「三日放學」

三月三十日，踏入三十三歲的第一天。

走過一連三天的培靈會，心裡感恩蠻多的。昨天在崇拜的時候，周牧師說我們要怎樣活往後的人生，心裡有一念頭，主耶穌在他三十三歲的一年，把自己完全獻上了，我也要把自己給主。今年決定了再去中國短宣，為主而去，這是主給我的禮物。我深信這份禮物的喜悅將延至永恆。

別人在自己身上花過的心思，當然不會感受不到。早前說過想要買的東西，好友們都為我在生日時送上。知道我喜歡鬱金香的朋友每年都會送，心裡欣喜沒法言語。就算只是相識數月的朋友，你送的禮物，也盡顯你們的細心和體貼。多謝Facebook，一些很久沒有聯繫的朋友，在青蔥歲月一同成長的摯友，收到簡單的留言，越洋的祝福，心裡會心微笑，曾經真誠的關係歲月總沒法沖淡。一眾新朋舊友的祝賀，幾位多年「心照」的好友同慶，你們的愛，收到。

每年都有一篇長篇大論的致謝詞，今年只想簡簡單單從心底的說聲：「謝謝！」

你我的關係已到了非三言兩語的程度，多說也不能盡說你們有多令我感動和感恩。

心中有主，身邊有貼心的家人和朋友，生日快樂！

差遣我 - Send Me Lord

很久沒有看這段影片，感動！

主呀！袮要我再為袮去嗎？再一次緊握他們的手...

http://funfun330.xanga.com/videos/986a5541673/

一切從禱告出發... 請你加入為我禱告... 謝謝!

A.I.G.

最近這個話題不斷在重複。朋友言談之間，媒體廣泛報導，海嘯之災將湧至何時呢？水已滲在眉睫？要漲至蓋頂還快將要退？暗湧、後浪，波濤仍然洶湧。

人心比一切都更為可怕，一切都皆有低線和界限，唯有人的貪念，淵深沒底。醜事揭破仍理直氣壯的按法律字句上的條文，保障本來已不是正途圖謀而來的花紅。細心一想，心寒不已，法律要保護的究竟是誰呢？天真的我在想，或許只需要一個那公司的高層說要放棄分紅，有多少人能保住工作，養活一家。至少身邊的朋友仍可保住糊口。

跟友人談到最近周遭發生的事，少不免嘆氣，也沒有解決的結論，更有點愛莫能助之感。話雖如此，每次談話最後都會說句交託天父的勉勵說話。人的盡處是神的開始。只需居於主的蔭庇下都能安然渡過。

Abide In God, for He is our everlasting Bailout!

就算風捲起滄海狂濤 是救主的手仍在引領
願靠主高飛跨出晦暗 讓我安然 因知有祢

讓我安然 尊心信靠

Wrestling in Prayer

The book of Colossians is such a RICH text that enriches my knowledge the FULLNESS of Christ. By reading and studying the book, it gives me a glimpse of His RICHNESS. While concluding the book of Colossians, it comes to my attention that prayer contributes to experiencing the richness of Christ for others and ourselves.

Towards the end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he acknowledges some of the faithful servants. Among them, I am especially pleased with Epaphras, for he is always ‘wrestling in prayer’ for you, that may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Col. 4:12) Under the threats of heresy, Paul probably is the sole theological teaching support but surely not the only spiritual support. The names appeared in chapter four, whether is Aristarchus, Mark, Justus or Epaphras, they are diligently praying for the believers in Colossi, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Though it seems simple and meaningless, that prayer is very important. While we think we are struggling alone, the reality is prayer is coming in to shield and strength us, the battle is, indeed, fight hand-in-hand with our dear fellows soldiers in Christ. The source of strength is from God who hears the prayer of His faithful servant. Prayer support between brothers and sisters is the essence of whether we can fight a good fight and gain victory over threats of the non-God culture.

Prayer is like a wrestle. The more we pray, the stronger we are. The more we pray for others, the more strength the other will receive to stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured, just like what Epaphras did for the Colossians.

