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“城造在山上，是不能隐藏的”（马太福音5：14下）。我们祈祷，求主使用小石城以马内利华语浸信会，使“这座造在山上的城”能“如日头出现、光辉烈烈”（士师记5：31），在新时代中为主发大光，照亮周围的人，使荣耀归于上帝。

我们诚挚地邀请您来参加我们教会的各项活动！让我们一同认识主，在祂的愛里彼此搀扶，共走天路。以马内利！

    李春海牧师

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2/16/25 牧者之言

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关于人工智能与新兴技术

诗篇119: 89耶和华啊，你的话安定在天，直到永远。
注：上周有一位弟兄问起关于人工智能的问题。我特将2023年6月13-14日在新奥尔良召开的美南浸信会年会上关于“人工智能”的内容摘录出来，与弟兄姐妹分享。 祷文： 主啊，我把以下这篇“关于人工智能与新兴技术”的内容交托在你的手中，求你使用它，借着它启发弟兄姐妹的灵命、擦亮我们的灵眼，使我们生活在高科技时代的弟兄姐妹能识别是非善恶真假、除去谬误，弃假从真，追随真理。主啊，这篇文章中若有不恰当之处求你更正、不足之处求你补足。主啊，你的话就是真理，求你使我们在真理圣灵的引导下一直走在你的正路上。以基督之名，阿门！ 日期：2023年6月15日 活动：2023年度会议 主题：人工智能、技术 参：https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/on-artificial-intelligence-and-emerging-technologies/（访问日期：2025年2月11日）。
鉴于，所有技术，包括人工智能（AI）等强大的工具，都是由上帝赋予人类的恩赐和能力所创造的，这恩赐和能力是受造秩序的高峰（创世记 1:26-28，2:7，5:1-2）；当我们寻求愛上帝和邻居时，这些技术可以用来促进人类繁荣（申命记 6:4-5；利未记 19:18；马太福音 22:37-39；马可福音 12:30-31）； 鉴于，尽管这些工具的设计初衷是出于不同的价值观和目的，并以微妙而有意义的方式塑造我们——包括我们对上帝、人类和我们周围世界的理解——只有我们，作为上帝创造的独特道德主体，对它们的开发和使用负有道德责任（罗马书12:1-2）； 鉴于，堕落影响了受造界的每个方面，包括这些强大技术的开发与使用； 鉴于，人工智能提出了一些深刻而关键的问题，这些问题挑战了社会对人类本质的错误假设，而这些假设往往仅仅基于人的能力，而非神所赐予的本体性地位； 鉴于，人工智能和其他新兴技术为各行各业和整个社会带来了前所未有的进步机会，但如果不以敬虔的智慧和辨别力加以使用，也可能带来危险的和非人性化的后果； 鉴于，技术的开发和应用往往仅仅以最大化利润、效率和生产力为目标，甚至以牺牲我们同为神形象承载者的人的尊严为代价； 鉴于，这些新兴技术将逐渐承担过去属于人类的任务，甚至在某些方面超越人类能力； 鉴于，《浸信会信仰和信息》声明：“基督徒有责任寻求基督的旨意超越我们的生活和人类的社会”，并且“应当努力使工业、政府和整个社会服从公义、真理和弟兄相愛的原则”（第十五条）； 鉴于，我们的伦理与宗教自由委员会（Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission）在 2019 年领导制定的《福音派人工智能原则声明》（Evangelical Statement of Principles on AI）指出，基督徒被呼召以不变的福音信息——盼望与和好——来影响我们周围的世界，并且“教会在宣扬所有人的尊严和倡导人工智能在人类社会中得到人道应用方面具有独特的角色”；因此， 决议如下： 第一，2023年6月13日至14日，在路易斯安那州新奥尔良召开的美南浸信会大会的会差们（messengers）承认人工智能和其他新兴技术的强大力量，并希望以末世的盼望来应对，而不是不加批判地接受或恐惧地拒绝； 第二，我们坚信，当这些技术不断发展和应用于我们的社会时，神不变的话语足以应对今天及未来我们可能面临的任何伦理挑战、问题和机遇； 第三，我们明确声明，我们的内在价值在于我们作为神形象的承载者，而非基于我们的成就或我们对社会的贡献。因此，人的尊严必须作为所有涉及这些强大新兴技术的伦理原则、指南或法规的核心； 第四，我们必须主动参与并塑造这些新兴技术，而并非仅仅在人工智能和其他新兴技术影响我们的教会和社区之后再被动地回应； 第五，我们呼吁公民、行业和政府领导人以最高的谨慎和辨别力开发、维护、监管和使用这些技术，维护人类作为神创造的巅峰之独特本质； 第六，我们鼓励所有使用这些工具的人以诚实、透明和基督徒的方式行事，专注于愛神并愛邻舍，绝不故意欺骗他人，或利用这些技术谋取不正当利益或权力的积累； 第七（最终），我们承认唯独神有创造生命的能力，并且“神有自己的时间，并用祂自己的方法，使这世界有完满的结束”（《浸信会信仰和信息》，第十条），任何创新或新兴技术都无法篡夺神的主权与权能。

2/9/25 牧者之言

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关于张惠玲的见证
2025年1月29日早祷会分享
魏愛玲師母

