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买东西的智慧

2022-07-29 in , /by

箴言 20:15  有金子和许多珍珠，唯有知识的嘴乃为贵重的珍宝。

阅读经文：箴言20:14-16

14买物的说「不好，不好」，及至买去，他便自夸。15有金子和许多珍珠，唯有知识的嘴乃为贵重的珍宝。16谁为生人作保，就拿谁的衣服；谁为外人作保，谁就要承当。

第14节：买物的说「不好，不好」，及至买去，他便自夸。The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”  then goes off boasting of the bargain.《The Message》

「买物的说不好，不好，及至买去，他便自夸。 (箴言20:14) 」上帝教我们作生意的原则，第一，购买东西时，不要嫌这不好，那不好，这是给卖方基本的尊 重。作生意时要尊重对方，喜欢所买，欣赏所购。如果不喜欢，为什么还要买呢？不要这不好，那不好，放在嘴上。例如嫌这东西不好，这工作不好，这国家不好， 这时代不好……，为了占便宜，就故意抱怨，挑剔。其实是人心不好。

第二，作生意时，不要东嫌西嫌来杀价，讨折扣，要给卖方有利可赚，不然对方如何生活？如何养家？有时哄抬物价不是卖方，而是买方。买方每次都要杀价，卖方只好一开始就把价格抬高，带下不好的循环。

第三，买到之后，不是自夸买得真便宜，赚到了。东西要好好地使用，才有真正的价值。（张文亮教授）

Repenting Starts with “Amen” + Jesus Turns Your Curse into a Blessing

2022-07-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 27:11-26.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 27:11-26 (NIV)
11  On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12  When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13  And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14  The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15  “Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol–a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman’s hands–and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

On verses 11-26:  Here Moses tells half the Israelite tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings on the people (v12).  He tells the other half of the Israelite tribes to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses on the people (v13).  Then he tells the Levites to pronounce 11 curses and have all the people say “Amen!” after each one (v14-26).
What can we learn from this?

Your ‘Altar’ Ego

2022-07-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs! 

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 27:1-10.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 27:1-10 (NIV)
1  Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.
2  When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.
3  Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

On verses 1-10:  Here Moses tells the Israelites that when they enter the Promised Land, they are to take some large stones (v1), bring them up to Mount Ebal, coat them with plaster (v2, 4) and write on them the words of the law (v3, 8).  There they are also to build an altar of undressed stones to worship the Lord (v5) by offering burnt offerings (v6) and celebrate by offering fellowship offerings (v7).  (Click HERE for what burnt offerings and fellowship offerings are.)

睁开你的眼睛

2022-07-28 in , /by

箴言 20:12  能听的耳，能看的眼，都是耶和华所造的。

阅读经文：箴言20:11-13

11孩童的动作是清洁，是正直，都显明他的本性。12能听的耳，能看的眼，都是耶和华所造的。13不要贪睡，免致贫穷；眼要睁开，你就吃饱。

第11节：孩童的动作是清洁，是正直，都显明他的本性。Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.《The Message》

有个人做过一个测验，要晓得种族歧视是否与生俱来的。于是她把自己的婴儿带到超巿，故意去和不同种族的婴儿或孩子附近。她发现自己的白人婴儿和黑人婴儿彼此伸手碰触，对东方人的孩子也伸手，跟他们咿咿阿阿。于是她得了一个结论，种族歧视是后天形成的。

有个朋友做了祖母，告诉我一个故事：有一次她去儿子家吃饭。两岁的孙子哭哭啼啼，不肯好好吃饭。于是她说他不乖。没想到小家伙把这话记在心里。饭后她坐在客厅后面，孙子的小姐姐坐在客厅看电视。小孙子拿了一根棍子，走过去打姐姐。姐姐哭起来。他回过头跟我朋友说：“姐姐不乖。”

孩童很可爱，但有时也会彰显罪性。神给人的善良和老祖宗遗传下来的丑恶，往往都会显露，慢慢表明出他们的性格。你相信教育能改变一个人吗？这个社会上多的是高级贪官，都是最高学府出来的。但是我相信，神给人的新生命，才能在圣灵的影响下，远离罪恶。

Because You Are God’s Treasured Possession

2022-07-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 26:12-19  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 26:12 (NIV)
12  When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
 
On verse 12:  To tithe means to give one tenth of your income to the church.  A “tithe” literally means “one tenth”.  This verse tells us two of God’s purposes for tithing: to supply the needs of those who have dedicated their working careers to serving in the church – “that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied” – and to enable the church to reach people in need – “the alien, the fatherless and the widow”.   There are other good reasons to tithe: tithing is a reminder that every good gift ultimately comes from God, it’s a practical way to put God first, and it’s us giving God room to bless us even more.

正当冰

2022-07-27 in , /by

箴言 20:7   行为纯正的义人，他的子孙是有福的！

阅读经文：箴言20:7-9

7行为纯正的义人，他的子孙是有福的！8王坐在审判的位上，以眼目驱散诸恶。9谁能说：「我洁净了我的心，我脱净了我的罪」？10两样的法码，两样的升斗，都为耶和华所憎恶。

第7节：行为纯正的义人，他的子孙是有福的！God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.《The Message》

信息圣经的译文：“忠心于神的人，因为行事为人诚实度日，他的儿女们在各方面就比较容易。”我想这主要有两个原因，因为诚实的人已经建立信用，不仅为儿女设立了榜样，同时也让他们容易取信于人。这就是为何坊间的老字号都比较有吸引力，因为大家相信他们已经建立起来的信誉。

好像台湾的“义美”食品就是如此，屡经食安风暴而不受影响，以后的接班人要继续做也比较容易。在花莲有一位卖冰人，因为看到一些财团不顾良心，生产3小时不融化的冰淇淋，他放弃百万年薪的工作，只为了能透过一己之力，宣扬食安理念，让更多人吃到纯天然的食品。所以他的冰叫做“正当冰”。因此，我们生活在世不要只想到自己或眼前利益，要坚持信仰，守住诚实，后人便能因而蒙福了。

How to Multiply a Blessing

2022-07-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 26:1-11.  Let’s go!
 
