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10/27/20 牧者之言

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“认定主”

——我的呼召与服侍

米国瑞

        我和妻子原本计划今天进行分享，但我妻子 Jackie 今天无法到场。她正在忙于照顾患有痴呆症的95岁父亲。她对此表示遗憾。        我和Jackie 是在沃希托浸会大学（Quachita Baptist University）读书时认识的。在进入沃希托之前，我在路易斯安那州的尼科尔斯州立大学（Nicholls State University）上学。在路易斯安那州期间，我全身心投入服侍基督。所以我觉得最好从尼科尔斯转到基督教大学。因为我的家人住在学校附近，所以我决定去沃希托 。在去沃希托之前，我从未考虑过作传教士，但在那里时，我的许多朋友都是传教士的孩子。从他们身上，我看到了在父母在传教期间帮助教育这些孩子的必要性。        我和Jackie交往了大约一年，然后我们开始谈婚论嫁以及我们想要如何度过自己的一生。我们很高兴地发现，我们俩都渴望去海外传教。Jackie在很小的时候就投身于传教事业。这恰恰证明了是上帝让我们走到一起的。         我们于 1976 年 1 月结婚。婚后我们立即开始与美南浸信会的海外宣教部（the Foreign Mission Board）通信。从那时起，该委员会的名称改为国际宣教部（the International Mission Board）。他们告诉我们要考虑差派的资格：两年相关领域的工作经验，硕士学位和 20 小时的神学院学习。        为了满足要求，我完成了教育管理硕士学位并开始教学。我教了两年书，然后，在 24 岁时，上帝给了我一个神迹，让我能够升任校长职位。         我们第一次参加国际宣教部的面试是为了应聘菲律宾的教师职位。他们拒绝了我们，我们很失望。他们认为我更适合行政职位，而当时没有行政职位空缺。所以我们垂头丧气地回家了。          过了一段时间，我们被要求再来参加第二次面试。台湾的马礼逊学校（Morrison Academy）有校长职位空缺。我拥有教育管理硕士学位，有两年校长经验。我唯一缺少的是神学院学历。学年结束时，我辞职了，我们搬到新奥尔良，就读新奥尔良浸信会神学院 （New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary）。          大约在第二学期的一半时间，我收到宣教部的消息，台湾马礼逊学院的校长决定留任，这个职位不再空缺。而且世界上没有其他行政职位。这让我开始质疑上帝。我辞职了。上帝，我为什么在这里。你为我们计划了什么？为什么会发生这种事？         大约三周后，宣教部再次联系我们。当时，学校刚招收校长。是黎巴嫩贝鲁特的美国学校。那是 1981 年，如果你不知道的话，当时黎巴嫩正处于内战之中。我们对这个机会并不感到兴奋，但我们只好听从上帝安排。我们告诉上帝，如果这是你想让我们去的地方，我们会去，但我们不喜欢。         我完成了学期的学习，然后我们回到阿肯色州过圣诞假期。假期结束后，我们回到新奥尔良，有一封信在等着我们。这是台湾马礼逊学院的校长写的。他说他很高兴我们来台湾，并期待着我们的到来。这当然对我们来说是一个大惊喜。我打电话给宣教部，问发生了什么事？台湾以为我会来。宣教部做了一些调查，结果发现校长会继续留在学校，但不是校长，而是老师。校长职位空缺。我们很庆幸我们不必在贝鲁特服侍。我们也很感谢上帝给了我们在台湾服侍的机会。         我们于1981年秋天被宣教部指派去台湾。1982年1月7日，我们飞抵桃园机场。办完海关，走进机场航站楼后，我对台湾的第一印象是，“天哪，这里好多中国人啊。”        我们安顿下来后，很快就开始上语言学校。我们学的是北平话。当然，在台湾没有人说北平话。他们都说着懒洋洋的中文。所以，我们最终也学会了台湾腔。         因为我妻子不在，所以我就把这个语言学校的故事讲给你们听。我们每天早上都会和一位导师一起上四个小时的课。下午我们会学习新词汇，然后上街去试着和邻居们聊天。当时我 28 岁。有一天，Jackie和邻居家的一位店主聊天。他们正在闲聊。        店主问：“你结婚了吗？”        Jackie回答：“结婚了。”        “您丈夫多大了？”        “他82岁了。”        “82！真的吗？”        “真的，82。”        我们最终完成了语言学校的学业，我开始担任马礼逊学院台北分校的校长。马礼逊学院是一所国际基督教学校，专门为传教士子女的教育而设立。Jackie 忙于抚养我们两个出生在台北的孩子。她还与中国姐妹见面并服侍她们。我们都参与了协助建立一个新的中国植堂（中阳浸信会）。         在传教区工作了大约 7 年后，宣教部的领导告诉我们，他们想开始撤出学校、广播电视工作、基督教书店等机构。这意味着我可能需要离开台湾。我当时有一个学习述职（a study furlough）。这将使我能够继续攻读教育博士学位，同时还能领取薪水。我的想法是，如果我不得不离开这个领域，那么我可以找一份大学教书的工作，这将使我有机会为在美国学习的中国学生服侍。我很快就完成了博士学位并返回台湾。我回到了以前的职位。一年后，校长辞职，我被邀请填补这个职位。我当时负责监督位于台北、台中和高雄的三个校区。我们在台湾的最后十年，我一直担任这个职位。 2002 年春天，我们的女儿从马礼逊的高中毕业。毕业后，我们回到美国，帮她安排大学入学。当时，我们的儿子刚刚读完十年级。我们在阿肯色州康威的一所为回国传教士准备的住所安顿下来。我们的女儿决定就读密苏里州斯普林菲尔德的密苏里州立大学。我们的儿子就读于康威高中。他曾在马礼逊上学，当时他的班上大约有 25 名学生。