和光同塵 (III) 老子56 章

知者不言，言者不知。

塞其兌，閉其門，挫其銳，解其紛，和其光，同其塵，是謂玄同。
故不可得而親，不可得而疏，不可得而利，不可得而害，不可得而貴，不可得而賤。
故為天下貴。

分析：
　    真正瞭解大道的人不去多加解說，一定要把大道解說清楚的人不是真正知道大道的人。因為大道是無法用語言文字解說清楚的。 

    　堵塞自己的口耳，關閉自己的眼鼻，不去受道聼塗説的干擾；解除自己的棱角，排除紛雜的頭緒，讓自己的心靈與自然之光相和諧，與大地塵土同在，也就是說物我合一而不強調自我的存在，這可以叫做與玄妙的的天道同一。 

　　能夠與天道同一，那麼，也就不必再求親近，不必在乎疏遠；談不上對自己是否有利，也談不上對自己是否有害；不必把什麼看作是尊貴的，也不必把什麼看作是卑賤的，這樣才能成為天下真正最為尊貴的。

和光同塵 (II)

原指「無所特顯，則人或皆無所偏爭也」現代「和光同塵」指隨俗而處，不露鋒芒。

和光同塵. 入世之法，並非同流合汙，而是有「和其光，同其塵」之心靈；

對別人要有寬恕之量，
對謗語要有忍辱之量，
對忠言要有虛受之量，
對事物要有容納之量。

　「和光」是指每一盞燈所投射出的和暖光線；「同塵」是指微塵彼此交錯互動。

和光同塵 即指 在燈光照射下的塵埃和光線融爲一體，沒有沖突和對立。

這其實是當今社會的爲人之道，和老子提出的無爲而制,功成而弗居是一樣的呀。

只是太無爲了 一般人做不到呀!

　　我和你的光相合,就是我中有你你中有我!

　　和光：把所有的光彩混合在一起。

同塵：與世俗混同。

　比喻不露鋒芒，與世無爭的態度，與世俗混同，不突出自己。

　 入我相思門，知我相思苦，長相思兮長相憶，短相思兮無窮極。

和光同塵

老子第四章：挫其銳，解其紛；和其光，同其塵。

關於 本句解釋千百種莫衷於是；兩千五百年來儒釋道各有其解。

儒教 比喻與世浮沉，隨波逐流。
佛僧 開示為一切污辱垢穢，要茹納得；一切善惡賢愚，要包容得。
道家 直指鋒芒內斂與世無爭，而與囂雜塵俗相融合。

每時代特有時空背景下都有不同解釋，語言侷限性與文字的想像性就更增文本的鴻溝。

自身的哲學思想屬於形而上，要發展轉化成具普世價值的群體觀與自然觀；則需藉助語言，文字與藝術等形而下載體。就好像電線傳輸電，距離越長能量耗損越多；何況老子道德經語多晦暗玄奧，時間一久很難梳理原意。單就文字本身推敲琢磨，每一個解釋都有他的道理。但是否是作者原意，只有老子本人說了算。所以孔子還是比較聰明，只述而不做，二手資訊流通若有問題皆是眾小子筆誤。

余英時新儒家觀點認為老子是反智且愚民！
「為道者非以明民也，將以愚之也。民之難治也，以其知也。」

我的看法是與其說它反智，倒不如說，他是反政府的極端無政府主義者。
「天之道損有餘而補不足，人之道損不足以奉有餘。」

尤其經過春秋爭霸戰亂，老子對於各國諸侯以“聖人之道”行圖利之實進行的思想反思與反動。將“聖人之道”大家長式的照顧與精密的政治算計先行拆解再另立結構。才會以“自然之道”建構完整的思想體系，揭發假道學的美麗面具，以無盡時間的消極放任對抗聖賢大道的積極作為。思想框架本身的大小有自身的能量有關，若能推己及人則框架就可持續擴大。

關於和光同塵的框架，從自身出發應是

「不在得意的人面前說失意的話，不在失意的人面前講得意的事。」
若擴大為群體觀則為

「讓富有的人可以過安全的生活，讓貧窮的人可以有尊嚴的生活。」

發展極至的自然觀則昇華為

「多元物種的尊重。」

回到現代，既然社會如此多元龐大，也不可能沒有政府的存在。

亞當‧史密斯在國富論揭諸政府的角色應為國防、租稅、公共設施與教育。
因為再無所不能的政府也不可鉅細靡遺地，從搖籃到墳墓將人民照顧無微不至。比老子往政治思想光譜的右邊移一點，提倡小政府的米爾頓‧傅利曼認為作為有機體的“市場”會比政府更有力量符合人民的需要。

個人對"和光同塵”可以同理心作統合，政府則是讓各階層有機會角色互換以促進同理心，因為窮人富人各有想法與利益要維護。政府只要專心於教育機會的平等與公平競爭的自由的維護以創造社會階級的流動性，時間會讓和光同塵的“框架”更具彈性不易崩潰。

Five Great TED Talks for Ministry Leaders Paul Pastor

The TED conference has collected fascinating people from around the world to share ideas, collaborate, and inspire. Narrowing the field of these excellent films is tough, but here are five TED Talks from the past few years we've selected as standouts for ministry leaders.

