编者的话
秋意渐浓，学校也开课了。伊州有些学校是在网上授课，有些是限制学生人数在学校上课。一些行业也开业了。大部份人接受了出外带口罩，保持六英尺距离，与疫毒共存的事实。
怀恩堂 决定今年内仍在网上聚会，明年再作打算。这场疫情改变了大家的生活和计划。
本期文章，Laurie写的《教会》，衷心感谢神带领怀恩堂在瘟疫肆虐下的网上聚会；红梅的《半年》，分享她感恩的两件事情；菲子的《我的祷告》 ，坚持为女儿祷告，令人感动；胡水林的《回家的路很难》，因回中国的机票一再延迟，引发他对回天国的感想；苍灵的《无奈的力量》，细述她预备做手术的心态历程； Wilson牧师的“ Do You Have Two Stomachs? The Bible and Social Justice”，探讨基督徒面对社会问题与圣经的教导时，会否变成两面人的困境。
因疫情的原故，今年教会不会举行感恩节聚餐，也不会有圣诞节的联欢会。然而我们感恩的心不会因取消聚餐而减轻，反而更加浓厚。怀恩堂无论老少都很健康，上班的弟兄姐妹仍有工作。有好些家庭在家里上班，增加家里的温馨甜蜜。求主预备我们每一个人，随时随刻都能分享神的恩典，愿我们更加亲近神。
怀恩堂 决定今年内仍在网上聚会，明年再作打算。这场疫情改变了大家的生活和计划。
本期文章，Laurie写的《教会》，衷心感谢神带领怀恩堂在瘟疫肆虐下的网上聚会；红梅的《半年》，分享她感恩的两件事情；菲子的《我的祷告》 ，坚持为女儿祷告，令人感动；胡水林的《回家的路很难》，因回中国的机票一再延迟，引发他对回天国的感想；苍灵的《无奈的力量》，细述她预备做手术的心态历程； Wilson牧师的“ Do You Have Two Stomachs? The Bible and Social Justice”，探讨基督徒面对社会问题与圣经的教导时，会否变成两面人的困境。
因疫情的原故，今年教会不会举行感恩节聚餐，也不会有圣诞节的联欢会。然而我们感恩的心不会因取消聚餐而减轻，反而更加浓厚。怀恩堂无论老少都很健康，上班的弟兄姐妹仍有工作。有好些家庭在家里上班，增加家里的温馨甜蜜。求主预备我们每一个人，随时随刻都能分享神的恩典，愿我们更加亲近神。
教会
（作者：Laurie Lau）
（作者：Laurie Lau）
因为疫情的关系，教会没有开放已经很长时间了。我仍是非常感恩，借着高科技的方法继续在网上聚会，得到属灵的喂养。我衷心感谢神! 神自己亲自来带领，在不同的光景给我们不同的恩典，这都是神的怜悯和预备。
我们作为基督徒，在这个非常时期，应该怎样做呢？今期主日学查的
《以斯帖记》，虽然没有一处提到神的名字，却处处记着神的作为，许多事情的背后都有神的安排！我们要好好学习，遵从 神的旨意，不能凭着自己的意愿行事，凡事借着祷告，寻求从上头来的力量。
教会是基督的身体，现在神儿女要作的是：凡事谦虚，温柔忍耐，用爱心互相宽容，彼此配搭，竭力去保守教会合一，耐心等待，让教会可以同心合意为福音作见证，让神的名得荣耀。
我们作为基督徒，在这个非常时期，应该怎样做呢？今期主日学查的
《以斯帖记》，虽然没有一处提到神的名字，却处处记着神的作为，许多事情的背后都有神的安排！我们要好好学习，遵从 神的旨意，不能凭着自己的意愿行事，凡事借着祷告，寻求从上头来的力量。
教会是基督的身体，现在神儿女要作的是：凡事谦虚，温柔忍耐，用爱心互相宽容，彼此配搭，竭力去保守教会合一，耐心等待，让教会可以同心合意为福音作见证，让神的名得荣耀。
半年
（作者：红梅）
（作者：红梅）
在家已经半年了，时间过得又快又慢。这一场疫情不仅打乱了我们的日常生活和工作，也给我们带来了很多挑战。回想过去的半年，我想分享两件感恩的事情。
首先，我特别感恩在疫情期间我们教会的弟兄姐妹一直坚持在网上聚会同心合意敬拜神。在这个艰难的时刻大家能够一起同行是多么美好的一件事。因为有时候需要跟讲道的牧师和传道人协调测试Zoom，我也有机会更多了解这些忠心侍奉主的传道人认真服事的态度。为了更有效的传讲神的话语，为了更好的与弟兄姐妹们沟通，他们认真准备讲章，克服各种各样技术上的和身体上的挑战。我就简单讲给我印象很深的一件事。一位老传道人因为摔了一跤，晚上休息都不能躺下，只能坐着睡，可是他讲道的时候却热情洋溢，精神抖擞，用尽全力去传讲神的话语，过后还虚心询问听众们的意见。这些主的仆人给我们树立了好的榜样，为主做了美好的见证，也激励我谦卑侍奉，认真工作。
另外一个感恩的事情就是在疫情之下我们能够有更多的时间跟家人在一起。记得新年的时候，先生的新年愿望就是能陪我多散散步。主要是我老说要锻炼，可是总不能坚持，他就想帮助我。年初的时候真没想到先生的愿望就这么实现了。疫情之下哪儿也不能去，老是待在家里很闷，我俩只能到家附近的树林里走走。虽然说年复一年，风景依旧，可是看着光秃秃的树木慢慢长出新叶，荒茫茫的土地长出绿草野花，还是忍不住一遍一遍地赞美神创造的伟大。
最后我想分享一段今天读到的经文，求主继续帮助我们信靠祂，引领我们前面的路。
《诗篇》1: 2-3：“惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想，这人便为有福。他要像一棵树栽在溪水旁，按时候结果子，叶子也不枯干。凡他所作的尽都顺利。”
首先，我特别感恩在疫情期间我们教会的弟兄姐妹一直坚持在网上聚会同心合意敬拜神。在这个艰难的时刻大家能够一起同行是多么美好的一件事。因为有时候需要跟讲道的牧师和传道人协调测试Zoom，我也有机会更多了解这些忠心侍奉主的传道人认真服事的态度。为了更有效的传讲神的话语，为了更好的与弟兄姐妹们沟通，他们认真准备讲章，克服各种各样技术上的和身体上的挑战。我就简单讲给我印象很深的一件事。一位老传道人因为摔了一跤，晚上休息都不能躺下，只能坐着睡，可是他讲道的时候却热情洋溢，精神抖擞，用尽全力去传讲神的话语，过后还虚心询问听众们的意见。这些主的仆人给我们树立了好的榜样，为主做了美好的见证，也激励我谦卑侍奉，认真工作。