I am not a good wrestler, though I believe that prayer changes all things. God will use my little praying heart and turns it to an enormous power to win the wrestling battle for people’s heart from falling into Satan’s scheme.

Let’s wrestle in prayer for each other!

Ponder upon HIS ‘richness’

In the past two weeks, I’ve been dedicating my thoughts and meditation on the word FULLNESS. The word fullness, or words with similar meaning like, riches, richness and fully are appearing throughout the entire book of Colossians repeatedly. Paul has given to the brothers and sisters in Colossi and local church in the area both theological and practically teachings. In chapter 3, there are three sets of word caught my attention.

First is ‘set our minds and hearts on the things above’.(Col. 2:1-2)
Second is ‘taken off our old self’ and ‘put on our new self’. (Col. 2:9-10)
Third is ‘let the peace of Christ rule our hearts, and ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’. (Col. 2:15-16)

I started to ponder upon the RICHNESS in Christ… of how to let His word dwells in me richly…

Set our hearts and minds on things above (Col. 2:1-2) where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Christ is the essence. He is the center of everything for He is the first born. He is before all creation and everything are created by Him and for Him. Christ, He who died on the cross for sinners. Sinners can now alive with Christ. These simple words can’t fully express and articulate the entire truth and how graphically it happens in my heart. Christ died for me, a sinner, one with much transgression and fault. I am moved every time this fact touches my heart and I think every believer should. The experience of seeing Christ nailed on the cross like it is first hand, adds on to the richness of the relationship between Christ and I.

Taken off the old self and put on the new self. (Col. 2:9-10) Paul is helping believers in Colossi to grow in maturity while they are at stake of wavering faith by the heresy. Salvation is secured at the time of conversion. Yet, maturity is a process. Believers are holy in the sight of God, yet to be sanctified gradually in daily Christian walk. Taken off the old self and put on the new self is a continuous demolishing and constructing process of a healthy Christian life. Our relationship with Christ becomes richer and richer, when we put on more of Him and take off more of ours. The process of more Him and less us adds flavor to the richness and deepens the relationship.

Skirball 的彩虹

終於達成心願，到訪Skirball猶太人的博物館。仿挪亞方舟的展覽是是日頭枱，早已聽聞當中有以再造物料循環再做各式各樣包羅萬有的動物模型。加上一切互動遊戲和給小孩子參與的手攪模型，心情也仿如小孩子般處蹦蹦跳，觸摸這個，爬上那個。同行的小組員也變作頑童四處走動，害得拿著照相機的我忙碌地跟著拍照留念。連在場的小孩子們也沒有像我們般玩得投入。只因一切都是為小孩子而設計，每一件物件也很可愛和吸引，在小小的方舟儲藏食物的小屋子裡就塞了三個大人，裝作如狼似虎的在吞噬牆上的粟米，拍照後也抵不住自己的童真和傻勁，大家都只好笑作一團。途中主持人撃鼓召集，一群大朋友小朋友圍在地上坐，每人也派一個手撃樂器，在主持人的指令下一向不受控制的小朋友也乖乖聽話，按著拍子揮動手中的樂器，在最激動的時候全都蹦跳起來撃响手中樂器達至不可再大聲的時候在指揮下一同停下來。真過癮呢！

在挪亞方舟小小天地的盡頭是幅油上藍色天空的牆，有雀鳥翱翔於天空，在燈光的照射下有一抹彩虹偶爾出現於蔚藍天空上。玩至差點喪智的我看到不經意出現的彩虹，心裡乍現的喜悅比剛才盡興狂歡更為興奮。彩虹是天父給人類的標記，是衪拯救的應許，也是不再以洪水毀滅來懲罰作惡的人類的印記與永約。

