Monday, September 12, 2011

Sermons now with tags

I've invested a lot of time on Jubilee's new website. All the sermons are uploaded and many come with MP3. Now I've added in tags, which seems to make podcasting a lot easier. Check it out: http://www.jubilee.org.sg/sermons/

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Heart Warming Vision

This latest comic from SMBC really touches my heart. I guess deep down inside, I'm really quite a "good old days" kind of guy.

Monday, May 09, 2011

My 2 cents on the election

I wanted to write a lot on my views about the election. But I read this from stillhaventfound and it more or less sums up my feelings. I highly recommend reading that.

The only point I wish to talk about is strategy. Of course hindsight is 20-20, but I just have these thoughts I had to express.

On the PAP side, they took a gamble and lost. I'm sure they had done their polls, and know that they were losing Aljunied before Nomination. That was the decision point. Should the PAP redeploy GY and give up Aljunied, or put up a fight but risk losing a core PAP leader? In the end, it was pride at work. There was no way for PAP to step away from the challenge, and that's the path they chose. It wasn't Aljunied who lost George Yeo, it was the PAP who voted against him.

On the WP side, it was a conservative shot, and hence the winnings was conservative. To be fair to them, it was courageous by historical standards and nobody who have been through the struggles through the decades would have dreamed any bigger. But it was conservative because Lim Swee Say and Raymond Lim was a low hanging fruit this time and that would not be the case next election. Mark my words, this would be a missed opportunity they will come to regret. Would they have overextended themselves by proclaiming similar ambitions for East Coast 2011?

On the NSP side, it is the opposite story. What's up with splitting the A-team from Reform? Jeanette+Nicole+Tony+Hazel would have routed MBT easily. Was it insecurity on Goh Meng Seng's side? Didn't he learn anything from WP while he was there? MBT was the pain for everyone, not George Yeo. If Goh Meng Seng had personally led the Reform-deserting A-team at Tampines, it would have been a real rejoicing for the opposition, and not this sour feeling everybody have, a victory tainted because the real culprit remains in office.

On Desmond Lim. I have no kind words to say.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

The Liturgical Arts in Worship

This is a continuation on the Worship Study Group that is ongoing at Jubilee. We have covered Worship and Teamwork, Worship and Hospitality and we now left 2 more sessions to Worship and Liturgical Arts.

This is how I have divided the topics:
January: Liturgical Arts and Art Teamwork
February: Liturgical Arts and Church Dynamics
March: Liturgical Arts and Architecture
April: Liturgical Arts and Technology (I)
May: Liturgical Arts and Technology (II)
June: Liturgical Arts and Children Participation

My reflection so far is that the discussions and sharing had been really fruitful. I look forward to a proper restructuring of the Church Environment Committee and a fruitful synergy of all the artistic talents of Jubilee for the glory of God.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Touching Testimony about Cancer Survival

A Church member of mine had a touching testimony about her struggle with cancer. I wish to share it. Here it is in Chinese.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

New Jubilee Church Website!

I've been busy the past 2 weeks uploading all information onto the new website. That's 200+ sermons in the collection. Check it out!

http://www.jubilee.org.sg/

Thursday, March 10, 2011

今夜你会不会来?

路加福音14:15-24 的讲道

让我们一起来看今天的经文。今天的经文所说的是大筵席的比喻。我们从这个比喻所要学习的信息可以从三点来看。第一点是神所应许的复兴已经来临。筵席的主人的富裕与尊荣,反映了天父的富裕与尊荣。在古时,要准备一个大筵席可不是一件简单的事。犹太人的饮食习惯非常复杂。比如说,他们星期五就得准备星期六的食物,而且在星期五就得煮好,但留到星期六才吃。若是要准备肉类的食物,过程更复杂。他们一定要把所有的肥肉或有脂肪的部分除掉,一点也不能留,然后再把腿肉的经脉除掉,这样的过程才能使到那块肉在礼仪上洁净,这样才能煮来吃。但在肉方面,犹太人怀有许多的东西是不能吃的。比如猪肉不能吃,兔肉不能吃,被勒死的鸟肉不能吃,鱿鱼不能吃,电鱼不能吃,总之没有鳞的鱼都不能吃,这都是犹太人的传统与条例所指示的。