另外一个感恩的事情就是在疫情之下我们能够有更多的时间跟家人在一起。记得新年的时候，先生的新年愿望就是能陪我多散散步。主要是我老说要锻炼，可是总不能坚持，他就想帮助我。年初的时候真没想到先生的愿望就这么实现了。疫情之下哪儿也不能去，老是待在家里很闷，我俩只能到家附近的树林里走走。虽然说年复一年，风景依旧，可是看着光秃秃的树木慢慢长出新叶，荒茫茫的土地长出绿草野花，还是忍不住一遍一遍地赞美神创造的伟大。
最后我想分享一段今天读到的经文，求主继续帮助我们信靠祂，引领我们前面的路。
《诗篇》1: 2-3：“惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想，这人便为有福。他要像一棵树栽在溪水旁，按时候结果子，叶子也不枯干。凡他所作的尽都顺利。”
我的祷告
（作者：菲子）
（作者：菲子）
亲爱的天父：您是伟大的神全能的神，我相信、依靠和敬畏您。求主耶稣的宝血救赎敏娴脱离仇敌的手；并奉主耶稣的名叫一切黑暗杈势完全瓦解，不再辖制敏娴的心。我奉主的名宣告敏娴的身体是圣灵的殿、仇敌撒旦不可以毁坏。父啊、敏娴现对着众多的仇敌是她旡法对付的，我求您把她内心的猜疑、灰心和所有的抑郁都一一除去，譲她坚强起来。我相信主的大能和慈爱能安慰和鼓励她，必能使敏娴的病得到医治和康复。求主幇助我女儿敏娴能行走在主的光中、让主耶稣的宝血洗净她的罪、使她与人和好与教会和好与神和好，阿们。
回家的路很难
（作者 胡水林）
（作者 胡水林）
新冠肺炎暴发至今已经七个多月了，这是一场百年不遇的世纪灾难，对整个世界的冲击超过人们的预料，破坏了国家之间的平衡格局，对全球经济造成前所未有的重创，打破了正常的秩序，改变了人们的生活模式和规律，影响到人与人之间的交流与交往，限制了人们的正常出行，特别是中国来美国的留学生，访问学者及探亲的中国公民更是深受其害。我们是其中之一。
去年我们受邀来美国探望女儿，女婿及外孙，外孙女。按规定应在今年二月期满回国。可是我们家乡湖北武汉暴发新冠肺炎，美国对中国停止航班，阻止了我们回家的脚步。我们只好办理延期至八月份。但从三月份美国又成了疫情的中心，而且比中国更加严重，又留住了我们的脚步，随后，中美两国实行“五个一“的有限航班飞行，但很难满足两国间的来往需要，造成一票难求的困境。即使购买到机票，也难正常飞行。我们预订八月的机票被取消，我们再次被迫再办理延期。机票又从十月改到十一月份。我们不知道是否还会有变动？即使正常回家，还会遇到许多的困扰，比如，提前五天的核酸检查结果。提前十五天的健康码，回到国内可能会经过两个十四天的隔离……。
回家的路真的好难！但我们是天国的子民，是神的儿女。主在圣经中告诉我们：「在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心,我己胜过了世界。」 坚信我们的神会眷顾。我们无论有多么艰难，都会伴随着我们一路平安！
其实，我们所走的天路更是一条曲折难行的路！当我们告别过去虚空的人生，背起十字架跟主走的时候，当我们离开世俗家门决志信主后；当我们受洗，认罪悔改成为基督徒时，注定要面临狂风暴雨以及各种困难的考验。因为，从外因来讲，在中国基督徒人数相对比较少，随时可以会遭遇外人异样的眼光看待。有时会遭到讽剌，挖苦，打击，漫骂。
另外，国内一些不法分子打着基督教的晃子，歪曲圣经，宣传异端邪说，通过非法途径控制少数人的思想。有的形成犯罪集团，对社会治安带来破坏，使人们对基督教的信任产生危机和偏见。中国政府为了加强宗教活动管理，对基督教作出了规定：传讲福音不能违反国家法律法规，共产党员禁止成为基督徒，十八岁以下未成年人不能进教堂，在学校及公共场合严禁宣传福音，取缔“非法“教会。有些地方政府部门还对基督徒进行登记，掌握基督徒的基本信息。这些规定和行动无疑给部分信仰不坚定的基督徒造成心理恐惧和害怕。从而退出基督徒队伍。
从内因说，我们信主十年，二十年，或更长时间，年复一年，月复一月，每周参加主日崇拜。时间久了，可能会造成信仰疲劳，因为初信之时的新鲜感已经过去，放慢了跟主走的脚步，成为金玉其外，败絮其中的伪基督徒。还有，当遇到家庭变故，事业挫败，身体病残时候。祈求神的恩典时没有得到主的回应。难以接受主的试验和苦难的考验而远离主的道。
世俗的人生是短暂的，无论在世曾经多么一世辉煌，富可敌国，高高在上。或者是岁月磋砣，光阴虚度，人生悲惨。都不过是劳苦愁烦中负重前行。最终都是过雨烟云，转眼成空，如飞而去！正如”红楼梦”中的好了歌：”世人都说神仙好，只有功名忘不了。古今将相在何方，荒冢一堆草没了。” 而神恩赐的灵命是永恒的，虽然在天路中我们会常常遭遇逼迫痛苦，遇到许多艰难险阻，试验网罗。但有主赐下的圣灵与我们一起同行。我们永远不会跌倒。阳光总在风雨后！黎明前的至暗终会过去。最终我们一定会在主的带领下，进入永恒的福地！
兄弟姐姐们！前途是光明的，道路是曲折的。让我们在天路旅途中，相互勉励，相互信任，相互关心，相互提醒。坚定脚踪，恒定信心。跟着主走，永不动揺。
去年我们受邀来美国探望女儿，女婿及外孙，外孙女。按规定应在今年二月期满回国。可是我们家乡湖北武汉暴发新冠肺炎，美国对中国停止航班，阻止了我们回家的脚步。我们只好办理延期至八月份。但从三月份美国又成了疫情的中心，而且比中国更加严重，又留住了我们的脚步，随后，中美两国实行“五个一“的有限航班飞行，但很难满足两国间的来往需要，造成一票难求的困境。即使购买到机票，也难正常飞行。我们预订八月的机票被取消，我们再次被迫再办理延期。机票又从十月改到十一月份。我们不知道是否还会有变动？即使正常回家，还会遇到许多的困扰，比如，提前五天的核酸检查结果。提前十五天的健康码，回到国内可能会经过两个十四天的隔离……。
回家的路真的好难！但我们是天国的子民，是神的儿女。主在圣经中告诉我们：「在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心,我己胜过了世界。」 坚信我们的神会眷顾。我们无论有多么艰难，都会伴随着我们一路平安！
