Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
生日快樂
「生日快樂」一齣沒有太多感情起伏的愛情片，在平淡中寫實的描繪男女間對感情缺乏安全感和承擔的勇氣。最後換來的是一個虛擬構造出來的生日道賀。愛是愛過了，卻沒擁有過。人都認為拿捏著一刻在感情中的歡愉就是一切。眼看人都因感情處身囹圄，不是抓不到，而是捉不住。是什麼複雜了人的心。
…常聽說世界愛沒長久，哪裡會有愛無盡頭？塵俗的愛只在乎曾擁有，一刻燦爛便要走！
而我卻確信愛是恆久，碰到了你已無別求；無從解釋、不可說明的愛，千秋過後仍長存不朽！！
誰人受痛苦被懸掛在木頭？至高的愛盡見於刺穿的手；看！血在流反映愛沒保留，持續不死的愛到萬世不休！惟求奉上生命全歸主所有，要將一切盡獻於我主的手；我已決定今生再沒所求，惟望得主稱讚已足夠！…
…常聽說世界愛沒長久，哪裡會有愛無盡頭？塵俗的愛只在乎曾擁有，一刻燦爛便要走！
而我卻確信愛是恆久，碰到了你已無別求；無從解釋、不可說明的愛，千秋過後仍長存不朽！！
誰人受痛苦被懸掛在木頭？至高的愛盡見於刺穿的手；看！血在流反映愛沒保留，持續不死的愛到萬世不休！惟求奉上生命全歸主所有，要將一切盡獻於我主的手；我已決定今生再沒所求，惟望得主稱讚已足夠！…
生日快樂
每年生日也是過得熱熱鬧鬧的。是天父給我的恩賜，讓我每年總有一整個月的時間給愛我的人圍繞著。昨天終於吃完了今年生日的慶祝飯局。餐館是我一直想一嘗的Ruth Chris。跳落車走在街上也未知到那裡晚餐，漸漸走近時才驚覺給厚待了，真的受寵若驚。能夠感受到別人在自己身上動過的心思，是一種幸福。
要生日快樂並不太難吧！就是先不要求或奢求被優待，安於神給我所處環境中，懂得享受平淡安逸的生辰，就是沒有太多花巧也能感恩、自在。
要生日快樂並不太難吧！就是先不要求或奢求被優待，安於神給我所處環境中，懂得享受平淡安逸的生辰，就是沒有太多花巧也能感恩、自在。
Friday, February 23, 2007
我們都是寄居的
不知為什麼家裡的客廳總放著兩個行李箱。有一天不禁問媽媽，為什麼不把行李箱放置車房，待再出門時才拿出來用？媽媽忙著沒有什麼回應。
這情況可能很像昔日的以色列民四十年的曠野生活。每天的行李也放在當眼處，以免起行時找不著。
沒有一個人會把家裡大大小小的用品都收進行李箱裡去旅行。都是帶得輕便些、簡單些。住棚的日子，每天有瑪哪吃，要起行動身時耶和華的雲彩向上升，要停的時候雲彩也停住，白日有雲柱引路，夜間有火柱照明保護，四十年鞋沒行破，衣服也沒穿破，腳也沒行腫。這是神給人最基本而又必須的供應，每當人求問更多時也就是煩惱出現的時候。其實生活必須品，在美生活的我們又怎會缺乏呢？我在中國助養了一個小孩，父母都無力供養他，相片中他的鞋是穿的，衣服也殘舊，但每次收到他們的信總感到他們因有人助養小孩而十分感謝，亦別無他求。是安份。
住棚節是以色列人每年的大節，是記念著四十年在曠野住棖棚的日子，耶和華神是怎樣每天的帶領著和供應著他們一切所需。在迦南地有數不盡的食物、土地，神為什麼還要人記著那些苦日子？創造我們的神就是明白人的善忘，人很容易在得到太多而忘記自己本來是埃及的奴隸，是什麼也不能擁有的，是那地的二等公民，是沒有帶什麼到世上來的寄居者。神另有一個目的，不單要人記念以往，更是要人對現在少一份留戀，對將來多一份信心。因為我們都是寄居的，在永恆國度裡存留我們能定居的地址。
又是出門的日子，總是很害怕出門，很怕收拾行李，因為想帶的東西很多，變成煩惱，卻又不能全都帶走…唉,人就是很矛盾。
這情況可能很像昔日的以色列民四十年的曠野生活。每天的行李也放在當眼處，以免起行時找不著。
沒有一個人會把家裡大大小小的用品都收進行李箱裡去旅行。都是帶得輕便些、簡單些。住棚的日子，每天有瑪哪吃，要起行動身時耶和華的雲彩向上升，要停的時候雲彩也停住，白日有雲柱引路，夜間有火柱照明保護，四十年鞋沒行破，衣服也沒穿破，腳也沒行腫。這是神給人最基本而又必須的供應，每當人求問更多時也就是煩惱出現的時候。其實生活必須品，在美生活的我們又怎會缺乏呢？我在中國助養了一個小孩，父母都無力供養他，相片中他的鞋是穿的，衣服也殘舊，但每次收到他們的信總感到他們因有人助養小孩而十分感謝，亦別無他求。是安份。
