The God Who Goes Ahead Of You

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 14:26-31.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:26-31 (NIV)
26  When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27  “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28  But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

On verses 26-31:  Peter was so sure and passionate about his commitment to Jesus that he acted as if nothing could possibly shake him.  Not even Jesus’ Scripture-based prophecy that all the disciples would fall away (v27) seemed to affect Peter’s confidence that he would remain faithful to Jesus till the end.

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陪孩子打一场篮球

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诗篇127:3 儿女是耶和华所赐的产业；所怀的胎是祂所给的赏赐。

陪伴孩子长大就像打一场篮球，随着时间、岁月的延伸，角色变了…

从起头，我们徘徊球场边，扮演孩子的教练，左手拿毛巾，右手带水杯，千叮咛走位，万交代防守；随着球赛的进行，我们来回走动，或举手、或顿足，眼睛盯着孩子的身影，呐喊指挥、握拳叹息，差点没冲入球场，抱起孩子灌篮得分。

接下来，我们跃入球场内，成了孩子的队友，牵手搭背围圈圈，大喊三声「嘿！嘿！嘿！」，一起加油；随着球赛的进行，我们试着阻挡、抄截、跳传、助攻，就是想把球传给孩子，等著看孩子投球，一刷进网得分。

然后呢，我们坐在观众席，化身孩子的球迷，或许我们会跳脚大吼对手犯规、越位，但是鼓掌红了手，嘶喊失了声应该是我们的经常；随着球赛的进行，

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我啥事都不会做

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马太福音25:40  我实在告诉你们，这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。

有次到高雄市参加一个政府部门的开标审查会，遇见同校教书的老师也参与审查，他是教会的弟兄，也是我在西北的老同学。审查会结束一齐搭火车回台南，途中他兴奋的分享：「我去年到柬浦寨短宣。」我眼睛一亮，说：「你到诈骗园区短宣！大挑战！」「没有！我们去偏远贫困的区域。」他咧著嘴笑说：「我啥事都不会做，我教他们折纸。」这位弟兄是学校的特聘教授，是政府的环评委员、是国内空气污染的顶尖专家，但是，他在偏乡的短宣里，教「折纸」。

年轻的时候习惯在繁杂的教会服事中，抽空去探视长者。进入长者的居家或养护之家，蹲下来，唸一处经文（总是诗篇第23篇），唱一首圣诗（清唱，还会走调），长者挥动枯槁的手，低语感谢，泛红的眼睛簌簌滴下泪珠；在哽咽中为长者祷告，心里莫名地感受到他们透露出“ 近乡情怯 ”、或是前路茫茫的落寞，我体会到「老」的感觉，那个瞬间似乎很贴近神。

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What Kept Jesus Going

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 14:12-25.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:12-16 (NIV)
12  On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13  So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

On verses 12-16:  Before his disciples made any preparations for the Passover, Jesus was already prepared and had a plan.  Great leaders don’t just rise to the occasion.  Great leaders also anticipate and plan ahead.

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Seven Aspects of God-Honouring Worship

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 14:1-11.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:1-9 (NIV)
1  Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.
2  “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

On verses 1-9:   In Matthew 14:1-11 we see three groups of people: (1) those who have never been with Jesus, don’t understand Jesus and are looking to eliminate him (e.g. the chief priests and teachers of the law – v1-2); (2) those who are closer to Jesus and committed to honouring Him (v3-8); and (3) those who have committed their lives to Jesus before but end up leaving him (v10-11). 

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永在灯塔，长亮的光

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约翰福音1:1-4 太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。 2 这道太初与神同在。 3 万物是借着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。 4 生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。 5 光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。

约翰福音8:12 耶稣又对众人说：「我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。」

希腊古诗记载，远在西元前666年，地中海上就有导航用的「灯标」，当时在埃及与腓尼基船只进出频繁的尼罗河及地中海沿岸，筑有类似我国古代建于边境的「烽隧台」或「烽火台」，焚烧柴草产生火光，作为船只夜间航行的辨识目标。

世界上最早的灯塔是「亚历山卓」灯塔，位于埃及的亚历山卓对面的法罗斯岛上，也叫「法罗斯岛(Pharos)」灯塔，是古代世界七大奇蹟之一。这灯塔大约在西元前283年由小亚细亚的建筑师索斯塔特(Sostrate)设计，在托勒密王朝时建造，二十余年始完成，三层楼的塔高约130公尺，强光足以照亮方圆55公里的海面。

灯塔通常用来提供船舶定位、引导船只航行、指示港口航道、警示险礁浅滩…，它的功能是确保海上船舶航行安全。人们常用灯塔来形容人生的方向、希望…

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一生必须不断成长

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诗篇23:5  祢用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。

以赛亚书58:11  耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地使你心满意足，骨头强壮。你必像浇灌的园子，又像水流不绝的泉源。

有一富户人家，主人带着仆人清早提着一大桶香浓的牛奶，准备分送给窝居大宅边的流浪汉。

第一位来到主人面前，举起他的杯子要装牛奶，主人问：「杯子内怎还有半杯黄色的液体？」他回应着：「这是我特别留下来的绍兴酒，舍不得丢掉。」仆人在旁提醒他：「倒掉它吧！牛奶不能混酒喝。」他犹豫片刻，拿着那半杯绍兴酒离开了。

接着第二位，主人皱着眉头问他：「你的杯内还有牛奶，已经发酸了！」他说：「这是您上个星期给我的，我喝不完，一直留存著。」仆人插话说：「喝不完，何不分给别人？现在牛奶发酸了，不能喝。倒掉它吧！」他踌躇著，紧握那半杯酸牛奶离开了。

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4 Ways to “Watch” for Jesus

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 13:28-37.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 13:28-29 (NIV)
28  “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
29  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

On verses 28-29:  “When you see these things happening”, Jesus says, “you know that it is near” (v29).  What things?  What’s near? 

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空杯求福，福杯满溢！

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诗篇23:5  祢用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。

以赛亚书58:11  耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地使你心满意足，骨头强壮。你必像浇灌的园子，又像水流不绝的泉源。

有一富户人家，主人带着仆人清早提着一大桶香浓的牛奶，准备分送给窝居大宅边的流浪汉。

第一位来到主人面前，举起他的杯子要装牛奶，主人问：「杯子内怎还有半杯黄色的液体？」他回应着：「这是我特别留下来的绍兴酒，舍不得丢掉。」仆人在旁提醒他：「倒掉它吧！牛奶不能混酒喝。」他犹豫片刻，拿着那半杯绍兴酒离开了。

接着第二位，主人皱着眉头问他：「你的杯内还有牛奶，已经发酸了！」他说：「这是您上个星期给我的，我喝不完，一直留存著。」仆人插话说：「喝不完，何不分给别人？现在牛奶发酸了，不能喝。倒掉它吧！」他踌躇著，紧握那半杯酸牛奶离开了。

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Why Must The End Times Be So Terrifying?

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 13:14-27.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 13:14-27 (NIV)
14  “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong–let the reader understand–then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15  Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16  Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.

On verses 14-27:  Many scholars believe that verses 14-23 are referring to two periods of time: first, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and second the end times when Jesus comes again.

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