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但我知道

2025-12-07 in , /by

以赛亚书 9 :1-2  但那受过痛苦的，必不再见幽暗。从前神使西布伦地和拿弗他利地被藐视，末后却使这沿海的路，约旦河外，外邦人的加利利地，得着荣耀。 2 在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光，住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。 

《但我知道》最早发表在1920年由傅尔敦编纂的《生命的恩赐》（The Gift of Life）一书中，而那时离第一次世界大战结束才不到二年。我们可以想像，经历了长达四年战争蹂躏和浩劫的英国民众，在那时要面对眼前支离破碎、满目疮痍的家园以及极不确定的未来时，内心会有多么的无助、焦虑和迷茫。因此，作为教会领导人之一的傅尔敦，在那时创作和发表的这首诗歌，显然离不开这一特殊的历史背景。

读者可能已经注意到，诗歌的每一节都是以“I cannot tell how….”（我无法诉说为何….）开头，随后再以“But this I know, ….”（但是我知道….）这样的结构展开。这种句型英文称之为 “Anaphora”（回指）和 “Repetition”（反复），即通过前后的对比和转折来增强所要表达的情感力度。

所有的节日中，我最爱的是圣诞，当然主要的原因是：这是纪念神的独生子耶稣，为我们降生的日子；但是令人感慨的是，有多少人在欢渡圣诞时记得耶稣？街上的装饰，收音机传出的歌声，书店里摆卖的耶诞卡，都该提醒我们圣诞的主人翁是耶稣，但这一切早被白须红袍的圣诞老公公取代了。今天卡上的祝贺词，也多半换上了Happy Holidays!（欢乐假期）

记得乔宏讲过一个圣诞小故事：某一年，一个家庭在圣诞前夕，预备欢度圣诞，家里布置得非常美丽，门窗前摆着盛开的圣诞红，客厅里有一棵装饰得很漂亮的圣诞树，树下放了好几份经过细心包装的礼物。厨房里传出阵阵香味，远方回来的亲人在欢笑、畅谈！就在男女主人把食物摆在餐桌上，大家预备享用时，忽然门铃响了。

His Grip Is Sure

2025-12-07 in /by

My dad, a man of few words, told my brother and me, “Boys, Christmas is about Jesus.” In one of those bedtime, book-time moments, somewhere between the fairy tales and the monkey with the lunch pail, I thought about what Dad had said. I began asking the Christmas questions, and I’ve been asking them ever since.

God knows what it’s like to be a human. When we talk to him about deadlines or tough times, he understands. He’s been there. He’s been here. Because of Bethlehem, we have a friend in Jesus. Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. And he doesn’t tell us, “Clean up before you come in.” He offers, “Come in and I’ll clean you up.” It’s not our grip on him that matters, but his grip on us. And his grip is sure.

It Matters to God

2025-12-05 in /by

What matters to you matters to God. You probably think that’s true when it comes to the big stuff like death, disease, sin, and disaster. But what about the smaller things? What about grouchy bosses or flat tires?  What about broken dishes, late flights, toothaches, or a crashed hard drive? Do these matter to God?

Let me tell you who you are. In fact, let me proclaim who you are. The Bible says you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. You have a crown that will last forever. You were chosen before the creation of the world. But more than anything else is the simple fact you are God’s child.

1 John 3:1 (NCV) says, “We are called children of God. And we really are his children.” I love that: we really are his children. So, if something is important to you it’s important to God!

圣诞小故事

2025-12-05 in , /by

路加福音 2 :11-14  因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。 12 你们要看见一个婴孩，包著布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。」 13 忽然有一大队天兵，同那天使赞美神说： 14 「在至高之处荣耀归于神！在地上平安归于他所喜悦的人！」

所有的节日中，我最爱的是圣诞，当然主要的原因是：这是纪念神的独生子耶稣，为我们降生的日子；但是令人感慨的是，有多少人在欢渡圣诞时记得耶稣？街上的装饰，收音机传出的歌声，书店里摆卖的耶诞卡，都该提醒我们圣诞的主人翁是耶稣，但这一切早被白须红袍的圣诞老公公取代了。今天卡上的祝贺词，也多半换上了Happy Holidays!（欢乐假期）

记得乔宏讲过一个圣诞小故事：某一年，一个家庭在圣诞前夕，预备欢度圣诞，家里布置得非常美丽，门窗前摆着盛开的圣诞红，客厅里有一棵装饰得很漂亮的圣诞树，树下放了好几份经过细心包装的礼物。厨房里传出阵阵香味，远方回来的亲人在欢笑、畅谈！就在男女主人把食物摆在餐桌上，大家预备享用时，忽然门铃响了。

Christ Will Give You Rest

2025-12-04 in /by

How does a person get relief from shame, embarrassment, anger? In Matthew 11:28-29 (NCV) Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.”

I can see you shaking your head. “I’ve tried that. I’ve read the Bible, I’ve sat on the pew, but I’ve never received relief.” Could it be you went to religion and you didn’t go to God? Could it be you went to a church, but never saw Christ? “Come to me” the verse reads. Jesus is the solution for weariness of soul. Go to him. Admit you have soul secrets you’ve never dealt with. He already knows what they are. Go to him! He’s just waiting for you to ask him to help.