其实，我们所走的天路更是一条曲折难行的路！当我们告别过去虚空的人生，背起十字架跟主走的时候，当我们离开世俗家门决志信主后；当我们受洗，认罪悔改成为基督徒时，注定要面临狂风暴雨以及各种困难的考验。因为，从外因来讲，在中国基督徒人数相对比较少，随时可以会遭遇外人异样的眼光看待。有时会遭到讽剌，挖苦，打击，漫骂。
另外，国内一些不法分子打着基督教的晃子，歪曲圣经，宣传异端邪说，通过非法途径控制少数人的思想。有的形成犯罪集团，对社会治安带来破坏，使人们对基督教的信任产生危机和偏见。中国政府为了加强宗教活动管理，对基督教作出了规定：传讲福音不能违反国家法律法规，共产党员禁止成为基督徒，十八岁以下未成年人不能进教堂，在学校及公共场合严禁宣传福音，取缔“非法“教会。有些地方政府部门还对基督徒进行登记，掌握基督徒的基本信息。这些规定和行动无疑给部分信仰不坚定的基督徒造成心理恐惧和害怕。从而退出基督徒队伍。
从内因说，我们信主十年，二十年，或更长时间，年复一年，月复一月，每周参加主日崇拜。时间久了，可能会造成信仰疲劳，因为初信之时的新鲜感已经过去，放慢了跟主走的脚步，成为金玉其外，败絮其中的伪基督徒。还有，当遇到家庭变故，事业挫败，身体病残时候。祈求神的恩典时没有得到主的回应。难以接受主的试验和苦难的考验而远离主的道。
世俗的人生是短暂的，无论在世曾经多么一世辉煌，富可敌国，高高在上。或者是岁月磋砣，光阴虚度，人生悲惨。都不过是劳苦愁烦中负重前行。最终都是过雨烟云，转眼成空，如飞而去！正如”红楼梦”中的好了歌：”世人都说神仙好，只有功名忘不了。古今将相在何方，荒冢一堆草没了。” 而神恩赐的灵命是永恒的，虽然在天路中我们会常常遭遇逼迫痛苦，遇到许多艰难险阻，试验网罗。但有主赐下的圣灵与我们一起同行。我们永远不会跌倒。阳光总在风雨后！黎明前的至暗终会过去。最终我们一定会在主的带领下，进入永恒的福地！
兄弟姐姐们！前途是光明的，道路是曲折的。让我们在天路旅途中，相互勉励，相互信任，相互关心，相互提醒。坚定脚踪，恒定信心。跟着主走，永不动揺。
无奈的力量
（作者：苍灵）
（作者：苍灵）
因疫情的原故，这几个月宅在家里已经完全变成常态了！我意识到人是能够调整和适应环境的改变。在我的朋友圈中，有些人去进修, 读一些神学的课程。我也有些朋友发掘新的兴趣，例如园艺，音乐和㕑艺。总括而言，大家在非上班的时间学习，不会闲待在家没事干。
过去十多年的夏天我们都去旅游或回港探亲，今年是第一个夏天我们没有出门。我们笑说家里的小狗是最高兴的，因它不用被关在卫生间里（平常我们上班便放它在哪里），现在它每天都跟我们一起。我丈夫早已回到诊所上班，不在家里上网诊症了。我仍在网上教课到年底，明年会如何安排尚未知晓。
最近丈夫的工作有些变化，医院为了减少开销，决定在年底将其中的二个诊所关掉。感谢神，他的岗位并没有受到影响。他会搬到医院的门诊部上班。我丈夫却为在唐人街的病人忧愁，因很多中国病人都是走路去诊所看病，搬到医院后对没有车子或不开车的病人带来不便。他正在组织一些人去将这个不便告诉政府，希望能开放门诊两三天给住在附近的居民求医。
记得那天早上丈夫发短讯告诉我他的诊所年底要关掉时，我很惊讶！因之前没有听他提起过，这消息来得好突然啊！他在短讯上也没有说得很详细。我第一个想法：他会否受到影响？第二：想到最坏便是被裁员吧，我们经济上虽然会有所调整，仍能生活下去。感恩。第三：我便祈祷求神保守。后来我跟他通电话才知道是这消息是当天早上从新闻溜出来，其后有关的部门才宣报这事。丈夫跟我说医务人员全都留下，只是搬到医院上班而已。我想到很多公司，饮食业，舞蹈学校都因这疫情而关掉。这一份的无奈，叫人难过。前一周一位弟兄和他妻子的舞蹈学校维持不了，他俩建立20多年的心血终要告别。然而神的平安临到他的一家身上，对于未知的下一页，他是充满着盼望。在无奈中，靠着神的力量走下去。
今年二月初时我因髋关节痛便去求医，照了X射线后主诊医生叫我去做手术或接受物理治疗。我选择了物理治疗，坚决反对做手术。虽然照片显示我的髋关节是没有软骨, 基本上我是骨磨骨，所以走路，爬楼梯，坐下一段时间起来都会痛。我对痛的忍受能力颇大的，这两年多来我一直没有停下来，仍然教课，练功和演出。虽然神每一次都保守我，让我能在断断续续的不适中，仍能好过来。回看我自己的祈祷笔记，我曾经求神彻底地医治我的毛病，祂也确实有医治我，但这个关节痛仍然存在，并没有根治。
我在宅在家里前做了三次的物理治疗，这位治疗师曾任职中国的奥运会，他本来今年夏天去日本当奥运会的治疗师。他在跟我做第三次的治疗后提议我做手术。他治疗过不少做过髋关节手术的运动员，他们都恢复得很快。他跟我说趁年轻力壮时做更理想，不要等到走不动才去做这个手术。他说the quality of life （生活的质量）跟 just to maintain it (只是维持下去）是不一様。我仍坚持不做手术，五月去见了骨科专家。 2018年他给我治疗过膝盖的毛病，打了一次针后到现在还是不错的；我没有再打第二次。这回他说我早晚还是要做手术的，若我不想现在做，可以试打针，但髋关节远不及膝盖的有效，对我不一定有帮助。六月份我去了他介绍的医生那里打针，不到九月初，毛病又回来了。我觉得好无奈，这个关节痛甚至影响到我睡眠的质量。
前一周跟丈夫商讨这个问题，他之前也是不赞成我去做手术的。但这次他改变了；最关键的是他那个晚上跟我讲的话：”髋关节手术是美国一个很普遍的手术，一般都很成功的......。趁着你还年轻，尽快去做吧。若你再等五年十年才去做时，我也老了，没有能力照顾你。孩子们或许有自己的家庭或工作，想帮你也不一定帮得到。” 我心里很感动，不是做不做手术的问题，乃是他想得很周到，想到的是他要照顾我。我一直在这婚姻上只想到我比他年轻，只有我照顾他。我很感谢神给我一位如此疼爱我的丈夫！虽然我们会吵嘴，意见不合时，彼此会各不相让，得罪了神和配偶。但神的恩典如此地祝福我俩的婚姻，我们要更加彼此相爱和彼此服侍。
