编者的话
秋色已近,还有一季便到年底。感谢神,在前二期的季刋中有多位弟兄姐妹投稿。今期截稿的那一个周日我刚从德国回来,我想来不及去邀请大家投稿,所以便延迟截稿的时间,希望有更多的兄弟姐妹能参予,感谢神第三期仍然有好多篇文章。我盼望年底的第四期,能有更多的弟兄姐妹投稿。其实写文章跟大家分享也是一个事奉神的机会,有些人可能要花很多时间去写一篇文章,也有一些人执笔成文。无论怎様,希望大家不要错过分享见证的机会,积极参予投稿。
我们教会的可爱可亲的于先生前一阵子回天家了,大家都很怀念他老人家。谢谢陈先生的“我的好朋友于老乡”和胡太的“怀念于维烈弟兄”的文章。 Ginny 的“引以为鉴”谈论到种族歧视的问题,米迦勒的“亜伯拉罕演义”分享迷信拜偶像的无知,Philip 的"戴安娜公主的悲剧收埸”联想到传道者的智慧,Lily 的“今夏的一些困惑”感触地说到好友破碎的婚姻,亢写了一篇“口中甜如蜜”。希望读者们阅读到不同内容的文章后能够对神有更深入的认识。
我们教会的可爱可亲的于先生前一阵子回天家了,大家都很怀念他老人家。谢谢陈先生的“我的好朋友于老乡”和胡太的“怀念于维烈弟兄”的文章。 Ginny 的“引以为鉴”谈论到种族歧视的问题,米迦勒的“亜伯拉罕演义”分享迷信拜偶像的无知,Philip 的"戴安娜公主的悲剧收埸”联想到传道者的智慧,Lily 的“今夏的一些困惑”感触地说到好友破碎的婚姻,亢写了一篇“口中甜如蜜”。希望读者们阅读到不同内容的文章后能够对神有更深入的认识。
我的好朋友于老乡
陈
陈
说起来也好玩,八辈子也打不到一起,他祖籍山东,我呢祖籍广东,一南一北,结果在美国来了一个南北和,我们就在芝加哥遇上了,他是教会里欧阳太太的妹夫,跟妻子一起参加怀恩堂聚会,我也是怀恩堂教会的会友,我们就这样相遇,成了好朋友。
说来我和他的年龄相近,“臭味相投”,又都是一般老大年纪,拖家带眷地移民来美国,经过数十年的打拼,尝尽了辛酸的岁月,到今天退休下来,本想再多享受一下退休平静的生活,不幸老乡却已不告而别,怎不叫人伤心不舍呢!
记得他刚来美不久,有一次也不知哪来的兴趣,我们两家人一同出游,去Wisconsin,那时候孩子都还小,虽然环境并不富裕,但是生活却过得蛮快乐。我们最近的一次一起出游是在去年,大家一同乘游轮在加勒比海。本来我们还会计划下一个行程,可是他却离开我们走了,那最后一次的同游只能成为追忆了。
于弟兄,你虽走得这么安祥,但家人仍有哀痛,朋友仍有失落,大家都非常不舍,然而这是人生必经的道路,每个人都要走的,只是或迟或早而己。感谢主给我们的救恩,我们确信,信主的人将来必会在天家重聚。安息吧,我亲爱的于老乡!!
说来我和他的年龄相近,“臭味相投”,又都是一般老大年纪,拖家带眷地移民来美国,经过数十年的打拼,尝尽了辛酸的岁月,到今天退休下来,本想再多享受一下退休平静的生活,不幸老乡却已不告而别,怎不叫人伤心不舍呢!
记得他刚来美不久,有一次也不知哪来的兴趣,我们两家人一同出游,去Wisconsin,那时候孩子都还小,虽然环境并不富裕,但是生活却过得蛮快乐。我们最近的一次一起出游是在去年,大家一同乘游轮在加勒比海。本来我们还会计划下一个行程,可是他却离开我们走了,那最后一次的同游只能成为追忆了。
于弟兄,你虽走得这么安祥,但家人仍有哀痛,朋友仍有失落,大家都非常不舍,然而这是人生必经的道路,每个人都要走的,只是或迟或早而己。感谢主给我们的救恩,我们确信,信主的人将来必会在天家重聚。安息吧,我亲爱的于老乡!!
怀念于维烈弟兄
胡太
胡太
于维烈弟兄离开我们两个多月了,记得在追思会上当我看到他的遗容时,感觉他和平常一样,是那样的安祥,只是不能和我们开玩笑了。
他像一个在人生旅途中走过那很长的艰辛岁月,实在太疲倦了,需要回家好好休息和好好睡眠的样子,也像是告诉主内的弟兄姐姊妹和那些教会里他喜爱的小朋友,他需要到一个安静的地方去休息, 告诉亲人他先走了。
此刻我想到: 啊! 他真的走了,他的灵巳经回到天家了。我的心里默想着,“于弟兄,你先走了,我们永远怀念你,也要学习你对主的忠诚和爱, 学习您对人常存善良的心意。”
大家通过平时对圣经的学习,都知道基督徒有两种生命。一个是身体的生命,另一个是灵的生命。耶稣基督为我们舍身,死而复活,并且胜过死亡, 带给我们复活和永生的盼望。其实圣经已经启示我们说,尘土仍归于地, 灵仍归于赐灵的神 (传12:7) 。 「论到睡了的人,我们不愿意弟兄们不知道,恐怕你们忧伤,像那些没有指望的人一样。我们若信耶稣死而复活了,那已经在耶稣里睡了的人,神也必将他与耶稣一同带来。」(帖前:4:13,14)
我们愿意给于弟兄家属最亲切最真诚的问候和关怀,盼望能给他们有一些安慰。我相信天父也会对他们天天看顾的。愿以这篇写得很粗浅的感言,与各位分享。
他像一个在人生旅途中走过那很长的艰辛岁月,实在太疲倦了,需要回家好好休息和好好睡眠的样子,也像是告诉主内的弟兄姐姊妹和那些教会里他喜爱的小朋友,他需要到一个安静的地方去休息, 告诉亲人他先走了。
此刻我想到: 啊! 他真的走了,他的灵巳经回到天家了。我的心里默想着,“于弟兄,你先走了,我们永远怀念你,也要学习你对主的忠诚和爱, 学习您对人常存善良的心意。”
大家通过平时对圣经的学习,都知道基督徒有两种生命。一个是身体的生命,另一个是灵的生命。耶稣基督为我们舍身,死而复活,并且胜过死亡, 带给我们复活和永生的盼望。其实圣经已经启示我们说,尘土仍归于地, 灵仍归于赐灵的神 (传12:7) 。 「论到睡了的人,我们不愿意弟兄们不知道,恐怕你们忧伤,像那些没有指望的人一样。我们若信耶稣死而复活了,那已经在耶稣里睡了的人,神也必将他与耶稣一同带来。」(帖前:4:13,14)
我们愿意给于弟兄家属最亲切最真诚的问候和关怀,盼望能给他们有一些安慰。我相信天父也会对他们天天看顾的。愿以这篇写得很粗浅的感言,与各位分享。
引以为鉴
Ginny
Ginny
今年夏天我有一个机会去德国演出,所以我便将旅游和工作拼在一起。我们一家四口先去巴黎待几天,然后便往柏林游覧一周。老公和两个儿子先回去美国,我便开始在汉诺威那里的十一天工作。
