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生命的氣息

2022-12-01 in , /by

傳道書3:21  誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？

閱讀經文：傳道書 3:18-22

18我心裡說：「這乃為世人的緣故，是神要試驗他們，使他們覺得自己不過像獸一樣。19因為世人遭遇的，獸也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一樣。這個怎樣死，那個也怎樣死，氣息都是一樣。人不能強於獸，都是虛空。20都歸一處，都是出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。21誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？」22故此，我見人莫強如在他經營的事上喜樂，因為這是他的份。他身後的事，誰能使他回來得見呢？

對於人類，所羅門王有一種見解：神使人覺得和獸一樣，是出於神的試驗。假如主張進化論的人明白這句話的意思，他們會不會覺得原來聰明反被聰明誤？的確，當我們和動物相比時，有時會覺得牠們和人有許多相似之處，最常見的就是猿和猴子，因為牠們善於模仿，又可以教牠們一些東西，所以很多假設就放在牠們身上。

進化論告訴人說，最高級的人是從一種低等的人進化來的；這種低等的人是從一種動物——如猿人——進化來的；猿人又是從猿猴進化來的；猿猴又是從比它低等的 動物——如青蛙——進化來的；青蛙又是從比牠更低等的生物魚進化來的；而這種低等生物或有機物又是從某種結晶體出來的。總之，他們認為有生命的，是從沒有生命的，自然產生。生命的源頭照達爾文的假設，是“電和蛋白質”組成的。（採自張郁嵐《認識真理》）

He’s Greater than the Storm You’re In

2022-12-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 6:45-56.  Let’s go

Mark 6:45-46 (NIV)
45  Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46  After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

On verses 45-46:  Here we see Jesus’ heart for his disciples, how he lets them go on ahead of him by boat so that they can get some rest while he dismisses the crowd…OR was Jesus intentionally sending them into a storm to teach them a lesson?  Hmm.

Either way, what we do know for sure is that at the end of the day Jesus goes to a mountainside to pray.  Jesus knew that the rest he needed most was rest for his soul, so he spends it alone with the Father, the only one who could fully refresh his spirit.  Likewise, there is no physical food, no party and no ministry high that can replace being close with the Father.

審判之處的公義

2022-11-30 in , /by

傳道書 3:16   我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。

閱讀經文：傳道書 3:16-17

16我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。17我心裡說：「神必審判義人和惡人，因為在那裡，各樣事務、一切工作都有定時。」

看過一部大陸拍的電視劇《十三格格》，再對照一下今天的經文，不禁想起劇中慈禧的弟弟利用辦郵局一事，強歛民財，害得主辦郵局的自家小舅子被流放；還有李蓮英偷偷摸摸地收賄幫犯人，等等。這些幹壞事的都是在高位的大官總管，點出老百姓的無奈，因為壓榨百姓自古都是從上而下。“在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡”，老百姓有苦無處訴，才會把希望寄託在“青天大老爺”身上。《十三格格》劇情的成功，在於她很有智慧地打擊黑勢力，為民請命，自己又十分廉潔公正，和包青天一樣，給百姓帶來了希望。

在台灣也有“恐龍檢察官”，對涉案的人索賄，並要求喝花酒。這樣辦案當然不會公正，只是為自己謀取利益，放縱罪犯。所以“在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡”是一件很可怕的事情，審判之處和公義之處都是同義，古時候的以色列是由君王或有名望的人坐在城門口，受理百姓的案件，調節百姓之間的糾紛，若是審判者貪污，那百姓就會被欺壓得更厲害，苦不堪言。華人對這段經文的感受不會陌生。

This Bread Still Feeds and Satisfies Today

2022-11-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 6:30-44.  Let’s go!

Mark 6:30-32 (NIV)
30  The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
 
On verses 30-32:  Jesus did not simply use his disciples; he also cared for their well being.  That’s why here we see Jesus leading his disciples not only in serving others but also in resting themselves.  Jesus sets an example for his team on how to rest and plans for a way that his team can rest together.  Like Jesus, work hard, rest well, and teach others in your care to do the same.