你是否曾对某人的生活产生过积极或消极的影响，而你自己却浑然不知？

经文：歌罗西书 4:2-6

1990 年，我们刚搬到台湾台中一个新地方，准备建立教会。我们谁也不认识，我们知道必须从家里的圣经学习开始。一天早上，我一边读歌罗西书 4:2-6，一边祷告。那天我祈求上帝“给我们开传道的门，能以讲基督的奥秘” 。 我特别注意道要“用智慧与外人结交，并充分利用每个机会。” 然后我出去，走到市场买水果。当我走进市场时，一位女士在马路对面朝我走来，开始微笑着挥手，然后穿过马路，挽着我的胳膊，好像她认识我一样。在台湾，中国人通常不会对一个陌生人如此大胆——虽然总是微笑友好，但不会如此主动！我想，哇，上帝已经在回应我的祷告了！她和我聊天，并坚持要我去她家见她的女儿！虽然有些奇怪，但我不正是刚刚祷告求上帝开门并要抓住每个机会吗？于是我跟着她去了！一路上我都在祷告！我们悄悄地上楼，因为她说不能吵醒她的丈夫，否则他会非常生气！她突然打开了一个年轻女孩的卧室门……我微笑着为闯入她的私人空间道歉，并告诉她我的名字，邀请她来我们家参加英语圣经学习。她非常害羞，但还是笑了。我很快感谢了她的母亲并离开了。我想，我可能再也不会见到那个可怜的女孩了！
这是从我的角度看到的故事开头。现在，我将分享张惠玲对这次初次见面的回忆。这是她在十年后（2001年）为一次课堂作业写下的故事，我将按照她的原文分享。

“一个充满愛心的人”（这是她为故事起的标题）

当我告诉别人我曾经是一个害羞、安静、严肃且缺乏自信的女孩时，他们总是露出难以置信的表情。“你现在看起来非常独立和自信，我无法想象你以前的样子。”是的，我确实和以前不一样了。作为家中的长女，我从小就必须学会照顾自己。由于父亲的严格管教和母亲的精神病，我学会了压抑自己的自然情感。在我的脑海里，从来没有“我想做什么？”的问题，只有“我应该做什么？”。在遇到我的干妈Elinda之前，人们可能认为我是一个冷漠的人。

         我不知道被愛是什么感觉，因为我的父亲除了责骂之外从未向任何人表达过愛。我部分理解父亲的沮丧——他娶了一位患有精神病的妻子，被迫离开自己的祖国（中国大陆），并承担起家庭的所有责任。为了帮助父亲，我从5岁起就开始分担家务。我从小就非常成熟，但却失去了孩子般的天真。我不喜欢与人交谈，因为我觉得没有人能理解我的感受。我的态度非常消极和愤世嫉俗，因为我从未对生活的任何部分感到满意。

        大学二年级的一个夏日，我的母亲把一个陌生人带到了我的房间。“哦，不！我母亲又开始发作 。”我低声自语。每当母亲行为异常时，我都非常讨厌这种情况。突然，一位金发、面容姣好的中年妇女 Elinda当时42岁）出现在我面前。“你好，我叫Elinda。我在街上遇到你的母亲，她想告诉我哪里可以买到苹果。她坚持要我来见你，因为她说你喜欢学英语。”她用带有美国口音的中文向我介绍自己。我忍住没有对母亲发火，保持冷静。她注意到我的恐惧和戒备心。意识到自己可能打扰了我，她在友好介绍后没有再多说什么，只是留下一张纸条，告诉我如果想学英语可以打电话给她。几天过去了，那张纸条一直在我脑海中盘旋。一种奇怪的好奇心最终给了我勇气打电话给她。

        “嗨，我是惠玲。你还记得吗？你说如果我想学英语可以给你打电话。”“当然，我记得你。”我们约定了第一次见面的时间。我很少给陌生人打电话，但不知为何，一种未知的感觉促使我尝试了解更多关于这个女人的事情。到了她家后，我发现自己并不是唯一的客人，我立刻意识到这是一次团契活动。我的直觉告诉我要有礼貌。我保持安静，直到活动结束。那天晚上，我认识了七八个年轻学生。我们一起唱歌、吃点心、读圣经故事。结束时，Elinda问我下周一晚上是否有空，我点了点头。“你不如来我家，我们可以做你想做的事？”我答应了。我有些责怪自己相信她会教我英语，但我也感受到了一种从未有过的情感。这种新的感觉让我在团契中感到更加平静、快乐和美好，这是我以前从未有过的。

        那个周一晚上，我带着我希望Elinda帮我学习的英语书去了她家。我问她我应该付多少钱。她的回答让我震惊：“我不收你任何费用。如果你需要帮助，尽管问我。”与以往缺乏动力的我不同，我每周一晚上都会去Elinda家参加我们的私人聚会，每周二晚上参加团契。我注意到Elinda总是问我感觉如何，我的家人怎么样，我的母亲怎么样。我感到很感动，因为她真的关心我和我的家人，而不仅仅是出于礼貌。我很少向任何人透露我的家庭或我自己，因为我害怕别人会嘲笑我、甚至鄙视我。在与Elinda交谈时，我能从她的眼神中看到理解和关愛，我意识到她真的关心我。有时，她会给我看一些她家人的照片，或者分享一些有趣的故事。起初，我并没有完全准备好接受她的友谊，因为我很难轻易相信别人。我一直在等待，想看看她到底想从我这里得到什么，否则她怎么可能有如此耐心和愛心去给予别人？

        有一天，她邀请我参加一个派对。“你参加过派对吗？”“没有。”“你愿意今晚和我一起去参加一个派对吗？”“愿意。”她让我在派对前一小时到她家，如果我没有合适的裙子，可以从她的衣柜里选一件。我坐在椅子上时，她帮我梳头。这是第一次，我的第一次，有人帮我梳头。她的手指触碰我的头发时，仿佛有电流流过我的全身。我感动得几乎要哭出来。我问她为什么对我这么好，我应该如何回报她。她回答说，她不求任何回报，只希望看到我在幸福和盼望中成长。她告诉我，她的愛来自上帝。如果不是上帝的愛，她会感到软弱和疲惫。上帝的奇妙恩典给了她生活的热情和奉献，无论生活多么艰难。