Topic: Personality / Team Building

Talk: Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts

"In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated."

Takeaways: While our society rewards extroversion, introverts bring essential qualities to teams and communities. Pastors will find relevant points here on team building, vision casting, and relating across personality types. Ready to go deeper? Read "The Introverted Leader."

Topic: Productivity

Talk: Paolo Cardini: Forget multitasking, try monotasking

"People aren't just cooking anymore—they're cooking, texting, talking on the phone, watching YouTube and uploading photos of the awesome meal they just made. Designer Paolo Cardini questions the efficiency of our multitasking world and makes the case for—gasp—'monotasking.'"

Takeaways: Doing more at a time doesn't mean doing better. Cardini posits that multitasking dilutes our attention, energy, and productivity, and shares his creative response to the problem. Ministry leaders will be inspired to craft their own creative response to the problem of multitasking. Also read "Time for Things that Matter" and "Pastor with ADD."

Topic: Relational Dynamics / Vulnerability / Personal Growth
Talk: Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

"Brené Brown studies human connection—our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share."

Takeaways: Shame and self doubt are universal human experiences. Vulnerability is the key to true relational openness. Pastors will find a lot here to chew on, and be reminded of the power—and difficulty—of being truly vulnerable. More relevant reads? Try "The Transparent Pastor" and "Skimming" for ways that these principles relate to ministry leaders.

Topic: Caring "For the least" / Community Action / Creativity
Talk: Angela Patton: A Father/Daughter Dance … in Prison

"At Camp Diva, Angela Patton works to help girls and fathers stay connected and in each others' lives. But what about girls whose fathers can't be there—because they're in jail? Patton tells the story of a very special father-daughter dance. (Filmed at TEDxWomen)"

Takeaway: This is a moving story of working with prisoners and their families. Ministry to the disenfranchised often requires extra creativity and a sense of optimism. Sympathetic, loving ministry can change the course of a life. Read "Making Ministers of Inmates."

Topic: Efficiency / Design / Humor
Talk: Seth Godin: This is Broken

"Why are so many things broken? In a hilarious talk from the 2006 Gel conference, Seth Godin gives a tour of things poorly designed, the 7 reasons why they are that way, and how to fix them."
Takeaway: Godin hits a productivity nerve in this hilarious talk. Leaders are prompted to think about the "brokenness" of their own systems or patterns. Next steps? Look carefully at your routine to "redeem the time." Also, don't miss "Know Thy Time"

每週寄語 (8) : 總有起始

遠象 由觀看開始
心動 藉多聽起首
愛心 經順服而生
成功 須身體力行

Missional Renaissance宣教復興

閱讀 Reggie McNeaL的書 Missional Renaissance宣教復興，宣教性會眾有三個轉移 :

1, 從內至外的事工焦點

• 由目的地至連繫者
• 由會友至宣教士
• 由吸引人至道成肉身
• 由宣講優先至示範優先
• 由制度至機能

2. 從節目向度至人的向度

• 由參與至成熟
• 由教導至行為
• 由課程至生命
• 由投身服事至藉服事成長
• 由分部至整合
• 由分齡至合齡

3. 從教會為主至神國為主的領導

• 由領導組合至領導運動
• 由牧養教會至牧養社區
• 在社區中展現神國度
• 蒙福為作祝福的人
• 把教會帶進文化各個角落
• 不與別的教會互相競爭

每週寄語 (8) : 總有起始

遠象 由觀看開始

心動 藉多聽起首

愛心 經順服而生

成功 須身體力行

Nick Vujicic力克·胡哲励志语录

1.“上帝在我生命中有个计划，通过我的故事给予他人希望。”

2.“人生最可悲的并非失去四肢，而是没有生存希望及目标！人们经常埋怨什么也做不来，但如果我们只记挂着想拥有或欠缺的东西，而不去珍惜所拥有的，那根本改变不了问题！真正改变命运的，并不是我们的机遇，而是我们的态度。”

3.“人生的遭遇难以控制，有些事情不是你的错，也不是你可以阻止的。你能选择的不是放弃，而是继续努力争取更好的生活。”

4.“你不能放弃梦想，但是可以改变方向，因为你不知道在人生的拐角处会遇到什么。”

5.“即使是我生命中最糟糕的事情，对于别人依然有着非凡的意义。”