从二月到如今，终于做了这个决定，是一个过程。我很感谢神给我的主诊医生，物理治疗师和髋关节的专科医生都很留心听我的意见，他们都没有给我压力和尝试说服我，并给我几个月时间去明白我不能bandaid (治标不治本) 这个关节的毛病。让我心里预备好去做这手术和安排日期，心里也是满有平安。
在很多事情上，我们都有先入为主的观念。我是那种抗拒做手术的人，总觉得可以用别的治疗替代。基本上是不会考虑这个可能性，在尝试用各样的治疗方法后都不成，才无奈地接受。这些医生们看到X射线都认为我的问题只有做手术才会好转，虽然手术后需要有一段的复原期，但长远之计是我以后日子可以行走无痛。神是全知的，《诗篇》139:16： “我未成形的体质，祢的眼早已看见了；祢所定的日子，我尚未度一日，袮都写在袮的册上。” 祂在每一件事上都有所安排，然而我们有时不愿意跟从，仍想按着自己的方法去解决。我亦相信神的大能是绝对可以医治我；但手术也可以叫我得着治疗。神怜悯地给我时间去接受和面对现实，祂让我经历过祂的医治，也让我有信心去接受这个手术。
一直以来我都抗拒做手术，所以也没有研究这种手术的成功案例和去做多些的了解。我坚持这一个观点便将其他的可行性都排出门外。我决定约见手术医生前，上网研究，并查看舞蹈老师做这手术的成功率。其实很多人能走路不痛便满足了！但我希望能够继续教课。从我研究的案例中，很多人说早些做就不用痛这么多年了 （Pain free) ！我不太认同，我觉得生命做任何一个决定，都要经过时间和过程，衡量利与弊。尤其这是一个大手术，不能轻率去决定。神知道我的恐惧和担心，祂知道我之前还未预备好，便让我挨痛一段时间去学习，在挨痛的过程，祂又会减轻我的不适。我很感谢神，祂按着我的承受能力去改变我的观念。
决定做手术这事情上，看来有点无奈要走最后的一条出路（the last option), 然而这无奈中有神的安排。无奈的力量是从神的话而来，《彼得前书》5:7： “你们要将一切的忧虑卸给神，因为祂顾念你们。” ：《以赛亚书》26:3： “坚心倚赖祢的，祢必保守他十分平安，因为他倚靠袮。”我知道做了手术后会有一段艰难期，并要重新适应新的髋关节。我要仰望和倚靠神给我力量勇敢地往前走。
过去十多年的夏天我们都去旅游或回港探亲，今年是第一个夏天我们没有出门。我们笑说家里的小狗是最高兴的，因它不用被关在卫生间里（平常我们上班便放它在哪里），现在它每天都跟我们一起。我丈夫早已回到诊所上班，不在家里上网诊症了。我仍在网上教课到年底，明年会如何安排尚未知晓。
最近丈夫的工作有些变化，医院为了减少开销，决定在年底将其中的二个诊所关掉。感谢神，他的岗位并没有受到影响。他会搬到医院的门诊部上班。我丈夫却为在唐人街的病人忧愁，因很多中国病人都是走路去诊所看病，搬到医院后对没有车子或不开车的病人带来不便。他正在组织一些人去将这个不便告诉政府，希望能开放门诊两三天给住在附近的居民求医。
记得那天早上丈夫发短讯告诉我他的诊所年底要关掉时，我很惊讶！因之前没有听他提起过，这消息来得好突然啊！他在短讯上也没有说得很详细。我第一个想法：他会否受到影响？第二：想到最坏便是被裁员吧，我们经济上虽然会有所调整，仍能生活下去。感恩。第三：我便祈祷求神保守。后来我跟他通电话才知道是这消息是当天早上从新闻溜出来，其后有关的部门才宣报这事。丈夫跟我说医务人员全都留下，只是搬到医院上班而已。我想到很多公司，饮食业，舞蹈学校都因这疫情而关掉。这一份的无奈，叫人难过。前一周一位弟兄和他妻子的舞蹈学校维持不了，他俩建立20多年的心血终要告别。然而神的平安临到他的一家身上，对于未知的下一页，他是充满着盼望。在无奈中，靠着神的力量走下去。
今年二月初时我因髋关节痛便去求医，照了X射线后主诊医生叫我去做手术或接受物理治疗。我选择了物理治疗，坚决反对做手术。虽然照片显示我的髋关节是没有软骨, 基本上我是骨磨骨，所以走路，爬楼梯，坐下一段时间起来都会痛。我对痛的忍受能力颇大的，这两年多来我一直没有停下来，仍然教课，练功和演出。虽然神每一次都保守我，让我能在断断续续的不适中，仍能好过来。回看我自己的祈祷笔记，我曾经求神彻底地医治我的毛病，祂也确实有医治我，但这个关节痛仍然存在，并没有根治。
我在宅在家里前做了三次的物理治疗，这位治疗师曾任职中国的奥运会，他本来今年夏天去日本当奥运会的治疗师。他在跟我做第三次的治疗后提议我做手术。他治疗过不少做过髋关节手术的运动员，他们都恢复得很快。他跟我说趁年轻力壮时做更理想，不要等到走不动才去做这个手术。他说the quality of life （生活的质量）跟 just to maintain it (只是维持下去）是不一様。我仍坚持不做手术，五月去见了骨科专家。 2018年他给我治疗过膝盖的毛病，打了一次针后到现在还是不错的；我没有再打第二次。这回他说我早晚还是要做手术的，若我不想现在做，可以试打针，但髋关节远不及膝盖的有效，对我不一定有帮助。六月份我去了他介绍的医生那里打针，不到九月初，毛病又回来了。我觉得好无奈，这个关节痛甚至影响到我睡眠的质量。
前一周跟丈夫商讨这个问题，他之前也是不赞成我去做手术的。但这次他改变了；最关键的是他那个晚上跟我讲的话：”髋关节手术是美国一个很普遍的手术，一般都很成功的......。趁着你还年轻，尽快去做吧。若你再等五年十年才去做时，我也老了，没有能力照顾你。孩子们或许有自己的家庭或工作，想帮你也不一定帮得到。” 我心里很感动，不是做不做手术的问题，乃是他想得很周到，想到的是他要照顾我。我一直在这婚姻上只想到我比他年轻，只有我照顾他。我很感谢神给我一位如此疼爱我的丈夫！虽然我们会吵嘴，意见不合时，彼此会各不相让，得罪了神和配偶。但神的恩典如此地祝福我俩的婚姻，我们要更加彼此相爱和彼此服侍。
从二月到如今，终于做了这个决定，是一个过程。我很感谢神给我的主诊医生，物理治疗师和髋关节的专科医生都很留心听我的意见，他们都没有给我压力和尝试说服我，并给我几个月时间去明白我不能bandaid (治标不治本) 这个关节的毛病。让我心里预备好去做这手术和安排日期，心里也是满有平安。