Hanukkah与圣诞节

2025-12-04 in , /by

腓立比书 2:5-8  你们当以基督耶稣的心为心。 6 祂本有神的形象，不以自己与神同等为强夺的， 7 反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形象，成为人的样式； 8 既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服以至于死，且死在十字架上。

看完电影《亲爱的，我把孩子缩小了！ 》后，我再次意识到「大小」在我们日常生活中的重要性。

对许多人来说，大小意味着重要性、力量和可靠性。尺寸越大，分量越重，也越重要。基督教教会也存在着同样的思考模式。教堂越大，信众越多，教会就越受尊重。教会的预算规模也可能起到一定作用。这有时被称为“规模综合症”。

当门徒听到天国的教导时，他们以为耶稣说的是地上的王国，于是开始询问他们当中谁最伟大。他们认为，这个人会在基督的国度里占据最有权势的位置。甚至连父母也开始为自己的孩子争取。 有一位母亲甚至向耶稣恳求：「耶稣，当你的国降临时，请让我的儿子们坐在你旁边，一个坐在你的右边，一个坐在你的左边。」

耶稣指著一个孩子告诉他们，通往天堂的门是很小的。只有极其渺小的人才能进去。即便如此，你也不能带任何东西进去。耶稣对他们的劝告是：“你们若不回转，变成小孩子的样式，断不得进天国。”（太18:3）现代的解释是：“你们必须先变得渺小。”

道成肉身：当代诠释

2025-12-03 in , /by

腓立比书 2:5-8  你们当以基督耶稣的心为心。 6 祂本有神的形象，不以自己与神同等为强夺的， 7 反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形象，成为人的样式； 8 既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服以至于死，且死在十字架上。

看完电影《亲爱的，我把孩子缩小了！ 》后，我再次意识到「大小」在我们日常生活中的重要性。

对许多人来说，大小意味着重要性、力量和可靠性。尺寸越大，分量越重，也越重要。基督教教会也存在着同样的思考模式。教堂越大，信众越多，教会就越受尊重。教会的预算规模也可能起到一定作用。这有时被称为“规模综合症”。

当门徒听到天国的教导时，他们以为耶稣说的是地上的王国，于是开始询问他们当中谁最伟大。他们认为，这个人会在基督的国度里占据最有权势的位置。甚至连父母也开始为自己的孩子争取。 有一位母亲甚至向耶稣恳求：「耶稣，当你的国降临时，请让我的儿子们坐在你旁边，一个坐在你的右边，一个坐在你的左边。」

耶稣指著一个孩子告诉他们，通往天堂的门是很小的。只有极其渺小的人才能进去。即便如此，你也不能带任何东西进去。耶稣对他们的劝告是：“你们若不回转，变成小孩子的样式，断不得进天国。”（太18:3）现代的解释是：“你们必须先变得渺小。”

The White Flag of the Heart

2025-12-03 in /by

Maybe your past isn’t much to brag about. Maybe you’ve seen evil and you have to make a choice. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses? Many choose the convalescent homes of the heart. Healthy bodies, sharp minds, but retired dreams. Lean closely and you’ll hear, “If only.” The white flag of the heart. “If only…”

Maybe you’ve used those words. Maybe you have every right to use them. Perhaps you were hearing the ten count before you even got into the ring. Can I show you where to turn? Go to John’s gospel and read Jesus’ words in John 3:6 (NCV). “Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from one Spirit.” Your parents have given you genes, but God gives you grace. God is willing to give you what your family didn’t.

Stunning Grace

2025-12-02 in /by

I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace. God’s judgment has never been a problem for me. In fact, it always seems right. Lightning bolts on Sodom. Fire on Gomorrah. Good job, God! Egyptians swallowed in the Red Sea. They had it coming. Discipline is easy for me to swallow, logical to assimilate. But God’s grace? Anything but.

Examples? How much time do you have? Peter denied Christ before he preached Christ. Zacchaeus, the crook. The cleanest part of his life was the money he’d laundered, but Jesus still had time for him. The thief on the cross – hung-out to die one minute, heaven-bound and smiling the next.

Story after story. Surprise after surprise! Search the pages, read the stories. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. Search. You won’t find it.

圣诞快乐

2025-12-02 in , /by

以赛亚书 9:2  在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光，住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。

以赛亚书 9:6  因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上。他名称为奇妙、策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。

最近朋友送给我一首歌，歌名叫「Christmas With a Capital “C”」，是几个美国福音歌手新推出的一首圣诞歌曲。它是这样开始的：「当我去咖啡店时，女店员对我说：假期快乐。我说，我很快乐，但是只有一个节日能让我如此快乐，那就是圣诞节，一个记念耶稣基督降生的日子。不管你怎样称呼它，你也没办法改变它。圣诞快乐，以一个大写的C字开头…..」

自从北美的公立学校禁止庆祝「圣诞节」以来，我想我们都别得很辛苦，不知道如何去表达心里的那份抗议，这首歌实在把我们的心事都唱出来。是的，没有一个节日能够带给我们今天有如此的喜乐，因为耶稣基督降生在我们中间。

万鬼节刚刚过去不久，在许多机关和学校都大事特事地庆祝。有的公司特令职员当天可以穿睡衣上班，打扮成鬼怪；有的银行也命令职员打扮成妖精魔鬼；学校里更不用说了，在小学里为了庆祝鬼节，为了开万鬼会，老师只上半天课，下半天都拿来搞鬼。