住棚節是以色列人每年的大節，是記念著四十年在曠野住棖棚的日子，耶和華神是怎樣每天的帶領著和供應著他們一切所需。在迦南地有數不盡的食物、土地，神為什麼還要人記著那些苦日子？創造我們的神就是明白人的善忘，人很容易在得到太多而忘記自己本來是埃及的奴隸，是什麼也不能擁有的，是那地的二等公民，是沒有帶什麼到世上來的寄居者。神另有一個目的，不單要人記念以往，更是要人對現在少一份留戀，對將來多一份信心。因為我們都是寄居的，在永恆國度裡存留我們能定居的地址。
又是出門的日子，總是很害怕出門，很怕收拾行李，因為想帶的東西很多，變成煩惱，卻又不能全都帶走…唉,人就是很矛盾。
Monday, January 8, 2007
簡單
生活其實一點也不簡單。家庭、工作、事奉、人際關係、自我增值、籌算未來等等，這些最基本的也可徒一生的精力去實行。
「生活得簡單是一個概念；簡單地生活是一個操練。」- 是保守自己的心在吸引的世界中擁有得太多或想擁有得更多。
生活變得複雜、混亂來自一個「貪」。想舒適、想享受、想被愛、給擁戴、被肯定，若這一切的渴求越過了界限就變得複雜。那逾越了的渴求就無止境的貪愛更多，令自己和別人付出更多來滿足。因此事情變複雜，心靈給塗污了，基本的已不可使滿有慾望的心靈安舒。
「你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。」求主給我一顆緊守的心。偶爾也想望得到更多，也用了方法、手段，去逾越不屬於自己的界線。
滿足的心是非常簡單，就是主的愛，擁有著主，也被主擁有著。「我來了是叫人得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」心靈給愛我的主滿足了，生活也簡單了。
「生活得簡單是一個概念；簡單地生活是一個操練。」- 是保守自己的心在吸引的世界中擁有得太多或想擁有得更多。
生活變得複雜、混亂來自一個「貪」。想舒適、想享受、想被愛、給擁戴、被肯定，若這一切的渴求越過了界限就變得複雜。那逾越了的渴求就無止境的貪愛更多，令自己和別人付出更多來滿足。因此事情變複雜，心靈給塗污了，基本的已不可使滿有慾望的心靈安舒。
「你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。」求主給我一顆緊守的心。偶爾也想望得到更多，也用了方法、手段，去逾越不屬於自己的界線。
滿足的心是非常簡單，就是主的愛，擁有著主，也被主擁有著。「我來了是叫人得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」心靈給愛我的主滿足了，生活也簡單了。
Saturday, November 25, 2006
God Takes a Risk to Bless Us - Deut. 8
God's love is incomprehendable. Blessing us yet risking that we will be too focus on the blessing than the blessor. Several times in a roll, God has repeatedly remind us not to forget to obey His law and He is Lord. Cannan is a land of abundant provision and blessing, after years of wandering, the Promise Land is heaven. God wants to give all that He could for our enjoyment. The shortcoming of human nature, makes it an opportunity to turn away from the creator and the provider of such enjoyment. (to be continued...)