巴黎的夜色迷人,确是一个浪漫的城市。我却喜欢柏林和汉诺威,对德国的文化有好感。我们有好几次在地铁站找路,总有些好心人士主动问我们是否需要帮忙。德国所有的公共交通站都没有设置闸门,所以出入无阻;工作人员偶然可能会查票,若然有人被抓到没有买票,那人要付的罚款是颇高的,所以一般人都安份守法,不会坐「免费」车。
德国人一般做事效率很高,组织能力很强,德国是一个非常先进的国家,特别是在博物馆里,指示牌非常清楚,跟巴黎的博物馆不清不楚的指示牌相比,德国确胜一筹。在德国国家提供免费的医疗保险、教育(包括大学)、托儿院,当然这些福利都在工资上扣掉。德国人每周工作35个小时,一般过了六个月的试用期后便可以享受每年一个月至六周的有薪假期,年底会有一个月的工资作为奖金。很多商店在周日是关门的,他们在工作和生活上比较平衡。徳国是一个典型的社会资本主义模式的国家,她比较注重社群文化,跟美国个人主义的文化有所不同。
虽然今年六月底徳国国会议员投票通过同性婚姻合法化,德国在这方面还是比较慢步,其他很多欧洲国家早在2001年开始相继地通过同性婚姻合法化。这也让我们看到这个世界的走势越来越来远离圣经的教导。
德国有她值得叫人学习之处, 特别是对其他种族的尊重。前一阵子在美国维吉尼亚洲Charlottesville所发生的悲剧,大家都在电视或网上亲眼看到。川普三次所说的话,其中的两次内容引起媒体,他自己所在的共和党內的一些成员,民主党,以及群众的不满。前两个周六在美国教会听道时,牧师说川普提到「双方都有错」的说法显然是不对的,因为这不是美国人的信念,对其他种族的仇恨是不合乎圣经真理的。去年我在大选后的一个星期感觉到「白人至上论」随即高涨起来。事情发生在我家附近的CVS 排队付钱时,在我前面排队的白人告诉我, “你在美国,你要说英文,不然你回去你的‘F’国家。” 当时我正在跟一个中国人的邻居用中文打招呼和聊天,便回他一句,“我不是跟你说话,没有你的事。” 他盛势欺人说,“不只是我一个人这样想的,你不说英文便滚回你原来的国家,你是在美国。” 这样我便跟他吵起来,后来经理出来干涉这事,告诉那人闭囗,不然请他立刻离开那店。我家的老大在川普当选后的第二天遭受两个不同的白人在大学校园跟他说类同的话,叫他滚回他的老家,其中一个说他应该多谢白人让他居留在美国。我们的孩子都是土生土长的美国人,按理不应该受到这种歧视。但自从川普上任后,本来持种族歧视观点的人,都纷纷冒出来。以前那些人不敢公然开口,现在都放肆地叫非白人滚回老家去。 「白人至上论」和 「新纳粹」的拥护者在美国重卷风云,这跟德国有截然不同的风貌,美国是退后的,德国是往前的。
在第二次世界大战时,希特勒和纳粹党有组织地大肆屠杀犹太人和其他非犹太种族的人 (包括Poles, Roma, Slavs, Afro-Germans, disable people等)。当时教会也成为纳粹党的政治工具,唯独一小群的牧者反对纳粹党残害犹太人,他们坚定相信这种行为不是出于上帝的心意和基督教的教义! 他们暗中帮助犹太人逃亡,最后他们中的有些人被捕,有些人甚至被关进集中营,遭受枪决。徳国在1945 年战败后,致力改革,视过去的历史为国耻,因此引以为鉴,竭力粉碎一切象徴纳粹党的旗号、记念碑,带有憎恨的言语或文章,粉碎鼓吹种族歧视的活动等。在德国任何与纳粹党有关的东西都是不合法的。从外到内的改革是在1960后,首先是在教育上: 如何面对过去历史;老一辈的德国人不想提起旧事,但新一代的年轻人愿意面对不光彩的过去,免得重蹈覆辙。学校教材规定每一个学生都要去参观集中营,让他们明白前纳粹党之罪。现今在柏林及其他大城市,有不少纪念被屠杀的犹太人和其他受害者的碑。在博物馆、旅游区和书店,随时可以看到指摘希特勒和纳粹党的刋物。由此可见德国对其他种族比较尊重,能够接纳其他文化,非常国际化。在这方面,我很欣赏徳国,我不是说她的国民中完全没有歧视其他种族,在某些地区的德国人对穆斯林和伊斯兰教的新移民有所排挤。但因执政者严禁新纳粹主义和种族仇恨,所以游客或当地人做希特勒致敬的手势是违法的,会受到罚款或入狱的惩罚。
种族歧视在哪里都有,只是大小程度不同。有些华人对黑人和墨西哥人也有歧视。究竟歧视是否合乎圣经的教导?创世记1:27: “神就照着自己的形像造人,乃是照着祂的形像造男造女。” 我们是从一个种族而出,是亚当和夏娃的后代。约翰福音3:16: “神爱世人,甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信祂的,不至灭亡,反得永生。” 不论我们的肤色是白、黑、黄、红或棕色,我们是神所爱的世人。圣经虽然没有清楚记载不同的种族和肤色的根源;但从洪水灭世之后(创7-9章),挪亚和妻子及三儿子(闪、含和雅弗)和儿妇出方舟,他们的后裔都分散全地。创世记11 章1-9 节记载当时天下人的口音言语,都是一様的,但人要建造一座城和塔,塔顶通天,为要传掦人的名,所以神在那里变乱他们的口音,他们因言语彼此不通,便停工并且分散到全地,那城名叫巴别(就是变乱的意思)。人们散居在各处后的语言、地理环境、水土、气候和资源不一样,可能经年累月后便在肤色和面容轮框上有所不同,但正常人的五官就是五官,人不可能有猫儿狗儿的五官。 2016 年丹麦一家旅游机构制作了一个DNA测验录像,叫做DNA Journey, 结果出入意外,许多人发现自己的祖先来自不同的种族,3成是这个血统,1成是那个血统等等。这个制作有一个重点,我们是一个族类,今天跟我们不同肤色的人的祖先,有可能也是我们的祖先,从圣经的角度看,我们都是始祖亚当夏娃及挪亚的后裔。若大家对这看法是共识,那我们对跟自己不一样的人便会有所尊重。
圣经说没有一个义人,因罪在我们的心里。当我们以自己的民族引而为荣,这个倒是没有问题,但一个民族的那份民族优越感高涨到看不起别的种族时,轻则不跟其他种族交往,重则到歧视、仇恨及杀害别的民族等。这种骄傲,自以为是的信念在腐蚀我们的社区和国家,这会引发分裂。基督徒应该有自己的立埸,当我们看到不公义,弱势群体被压迫,无辜民众被杀时,我们是否无动于衷?