而康威11 年级的班上大约有 1000 人。他放学回家的第一天，我问他：“你今天见到什么人了吗？”他说：“见到了，但我再也见不到他们了。”可以说，他有点不知所措。最终，他意识到他喜欢待在美国，想在这里完成他的高中学业。我们同意了。但是，这意味着我必须在宣教部停止工作一年。         于是，我开始寻找学校行政职位。我参加了几次面试，实际上我女儿所在的密苏里州斯普林菲尔德市获得了校长职位。但是，上帝并没有让我对此感到安心。尽管我没有其他职位，但我还是拒绝了。         我住在康威，知道比比（Beebe）就在附近，于是就申请了阿肯色州立大学比比分校的教职。就在那时，Jackie的母亲心脏病发作。她在琼斯博罗的圣伯纳德医院（St Bernard Hospital）住了大约一个月。在此期间，Jackie住在车里，白天和晚上大部分时间都和母亲待在一起。很明显，Jackie和我需要留在美国，这样她才能帮忙照顾母亲。         在这期间，有人联系我，说阿肯色州立大学想面试我，让我担任教师一职。面试进行得很顺利，我和孩子们回到台湾，收拾东西准备带回美国。我们剩下的东西要么送人，要么卖掉。还在台湾的时候，我接到了师范教育系主任的电话。她说我有一个好消息和一个坏消息。好消息是什么？我们想聘用你。那么，坏消息是什么？我们不想让你留在比比，我们想让你留在琼斯博罗（Jonosboro）的主校区。所以实际上这是好消息和更多的好消息。在琼斯博罗，我们离Jackie父母家大约三十分钟的路程。在接下来的一年里，Jackie大部分时间都在帮助照顾她的母亲。她最终好转，又活了四年。我相信，如果没有Jackie在她身边，她活不过一两个月。事实上，当她第二年回去检查时，Jackie无意中听到一名护士对另一名护士说：“她不是那个快死的人了吗？”          我开始在阿肯色州立大学工作，教书，同时指导实习教师。但令我惊讶的是，那里只有几位中国教授。如果有中国学生，我从未遇到过。我以为我可以为中国学生服侍，但这个想法根本行不通。我当时向上帝哀叹：“上帝，我知道我应该在这里，但我不明白。”这种情况持续了几年。我记得，那是我在阿肯色州立大学的第三年，一位新教务长上任。他被任命的明确目的是招收外国学生。他在中国有很多人脉，一年之内，就有 800 多名中国学生就读于阿肯色州立大学。上帝把 Jackie 和我放在琼斯博罗的原因显而易见。不仅是为了帮助她的妈妈，也是为了服侍中国学生和华人社区。          当时，Jackie和我在阿肯色州立大学附近的一个福音堂里服侍。我们都在教圣经课。Jackie正在教一个十几岁的女孩。我当时教的是青少年班，我的班很快就变成了一个国际班，大部分学生都是中国学生。         我需要与你们分享我们班上第一个受洗的学生。一个星期天，来了一位新学生，Jason Mao（毛志强）。下课后，我们的一位同工庄进过来告诉我，你需要和这个学生谈谈。我和他简短地交谈了一下，然后我们约好第二天一起吃午饭。我花了一些时间讲解救赎计划，并按照他已经完成的步骤进行。”你是罪人吗？” “是的。” “你悔改并转向耶稣了吗？” “是的。”我把所有的问题都问完了，很明显他已经是一个信徒了。我问他你是怎么走到这一步的？他回答说：“在我离开中国之前，我的姐姐不是基督徒，她给了我一本圣经，并告诉我要读圣经，以便更好地了解美国文化。好吧，我读了圣经，并且相信了圣经”。几天后 Jason 就受洗了。赞美上帝！这恰恰说明了上帝的话语对那些愿意阅读它的人的力量！         我提到了庄进，她和另一位同工 Grace Liouh也帮了大忙。庄进和她的丈夫 Jay、Grace 和她的丈夫 Wilson、Jackie 和我受到鼓励将我们的圣经学习转移到教会。我们所有人都参加了一个教会植堂研讨会，这让我们能够更好地组织成一个教会，而不仅仅是一个圣经学习。首先，我们有一段赞美音乐的时间，然后是圣经学习。你们许多人可能都认识林彬牧师，他鼓励我们，如果让我们在讲道和圣经学习之间做出选择，就专注于圣经学习。我们继续这种形式好几年了。最后，我们加入了讲道。我从未接受过讲道方面的培训，而且由于我的背景是教育，所以我更像是一个教育的牧师。         随着我们的成长，我们增加了一个青少年男孩班、一个青少年女孩班、一个 1至6年级班和一个托儿所。由于我们的大多数孩子主要讲英语，因此这些课程都以英语授课。我们不仅有针对成人的中文班，而且还有针对那些想要用英语学习圣经的人的英语班。          随着时间的推移，中国学生的入学人数下降到目前约有 30 名中国学生就读于阿肯色州立大学。在我们礼拜期间，随着阿肯色州立大学学生的入学率下降，来自大学和商界的成年人的出席率却有所增加。在疫情之前，我们每周大约有 70人参加。我们还没有完全恢复过来。目前我们大约有 50 人参加。最近，我们又有了一些新人加入我们，其中大多数不是基督徒。         我提到毛志强，他于2010年9月20日受洗。从那时起，我们已经为62名新信徒施洗。受洗者包括学生、大学教师以及商界人士。        上帝是忠实的。上帝不仅在教会的发展上忠实，而且在 Jackie 和我的生命中也忠实。我的人生格言是箴言 3:5-6：“你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明；你一切所行的事都要认定他，他必指引你的路。”          下个月我就要 71 岁了，回顾自己的一生，我可以看到上帝一直在指引我前行。约翰福音 1 章将耶稣称为真光。如果你仰望他，如果你将自己的道路交托给他，他就会照亮你要走的路。他是怎么做到的？上帝的话语为我们指明方向，告诉我们应该如何生活。如果你没有每天花时间研读上帝的话语，那么你就错过了按照上帝的意图驾驭人生所需的指导。不仅要用上帝的话语充实你的思想，圣灵也会引导你度过人生的艰难困苦。如果你想要一生走一条笔直的道路，过上富足而有意义的生活，那么就要专心仰赖主，不可依靠自己的聪明；在你一切所行的事上都要认定他。