       以前有很多人试图向我传福音，但他们都失败了，因为我拒绝相信上帝的存在。由于Elinda的愛心和耐心，我终于在大学四年级时接受了耶稣基督。有一天，我的一个同学告诉我，我看起来不一样了。当我问他有什么不同时，他说我看起来光彩照人，充满信心，我的微笑让我看起来比以前更友好。我始终感谢上帝让Elinda进入我的生活，改变了我的生命。如果没有她持续的愛心和友谊，我永远不会知道什么是愛，如何信任别人，如何向这个世界敞开心扉，以及如何接受耶稣进入我的生命。以前我不知道世界上有这么多美好的品质，但她让我体验到了生活的美好一面。Elinda提醒我，我可以把我的愛给予那些渴望愛的人。我仍然与她保持联系，因为每当我感到沮丧或烦恼时，她总是鼓励我。虽然我不像以前那样经常见到她，但她的言语和形象已经深深印在我的脑海中。（她的故事到此为止）

我和惠玲在她得救之前度过了很多时光。我们在1990年相识。她在2001年在美国学习时为一次课堂作业写下了这篇关于我的文章。她回到台湾后给了我一份副本。这篇文章深深触动了我，让我意识到我们的言语、行为、肢体语言，甚至是我们对他人所做的最微小的事，都可能产生积极或消极的影响。我非常感谢上帝在这位年轻女性的生命中引导我每一步。我深感谦卑和感激，因为祂允许我在带领她归向耶稣的过程中扮演了一个角色。她是魏牧师在我们新教会中施洗的第二个人。第一个是我们的幼子！已经过去了35年，她仍然称呼我们为“妈妈”和“爸爸”。

  • 注：感谢魏愛玲師母允许我们分享她的故事。她对自己被提及感到有些不好意思，但李春海牧师认为这是为了荣耀上帝，通过分享个人见证可以激励和鼓励他人更忠实地愛主爱人、并侍主侍人。

2/9/25 Pastor’s Word

A Testimony about Chang Hui-Ling
Sharing on January 29, 2025, Early Prayer Meeting
Elinda West

 

Have you ever impacted someone’s life in a positive or negative way and had no idea you did?