由于要准备一个大筵席是一件又费时又费力的事,所以只有有财,有势,有面子的大户人家才办得成。因此一个大筵席能使主人的声望大增,有助于他在社会的地位,大筵席也令周围的人全都欠主人一个人情,可以想像一个人摆一场大筵席,就已经如此非同小可,如果神摆一个大筵席,其中的涵义又会是什么呢? 我们先来看以赛亚书25:6-9 6

在 这 山 上 , 万 军 之 耶 和 华 必 为 万 民 用 肥 甘 设 摆 筵 席 , 用 陈 酒 和 满 髓 的 肥 甘 , 并 澄 清 的 陈 酒 , 设 摆 筵 席 。7 他 又 必 在 这 山 上 除 灭 遮 盖 万 民 之 物 和 遮 蔽 万 国 蒙 脸 的 帕 子 。8 他 已 经 吞 灭 死 亡 直 到 永 远 。 主 耶 和 华 必 擦 去 各 人 脸 上 的 眼 泪 , 又 除 掉 普 天 下 他 百 姓 的 羞 辱 , 因 为 这 是 耶 和 华 说 的 。9 到 那 日 , 人 必 说 : 看 哪 , 这 是 我 们 的   神 ; 我 们 素 来 等 候 他 , 他 必 拯 救 我 们 。 这 是 耶 和 华 , 我 们 素 来 等 候 他 , 我 们 必 因 他 的 救 恩 欢 喜 快 乐 。

以赛亚书告诉我们神所摆的筵席是末世的筵席,是为了显明神战胜了仇敌,战胜了死亡。他已经把强暴之国给摧毁了,他已经作了贫穷人的保障,被压迫的因为这位全能神已经恢复了荣耀。对犹太人来说,神要摆这个大筵席显示了他最终的审批已经来到。这就是先知书和旧约里的智慧文学所启示的。大筵席便是那完美的幸福,是神在末世为他忠心的信徒所预备的,神拯救的计划已经完成了,还有什么比这个更叫人庆幸的呢?难怪同席的有一个人会对耶稣说:“在神国里吃饭的有福了!”大筵席便是那最终祝福的记号,是神花了很多心思为蒙福的人所预备的。刚才已经说到地上筵席是如何喧哗,在天上的大筵席更加壮观几千倍,更加华丽几万倍,更加丰盛几亿倍,你能不参加吗?

经文说到主人到了坐席的时候,打发仆人去对所请的人说:“请来吧!样样都齐备了。”这句话有个背景,原来古时候人没有带手表,对于这种壮观的场合,请客的方法有规矩,有条理。首先便会有第一次的邀请,就好比今天的请帖一样,客人可以选择来与不来。若是要出席,就应该挪出时间,腾出空档。时刻一到,主人便如经上所说,再次派出仆人通知所有的客人出现宴会。客人便因此能够按时出席,也充分表达了宴会的气派和隆重。由此可见,不只筵席的主人这方面需要作充分的准备,客人方面也得按礼仪作好准备。当仆人第二次来邀请时,客人便可立刻随行。耶稣说出这个比喻,也就暗示了若这个筵席的主人是上帝,发出第一次邀请的是先知,那么耶稣本身便是发出第二次邀请的仆人了。上帝是筵席的主人,负责筹划一切与祝福出席的人,而耶稣便是那招呼客人的仆人,告诉他们这天国的筵席已经开始了。

