沒自信的人

過去主日崇拜的訊息，
令我想起十多年前的自己，
當年的我其實已經很想事奉上帝被祂使用，
只是我很清楚自己並不聰明，
讀書、做事不及別人，
有心無力叫我如何事奉上帝呢？

中學成績未如理想，
想象自己怎能完成大學課程，
怎料上帝保守我大學畢業。

中學年代嘗試在詩班作司琴，
有人跟我說，"彈琴技巧不足，有心事奉便足夠！"
想象自己琴技不足怎會移民後繼續作司琴，
怎料上帝讓我在青年詩班作司琴。

想象自己琴技不足怎會修讀音樂，
怎料上帝保守我大學音樂畢業。

想象自己琴技不足怎會在成年詩班作司琴，
怎料上帝真的讓我在成年詩班作司琴，還有機會作客席指揮。

想象自己餘生只會在該詩班事奉，
怎料上帝帶領我來到歌鄰敬拜隊事奉，
除作司琴外，也有機會領敬拜和擔任music director。

想象自己琴技不足只能夠照樂譜彈，
怎料上帝讓我開始懂得即興創作。

就好像沒有自信的基甸自覺那麼"廢"，
怎會被上帝揀選作領袖拯救以色列人？
但上帝就是給予一個沒有自信的人機會。
因為上帝不是看著他的過去而呼召他，
上帝只看著將來的他來呼召他。

同樣地多年來上帝給我一次一次機會事奉祂，
而我又願意make my life available to God，
叫我看見當日的呼召是為著今天和將來的。

以弗所書 1:4-7
就如神從創立世界以前、在基督裏揀選了我們、
使我們在他面前成為聖潔、無有瑕疵．
又因愛我們、就按著自己意旨所喜悅的、預定我們、
藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分、
使他榮耀的恩典得著稱讚．
這恩典是他在愛子裏所賜給我們的。

筆者誠意邀請讀者到歌鄰網站，
收聽2007年11月18日的主日訊息。
Koinonia Evangelical Church 歌鄰基督教會

連結與解釋

馬可福音第六章:

1. 不被尊敬的先知
2. 耶穌差遣十二門徒
3. 施洗約翰被斬
4. 耶穌給五千人吃飽
5. 耶穌在水面上行走

五件表面上看似獨立的個別事件,
而被編排, 被串連在同一章裏, 用意何在?

當耶穌在水面上行走,
主動地介入門徒生命中的一個小環節...

v.50: "It's I", 有"I AM"的意思:

(versus "It's me":
一種比較客套, 表面, 保持距離, 平輩的相互關係)

是一種神聖層面的真接啟示:

不單衹是先知的身份,
不衹局限於夫子差遣學生的角色,
不是以利亞或施洗約翰的接續者, 接捧人, 替代者, 代言人!
不限於醫病, 趕鬼, 行神蹟奇事的人物.

而是門徒生命的核心,
是祂主動地, 直接地介入他們生命中的每部份;
生命的每個環節,
都是圍繞著祂而運行,
得以互相緊扣,
得以連結而賦以意義;
都以祂為依歸,
並且擁有門徒生命的"終極解釋權"!

此時此地,
你生命的解釋權屬於誰?

(BTW, 精煉師(refiner), 多謝你的啟發)!

風高浪急

馬可福音4:35-41

比較外在的風浪, 內心的動盪不安,
更令眾門徒不知所措, 更令人容易迷失!

黑夜中的風浪,
對一班擅長於捕魚的門徒來說,
理應是司空見慣;
怎去處理這種場面,
應該是駕輕就熟,
正正是"乜野風浪未見過?!"

然而, 風浪來臨的時候,
他們逃避去面對, 去處理面前的困境,
反而直接去依賴主的幫助.

與其這樣,
倒不如...
一開船便要求主耶穌站在船頭,
有祂在開路, 為他們擔當一切風浪,
正是"一主當關",
眾門徒便可在船尾安忱無憂,
然而, 主耶穌喜悅這樣安排嗎?

從前, 門徒認識祂不夠透徹, 不夠全面,
二千年後的今日,
主不斷揭示祂是一位怎樣的主,
我們應該累積了足夠的時間去了解祂,
明白祂的心意,
掌握祂的脈博!

不然的話,
是否你對生命還少了一點認真,
是否對生活還欠缺一點投入?

