為我好

練詩不是我為 主的原故，原來是主為我的原故：

為了我可以在人前收歛自己、不貪玩。
為了我可以更認真，所以放我信任的弟兄在我身邊勸化。
為了我增加音樂的知識。我一直希望看得懂琴譜，而今天的功課就是填so-fa-names。
為了我可以和弟兄姊妹一起事奉，而不是單獨的敬拜。
為了我可以更接受別人的意見。
相信也是為了訓練我上台更鎮定。

自知未必有恒心去做好。今晚就讓我把功課幹好才說。
您也為了我專心練詩禱告，好嗎？

滿足

星期六

在大自然中享受到　神的創造。
有弟兄願意做司機，我只雖要出車。真好。
一檯十五人慶祝弟兄生晨。

星期日

第一次上台獻詩，雖然緊張到手震、錯漏百出。實在要好好練習。
在好天氣下享受教會野餐，原本天文台預料有雨。
眾弟兄姊妹一同參加弟兄的recital，雖然自己的表現麻麻。

星期一

因為上班時天色晴朗，雖然工作沒有減少。
因為　神使四季分明，雖然今天下過雨。
因為身體還算健康、手腳還算強壯、思想還算靈活，雖然每天都工作到很累。
因為到食堂時還有一碗chicken noodle soup，雖然剩下的大半是水。
因為一位同事的女友自製的banana bread和crazy chocolate cake，真的很好吃。
因為和弟兄姊妹共進晚飯，雖然我們只是閒來聊聊。
因為在Safeway買到平宜（$3.99）的旅行椅，而且還是最後一張。
因為我是全球最富足的人之一，雖然經常身在福中不知福。
因為扭開電視看了一套叫人開懷的影片，雖然原沒有看電視的打算。
因為主整天保守著我的心思、意念，雖然我像風浪中的船搖晃不定。
因為主在我們還作罪人時經已愛我們，雖然我們今日還是得罪祂。

代禱

願您的母親能得到醫治，回復健康。

願您的精神及身體都撐得住，平穩渡過這數天。

願您的意外過後的身體一切無姜。

願您的心情和意念都有　主的保守、安慰。

願您樂意參加明天的團契迎新會。

願您那關懷的心得　主稱讚。

願您的事奉得著人們和　神的喜悅。

願您在我們中間得著回家一樣的感覺。

願您回歸主的羊欄。

願您的雙親和洽相處。

願您的父母容許受浸一事。

願您求得一份有助於事奉的工作。

願您在主裡扎根。

願萬民都尊祂的名為聖。
願祂的國降臨。
願祂的旨意成就在地，如同成就在天。

願主賜您平安。

需、求

今天我們所追求的是甚麼？而我們應當作的又是甚麼？

有求己的、有求他的、有求屬世的、有求天上的、甚至有求地下的。在我們當中，有求和平的、有求和好的、有求完美的、有求公義的、有求服從的、有求智識的、有求生命的。無論如何，以我而言，最好不過便是求　神的同在，因為只有祂裡面才有真正的平安。在祂的生命裡求的一切，原是為祂，便不易莽求妄求。而且求的是出自於真正的盼望，便不至於失望失腳。

而我們當作的就是愛　神、也愛人如己。我深信　神就必與我們同在，賜下我們所求的真正的平安。

＂你＂還要論斷嗎？

雅各書第四章，敎訓我們不要批評弟兄姊妹、不要論斷弟兄姊妹。原來批評、論斷別人就是論斷自己、論斷主、論斷　神。昨晚我們才剛查過這章經文，我便經已犯下了論斷的錯。我是誰，竟敢論斷弟兄呢？＂你＂這論斷人的，心裡自高自大。＂你＂可不知你所作的是與　神為敵的？因為＂你＂心裡論斷、口裡論斷，便是不服　神完全的旨意和判決。但　神賜下更多的恩典，祂阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人。自高自大的人哪，＂你＂要潔淨＂你＂的口、清潔＂你＂的心。不然、＂你＂敬拜是徒然的。

雅各書勸戒我們要以單一的心親近　神，不要心懷二意。人應該自己醒察。看過這章的人（尤其是我），不要自欺、不要輕看這章的敎訓。　神已經清楚說明　祂對我們的要求了。我們應靠著　神藉主耶穌所賜下的恩典、每天保守　神放在我們裡面的靈。求主賜恩幫助我們全心全意的親近　神。

Tired

Finally finished work for the day. I can go to bed now. Nite, world.

Scripture of the week

I was beginning to prepare for the coming bible study. Right before the page of questions I put down earlier I found some notes about serving the Lord. They referred to Romans 12:6-18:

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. giveth: or, imparteth with simplicity: or, liberally
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; with...: or, in the love of the brethren
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. condescend...: or, be contented with mean things
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

A dream about death

I had this strangest dream last night. I dreamt of being in the office of a dear friend from church. He was showing us around his company on weekend. There were only a handful of employees still in the office that day. We gathered around talking and having drinks. And one of his coworkers came in to the lounge. I wasn't sure if our presence caused any distribance for this fellow. And I asked whether most people in the company were as busy as my friend, as he often needed to work during weekend. I was asked to look around. Most of the office desks were not occupied so I got the picture. Then I went with this coworker to another room, leaving the rest of the people behind.

This person never gave me a name. But he looked so familiar -- yes, he had to be an ex-actor. He gave me a photo of a lady and asked me for a favor. I don't exactly remember what that favor was -- probably about finding her and preaching to her. I asked if that was his wife and the answer was yes. His eagerness suggested to me how much he cared for her. Then flashbacks of their past came into the picture. And I realized that she was no longer alive. I do not recall whether I did find this lady and spreaded the gospel to her.

Rather, I was overwhelmed by the thoughts of my own granny, who passed away years ago. She was the first close family member of mine to leave this world because of her age and sickness. She devotedly and superstitiously practived taoism, a belief in polytheism, for pretty much her whole life. She would chant for an hour every morning, waking up everyone. But still I have never found peace on her face. As a Christian, I do not think her practice led to salvation. Because of that, I felt very bad about not having done anything to tell her about Jesus. So somehow I entered a room and I found my granny. Before I could see her, I heard her complaints about being stuck in the room. That was my dear granny. I was finally able to see her face-to-face again! I was so glad.

In the room, unlike her last years, she was able to walk with no aid and to speak clearly. Back then, she was the only adult family member who cared for me most. There in the room she seemed to have lost that same affection (probably a normal thing for a dead person). But that didn't matter to me. I didn't even go over the whole salvation message because I presumed her would already know most of the things in her state. So I just told her that only Jesus Christ was the true savior and the only true god is the Lord. I couldn't tell how well she was getting my words but I kept repeating them, even when I was brought out of the room.

飯堂

一連數晚的晚餐都選上了飯堂的時菜斑塊飯。各款蔬菜加上香滑魚塊不太甜、不太淡，容易入口。所以連吃幾天都不覺得悶。

Open questions: 如何管理大地？

神　依照自己的樣式造人，又賜予人權柄管理大地及當中的生物。如創世記１：２６所記：

「神說：我們要照著我們的形像、按著我們的樣式造人，使他們管理海裏的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜，和全地，並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。」

人應當如何管理這大地才合乎　神的心意？

伸延問題：人應當如何管理自己才合乎　神的心意？

Scenaries

There's a pile of work I need to finish thus there is no time for me to write about the trip yet. For now, here are some of the stunting pictures of the scenaries we visited. (Click on the pictures for larger copies.)









Mirror lake in Yosemite


Sunset in San Francisco

On vacation

I am currently on a road trip. I won't be updating the site until I return on 8/8.