所以耶稣的到来便有了很深的涵义,因为耶稣所传达的信息,便是天国的筵席已经开始了。先知预言所应许的祝福的那日便由耶稣的来到而成就了。筵席的开始更意味着赴筵的必要。耶稣的邀请就好比是在问你,是否能跟他一起去赴筵。所以先知们所发出的请帖,你已经收到。从第一次的邀请到第二次的,你是否已经做好了准备?筵席已经开始了,随着欢悦美食的是时刻的紧急和危机。筵席的恩惠也带来了一丝警告,你准备好了吗?你在你的时间表里面已经腾出了空档了吗?你是否在等待,期盼时刻的来临?你是否已经穿好衣服鞋子,化好妆,头发已经梳整齐?耶稣来的时候,对你说现在就走,你的反应会是什么呢?

这个问题也就带出了今天讲题的第二点:面对耶稣的邀请,人有拒绝的自由。我们看到当筵席主人的仆人来邀请客人的时候,客人异口同声地推辞。一个说买了地,要去看看,一个说买了牛,要去试一试;一个说刚娶了妻,不能去。前两个请求准许推辞, 第三个连问都没有。他们的理由似乎很有道理,更有圣经根据。 我们翻开申命记20:5-7 5

官 长 也 要 对 百 姓 宣 告 说 : 谁 建 造 房 屋 , 尚 未 奉 献 , 他 可 以 回 家 去 , 恐 怕 他 阵 亡 , 别 人 去 奉 献 。6 谁 种 葡 萄 园 , 尚 未 用 所 结 的 果 子 , 他 可 以 回 家 去 , 恐 怕 他 阵 亡 , 别 人 去 用 。7 谁 聘 定 了 妻 , 尚 未 迎 娶 , 他 可 以 回 家 去 , 恐 怕 他 阵 亡 , 别 人 去 娶 。

这里记载了可以避免上阵打仗的三大理由;新加坡不能用,不过古时候的以色列国民可以用。我们看到建造房屋对买地,葡萄园对耕种的牛,娶妻对娶妻。如果打仗都可以不去,不出席筵席总该合情合理吧。可是这个理由似是而非。平时打仗也许合理,打圣仗什么理由都是藉口。上帝的大筵席可是圣战之前的一餐,什么理由都不成立。况且这些所谓的理由根本说不通,哪里有人买了地,却从来没看过那块地,根本就是个藉口,这分明显出了有物质的东西比天国的事还重要。哪里有人买了牛,却从来没有试过那几头牛,况且这人能买五对牛,可说是大户人家,怎么没有仆人代劳试牛,根本也是个藉口,这同样显出了财务缠身,对主人的邀请完全没兴趣。第三个更可恶,那个新郎早就知道大筵席的邀请,怎么能把结婚的日期放在同一天,吉日也不是理由。耶稣很清楚的讲明,他们是异口同声的推辞,显然是串通好不去参加,他们这么做是什么居心呢?

原来在古时候,一起吃饭是一种建立社交群体,发表友善,建立信任与友谊的方式。不论是请人吃饭,或接受邀请的举动,都有丰富的涵义。一同吃饭可以表达化敌为友,解开仇恨。对多数人来说,分享食物,互相陪伴代表和平,是欢悦的时光。因此天国的筵席也象征着神的和平与公义的建立,神愿与人和好共处。吃饭更表达了人与人之间的时候关系,把人与人之间阶层区别显得分外鲜明。总而言之,众人推辞主人的大筵席,百般藉口,意思浅浅,其实是对主人的一种侮辱。一个人在社会上的荣誉,不是单独拥有的,必须得到周围的人的认可。众人推辞的藉口,是对主人尊荣的轻视,可以说是想他下不了台。所以大筵席的邀请他们根本没有预备,所有的只是不成立的藉口。他们不看重与主人的关系,表达了他们不在乎他们与主人之间的交情,他们的行为如此,是什么原因呢?