在很多事情上，我们都有先入为主的观念。我是那种抗拒做手术的人，总觉得可以用别的治疗替代。基本上是不会考虑这个可能性，在尝试用各样的治疗方法后都不成，才无奈地接受。这些医生们看到X射线都认为我的问题只有做手术才会好转，虽然手术后需要有一段的复原期，但长远之计是我以后日子可以行走无痛。神是全知的，《诗篇》139:16： “我未成形的体质，祢的眼早已看见了；祢所定的日子，我尚未度一日，袮都写在袮的册上。” 祂在每一件事上都有所安排，然而我们有时不愿意跟从，仍想按着自己的方法去解决。我亦相信神的大能是绝对可以医治我；但手术也可以叫我得着治疗。神怜悯地给我时间去接受和面对现实，祂让我经历过祂的医治，也让我有信心去接受这个手术。
一直以来我都抗拒做手术，所以也没有研究这种手术的成功案例和去做多些的了解。我坚持这一个观点便将其他的可行性都排出门外。我决定约见手术医生前，上网研究，并查看舞蹈老师做这手术的成功率。其实很多人能走路不痛便满足了！但我希望能够继续教课。从我研究的案例中，很多人说早些做就不用痛这么多年了 （Pain free) ！我不太认同，我觉得生命做任何一个决定，都要经过时间和过程，衡量利与弊。尤其这是一个大手术，不能轻率去决定。神知道我的恐惧和担心，祂知道我之前还未预备好，便让我挨痛一段时间去学习，在挨痛的过程，祂又会减轻我的不适。我很感谢神，祂按着我的承受能力去改变我的观念。
决定做手术这事情上，看来有点无奈要走最后的一条出路（the last option), 然而这无奈中有神的安排。无奈的力量是从神的话而来，《彼得前书》5:7： “你们要将一切的忧虑卸给神，因为祂顾念你们。” ：《以赛亚书》26:3： “坚心倚赖祢的，祢必保守他十分平安，因为他倚靠袮。”我知道做了手术后会有一段艰难期，并要重新适应新的髋关节。我要仰望和倚靠神给我力量勇敢地往前走。
Do You Have Two Stomachs?
The Bible and Social Justice
Author: Pastor Johnny Wilson
The Bible and Social Justice
Author: Pastor Johnny Wilson
A very dear friend of mine had Jewish grandparents. The grandma was a practicing Jew who kept kosher, but the grandpa was a secularized Jew who simply didn’t see any sense in keeping kosher. Whenever they ate at home, the meals were very carefully kept kosher, and the grandfather didn’t complain. But whenever the couple would eat outside the home, the grandfather would deliberately order something that he wouldn’t be able to have if he kept kosher. The grandmother would become incensed at his indulgence of non-kosher behavior, look at him in disgust, and say, “What?! You have two stomachs? One keeps kosher and the other doesn’t?” Even though I’m not Jewish and I don’t believe (especially after studying Acts and Galatians) that God intends for Christians to keep kosher, I think of my friend telling me this story whenever I hear of someone (or realize that I myself am) acting one way in one situation and doing/being something different in another situation.
Sometimes, we find ourselves trying to be people of two stomachs in the world situation. We have one stomach for how we act in business and another for how we act in church. We have one stomach for what we espouse in school and another for what we share in church. We have one stomach for how we vote or participate in politics and another stomach for how we express concern among our brothers and sisters in Christ. The truth is that our “two stomach” situation is a lot like Israel, as God’s people, reacting to the rival/pagan Canaanite civilization that still pervaded the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah eight centuries before Christ.