Scripture: Colossians 4: 2-6

In 1990 we had just moved to a new area in Taichung, Taiwan to start a church. We knew no one and we knew we had to start with a Bible Study in our home.  One morning I was reading Colossians 4: 2-6 and praying. I was asking God that day to “open a door for our gospel message, so that we might proclaim the mystery of Christ.” I particularly paid attention to “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” I then went out and made my way to the fresh market to buy some fruit. I was near the market when a lady was walking toward me on the other side of the road and started smiling and waving and came across the road and took my arm as if she knew me.  It was so unlike Chinese people in Taiwan to be THAT bold to a perfect stranger…. ALWAYS smiling and friendly yes, but not like that! I thought WOW! God is already answering my prayer.  She chatted with me and insisted we go to her house immediately to meet her daughter!  It was strange, but hadn’t I just prayed for an open door and to make the most of every opportunity! I went with her!  I was praying all the way there! We went up the stairs quietly because the lady said we couldn’t wake up her husband who would be very angry!  She opened the door suddenly to this young girl’s bedroom……I smiled and apologized for invading her privacy. I told her my name and invited her to our home for English Bible Study.  She was so very shy, but she smiled.  I quickly thanked her mother for the introduction and left.  I thought…. I will never see that poor girl again!!
This is how this story started from MY perspective.  Now I will share this story and that first meeting with Chang Hui Ling from HER perspective. I will share exactly as she wrote it down for an assignment for a class 10 years after it all happened!
“A Loving Person” (This is the title she gave her story)
People always look at me with incredulous expressions when I tell them I used to be a shy, quiet, serious girl who lacked self-confidence. “You look very independent and self-confident now.  I can’t imagine what you were like before.” Yes, it’s true that I am not the same person I used to be.  Being the eldest child in my family, I had to learn how to take care of myself when I was a small girl. I had learned to inhibit my natural emotions as a result of my father’s strict discipline and my mother’s mental illness. In my mind, there was no asking, “What would I like to do?” but only, “What should I do?” People probably regarded me as a callous person until I met my Godmother, Elinda.
         I didn’t know what it was like to be loved by someone because my father never showed his love to people except by scolding. I could partly understand my father’s frustration caused from his marrying someone with a mental illness, being forced leave his own country (mainland China) and trying to take care of all the responsibilities of my family. Trying to assist my father, I shared some housekeeping with my father since I was 5 years old. I was quite mature when I was young, but I lost the innocent nature of a child. I didn’t like to talk with people because I thought nobody could understand my feelings.  My attitude was very negative and cynical as I never felt satisfied with any part of my life.
          One summer day when I was a sophomore in college my mother brought an unexpected stranger to my room.  “Oh! No! My mother was acting up again.” I murmured to myself.  I hated the situation whenever my mother didn’t behave like a normal person. Suddenly, a middle-aged woman (Elinda was 42) with blond hair, good-looking features appeared in front of my sight. “How do you do? My name is Elinda. I met your mother on the street because she wanted to show me where to buy apples. She insisted I come to meet you because she said that you like to study English.” She introduced herself to me in Chinese with a soft American accent. I held myself back by not shouting at my mother and stayed calm. She noticed my fright and protectiveness.  Having realized that she might intrude into my space, she didn’t speak more after her friendly introduction.  She just left a note and told me that I could call her if I wanted to learn English. Several days passed by, the note kept whirling in my head. A strange curiosity finally gave me the courage to call her.
        “Hi, this is Hui-Ling. Do you remember? You said I could call if I wanted to learn English.”  “YES, sure I remember you.”
         We scheduled the time for our first meeting. I seldom called a stranger, but somehow an unknown feeling grabbed me and encouraged me to try to discover more about this woman. After I arrived at her house, I noticed that I wasn’t the only guest, and I immediately figured out that the meeting was a fellowship. My instinct told me to act politely. I stayed quiet until the meeting finished. During the night, I was introduced to 7 or 8 young students. We sang songs, ate refreshments, and read a Bible story.  At the end when people were dismissed, Elinda asked me if I was free the next Monday night, I nodded yes! “Why don’t you just come to my house, and we can do something you want??”  OKAY, I answered. I was kind of blaming myself for believing that she would teach me English. However, I also felt a different emotion which I never experienced before. This new feeling made me feel more peaceful, joyful, and wonderful during the fellowship than I had ever had.  I brought my English book that I wished Elinda to help me with on that Monday night. I asked how much I should pay her. Her reply made me stunned. “I don’t charge anything from you. Just feel free to ask me if you need help.” Instead of being unmotivated like I used to be, I kept going to Elinda’s house every Monday night for our private meeting and every Tuesday night for the fellowship. I noticed that Elinda always asked how I felt, how my family was doing and how my mother was.  I felt touched because she really cared about me and my family rather than just being socially polite. I seldom disclose my family or myself to anyone because I was afraid people would laugh at me or even despise me. While talking with Elinda, I could see understanding and affection in her eyes and I learned that she really cared about me.  Sometimes, she would show me some pictures of her family or share some interesting stories with me.  I was not quite ready to accept her friendship at the beginning because I couldn’t easily trust people. I waited and waited to see what she really wanted from me, otherwise, how could she have such patience and love to give to people? One day, she invited me to attend a party.  “Have you ever attended any party?”  “No!” “Would you like to go with me tonight to a party? “Yes.”  She asked me to come to her house one hour earlier than the party if I didn’t have a dress for the party. She let me choose any dress from her closet. While sitting on the chair, she helped me comb my hair. It was the first, MY first, that I had somebody comb my hair. It seemed electricity flowing all over my body from her touching my hair. I was so moved that I almost burst into tears. I asked why she treated me so well and what I should do to return to her. She answered that she didn’t ask for any return but to see me grow up in happiness and with hope. She told me the well of her love came from God. She would feel weak and exhausted if it were not for God’s love. God’s amazing grace had given her enthusiasm and devotion in her life no matter how difficult the life would be.  There were many times that people tried to evangelize Christianity to me, but they always failed by my rejecting God’s existence. Because of Elinda’s love and patience, I finally accepted Jesus Christ in my heart when I was a senior in college. One day, one of my classmates told me that I looked different. When I asked him what the difference was, he said that I looked glamorous with faith and my smile made me look friendlier than before, I’ve always thanked God that He had brought Elinda into my life and changed my life. Without her consistently give of her love and friendship to me, I would never have known what love is, how to trust people, how to open my mind to this world, and how to accept Jesus into my life.  Before I didn’t know there were so many good qualities in this world, but she made me experience the wonderful side of life. Elinda reminded me that I could give my love to people who are eager to love. I still keep in touch with her because she always encourages me whenever I feel down or frustrated. Though I don’t see her as often as before, her words and image have become embedded in my mind.    (End of her story)
Hui-Ling and I spent a lot of time together before she was saved. We met in 1990. She wrote this paper about me 10 years later in 2001 as an assignment for a class while studying in the U.S. She gave me a copy when she returned to Taiwan after her studies.  It has touched me so deeply and makes me aware of how our words, our actions, our body language, the smallest things we do around other people can have a positive or negative impact. I’m so thankful God was leading me every step of the way in this young woman’s life. I am so humbled and grateful that He allowed me to play a part in bringing her to JESUS.  She was the second person Wei Mushr baptized in our new church start.  The first person was our youngest son! It’s been 35 years, and she still calls us “mom” and “dad.”
  • Note: We are thankful for Elinda West’s permission to allow us to share her story. She feels a little embarrassed of mentioning herself, but Pastor Chunhai Li believes it is all about the glory of God by sharing a personal testimony, and this can inspire and encourage others to love and serve the Lord and others more faithfully.