只有上帝，戰勝黑暗！

秋意漸濃，紅葉滿遍，
思念遠人，正處危亂，
火海茫茫，無人能助。
憂慮之際，只管禱告，
唯主安慰，不要憂慮。
如常事主，牠卻臨近，
製造謊話，叫人放棄，
謝主保守，人即警醒，
反向牠說，退我去吧！
幽暗旋渦，隨時隨在，
只有上帝，戰勝黑暗！

先破後立

撤母耳記上7:2-12

(一) 方向迷失 (Disorientation)

1) 約櫃留在基列耶琳達20年之久, 以色列人從來不聞不問,
就讓聖潔而珍貴的敬拜生活白白流逝!
試問:
人生可以有幾多個20年?!
約櫃, 代表"神的同在",
然而, 在以色列人的心目中, 為何已經變成無用的木匣子?

2) 然而, 以色列人仍然因為遭受非利士人的侵擾, 而感到憂慮和困苦!
似乎, 耶和華已離棄了祂的子民...
其實, 他們仍然未曾從罪中醒悟過來,
祂曾經吩咐的事，他們仍未遵行，所以不能從祂得到新的引導。

3) 以色列人沉溺於敬拜巴力(管理農業)和亞斯她錄(管理戰爭與愛).
在迦南人的文化中, 巴力和亞斯她錄是消災解難的"神明",
類似於傳統中國人/香港人文化中的黃大仙和觀世音.
在物慾的世界中, 他/她們彷彿正好滿足了以色列人的慾望(wants)!
然而, 這些"神明"真是能夠滿足選民的真正需要(needs)嗎?

以色列人既然以巴力和亞斯她錄為敬拜軸心,
就算他們同一時間敬拜耶和華,
"一僕侍二主":
試問人生同時間有兩個敬拜軸心...
以色列人的必然結果: 迷失的人生!


(二) 方向重尋 (Re-Orientation)

1) 撤母耳的信息:
"一心", "專心", "單單" 侍奉耶和華.

2) 以色列人的行動:
禱告--禁食--認罪--呼求--獻祭--呼求--神應允

3) 他們除掉諸巴力和亞斯她錄,
獻燔祭, 重新建立屬神的敬拜生活.

4) 立石為記: "到如今耶和華都幫助我們."
一個"先破後立"的重要標記, 人生的轉捩點, 信仰生活的分水嶺.


(三)結語:

1) 香港人有句俚語: "舊既唔去, 新既唔黎"!
或許, 每個人的"過往", 都是那麼令人留戀, 習以為常, 難以擺脫和忘懷!
但"今天"的敬拜的動力和生命意義從何而來, 而"明天"是否依然故我!
你還有幾多個"明天"可以等待, 浪費, 和流逝?!

2) "禱告--禁食--認罪--呼求--獻祭--呼求--神應允"
一個看似我們都耳熟能詳的流程/方程式,
但試問幾多人可以真正/真心做到?!

3) 改革有幾切底, 更新有幾真實:
"少在乎你曾經有多感動, 多激動, 多痛哭流涕,
多在乎你的生命有否轉變(transformed)"!
否則, 人又會走回舊路, 一切努力都變成枉費, 徒然!

4) 人可以擺脫"偶像", 卻不能忘掉(undo)過去.
然而...
新世界就呈然在眼前! 是衪特別為你預備, 鋪排 (tailor-made)!
你願意抖摟勇氣, 承載信心, 去踏進, 去體會這新的處境,
去享受一個屬神子民的筵蓆嗎?

上帝啊！我不要忘記您！

記憶真是一樣很微妙的東西，
有些記憶會令我銘記於心，
好的記憶當然令我會心微笑，
但是不好的記憶，
我想嘗試忘記卻總是忘記不到。

不知道是否年紀開始大，
還是近來特別忙，
記性開始差，
某些記憶已漸覺糢糊，
有時候這分鐘記得要作那事或想跟別人說些話，
下分鐘便忘記了。

無論如何，
有一樣東西是不可以忘記的，
就是不可忘記上帝對我的愛，
不可忘記我的上帝！

上帝啊！這是我對您的禱告，
求您不要叫年老使我忘記您...
求您不要叫忙碌使我忘記您...
求您不要叫安穩使我忘記您...
求您不要叫耍樂使我忘記您...
求您不要叫習慣使我忘記您...
求您不要叫飽足使我忘記您...
求您不要叫孤單使我忘記您...
求您不要叫徬徨使我忘記您...
求您不要叫灰心使我忘記您...
求您不要叫淚水使我忘記您...
求您不要叫怒氣使我忘記您...
求您不要叫執著使我忘記您...