"面对邪恶的沉默本身就是邪恶:神不会使我们无罪。不说话就是说话。不行动就是采取行动。Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. "(作者不详,可能是Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 反纳粹党的牧者,在集中营被处死)
曾经的失败不是永远的失败,人若愿意从过去的历史中学习,不再重蹈覆辙,引以为鉴,积极地去改进不良因素,是可以往前迈进的。基督徒的生命也是如此,我们能否跌倒后再爬起来?关键在乎是否能承认:“我错了,我愿意做对的事。(I am wrong, I am going to make it right.) ” 雅各书4:17说:“人若知道行善,却不去行,这就是他的罪了。”求主怜悯我们的国家,我们的元首和我们个人能勇敢地做该做的事。
巴黎的夜色迷人,确是一个浪漫的城市。我却喜欢柏林和汉诺威,对德国的文化有好感。我们有好几次在地铁站找路,总有些好心人士主动问我们是否需要帮忙。德国所有的公共交通站都没有设置闸门,所以出入无阻;工作人员偶然可能会查票,若然有人被抓到没有买票,那人要付的罚款是颇高的,所以一般人都安份守法,不会坐「免费」车。
德国人一般做事效率很高,组织能力很强,德国是一个非常先进的国家,特别是在博物馆里,指示牌非常清楚,跟巴黎的博物馆不清不楚的指示牌相比,德国确胜一筹。在德国国家提供免费的医疗保险、教育(包括大学)、托儿院,当然这些福利都在工资上扣掉。德国人每周工作35个小时,一般过了六个月的试用期后便可以享受每年一个月至六周的有薪假期,年底会有一个月的工资作为奖金。很多商店在周日是关门的,他们在工作和生活上比较平衡。徳国是一个典型的社会资本主义模式的国家,她比较注重社群文化,跟美国个人主义的文化有所不同。
虽然今年六月底徳国国会议员投票通过同性婚姻合法化,德国在这方面还是比较慢步,其他很多欧洲国家早在2001年开始相继地通过同性婚姻合法化。这也让我们看到这个世界的走势越来越来远离圣经的教导。
德国有她值得叫人学习之处, 特别是对其他种族的尊重。前一阵子在美国维吉尼亚洲Charlottesville所发生的悲剧,大家都在电视或网上亲眼看到。川普三次所说的话,其中的两次内容引起媒体,他自己所在的共和党內的一些成员,民主党,以及群众的不满。前两个周六在美国教会听道时,牧师说川普提到「双方都有错」的说法显然是不对的,因为这不是美国人的信念,对其他种族的仇恨是不合乎圣经真理的。去年我在大选后的一个星期感觉到「白人至上论」随即高涨起来。事情发生在我家附近的CVS 排队付钱时,在我前面排队的白人告诉我, “你在美国,你要说英文,不然你回去你的‘F’国家。” 当时我正在跟一个中国人的邻居用中文打招呼和聊天,便回他一句,“我不是跟你说话,没有你的事。” 他盛势欺人说,“不只是我一个人这样想的,你不说英文便滚回你原来的国家,你是在美国。” 这样我便跟他吵起来,后来经理出来干涉这事,告诉那人闭囗,不然请他立刻离开那店。我家的老大在川普当选后的第二天遭受两个不同的白人在大学校园跟他说类同的话,叫他滚回他的老家,其中一个说他应该多谢白人让他居留在美国。我们的孩子都是土生土长的美国人,按理不应该受到这种歧视。但自从川普上任后,本来持种族歧视观点的人,都纷纷冒出来。以前那些人不敢公然开口,现在都放肆地叫非白人滚回老家去。 「白人至上论」和 「新纳粹」的拥护者在美国重卷风云,这跟德国有截然不同的风貌,美国是退后的,德国是往前的。
在第二次世界大战时,希特勒和纳粹党有组织地大肆屠杀犹太人和其他非犹太种族的人 (包括Poles, Roma, Slavs, Afro-Germans, disable people等)。当时教会也成为纳粹党的政治工具,唯独一小群的牧者反对纳粹党残害犹太人,他们坚定相信这种行为不是出于上帝的心意和基督教的教义! 他们暗中帮助犹太人逃亡,最后他们中的有些人被捕,有些人甚至被关进集中营,遭受枪决。徳国在1945 年战败后,致力改革,视过去的历史为国耻,因此引以为鉴,竭力粉碎一切象徴纳粹党的旗号、记念碑,带有憎恨的言语或文章,粉碎鼓吹种族歧视的活动等。在德国任何与纳粹党有关的东西都是不合法的。从外到内的改革是在1960后,首先是在教育上: 如何面对过去历史;老一辈的德国人不想提起旧事,但新一代的年轻人愿意面对不光彩的过去,免得重蹈覆辙。学校教材规定每一个学生都要去参观集中营,让他们明白前纳粹党之罪。现今在柏林及其他大城市,有不少纪念被屠杀的犹太人和其他受害者的碑。在博物馆、旅游区和书店,随时可以看到指摘希特勒和纳粹党的刋物。由此可见德国对其他种族比较尊重,能够接纳其他文化,非常国际化。在这方面,我很欣赏徳国,我不是说她的国民中完全没有歧视其他种族,在某些地区的德国人对穆斯林和伊斯兰教的新移民有所排挤。但因执政者严禁新纳粹主义和种族仇恨,所以游客或当地人做希特勒致敬的手势是违法的,会受到罚款或入狱的惩罚。
种族歧视在哪里都有,只是大小程度不同。有些华人对黑人和墨西哥人也有歧视。究竟歧视是否合乎圣经的教导?创世记1:27: “神就照着自己的形像造人,乃是照着祂的形像造男造女。” 我们是从一个种族而出,是亚当和夏娃的后代。约翰福音3:16: “神爱世人,甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信祂的,不至灭亡,反得永生。” 不论我们的肤色是白、黑、黄、红或棕色,我们是神所爱的世人。圣经虽然没有清楚记载不同的种族和肤色的根源;但从洪水灭世之后(创7-9章),挪亚和妻子及三儿子(闪、含和雅弗)和儿妇出方舟,他们的后裔都分散全地。创世记11 章1-9 节记载当时天下人的口音言语,都是一様的,但人要建造一座城和塔,塔顶通天,为要传掦人的名,所以神在那里变乱他们的口音,他们因言语彼此不通,便停工并且分散到全地,那城名叫巴别(就是变乱的意思)。人们散居在各处后的语言、地理环境、水土、气候和资源不一样,可能经年累月后便在肤色和面容轮框上有所不同,但正常人的五官就是五官,人不可能有猫儿狗儿的五官。 2016 年丹麦一家旅游机构制作了一个DNA测验录像,叫做DNA Journey, 结果出入意外,许多人发现自己的祖先来自不同的种族,3成是这个血统,1成是那个血统等等。这个制作有一个重点,我们是一个族类,今天跟我们不同肤色的人的祖先,有可能也是我们的祖先,从圣经的角度看,我们都是始祖亚当夏娃及挪亚的后裔。若大家对这看法是共识,那我们对跟自己不一样的人便会有所尊重。
圣经说没有一个义人,因罪在我们的心里。当我们以自己的民族引而为荣,这个倒是没有问题,但一个民族的那份民族优越感高涨到看不起别的种族时,轻则不跟其他种族交往,重则到歧视、仇恨及杀害别的民族等。这种骄傲,自以为是的信念在腐蚀我们的社区和国家,这会引发分裂。基督徒应该有自己的立埸,当我们看到不公义,弱势群体被压迫,无辜民众被杀时,我们是否无动于衷?
"面对邪恶的沉默本身就是邪恶:神不会使我们无罪。不说话就是说话。不行动就是采取行动。Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. "(作者不详,可能是Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 反纳粹党的牧者,在集中营被处死)
曾经的失败不是永远的失败,人若愿意从过去的历史中学习,不再重蹈覆辙,引以为鉴,积极地去改进不良因素,是可以往前迈进的。基督徒的生命也是如此,我们能否跌倒后再爬起来?关键在乎是否能承认:“我错了,我愿意做对的事。(I am wrong, I am going to make it right.) ” 雅各书4:17说:“人若知道行善,却不去行,这就是他的罪了。”求主怜悯我们的国家,我们的元首和我们个人能勇敢地做该做的事。
戴安娜公主的悲剧收场
8/31/2017 黄家庆
8/31/2017 黄家庆
今天早上我在BBC(英国广播公司) 电台上听到纪念戴安娜公主死亡二十周年的节目说,这是好像神话故事的悲剧收场。
我们很多人都记得戴安娜公主原本是贵族,嫁进皇家后才成为公主。她很美丽及非常受欢迎, 但她的盛名却引致她的死亡。她的司机酒后驾车, 又因很多记者在电单车上追着她的车子, 以致失事。
她的好友们说她觉得很孤单, 因为很多她爱的人都离开她, 而她周围的人很多是想占她的便宜, 正如那些记者都是想拍到她的照片而得到钱。她在希腊的一些偏远的海岛上渡假, 希望避开那些记者们, 但他们乘直升机或船来找到她。
你对自己及你的儿女有些怎样的梦想呢? 若你的梦想成真, 是不是就真正很美好呢? 财富及名声会带来真正的快乐吗?