我想他们推辞的原因是出于他们的自傲。他们以为他们在筵席的主人眼里举足轻重,他们口里的藉口,主人得把它看为可以谅解的理由。可是,这大筵席的主人是上帝,他们的自傲变成了冒犯上帝,亵渎他的尊荣的罪。人往往都是犯了这个罪。我们常以为在神面前有特殊的地位而自傲。我们常以为我们能靠自己的财富在神面前夸耀。我们也许有时会这么想,“神啊!我的时间这么重要,这是一笔大工程,或我要见一个重要人物,天国的事,我有空才来参与,教会的事。我有空才来事奉。可是,我们万万没想到,我们却和这些客人一样。他们推辞筵席不是因为要做坏事,而是被林林总总的事情缠着,脱不了身。别人梦寐以求的机会,他们反而推辞了。藉口是可怕的东西,它会荼毒你的信徒生命,因为它会阻拦悔改赦免的道路,夺取你信仰的生命力。最危险的藉口便是使你欺骗自己,它在让你免去责任的同时,却是在控告你。因为它把你生命中真正看重的,心目中优先的是什么显露出来。我们给人,给神的藉口,泄露了自己认为更重要的活动与负担。

对于人的拒绝,百般的藉口,神是什么反应呢?从比喻里我们看到,主人非常愤怒。主人不容许筵席因为这些客人的藉口而停止。他做出了绝妙的应对。这也就是今天的第三点。主人更换了筵席的客人。他吩咐仆人到城里大街小巷,领那贫穷的,残废的,瞎眼的,瘸腿的来出席筵席。如果我们以所了解的犹太人传统来看,这些人根本都不配出席筵席。犹太人把贫穷的,残废的,瞎眼的,瘸腿的当作是不洁净,是不受祝福的,根本不可能和城里有钱有势的同桌吃饭或过团体生活。在犹太人的观念里,他们是被认为与上帝的平安隔绝的,在天国的大筵席里,自然没有他们的份。可是耶稣的比喻却扭转了众人的观念,因为客人的缺席,筵席的主人却把这些没有身份的人都请了进来。主人更叫仆人去到路上和篱笆那里,勉强人进来坐满他的屋子。这第三批人可能是形容路上的乞丐,也可能是没有地方住宿的客旅。在法利赛人的眼中,这些外邦人与上帝的天国更没有关系,哪里知道筵席的主人为了填满屋子,把这些人也都叫了进来。主人的举动意味着什么?意味着神末世的祝福也要临到这些社会边缘的人,被社会拒绝的人,甚至要临到外邦人。这也就应验马太福音8:11。 11

我 又 告 诉 你 们 , 从 东 从 西 , 将 有 许 多 人 来 , 在 天 国 里 与 亚 伯 拉 罕 、 以 撒 、 雅 各 一 同 坐 席 ;

没想到主人的举动却给筵席带来了新的定义。原本用来分别社会阶级的筵席,却成了包容各阶级的宴会。不只为被社会遗弃的人带来了希望,在末世的筵席里,更表达了神对他们的接受和承诺。重点呢,是耶稣的邀请超越了人对大筵席原来的期望,使到神所应许的祝福超乎了他们的想像。这也就意味着神所应许那美好的未来并不是现今状况的延续,而是一个大倒反,把现今狭窄,充满歧视的社会准则给去除了。法利赛人原本是想突出他们的社会地位,他们万万没想到,天国的筵席却是只有那些能够包容穷人,流浪的人,外邦人的人,才有资格参加。所以大家会这么想,到底怎么样的人才能够参加天国的筵席呢?我们只要比较第一批推辞的客人和第二批参加的客人,我们就能够明白了。第一批被邀请的客人,不把筵席看在眼里。他们只有拒绝参加的自由,因为他们的自傲蒙蔽了他们的眼睛,看不到参加筵席所带来的祝福。第二批被邀请的客人,不能倚靠自己的财富,完全只能依赖大筵席主人的施舍,他们有的是接受邀请的自由。