上帝啊！求您助我時常想起您！
上帝啊！我不要忘記您！

Encounter on the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24: 13-35

(I)The Retreat of the Two Disciples (24:13-24)

(A)The Conversation While in Retreat (13-15a)

1) Their conversation was woefully inadequate and their deliberations impotent because' they had been indifferent to the Word and as a result, they were ignorant of its truth.

2) Aren’t we often just like this? We just being together to talk, share our experiences and ideas for the purpose of comforting one another cannot truly answer the main problems and questions of life or give us peace.

3) Rather, it sould be founded on the Word of God and fellowship with the Savior.

(B)The Condition and Need of the Two Disciples (16-24)

1)The Condition of their Sight—a Problem of Perception (16)

Point: Their problem was one of perception: But what is perception? It is the ability to see below the surface and to understand what is not evident to the average mind. It means the ability to realize what is true. Even though He was standing in their presence, they were unable to perceive His presence.

Application: Christ is not in the grave. He is risen, but even as the risen Lord who has ascended, He is still never remote to us though we may not be relating to His love and presence. He is always near and interested in us. He is always there, but do we perceive His presence?

2)The Nature of their Speech—a Problem of Comprehension (17-24)

Point: Their problem was one of comprehension. Comprehension means an understanding of an object or subject of thought in its entire compass and extent. They lacked insight into Christ’s presence because they lacked comprehension of the person and work of Christ and its meaning to life.

Application: Are we truly comprehending the meaning of the person and work of Christ, past, present, and future with all its implications? And are we living by faith in the light of what that means to us so that it impacts our hearts, minds, our faces, conversations, and actions?

(II)The Results in the Two Disciples (24:31-35)

(A)Transformation of their Sight--Perception (31)

In verse 31 we see the power of the Word to give light and spiritual sight. Suddenly they were able to perceive that this new companion and fellow traveler was the none other than the Lord Himself and they began to perceive and experience the reality of His presence.

(B)The Transformation of their Speech--Comprehension (vs. 32)

The three things they learned:

1) Who was speaking with them? The Christ of the cross? Yes, but more. It was Christ who had now entered His glorified state and body. One might fear remoteness, that He would be less human, less sympathetic with our needs and condition. But no! In His coming to them in their need and distress, even in their retreat, we learn a wonderful lesson, the lesson of His availability, of His pursuit of and sympathy with us as our kindred, as one made like unto His brethren. It showed He is our faithful High Priest who is intimately interested in us and interceding for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16).

2) They said “He was explaining (lit. was opening) to us the Scriptures.” As mentioned previously, we might think that the exalted Lord would be independent of the Scripture, but not so. Certainly, the priority and importance of the Bible is seen in the Savior’s actions in this passage. Truly, this is a token or mark of the Bible’s authority and indispensability.

3) Using sound principles of careful Bible study, we must study to know the facts of Scripture; our faith stands and acts on those facts, but never apart from intimacy with the living Christ. So often, rather than intimacy with Christ, we find ourselves studying to prove our point and prove someone else wrong. We need to check our motives.

(C)The Transformation of their Stand for Christ--Action (33-35)

1) Restoration (v. 33a) “They arose” points to a decisive act which demonstrated their restored spiritual condition.

2) Association (v. 33b) They returned and began to relate, minister, and enjoy the fellowship of other believers. This is such an important ingredient of our life as believers for support, growth, encouragement, direction, and motivation.

3) Attestation (v. 34) These men with the others began giving testimony to the risen Savior.

4) Explanation (v. 35) They were explaining what had happened to them and what He had taught them—passing on the good news and the Word for the benefit of others.

(III)Conclusion
Are we open to the Word and God’s plan for learning and interacting with the living Christ? Are we allowing Bible study to be a personal encounter with the living Savior? He personally:

>walks with us in our daily path,
>talks with us through His Word and with whom we can talk through prayer,
>opens our minds to understand and respond to His Word,
>is with us and concerned about us and our every step,
>provides for us regardless of what life may bring, and
>who has left us here to, in the power of His gift, the Holy Spirit, go forth, teach others about Him.

by:J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M. "Christ Our Companion".

Saint Patrick Breastplate Prayer

Christ behind me.
Christ before me.
Christ beside me.
Christ between us.
Christ beneath me.
Christ above me.
Christ within me.

[More about St. Patrick]

(The following meditation on St. Patrick's prayer was written by Reverend Ian Cowie of the Scotthish Center of Healing, Edinburgh, Scotland.)