伟大的所罗门王写了著名的传道书(旧约圣经), 他重复地说, “虚空的虚空,虚空的虚空,凡事都是虚空。人一切的劳碌,就是他在日光之下的劳碌,有什么益处呢?”(一: 2,3). 他是世上最富有和最有智慧的人, 他要得的都得到了, 但他在尝尽一切, 又查究一切之后, 他这样写, “凡事都是虚空。”我们要作什么, 我们要得什么呢? 他说甚至人的智慧“也是虚空。”(二: 15) 他又说, “我所以恨恶生命,因为在日光之下所行的事,我都以为烦恼,都是虚空,都是捕风。”(二: 17)
他的结论及忠告是, “你趁着年幼,衰败的日子尚未来到,就是你所说,我毫无喜乐的那些年日未曾临近之先,当纪念造你的主。”(十二: 1). “这些事都已听见了,总意就是敬畏神,谨守他的诫命,这是人所当尽的本分,因为人所作的事,连一切隐藏的事,无论是善是恶,神都必审问。”(十二: 13,14)
我们很多人都记得戴安娜公主原本是贵族,嫁进皇家后才成为公主。她很美丽及非常受欢迎, 但她的盛名却引致她的死亡。她的司机酒后驾车, 又因很多记者在电单车上追着她的车子, 以致失事。
她的好友们说她觉得很孤单, 因为很多她爱的人都离开她, 而她周围的人很多是想占她的便宜, 正如那些记者都是想拍到她的照片而得到钱。她在希腊的一些偏远的海岛上渡假, 希望避开那些记者们, 但他们乘直升机或船来找到她。
你对自己及你的儿女有些怎样的梦想呢? 若你的梦想成真, 是不是就真正很美好呢? 财富及名声会带来真正的快乐吗?
伟大的所罗门王写了著名的传道书(旧约圣经), 他重复地说, “虚空的虚空,虚空的虚空,凡事都是虚空。人一切的劳碌,就是他在日光之下的劳碌,有什么益处呢?”(一: 2,3). 他是世上最富有和最有智慧的人, 他要得的都得到了, 但他在尝尽一切, 又查究一切之后, 他这样写, “凡事都是虚空。”我们要作什么, 我们要得什么呢? 他说甚至人的智慧“也是虚空。”(二: 15) 他又说, “我所以恨恶生命,因为在日光之下所行的事,我都以为烦恼,都是虚空,都是捕风。”(二: 17)
他的结论及忠告是, “你趁着年幼,衰败的日子尚未来到,就是你所说,我毫无喜乐的那些年日未曾临近之先,当纪念造你的主。”(十二: 1). “这些事都已听见了,总意就是敬畏神,谨守他的诫命,这是人所当尽的本分,因为人所作的事,连一切隐藏的事,无论是善是恶,神都必审问。”(十二: 13,14)
今夏的一些困惑
Lilly
Lilly
眨眼之间,夏天已逝,今年夏天过得很快很忙碌。我们有5年多没有回国了,今年夏天带着孩子们一起回中国参加夏令营并探望亲戚朋友。
这次回国,颇多的感触,似乎一言难尽。
我看到听到我至亲的朋友们一些濒临破碎或者已经破碎的婚姻故事,想要去帮助他们,可是却觉得没有力量。
我的一个好朋友离婚了,他们夫妻曾经是我和先生学习的榜样,丈夫打拼,妻子持家,两个人一主外,一主内,看起来美满风光撑起一个家。可是仿佛是突然之间,我再次听到有关他们消息的时候,知道这家竟然崩塌了。几年之后,两个人都重新开始了新的生活,可是心中仍然满满的怨愤。我的另一个朋友,婚姻20多年,表面上家庭完整,琴瑟和谐,可是我朋友却告诉我,他们彼此间没有话说,孩子是她们唯一的话题,还常常为了孩子的教育而争吵。
这些事情和谈话都让我很难过。
其实很多时候,我听到这样的事情都会觉得左耳朵进右耳朵出,根本不放心上。可是当同样的事情发生在自己周边亲近的人身上就觉得不一样。我做不到冷眼旁观置身事外,总想要去帮助我的朋友,不然我内心过不去,我试着从我的角度去说服别人,但是我发现大家的思维方式相去实在太远,常常我自以为的良好心愿却引起了别人的误会与怨恨。
这个夏天,我感觉沉静了不少。
我学会了聆听,真正的用心聆听,去体会别人内心真实的感受。常常我被反问,你说说我该怎么办?!换做以前,我会直截了当地说,你应该如何如何。可是现在,如果我一时之间找不到合适的话语去安慰或者回答,我就会咬着嘴唇,在心里默默祷告,求神赐我耐心来承受负能量的抱怨和牢骚,求神赐我敏锐的心来感受朋友的痛,也求神赐我智慧来帮助我的朋友走出困境。我也会求神赐给苦毒的人能有一颗饶恕的心,唯有先饶恕别人的过犯,才能有能力去爱周遭不可爱的人。
说到这里,我真心觉得,像我们教会姐妹小组这样的婚姻小组太重要了。
在小组里,姐妹们一起来学习神的话语和教导,互相关怀,在困苦与艰难中看见有与自己一起同行的同伴而不感到孤单,心中获得极大安慰,彼此汲取力量,这样的姐妹小组太重要了,这是神的祝福,是神为我们打开的一道门,即便是迷失在路上的羔羊,也许会籍着婚姻的学习,从过去错误的认知,归向正确的信仰和思维方向,回到主的身边。
我多么希望我们的姐妹小组可以用现代科技链接到遥远的朋友们真实的生活中啊。我尝试着让我的朋友们去寻找当地的教会,或者有相同信心的姐妹们一起组建的小组。可是,这太困难了。别人当我是神经病一样,他们张口就是“信教的人”,让我听着非常刺耳,没了勇气去引用神的话语。而且,世风浮躁,人们习惯于抱怨而不是感恩。我很明白,在没有大环境的情况下,清清楚楚看得到他们的问题,但却是爱莫能助,感觉非常无力。
神对每个人的使命和旨意都不同,我也还看不清神给我的使命是什么。如果有机会,我很愿意去帮助那些需要帮助的心。
这次回国,颇多的感触,似乎一言难尽。
我看到听到我至亲的朋友们一些濒临破碎或者已经破碎的婚姻故事,想要去帮助他们,可是却觉得没有力量。
我的一个好朋友离婚了,他们夫妻曾经是我和先生学习的榜样,丈夫打拼,妻子持家,两个人一主外,一主内,看起来美满风光撑起一个家。可是仿佛是突然之间,我再次听到有关他们消息的时候,知道这家竟然崩塌了。几年之后,两个人都重新开始了新的生活,可是心中仍然满满的怨愤。我的另一个朋友,婚姻20多年,表面上家庭完整,琴瑟和谐,可是我朋友却告诉我,他们彼此间没有话说,孩子是她们唯一的话题,还常常为了孩子的教育而争吵。
这些事情和谈话都让我很难过。
其实很多时候,我听到这样的事情都会觉得左耳朵进右耳朵出,根本不放心上。可是当同样的事情发生在自己周边亲近的人身上就觉得不一样。我做不到冷眼旁观置身事外,总想要去帮助我的朋友,不然我内心过不去,我试着从我的角度去说服别人,但是我发现大家的思维方式相去实在太远,常常我自以为的良好心愿却引起了别人的误会与怨恨。
这个夏天,我感觉沉静了不少。
我学会了聆听,真正的用心聆听,去体会别人内心真实的感受。常常我被反问,你说说我该怎么办?!换做以前,我会直截了当地说,你应该如何如何。可是现在,如果我一时之间找不到合适的话语去安慰或者回答,我就会咬着嘴唇,在心里默默祷告,求神赐我耐心来承受负能量的抱怨和牢骚,求神赐我敏锐的心来感受朋友的痛,也求神赐我智慧来帮助我的朋友走出困境。我也会求神赐给苦毒的人能有一颗饶恕的心,唯有先饶恕别人的过犯,才能有能力去爱周遭不可爱的人。
说到这里,我真心觉得,像我们教会姐妹小组这样的婚姻小组太重要了。
在小组里,姐妹们一起来学习神的话语和教导,互相关怀,在困苦与艰难中看见有与自己一起同行的同伴而不感到孤单,心中获得极大安慰,彼此汲取力量,这样的姐妹小组太重要了,这是神的祝福,是神为我们打开的一道门,即便是迷失在路上的羔羊,也许会籍着婚姻的学习,从过去错误的认知,归向正确的信仰和思维方向,回到主的身边。
