Uniqueness of our humanity

The uniqueness of our humanity is that you and I have a soul.
Only man kind have a soul, angels, demons and animals do not have a soul. There is one creature in the whole universe that is made according to the image and likeness of God, it is YOU!! MAN! 

The human soul comprises of 3 things, 1. Mind - you reason, conceptualize 2 Will- you choose, you make decision, you make up your mind 3. Emotions - you feel and desire.

It is your human soul that gives us unique, individual personality. It is our soul that makes us so similar to God in His likeness and that makes Him so excited to fellowship with us and relate with us. So even in our fallen sinful state, our humanity is something so precious to God that makes Him want to redeem us. God never send Jesus to redeem Satan when he is fallen, not even angels, not animals. Jesus sent by God to redeem us, MAN. 

Although Jesus was God He did not come "in the form of God." -not with wings like angel or animal. He came in the appearance and likeness of a man. 83 times, Jesus Christ called Himself " the Son of Man" God loves us so much, he identify himself with us as a man.

1 Tim 2:5-6
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

When He came 2000 years ago, Jesus took on our human nature. And forever that human nature is now a part of Him. Jesus has forever and ever and ever become the God-man forever.

God have a mission to restore and redeem us, a human's soul.

Psalm 23:1,3
The Lord is my shepherd. He restores my soul.

Jeremiah 31:25
For I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

To be human is a beautiful, wonderful thing! God does not want us to degrade ourselves into thinking that we are no better than animals. A human nature that is free from sin is a beautiful gift from God. Living a healthy, balances human life is  necessary  if we want to become "ambassadors of Christ" in society.

Article taken from Lesson 11 Salting Humanity, Sermon on the Mount. 

鄭秀文 上帝早已預備

感谢你耶稣基督。



鄭秀文 

上帝早已預備

作詞：陸偉峰
作曲：陸偉峰 / Phat@24herbs

就算我可得到世間的財寶
但你卻說要我知道 是永生的道路
是我在罪人時你賜我中保
就算我可得到今生的自豪
但你卻說要我知道
別為因此而煩惱 在絕望裡投訴
只要仰望主哪怕會迷路
上帝早已預備 我不相信運氣
即使風光明媚 但卻不是你預期
上帝早已預備 至少我不被遺棄
難得你為我死

就算我可得到今生的自豪
但你卻說要我知道

別為因此而煩惱 在絕望裡投訴
只要仰望主哪怕會迷路
上帝早已預備 我不相信運氣
即使風光明媚 但卻不是你預期
上帝早已預備 至少我不被遺棄
難得你為我死
感謝你 你會為我打氣
感謝你 從谷底將我救起
感謝你 縱使失去我的真理
但我沒有忘記
上帝早已預備 我不相信運氣
即使風光明媚 但卻不是你預期
上帝早已預備 只少我不被遺棄
難得你為我死
難得你為我死

我与鸭哥(Jacob)

奇怪的是，整个星期在研读登山宝训时都没发现我和鸭哥的命运有着密切的关联。昨晚，小组讨论"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" Matt 5:4才发现。

新约里鸭哥的生命是这样的。人生活了大半辈子，从不认识上帝。也没想到，生命中其实有属灵的空间，有上帝，有天堂，天使。鸭哥一生中，座右铭就是要活出精彩的人生，根本就是靠着一双手，毅力，还有不断的利用人际关系，生活经验生存。有时觉得人不奸诈，不醒目，不识相，不机警就会让自己受伤。很多时候都不断的猜疑别人心在想什么，下一步要怎么走，我有走错棋吗?。。。活得有点累。但没办法，还得继续这样下去。要不？谁会照顾你？谁会可怜你？这个是很现实的社会，别天真了。鸭哥的名字意义？哈，就和他生命一样，阴谋家，别太在意，其实这名字只是把现实活生生的摆在眼前罢了。Jacob = Schemer

