What I learned was this: Revivals can be longer, lasting several years, or shorter, enduring only a few weeks; they can be more widespread, affecting a whole town or region or country, or more narrow in scope, such as just one congregation. But they are seasons in which the ordinary operations of the Holy Spirit are intensified many-fold. “Sleepy” and immature believers become electrified through joyful repentance and put Christ in the center of their lives. Nominal Christians within congregations get converted and testify to the fact, which leads to more sleepy believers waking up. In turn, non-believers are drawn in to the beautified Christian community and begin embracing Christ in numbers that defy normal explanations. The “church growth” can’t be accounted for by demographic-sociological shifts or efficient outreach programs in such cases. Most telling of all, the corporate worship gatherings are thick with a sense of the presence of God that is not orchestrated by the presiders.

The original article is here.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. — C.S. Lewis

What Love Really Means
Artist: JJ Heller
Album: When I’m With You

He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please…
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means, what love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She’s the woman whose husband has run away
She’ll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner then he would’ve stayed
And she says…

Who’ll love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means, what love really means

He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said, “I know you’ve murdered
And I know you’ve lied
And I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I…”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love, the love that you never knew

我喜歡問為什麼。甚至到了一種極端的地步，在做一件事之前，我喜歡先想清楚，做這件事的目的到底是為什麼。

我碰過有人問我，這樣不是很累嗎。我不知道。至少我一點也不覺得累。

我喜歡做有意義的事情，做有影響力的事情。做沒有意義的事情，即便完成了，那種空虛感，我覺得才是所謂的累。

*****

思考的能力，我覺得很重要的一環是來自於閱讀。

用一句 Tim Keller 說過的話，「當你讀了一本又一本來自於同一個作者的書之後，你不知不覺更加了解這個作者是怎麼思考的。更甚，當面對一件新的事情的時候，因為你了解這個作者是怎麼思考的，你甚至可以猜到他對這件事情會有甚麼樣的想法。」

這話真是說得太好了。

*****

回首過去幾年，我覺得我思考的角度，尤其是信仰的層面，(某方面來講分這層面很沒有意義，因為我的一切生活離不開我的信仰)，深受我的閱讀所影響。

仔細想想，四個人，深深影響我看事情、想事情、做事情。

1. Philip Yancey 楊腓力

最讓我佩服的是楊腓力的真誠、不做作，以及他不放棄追逐找尋真理的精神。印象最深刻的，就是他在「無語問上帝(Disappointment with God)」一書中，問出了大多數人不敢大聲問的問題：神公平嗎？神為什麼保持沉默？神隱藏了嗎？

看見聽見身邊朋友真實經歷神的故事固然令人振奮，但是不也有很多時候，我們的禱告沒被回應。甚至，事情可能越變越糟？

楊腓力不只大膽的問了這些困難的問題，更用打破砂鍋問到底的精神，試圖從聖經裡找到可能的答案。

我從楊腓力身上學到如何真實面對自己心裡的疑問，而不是輕描淡寫的帶過，或是用隨便一個答案來試圖「粉飾太平」。更確切的說，我相信，困難的問題，背後會有個令人滿意的答案。也就是說，沒有答案的死胡同才需要粉飾。困難的問題，只是需要多一點求真的精神和堅持罷了。

2. Timothy (Tim) Keller

一次偶然的機會，聽到一篇Tim Keller的講章，一篇關於教會裡面同心、合一的講章。

我骨子裡向來不喜歡「因為聖經這麼說，所以我們要這麼做」的論調。我想知道為什麼。我想知道，你站在台上說聖經叫我們做這些做那些，你自己知道為什麼、想過為什麼嗎？

Tim Keller的講章，明明白白的解釋了信徒之間可以彼此寬恕、包容和自己不同的人，其原因和動機和福音的本身–耶穌為我們的罪死在十字架上–是息息相關的。也就是說，他很清楚的讓我看見，若不是深刻的明白福音的本質和內涵，人是沒有辦法包容接納和自己不同的人。

從Tim Keller的書和講章裡，我學到福音本身的重要性。福音不只是基督教的基礎入門須知，更是一切教導和道理的唯一原動力。此外，Tim Keller總是能找到最適合的例子，來解釋他要說明的道理，嚴肅卻充滿幽默感。從他身上，我完全體會追逐真理並不是枯燥乏味的事。