Christ behind me. In the past, all that has been good is in His keeping. I need no regrets, no mementoes. I can let go of all that was good, knowing that it is precious to Him. Give thanks to God for all His goodness.
All that was bad, hurtful, shameful, I consign into the depths of His mercy. All the hurt which I have caused, all the hurt which others have caused me, I lay at the foot of His cross. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

Christ before me. He is the way, stretching before me, from where I am now from this actual situation I am in, right home to our Father’s house. He is the Way, the Way prepared. He has gone ahead into tomorrow to make it ready. The future is a journey home. Through all the dark valleys He will guide and He will provide times when my cup of happiness will overflow. I face the future knowing the Way.

Christ beside me. “I am with you always.” He is in this situation, sharing it with me now. His strong shoulder is under the burden I carry. Every joy and every sorrow He shares with me. He will not fail me, nor forsake me. Nothing can separate me from His love.

Christ between us. To sever and to reconcile, to shield from the sin in one another. To bless all that is good and true. To cleanse from pride, possessiveness, lust. To give laughter, tears, understanding and peace.

Christ beneath me. Underneath are the everlasting arms, cherishing, upholding. When I fall, it is into His arms that I fall. And He will lift me up again. His strength undergirds my weakness.

Christ above me. As a hen gathers her chicks so His love is spread over me, comforting me, shielding me. I claim His protection from all attack and oppression. Under the shadow of His wings I am safe. And in Him I will trust.

Christ within me. I live, yet not I, but Christ within me. My body is Christ’s body, bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh. By the bread broken and the wine poured out, I know that You, Lord, are in me and I in You. You will accomplish the work that You have for me to do, and Your grace is sufficient for me.

Christ behind me in the past, before me in the future, beside me in the present, beneath me to support me, above me to shield me, within me filling my life. Thus enfolded, armed and led, I go forth in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

不自覺的讚美

吃了一口嫩滑美味的雞腿，
我會不自覺地說好味道。

球員成功地入了決勝負的一球，
我會不自覺地叫好，還要為他們慶祝一番。

聽到Vitas唱的高音，
我會不自覺地驚歎他控制聲線無人能及的技巧。

欣賞一場令我感動的電影，
我會不自覺地讚歎導演的佈局。

學生演奏出動人的樂曲，
我會不自覺地稱讚他們的努力。

我們會向令我們感享受的經歷說讚美，
讚美會不自覺地從我們的心底流露出來，
這些不自覺是叫我們難以將讚美收藏起。
其實當我們真實地經歷上帝、享受上帝的榮耀，
讚美同樣地會不自覺地從我們的心底流露出來。
創造我們的上帝是我們最藉得讚美的一位，
經歷上帝多一點，
享受上帝多一點，
讚美上帝多一點！

這一切是個夢嗎？

牧者能夠在六個星期前定下講題嗎？
領敬拜者能夠在五個星期前揀選配合主題的詩歌嗎？
領敬拜者能夠與牧者一起編排敬拜嗎？
領敬拜者能夠在四個星期前與牧者一起編排四星期後的敬拜嗎？
領敬拜者能夠有音樂總監替他處理音樂編排嗎？
有音樂總監為領排隊繪畫敬拜流程的藍圖嗎？
有牧者會親身牧養敬拜隊嗎？
有美術指導為隊工設計形象嗎？
有美術指導為不同敬拜設計配合主題的平面設計嗎？
敬拜流程每次可以不同嗎？
敬拜流程會有監製嗎？
敬拜當日整個敬拜流程會有排練嗎？
敬拜後會有檢討嗎？
這一切是個夢嗎？
在八個月前這一切是我們的夢，
但八個月後的今天，
這一切已在歌鄰裡孕育生長起來了，
這不再是個夢了！

連月來大家在適應緊湊的節奏，
開會、編排、練習、牧養、開會、編排、練習、牧養…
一起努力慢慢學習，由零開始，現已漸漸上軌道了。
現在我們的隊工裡有：
三位牧者、一位敬拜監製、一位美術指導、
三位領敬拜者、三位音樂總監、
三位琴手、一位Bass手和兩位伴唱手。
真的看見上帝集合我們一起的心意，
來自不同教會的弟兄姊妹，
有著不同的恩賜、有著不同的性情，
在過程中上帝不斷雕琢和建立我們每一個，
好叫我們學習同心去事奉上帝。

祈求上帝繼續幫助我們看見異象！
祈求上帝繼續幫助我們同心事奉！
祈求上帝繼續幫助我們在崗位盡忠！
祈求上帝繼續幫助我們有力事奉！
祈求上帝繼續幫助我們明白你更多！
上帝感謝你！