The United States is NOT Israel
Remember, though, the United States is not and is not supposed to be Israel. Israel was supposed to be a government and society run by God. Yet, Israel demanded a king to become more like the established city-states around them. They were supposed to demonstrate what obeying God and trusting God in politics, economics, health, protection, and personal relationships could be. They were promised a land where there would be plenty, fairness, and love. They were never able to obtain/attain what God really wanted for them. They were constantly, as a group, being pulled back into contamination and compromise that distanced and isolated them from the will of God.
Bear with me, please, as I promise to show where this is relevant to us in just a moment. I just want to make sure you understand what Israel’s situation was when they failed to become God’s nation on earth. Hear what an Old Testament scholar from Scotland wrote in 1946:
The prophets became profoundly alive to the historical environment of their own day and could not stand aloof, but identified themselves with the will of a God who was at once Judge and Redeemer. And, because the will of God admits no compromise, they perceived, as no one else did the glaring contrast between the way of life which God required of Israel and the way of life which resulted from compromise with the nature religion of Canaan. (Norman Porteous, “The Basis of the Ethical Teaching of the Prophets” in Rowley, H. H. (ed.) Studies in Old Testament Prophecy Presented to Professor Theodore H. Robinson, p. 152).
Get it? Whenever Israel compromised with the nature, fertility, success religion of the “Canaanite” approach to life and society, it meant that God’s People had failed in establishing God’s kingdom of justice and righteousness on earth in general and in the land in specific. Yet, since the “Canaanite” approach to life was so established and in-grained, the only way that the “taint” could have been removed (taking into consideration human nature) would have been to annihilate all of the existing residents during the conquest and settlement of the land and to raze all of the existing buildings (and the institutions behind them) to the ground. Anyone who has read the Book of Judges with its repeated litany of failure (“…but did not utterly drive them out…” (Judges 1:19, 21, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33) and God’s consequent decision not to remove the Canaanites completely (Judges 2:3, 21, and 23) would know that Israel didn’t do that.
Where Your Nose Begins
What about us? Even though we weren’t born into Ancient Israel and even though the church, not the United States, is intended to be the New Israel, God’s People, we have ethical responsibilities. It is NOT our responsibility to make the entire nation conform to God’s laws. Our nation would be stronger if it did. We would all be better off if the entire population would. But both the strength and downside of a free society is that people are “free” to sin so long as the potential consequences of that sin (or sins) is begins” is apropos here.
A person has the freedom to use alcohol, but not the freedom to become an angry drunk and beat someone up or kill them, certainly not to drive drunk. A person has to freedom to have immoral sex, but not the freedom to create unwanted pregnancies, destroy families, and pass along sexually-transmitted diseases. A person has the freedom to launch fireworks, but not the freedom to burn down their neighbor’s house. But, as the apostle Paul taught God’s people, while anything MIGHT be permitted, not everything is useful, healthy, and beneficial to oneself and others. So, this very freedom we enjoy in our country is problematic for the believer when considering social justice.
Now, there are some believers who say, “Let’s just stick to the gospel and forget anything that might border on politics.” Sadly, we don’t have that option. The word used for “righteousness” in the Hebrew Old Testament means living with integrity and acting with complete consideration for those around us. So, for example, while many in our country are prolonging the pandemic with their refusals to wear masks and practice social distancing in the guise of “freedom,” the “righteous” person in the Old Testament sense would wear the mask and social distance out of consideration for others. To those who protest that this is an Old Testament view of “righteousness,” we must cite Jesus’ admonition to care just as much for those around us as for ourselves. If you are a Christian, I do not believe you have the right to put other people at risk and remain in God’s will.
Seven Deadly Sins?
Another denomination categorizes seven sins as being particularly vile and, without pardon, worthy of sending the sinner to hell. Of course, as evangelicals, we believe that ALL sinners are condemned to hell without accepting the intervention of Jesus death and sacrifice. But it is interesting that in his first sermon against Israel (Amos 2:6-8), the 8th century prophet uses seven (7) verbs to describe how Israel had violated the covenant with God such that they deserved to be conquered by Assyria.
Right after his standard for three breaches of contract and still one more [“Concerning three rebellions of Israel, and concerning a fourth, …” those verbs are:
Blasting the 1%?
Now, I don’t want you to consider these first two verbs as preaching that you need to go down to the financial district in the Loop and protest the one-percenters. Yet, God speaks against those who “sell” the righteous (or, at least, more honest than their creditors) for silver and, because it is in parallel, those who sell the poor for sandals. Both “sales” are talking about the ancient style of foreclosures. Can’t pay your debts? You could be sold into slavery. Can’t pay your debts? You could be sold into slavery for your land.
What?! How did shoes become land? In the 8th century, a pair of sandals often represented the title deed to the land. It was double jeopardy in the ancient world. One didn’t merely lose the land in foreclosure, but one lost one’s freedom, too. Today, that might suggest that believers should not take advantage of their economic leverage to strip people of their economic dignity. It might mean that believers should advocate continuing the moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. [NOTE: I use the term “might” here because human nature tells us that in addition to those who need a break on their rent during these hard times, there are those who could pay their rent but use the pandemic as an excuse to cheat their landlords. We can’t simply put every situation in the same bucket.]
But personally, if I was to discover that the bank with which I do business was using foreclosures and evictions as a weapon against the helpless, I believe I would need to find another bank. I once had an active member leave a church fellowship because of a similar issue. He accepted a job with a shady automobile dealership that specialized in selling cars on credit to people they knew couldn’t afford it. They knew they’d have to repossess the cars from most of them before too long, but they would make their money on down payments and high interest rates until the poor people realized they were in over their heads and defaulted. I told him that I couldn’t do that and didn’t think it was right.
Separating the Unequal?
Stomping on the heads of the poor and turning away the afflicted (v. 7) suggests both taking advantage of the less fortunate and deliberately ignoring their needs. Amos was preaching against a society where the gap between the land-owning wealthy and the “little persons” was constantly growing bigger. Indeed, I called this taking advantage of the unfortunate, but the part about stomping them into the dust may have a more sinister meaning. Since Genesis 3:19 tells us that humankind will have to return to dust in death, does this mean the wealthy were pushing the poor toward death? And it could possibly resonate with those in our country concerned about the disparity in health care between rich and poor.