其實此行額外的得著是在猶太人的博物館中細看他們的文化與歷史進程。摩西五經中也讀到不少他們的事蹟，記得幾年前也在團契營會中淺談過一個有關猶太節期的workshop。記憶雖猶新，但也不減這次溫故知新的趣味。猶太人的苦旅，從創世至被擄亡國到被德國納粹黨屠殺到復國，直到如今仍在走。上帝似乎跟猶太人開了一個很大的玩笑。可是在歷史的每一步，猶太人流過多少的淚水，沒有一滴不和上帝的淚溶匯著。天空上的彩虹是莫大的明證，淚雨灑過後拌和著陽光與霧氣，天父猶如雲上的太陽，衪的愛蒸發我們的淚水，在黑暗與光明的交接中呈現七色的光環。其實信徒的生命不也如此嗎？沒有經練也不成長，缺乏挑戰也不堅壯，絢麗的生命要在黑暗裡才閃亮。上帝從不開玩笑，苦旅總有它的盡頭。

神說：「我與你們並你們這裡的各樣活物所立的永約是有記號的。我把虹放在雲彩中，這就可作我與地立約的記號了。我使雲彩蓋地的時候，必有虹現在雲彩中，我便記念我與你們和各樣有血肉的活物所立的約，水就再不氾濫、毀壞一切有血肉的物了。虹必現在雲彩中，我看見，就要記念我與地上各樣有血肉的活物所立的永約。」創9:14-16

歌羅西書 2:13-15

「你們從前在過犯和未受割禮的肉體中死了，神赦免了你們（註：或作“我們”）一切過犯，便叫你們與基督一同活過來；又塗抹了在律例上所寫攻擊我們、有礙於我們的字據，把它撤去，釘在十字架上。既將一切執政的、掌權的擄來，明顯給眾人看，就仗著十字架誇勝。」 - 歌羅西書2:13-15

十字架，十字架，永是我的榮耀。我眾罪都洗清潔，唯靠耶穌寶血。

當眼睛在短短的三節經文上重複流轉時，眼眶不禁濕潤了。我看到自己跪在十字架前，眼淚盈眶的看著為我釘死的主。釘在十字架上的主的兩旁有長長的紙張跟手腕一同被銹鐡穿破深深直入木頭裡。我看見字張上有字，噢！是一些罪狀。再仔細看，是我畢生犯過的罪行。長長的紙上滿載了不可告人的羞恥罪行，耳邊有魔鬼的控訴，心裡感到萬分的羞恥。過犯，其實是多麼具體的邪惡行為。紙張滿載一件一件羞恥的證據，垂在主釘手之下一直到地面，還拖到遠遠…不消一會，怎麼什麼也看不到？留在紙上的只有鮮紅色的血。我犯的每一件羞恥的罪行，沒有一件不被主的血遮蓋，從頭到尾都染滿了衪的寶血。我的罪行有多長，衪的血也流至多遠…眼眶再盛載不了眼淚，滴在散佈鮮血的紙張上與主的血溶在一起。

能和主一同活過來是主給我的莫大恩賜。那在十字架前的哭泣，面對自己的過犯，狠狠的感受到羞恥和罪無可恕，再被主的血完全遮蓋。生命是必需經過死亡才愆生，也是與基督一同活過來的明證。

一目十行

古時的人能一目十行，如果我有這本領有多好呢！

自覺懂得太少或許是年老的特徵，想把餘生的時間都投放於書本中。別人看書為了自我增值，我看書卻沒有多少增值的價值，只是一些基本文學的追求和出於興趣。最近抵受不住誘惑，買了近乎十本書。各式各樣的話題也有。跟自己說過不要再逛書店，怎料又給網上書店引去了。不要誤會所有書都是買給自己的，有幾本是送給別人的呢。