我多么希望我们的姐妹小组可以用现代科技链接到遥远的朋友们真实的生活中啊。我尝试着让我的朋友们去寻找当地的教会,或者有相同信心的姐妹们一起组建的小组。可是,这太困难了。别人当我是神经病一样,他们张口就是“信教的人”,让我听着非常刺耳,没了勇气去引用神的话语。而且,世风浮躁,人们习惯于抱怨而不是感恩。我很明白,在没有大环境的情况下,清清楚楚看得到他们的问题,但却是爱莫能助,感觉非常无力。
神对每个人的使命和旨意都不同,我也还看不清神给我的使命是什么。如果有机会,我很愿意去帮助那些需要帮助的心。
“口中甜如蜜”
亢
亢
旧约时期,犹太人先知以西结被掳到巴比伦,神赐他一书卷,他吃了,口中觉得甜如蜜(结3:3);过了不久,心中甚苦,便觉忧忧闷闷(结3:15),因书内外都写着字,有哀号、叹息、悲痛的话。先知以西结时期,犹太人国破家亡,所罗门王建的圣殿被毁,耶路撒冷城也被毁了,犹太人被掳到巴比伦。神告诉以西结,祂要赐他们一颗肉心(结36:26),使他们弃掉偶像(36:26),神也要使遍满平原的枯骨活起来(37:1-14),犹太人身在异乡为奴70年后才被准予回国重整家园(耶25:12),虽然回归的人数只有49,897(拉2:64,会众+仆婢+歌唱的),他们不敬拜偶像了,但一直被异国高压统治着。
事隔五百多年,到了新约时期,基督徒被迫害,使徒约翰被放逐到拔摩海岛,神给他异像,天使给他一小书卷,他吃了,便觉口中甜如蜜;但肚子发苦” (启10:10),因神将要在末期,施行公义,严厉审判世人,灾难要临到大地,他得到的安慰是,在未期神会眷顾犹太人,主耶稣会快来。
那时,犹太人被罗马政府统治,圣殿(大希律王重修的)已被夷为平地,基督徒被迫离弃犹太国土,受到罗马王和异教徒的迫害,犹太人复国希望更遥遥无期。
时过一千九百年,作为后学人士,我为以西结书预言犹大平原的枯骨能活动起来而高兴,在第二次世界大战后,以色列终于在1948年复国。但在战争期间,德国希特勒政权为抢劫犹太人家产(和政治因素),在德国境内和欧洲各地,无所不用其极,杀戮六百万犹太人,(以色列人口在1967年只有2.745百万, 2016年人口达8.547百万),我想到这里,心中纳闷,未能在圣经找到这方面的提示,知道隐秘的事是属于我们的神(申29:29)。我们中国人说恶有恶报,什么时候去报?谁去报?谁晓得?
在圣经中神警告列国,当祂对犹太人稍微恼怒,兴起别国管教祂的子民时,祂却不容忍别国使用残酷手段。祂会追讨这国无理流人血的罪(亚1: 15 -17)。看近代世界历史,联合国在1947年通过准许犹太人复国,至今已有70年(以色列在1948年立国)。第二次大战后,德国经济发展甚速,在1960-70年间,需用大量劳工,聘雇从波兰、希腊、土耳其等国的劳工,而土耳其工人(回教)更可携同家属居住在德国,因回教徒生养繁多,三十多年,德国本土回教徒已增至三百万人。在这期间,德国人口增长缓慢。近几年,中东战乱,涌到德国和欧洲的回教国难民可能已达二百万(听说,有六十万到了德国后,其余的分散到周围邻国),据德国官方估计,二、三十年后,传统白人会成少数民族,常见的面孔将是黑头发的了。
我要说的,是巧合的70,旧约时期犹太人亡国70年后回归故土。第二次世界大战时期,德国消灭国内犹太人,事过70年,填补人口空缺的大多是从回教国来的人民,这包括从非州每天从海道来的。而回教徒更要在欧洲实行伊斯里兰教法(Sheria law),欧洲各国的国界将变成有形无实。写到这处,我潜意识中那种武侠小说里的报复思维升起,犹太人伸了冤,我口里甜了一阵子,将来如何,我只能说,世事如棋局局新,但眼见回教已从中东,漫廷到广大非州和亚州,在欧州生根,现向北美进军,想到这一切,我肚子发闷起来。
事隔五百多年,到了新约时期,基督徒被迫害,使徒约翰被放逐到拔摩海岛,神给他异像,天使给他一小书卷,他吃了,便觉口中甜如蜜;但肚子发苦” (启10:10),因神将要在末期,施行公义,严厉审判世人,灾难要临到大地,他得到的安慰是,在未期神会眷顾犹太人,主耶稣会快来。
那时,犹太人被罗马政府统治,圣殿(大希律王重修的)已被夷为平地,基督徒被迫离弃犹太国土,受到罗马王和异教徒的迫害,犹太人复国希望更遥遥无期。
时过一千九百年,作为后学人士,我为以西结书预言犹大平原的枯骨能活动起来而高兴,在第二次世界大战后,以色列终于在1948年复国。但在战争期间,德国希特勒政权为抢劫犹太人家产(和政治因素),在德国境内和欧洲各地,无所不用其极,杀戮六百万犹太人,(以色列人口在1967年只有2.745百万, 2016年人口达8.547百万),我想到这里,心中纳闷,未能在圣经找到这方面的提示,知道隐秘的事是属于我们的神(申29:29)。我们中国人说恶有恶报,什么时候去报?谁去报?谁晓得?
在圣经中神警告列国,当祂对犹太人稍微恼怒,兴起别国管教祂的子民时,祂却不容忍别国使用残酷手段。祂会追讨这国无理流人血的罪(亚1: 15 -17)。看近代世界历史,联合国在1947年通过准许犹太人复国,至今已有70年(以色列在1948年立国)。第二次大战后,德国经济发展甚速,在1960-70年间,需用大量劳工,聘雇从波兰、希腊、土耳其等国的劳工,而土耳其工人(回教)更可携同家属居住在德国,因回教徒生养繁多,三十多年,德国本土回教徒已增至三百万人。在这期间,德国人口增长缓慢。近几年,中东战乱,涌到德国和欧洲的回教国难民可能已达二百万(听说,有六十万到了德国后,其余的分散到周围邻国),据德国官方估计,二、三十年后,传统白人会成少数民族,常见的面孔将是黑头发的了。
我要说的,是巧合的70,旧约时期犹太人亡国70年后回归故土。第二次世界大战时期,德国消灭国内犹太人,事过70年,填补人口空缺的大多是从回教国来的人民,这包括从非州每天从海道来的。而回教徒更要在欧洲实行伊斯里兰教法(Sheria law),欧洲各国的国界将变成有形无实。写到这处,我潜意识中那种武侠小说里的报复思维升起,犹太人伸了冤,我口里甜了一阵子,将来如何,我只能说,世事如棋局局新,但眼见回教已从中东,漫廷到广大非州和亚州,在欧州生根,现向北美进军,想到这一切,我肚子发闷起来。
亚伯拉罕演义 (反迷信篇)
(米迦勒8/16/2017)
(米迦勒8/16/2017)
亚伯拉罕是基督教、犹太教和伊斯兰教的共同鼻祖,这三教毫无例外地反对拜偶像的迷信行为。
上周有些朋友在国内学习亚伯拉罕的生平时,我们提到一些犹太人有关亚伯拉罕的传说。这里补充演绎一下与大家分享。国人迷信者甚多,这些故事对他们或可有所启发。
亚伯拉罕小时候的名字叫亚伯兰。他从小生活在两河流域,一个充满迷信的环境里。 约书亚记24:2说到,亚伯拉罕的父亲拿鹤在老家是拜别神的,创世记也记载他老家的其他亲属(如拉班)拜偶像。
但是小亚伯兰观察自然界,注意到星星月亮管不了白昼,太阳一到晚上就要降下,它们都不可能是人类终极的敬拜对象。地上万物也相生相克,无论哪个有形象的东西都不是值得敬拜的万有之因。
亚伯兰的爸爸开偶像店,生意兴隆,但是少年亚伯兰反迷信,有一天他乘爸爸外出时,把店里的偶像都砸碎了。他爸爸回家追问是怎么回事,亚伯兰说那些偶像发生了激烈的争吵, 互相打起架来,最终同归于尽了。他爸爸说,这些偶像既不能说又不能动,怎么会吵嘴打架呢?亚伯兰说,既然他们既不能说又不能动,连小孩都不如,那你们干啥还拜他们呢?