（本文是米国瑞牧师 Rev. Greg Meeks 在10月19日小石城以马内利华语浸信会秋季特会上的分享，特此感谢）

 

2024年10月20日 牧者之言

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神创造的本能

 
“空中的鹳鸟知道来去的定期，斑鸠燕子与白鹤也守候当来的时令，我的百姓却不知道耶和华的法则”。 – 耶利米书 8:7

今天的关键经文中提到的候鸟（迁徙鸟），它们具有神创造的本能，根据季节迁徙。迁徙时间最长的鸟是北极燕鸥，它夏天在北极地区筑巢；然后飞到南极地区过夏，并在北极地区过冬。这种小鸟每年迁徙 18,000 到 25,000 英里，终生保持同一个配偶，寿命长达 30 年。
迁徙时间最长的哺乳动物是欧洲、北美、亚洲和格陵兰岛北极地区的驯鹿。这些动物追随食物来源迁徙 700 英里。
上帝也赋予人类一种本能，不是迁徙，而是崇拜。所有人都崇拜某种东西。但与动物不同，我们人类有选择的自由。我们可以选择崇拜我们的创造者和救主，也可以选择崇拜其它东西。我们很容易“崇拜”生活中自然的、可见的事物，而忽略属灵的、看不见的事物。我们如何表达崇拜的本能将决定我们永恒的命运。
迁徙的鸟类和动物尽管有危险和疲劳，但仍忠实而持续地进行迁徙。崇拜上帝不仅仅是参加周日早上的正式礼拜。它包括忠实的基督徒生活，尽管我们周围有生活的考验和世俗环境中的危险，但这种生活必须持续每周的每一天。虽然迁徙的动物本能地知道何时迁徙，但我们不知道我们的最终迁徙何时发生，到那日我们将站在全能上帝的审判台前。我们准备好迎接那一天了吗？
Lester K. Burkholder – Womelsdorf, PA
“时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他”。——约翰福音 4:23

摘自 10 月 2 日《溪水边》（第 29 卷，第 5 期），阿米什人灵修。

2024年10月13日 牧者之言

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 我心中的哈尔滨

诗篇31:15上 “我众生的事在你的手中……”（和合本）
诗篇31:15上 “我的一生都在你的手中……”（圣经新译本）
  • 注：教会一位弟兄回国时路过哈尔滨分享了一些索菲亚大教堂的照片，这促使我有感而发，写一点儿关于哈尔滨的故事作为留念，与大家分享。