6.“没手，没脚，没烦恼。”

7.“如果你失败了，再站起来 ”

8.“如果发现自己不能创造奇迹，那就努力让自己变成一个奇迹。”

9.“态度决定高度。”

10.“失败不可怕，要继续尝试。”

11.我热爱我的生活，没什么可以阻挡我，但是我时时刻刻都快乐吗?不，我也会伤心，我有时候也会哭，那倒并不是因为我没有手脚，这倒容易接受，我是担心如果我爱的人受了伤，我却什么也不能做，这会让我感到十分痛苦。

12我仍热爱生活，因为我对生存的渴望。

13在生命中，我们不能选择什么，却可以改变什么。

What We Are To Become By Ryan Shaw part II

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 has often been called the “Constitution of the Kingdom.” Jesus lays out His terms of discipleship and the standards He means all believers to rise to.

These three chapters make up central teaching for every true Christian. We are meant to take Jesus’ words very seriously. They have often been minimized as idealistic and impossible to live out.

Jesus never gives His people commands that He Himself does not empower them to faithfully live by. To do so would be cruel. Instead there is power available to live the “Sermon on the Mount” lifestyle.

This available power is part of the New Covenant Jesus purchased through His death and resurrection. It is part of what the filling of the Holy Spirit enables us to make real in our lives.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with “the Beatitudes.” They serve a two-fold purpose.

First, they identify core attributes believers are meant to diligently cultivate. What is a believer to be like (at the heart level)? Together, these eight give us a clear picture of what we are to become.

Second, they reveal the qualities critical for effectively bearing fruit in our generation. The verses following the Beatitudes (vs. 13-14) call believers the “salt of the earth and the light of the world.” There is an unmistakable link here.

The Beatitudes reveal the very heart of what God wills for us to develop within. Apart from setting our hearts toward purposely growing in each of the nine beatitudes, we will not have the quality of impact on the world around us which the Lord intends.

The first four deal with internal core characteristics of disciples. The second four highlight external actions.

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit” – We are to cultivate consistent awareness of our desperate need for God. Apart from Him, we can accomplish nothing of spiritual value. This is the essence of humility. Internalizing and living from the true place of Pride to dependence on God in all areas of life and ministry.

• “Blessed are those who mourn” – Whose hearts are becoming sensitive to the power of sin and its deadly effects on people and institutions. We “mourn” because of this insidious power holding believers and unbelievers’ alike captive. We long for the coming of the Kingdom to restore all things to their original intention in the heart of God.

• “Blessed are the meek” –Meekness is power under control. The purposeful restraining of oneself for a higher purpose. Mistreatment is a wonderful tool for the Lord to test our level of meekness.

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” – This hunger seems to be at the core of obtaining all spiritual realities in the life of a believer. Without recognition of our sinful nature’s bent against God and a converse proactive cultivating of hunger and thirst to walk in Jesus’ righteousness, we are not living lives pleasing to God.

• “Blessed are the merciful” – At the core of God’s attributes is mercy. Though no human being deserves His mercy, He gives it liberally to all who come to Him according to His terms. We, too, are to live in such a way towards others.

• “Blessed are the pure in heart” – Keeping our hearts free from the incessant pull of the love of the world is at the root of this characteristic. We pursue the highest levels of purity of our eyes, thoughts, desires, ambitions, and much more.

• “Blessed are the peacemakers” – God is a reconciling God. Jesus was sent for the purpose of reconciling humanity back to God through His own flesh. We, too, are becoming what God intends when we help people over division among them.

• “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake” – This is the one beatitude that Jesus gives some explanation to. This one is very close to His heart because He knows how common it is. The persecution of true believers is not to surprise us. God uses it and our embracing of it in ways beyond our understanding.

蛇爸‧蛇媽（一） 陳敏兒

蛇年做個蛇爸媽吧！學蛇的懶，也學蛇的慢。 Carl Honore 寫了 : 「In praise of slowness 」，

裏面提到緊張快速的生活，不但損害健康， 工作效率和生活質素也會降低，如中國人說的「欲速則不達」。

他因着一本「一分鐘睡前故事」慨嘆對孩子說故事的時間都如此計較，因而寫了這本書推崇慢活，提醒大家要善待自己，真正的享受活着。

為了讓孩子贏在起跑點，現代母親

懷孕就以莫扎特的音樂做胎教

未學行就教手語、閃卡教導字彙

周歲便讀 playgroup

入學的孩子就趕補習班和才藝班         父母似乎看不到過着匆忙生活的孩子付上的代價

年僅 5 歲小孩就可能出現壓力所引發的肚痛、頭痛、失眠、憂鬱與飲食障礙等症狀

缺乏睡眠以致於易鬧情緒

缺乏耐性

父母要先學做生活步調的主人，讓自己紓緩下來，
才能清楚自己和孩子真正需要的是甚麼，
不致忙，忙，亡。

7 Deadly Sins by Jessica Miller Kelley Feb 18, 2013

With Sinning Like a Christian as a framework, dare to spark the honest self-examination we all need

Week 1: Thinking About Sin (Chapter1) Leviticus 18:26-19:2 and Romans 3:19-24

Week 2: Pride (Chapter 2) Genesis 3:1-7 and Philippians 2:3-11
Pride is the root of so much other evil. It is pride that makes some of us think we are above the law, that rules do not apply to us, or that we simply cannot fail, whatever we attempt.

