Jan 31, 2008
從十二月尾到一月份，我（重）看了幾本很值得推介的好書：
- Scot McKnight 的 A Community Called Atonement。這是Living Theology Series 的第一炮，McKnight 可算是整個Emerging Movement的新約學術旗手。這本貫穿新舊約關於贖罪（Atonement）意義的表白，強調聖經除了「代贖」（Penal Substitution）作為重要的意像之外，還存在其他意像。McKnight的建議是用Identification for Incorporation來含概整個贖罪論。作者的目的不是要削減「代贖」的重要，而是提出需要更廣的意像，才能讀得通聖經中其他單從「代贖」解釋而會出現張力的經文。
- 粱文道的味覺現象學。這不是齋講飲食的書，亦不是菜譜。這是作者從飲食文化而展開的跨學科聯想。我對這樣的書有興趣，正因為我以為這樣的討論正正是這一代的信徒所缺乏和必需急起直追和再發現的。
- Rodney Clapp 的 A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society。這是我讀教會學的第一年課本。這本1996年的作品，現在再讀，先知味甚濃。我驚訝Clapp早在10年前，已經layout了所有現今教會討論得火紅火綠的議題。並且他的觀點，仍然是相當具前瞻性的。對他來說，基督教作為眾多文化（cultures）的一員，非但不會減弱其重要性，卻是她之可能再發聲的唯一出路。後基督國度（post-Christendom）的信徒必需放棄多數主義，重新了解自己的角色。
還在看的有：
- A New Vision for Israel: The Teachings of Jesus in National Context
- 弱水三千
Jan 29, 2008
Karen問：今天教會制度培育了什麽樣的人出來？
好問題。你會怎樣答呢？
有時我覺得，我和現在教會的弟兄姊妹存在著一種距離。距離不是來自對問題的觀察，各人其實到看見問題，反為距離是來自對問題的回應。很多人看見教會的肢體不冷不熱，而他們的解救辦法通常就是「多讀經」、「看聖經怎樣說」之類的答案。則是說，加強教導、加強鼓勵、加強說明重要性…
我不是說聖經教導不重要。但這樣的解決方案其實是假設了：1) 有「問題」的信徒不知聖經說了些甚麼。於是若你講了，他們就會做。但其實這樣「知」與「做」的關係，並不是必然和如此簡單的。2)聖經是一看便明的，而且，聖經的內容是好像三角幾何推論一樣，是抽離和獨立而不存在讀者的偏見。但實際上，「看聖經怎樣說」本身根本就是一個詮釋的問題。說這話背後的人，其實嚴格來看，是在說「聽我認為聖經怎樣說」。我比較相信的是所謂「有問題」的信徒不是沒有看聖經的，而是他不相信（或接受）你對聖經的（如此）詮釋。當然這可能是這人的問題，但也真的可能是說那話的人的問題…
我也說過，大家說要培育信徒，訓練門徒。問題是，我所說的「門徒」是你所說的嗎？你要訓練廚師，我要訓練拳師，怎樣同時進行？沒有對要塑造出來的共識，怎樣開始也是等泡湯的。
讓我舉一個例子：一天我們只將神看為單單拯救我們的神（所謂「救主」），那麼世上的事情就與我，和我的神沒有相干；因為祂只是解決我死後何從的那位。但問題是我們忘記了神也是創造天地的主，既然神沒有放棄這個世界，我們就沒有資格去逃避這世界的種種—公義的問題、社會的問題、經濟的問題，生態的問題，它們仍然是我們的問題，我們的召命的一部份。過去的信徒不在這些問題上參與，正說明他們不了解自己信仰的豐富。
如此，我同意Karen的看法：
在現今的社會裏作個成熟的人，我發覺有些知識是不可或缺的：政治、經濟、文化、人際關係、歷史等等。我們不可能樣樣都是專家，但起碼要有一定程度的認知。在香港或加拿大，熱衷於政治的基督徒是罕有的；以現代藝術來表達信仰也不多；可能很多香港人都讀商科，對經濟也有認識，但這個科目怎樣與信仰掛勾，怎樣影響我們生活，卻是要探討的課題；至於歷史，我相信要知道自己信仰的歷史、身處地方的歷史、民族的歷史，才能明白自己責任和承載將要來的衝擊。
各位同路人，努力罷！因我們要走的路甚遠。
Jan 29, 2008
I am back!! And a big surprise to see Cc at the airport when I arrived! Thank you for your prayers, emails and blog comments during the trip. I really miss all of you!
I hope everyone is well. For me, I am a bit disappointed that so far the most common saying I got is that “you looked darker”, not “you looked thinner”. But being as intelligent as you all are, I think you will be able to say more encouraging words when you see me in person in the next few days or through the pictures I posted.
Praise God that everything went well in Brazil. In fact, I have to say that God’s grace is abundant in the Sao Jose church there. I see a number of new Christians growing very strong and fast, as well as the bonding and love among all brothers and sisters. I think this trip was also more relax for me than my previous trips; since my senior pastor took most of the “heavy talking” and teaching. Other than preaching on 3 Sundays to different churches and congregations and leading a few bible studies and house groups here and there in the first week, I just sat back and watched what God is doing most of the time. That’s good too, since this allows me to do more reflections and thinking on the spot — regarding the Sao Jose church, MGC, and about myself as well. Hopefully I can share more about these later on.
With a full morning meeting, and a pile of things on my office desk, I do not think I can write long. But I do want to say “thank you” for all of you who were so thoughtful about Cc and Jocelyn during my absence. I am really thankful that we have brothers and sisters like you and that we are all part of His family.
And if you have absolutely nothing to do for the rest of the day, you are most welcome to take a look at the pictures taken during this trip (by Rev. Wong and Alex) — all 307 of them!
Jan 27, 2008
Jan 27 2008
神與聖經 課堂錄音:
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筆記:
- 投影筆記(pdf)
- 覆習問題(pdf)
下週經文（請自選一組）：
- 經文1：出5-14章
- 經文2：出5-14章; 出19-20章; 申29-30章
- 經文3：出1-24章; 民10-14章; 申29-30章
Jan 26, 2008
Thanks for all the “encouragement” about my appearance! Everything is working well and the grace of God is abundant. I am sure we will have lots of sharing when we come back.
Let me post another picture taken from our trip to Rio de Janerio.
Jan 20, 2008
Jan 20 2008
神與聖經 課堂錄音:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
筆記:
- 投影筆記 #1(pdf)/ #2(pdf)
- 覆習問題(pdf)
下週經文（請自選一組）：
- 經文1：創6-9, 12章
- 經文2：創4-11章; 創12-17章
- 經文3：創4-11 章; 創12-17 章; 創36-50 章
Jan 18, 2008
Greetings from Brazil! I am writing from Sao Paulo right now. Things are working very well here. I am doing okay so far as well. It is VERY HOT here and with all the walking and sweating, I may lose a few pounds before I come back!
Just went to a few neighboring towns (Santos and others) yesterday which we never visited before. Great need here for evangelism and new Christian follow-up. For those of you that do, please continue to pray for us and the extensive traveling we will have for 10 days.
Here is a recent photo taken. Enjoy!
Jan 13, 2008
Jan 13 2008
神與聖經 課堂錄音:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
筆記:
- 大綱及教學流程(pdf)
- 投影筆記(pdf)
- 覆習問題(pdf)
下週經文（請自選一組）：
- 經文1：創1; 創3.1-6
- 經文2：創1, 3章
- 經文3：創1-3章