哈尔滨素有东方明珠的美誉，被称为“东方小巴黎”。由王刚所播讲的“夜幕下的哈尔滨”伴随着我童年的成长，尽管对这部广播剧的内容一无所知，但它的标题却给我留下无限的回忆和遐想。
97年第一次离开鹤岗的家门，参加南京金陵协和神学的入学考试将我带到这座城市。从鹤岗到哈尔滨晚上9点多乘坐火车到早晨5点多到站。当火车缓缓驶入哈尔滨车站站台的时候，播音员说着最纯正的普通话：“各位乘客，哈尔滨火车站马上就要到了，请您收拾好行李，准备下车。哈尔滨是一座世界名城，每年的冰雪大世界，圣索菲亚大教堂……油炸冰棍，哈尔滨红肠等都让人流连忘返……祝您旅途愉快！欢迎您下次乘坐本次列车。”
那年考试的地点设在南岗基督教堂，考试的结果是一个月后收到一张“不录取通知书”。那次最深刻的是有7-8位一起参加考试的考生。当时的南岗大街上坐落着三座教堂，一座是新教教堂——我们信的基督教，那里聚会的人数最多，每周日会有好几次敬拜，大家都是排着队才能找到座位。与它挨着的是一座东正教教堂——人数很少，信徒多为中俄混血。我们当时很感兴趣去了解，想去那间教堂里找人交通学习相关的知识。当时遇见一位师母。她态度很不友善，并说：“你们要找教堂，你们到对面的天主教去吧，那里有神父和修女”。看来，他们尽管有外在豪华的建筑，却没有传福音的心。难怪他们最后只是沦为公众参观的外在摆设。接着，那天下午，我们几个同学去了对面的天主教，第一次见到了神父和修女，并参加他们的弥撒。一切都很新奇，我们也为着神父终身不娶、修女完全奉献给主，委身服侍而感动。考完试之后，几位同学逛哈尔滨夜市，在路灯下谈论着每个人对未来的期许和盼望。
98年我再次来到哈尔滨参考南京神学院入学考试，这次我们没有在市中心，而是到了距离市中心很远的万宝镇参加考试，因为那时万宝镇上办了一个省一级的圣经学校。好像是经过两次倒车，大概需要3个小时能到达。那次考试，我心里压力很大，在上帝面前祷告说：“主啊，如果今年我考不上南京，我就再也不考南京神学院了（在中国官方基督教最高学府）。我也许只是上一个地方的圣经学校或者东北神学院（坐落在沈阳）就可以了却余生了……”。考试前一夜，在学校的晚祷会上，有位女同学也是考生。她祷告说：“不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的神。” 结果，那次考试出奇顺利。我考试前复习的内容考试时都有出现。真是奇妙！考完试时，有一位在厨房工作的姐妹看到我对我说：“弟兄你能考上，我看你一直都在不住地祷告”。考试结束后，半夜10点多再次乘坐火车返回鹤岗的路上，我一路流泪，心中感谢上帝，知道里面有一个很清楚的声音说：“你要离开黑龙江了。今年我要带你去南京了”。那一年8月底，我又一次来到哈尔滨，与另一位同学汇合，一起乘坐南下的火车，奔向南京神学院读书。
那之后，在南京读书的7年里，我至少有8-9次到哈尔滨这座城市转车。每次都是擦肩而过，匆匆而去。当98年人不轻狂枉少年的游子背起行囊离开鹤岗老家的那个时刻，心中有一个声音说：“有一天，我会把你带到一个非常非常遥远的地方，你从未去过，也不知道它在哪里”。因为那个更遥远声音的呼唤，我从未将哈尔滨纳入我人生的规划中。然而，事与愿违，在2005年南京神学院硕士毕业那年，最不想去的地方就是哈尔滨。不过，我们要小心，也许你最不想作的事情往往就是上帝最想让你去作的事情。尽管毕业前在选择未来服侍禾场上有许多挣扎，也曾尝试去南方看是否要到那里服侍。然而，当坐在南方的一座教堂里敬拜时，眼泪止不住地流。圣灵在心中责备说：“难道你因为考虑物质的供应就不回哈尔滨吗？回去吧，那里的学生们等着你呢”。带着无奈，带着不甘，也带着对大城市的眷恋与不舍，2005年7月我再次来到哈尔滨，经过近3个小时，到了黑龙江圣经学校准备担任神学老师。在万宝镇的三年是学习谦卑的三年，那三年是历练品格的三年，那三年像摩西在米甸旷野、大卫逃避扫罗王追杀的三年。最不喜欢的三年却是人生最好的三年。最不想去的地方，却是满藏属灵金子的地方。到那个万宝镇的路灯下行走时，想到的是：“黑暗给我了黑色的眼睛，我却用它寻找光明”。走的时候说：“轻轻地我走了，正如我轻轻地来。不带走一片云……”
难道这座城市里就没有我值得留恋的地方吗？当然有。在这座城市的万宝镇上经历了主数不尽的恩典，许多长辈和弟兄姐妹的关怀爱心，学生的成长和发展，同学的鼓励和代祷都是珍藏心中的珍宝。在哈尔滨，我遇见一位主里弟兄和他妈妈曾无偿的爱心接待我在他家里住过一个学期，然而因为准备托福考试，心里一心想的就是背英文单词，从未留心品尝过霓虹灯下哈尔滨的韵味。在那里，我遇见一对传教士夫妇最终作为我申请美国大学的推荐人。在那里，我们曾参加一个南岗教堂的英语团契。2017年夏天在哈尔滨天鹅饭店里发生的一幕仍记忆犹新。当时有五个省的牧者同工参加一个神学研讨会。会议最后一天，沈阳的一位牧师带我到游泳池里学游泳。开始在一米深的泳池边，慢慢离开泳池边走到中间时我不小心落入深水中。那一刻惊恐向我袭来，我在水里挣扎。头脑里回想起小说《荆棘鸟》里一位年轻神父戴恩在水里被溺死的情形。同时，我想象假如这时我死了，我的妈妈、我的家人、我的学生一定会极其难过的。故此，我在水里拼命地挣扎。当时感觉到似乎有一双手把我拉回到岸边。这时救生人员才向我伸出救生杆。在岸上的人都为我捏了一把汗。牧师和我返回宾馆，我们一同向上帝献上感恩的祈祷。尽管我没有学会游泳，却学会了一项更深刻的功课：“原来死亡离我如此之近。每个人都要珍惜生命”。
2013年10月份我第一次回国探再次路过这座城市，心中有无限感慨。哈尔滨，我对你有许多亏欠，尽管在那里的万宝镇住过三年，却从未有机会欣赏过冰雪大世界。哈尔滨，我从未长久驻足仔细欣赏你的优雅古典之美，也没有真正敞开双臂拥抱过你。哈尔滨，这座让我魂牵梦绕的城市，你是我生命中的朋友，但我从来不属于你，你也不属于我。然而，在人生旅程的点点滴滴，在你那里我可以找寻回忆，更可以追逐上帝无形之手的蛛丝马迹。