Week 3: Envy (Chapter 3) Genesis 4:1-8 and Matthew 20:1-16
Envy is the emotional root and a subtle form of hate—resenting the good and rejoicing in the bad that occurs to one's neighbor. It is a social sin, hurting our relationships

Week 4: Anger (Chapter 4) Psalm 137:7-9 and John 2:13-17
Anger has many redemptive qualities. Anger is a natural response to knowing the world is not as it ought to be.

Week 5: Sloth (Chapter 5) Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 and John 5:1-9a
Not as laziness or the lack of productive work, but as apathy toward spiritual matters to which we should devote ourselves. Sloth is not caring enough about God to wrestle mightily with Scripture and spiritual disciplines that would challenge us.

Week 6: Greed (Chapter 6) 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and Matthew 6: 16:19-24
Hard to tell the difference between needs and wants. Are our motives really so pure?

Week 7: Gluttony (Chapter 7) Philippians 3:17-21 and Matthew 6:25-33
Signified overall preoccupation with matters of the flesh. It is as much a sin to obsess over the minutiae of what one eats as it is to lustfully consume an entire feast.

Week 8: Lust (Chapter 8) 2 Samuel 11:1-17 and Matthew 5:27-30
We humans are obsessed with sex. As an act of consumption, of personal gratification, rather than for the benefit of the relationship and society as a whole is a matter of Pride, Greed, and perhaps Envy, pouring fuel on the fire of our most selfish tendencies.

Understanding the Natural and Expecting the Spiritual Ryan Shaw Part I

My friend  Ryan Shaw (know him 10 years ago when he's in HK, right now  leader in the student volunteer movement II ) writes the following assertions that's worthy of thoughts :

In 1 Corinthians 15:46 we find an enlightening Scripture. When understood and applied correctly, this verse provides a spiritual principle that is crucial in grasping what God is moving us towards in the coming days.
“However, the spiritual is not first but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.” This statement comes from Paul in the context of his teaching the Corinthians of the resurrection bodies believers will receive in the next age. He speaks of the body being sown naturally (in this life) and raised a spiritual body (in the next age).
The principle, however, can be applied to a much larger sphere then our glorified bodies to come. What has been true in the natural realm will soon take place in the spiritual realm, releasing tremendous things from the Spirit into the natural realm.

There is a process to grasp here. We can look at history and see what has taken place naturally and then discern God bringing forth a spiritual counterpart over time. The natural happening was a foreshadowing of what the Lord intended to bring in the Spirit.

Let’s consider an example and then look at ways this applies to the mission movement God is developing.
In the 20th Century the world changed more than ever before in human history. Specifically in the realm of knowledge. It is said that by the middle of the 20th century more knowledge was being attained each subsequent year than in any previous century as a whole. By the end of the 20th century, more knowledge was being gained every week than in any previous centuries.

It is said that today we are in the “information age”. This means we are learning and gaining knowledge, and have availability to that knowledge through the internet, in a way never dreamt of previously. This is what has happened in the natural realm.

The spiritual counterpart is that believers are soon to experience a growing knowledge of the things of God as they apply their hearts to attain it. This refers to experiential knowledge of God and not mere intellectual knowledge.

God is revealing Himself, His ways, His emotions, His thoughts, His plans, His glory, His wisdom and much more in increasing ways to those who are seeking it. There is a mountain of spiritual knowledge of Himself that is available, way beyond what believers have grasped before.

This is not because we are special or deserve it. It is simply the timing of God and must be contended for just as the increase in natural knowledge was worked hard to gain in the last 50 or so years.
What are other natural happenings that give us expectation of what to expect in the coming years spiritually?
How about the current rapid change of society globally? Every decade brings an entirely new set of global changes unknown to previous decades. The globalization of the world through the internet has propelled this phenomenon.

The body of Christ spiritually is simultaneously going through fast and significant changes; more so then ever before in its history. The expression of the “Church” in pockets globally is shifting and does not look as it did 10 years ago. It is operating differently, worshiping differently; praying differently as new wine-skins are introduced.