As God’s people, we can vote for those trying to do something about this, we can invest in companies or non-profits trying to do something about this, but there isn’t a lot the individual can do about this. Sure, we could stop buying clothing, shoes, and electronics from firms that run Asian sweatshops (and if God convicts us of this, we definitely should stop). But as God’s people, we definitely shouldn’t take advantage of the poor or ignore the needs of those in trouble. But if nothing else, this ancient prophecy should tell us to be very fair in the way we do business and not to be indifferent when it is possible to help someone who can’t help himself or herself.
Sexual Follies
Although there are neo-pagan groups all around the U.S. as part of our diversity, there isn’t likely to be an authentic Baal cult near us. There is an idol of Baal in a museum at the University of Chicago, but I’m certainly not aware of anyone worshipping it. But Amos’ sermon concerning the father and son sexually using the same woman is about Baal worship. Why were they using the same woman? Because she was a sacred prostitute and having sex with her was part of Baal worship. To be sure, even if this were just some disgusting practice taking place in one family, it would be a circumstance that would make lives miserable.
But if we drill a little deeper into fertility religion, we see that the sex was designed to get the gods and goddesses excited which, in turn, brought rain to make the crops grow. The crops grew and made people wealthy and successful. In our society, sex is used to sell everything which, in turn, makes people wealthy and successful. Then, to go full circle, sexual adornments, attractiveness, and prowess is often used as evidence of success. Trophy wives, mistresses, “pool boys,” and lovers are like jewelry and fashion to the successful in our society, whether those in the financial or entertainment sector. Beyond the basic immorality of which every Christian should be aware, this is a problem because the prominence of this behavior in our society makes it look not only respectable, but desirable. Since Amos hasn’t addressed homosexuality specifically, I haven’t mentioned it to this point. BUT, modern believers cannot afford to become complacent about sexual sin. We cannot afford to ignore the consequences of sexual sin in personal degradation, broken relationships, unwanted pregnancies, venereal disease, etc. simply because “everybody’s doing it.”
Then, Amos talks about people partying beside the altars and getting drunk in their “temples.” But it’s even worse! The luxuries on which the wealthy partiers are reclining and even the vintages (exotic or otherwise) that they were imbibing had come from cheating (or, at least, taking advantage of) the poor. Part of the reason these sinful, pagan worshippers in ancient Israel were so successful was because the religious establishment was supporting the wealthy and successful—no matter how much lying, human trafficking, exploitation, and sexual misbehavior was going on.
Have things changed enough since then that we can simply claim to have two stomachs such that we live one way around church members and another way at work, at school, and at play? I am more convinced today than yesterday that God doesn’t want us to use two stomachs—whether we find His Word in the Old Testament or the New!
Sometimes, we find ourselves trying to be people of two stomachs in the world situation. We have one stomach for how we act in business and another for how we act in church. We have one stomach for what we espouse in school and another for what we share in church. We have one stomach for how we vote or participate in politics and another stomach for how we express concern among our brothers and sisters in Christ. The truth is that our “two stomach” situation is a lot like Israel, as God’s people, reacting to the rival/pagan Canaanite civilization that still pervaded the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah eight centuries before Christ.
The United States is NOT Israel
Remember, though, the United States is not and is not supposed to be Israel. Israel was supposed to be a government and society run by God. Yet, Israel demanded a king to become more like the established city-states around them. They were supposed to demonstrate what obeying God and trusting God in politics, economics, health, protection, and personal relationships could be. They were promised a land where there would be plenty, fairness, and love. They were never able to obtain/attain what God really wanted for them. They were constantly, as a group, being pulled back into contamination and compromise that distanced and isolated them from the will of God.
Bear with me, please, as I promise to show where this is relevant to us in just a moment. I just want to make sure you understand what Israel’s situation was when they failed to become God’s nation on earth. Hear what an Old Testament scholar from Scotland wrote in 1946:
The prophets became profoundly alive to the historical environment of their own day and could not stand aloof, but identified themselves with the will of a God who was at once Judge and Redeemer. And, because the will of God admits no compromise, they perceived, as no one else did the glaring contrast between the way of life which God required of Israel and the way of life which resulted from compromise with the nature religion of Canaan. (Norman Porteous, “The Basis of the Ethical Teaching of the Prophets” in Rowley, H. H. (ed.) Studies in Old Testament Prophecy Presented to Professor Theodore H. Robinson, p. 152).
Get it? Whenever Israel compromised with the nature, fertility, success religion of the “Canaanite” approach to life and society, it meant that God’s People had failed in establishing God’s kingdom of justice and righteousness on earth in general and in the land in specific. Yet, since the “Canaanite” approach to life was so established and in-grained, the only way that the “taint” could have been removed (taking into consideration human nature) would have been to annihilate all of the existing residents during the conquest and settlement of the land and to raze all of the existing buildings (and the institutions behind them) to the ground. Anyone who has read the Book of Judges with its repeated litany of failure (“…but did not utterly drive them out…” (Judges 1:19, 21, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33) and God’s consequent decision not to remove the Canaanites completely (Judges 2:3, 21, and 23) would know that Israel didn’t do that.
Where Your Nose Begins
What about us? Even though we weren’t born into Ancient Israel and even though the church, not the United States, is intended to be the New Israel, God’s People, we have ethical responsibilities. It is NOT our responsibility to make the entire nation conform to God’s laws. Our nation would be stronger if it did. We would all be better off if the entire population would. But both the strength and downside of a free society is that people are “free” to sin so long as the potential consequences of that sin (or sins) is begins” is apropos here.
A person has the freedom to use alcohol, but not the freedom to become an angry drunk and beat someone up or kill them, certainly not to drive drunk. A person has to freedom to have immoral sex, but not the freedom to create unwanted pregnancies, destroy families, and pass along sexually-transmitted diseases. A person has the freedom to launch fireworks, but not the freedom to burn down their neighbor’s house. But, as the apostle Paul taught God’s people, while anything MIGHT be permitted, not everything is useful, healthy, and beneficial to oneself and others. So, this very freedom we enjoy in our country is problematic for the believer when considering social justice.