 

The Harbin City in My Heart

Psalm 31: 15 “ My times are in your hands.” (NIV)

  • Note: A church brother travelled by Harbin on his way back to China and shared some photos of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin. This inspired me to write a few stories about Harbin as a souvenir and share them with everyone.
Harbin is known as the Oriental Pearl and the “Little Paris of the East.” The “Harbin Enveloped in Darkness” narrated by Wang Gang accompanied me during my childhood. Although I knew nothing about the content of this radio drama, its title left me with endless memories and imagination.
I left my home in Hegang for the first time in 1997 to take the entrance exam for Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (hereinafter referred to as NUTS ), which brought me to the Capital City Harbin of my province Heilongjiang. I took the train from Hegang to Harbin at around 9 pm and arrived at the station at around 5 am. When the train slowly pulled into the platform of Harbin Station, the announcer spoke in the purest Mandarin: “Dear passengers, Harbin Railway Station is coming soon. Please pack your luggage and prepare to get off. Harbin is a world-famous city. Every year, the Harbin Ice and Snow World, St. Sophia Cathedral… fried popsicles, Harbin red sausage, etc. are all fascinating… I wish you a pleasant journey! Welcome to take this train next time.”
The exam location that year was set up at the Nangang Christian Church. The result of the exam was that I received a “notification of non-admission” one month later. The most memorable thing about that time was that there were 7-8 candidates who took the exam together. At that time, there were three churches on Nangang Street. One was a Protestant church – the Christianity we believed in, where the largest number of people gathered. There were several worship services every Sunday, and everyone had to line up to find a seat. Next to it was an Orthodox church – there were very few people, and most of the believers were Chinese and Russian mixed race. We were very interested in learning about it at the time and wanted to go to that church to find someone to communicate with and learn related knowledge. At that time, I met a pastor’s wife. Her attitude was very unfriendly, and she said: “If you want to find a church, you can go to the Catholic Church across the street. There are priests and nuns there.” It seems that although they have luxurious buildings on the outside, they have no heart to spread the gospel. No wonder they ended up being reduced to tourist attractions. Then, that afternoon, several of us went to the Catholic Church across the street, met priests and nuns for the first time, and attended their mass. Everything was new and we were moved by the fact that priests never married and nuns devoted themselves to the Lord and served Him wholeheartedly. After the exam, several students went to the Harbin Night Market and talked about everyone’s expectations and hopes for the future under the streetlights.
In 1998, I came to Harbin again to take the entrance exam for NUTS. This time, we did not take the exam in the city center, but in Wanbao Town, which was far away from the city center, because at that time there was a provincial-level Bible school in Wanbao Town. It seemed that it took about 3 hours to get there after two reverses. During that exam, I was under great pressure and prayed to God, “Lord, if I fail to pass the exam in Nanjing this year, I will never take the exam for this Seminary again (it is regarded as the highest official Christian institution in China). I may just go to a local Bible school or Northeast Theological Seminary (located in Shenyang)…” The night before the exam, at the school’s evening prayer meeting, there was a female classmate who was also a candidate. She prayed, “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” As a result, the exam went surprisingly smoothly. The content I reviewed before the exam appeared in the exam. It was amazing! After the exam, a sister who worked in the kitchen saw me and said to me, “Brother, you can pass the exam. I see that you have been praying all the time.” After the exam, I took the train back to Hegang at 10:00 pm. I could not hold my tears all the way and thanked God in my heart. I knew there was a very clear voice inside saying, “You are leaving Heilongjiang. This year I will take you to Nanjing.” At the end of August that year, I came to Harbin again and met up with another classmate. We took the train southward and headed to NUTS to study.