The mission movement is also undergoing seismic spiritual shifts. Business as usual has given way to new strategies and spiritual insights being implemented. Even practices of 10 years ago seem obsolete at times. God is orchestrating these changes and they will continue to unfold more rapidly in the years to come.

He is changing the face of missions; meaning more influx from the global south will continue to engage among the unengaged. Simultaneously, He is raising up His “New Breed” of message bearers walking in spiritual power and authority and pursuing the heights of abandoned devotion to Christ.

早會有感

今早早會同工分享她曾往訪柬埔寨孤兒院童事工，計有
愛滋、腦癱、住垃圾山兒童。

這令我回想1991年曾在菲律賓探垃圾山的情景，
另2003年柬埔寨行程探訪，與及
剛於去年往山東臨沂探腦癱童的回憶。

港童一般較幸福，多隨己意揮霍，不知外面世界的悲慘。
有誰想及且為了這世上被忽略的一群，好好反省自處呢 ?

求天父憐憫我等罪人，同是可憐罪人 ?
摩西曾禱告求主叫世人懂得數算日子，能得著智慧心靈，是真的啊 !

B室錄製第一集「點亮人心的宣教精兵」

明早將錄製首集「點亮人心的宣教精兵」，
人物為首位新教來華宣教士馬禮遜牧師。
求主帶領我，能就他出身、27年在華宣教頁獻，
言簡意賅談談。

Good summary of NT Wright's new book by Chaplain Mike

How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels   N.T. Wright, HarperOne / 2012

A key part of that work is lifting the Gospels to their rightful place of prominence in the Christian faith and message. A better grasp on the Gospel requires greater emphasis on and understanding of the Gospels.

 “We have all forgotten what the four gospels are about.”

In part two of the book, Wright uses the metaphor of a four-speaker sound system to make his points.

Speaker One : the culmination of Israel’s history.
Speaker Two : the coming of God to redeem his people
Speaker Three : the commencement of God’s renewed people and kingdom agenda in the world.
Speaker Four : the clash between God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of this world.

In part three of How God Became King,Wright notes how improperly calibrating the “speakers” and failing to hear the message of the Gospels clearly has led to a division between Christians who emphasize the “kingdom” and those who stress the “cross.”He sums up his argument with three reflections:

“First, the evangelists insist that the kingdom truly was inaugurated by Jesus in his active public career, during the time between his baptism and the cross.

“Second, this kingdom is radically defined in relation to Jesus’s entire agenda of suffering, leading to the cross.”

“Third, the kingdom that Jesus inaugurated, that is implemented through his cross, is emphatically for this world.

He settled for giving us a chapter on how to better read the gospels and how to more thoughtfully say the creeds as Christ’s church.

2013 蛇年互勉

蛇 年慎莫作蛇王

年 月分秒常發光

慎 言慎獨福音傳

莫 常嗟歎話滄桑

作 事忠信真門徒

蛇 靈馴鴿文武全

王 的傳人抵萬邦

Be assured ...

Someone Understands.Hebrews 4:15
Someone Cares.1 Peter 5:7
Someone’s Praying.Romans 8:26-27
Someone knows what to do.Romans 11:33-36
Someone has all the grace you need.2 Corinthians 9:8
Someone will bring you through.Jude 1:24                           Roy Lessin

He does all things well !

His voice has never misspoken;
His faithfulness has never betrayed;
His care has never faltered;
His kindness has never disappointed;
His love has never failed.                -- Roy Lessin -- (Mk 7:37)

A PRAYER can change the impossible.

Praying for those who love you, that's sincerity.
Praying for those who hurt you, that's maturity.

One song can change a moment,
One idea can change a world,
One step can start a journey, but

A PRAYER can change the impossible.

為那愛你的人禱告，那是誠懇
為傷害你的人禱告，那是成熟

看      一詩歌能改變時刻
          一意念能扭轉世界
          一踏足能啟新里程     惟

          一禱告成就那不可能

每週寄語 (7) : 自力祂力

世人靠己力，信徒靠恩主

自助者勇力，主助者祂力

勇力抑祂力，二者同協力

懂取平衡者，蒙恩兼得力

Fighting For God or God Fighting For Us:

The Abandoned Times: Which Is It? 

It is crucial for believers to learn the fine line required in partnering and co-laboring with God. Living the life of spiritual victory and kingdom advancement is a combination of us fighting (spiritually) and God fighting for us. We rely on Him and He requires action on our part as well.

It is common to find believers relying on themselves and their efforts in the Kingdom of God instead of allowing God to take His rightful place as leader and Lord of every spiritual work He has initiated.

Conversely, many find themselves waiting on God to do all the work and don’t step out in faith themselves. Neither stance is the correct, Biblical one.

Those who want God to do everything for them never accomplish anything. Those seeking to do everything themselves, will ultimately fail. It takes spiritual maturity to walk the correct, balanced way between the two.

