT field. But it's not only because of the people. Systems will test your patience as well. We've all seen the video of the IT admin going ballistic on a PC. It happens. A persistent problem arises and it makes you want to ram your fist down the throat of the PC you're working on. With enough patience, you will save both your knuckles and your sanity.

5: Skills

This one should go without saying — but I must mention it. Too many times, you see people hop into the field because they managed to get through the MSCE training. But those certified workers quickly realize their classes only prepared them how to walk through a GUI. In the real world, problems arise that require numerous skills to resolve. The skills necessary to work in the IT field don't end with the ability to properly configure a domain or Exchange server, they tend to be all inclusive. You never know what you're going to be required to do on a given day. Think about it this way. When you are seen as an IT administrator, you are not only a specialist in DB administration, you are also a walking help desk who will be asked any and all questions related to work and home computers. And if you don't have the answers for the right person (at the right time), you might find yourself at the back of the line watching someone else with the answers.

6: The ability to improvise

I mean this on many levels. Not only do you need to know how to improvise a conversation. Admit it — there will be times when you'll have to convince someone that you know exactly what you are doing, even when you don't. But you will also run into situations where you have to improvise a solution. I have witnessed (and experienced) situations where the prescribed solution simply did not work. When that happens, the only way out is to come up with a solution on your own.

7: A good sense of PR

If you're a consultant, you have to be your own marketing firm. Most solo consultants do not have the budget to hire out their PR work, so they wind up doing it all on their own. This means social networking, building a Web site, writing and submitting advertisements, old-school networking, and much more. If you can't do this, your business will flounder. When you go into business for yourself, you must know the best routes for marketing in your area. Whether this is TV, radio, social networks, or flyers, you have to have the motivation and skills to handle that aspect of the business. Although word of mouth is the best PR you can get, it still has to begin somewhere.

8: Connections

This might seem a bit strange, but as a member of the IT field (especially if you're a solo consultant), you have to have connections in many related and nonrelated industries. For example, you will have customers who need rooms cabled, so you might need someone who can do drywall finishing. You might need to have an electrician in your back pocket. If you don't have specific skills, you need to know those in the industry who do. The last thing you want to tell a client is that you can't do something. Instead, you can tell them you will get it done and then subcontract that job. So long as the job gets done and the customer is happy, you will still look good. But if you can't job something out, and you have to tell the client no, the possibility of that client returning to you grows slimmer and slimmer.

9: The desire to learn

As I mentioned earlier, IT is an ever-changing industry. The minute a technology is released, it is out of date. So anyone wanting to tackle a career in IT must have a strong desire to learn. You will be challenged on a daily basis to learn something new. If you don't like learning (be it on your own, with another person, or in a classroom), you should forget about IT. Without the desire to learn, you will quickly fall behind the competition. And believe me, it's a competitive world out there, especially so with the economy still attempting to recover.

10: Passion

Passion for IT is an intrinsic need for every IT worker. If you don't love technology and solving problems, IT is not the right field for you. That passion is the intangible thing that will often get you through the day when everything else on this list fails. And a strong passion for IT will also drive most of the other points here far beyond what sheer intelligence and business savvy can manage. After years of working in the field, passion will also help you get up every morning excited for the workday ahead. Without passion, the IT field can quickly become an empty, soulless place.

When it's right

I've been pretty hard on the IT industry over the past few months. But ultimately, it is an exciting field to work in. Where else can you play with technology all day, solve problems, and make sure businesses continue to exchange product for currency on a daily basis? But just because you know how to resolve Problem A with Solution X doesn't mean you are suited for the IT industry. It requires much more than what your local computer science program will teach you. On top of all those Windows, Linux, and Mac skills, you need life, business, and marketing skills (with the added benefit of youth). With all those qualities intact, you are sure to enjoy a long, successful career in the IT field
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