2/2/25 牧者之言

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“荣神益人”
——华人基督徒如何过春节？

          1951年美国神学家莱因霍尔德·尼布尔 (Reinhold Niebuhur) 在《基督与文化》（Christ and Culture）一书中提到两者之间的五种类型。第一，基督反对文化(Christ Against Culture): 文化受了罪的玷污，基督徒应该避免、拒绝、并排斥文化。第二，基督属于文化(Christ of Culture): 文化是好的，与基督徒信仰没有任何冲突。第三，基督高过文化(Christ above Culture)：文化是好的，但要基督信仰对其做出最美的诠释。第四，基督与文化之间的张力 (Christ and Culture in Paradox): 基督徒与所处文化之间的互动始终存在一种紧张关系。第五，基督更新文化(Christ the Transformer of Culture): 基督徒努力寻求将文化的价值观和目的转化为服侍和荣耀上帝。由于篇幅所限，以上几点我不详细展开。多数福音派的基督徒赞同第五点，即根据耶稣的教导我们是 “世上的光，世上的盐” （太5: 13-16），我们在世界但不属世界（约17: 15-17），我们要以出世的心过入世的生活，不效法这个世界，只要新意更新而变化（罗12: 1-2）。
春节是华人第一大节日，是中国文化中很重要的一部分。在美国的华人基督徒面临三种文化：中国文化、西方文化及基督徒文化。华人基督徒如何平衡三者之间的关系，对于荣神益人至关重要。参照尼布尔所提出的第五种模式“基督更新文化”，按照保罗所说“所以，你们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀神而行“（林前10: 31）的原则，对于华人基督徒过春节，我和大家分享以下几点：
  1. 敬拜独一真神
        当尊上帝为大，绝不可祭拜偶像。《圣经》十条诫命（出20: 1-5; 申5:7-9）中的第一条和第二条明确规定，基督徒要敬拜独一真神，拜偶像是得罪神的。过年要杜绝各种形式接神，摆贡，贴财神画、门神画，或在微信里迎财神、抽签算卦等。我们不要提说或宣扬别神的名号（诗16: 4），更不要转发和传播。我们不要称呼人是“大神”，不要称呼某影视明星为“男神”或“女神”，不要把服侍神的仆人当成神（徒14: 14-18），也不要把天使当成神（启22: 8-9）。
在我们祷告时，基督徒称呼我们的神时不要说神是“万能的”（universal power），而要说神是“全能的”(almighty)。在和合本圣经翻译中，每逢提到神时都是说祂是全能者。顺便提一句，基督徒祷告时需要有谦卑认罪的诚实态度，然而在祷告结束时却无需自谦说“以上不配的祷告”，因为我们向上帝祷告的特权完全依赖于基督在十字架上做成的救恩，而不是我们自己的善工。基督徒可以张贴”福“字和有福音话语的对联，以及代表中国传统文化的服饰，比如唐装或少数民族服装等。
  1. 敬祖但不祭祖 Honor but not Worship Ancestors
         基督徒可以敬祖但不祭祖(We honor but not worship ancestors)。我们对祖先应予以“尊敬和记念”，却不应该“敬拜或祭祀”。华人说百善孝为先，圣经十诫的第五条人伦之首就是当孝敬父母。基督徒孝道的重点强调的不是在丧礼仪式上，而是在长辈活着时多与他们分享福音、多关爱体贴照顾、多分担家务，多以实际行动表达感恩之情。基督徒可以在传统节日时扫墓，藉此缅怀长辈留下的美好榜样，感激他们在世时所有的付出和辛劳。我们不磕头、不烧纸、不摆供品，但可以谦恭地扫墓，献鲜花，唱赞美诗。扫墓时，我们不为也不向死人祷告。我们是向上帝祷告，为活人求喜乐平安。这既荣耀主名，又向世人作见证。
  1. “从前属动物、如今属基督了”
        所谓生肖，既为华人之“十二属相：子鼠、丑牛、寅虎、卯兔、辰龙、巳蛇、午马、未羊、申猴、酉鸡、戌狗、亥猪”；它以十二种动物对应十二年或一天的十二个时辰。对基督徒来说，生肖只是标志，没有实在意义。
按着中国农历计算，今年是蛇年。基督徒对蛇这个标志持有特别看法，创世记中讲到始祖亚当受了蛇的引诱才偷吃了禁果、陷在罪中。我们认为，蛇本身并不是魔鬼，然而蛇却成了受撒旦所利用引诱人犯罪的工具。在蛇年时，基督徒如果想到要为主传福音、作见证，我相信上帝也是喜悦的。有位阿妮塔（Anita）姐妹在2024年华协新年庆祝的舞台上为主做了美好的见证。她说：“今年是龙年，但我们宣告今年要成为基督之年。愿基督得着所有华人！”我们同样宣告说：“今年是蛇年，但我们宣告今年要成为基督之年。愿基督得着所有华人！”
从谈论属相可以开启传福音的对话。有时中国人会问你是属什么的？从前你回答说：“我属羊、我属马、我属蛇”等。今天你可以说：“我从前属羊/属马/或其它属相，如今属基督了”。正如保罗所说：“只是我先前以为与我有益的，我现在因基督都当做有损的。 不但如此，我也将万事当作有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝” （腓3：7-8）。
  1. 吃喝要有节制
         新年时中国人会做很多菜，家人在一起享受团圆的日子。基督徒最好不要吸烟。吸烟有害健康。我们的身体是圣灵的殿，人不可伤害他人的身体，也不可伤害自己的身体（包括健康）。如果有吸烟的习惯，我们需靠圣灵的大能战胜烟瘾，为主做得胜的见证。比如：我的奶奶和我的美国妈妈都曾经历过戒烟的见证，她们曾抽过几十年的烟，但却借着主的大能戒掉了烟瘾。同时，基督徒“不可醉酒”（弗5: 18）。贪杯醉酒者难免失态。基督徒当竭力依靠圣灵竭力过分别为圣的生活，凡是容易使我们跌倒的事最好一概不作。分别为圣的生活，不是以不犯罪为标准，而是以合神心意为追求的最高目标。
  1. 抓住机会传福音
         传福音是基督徒的使命，无论得时不得时总要传福音（提后4: 2）。当给亲人打电话问候节日快乐时，可以与他们分享福音。当参加庆祝活动遇到人时，可以与他们分享福音，并邀请他们来教会参加活动。如果有人反对，我们也无需勉强，而应竭力与人保持良好的关系。
愿主赐福我们在新的一年里，力上加力，恩上加恩，荣上加荣，乐上加乐！主恩充溢，福杯满溢。愿平安如江河滚滚，愿福泽如洋海涛涛！以基督之名，阿门！

“Glorify God and benefit others”
——How do Chinese Christians celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year?