After that, during the 7 years I studied in Nanjing, I changed trains in Harbin at least 8-9 times. Every time, we passed by each other and left in a hurry. When I packed my bags and left my hometown in Hegang in 1998, there was a voice in my heart saying, “One day, I will take you to a very, very far away place that you have never been to and don’t know where it is.” Because of the call of that more distant voice, I never included Harbin in my life plan. However, things did not go as I wished. In 2005, the year I graduated from NUTS with a master’s degree, the place I least wanted to go was Harbin. However, we must be careful, perhaps the thing you least want to do is often the thing God wants you to do the most. Although I had many struggles in choosing the future field of service before graduation, I also tried to go to the south to see if I should serve there. However, when I was sitting in a church in the south of China to worship, I couldn’t stop my tears. The Holy Spirit rebuked me in my heart, saying, “Are you not going back to Harbin because of material supply? Go back, the students there are waiting for you.” With helplessness, reluctance, and a longing for the big city, I came to Harbin again in July 2005. After nearly 3 hours, I arrived at Heilongjiang Bible School to prepare to be a theology teacher. The three years at Wanbao Town were three years of learning humility, three years of traning character, and three years like Moses in the wilderness of Midian and David escaping from King Saul’s pursuit. The three years I disliked the most were the best three years of my life. The place I least wanted to go was a place full of spiritual gold. When I walked under the street lights at Wanbao Town, I thought: “Darkness gave me black eyes, but I use them to look for light.” When I left, I said: “I left quietly, just as I came quietly. I won’t take away a cloud…”
Are there anything in this city that I should miss? Of course there are. I have experienced countless graces from the Lord at Wanbao Town of this city. The care and love of many elders and brothers and sisters, the growth and development of students, and the encouragement and prayers of classmates are all treasures in my heart. In Harbin, I met a brother in the Lord and his mother who had welcomed me in his home for a semester without any compensation. However, because I was preparing for the TOEFL test, I was only thinking about memorizing English words and never paid attention to the charm of Harbin under the neon lights. There, I met a missionary couple who eventually became my recommenders for applying to American university. There, we participated in an English fellowship at a Nangang church. A scene that happened in Harbin Swan Hotel in the summer of 2017 is still fresh in my memory. At that time, pastors and coworkers from five provinces attended a theological seminar. On the last day of the meeting, a pastor from Shenyang took me to the swimming pool to learn how to swim. I started at the edge of the one-meter-deep pool, and when I slowly left the edge of the pool and walked to the middle, I accidentally fell into the deep water. At that moment, terror struck me and I struggled in the water. I recalled the scene in the novel “The Thorn Birds” where a young priest named Dane drowned in the water. At the same time, I imagined that if I died at this time, my mother, my family, and my students would be extremely sad. Therefore, I struggled desperately in the water. Suddenly I felt as if a pair of hands pulled me back to the shore. Only then did the lifeguard extend a life-saving pole to me. Everyone on the shore was worried about me. The pastor and I returned to the hotel and we offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God together. Although I did not learn to swim, I learned a deeper lesson: “Death is so close to me; everyone should cherish life.”
In October 2013, I returned to China for the first time and passed by this city again. I was filled with emotion. Harbin, I owe you a lot. Although I lived at Wanbao Town there for three years, I never had the opportunity to see the Harbin Ice and Snow World. Harbin, I never stopped to appreciate your elegant and classical beauty, nor did I really open my arms to embrace you. Harbin, this city that haunts my soul, you are my friend in life, but I never belong to you, and you don’t belong to me either. However, in every bit of my life journey, I can find memories in you, and I can also chase the clues of God’s invisible hand through you.