Your Story Does Not End Here

2022-11-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 6:14-29.  Let’s go!

Mark 6:14-16 (NIV)
14  King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15  Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16  But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
 
On verses 14-16: King Herod hears about the movement that Jesus is leading.  While others think Jesus is the second coming of the prophet Elijah, and others a modern day prophet, King Herod can’t help but think that Jesus is actually John the Baptist raised from the dead.  Why?  It’s because King Herod was haunted by indescribable guilt, shame and regret for killing John the Baptist.  Herod feared that God was now coming back to get him.  What can we learn from this?  We can try to hide from our sins, but the guilt, shame and distress of what we have done will ultimately catch up to us and will kill us, unless we have a right view of who Jesus is. 

記念主

2022-11-29 in , /by

傳道書 3:14   我知道，神一切所做的都必永存，無所增添，無所減少，神這樣行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。

閱讀經文：傳道書 3:12-15

12我知道，世人莫強如終身喜樂、行善。13並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是神的恩賜。14我知道，神一切所做的都必永存，無所增添，無所減少，神這樣行，是要人在祂面前存敬畏的心。15現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且神使已過的事重新再來。

在這段經文裡，中文譯了兩個“我知道”，英文譯本裡有他做了兩個結論的意思。第一個結論，是人生莫強如吃喝快樂，也在自己的份內行善。這是一般社會大眾的想法，有許多基督徒也不例外，他們也覺這是神的恩賜。若是這樣的話，有一些人因著服事神而過著簡樸的生活，甚至去宣教而被土人吃掉，是否意味著他們沒有得到神的恩賜呢？

人生若是莫強如吃喝玩樂，那麼耶穌也就白白受苦，白白犧牲了。主耶穌為我們的過犯受害，為我們的罪孽被壓傷，受刑罰使我們得平安，受鞭傷使我們得醫治，難道只是為了讓我們在今生吃喝玩樂，將來進入永生？受難節（Lent）時，有的朋友會自願在這段期間內放棄一些平時喜歡的享受，例如遊戲，或不去餐館，或放棄自己喜歡的麵食，等等，為了表明與主一起同受苦的心志。

永生的追求

2022-11-28 in , /by

傳道書 3:9  這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有什麼益處呢？

閱讀經文：傳道書 3:9-11

9這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有什麼益處呢？10我見神叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。11神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡，然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。

假如凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時，那麼我們的勞碌有何益處？不是到時候就生或死，神要拆毀或建造，要殺戮或醫治，等等，與我何干？我們只要順時而做，其他的也不用操心了，不是嗎？我們努力了也會失落，也要尋找；也會撕裂，也要縫補，到頭來，有何不同？

所羅門王此時才點出了他真正想說的，是的，人生可能像我們所經歷的，每天都在做同樣的事，卻又無法跳出這個循環，有時令人感到十分沮喪。但是人依然不停地去尋找，在追求，為什麼呢？我們明明感到絕望，卻又不能停止地前走，用各種方法，找許多藉口，就是為了要活下去。有的人找不到藉口，就自殺了。他說，因為神將永生安置在世人心裡。

Live Simply, Stay Hungry, and Shake Off The Dust

2022-11-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 6:7-13.  Let’s go!

Mark 6:7 (NIV)
7  Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
 
On verse 7:  Jesus was not just about serving crowds.  Even more, Jesus was about making disciples and sending them into the world to do what he did.  And this is what he does here.  He’s calling the Twelve to Himself and then sending them out with authority. 

Mark 6:8-9 (NIV)
8  These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff–no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
9  Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.

Coming Home Can Be Hard

2022-11-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 6:1-6.  Let’s go!

Mark 6:1-6 (NIV)
1  Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.
2  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!
3  Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4  Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
5  He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6  And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
 
On verses 1-6:  Normally when a celebrity returns to their hometown, they receive an especially warm and passionate welcome.  But not in Jesus’ case.  Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth, and rather than being hailed as a hero people respond to Jesus with contempt and unbelief.