God has called us to a living, cooperative partnership in the work of His Kingdom. He wants us involved and we cannot attain spiritual success without Him involved.

It is a fallacy to buy into the notion that God doesn’t need us. He has chosen to set up His Kingdom in partnership with true believers. Though we are frail, weak and often untrustworthy, He chooses to mature and develop us, all the while advancing His Kingdom purposes through us, out of incredible love.

It is also untrue that in our ingenuity and human wisdom we can be fruitful for His Kingdom. This is pride and humanism. God requires we give up on the self-life (self-will, ambition, reliance, sufficiency). To be useful we embrace a lifestyle seeking His Kingdom purposes above all else. We deliberately choose His will and receive the inheritance of spiritual wisdom and revelation He has waiting.

To walk this fine line appropriately we need experiential knowledge of God’s ways, wisdom and spiritual understanding. It is not natural to learn the secrets of being yoked with God in His Kingdom work. To do so, we need more of Him available through increased Bible study, prayer and intercession and abiding in His presence.

Though He will do very little to advance His Kingdom outside of partnership with the body of Christ, it is still His power that is the source. He is the one doing the bulk of the work. We are like a baby ox yoked together with a massive, all powerful ox. That big ox is the one doing all the pulling, but we get to be involved in the process too.

And God looks at our part as important. If we fail to do our Spirit-led, God-ordained and initiated part, we are not being faithful to God and His advancing Kingdom.

We need to get rid of the incorrect sentiment that if something is of God it will go smoothly and be free from problems. God’s leadership is perfect but our capacities to follow Him rightly are anything but.

The partnership between the living God and sinful (yet redeemed) humanity is far from smooth. It is always exciting and exhilarating, but fraught with periodic frustration and misunderstanding. The more closely we follow Jesus, the better it will go because we give up on our own understanding and embrace His Kingdom ways.

In the Scripture when God’s people drifted from the correct balance, they were defeated. We join the fight recognizing full well our inability to win the fight if left to our own devices.

Question: Which of the two are you prone to most? What may God be asking of you to become more balanced in spiritually progressing rightly?

Alain de Botton On Ten Virtues for the Modern Age

1. Resilience.
Keeping going even when things are looking dark; accepting that reversals are normal; remembering that human nature is, in the end, tough. Not frightening others with your fears.

2. Empathy.
The capacity to connect imaginatively with the sufferings and unique experiences of another person. The courage to become someone else and look back at yourself with honesty.

3. Patience.
We lose our temper because we believe that things should be perfect. We've grown so good in some areas (putting men on the moon etc.), we're ever less able to deal with things that still insist on going wrong; like traffic, government, other people... We should grow calmer and more forgiving by getting more realistic about how things actually tend to go.

4. Sacrifice.
We’re hardwired to seek our own advantage but also have a miraculous ability, very occasionally, to forego our own satisfactions in the name of someone or something else. We won't ever manage to raise a family, love someone else or save the planet if we don't keep up with the art of sacrifice.

5. Politeness.
Politeness has a bad name. We often assume it's about being 'fake' (which is meant to be bad) as opposed to 'really ourselves' (which is meant to be good). However, given what we're really like deep down, we should spare others too much exposure to our deeper selves. We need to learn manners, which aren’t evil - they are the necessary internal rules of civilisation. Politeness is very linked to tolerance, the capacity to live alongside people whom one will never agree with, but at the same time, can’t avoid.

6. Humour.
Seeing the funny sides of situations and of oneself doesn't sound very serious, but it is integral to wisdom, because it's a sign that one is able to put a benevolent finger on the gap between what we want to happen and what life can actually provide; what we dream of being and what we actually are, what we hope other people will be like and what they are actually like. Like anger, humour springs from disappointment, but it's disappointment optimally channelled. It's one of the best things we can do with our sadness.

7. Self-awareness.
To know oneself is to try not to blame others for one's troubles and moods; to have a sense of what's going on inside oneself, and what actually belongs to the world.

8. Forgiveness.
Forgiveness means a long memory of all the times when we wouldn't have got through life without someone cutting us some slack. It's recognising that living with others isn't possible without excusing errors.

9. Hope.
The way the world is now is only a pale shadow of what it could one day be. We're still only at the beginning of history. As you get older, despair becomes far easier, almost reflex (whereas in adolescence, it was still cool and adventurous). Pessimism isn't necessarily deep, nor optimism shallow.

10. Confidence.
The greatest projects and schemes die for no grander reasons than that we don't dare. Confidence isn't arrogance, it's based on a constant awareness of how short life is and how little we ultimately lose from risking everything.