Deuteronomy 26:1-2 (NIV)
1 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name
 
On verses 1-2:  Here Moses teaches the Israelites to give God a thank offering when they enter the land that God promised them.  This thank offering was to be in addition to the regular tithes that the Israelites were to give in Deuteronomy 14:22-27.  Similarly, I encourage you to give a thank offering to God when you enter into something good.  Whether it’s getting a new job, a new home, a promotion, closing a deal, getting into a new school, or some new blessing, I believe it pleases God when you take the first fruit of a benefit you have received and give it to God as a thank offering at the house where you worship Him.

三面镜子

2022-07-26 in , /by

箴言20:4  懒惰人因冬寒不肯耕种，到收割的时候，他必讨饭而无所得。

阅读经文：箴言20:4-6

4懒惰人因冬寒不肯耕种，到收割的时候，他必讨饭而无所得。5人心怀藏谋略好像深水，唯明哲人才能汲引出来。6人多述说自己的仁慈，但忠信人谁能遇着呢？

第4节：懒惰人因冬寒不肯耕种，到收割的时候，他必讨饭而无所得。A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. 《The Message》

今天这几节经文好像一面面镜子，要照出人心中的隐情。在这里说到懒惰人以寒冷为借口而不去耕种，因此到收割时就没得吃了。就是去讨饭，人家也不给他。喜欢抱怨的人有几种特性：一是觉得别人都比他幸运，二是自怨自艾，却不肯做实质的努力去改善，三是觉得人人都不可信任，最好什么都不做，四觉得努力也没用，社会不给他机会，所以干脆不做。

耶稣说过一个比喻，有一个贵胄往远方去，要得国回来。便叫了他的十个仆人来，交给他们十锭银子，叫他们去做生意。他得国回来后召聚仆人，要看他们生意做得如何。有一个仆人拿了一锭银子赚了十锭银子，另一个赚了五锭银子。贵胄便分十座城、五座城给他们管理。有一个仆人用手巾把银子包起来，什么都没做。他的借口是：“我原是怕你（主人），因为你是严厉的人，没有放下的还要去拿，没有种下的还要去收。” 贵胄很生气，就把银子夺过来，什么也不给他了。（路19:11-27）

懒惰人的借口很多，把一切责任都推到别人身上，结果自己一事无成，只能不停地羡慕别人。所以，假如你羡慕或嫉妒别人时，就努力去使自己变得更有能力，不要找借口限制自己了，动工吧，动手吧！

远离纷争是人的尊荣

2022-07-25 in , /by

箴言20:3   远离纷争是人的尊荣，愚妄人都爱争闹。

阅读经文：箴言20:1-3

1酒能使人亵慢，浓酒使人喧嚷，凡因酒错误的，就无智慧。 2王的威吓如同狮子吼叫，惹动他怒的是自害己命。 3远离纷争是人的尊荣，愚妄人都爱争闹。

第1节：酒能使人亵慢，浓酒使人喧嚷，凡因酒错误的，就无智慧。 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun. 《The Message》

酒实在是令人又爱又恨的饮料。从挪亚喝醉，赤身露体睡觉，后被小儿子含看见。含不为父亲遮掩，反而讲给哥哥们听，所以两个哥哥就拿衣服，倒退进挪亚的帐棚，为父亲盖上。挪亚醒来后，便咒诅含的儿子迦南。从此因酒生事就没有断过了。

有的人觉得喝啤酒不会有事。但是来看看毕德生牧师的译文：（浓）酒会让你变得卑鄙肮脏，啤酒会让你喜欢和人争吵，跟一个喝到脚步踉跄的人在一起，一点意思也没有。

很多家暴源于家里有个酒鬼老公或老婆，很多不应该发生的性关系，也都是因酒而起。更别说现在有多少车祸，是因为醉酒驾车，以致许多无辜的家庭受害。人喝酒后就会失控，说不该说的话，做不该做的事，好像被魔鬼附身。

虽然因为提摩太的胃不好，所以保罗劝提摩太要喝点酒（提前5:23），并不是鼓励他喝酒，而是把酒当成药物，稍微使用。这与酗酒是全然两回事，酗酒是把酒当作饮品，或麻醉自己的方法，不仅伤身，也会伤害到别人。

The Strangest Verses in the Bible?

2022-07-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 25:11-19.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 (NIV)
11  If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts,
12  you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity.

On verses 11-12:  To us today, verses 11-12 might sound like two of the strangest verses you have ever read in the Bible.  Was it common in Moses’ time for a wife to intervene in a fight between her husband and another man by grabbing the other man’s private parts?  We don’t know, but you would think that it probably happened at least once for Moses to mention it.  Moses probably laid down this law to communicate to the Israelites what fair fighting looks like.  One should not try to “low blow” another so that it affects his ability to have children.  

How can we apply these strange sounding verses?  Unless it’s your job to intervene, try not to get involved in the fights and arguments that go on between two other people.  Otherwise, you might complicate the matter and get hurt in the process.