In 1951, American theologian Reinhold Niebuhur mentioned five types of culture in his book Christ and Culture. First, Christ Against Culture: Culture is tainted by sin, and Christians should avoid, reject, and exclude culture. Second, Christ of Culture: Culture is good and does not conflict with Christian faith. Third, Christ above Culture: Culture is good, but Christian faith should interpret it in the most excellent way. Fourth, Christ and Culture in Paradox: There is always a tension between the interaction between Christians and the culture they live in. Fifth, Christ the Transformer of Culture: Christians strive to transform the values and purposes of culture into serving and glorifying God. Due to space limitations, I will not elaborate on the above points. Most evangelical Christians agree with the fifth point, that according to Jesus’ teachings we are “the light of the world and the salt of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16), we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-17), and we should live an out-of-worldly life, not conforming to this world, but being transformed by the new mind (Romans 12:1-2).
The Chinese Lunar New Year (also called as “The Spring Festival”) is the largest festival for Chinese people and is a very important part of Chinese culture. Chinese Christians in the United States face three cultures: Chinese culture, Western culture, and Christian culture. How Chinese Christians balance the relationship between the three is crucial to glorifying God and benefiting people. Referring to Niebuhr’s fifth model “Christ Renews Culture” and following Pau’s principle of “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), I would like to share with you the following principles about Chinese Christians celebrating the Spring Festival:
  1. Worship the Only One True God
God should be honored as the greatest, and idols should never be worshiped. The first and second of the Ten Commandments in the Bible (Exodus 20: 1-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-9) clearly stipulate that Christians should worship the one true God, and idolatry is an offense to God. During the Chinese New Year, we shall put an end to all forms of welcoming gods, offering tributes, pasting paintings of the Wealth god or Door god, or welcoming the Wealth god on WeChat, drawing lots, etc. We shall not promote the names of other gods (Psalm 16:4). We shall not call people “big gods”; we shall not call certain movie stars “male god” or “goddess”; we shall not regard servants of God as gods (Acts 14:14-18); and we shall not regard angels as gods as well (Revelation 22: 8-9).
When we pray, Christians should not call God “universal power” but “Almighty.” In the Chinese Union Version of the Bible, whenever God is mentioned, He is called the Almighty. By the way, Christians need to have an honest attitude of humble confession when praying, but there is no need to modestly say “the above prayer is unworthy” at the end of the prayer, because our privilege to pray to God depends entirely on the salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, not on our own good works. Christians can post the word “Fu” and couplets with gospel words, as well as clothing representing traditional Chinese culture, such as Tang suits or ethnic minority costumes.
  1. Honor but not Worship Ancestors
Christians can honor but not worship ancestors. We shall “respect and remember” our ancestors, but we shall not worship or offer sacrifices to them. Chinese people say that filial piety comes first among all virtues. The fifth of the Ten Commandments in the Bible, the first of of human ethic, is to honor one’s parents. The emphasis of Christian filial piety is not on funeral ceremonies, but on sharing the gospel with elders, caring for them, sharing housework, and expressing gratitude with practical actions when they are still alive. Christians can visit or sweep graves during traditional festivals to remember the good examples left by their ancestors and to appreciate all their efforts and hard work when they were alive. We do not kowtow, burn paper, or place offerings, but we can humbly visit graves, offer flowers, and sing hymns. When visiting graves, we do not pray for or to the dead. We pray to God and ask for joy and peace for the living. This not only glorifies the Lord’s name but also bears witness to the world.
  1. “I once belonged to animal, but now I belong to Christ”
The Chinese zodiac is the twelve Chinese zodiac signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The twelve animals correspond to the twelve hours of a year or day. For Christians, the zodiac is just a symbol and has no actual meaning.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, this year is the Year of the Snake. Christians have a special view on the symbol of the snake. The Book of Genesis says that the first ancestor Adam was tempted by the snake and ate the forbidden fruit and fell into sin. We believe that the snake itself is not a devil, but the snake has become a tool used by Satan to tempt people to sin. In the Year of the Snake, if Christians think more about preaching the gospel and bearing witness for the Lord, I believe God is also pleased. Sister Anita gave a beautiful testimony for the Lord on the stage of the 2024 Arkansas Chinese Association New Year Gala. She said: “This year is the Year of the Dragon, but we declare that this year will be the year of Christ. May Christ gain all Chinese!” We also claim: “This year is the Year of the Snake, but we declare that this year will be the year of Christ. May Christ gain all Chinese!”
Talking about your zodiac sign can start a conversation about evangelism. Sometimes Chinese people will ask you what your zodiac sign is. In the past, you answered, “I belong to a sheep, or a horse, or a snake, etc.” Today, you can say, “I once belonged to a sheep/other zodiac sign, but now I belong to Christ.” As Paul said, “But whatever gains I had, I now counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8).
  1. Eat and Drink in Moderation
During the New Year, Chinese people will cook a lot of dishes and enjoy the reunion with their families. It is better for a Christian to avoid smoke. Smoking is harmful to health. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. People should not harm the bodies of others or their own bodies (including health). If we have the habit of smoking, we need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the addiction and bear victorious witness for the Lord. For example: My grandmother and my American mother had both experienced the testimony of quitting smoking. They had smoked for decades, but they quit smoking through the power of the Lord. At the same time, Christians “should not be drunk on wine” (Ephesians 5:18). Those who are drunk will easily lose control. Christians should strive to rely on the Holy Spirit and live a sanctified life. It is best not to do anything that can easily cause others to fall. The sanctified life is not only based on not committing sins, but on the highest goal of pursuing God’s will.
  1. Seize Every Opportunity to Share the Gospel
We should always preach the gospel in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). When wishing our relatives or friends a happy new year, we can share the gospel with them. When meeting people at celebrations, we can share the gospel with them and invite them to church. If someone objects, we do not need to force them but should do our best to maintain a good relationship with them.
May the Lord bless us in the new year with more strength, more glory, and more joy! May the Lord’s grace overflow and the cup of blessing overflow. May peace roll like a river and blessings flow like the ocean! In the name of Christ, Amen!