那么，我和鸭哥的命运怎么扯上关系呢？我已经活了一半的生命了。前半段的生命，知道耶稣的存在啦。但是生命里却没有他，没依靠他，没相信，不知道他的大能，他对我的爱，他对我的牺牲，还有他所为我做的一切。所以，在失望，背叛，跌倒，受伤，痛苦，流泪，彷徨，无助，迷失，不知所措时怎么做呢？哎哟，答案就是，靠自己啦。那还靠谁呢？况且，告诉我，我们浪人，流浪在外工作，你会一直打电话回家求救吗？报喜不报忧啦，没听过吗？难道你会一直哭哭啼啼，每次和爸妈抱怨吗？ 其实以前青年的我很天真无邪，心里也没有一丝丝的歪念，真的，没骗你啦。但是，善良，真心对待换来的是一直被骗，被嘲笑，被伤害，被捅。”你是不是太天真了？“终于没法子，我让心变质了，不知不觉的变质，被污染，价值观也改变了。心变了，但是，那一套价值观并不是自己认同的，奇怪。我一直都还有那一丝丝的良知。很多时候在问，社会价值观，难道就为了生存，活着，就必须依照社会准则吗？这么做，对吗？但也不对啊，小时在学校学的并不是那样的。怎么学校没教呢？自私自利，饱中私囊，损人利己，乘虚而入，两头蛇，散播谣言，流言蜚语，大只讲，嫉妒，怨恨，苦毒，不原谅，欺诈，狡猾，利用，善意的谎言？谎言也有分好坏？哇。。我很confuse。 

有一天，鸭哥在流浪中遇见了上帝。他看见天上的门打开了，有一个阶梯连接了天和地，很多天使在阶梯不断上下。。他发现，其实真的有上帝的存在，有天国，天使，天梯。。2010年，我也和鸭哥一样。在生命的低谷里拼命在寻找希望，寻找爱，寻找梦想，寻找活着的真正意义。其实上帝早已有了安排，（听郑秀文的上帝早有预备，）在流浪中，他给了我一个去处，一个可以归宿的地方，天父的怀抱。天父的手敞开着，叫我投向他。结果我认识了耶稣，也接受了耶稣进入了我的生命，做王，做主。

其实那时，我真的活的有点疲累了。也不想活了。觉得没意义，没意思。也真的生命很空白。觉得，世界多我一个不多，少我一个也不少，没人会察觉得。（这是撒旦的谎言）上帝造你为了给你一个未来，他在意你的所思所想，所经历的。我的生命真的被他翻转了。原来，心是可以经历平安的。原来生命，生活不需要这样忧虑，彷徨的过，不需要白活，不需要平凡，毫无意义。。

圣经里说，“口渴的人，过来喝吧，我这里是生命的泉源。”真的，我以前渴望过一个平安，真实，诚恳，热心，精彩却不缺道义的生活。我渴望真心待人，可以赤裸裸的坦然相对，有着善良真挚不被污染的心。社会准则不是这样，但是天国准则却就真真实实就是那么超凡。超过凡人所思所想。真爱，道义，平安，盼望，信心，你缺吗？耶稣可以给你。哦。。这里好像很难和你解释耶稣在我心里做过的。阅读我的部落吧。你会发现我的锐变哦。。

好吧。。该次再写吧。。感谢你耶稣。因为有你，我可以重生。。

Salt and Light

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and tramples underfoot by men." Matthew 5: 13

Salt must actively engage and penetrate its environment. Otherwise, it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." You become irrelevant to society and the church get marginalized because it is useless - good for nothing!!

To be effective, salt must retain its saltiness.
You must maintain your salt characteristics!!
- preserve (preserve the good value, beliefs,standard of living), purifies (cleanse away bacteria, make clean), heals (heal ulcer, promotes health), brings flavor (when life is dull, you bring in excitement, flavor of life), melt ice (even the coldest heart will be melted when salt is added in), gives energy (energy drink, you encourage others, puts in faith, stirs up passion), create thirst (a thirst for righteousness, to know God, to know the truth)

Do not just stay in the salt bottle, come in contact with others, you must be shake out from the bottle to bring flavor. 