Alain de Botton

恭贺新禧！

Luke Cheng, Vice President for International Ministries Far East Broadcasting Company,says the following blessings before our coming Lunar New Year :

The Lunar new year is coming up on Sunday the 10th of February.
Many of our colleagues will be celebrating this traditional holiday with a few days off.
They include at least Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, S. Korea and Vietnam (may be more).
Allow me to wish all of you who celebrate the Lunar New Year a blessed new year.

恭賀新禧!
Chúc mừng năm mới!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
恭贺新禧！
明けましておめでとうございます！
Happy New Year！
Selamat Tahun Baru！
สวัสดีปีใหม่

Enjoy your time off with family and God bless!

每週寄語 (6) : 理解鼓勵

青年多理解，世事局局新
宜自勉鼓勵，終作成龍鳳

“謝謝您的理解和鼓勵！”

親愛的姚謙牧師：主內平安！

再次用心對您說：“謝謝您的理解和鼓勵！”

是的，真得對您常說謝謝！

因為從2011 年下半年起，您就再沒有離開過我們的生命的四季節目和留言板！

是您及時的回應、智慧的教導、愛心的勸慰，叫我們都從您的字裡行間、言論暢談裡明白和獲得許多有意義的知識，以致於生命得到更新和造就！我覺得這是我們信徒最幸福的一件事情！您就是送人玫瑰的那個可愛的人！

祝愿在新年裡，您和林誠牧師、楊天成老師等牧人繼續對我們不棄不離地教導牧養！

我們的成長，就是您們的業績！

而我們再去幫助別人，就是您們的所播撒的種子在成長、開花！代代相傳，恩臨萬邦，必成為您我薪火相傳的大使命！

我們一起加油！一起在新年里

恩上加恩，

力上加力，

福上加福！

一起  彼此守望

         彼此代禱

         彼此鼓勵，更重要的是

         彼此相愛

真的  願我們的心，點亮、歸神，與神同行！

新年  都 快快樂樂！

以馬內利！

問號 2013年2月7日 Re: 牧者信箱

"Never Once"

Scars and struggles on the way

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise

Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace

就是以上這些歌詞，今天早會 Willow 的分享使我有著共嗚。

隨後.... 我找到  "Never Once" Matt Redman 2011這首歌詞如下 :

Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

傳得漂亮的摩西

關傳道本週家書如此說 :

尖迦平均年齡已接近五十，栽培領袖早幾年在堂會已成共識。
如何栽培接班人指示新一代同踏新里程，能像約書亞進入迦南  ?

他把過去主日我的崇拜證道「傳得漂亮的摩西」(申31:1-8) 提出的七點記述如下 :

1.     領袖須自知界限，有計劃退下

2.     要準備有質素助手

3.     物色領袖不能降低標準，須按神旨意教導

4.     要有信心不能畏首畏尾

5.     公開確認讓接班人有認受性

6.     給與明確任務

7.     要有神同在，接班有連續性才不至革命

親情、友情、愛情

人生一世，親情、友情、愛情

三者缺一，已為遺憾；

三者缺二，實為可憐；

三者皆缺，活而如亡！（劉心武語）

體驗了親情的深度

領略了友情的廣度

擁有了愛情的純度

這樣的人生才稱得上是名副其實的人。

人生是什麼 ?.

人生是什麼？

我對著大地問，大地深深地回答：“人生是不斷播種，耕耘的季節。”

人生是什麼？

我對著太陽問，太陽忘情地吻著我的臉，熱情地回答：人生就是不斷發光、發熱的一生。

人生是什麼？

我對著森林問。樹葉沙沙地回答：人生是不斷地長大、成才、貢獻的一生。

人生是什麼？

我對著老實敦厚的大黃牛問。大黃牛“哞哞”地回答：人生就是默默耕耘的一生。

人生是什麼？

我問我的同齡人和老師。

同齡人坦率地回答：

人生就像一場夢，虛幻而美麗。只要我們執著地追求，就一定能實現這個夢。

而老師則嚴肅而意味深長地回答：

人生是不斷攀登科學高峰不斷吸取知識掌握技術的一生。

人生是什麼？

我問我自己。

人生就像一首詩，浪漫而又充滿幻想；

人生就像一幅畫，形象而又樸實；

人生就似一首歌，動聽而悲壯；

人生是一次漫長的旅行，其間有緣份也有偶遇，道上有鮮花也有荊棘。

人生是什麼？

人生就是昨天，今天，明天。

記住昨天，抓住今天，再創明天，這就是不朽的人生。

人盡可能不要自私吧 !