亚伯兰后来在99岁时,万有之因的全能者与他立约,他被改名为亚伯拉罕,是多国之父的意思(参创17章) 。 几千年的历史证明,这个新名字的确是名符其实的。亚伯拉罕的肉身和思想的后代,有基督教、犹太教和伊斯兰教,这些人已占人类总数的一大半,其中更有很多广为人知的人物,如科学家爱因斯坦(犹太人) 、牛顿(基督徒) 、思想家马克思、斯宾诺沙、富翁扎克伯格、演艺圈的斯皮尔斯伯格、Seinfeld、宗教领袖摩西、穆罕默德,等等。
亚伯拉罕好客,75岁时(参创12章)把家搬到了亚非欧三洲交界的交通要地,在那里支搭帐篷,招待来往的国际客人,并向他们传播对真正万有之因(独一真神)的纯正信仰。亚伯拉罕和他的太太撒拉用美好的食物饮料招待客人们。每当客人们吃喝饱足感谢他们时,亚伯拉罕就坚持说,其实我们都应该“baruch sheachalnu mishelo, uvtuvo hayinu ”("称颂那一位,我们从他那儿得食,并因他的美善而存活。”) ("Blessed be the One, from what is His we have eaten, and by His goodness we live.") (这一句很简单的话, 至今犹太人饭后谢饭还用,特别是方便用来教导小孩子们。)
有一天迎来的客人照常受到盛情款待,歇息之时,亚伯拉罕赫然发现这客人竟还在拜偶像!对于亚伯拉罕来说,有人竟然对人手所造的木偶感恩,认为这些偶像可以使风调雨顺庄稼丰收能以做面包,认为这些偶像可以使牛羊产奶能以供人喝,认为这些偶像可以使男人有脚力能放羊、有手会砌烘炉,认为这些偶像可以使女人有智慧会发面烘烤做食物,认为这些偶像可以使主人客人都有味觉有好胃口能享受美食,...... 亚伯拉罕感到这样的迷信简直是极其可笑的事!难道人看不出这些木偶自己有口不能吃、有脚不能行、有眼不能看吗?!这简直是对真正万有之因的一种侮辱!
亚伯拉罕出于失望和愤怒,很想叫仆人把拜偶像的客人赶走。这时,突然从天上有声音和亚伯拉罕说话:“亚伯拉罕,对这些拜偶像的人,我已经忍受了几千年了,你难道对他们一夜都没法忍受吗?”
上周有些朋友在国内学习亚伯拉罕的生平时,我们提到一些犹太人有关亚伯拉罕的传说。这里补充演绎一下与大家分享。国人迷信者甚多,这些故事对他们或可有所启发。
亚伯拉罕小时候的名字叫亚伯兰。他从小生活在两河流域,一个充满迷信的环境里。 约书亚记24:2说到,亚伯拉罕的父亲拿鹤在老家是拜别神的,创世记也记载他老家的其他亲属(如拉班)拜偶像。
但是小亚伯兰观察自然界,注意到星星月亮管不了白昼,太阳一到晚上就要降下,它们都不可能是人类终极的敬拜对象。地上万物也相生相克,无论哪个有形象的东西都不是值得敬拜的万有之因。
亚伯兰的爸爸开偶像店,生意兴隆,但是少年亚伯兰反迷信,有一天他乘爸爸外出时,把店里的偶像都砸碎了。他爸爸回家追问是怎么回事,亚伯兰说那些偶像发生了激烈的争吵, 互相打起架来,最终同归于尽了。他爸爸说,这些偶像既不能说又不能动,怎么会吵嘴打架呢?亚伯兰说,既然他们既不能说又不能动,连小孩都不如,那你们干啥还拜他们呢?
亚伯兰后来在99岁时,万有之因的全能者与他立约,他被改名为亚伯拉罕,是多国之父的意思(参创17章) 。 几千年的历史证明,这个新名字的确是名符其实的。亚伯拉罕的肉身和思想的后代,有基督教、犹太教和伊斯兰教,这些人已占人类总数的一大半,其中更有很多广为人知的人物,如科学家爱因斯坦(犹太人) 、牛顿(基督徒) 、思想家马克思、斯宾诺沙、富翁扎克伯格、演艺圈的斯皮尔斯伯格、Seinfeld、宗教领袖摩西、穆罕默德,等等。
亚伯拉罕好客,75岁时(参创12章)把家搬到了亚非欧三洲交界的交通要地,在那里支搭帐篷,招待来往的国际客人,并向他们传播对真正万有之因(独一真神)的纯正信仰。亚伯拉罕和他的太太撒拉用美好的食物饮料招待客人们。每当客人们吃喝饱足感谢他们时,亚伯拉罕就坚持说,其实我们都应该“baruch sheachalnu mishelo, uvtuvo hayinu ”("称颂那一位,我们从他那儿得食,并因他的美善而存活。”) ("Blessed be the One, from what is His we have eaten, and by His goodness we live.") (这一句很简单的话, 至今犹太人饭后谢饭还用,特别是方便用来教导小孩子们。)
有一天迎来的客人照常受到盛情款待,歇息之时,亚伯拉罕赫然发现这客人竟还在拜偶像!对于亚伯拉罕来说,有人竟然对人手所造的木偶感恩,认为这些偶像可以使风调雨顺庄稼丰收能以做面包,认为这些偶像可以使牛羊产奶能以供人喝,认为这些偶像可以使男人有脚力能放羊、有手会砌烘炉,认为这些偶像可以使女人有智慧会发面烘烤做食物,认为这些偶像可以使主人客人都有味觉有好胃口能享受美食,...... 亚伯拉罕感到这样的迷信简直是极其可笑的事!难道人看不出这些木偶自己有口不能吃、有脚不能行、有眼不能看吗?!这简直是对真正万有之因的一种侮辱!
亚伯拉罕出于失望和愤怒,很想叫仆人把拜偶像的客人赶走。这时,突然从天上有声音和亚伯拉罕说话:“亚伯拉罕,对这些拜偶像的人,我已经忍受了几千年了,你难道对他们一夜都没法忍受吗?”
Learn from Past Failure
Ginny
Ginny
This summer I had an opportunity to perform in Germany; therefore I combined my family vacation with work. We went sightseeing in Paris for a few days and then spent a week in Berlin. Philip and our two sons then went back to America while I did my work in Hannover for eleven days.