2024年10月6日 牧者之言

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耶稣怎样对待难相处的人

 魏师母
 
雅各书 1: 19-20；箴言 22: 24；箴言 29: 22
我最近听了一篇关于以上这些圣经经文的讲道。我想和大家分享一下那篇讲道的牧师的一些想法。牧师在讲道开始时说：“控制愤怒是一个问题。” 这似乎已成为当今世界的一个大问题。我们看到更多的暴力，更多的愤怒和更多的仇恨。当然，我们所有人有时都会生气。但作为基督徒，我们需要控制我们对愤怒的反应方式。今天，我想更多地谈谈如何回应那些向我们发泄愤怒的人，以及这种愤怒如何让我们震惊和受伤，尤其是当这种愤怒来自我们的弟兄姐妹时。我们需要节制和饶恕来处理针对我们的愤怒以及我们自己有时感受到的愤怒，我们需要圣灵的帮助来应对这些情况。
当我们看雅各的话时，我们看到他在强调一个观点，亲爱的兄弟们，“这是你们所知道的”（雅1: 19-20）：“注意这一点”，“永远不要忘记”，“理解这一点”……” 要快快的听”，多听是最好的。换句话说，如果我们能花点时间从仇恨的苛刻话语或伤害性行为中恢复过来，只是思考一下。然后雅各说，“慢慢的说”，“慢慢的动怒， ” “慢慢的动怒”。我们需要在听觉上有属灵的理解力（深入倾听）！这需要迅速服从上帝的圣灵。我们必须每天充满圣灵，为这些时刻做好准备。有时很难知道如何回应，因为我们被愤怒吓到了。大多数时候，它让我们措手不及。显然，在那一刻表现出愤怒的人正在对我们犯罪。让我们小心，不要得罪他们。认真、深入地倾听总会带来更好的结果。
现在我们来看看雅各在第 20 节中还想提醒我们什么，“因为人的怒气不能成就神所的义。”换句话说，愤怒并不能使我们变得善良，而神要求我们必须善良。听听我读到的关于雅各的这些指示，仅仅知道甚至选择正确的行动是不够的：我们必须采取行动。神不寻求正义的知识，他寻求正义的生活！我们知道没有行为的信心不能称为信心。信心不仅仅是言语；它不仅仅是知识；它通过顺服来体现。信心使我们脱离世界并顺服神。信心使我们有能力抵抗魔鬼并谦卑地接近神。雅各向我们展示了相信正确的事情却过着错误的生活是可能的。雅各在处理这个敏感话题上对弟兄们非常友善，但他给出了具体的实际指导来帮助我们过上真正的基督徒生活。雅各是耶稣同母的兄弟，但他却自称自己是 “神和主耶稣基督的仆人”。我们也是这样的人。我们面临的挑战是与人们协调恩典和真理，并表现出基督般的行为。因此，我们的目标是在展现恩典的同时展现真理。我们捍卫正义，同时也展现耶稣基督的爱。耶稣在世时面对过许多愤怒的人。他没有变得暴力或粗心大意。但他也不是一个软弱的人（。他不让人欺负他）他直面敌人。但耶稣不是用刀剑、匕首、威胁或侮辱来对抗，而是用恩典和真理的有力结合来对抗敌人。
我们仰望耶稣，因为他比任何人都更了解愤怒，也知道如何应对批评或虐待。耶稣处理难相处的人的一些方法如下：
1. 耶稣问问题。还记得路加福音第 12 章中的故事吗？当时耶稣被要求解决一个关于遗产的家庭纠纷，他回答说：“谁立我作你们断事的官？”“要谨慎！要防备一切贪心；人的生命不在乎家道丰富。”耶稣想让他们明白，把物质的东西置于个人关系之上会带来不好的后果。耶稣用问题来强调他对他人的开放态度。
2. 耶稣做的另一件事是，耶稣从未感到被逼入绝境。当法利赛人指责他做某些事情违反安息日时，耶稣并不担心他们会怎么看他。那不是他的重点。有时人们会用他们的判断逼迫我们，我们觉得他们误解了我们或不了解我们。但像耶稣一样，我们不必被别人的猜测所定义。我们的身份存在于上帝，而不是别人试图强加给我们的东西。
3. 耶稣知道何时该忽视。记得在《路加福音》第 4 章中，当耶稣回到家乡拿撒勒时，他在会堂里读经文时说：“没有先知在自己的家乡被人悦纳的。”他讲了以利亚和寡妇的故事。会堂里的所有人都对耶稣感到愤怒。他们把他赶出城外，想把他扔下悬崖。耶稣知道没有办法和这些人讲理，所以他直接穿过人群，“继续上路”。有些人会发脾气，辱骂和粗鲁……在当今现代的网络上或短信中，这种情况屡见不鲜。这是离开的时候了。有时人们是不讲道理的，所以你别无选择。当面质问时，你也许可以选择另一种方式。
4. 耶稣没有采取防御措施。在马可福音第 10 章中，我们看到雅各和约翰的请求。“夫子，我们无论求什么，愿你给我们成就。”耶稣说，你们要我做什么？他们要求在荣耀中坐在耶稣的左右手边。他们越界了。耶稣知道什么时候说不，什么时候说是，并且不担心让人们不高兴。有时人们对我们的要求超出了我们所能给予的。他们可能会试图让我们感到内疚。耶稣爱所有的人，但他的目标不是取悦所有人。耶稣的目标是遵行天父的旨意。上帝对耶稣的旨意给了他安全感。他不必竭尽全力去满足有需要或咄咄逼人的人。这是耶稣与他人打交道的另一种方式。
5. 耶稣很灵活。马太福音第 15 章讲述了一个迦南妇人的信心故事。这个妇人恳求耶稣医治她的女儿。耶稣说： “不。”但后来他被她的信心感动，治愈了她的女儿。耶稣以开放的心态对待人们。当一个难相处的人来找我们时，我们可能会想，哦，不，不会再来了。但也许我们最好保持开放的心态。这次情况可能会有所不同。我们不想拒绝圣灵在我们自己或他人生活中的工作。
朋友们，我们将耶稣视为我们完美的榜样，像他那样处理生活中的棘手问题和所有其他问题。像他一样，我们也会生气，也会对罪恶、虚伪和不公感到憎恨。这被称为正义的愤怒，这是可以接受的。耶稣没有表现出人的愤怒，而是表现出上帝的义愤。我们视耶稣为榜样，但我们很软弱，有时会失败。我们必须祈祷、宽恕，并继续努力在控制愤怒方面做得更好。