當每天睡前埋頭看書的時候，心裡都有莫名的興奮。邊看邊點頭、邊看邊哭、邊看邊說啊門、亦讚嘆又感慨也暗然…看書真的很有樂趣。學海真的是無涯，唯勤也不知何時上岸。

Thoughts on Being Different

A week ago, the devotion from ‘Through the Bible Through the Year’ is about Samuel who was requested by the people of Israel to anointed them a king. Samuel has multiple roles being a priest, a prophet, and a judge to the Israelites. The scripture mentioned that the Israelites have no king in their heart, they do what is fit as they saw. Since the beginning, the governing that God has designed is nothing like monarchy of any kind. God, who is the king of the universe never see himself to us at a higher rank, but conversed with Moses and Abraham like a friend. It is the last thing that God would do to rule over the Israelites with a king. This passage is in and out of my mind throughout the week…

How fatigue it is to keep up with the trend, gauging myself with all others, just to fit in and be able to be recognized. Israelites’ mistake yesterday, is now my/our struggle today. God’s plan and His design on us are unique. From time to time, I trapped myself in such struggle. Whining and upsetting at myself and to God just because I am ‘different’. Hesitating at God’s and other’s love just because I felt that I am not treated equally. During the days of the Israelites, I bet they have similar thoughts. Rationalizing that God doesn’t love them, because they are left alone without a structured governing system like the other neighboring countries. Samuel the prophet, the priest and the judge, under tremendous pressure, has no other choice, but to ordain Saul as the first king and started the monarchy era.

Courage and faith are all it takes to be different. Being courageous to stand alone with no acquaintance of the same kind and being faithful to walk forward with unhesitant steps.

Dear Lord, being different is not secure at all, in terms of feeling.
Being different becomes too adventurous when I am weak in faith.
Being different requires lots of courage and faith.
But… being different is what you have in mind for me and for those who think they stand alone, please give us strength and endurance in proportion to the anxiety that arose with it. Amen.

The Fullness of Christ

For all that I knew about Christ, I know none.
For all that He is, is nothing I am.
For all that He is not, is everything I am.

Christ is…………………………I am…
The first born…………………………the creature
Image of the invisible God…………………………alienated from God
Before all things…………………………enemies to God
The head of the body…………………………blemished & accusable
All fullness dwells…………………………not at peace with Him

For all that He reconciled on the cross through the death of Christ’s physical body, is all in His fullness dwelt.

This is the kind of passage must read with imagination of how grand and majestic it is Paul is trying to describe the supremacy of Christ. It is like watching a clip with Paul’s baritone voice narrating the scripture while the clip precludes with a rolling back of the dark at the first streak of dawn while the sun rises above the horizon, and the shimmering edges of the clouds glow brighter and brighter as the dawn rolls in. The little bird breaks through the egg shell just to have the first peek of the world while the rain drops on the drought land at afar. A close up of a rose bud flourishing and dying, and a field of sunflowers turn as the sun arches across the sky at a snapshot. Then, stand at the feet of the mountain gazing at the vast creation of God. How great thou art! “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” (Col. 1:15-23)

Live a life worthy of the Lord

While I am coughing my lungs out these days and absorbing myself with all kinds of medication and inhaling mist days and nights, I am also submerging myself in God’ breath. Colossians is one of the favorite among the favorites.

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:9-14

It’s kind of a long passage filled with abundant substances which take quite a while to fully digest. Here are two points that I am pondering upon...

1. Pray for the spiritual wisdom and understanding
The result of praying such is that we will be living a life worthy of the Lord. The questions then will be I am living a life that is not worthy of the Lord. How dreadful and shameful it is to be a living spiritual entity, claiming and enjoying all God given blessing provident, however not living according to which that name should have acquired. I have to admit my poorness in spiritual wisdom because I am blind to see what lies beyond the presence. While the circumstance is not making sense at all, pray for wisdom.

2. God rescue us from darkness and brought us into light. In the midst of all the 'not-so-good' things happened around us that God would want us to pray in order to know His will and being strengthened with great endurance and patience. - which I decided to stop whining but to give praise to God that I am actually made qualified to the event, that requires endurance and patience, God particularly assigned to me, because those are, together with the good ones, inheritance from our loving Father.

Lord, please teach me how to live a life worthy of you, and rescues me from the darkness and bring me into your kingdom of life.