3. John Piper

我其實不太記得是我是如何開始接觸到John Piper的書或講章，有可能是他教會的網站上有很多很多文章可以讀，甚至很多他的書都有PDF電子書供人免費下載。

聽過不少人稱讚他的書–Desiring God (中文翻譯書名為：十點十分的盛宴–基督徒快樂主義的默想，中國主日學出版)。中文書名的後半段讀起來很怪，因為是英文直接翻過來的。

於是，我到了他的網站上，發現這本書也有電子書可以免費下載(http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/online-books/desiring-god)。沒想到一讀，就愛上這本書了。

我才讀了一點點，就發現這本書回答了我好多心中的問題。(這書內容非常豐富，我還沒有完全讀完。我的目標是讀完之後可以寫個讀後感。)

John Piper最讓我印象深刻的是，他對聖經真理的passion。聽他的講章，你可以清楚的感受到他對聖經的重視。我相信也是因為如此，對於不符合聖經真理的事情，他有過人的勇氣，說該說的話。(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O68MByaMVdM 這個影片是一個很好的例子。)

我在John Piper身上學到，要點出某件事情是不符合聖經真理的，首先自己要重視聖經、熟讀並研讀聖經。也唯有如此，我們才能學會如何用真正謙卑的態度，說符合真理的話。

4. Albert Mohler

我是過去這一年才接觸到Albert Mohler的。

Albert Mohler有非常清楚的邏輯，對聖經真理有深厚的底子，但是同時他卻又洞悉社會時事，跟一般的「神學家」很不一樣。

從他的文章裡，你可以看出他博覽群籍。他的文章跟學術界的論文一樣都有reference；也就是說，他如果引用的某人的文章或論點加以討論，他都會附上連結。

但是他不只是一個普通的基督徒社論作家。從他的文章裡，我學習到他如何用基督徒的價值觀和世界觀來看我們周遭所發生各領域的大小事。慢慢地，我學習用同樣的角度來看事情，這讓我更了解到如何把基督信仰的價值觀應用在我的生活之中。

我還沒讀過他寫的書。我相信將來我會的。

When I settle down at a new place, everything is unfamiliar.
But one thing I know: I can find familiar people in a church.

I know, in a church, I can find people sharing the same life purpose.
It’s like we’re on the same team, because we living and fighting for the same goal.
We may know each other for just a short period of time, but we’re able to talk and share thoughts like we’ve known each other for years.

We may speak different languages.
We may eat different foods.
We may talk different flavors of jokes.
But the way we loves each other tells us we belong to the same family.

It is always tough to say goodbye to family members, even though you know you’ll see them again.
But when you get off the plane, you know, on the other side, you got some family members waiting for you too.

“Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them.”

Bye Scotty & Monica. I’ll see you next year!

Mr. J takes a right turn, into the parking lot of this little old plaza.

Mr. J has always referred to it as “The Arby’s Plaza” since he knows nothing but Arby’s in it. All the other stores and restaurants have somewhat old and shady looks. Mr. J has never thought of going into any of them until some time ago his friend introduced him to a Mexican grocery store there.

Mr. J is heading towards the Mexican store for a lunch. A quick take-out lunch.

On his way into the parking lot, Mr. J notices this guy, with his bag of belongings on the ground, standing near the entrance of the parking lot. He wears an old gray jacket, which looks a little bit big on him.

The article Mr. J had read the day before rushed through his mind. In that article, a journalist gave out pre-paid Visa and Master cards to help some homeless people. The article recorded their conversations. Mr. J was touched by that article. He remembers, when he was reading the article he thought to himself. “I want to do something like that. Some day, some how.”

When Mr. J steps out of his car and walks towards the Mexican store, this guy with the gray jacket comes along.

“Sir, can I shine your window for one dollar?” Mr. J can now see this guy has a bottle of window cleaner in his hand.

There is a split second Mr. J wants to say “No, thank you.” After all, it is your typical sunny day in the summer. In fact, it is drizzling. Who would want his windows shine when it is raining?

“Sure.”

Mr. J reached for his pocket.

There is another split second Mr. J feels a bit uncomfortable. Actually, quite uncomfortable. Will this guy rob his wallet? Will this guy attack him?

“Here you are. I’ll give you two dollars.” Mr. J hopes, everything will be fine.

“Thank you. Is that car your car?”

“Yes, it is. Thank you.”

Now Mr. J feels relieved. Besides, he feels super good about himself. After all, he gave two dollars instead of one!