Paris is beautiful at night and is truly a romantic city. However, I like Berlin and Hannover, especially the culture of Germany. A few times as we were looking for directions in the subway, people came to us and asked if we needed help. In Germany, all the subway stations have no gate, this is a honor system that people will purchase their tickets. Occasionally, the under-covered staff may check the passengers' ticket; if they get caught, they have to pay a heavy fine. Most of the people in Germany will not cheat for a free ride.
Most Germans are quite efficient and organized; they have high performance with less working hours. The country is quite advanced in many ways; particularly the museums' directions and signs are very clear, unlike the Paris museums' that are so confusing! Germany offers free health care, university education and child care. These benefits are supported by deduction from the employees' paycheck. They work 35 hours weekly, and receive one month to six weeks paid vacation annually after a 6 month probation period. Towards the year end, employees get one month bonus pay. A lot of stores close on Sundays. Germans try to balance their life and work. They are a typical model of social capitalism. They live more as a community, unlike Americans who live more as individuals .
Although Germany passed the same sex marriage law last June , she is a bit slow compared with her European neighbors that had passed similar laws since 2001. Almost half of the European countries support same sex marriage and we would see the world moving further and further away from the teaching of the scripture.
However, German still has something that we can learn, particularly the respect of people from other races. A few weeks ago we all saw from the television and online news the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump's two out of his three comments were criticized by the media, some of his Republic party's members, the Democrats, two former presidents and people. Two weeks ago when we attended Harvest Bible Chapel's Saturday service, Pastor McDonald said on the pulpit that Trump's comments on "both sides" were totally wrong. He remarked that this is not American, racial hatred is not biblical. Last year shortly after Trump was elected, I experienced the "White supremacy" rising power. The incident happened in CVS nearby my home, while I was waiting in the line to pay, the man in front of me said, "You are in America, you need to speak English, otherwise you go back to your 'F' country." I was talking to my Chinese neighbor in Chinese while waiting in line. Then I said to him, "I am not talking to you, that is none of your business." He burst out and raised his voice, "I am not the only one that think like this. If you do not speak English, then you GO BACK to your own country. You are in America now." We started to quarrel in the store, the store manager stepped in and told him to shut up. The manger,a white man, warned him that he had to leave immediately if he did not stop. My college son Gershom also received similar comments the next day after Trump was elected in campus. Two different white people told him to go back to his own country; one said that he should be grateful that white people let him stay in here. Both of my sons were born and raised in here and neither of them should receive this kind of racist talk. Since Trump was elected, those closet racists feel empowered and step out openly. In the past those words were not acceptable and now they have a green light to say them out: "Go back to your country!" White Supremacy and neo-Nazis are making their way back in America. This is in contrast to Germany; Germany has moved forward and America is moving backwards.
During the WWII, Hitler and his Nazi regime systematically conducted massacre of the Jews and other non-Jews (including Poles, Roma, Slavs, Afro-Germans, disabled people, etc). The churches in Germany also collaborated with the Nazis as political tools. There were a few pastors that resisted Nazi's evil acts on the Jews; they believed firmly that is not consistent with God's teaching and Christianity. Some helped the Jews to escape and ended up being tortured, sent to concentration camps and were executed. After Germany was defeated in 1945, she learnt a lesson. The country is shameful for her history and commits to reform by not repeating the same mistake. Therefore, any Hitler or Nazi symbols, flags, monuments, hate speech and articles, racist speech and comments or activities are illegal and forbidden. The reformation was internalized after 1960 with education breakthrough by implementing the new curriculum to study their history; all students MUST visit the concentration camps to understand the evil of the Nazis and what they did to the Jews and others. The young generation has no problem to confront their past history, but the older generation simply want to forget their ugly past. Today in all the big cities in Germany, you can see lots of memorials, monuments, and museums to remember those victims under the Nazi regime. The condemnation of Hitler and Nazi on articles, documents and books are widely available in tourist areas, bookstores, etc. Germany is quite sensitive to other races, they respect others who are different from them, Berlin & Hannover are very international and diverse cities. I am not saying there is no racial discrimination in Germany; the locals told me there are some places in Germany that resist Muslims and Islamic immigrants. However, the government legislated that any neo-Nazi gesture, speech and activity or racial hatred are illegal. People or tourist who do a Hitler salute will be fined or put in prison.
Racial discrimination exists anywhere, it is just a matter of degree (or intensity). Among our Chinese people, some discriminate against blacks and Mexicans. What exactly does the scripture say about racial discrimination? In Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Therefore, we all are from one race and descended from Adam & Eve. In John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " Whether you are white, red, black, brown or yellow, you are the people that God loves that He gave his son to save the world. The scripture did not mention why people have different skin colors and racial features. After the flood (Genesis 7-9), Noah, his wife and three sons (Shem, Hem & Japheth) and their wives came out from the ark, and from them came the people who were scattered all over the earth (Genesis 9:19). Genesis 11:1-9 recorded: the whole world had one language and a common speech. However, they wanted to build a city with a tower that would reach to the heavens, so that they could make a name for themselves. There God confused their languages, so that they would not communicate and stopped building the city which was called Babel (a confused noise/voice).They started to scatter over all the earth. Due to theirin different geographical environment, soil and water, resources, weather and speaking different languages for an extensive period of time, people look different in skin color and facial features. However, human features are still human, we do not have facial features like a dog or a cat. In 2016, a Danish travel agent produced a film on DNA testing on a group of diverse people called DNA Journey. The test results were surprisingly profound. Many discovered theirare from all over the places, thirty percent this and 10 percent that ... The key message of this film - we all belong to one race: human. Today we may face someone from a different race that perhaps shares the same ancestor that we have. From apoint of view, we all come from one ancestry - Adam and Eve and Noah. If we all understand this, we will respect people who are from different races.
The scripture said no one isbecause sin is in our hearts. When we are proud of our race, there is nothing wrong. But if we think our race is superior to others we look down on them. We react by distancing ourselves from them,against them, and to the extreme fuming up hate and violence against them. These prejudice, pride and self-righteousness corrode our community and country and only cause division. Christians should have a stand when we see unrighteousness,of the under-privileged and victimization of the innocents. Are we going to numb ourselves?
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. (unknown author, may be Dietrich Bonhoeffer - A pastor who was against the Nazis and was executed in the concentration camp.)
Failure once does not mean failure forever; if we are willing to learn from our history and learn not to repeat the same mistake, and are eager to change, we can move forward. Christian lives are just like this; can we climb up after a fall? Thequestion is our willingness to admit, "I am wrong, I am going to make it right." James 4:17 said, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. " We pray that God have mercy on our country, our leaders and us that we have the courage to do what is right.
Paris is beautiful at night and is truly a romantic city. However, I like Berlin and Hannover, especially the culture of Germany. A few times as we were looking for directions in the subway, people came to us and asked if we needed help. In Germany, all the subway stations have no gate, this is a honor system that people will purchase their tickets. Occasionally, the under-covered staff may check the passengers' ticket; if they get caught, they have to pay a heavy fine. Most of the people in Germany will not cheat for a free ride.
Most Germans are quite efficient and organized; they have high performance with less working hours. The country is quite advanced in many ways; particularly the museums' directions and signs are very clear, unlike the Paris museums' that are so confusing! Germany offers free health care, university education and child care. These benefits are supported by deduction from the employees' paycheck. They work 35 hours weekly, and receive one month to six weeks paid vacation annually after a 6 month probation period. Towards the year end, employees get one month bonus pay. A lot of stores close on Sundays. Germans try to balance their life and work. They are a typical model of social capitalism. They live more as a community, unlike Americans who live more as individuals .
Although Germany passed the same sex marriage law last June , she is a bit slow compared with her European neighbors that had passed similar laws since 2001. Almost half of the European countries support same sex marriage and we would see the world moving further and further away from the teaching of the scripture.