这也就是这个比喻的结论,也就是耶稣所说的“我告诉你们,先前所请的人没有一个得尝我的筵席。”那些以为可以依靠自己的人都没有得参加天国的大筵席。那些晓得自己在主人的眼中一无所有的,反倒得享筵席所带来的祝福。有一句话说得好,“耶稣的教训主要是两点,没有神的邀请,没有人能进天国,但除非是自己刻意的选择,没有人会遗留在天国以外。”法利赛人在拒绝了耶稣的同时,他们也拒绝了神所应许的祝福。但天国的好处不因为他们的弃绝而遗失了,因为会有更多的人被邀请来参加。神那丰盛的祝福和团契仍然为肯接受的人而给。只有那些晓得自己别无所望的人才能晓得神的救恩的浩大。所以这个比喻最大的功课就是要教导我们虚心地接受神的邀请。当耶稣来邀请你赴筵的时候,你将选择拒绝的自由,还是接受的自由?那就要看你是否学习到了谦虚这门功课。

谦虚并不表示把自己看轻,把自己的优点减半,夸张自己的缺点。谦虚是知道谁真正掌权。谦虚是知道自己尽管拥有多少,都不能引以为傲,不能把这些当作生命的保障。因为真正的保障在于能够参加这个大筵席,而大筵席的主人是上帝。唯有把上帝的主权视为至高,上帝的荣耀视为至尊,上帝的恩惠视为至美,才是真正的谦虚。让我们以一个故事来打个比方。

从前有一位农夫,他在农场里养鸡,他有一群母鸡,却只有那么一只公鸡。有一天他就想“我这只公鸡也老了,是时候买一只比较年轻的公鸡来取代这只老公鸡。”于是有一天农场里就出现了一只雄赳赳,气昂昂的公鸡。这只老公鸡看了这只年轻的公鸡,心想,这只公鸡会觉得它比我好吗?我还是采取行动来稳固我的地位。于是老公鸡就上前跟年轻的公鸡说:“不如我们来个比赛吧,我们绕着农村跑十圈,看谁比谁快,赢者就可以得享全部的母鸡。”这只年轻的公鸡就笑着说:“你这么老,我看我还是让你半圈吧!”于是比赛就开始了,老公鸡跑在前头,因为它有半圈的优势,不过年轻的公鸡也渐渐的逼近。到了第五圈,年轻的公鸡已经紧跟在老公鸡的后面了。这时,农夫听到吵闹声,就出来看个究竟,结果他看到年轻的公鸡在追着老公鸡。于是他拿起枪,射死那年轻的公鸡,然后生气地说:“真倒霉,这已经是我买的第三只同性恋的公鸡了!”

为什么老公鸡存活而年轻的公鸡失败呢?因为年轻的公鸡靠的是自己的力量,而老公鸡却知道农场的主权在于农夫,它靠的是农夫的力量,自然得胜。我们人活在世上也是一样,若靠着自己的力量,是不能够得到永生的。唯有知道主权在于神。靠它的力量,凡事都能够。我们要知道,当神要充满一个灵魂的时候,他必须把他掏空;当他要使一个灵魂富足的时候,他必须先使他贫穷;当他要提升一个灵魂的时候,他就首先让他知道自己的不足和无能。这就是真正谦虚的功课。

我读到一篇很有趣的短文,里面讲述:若你开工,可以不需要咖啡;若你能时常笑口常开,若你能抗拒怨言,不以你的遭遇来烦人;若你能每天都吃一样的食物,而且为此感恩;若你的亲人太忙的时候你能谅解;若你能被指责的时候毫无怨恨;若你能以没有欺诈面对世界;若你所爱的人把你当出气筒,而你又以宽容面对他;若你能没有医药的协助克服生活压力;若你能打从心里说你没有任何的种族,宗教或政治歧视;若你能做到以上这一切,那亲爱的弟兄姐妹,你就几乎跟你的狗一样好。