聽眾對我曾說的 “ 人盡可能不要自私吧 ! ”  有了如下故事作回應 :

想到最近看到一則寓言故事，題目是—— 跟我們有什麼關係啊

　　有一次，一隻小老鼠發現農場主在她經常出沒的地方安放了一隻鼠夾，於是她就把這件事告訴了農場主家裡養的母雞、綿羊和奶牛。
　　但母雞、綿羊和奶牛都不屑地說：“主人下夾子是要抓你，這是你的麻煩，跟我們有什麼關係啊？”
　　幾天后，鼠夾捕住了一條毒蛇，那條毒蛇凶狠地咬傷了農場主的妻子。
　　為了給女主人補養身體，家人把母雞殺掉煲了湯，過幾天，又把羊殺了，招待前來探望女主人病情的客人，最後把牛也殺了，用來宴請參加女主人葬禮的親朋。

　　在這段日子裡，小老鼠一直蹲在牆洞裡觀察著眼前發生的一切，思考著這件大家都認為和自己無關的事。  是啊，“ 跟我們有什麼關係啊”！

        人不為己天誅地滅啊！明哲保身啊！ 多一事不如少一事啊！

          “冷漠”、“自私”成為這個世界最大的詬病！

         從孔子的 “仁者愛人” 到墨子的 “兼愛利人”，從孫中山先生的 “天下為公” 到現代中國的 “為人民服務”，以及胡總書記提出的 “權為民所用，利為民所謀，情為民所繫”，這些都體現了一個主題：慈善！ 

        我在《德拉修女傳》裡看到這樣一句話：“ 重點不在於這個人他給與別人多少，而在於他在給於總投入多少愛！”  慈善與基督的愛相隔了些什麼 ?

        

        今年良友電台倡導的 “心亮點”和 “傳愛行動”，是不是我們該做些什麼了？
        這些都引發了我一系列的思考 ....

        2013 年力爭改變自己急躁（浮躁）的性格，我覺得，與其被動地克制自己急躁的性格， 還不如積極地叫 “愛” 在自己的生命裡逐漸成為主體！因為愛能遮掩一切的過犯！大家覺得呢？

2013 七重祝願

有聽眾對 2013 年七重祝願，真感恩 !

 天天不虛度！

 日日蒙神恩！

 時時都快樂！

 處處都平安！

 事事神同在！

 人人都健康！

 家家都幸福！

愛我 --- 我愛

林誠牧師給我下面可笑的對聯，是要用普通話唸的 :

我    愛  
愛    我
的    的
人    人
名    慘
花    不
有    忍
主    睹

Failing in love is better than succeeding in pride

Eugene Peterson puts the challenge this way in his book,

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society (IVP):

‘Every day I put love on the line. 

There is nothing I am less good at than love. 

I am far better in competition than love.

I am far better at responding to my instincts and ambitions to get ahead and make my mark than I am at figuring out how to love another.

I am schooled and trained in acquisitive skills, in getting my own way. 

And yet I decide, every day,

to set aside what I can do best and attempt what I do very clumsily 

– open myself up to the frustrations and failures of loving, daring to believe that failing in love is better than succeeding in pride.

何等恩典 Lyrics

詞：謝秉哲 Eric Hsish 曲：游智婷 Sandy Yu

以真誠的心　降服在祢面前　開我心眼使我看見
以感恩的心　領受生命活水　從祢而來的溫柔謙卑

何等恩典　祢竟然在乎我
何等恩典　祢寶血為我流
何等恩典　祢以尊貴榮耀為我冠冕
我的嘴　必充滿讚美

以真誠的心　降服在祢面前　開我心眼使我看見
以感恩的心　領受生命活水　從祢而來的溫柔謙卑

＃祢已挪去　我所有枷鎖
　祢已挪去　我所有重擔
　祢已挪去　我所有傷悲
　祢的名　配得所有頌讚＃

▲何等恩典　祢以尊貴榮耀為我冠冕
我的嘴　必充滿讚美▲

每週寄語 (5) : 每日一字

學習----要累積且持之以恆

每天掌握新字，是儲畜之理

蛇年互勉

蛇年慎莫作蛇王

年月分秒常發光

慎言慎獨福音傳

莫常嗟嘆話滄桑

作事忠信真門徒

蛇靈馴鴿文武全

王的傳人抵萬邦

教會行政

昨天收到隆重來言 :  三年愛華，我們這些提摩太確實沒白呆啊！呵呵！

他回我提問及教會行政的意見如下:

五大課題
第一是正名

行政的意義

基本的內容

管理的原則

不迷信行政

須要處理

信仰的告白

領導的模式

不虧負同工

教會的章程

十一的奉獻

快樂生活的秘訣

長大不容易、成長有規律 !

知心姊姊 盧勤 在談 家的影響 的 四句話

 要 “太好了”，不要“太糟了”
    記住，改變心情，就改變了世界。

要 “我能行”，不要“我不行”
    記住，改變態度，就改變了命運。

要 “我幫你”，不要“不關心”
    記住，改變情感，就改變了生活。

要 “你真棒！”不要“你真笨！” 
    記住，改變角度，就改變了關系。