1/26/25 牧者之言

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我们生命中的属灵标记

魏师母

•    经文：诗篇77:11-14
•    2025年1月16日晨祷会
1 月 10 日是我父亲的忌日，1982 年他去世了，享年 55 岁。今年和每年，我和姐妹们都会分享爸爸，分享他和妈妈对我们的意义，分享我们多么感激在一个基督徒家庭中长大！我以前在晨祷会上分享过一些这方面的事情。对我们所有人来说，失去父母是我们生命中意义重大的时刻，也是悲伤的时刻。1979 年 6 月 17 日，父亲节的第二天，我和魏牧师离开了美国。我们家乡的教会举行了一次差遣礼，我们将被差遣到台湾担任传教士。后来，当我要和父母道别的时候，我给了爸爸一张父亲节贺卡。在那张贺卡里，我告诉他，正是通过他的愛，我才意识到天父的愛是什么样的。我告诉他，在我成长的过程中，他一直愛着我、关心着我、引导着我，并为我祈祷。
我的父母总是带我去教会，我决志信靠耶稣，并在 9 岁时受浸礼。我在父亲节卡片上说了更多的话来表达我对爸爸的感激和愛。我告诉他我的祈祷是希望我的生命能反映出他对我的愛！这让我爸爸哭了。直到那天我 31 岁，我才第一次看到爸爸哭。听到我对他说出这些感受，爸爸很高兴。他为我感到骄傲，但也为我们即将离开很长一段时间而感到难过。
上周，当我想起我的父亲时，我开始思考我们生命中都有的“属灵标记” 。它们并不常见。这些属灵记忆在我们的基督徒生活中至关重要。我们生命中的这些时刻确定了我们知道上帝以圣灵的力量清楚地引导我们，或给我们一个明确的呼召服侍的时刻！属灵标记提醒我们上帝的力量！（当我们回顾他过去如何引导我们时），它们给我们信心去面对今天的争战。（当我们与孩子们分享上帝在我们生命中的工作时），它们给我们的孩子信心为明天争战！它们见证上帝大能的手！记住上帝所做的一切有助于我们将所有的荣耀归于他！我们从这些经历中走出来，成为一个比以前更强大、更好的人。我们可能不会在某个事件或某个阶段结束后立即感到更强大，但随着时间的流逝，我们回首往事，发现上帝在我们的生活中用它来加强我们对他的信仰和信任，为此我们赞美他！
我和魏牧师经常和我们的孩子和孙辈分享我们的属灵标记，因为我们认为这样做很重要。他们需要听到这些故事，并受到挑战，自己去信靠上帝。我们希望他们看到与主紧密同行的价值和祝福！在向他人讲述属灵标记的过程中，我们自己获得了对今天的信心和勇气以及对未来的盼望！这些标记具有属灵意义，就像以色列人的逾越节和我们的主餐礼、保罗在去大马色的路上、摩西和燃烧的荆棘。我和魏牧师分享过，我们自己的属灵标记包括我们对罪的认识和得救的经历、我们的婚姻、我们对传教服侍的呼召，以及我们与所认识的一切和每个人分离……在另一个国家生活 30 多年。
我们刚到台湾两年半时，我爸爸就得知自己得了癌症，之后他只活了四个月。我无法回到美国支持我的母亲、姐妹和其他亲人、以及参加葬礼。我们当时正在台湾参加一个中国教会，牧师想为我们一家举行一场礼拜。他们唱了“耶稣的胜利”这首歌，因为在美国的礼拜仪式上唱过这首歌。他们准备了一幅爸爸的大画像，并在教堂前面放了一个用真花制成的十字架。牧师以《创世纪》第 12 章讲道，上帝告诉亚伯兰“离开本地，本族和父家，往我要指示你的地去”…… 他继续读到第 3 节…… “地上的万族都要因你得福。”我知道他讲了很多话来安慰我，所有人都一个接一个地来握住我的手，我看到了他们的眼泪！他们根本不认识我的父亲，但他们愛我们一家人，我们只在那间教会待了两年。我深受感动。我们的传教士家庭也为我们举行了一场礼拜。它让我们如此亲密地聚在一起，分享这份悲伤，我的悲痛。在那些日子和几个月里，我心中建立了更坚定的信心。这些可愛的弟兄姐妹们用他们的愛心、他们的关怀、他们自己的属灵标志和他们的祈祷建立了我的信心……我们在日常生活中一起前行和工作……时间就这样流逝着。
当我们彼此分享属灵标记时，我们都会得到坚固并充满盼望！你知道，尽管我很伤心我的父亲去世得很早，但我学会了无论发生什么都要信靠上帝。我拥有上帝奇妙的平安和同在。上帝从不无情。他用他的愛厚待我们。他的道路比我们的道路更高。也许你们中的一些人还记得在另一次晨祷中我分享了我在成为传教士初期与家人分离的挣扎。在这种艰难的悲痛和伤心中，主告诉我，在他呼召侍奉他的地方他为我准备了另外两个美好的家庭……我的传教士同胞家庭和我的中国教会家庭！回首往事，我被他的信实所折服。在爸爸离开我们的同一年，上帝赐给我和魏牧师另一个儿子。我们非常激动，并感谢上帝对我们的仁慈，他在我们生命中的那段时间拯救了我们。
今天在晨祷中，我分享了我生命中的一个属灵标记！你的属灵标记是什么？想一想！我们是一家人，所以让我们一起分享我们的生活、我们的祷告、主对我们祷告的回应，并得到祝福和鼓励！！！
亲愛的上帝，请帮助我们识别我们生命中的属灵标记，这样，在我们这样做的同时，请帮助我们在与你同行的过程中建立属灵的记忆。当我们记住生活中的这些事件帮助我们持续增强我们的信心，并让我们持续走在正路上。帮助我们与他人分享，以便我们相互鼓励。谢谢天父，你一直在我们生命中工作，这些标记提醒我们，我们属于你，我们的未来在你那里是安全的！谢谢耶稣赐予我们基督的身体……我们的教会大家庭！ 奉耶稣的名，阿门。