是的,弟兄姐妹,这样的说法是否完全改变了你的观点?而你的观点却直接影响你与神的关系。如果你能够体会到在神面前你是多么的渺小,多么的无助,你才能感受到神救赎的恩惠、包容的慈爱。在耶稣来邀请你赴大筵席的时候,你是居高自傲、百般藉口、还是靠神怜悯的客旅、一无所有的人?天国大筵席的丰盛,超乎我们所求所想,可是能参加的人靠的不是他们的社会关系,更不是他们本身的能力或德行。能参加的人靠的只有那接受恩惠的心,而这样的心是建立在完全仰赖上帝的主权上面。愿在这大筵席里面,能与大家一起欢聚,永享与上帝的和好与祝福。

我们同心祷告: 我们在天上的父,我们满心感谢你,因为你已经预备了那末世的大筵席,是何等丰盛、何等华丽!你也已经差下你的爱子来邀请我们,父啊,赐我们一颗谦卑的心,让我们虚心的接受,能够永享你的和好与祝福。阿们。

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

施洗约翰的重要

马太福音 21:23-32 的默想

作为一个基督徒,我们对于耶稣的身份的认识是非常重要的。在这个关键的课题上,我们往往忽略了施洗约翰举足轻重的角色。从路加福音以施洗约翰的背景作为开始,我们其实就可以意识到了解施洗约翰的重要性。

当祭师文士质疑耶稣的权柄的时候,他们其实是在质疑耶稣的身份。因为耶稣在圣殿的教导方式是“有权能的新道理”(可1:27)。耶稣真的是那位带着权柄的弥撒亚吗?对于这样的质疑,耶稣巧妙的指向施洗约翰。弟兄姐妹,在这预备心的降临节期间,让我们借着施洗约翰,同样来更深的认识耶稣,对于他的身份更加坚定不移。

施洗约翰是谁?他是众人公认的先知。他是神的代言人,呼吁众人悔改,以他的洗礼来预备心迎接用圣灵洗礼的那位。不单如此,他也是弥撒亚的见证人。“有一个人,名叫约翰,是神所差来的。他来是要作见证,就是为光作见证,使众人藉着他可以相信。他不是那光,而是要为那光作见证。那光来到世界,是普照世人的真光。”(约1:6-9)所以,施洗约翰带有这个神圣特殊的身份。他是独一无二弥撒亚的见证人。用句现代的话,辨认弥撒亚的专利权在施洗约翰那里。

施洗约翰完成了他的使命吗?完成了!“耶稣受了洗,立刻从水中上来;忽然,天为他开了,他看见神的灵,好像鸽子降下来,落在他身上;又有声音从天上来,说:“这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。” (太3:16-17)当施洗约翰见证这事件后,“约翰又作见证说:“我曾看见圣灵,好像鸽子从天上降下来,停留在他的身上。我本来不认识他,但那差我来用水施洗的对我说:‘你看见圣灵降下来,停留在谁身上,谁就是用圣灵施洗的。’我看见了,就作见证说:‘这就是神的儿子。’” (约1:32-34)

我们如今凭着先知施洗约翰的见证,对耶稣的身份与权柄其实施毋庸置疑的。但是,知道和正确的回应是两回事。这就是两个儿子的比喻的重点。税吏和妓女虽然有不好的过去,但是面对约翰的见证,他们还是悔改,接着信靠耶稣。就象第一个儿子,该做的最终有完成。这样的回应合乎“父亲”的心意。但祭师文士却象第二儿子,表面答应,可是最终还是没有完成天父的心意。弟兄姐妹,我们如今通过施洗约翰确认了耶稣的身份,让我们有正确的回应,承认耶稣的权柄,跟随他到底。

Thursday, February 17, 2011

What is your worth?

Answer: 29 silver or less.