Monday, November 13, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
日出之友
最近去了一個婚禮，碰到很多多年沒有見的朋友。勾起了不少回憶。人大了，對於昔日總是有很多懷緬、感觸。看到不少成熟的面孔，當日不知天高地厚的小子轉眼成了父親。昨日滿有情懷的也成了母親和少婦。在歲月的消磨下，當年一班在事奉中出生入死的好朋友，今天都在現實與際遇下失了色。看到摰友一個一個帶著不少傷痕過日子，婚姻似乎沒有帶給他們近似當年的氣息，似乎也還未帶來醫治。
日出之友，好像沒有那一個能得到真正的幸福和滿足。內心總是流露出幾分蒼涼，隱若的疤痕在淡淡的談話中呈現。只有小數在健全的教會生活中慢慢痊癒，在真正愛主、跟隨主的群體生活中重新建立信任與互愛。
幾日前聽到弟兄的分享，心裡真的很感動。一位主內的好弟兄、好朋友在教會生活中傷痕纍纍，走過不少崎嶇路，經過不少屬靈生命的低谷，他在眾人前分享主與他走過的窄路，帶給他的每一個應許。死陰幽谷之後確是有出路、有希望，讓他今天更珍惜教會肢體生活，更重視領袖的牧養。我很為他的勇氣、信心感謝主！願昔日「日出之友」找到一個家。
日出之友，好像沒有那一個能得到真正的幸福和滿足。內心總是流露出幾分蒼涼，隱若的疤痕在淡淡的談話中呈現。只有小數在健全的教會生活中慢慢痊癒，在真正愛主、跟隨主的群體生活中重新建立信任與互愛。
幾日前聽到弟兄的分享，心裡真的很感動。一位主內的好弟兄、好朋友在教會生活中傷痕纍纍，走過不少崎嶇路，經過不少屬靈生命的低谷，他在眾人前分享主與他走過的窄路，帶給他的每一個應許。死陰幽谷之後確是有出路、有希望，讓他今天更珍惜教會肢體生活，更重視領袖的牧養。我很為他的勇氣、信心感謝主！願昔日「日出之友」找到一個家。
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Lecture VI-A Rule of Life: Cultivating Rhythms for Spiritual Transformation (Ruth Haley Barton)
Sometimes we need to be unplugged.
I’ve learned a new term in this lecture, however it is not something new to my personal experience, CHRISTIAN FATIGUE SYNDROME. It is described as jar of water got shaken up... too many bubbles, it is unclear, it needs to be settled for clear vision. It takes a still soul to unfolding our spirituality.
Sitting down with God, with no agenda, no scripture to read, no prayer to pray, just sit still, face just what is about me at that moment with the presence of God. Hear my heart whispering my desire, the deepest desire... longing for love, happen at the unlikely place, beneath the busyness and noise. At times, this finding is not pleasant at all, and it can be quite annoying and uncomfortable to realize my longing.
Rhythms - setting up rhythms in our lives orient ourselves to the transforming of God.
Rhythms of solitude and silent: settlement of our life.
Self-awareness: seeing ourselves of who we are. (Isaiah, Paul & David)
Spiritual Journey of who we are and who God is.
Invitation to settle, water become water.
Rhythms of spiritual discipline
Normal to experience some resistance, it is time that when God is at work.
Effective Spiritual Practices
Personal – no two individual are the same. There are different practices for different sins we cope with.
Ruthlessly realistic – people with kids to take care, need to set-up realistic practice
Balance – pick those that stretch you.
Flexibility – God doesn’t need our rule of life to find us, we need it. God can still do HIS work in us, be flexibility, open to God presence.
I’ve learned a new term in this lecture, however it is not something new to my personal experience, CHRISTIAN FATIGUE SYNDROME. It is described as jar of water got shaken up... too many bubbles, it is unclear, it needs to be settled for clear vision. It takes a still soul to unfolding our spirituality.
Sitting down with God, with no agenda, no scripture to read, no prayer to pray, just sit still, face just what is about me at that moment with the presence of God. Hear my heart whispering my desire, the deepest desire... longing for love, happen at the unlikely place, beneath the busyness and noise. At times, this finding is not pleasant at all, and it can be quite annoying and uncomfortable to realize my longing.
Rhythms - setting up rhythms in our lives orient ourselves to the transforming of God.
Rhythms of solitude and silent: settlement of our life.
Self-awareness: seeing ourselves of who we are. (Isaiah, Paul & David)
Spiritual Journey of who we are and who God is.
Invitation to settle, water become water.
Rhythms of spiritual discipline
Normal to experience some resistance, it is time that when God is at work.
Effective Spiritual Practices
Personal – no two individual are the same. There are different practices for different sins we cope with.
Ruthlessly realistic – people with kids to take care, need to set-up realistic practice
Balance – pick those that stretch you.
Flexibility – God doesn’t need our rule of life to find us, we need it. God can still do HIS work in us, be flexibility, open to God presence.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Lecture IV-Forgiving Others: A Grace-Filled Obligation of Spiritual Formation (Dr. Michael J. Wilkins
Matthew 18:21-25 - "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, and 'I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
To Forgive is to release a person from the wrong that they have done to us, for the purpose of re-establishing one relationship in a healthy way. Everyone of us has sinned and everyone needs forgivness. Forgivness is a crucial key to our personal formation and the health of our communities.
