becoming

Jim’s post today echoes my earlier posts in regard to the NanKing Massacre in 1937.

Yes, worth pondering indeed!

弟兄們，可否花少點時間打機和少點金錢在那些模型、相機等等的物品上？姊妹們，你們又可否花少點時間逛街、瘦身、買衣服和化妝品上？對，我們可以享受我們所有的，卻不是追求享受。把有餘的時間和金錢放在別人的需要上，就是神所喜悅的事。

不是我說的。是一個生活於香港，任職牙醫的年青基督徒姊妹說的。

真的那樣遙不可及和不可思議嗎？

One week’s worth of food from around the world:

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11 Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina Food expenditure for one week: $341.98 Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09 Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27 Family recipe: Pig’s knuckles with carrots, celery and parsnips

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53 Family recipe: Okra and mutton

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo Food expenditure for one week : $31.55 Family recipe : Potato soup with cabbage

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03 Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork

Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45
Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice

China: The Dong family of Beijing Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06
Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce

United States: The Caven family of California Food expenditure for one week: $159.18
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream

Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02 Family recipe: Mutton dumplings

Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15 Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23 Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat

———————-

Yes, we are THAT rich.

七十年前的12月13日，是南京歷史上一段最黑暗日子的開始。這一天，侵華日軍佔領中國首都南京並開始了長達六星期的燒、殺、淫、掠，致使我30萬同胞罹難，強姦婦女的事件兩萬餘起，全城建築三分之一被毀，公私財產損失難以計數。慘絕人寰的空前浩劫，不僅給中國人民留下了不能忘卻的災難記憶，也激起了全世界愛好和平人士的義憤和反思。

今天，一片佔地面積111畝、建築面積2.5萬平方米、展陳面積9800平方米、整體設計寓意為‘和平之舟’的嶄新建築群，從南京大屠殺江東門集體屠殺‘萬人坑’遺址上落成。江蘇省暨南京市各界代表和專程前來的中外賓朋在這里隆重集會，舉行沉痛悼念南京大屠殺30萬同胞遇難70週年暨侵華日軍南京大屠殺遇難同胞紀念館擴建工程竣工儀式。700萬南京人民要在‘12.13’這個警報拉響、警鐘長鳴的日子裡，以眼前這座記載侵略暴行和戰爭悲劇、也寄託民族希望和人類理想的歷史紀念館昭告世人：

古都金陵在侵華日軍南京大屠殺期間經受了舉世罕見的深重苦難。七十年來，它所積澱、引發和匯集的歷史教訓和精神蘊涵，遠遠超越了時空的局限。它鐫刻著‘遇難者300000’的觸目驚心和戰爭罪魁禍首的萬劫不復，更凝聚著無數生命的吶喊與控訴、國際友人的聲援與救助、懺悔者的良知與反省，以及來自四面八方的探索與求證……

值此悼念南京大屠殺30萬同胞遇難70週年暨侵華日軍南京大屠殺遇難同胞紀念館新館開館之際，我們向五大洲的兄弟姐妹們發出呼籲：當今世界正在發生前所未有的歷史性變革，求和平、促發展、謀合作是各國人民的共同心願…作為一座飽經戰爭創傷的歷史文化名城，南京人民渴望和平、熱愛和平，我們將以更大的熱忱投入到改革開放與和平發展的實際行動中去，致力於‘和諧社會’的建設；堅決反對任何歪曲歷史、混淆是非的倒行逆施；堅決反對戰爭暴力，反對恐怖主義，反對任何形式的危及平民生命和財產的非正義行為。

為了讓白骨得以入殮，讓冤魂能夠安眠，把屠刀化為警鐘，把逝名刻作史鑒，讓孩童不再恐懼，讓母親不再悲泣，讓戰爭遠離人類，讓和平灑滿人間，一切愛好和平的團體和人士團結起來，為建設一個和平、和諧、和解的新世界而共同奮鬥！

[link]

Mark Roberts寫出了我的心聲：

Here is my fear, however. John Piper is very influential, especially among the kinds of people who would be troubled by Wright’s take on Paul. I’m afraid that many will buy and read Piper’s book before and even without ever reading Wright himself. Then they’ll quote or paraphrase Piper, without even reading Paul himself. This, I suggest, is neither Reformed, nor evangelical, nor even especially Christian. One who reads Piper should also read Wright himself, and, more importantly, should dive into a fresh examination of Scripture.

….When I read Piper’s critique and any other, and as I continue to wrestle with Wright’s own view, my main question will be: Who does the best job interpreting Paul? If it turns out that the Reformation misconstrued some of what Paul actually meant, that’s too bad, but so be it. If it turns out that we preachers have to revise what we’ve preached about justification and righteousness on the basis of what the Bible actually says, so be it. Of all people, we who stand in the line of the Reformation should seek, above all and at any cost, to grasp the true meaning of Scripture and to stake our lives and ministries on it.

Some good catalogues for your giving this Christmas:

1. WorldVision — Christmas Catalogue
2. Samaritan Purse — Christmas Catalogue
3. Hope for Children Foundation — Catalogue of Hope

聖誕的靜與動

哥林多後書8:7-9

為甚麼我們唱那首叫Silent Night（平安夜）的詩歌？是因為那天晚上有個肥DutDut、白雪雪的啤啤出世？是因為那個小寶寶睡得很甜，所以不要把祂驚醒，不要把祂帶回這冰冷無 情的人間？不！Silent Night，這晚之所以沉默是因為我們作為人的底牌被揭了出來：我們的無能為力叫我們閉口不敢再說三道四、指指點點；神的出手使我們在驚訝的木訥中，期待 著祂將要做的又會是甚麼…

…然而一班人像做戲一樣以喜樂愧贈和感恩收納來慶祝聖誕是很有問題的。縱然這樣的一班人已經比其他人好得多—因為他們有愛的表現在他們當中，但面對 一個經濟失衡、貧富懸殊的世界，一個群體，特別是被神所拯救的人，只停留向內望，實在是一種罪邪。禮物不可能因群體內成員的喜悅而只停留在群體裡面互相傳 送，它也必需接觸到群體以外有需要的人。

講道錄音：

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———————
延伸閱讀：

1. 這篇講章實在是我在2003年平安夜信息的一個延續，有興趣請到這裡。
2. 過去我曾提過很多的Miroslav Volf，他寫的Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace，帶給我很多啟發。
3. 關於Malibu長老教會的故事。

今朝看見mannshin的post中的一句：

今日篇道OK get 到個message

令我不禁要confirm一下，她的意思究竟是：

今日篇道，OK get到個message （＝「只是OK get到，即不太get到個message」）

還是，

今日篇道OK，get 到個message（＝「今日篇道還可以，我get到個message」）

？

這令我想起我常用以illustrate聖經翻譯和編纂批鑒的挑戰和重要：

GODISNOWHERE

究竟是

GOD IS NO WHERE

還是

GOD IS NOW HERE

？

還是我們採取 Roland Barthes 的進路，來個「作者已死」，由讀者自決（哈哈哈）？！