45A.23 ‘First,’ quoth the king, ’Tell mee in this stead,
With the crowne of gold vpon my head,
Amongst my nobilitye, with ioy and much mirth,
Within one pennye what I am worth.’
45A.24 Quoth the shepard, To make your grace noe offence,
I thinke you are worth nine and twenty pence;
For our Lord Iesus, that bought vs all,
For thirty pence was sold into thrall
Amongst the cursed Iewes, as I to you doe showe;
But I know Christ was one penye better then you.
45A.25 Then the king laught, and swore by St Andrew
He was not thought to bee of such a small value.

This excerpt comes from the ballad King John and the Bishop.
From Wikipedia:

King John is firstly described as a man who does great harm and little good. He has heard that the bishop (or abbot) of Canterbury is running a very efficient household. On visiting Canterbury, he demands an answer to three questions: -
a. How long do I travel in a day?
b. How much money am I worth?
c. what am I thinking?
The bishop of Canterbury replies that these are hard questions. It will take him three days to find some replies. If he fails to arrive at the rights answers, King John will then execute the bishop. On his travels, the bishop meets a shepherd (or his own brother), and explains his dilemma. The shepherd says, "Lend me your clothes, I will deliver the correct answers for you". The disguised shepherd then meets King John. His answers are:
a. You rise in the morning with the sun. It travels all round in the sky till the following morning, when it is back where it started. That's how far you travel.
b. Judas sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver. You are worth almost as much as Christ. You are worth 29 pieces of silver.
c. You are thinking I am the bishop of Canterbury. In fact I am a shepherd in disguise.

FFoB 21: 30 pieces of silver coins for Jesus is only mentioned in Matthew. It is likely a reference to Zechariah 11:12 or Exodus 21:32. In Exodus, it is the price of a slave. In Zechariah, it is a sarcastic dismissal of a "considerable amount of money".

    Wednesday, February 16, 2011

    Noonan on Young vs Old

    Link to the Original Article


    "And youth trumps age. Egypt is a young nation, median age 24, with high youth unemployment. All revolutions, in the end, are about the young versus the old, because the young are driven by hope and the old by experience. The men who massed in Tahrir Square the first week looked to be aged roughly 16 to 35. A few days into the revolution, I received an email from a friend just back from Cairo. He told me, he'd seen a young man run out of his suburban Cairo house. He was off to the demonstrations, to take part in history. Running after him was his grandmother, who literally grabbed him by the ear and tried to drag him back inside.

    The young want revolution and progress, the old are inclined toward stability and peace. The grandmother was probably thinking, "I want you safe." The young man might have been thinking, "I want my freedom." The old are certain that happiness cannot be found in politics, that life is deeper and more mysterious than that. The young believe that happiness cannot be found without freedom, that freedom cannot be won without a fight, and that the fight is political. The old of Egypt will likely think the young have no idea what they're unleashing. The young think the old have no idea what they accepted—the limits, the oppression. "Anything is better than that," the young say. "We'll see," reply the old."


    What I like about Noonan's expression is that it is wise and balanced. With the use of a story linking to a conversation, the discussion comes alive. Very clever way of presentation.

    Monday, February 14, 2011

    James Fallows on Obama's SOTU speech

    This is the link

    Notable quotes:
    RE: What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.

    Fallow says: "One of the actual “ideas” of the speech, returned to with the RFK quote near the end. The future is unknown, outcomes both good and bad are possible, nothing is set by fate, etc. (then, later in the speech) As Robert Kennedy told us, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.” "

    RE
    : an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.
    Fallow says "
    IMO, this is the way to sell these projects. Whether that will have any influence during the budget debates of the next two years...."

    RE: In fact, to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child -- become a teacher. Your country needs you.
    Fallow says "Nice idea"

    RE:
    The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it’s because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong

    Fallow says: "Quite a remarkable penultimate paragraph! By federal law -- no, OK, just by custom -- Presidents must work in the line “The State of the Union is [some variant on ‘strong’]” as an important part of the speech. But it’s often right up at the top of the speech, or as the end of the introduction -- as a transition to the policy chat.