Matthew 18:21-35
1st section: a typically human way of dealing with people who have offened us (18:21-22). It's a performance driven requirement.
Peter's motive, he is waiting for a time for retribution, he will forgive until a point the person will pay for it.
2nd section: a God's way of Forgiveness
A Grace-filled obligation (18:23-35) there is a kind of forgiveness that comes from heaven.
FORGIVENESS is a supernatural impulse from a transformed heart. We are made to forgive, in the likeness of Jesus.
The 1st servant is an example of a person who has never truely received God's forgiveness.
HOW??
Forgiveness comes from being forgiven - "mercy" is not giving a person what she or he deserve, while 'grace' is giving to a person what she or he doesn't deserve.
*Mercy & Grace experienced will produce mercy & grace demonstrated. (v.32-33)
Forgiveness comes from a changed heart - to experiences the grace of the gospel of the kingdom is to experience a transformed heart. and it's Jesus kind of heart, which continually give to other for their benefits.
What prohibits our forgiving others is when we harden our heart, one of two basic ways:
a. When we sin againist God or His people
b. When we have hurt by others, we harden our heart so we won't be hurt again.
* A hard heart can't love, our spiritual life grow as we forgive others.
Forgiveness is your responsiblity; leave judgment to God.
a. Don't try to take it into your own hands to bring retribution to others.
b. Don't try to be God's cop to the world.
Be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove
a. Don't be foolish about placing yourself unnessearily in a place where you'll continue to be wrong.
b. Be wise about those who would continue to hurt you, or hurt those you love.
Kingdom Forgiveness -
A life motto: "I don't get mad, I get even."
A life transformation: "If God can forgive a jerk like me, I can forgive you."
stop focusing on what others have done to us and focus on what Jesus has done in and for us.
Some Final thoughts (Kingdom Forgiveness) -
An unhealthy person and community is one that doesn't not live in relationship to the reality of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
Rather, it lives according to the prevailing cultural paradigm of values. We might try to gather around like interests, or geographical location, or even ideologies.
But the kind of community that Jesus advances is based on having received mercy and forgiveness, which in turn will impel us to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness.
To Forgive is to release a person from the wrong that they have done to us, for the purpose of re-establishing one relationship in a healthy way. Everyone of us has sinned and everyone needs forgivness. Forgivness is a crucial key to our personal formation and the health of our communities.
Matthew 18:21-35
1st section: a typically human way of dealing with people who have offened us (18:21-22). It's a performance driven requirement.
Peter's motive, he is waiting for a time for retribution, he will forgive until a point the person will pay for it.
2nd section: a God's way of Forgiveness
A Grace-filled obligation (18:23-35) there is a kind of forgiveness that comes from heaven.
FORGIVENESS is a supernatural impulse from a transformed heart. We are made to forgive, in the likeness of Jesus.
The 1st servant is an example of a person who has never truely received God's forgiveness.
HOW??
Forgiveness comes from being forgiven - "mercy" is not giving a person what she or he deserve, while 'grace' is giving to a person what she or he doesn't deserve.
*Mercy & Grace experienced will produce mercy & grace demonstrated. (v.32-33)
Forgiveness comes from a changed heart - to experiences the grace of the gospel of the kingdom is to experience a transformed heart. and it's Jesus kind of heart, which continually give to other for their benefits.
What prohibits our forgiving others is when we harden our heart, one of two basic ways:
a. When we sin againist God or His people
b. When we have hurt by others, we harden our heart so we won't be hurt again.
* A hard heart can't love, our spiritual life grow as we forgive others.
Forgiveness is your responsiblity; leave judgment to God.
a. Don't try to take it into your own hands to bring retribution to others.
b. Don't try to be God's cop to the world.
Be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove
a. Don't be foolish about placing yourself unnessearily in a place where you'll continue to be wrong.
b. Be wise about those who would continue to hurt you, or hurt those you love.
Kingdom Forgiveness -
A life motto: "I don't get mad, I get even."
A life transformation: "If God can forgive a jerk like me, I can forgive you."
stop focusing on what others have done to us and focus on what Jesus has done in and for us.
Some Final thoughts (Kingdom Forgiveness) -
An unhealthy person and community is one that doesn't not live in relationship to the reality of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
Rather, it lives according to the prevailing cultural paradigm of values. We might try to gather around like interests, or geographical location, or even ideologies.
But the kind of community that Jesus advances is based on having received mercy and forgiveness, which in turn will impel us to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness.
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