Spiritual Markers in our Lives
Elinda West

  • Scripture: Psalm 77:11-14
  • Early Prayer meeting January 16, 2025
         January 10th is the anniversary of my father’s death in 1982.  He was 55 years old.  This year and every year my sisters and I talk about daddy and what he and mother meant to us and how thankful we were to grow up in a Christian home! I’ve shared a little about this event before in Early Prayer meeting.  For all of us losing our parents is a significant time in our lives and a sad time. Wei Mushr and I left America the day after Father’s Day on June 17, 1979. There was a Commissioning Service at our home church for us to be sent out as missionaries to Taiwan.  Later, when it was time to say good-bye to my parents I gave daddy a Father’s Day card. In that card I shared with him that it was through his love that I realized what the love of God the Father must be like. I told him he had loved and cared for my needs and guided me and prayed for me as I grew up.
My parents always took me to church, and I professed my faith in Jesus and was baptized at 9 years old. I said more things in that Father’s Day card expressing my gratitude and love to my daddy and I told him my prayer was that my life might reflect the same love that he had shown to me!  It made my daddy weep. I had never seen my daddy cry until that day and I was 31 years old. It was good for my daddy to hear me say those feelings to him. He was proud of me but sad we were going away for a long time.
As I was thinking about my dad this past week I began to think about the “Spiritual Markers” we all have in our lives. They don’t happen often. These Spiritual memories are crucial in our Christian life. These times in our lives IDENTIFY A TIME we know God clearly GUIDED US by the power of the Holy Spirit or gave us a CLEAR CALL to service! SPIRITUAL MARKERS REMIND US OF THE POWER OF GOD!  THEY GIVE US CONFIDENCE TO FACE TODAY’S BATTLES (as we look back on how He led us in the past). THEY GIVE OUR CHILDREN CONFIDENCE TO FIGHT TOMORROW’S BATTLES! (as we share with them God’s work in our lives). THEY WITNESS TO THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD! REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS DONE HELPS US GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY!  We go away from these experiences as a stronger and better person than we were before.  We might not feel stronger immediately after the event or season, but with the passing of time we look back and see that God used it in our lives to strengthen our faith and trust in Him AND FOR THAT WE PRAISE HIM!
Wei Mushr and I often share our Spiritual Markers with our children and grandchildren because we think it is important for us to do that. They need to hear these stories and be challenged to trust God themselves. We want them to see the value and blessing of walking closely with the Lord!  In the process of telling others about Spiritual Markers we ourselves receive confidence and courage for today and hope for the future! These markers have spiritual significance, like the Passover for the Israelites and The Lord’s Supper for us, Paul on the road to Damascus, Moses and the burning bush. Wei Mushr and I discussed that our own spiritual markers include our conviction of sin and salvation experience, our marriage, our call to missionary service and separation from everything and everyone we knew… to live in another country for 30 plus years.
We had been in Taiwan for only 2 1/2 years when my dad learned he had cancer and only lived 4 months after that. I could not return to the U.S. to support my mother and sisters and other close family members and attend the funeral.  We were attending a Chinese Church in Taiwan and the pastor wanted to hold a service for our family. They sang the song “Victory in Jesus” because it was sung at the service in America. They prepared a large portrait of daddy and had a cross of real flowers at the front of the church. The pastor preached from Genesis 12 where God told Abram to “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you”… and he read on through verse 3… “and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” I know he shared many words to comfort me and all the people came one by one to take my hand and I saw their tears! They didn’t know my daddy at all but they loved our family and we had only been in that church 2 years. I was touched so deeply. Our missionary family also held a service for us. It brought us so close together to share this sadness, my grief. A stronger faith was established in my heart in those days and months. These loving brothers and sisters built up my faith by their love, their care, their own spiritual markers and their prayers…. as we walked and worked together in daily life… and time went on.
When we share our spiritual markers with each other we all are strengthened and have hope!  You know, even though I was so hurt that my daddy passed away so young I learned about trusting God no matter what. I had God’s wonderful peace and presence.  God is never unkind. He lavishes us with His love. His ways are higher than ours.  Maybe some of you remember another time in Early Morning Prayer I shared about my struggle with separation from my family in the early days of being a missionary.  The Lord showed me during this difficult grief and sadness He had prepared 2 other wonderful families for me in the place he called me to serve Him……My fellow Missionary Family and My Chinese Church family! I look back and am overwhelmed with His Faithfulness. In the same year daddy left us.. God gave Wei Mushr and I another son. We were so excited and grateful for God’s Goodness to us which He saved for that time in our life.
Here in Early Prayer today I’m sharing a Spiritual Marker in my life! What are your Spiritual Markers? Think about it!  We are FAMILY so let’s share together our lives, our prayers, our answers to prayers and be Blessed and Encouraged!!!
Dear Lord, help us to identify the spiritual markers in our lives and as we do that help us develop spiritual memory in our walk with you. As we remember these events in our lives help them to continue to strengthen our faith and keep us consistently on the path. Help us share with others so we can encourage each other. Thank you Father that you are constantly working in our lives and that these markers are reminders to us that we belong to You and our future is secure in You! Thank you Jesus for the Body of Christ ….Our Family! In Jesus’s Name Amen.