    To have the whole speech serve as, in effect, the logical basis for concluding that the State of the Union is strong today -- that’s unusual, and supports the observation that there’s a stronger logical core to this speech than most."

    Monday, January 31, 2011

    Belated New Year Resolutions and Year End Reflection

    2011 just flew by and I barely noticed what happened before it's over.

    1. We did 3 sermon series. The first is Esther. It is bold because we opened a giant can of worms and tackled the LXX additions. We also took the importunity to address key issues about source criticism, biblical literalness and bible versions. In reflection, it was perhaps too bold. I'm not sure if it results in a few departures from Jubilee. On the other hand, perhaps there will never be a good time. There will always be some unwilling to be more open-minded.
    The second series is Malachi. I think this one went really well. We addressed many common misconceptions about tithing and divorce and came out relatively unscathed.
    The third sermon series is 2 Corinthians. I will do a detailed analysis of this series in a future post.

    2. Ministry. I changed zones mid-year. It is now a tough job of remembering names and rebuilding relationships. Very tough.
    Youth teachings-wise, I did a series on the 1 and 2 Samuel using the style in Justice with Michael Sandel. I think it was okay for a style that was very difficult to do. I also did 1 Corinthians. This one, I've done it many times. Score easily for this one.
    Band has improved enough. I will be moving to the Chinese service in 2011 to strengthen that side.
    Worship study group went very well. We have completed teamwork and hospitality. We will now move on to Art.

    3. Family and Personal life. I think family life went really well last year. The kids have grown a lot and I think they have a good understanding with me. We had a wonderful holiday in HK. Personally though, I've slacked. I think I was exhausted from all the "developing" over the years, and really needed a year to just slow down and laze around. I felt that I have not achieved any personal milestone, but then again I don't think I had the energy and drive last year to complete one.

    New Year resolutions 2010 review
    1 &2. Reading - bombed; music - bombed. I've devoted everything to resting and ministry needs.
    3. Monthly family day. Not too bad. But more because of my wife's efforts than mine.
    4. Sermon one week in advance. I would say that this is true for more than 50%. I'll count that as an absolute success.

    New Year Resolutions for 2011
    1. Restart reading habit for both office and home. Music practice? Well, I really wish to do this.
    2. Finish the Yale lectures I'm interested in.
    3. Family wise, I will spend sometime everyday for reading and games. I think half hour a day.

    Tuesday, January 18, 2011

    Peggy Noonan on Obama's recent speech

    Link to "Obama Rises to the Challenge"

    These are the important points I think I should take note:

    1. "The speech had a proper height. It was large-spirited and dealt with big things. It was adroit and without rancor. The president didn't mourn, he inspirited. It began to turn when Mr. Obama started to make things concrete. Vaporous talk of victims turned into specific facts about real human beings"

    2. "Throughout Mr. Obama's career, he has critiqued America and its leadership from an outsider's stance, from that of an intellectual relatively new to public life. His sound was all faculty lounge. In this speech he celebrated America, and in celebrating it, he aligned himself more closely with the values the American people most justly celebrate in themselves—instinctive courage, idealism, willingness to take the initiative"

    3. "Here, deftly, he addressed the destructive media debate that followed the tragedy. But he approached the subject with compassion and sympathy.... In saying this, the president took the air out of all the accusations and counteraccusations. By the end of the speech they were yesterday's story."

    Thursday, January 13, 2011

    FFoB20: True Appreciation of Psalm 23

    It is easy to romanticize Psalm 23 with our own imagination. We are familiar with the green meadows and the soft streams of the western documentaries. But the actual context of Psalm 23 is the Israelite wilderness. And if we have a better understanding of the terrain in which the Israelite shepherd operates, Psalm 23 will have a whole new meaning for you.

    This series of background explanations will be a real eye-opener for you: Enjoy.