（魏师母于2024年9月19日早上5点晨祷分享）

HOW JESUS DEALT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Elinda West 
            
JAMES 1: 19-20; PROVERBS 22: 24; PROVERBS 29: 22

I very recently heard a sermon on these bible verses. I would like to share with you some thoughts from the pastor who preached that sermon. The pastor began his message by saying “controlling anger is a problem.” It seems to have become a bigger issue in today’s world. We see more violence, more rage, more hatred.  Of course, all of us will get angry sometimes. But as Christ followers, we need to control the way we respond to our anger! Today I want to talk more about ways to respond to those who spew out their anger toward us and how it shocks us and hurts us, especially if this anger toward us is from fellow believers.  It takes discipline and forgiveness to deal with anger directed toward us and the anger we ourselves feel at times and we need the help of the Holy Spirit for these situations.
When we look at James’ words, we see he is making a point, Dear Brothers, “take note of this”, “don’t ever forget”, “understand this” ……” be quick to LISTEN,” “it is BEST to LISTEN MUCH.” In other words, if we could take a few moments to recover from the hateful harsh words or hurtful actions and just think. Then James says, “slow to speak” …… “slow to become angry,” “slow to take offense”! We need spiritual understanding in our hearing
(deep listening). That takes quick obedience to God’s Holy Spirit. We have to be filled with the Spirit daily to be ready for these moments.  It’s difficult to know how to respond sometimes because we are so shocked by anger. Most of the time it catches us off guard! Clearly the person showing their anger in that moment is committing a sin against us. Let’s be careful that we do not sin against them!  Listening deeply, carefully, always brings a better result.
Now we want to see what James is also wanting to remind us in vs 20, “for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” In other words, anger doesn’t make us GOOD, as God demands we must be. Listen to something I read about these instructions from James,  “It is not enough to KNOW or even CHOOSE the right action: We must DO that action!  God does not seek righteous KNOWLEDGE; He seeks righteous LIVES!” We know that FAITH without works cannot be called FAITH.  Faith is more than words; it is MORE than KNOWLEDGE; it is demonstrated by OBEDIENCE.  Faith produces separation
from the world and submission to God! Faith provides us with the ability to resist the devil and humbly draw near to God! James is showing us that it is possible to believe right things and yet live the wrong way. James is so kind toward the brothers in dealing with this sensitive topic, but he gives specific practical instructions to help us live an authentic Christian life. James was Jesus’ half-brother yet he referred to himself as a “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. That’s also who we are!  The challenge for us is to harmonize grace and truth with people and demonstrate Christ-like behavior. So, our goal is to project truth while also projecting grace.  We stand up for what is right while also showing the love of Jesus Christ.  Jesus faced a lot of angry people in his time on earth.  He did not become violent or careless. But he wasn’t a doormat either! (He didn’t let people walk all over him.) He confronted his enemies.  But instead of confronting with swords, daggers, threats, or insults, Jesus confronted his enemies with a forceful mixture of grace and truth.
We look to Jesus because he, better than anyone, understands anger and how to deal with being criticized or mistreated.   Some of the ways Jesus dealt with difficult people
were:
1. JESUS ASKED QUESTIONS. Remember the story in Luke 12 when Jesus was challenged to settle a family dispute about the inheritance and he responded, “Man who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Jesus wanted them to understand putting material things over personal relationships has bad results! Jesus used questions to emphasize his openness to the other person.  Another thing Jesus did was
2. JESUS NEVER FELT PUSHED INTO A CORNER.  When the pharisees accused him of breaking the Sabbath by doing certain things Jesus wasn’t afraid of what they might think of him. That’s not his focus. Sometimes people corner us with their judgements, and we feel they misunderstand us or don’t know us.  But like Jesus we don’t have to feel defined by the projections of other people.  Our identity resides and is found in God, not what other people try to push on us.
3. JESUS KNEW WHEN TO IGNORE.  Remember in Luke 4 when Jesus returned to Nazareth his hometown and was reading the scripture in the synagogue and said, “no prophet was accepted in his own hometown.” He told about Elijah and the widow. All the people in the synagogue were furious with Jesus. They drove him out of town and wanted to throw him off the cliff.  Jesus could see there was no way to reason with these people, so he walked right through the crowd and “went on his way”.   Some people throw fits, speak abusively and harshly…. many times online in today’s modern time or in text messages. This is the time to walk away.  Sometimes people cannot be reasoned with, so you have no choice.  With in-person confrontation you might can choose another way.
4. JESUS WAS NOT ON THE DEFENSIVE.  In Mark 10 we see the request of James and John. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Jesus said, what do you want me to do? They asked to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand in Glory! They stepped over a boundary!  Jesus knows when to say NO and when to say YES and doesn’t worry about making people unhappy. Sometimes people demand more from us than what we can give. They may try to give us a guilt trip. Jesus loved all people, but his goal wasn’t to please everyone. Jesus’ goal was to do the Father’s Will. God’s will for Jesus gave him his security. He didn’t have to bend over backwards to satisfy needy or aggressive people. One other way Jesus dealt with other people.
5. JESUS WAS FLEXIBLE.  There’s a story in Matthew 15 about the faith of a Canaanite woman. The woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus said, “No.” But then he was moved by her faith and heals her daughter.  Jesus approaches people with an open mind. When someone difficult comes our way. We might think, Oh, no, not again! But maybe we better keep an open mind. Things might be different this time. We don’t want to shut out the Holy Spirit’s work in our own life or another person’s life.
FRIENDS WE LOOK TO JESUS FOR OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE IN DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR LIVES.  LIKE HIM, WE TOO, WILL BE ANGRY AND FEEL HATRED TOWARD SIN, HYPOCRISY, AND INJUSTICE.  THAT IS CALLED RIGHTEOUS ANGER AND IS OK. JESUS DID NOT EXHIBIT MAN’S ANGER BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION OF GOD.  WE LOOK TO JESUS AS OUR EXAMPLE, BUT WE ARE WEAK AND WE WILL FAIL SOMETIMES! WE MUST PRAY AND FORGIVE AND KEEP TRYING TO DO BETTER ON THE ISSUE OF ANGER.

(Mrs. Elinda West’s sharing at 5:00 am early morning prayer on September 19, 2024)