Now, there are some believers who say, “Let’s just stick to the gospel and forget anything that might border on politics.” Sadly, we don’t have that option. The word used for “righteousness” in the Hebrew Old Testament means living with integrity and acting with complete consideration for those around us. So, for example, while many in our country are prolonging the pandemic with their refusals to wear masks and practice social distancing in the guise of “freedom,” the “righteous” person in the Old Testament sense would wear the mask and social distance out of consideration for others. To those who protest that this is an Old Testament view of “righteousness,” we must cite Jesus’ admonition to care just as much for those around us as for ourselves. If you are a Christian, I do not believe you have the right to put other people at risk and remain in God’s will.
Seven Deadly Sins?
Another denomination categorizes seven sins as being particularly vile and, without pardon, worthy of sending the sinner to hell. Of course, as evangelicals, we believe that ALL sinners are condemned to hell without accepting the intervention of Jesus death and sacrifice. But it is interesting that in his first sermon against Israel (Amos 2:6-8), the 8th century prophet uses seven (7) verbs to describe how Israel had violated the covenant with God such that they deserved to be conquered by Assyria.
Right after his standard for three breaches of contract and still one more [“Concerning three rebellions of Israel, and concerning a fourth, …” those verbs are:
- 1) “sell” (“the righteous for silver,” v. 6b) ,
- 2) “sell” (implied “the poor for the sake of sandals,” v. 6c),
- 3) “trample” (“the head of the poor into the dust,” v. 7a),
- 4) “turn away” (“the afflicted,” v. 7a)
- 5) “go in” (“father and son sexually use same woman,” v. 7b)
- 6) “recline” (“on garments taken in pledge,” v. 8)
- 7) “drink” (“wine from the fined in House of God/gods,” v. 8)
Blasting the 1%?
Now, I don’t want you to consider these first two verbs as preaching that you need to go down to the financial district in the Loop and protest the one-percenters. Yet, God speaks against those who “sell” the righteous (or, at least, more honest than their creditors) for silver and, because it is in parallel, those who sell the poor for sandals. Both “sales” are talking about the ancient style of foreclosures. Can’t pay your debts? You could be sold into slavery. Can’t pay your debts? You could be sold into slavery for your land.
What?! How did shoes become land? In the 8th century, a pair of sandals often represented the title deed to the land. It was double jeopardy in the ancient world. One didn’t merely lose the land in foreclosure, but one lost one’s freedom, too. Today, that might suggest that believers should not take advantage of their economic leverage to strip people of their economic dignity. It might mean that believers should advocate continuing the moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. [NOTE: I use the term “might” here because human nature tells us that in addition to those who need a break on their rent during these hard times, there are those who could pay their rent but use the pandemic as an excuse to cheat their landlords. We can’t simply put every situation in the same bucket.]
But personally, if I was to discover that the bank with which I do business was using foreclosures and evictions as a weapon against the helpless, I believe I would need to find another bank. I once had an active member leave a church fellowship because of a similar issue. He accepted a job with a shady automobile dealership that specialized in selling cars on credit to people they knew couldn’t afford it. They knew they’d have to repossess the cars from most of them before too long, but they would make their money on down payments and high interest rates until the poor people realized they were in over their heads and defaulted. I told him that I couldn’t do that and didn’t think it was right.
Separating the Unequal?
Stomping on the heads of the poor and turning away the afflicted (v. 7) suggests both taking advantage of the less fortunate and deliberately ignoring their needs. Amos was preaching against a society where the gap between the land-owning wealthy and the “little persons” was constantly growing bigger. Indeed, I called this taking advantage of the unfortunate, but the part about stomping them into the dust may have a more sinister meaning. Since Genesis 3:19 tells us that humankind will have to return to dust in death, does this mean the wealthy were pushing the poor toward death? And it could possibly resonate with those in our country concerned about the disparity in health care between rich and poor.
As God’s people, we can vote for those trying to do something about this, we can invest in companies or non-profits trying to do something about this, but there isn’t a lot the individual can do about this. Sure, we could stop buying clothing, shoes, and electronics from firms that run Asian sweatshops (and if God convicts us of this, we definitely should stop). But as God’s people, we definitely shouldn’t take advantage of the poor or ignore the needs of those in trouble. But if nothing else, this ancient prophecy should tell us to be very fair in the way we do business and not to be indifferent when it is possible to help someone who can’t help himself or herself.
Sexual Follies
Although there are neo-pagan groups all around the U.S. as part of our diversity, there isn’t likely to be an authentic Baal cult near us. There is an idol of Baal in a museum at the University of Chicago, but I’m certainly not aware of anyone worshipping it. But Amos’ sermon concerning the father and son sexually using the same woman is about Baal worship. Why were they using the same woman? Because she was a sacred prostitute and having sex with her was part of Baal worship. To be sure, even if this were just some disgusting practice taking place in one family, it would be a circumstance that would make lives miserable.
But if we drill a little deeper into fertility religion, we see that the sex was designed to get the gods and goddesses excited which, in turn, brought rain to make the crops grow. The crops grew and made people wealthy and successful. In our society, sex is used to sell everything which, in turn, makes people wealthy and successful. Then, to go full circle, sexual adornments, attractiveness, and prowess is often used as evidence of success. Trophy wives, mistresses, “pool boys,” and lovers are like jewelry and fashion to the successful in our society, whether those in the financial or entertainment sector. Beyond the basic immorality of which every Christian should be aware, this is a problem because the prominence of this behavior in our society makes it look not only respectable, but desirable. Since Amos hasn’t addressed homosexuality specifically, I haven’t mentioned it to this point. BUT, modern believers cannot afford to become complacent about sexual sin. We cannot afford to ignore the consequences of sexual sin in personal degradation, broken relationships, unwanted pregnancies, venereal disease, etc. simply because “everybody’s doing it.”
Then, Amos talks about people partying beside the altars and getting drunk in their “temples.” But it’s even worse! The luxuries on which the wealthy partiers are reclining and even the vintages (exotic or otherwise) that they were imbibing had come from cheating (or, at least, taking advantage of) the poor. Part of the reason these sinful, pagan worshippers in ancient Israel were so successful was because the religious establishment was supporting the wealthy and successful—no matter how much lying, human trafficking, exploitation, and sexual misbehavior was going on.
Have things changed enough since then that we can simply claim to have two stomachs such that we live one way around church members and another way at work, at school, and at play? I am more convinced today than yesterday that God doesn’t want us to use two stomachs—whether we find His Word in the Old Testament or the New!