The only way salt (sodium chloride) can lose its property is when it gets contaminated by impurities.
Sodium chloride is stable compound, it can resist attack, but once it gets contaminated, it become white powder. You lose your influence once you lose your saltiness.
Watch out of things that contaminate your heart, attitude, manners. Do not let bad attitude, pride..to contaminate your heart. 

There will always be a distinctiveness between believers and unbelievers.

The moment we become indistinguishable in our value system, it means that we have compromised and lost the power to influence.
Do not compromise!Your Christian faith should penetrate the society.

Light of the world
Characteristics of light
1. Light illuminates.
Light expel darkness. You are able to see things clearly when there is light, you are able to find your things (dream, destiny, calling, goal, way) again. When you bring light into the lives of others, people will be able to see God clearly. 

2. Light promotes life. 
Newborn baby needs to be kept in the light room to generate growth and survive. Plants need light to grow, to live. It is a known fact that human beings kept in the dark room are more depressed compare to people who goes out to the sun and expose to light. You are happy when you see a bright, sunny day, you feel more energized.


Taken from Textbook Sermon On The Mount, Lesson 8, Salt and Light

爸的血汗钱

那天我对爸说要到怡保去购物。他一大早就在办公室，到保险箱拿了2千，放在一个白色信封等我出门。我没想太多，从小到大，每次的购物或看医生，把都一样给我一点钱花。我是他最宠爱的女儿，我从不缺钱花。

在怡保逛够了就回家。满载而归。两天后要回新加坡了，福告诉我，叫我把钱还给爸爸。我根本不明白，福说我们圣经说我们应该尊重，给父母钱，尤其已经开始在赚钱了，更加不应该拿父母的钱来用，就算他们很疼爱我们，要给钱我们花。福还说，爸爸活到现在（64岁）还那么勤力的工作，不停的工作。工作（换轮胎）很辛苦，我根本不应该花爸的钱。听完福解释，我顿时恍然大悟。一直以来，心都不够细腻去体会爸的辛苦。一直还觉得，父母给孩子花钱是理所当然的。

我把钱还给爸爸。我说，爸爸赚钱很辛苦，我已经会赚钱了，我不能再花他的钱了。其实我心已经从满了忏悔，心也觉得很疼，因为我知道爸爸工作的辛苦。还爸钱时，眼泪不断地流。又是感激，也是忏悔，心疼。

其实爸爸真的很好，他对儿女的宠爱有加。他年轻的时候就一直很努力工作了，很简单，他一心只想打造一个不缺钱用的家。给家人温饱，穿的好，吃得饱。这么多年来，工作从不偷懒，不马虎，不休假。爸省吃俭用，对自己刻薄，从不乱花钱爱，对儿女供书教学昂贵的费用（我们3姐弟都读私人学校，学费很高）也毫无怨言。不停地工作，不停地养家。到了今天，爸的头发也白了，他还精神奕奕，还说要不断工作。精神可嘉，真的很让我们儿女敬佩。

爸爸，你真的很棒。我以你为荣，以你为我的榜样。我会牢牢记住你的生活精神，对家人的供应。爸，谢谢你，我爱你。

Partial Obedience

"But, I have obeyed God!" 1 Sam 15:20

When God instructed Saul to kill all the Amalakites, Saul ordered to kill all civilians but the king, he kept the best cattle saying that it is to be served as sacrifice for God. Is this obedience?

Partial obedience is probably the most dangerous and subtle for of disobedience. When you obey partially, you could always try to justify your own disobedience. Remember how when you were young you partially obey what your parents ask for? the truth is, Partial obedience is REBELLION! 

Saul rejected the word of God, it s equivalent to rejecting God himself. You do not choose and pick what you like to obey and follow in the bible, when you obey, you do everything the bible says. It is not a buffet where you only pick what you like. 

(Saul) He is a perfect example of a fleshly Christian. Saved, born again, anointed by the Holy Spirit but not walking in the light. A believer who is grafted onto the vine yet totally unfruitful. God is looking for complete obedience.

~ Sermon On The Mount, Lesson 6, Saul was a man of PARTIAL OBEDIENCE