However, somehow, Mr. J senses that this is not over yet.

Mr. J orders two burritos, asking that they be placed in separate bags.

“This should be good enough. He should be very happy to get a free lunch from me.” Mr. J thought to himself.

When Mr. J walks out of the Mexican store, he goes straight towards the guy.

“I hope you like burritos.”

“Oh thank you. I love burritos.”

Mr. J thinks his generosity mission is now over, but the guy asks something.

“What is your nationality?”

Mr. J totally doesn’t expect that.

“Oh… I am from Taiwan.”

Mr. J told him he was a student and working in a nearby software company.

“Are you going to be software engineer? Maybe Bill Gate will hire you!” The guy joked.

It felt a little bit weird, a little bit uncomfortable. Again, something rushed through Mr. J’s mind — “Ask his name.”

“What’s your name?”

“David.”

“Nice meeting you, David.”

When David answers, Mr. J sees something different in David’s eyes. For the first time, Mr. J sees the beauty of humanity through David’s eyes. This guy, jobless, living on shining people’s car windows, is no longer in the “nameless stranger” category. He has a name. His name is David.

Mr. J smiles. He shakes David’s hand and says goodbye.

Mr. J leaves, with his windows shined in a rainy day. He knows that he learned something precious.

CDs/MP3s:
Passion Awakening (Passion)
A Beautiful Exchange (Hillsong Live)
Let Me See Your Eyes (Cory Asbury)
Holy (Matt Gilman & Cory Asbury)
One (Planetshakers)
A Cappella Vocal Jazz (Vox P)
The 99 Most Essential Brahms Masterpieces
Hiding Place (Selah)
You Deliver Me (Selah)
Overwhelmed (Jake Schwein)

Read/Listen through the lyrics, you’ll know why.

You live among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy
For me to turn away
All my needs You have supplied
When I was dead, you gave me life
How could I not give it away so freely?
And I’ll

(Chorus)
Follow you into the homes of the broken
Follow you into the world
I’ll meet the needs for the poor
And needy, God
I’ll follow you into the world

Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
To the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
‘Cause faith without work is dead
And on the cross, your blood was shed
So how could we not give it away so freely?
And I’ll

(Chorus)
Follow you into the homes of the broken
Follow you into the world
I’ll meet the needs for the poor
And needy, God
I’ll follow you into the world

I give all myself
I give all myself
I give all myself to you
And I give all myself
Yes I give all myself
And I give all myself to you

(Chorus)
I’ll follow you into the homes of the broken
Follow you into the world
I’ll meet the needs for the poor
And needy, God
I’ll follow you into the world

A poor fly got caught into the web of a spider outside the glass window. I watched the spider spin its web around the victim. In less than a few minutes, the fly was dragged aside. The show did not last long.

After the brutal Discovery episode shown at the corner of my window is over, the beautiful symmetrical spider web remains intact.

Suddenly, I wondered, “What made the spiders capable of making their artistic webs?”

You may say, “Nobody taught them. Their DNA enables them to do so.”

This raises another question inside me, “If that’s the case, why are there no ‘creative’ spiders?” I have never seen a spider saying ‘I’m feeling lucky today’ and decide to make a web of some cool shapes.

Then I’ve learned to appreciate the built-in element of creativity inside me.

Our capability of doing things out of impulse or deliberation excites me.

Today I may fry my eggs this way. Tomorrow, I can try it again in another way. The capability of not being restricted to a “programmed” life excites me.

*

As human beings, we have so many things to worry about.

We worry about how people will look at us.

We worry about our jobs and income.

We worry about what to eat, what to drink, and how to entertain ourselves.

*

I guess, if we are born with the DNA of spiders, we won’t have much to worry about. Hack, we might not even know what it feels like to be worried.

We spin our webs, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That’s it. Our spidery DNA will shut down any complaints inside us and –very likely– the ability to enjoy our lives too.

*

Will you trade your DNA for one that guarantees a worry-free life?

I won’t.

*

As human beings, we are wonderfully made, to perfection.

1912年造的Fenway Park，是大聯盟最老的球場

電視轉播上常看到的小販，終於親眼看見了！

滿街都是紅襪迷，感動到眼淚都快掉下來了

偉哉紅襪國

Green Monster!!!

Green Monster就在眼前啊！

Green Monster座位的視野

Monster Seats!

Mike Lowell

Jeremy Hermida

NESN記者Heidi Watney

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