However, German still has something that we can learn, particularly the respect of people from other races. A few weeks ago we all saw from the television and online news the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump's two out of his three comments were criticized by the media, some of his Republic party's members, the Democrats, two former presidents and people. Two weeks ago when we attended Harvest Bible Chapel's Saturday service, Pastor McDonald said on the pulpit that Trump's comments on "both sides" were totally wrong. He remarked that this is not American, racial hatred is not biblical. Last year shortly after Trump was elected, I experienced the "White supremacy" rising power. The incident happened in CVS nearby my home, while I was waiting in the line to pay, the man in front of me said, "You are in America, you need to speak English, otherwise you go back to your 'F' country." I was talking to my Chinese neighbor in Chinese while waiting in line. Then I said to him, "I am not talking to you, that is none of your business." He burst out and raised his voice, "I am not the only one that think like this. If you do not speak English, then you GO BACK to your own country. You are in America now." We started to quarrel in the store, the store manager stepped in and told him to shut up. The manger,a white man, warned him that he had to leave immediately if he did not stop. My college son Gershom also received similar comments the next day after Trump was elected in campus. Two different white people told him to go back to his own country; one said that he should be grateful that white people let him stay in here. Both of my sons were born and raised in here and neither of them should receive this kind of racist talk. Since Trump was elected, those closet racists feel empowered and step out openly. In the past those words were not acceptable and now they have a green light to say them out: "Go back to your country!" White Supremacy and neo-Nazis are making their way back in America. This is in contrast to Germany; Germany has moved forward and America is moving backwards.
During the WWII, Hitler and his Nazi regime systematically conducted massacre of the Jews and other non-Jews (including Poles, Roma, Slavs, Afro-Germans, disabled people, etc). The churches in Germany also collaborated with the Nazis as political tools. There were a few pastors that resisted Nazi's evil acts on the Jews; they believed firmly that is not consistent with God's teaching and Christianity. Some helped the Jews to escape and ended up being tortured, sent to concentration camps and were executed. After Germany was defeated in 1945, she learnt a lesson. The country is shameful for her history and commits to reform by not repeating the same mistake. Therefore, any Hitler or Nazi symbols, flags, monuments, hate speech and articles, racist speech and comments or activities are illegal and forbidden. The reformation was internalized after 1960 with education breakthrough by implementing the new curriculum to study their history; all students MUST visit the concentration camps to understand the evil of the Nazis and what they did to the Jews and others. The young generation has no problem to confront their past history, but the older generation simply want to forget their ugly past. Today in all the big cities in Germany, you can see lots of memorials, monuments, and museums to remember those victims under the Nazi regime. The condemnation of Hitler and Nazi on articles, documents and books are widely available in tourist areas, bookstores, etc. Germany is quite sensitive to other races, they respect others who are different from them, Berlin & Hannover are very international and diverse cities. I am not saying there is no racial discrimination in Germany; the locals told me there are some places in Germany that resist Muslims and Islamic immigrants. However, the government legislated that any neo-Nazi gesture, speech and activity or racial hatred are illegal. People or tourist who do a Hitler salute will be fined or put in prison.
Racial discrimination exists anywhere, it is just a matter of degree (or intensity). Among our Chinese people, some discriminate against blacks and Mexicans. What exactly does the scripture say about racial discrimination? In Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Therefore, we all are from one race and descended from Adam & Eve. In John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " Whether you are white, red, black, brown or yellow, you are the people that God loves that He gave his son to save the world. The scripture did not mention why people have different skin colors and racial features. After the flood (Genesis 7-9), Noah, his wife and three sons (Shem, Hem & Japheth) and their wives came out from the ark, and from them came the people who were scattered all over the earth (Genesis 9:19). Genesis 11:1-9 recorded: the whole world had one language and a common speech. However, they wanted to build a city with a tower that would reach to the heavens, so that they could make a name for themselves. There God confused their languages, so that they would not communicate and stopped building the city which was called Babel (a confused noise/voice).They started to scatter over all the earth. Due to theirin different geographical environment, soil and water, resources, weather and speaking different languages for an extensive period of time, people look different in skin color and facial features. However, human features are still human, we do not have facial features like a dog or a cat. In 2016, a Danish travel agent produced a film on DNA testing on a group of diverse people called DNA Journey. The test results were surprisingly profound. Many discovered theirare from all over the places, thirty percent this and 10 percent that ... The key message of this film - we all belong to one race: human. Today we may face someone from a different race that perhaps shares the same ancestor that we have. From apoint of view, we all come from one ancestry - Adam and Eve and Noah. If we all understand this, we will respect people who are from different races.
The scripture said no one isbecause sin is in our hearts. When we are proud of our race, there is nothing wrong. But if we think our race is superior to others we look down on them. We react by distancing ourselves from them,against them, and to the extreme fuming up hate and violence against them. These prejudice, pride and self-righteousness corrode our community and country and only cause division. Christians should have a stand when we see unrighteousness,of the under-privileged and victimization of the innocents. Are we going to numb ourselves?
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. (unknown author, may be Dietrich Bonhoeffer - A pastor who was against the Nazis and was executed in the concentration camp.)
Failure once does not mean failure forever; if we are willing to learn from our history and learn not to repeat the same mistake, and are eager to change, we can move forward. Christian lives are just like this; can we climb up after a fall? Thequestion is our willingness to admit, "I am wrong, I am going to make it right." James 4:17 said, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. " We pray that God have mercy on our country, our leaders and us that we have the courage to do what is right.
Princess Diana's Tragic Ending
8/31/2017 Philip Wong
8/31/2017 Philip Wong
This morning I heard on the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) radio program on the 20th Anniversary of Princess Diana's death. It was called a Fairy Tale that had a tragic ending.
Many of us may still remember Princess Diana as a noble woman that became a princess by getting married to the prince. She was beautiful and so popular that her fame contributed to her death. Her driver, who was somewhat drunk crashed the car because many reporters were chasing the car on motorcycles.
Her good friends said that she felt very lonely as she was growing up as many people she loved including her parents left her. Many people that surrounded her were trying to take advantage of her, like the reporters that tried to make money by getting pictures of her. She was trying to get away from reporters on some remote Greek islands for a vacation but they came on helicopters and boats.
What are your dreams for yourself and your children? Will they be really that good even if they become true? Will wealth and fame bring real happiness?
The great King Solomon wrote the famous old testament Ecclesiastes and repeatedly said, “Vanity of vanities,...... all is vanity.profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? ”(1:2,3) He was the richest and wisest man on earth and had everything he wanted but that was what he wrote after he tried and studied everything—— “All is vanity. ”What are we doing and trying to get? He said even human wisdom “also is vanity”(2:15) and said,“Therefore I hated life...... all is vanity. ”(2:17)
His conclusion and advice was, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. ”(12:1) “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ”(2:13,14)
Many of us may still remember Princess Diana as a noble woman that became a princess by getting married to the prince. She was beautiful and so popular that her fame contributed to her death. Her driver, who was somewhat drunk crashed the car because many reporters were chasing the car on motorcycles.
Her good friends said that she felt very lonely as she was growing up as many people she loved including her parents left her. Many people that surrounded her were trying to take advantage of her, like the reporters that tried to make money by getting pictures of her. She was trying to get away from reporters on some remote Greek islands for a vacation but they came on helicopters and boats.
What are your dreams for yourself and your children? Will they be really that good even if they become true? Will wealth and fame bring real happiness?
The great King Solomon wrote the famous old testament Ecclesiastes and repeatedly said, “Vanity of vanities,...... all is vanity.profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? ”(1:2,3) He was the richest and wisest man on earth and had everything he wanted but that was what he wrote after he tried and studied everything—— “All is vanity. ”What are we doing and trying to get? He said even human wisdom “also is vanity”(2:15) and said,“Therefore I hated life...... all is vanity. ”(2:17)
His conclusion and advice was, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. ”(12:1) “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ”(2:13,14)