提后2:15 你当竭力在神面前得蒙喜悦，做无愧的工人，按着正意分解真理的道。Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. —— 2Tim 2:15
30 Aug 2020 Leave a comment
in A. 中国成语 Chinese Idioms, （5）郑人买履
郑 人 买 履
一、原文 Original Text
郑人 有 欲 买 履者，先 自度 其足，而置之 其坐，至之 市，而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾 忘 持 度。”反归 取之。及反，市罢，遂 不得 履。人曰：“何不 试之 以足？ ”曰：“宁信 度，无 自信也。”
——（战国）韩非子《韩非子·外储说左上》
二、现代汉语翻译 Modern Chinese Translation
郑人买履：郑国有个人想买鞋。他先量了一下自己的脚，然后把尺寸放到自己的座位上。他到了集市，却忘记带量好的尺寸。他已经拿到了鞋子，却说：“我忘记带量好的尺寸了。”于是，他返回家去取。等他再返回集市的时候，集市已经结束了，因此不能买鞋了。有人问他说：“你为什么不用你的脚试一下鞋呢？”他说：“我宁可相信量好的尺寸，也不相信自己的脚。”
28 Aug 2020 Leave a comment
in 2. 庇利雅圣经研读 Berea Bible Study
How many times did Jesus cleanse the temple?
耶稣几次洁净圣殿？一般基督徒都以为是一次，串珠圣经上也总是把耶稣洁净圣殿的经文都放在一起。但其实耶稣洁净圣殿是两次。
耶稣第一次洁净圣殿只记录在约翰福音2:12-22，这次行动发生在他事工的开始阶段，即耶稣开始服事之后的第一个逾越节之前，也在施洗约翰坐监之前。约3:22-24“这事以后，耶稣和门徒到了犹太地，在那里居住，施洗。约翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因为那里水多，众人都去受洗。那时约翰还没有下在监里。”“这事以后”指耶稣在耶路撒冷洁净圣殿，及与尼哥底母谈重生，过完事工开始后的第一个逾越节之后。“那时约翰还没有下在监里”。
耶稣第二次洁净圣殿记录在可11:15-17，太21:12-13，及路19:45-46。很明显，耶稣再次洁净圣殿的行为发生在耶稣事工的最后一周，即受难周，也在逾越节之前。但这个逾越节是耶稣开始事工之后的第三个和最后一个逾越节，当然也是在施洗约翰下监、被砍头之后很久了（可1:14）。
张宇红Marie
2018.3.29
28 Aug 2020 Leave a comment
in 2. 庇利雅圣经研读 Berea Bible Study
CIU神学院Victor Cuartas教授说：神是有使命的神，神创造、救赎，并要在全地建立祂的国度。神被遗忘的使命就是宣教。宣教是神的救赎工程，也是神给教会的工作，神呼召我们宣教和传福音。在英文中，“使命”和“宣教”是同一个字。
正如Victor Cuartas教授所言：“创造”和“救赎”是神的两个使命。祂从创世纪一开始就创造了天地万物，并按照自己的形象造人（创1:26），神是慈爱的父，祂爱祂的创造物，为了与人类共享祂完美永恒的国度，但因为人类始祖亚当、夏娃被撒旦诱惑悖逆神，堕落犯罪，使人类与神隔绝。所以，神从一开始就设计了救赎人类的计划，因为“神爱世人，神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的不致灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。 ”（约3:16-17） 祂“不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。”（彼后3:9）
神的“创造”在创世纪第一章的六天里已经完成，但其“救赎”，则从创世纪刚刚开始，到主耶稣的降世、受难、复活，并将一直延续到启示录主耶稣再来，新天新地降临，才能完成。
为了救赎人类，上帝道成肉身，作了人类罪的挽回祭，使一切信祂的人都可以因信称义，重生得救，成为神的儿女，这就是福音。主耶稣在世期间，他和门徒们最重要的工作和使命就是传天国的福音。主耶稣离世的时候，托付给他门徒们的最后命令就是大使命：“十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。他们见了耶稣就拜他，然而还有人疑惑。耶稣进前来，对他们说：‘天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。’”（太28:16-20）
所以，神的宣教指神的救赎工程：
1. 其内容指耶稣基督救赎人类的福音（约3:16-17）；
2. 其工作是传福音、培训门徒，扩展神的国度（太28:19-20）；
3. 其对象是天下的万国万民，是所有人（太28:19）。
我在香港和中国的教会就是以此为教会的主要呼召和使命工作，但在美国，神的这个使命确实被很多教会和基督徒遗忘了。
张宇红Marie
2020.8.28
16 Aug 2020 Leave a comment
in A. 中国成语 Chinese Idioms, （3）狐假虎威
狐 假 虎 威
一、原文 Original Text
虎 求 百兽 而 食之，得 狐。 狐曰：“子 无敢 食我也！天帝 使我 长 百兽，今子 食 我，是 逆 天帝 命也。子 以我 为 不信，吾 为子 先行，子 随我 后，观 百兽 之 见我 而敢 不走乎？”
虎 以为 然，故 遂 与之 行。兽 见之 皆走。虎 不知 兽 畏己 而走也，以为 畏狐也。
——《战国策·楚策一》
二、现代汉语翻译 Modern Chinese Translation
老虎相信了狐狸的话，就跟在狐狸的后面，走进山林。百兽看见他们，果然都纷纷逃命。老虎以为百兽真的都很怕狐狸，却不知道它们是害怕自己。于是，老虎就把狐狸放了。
三、英语翻译 English Translation
Once upon a time, there was a tiger looking for a wild animal to eat in the forest. The tiger caught a fox. The fox said hastily, “You dare not eat me. I was sent by God of Heaven to rule over the animals. If you eat me, you will violate the command of God of Heaven. If you don’t believe me, just follow me through the forest to see whether the animals are afraid of me.”
The tiger agreed, and followed the fox around the forest. The animals all fled for their lives when they saw them. The tiger thought all the animals were afraid of the fox. He didn’t realize that the animals were really afraid of him. So he let the fox go.
16 Aug 2020 Leave a comment
in A. 中国成语 Chinese Idioms, （2）揠苗助长
揠 苗 助 长
一、原文 Original Text
宋人 有 悯其苗 之 不长而 揠之 者，芒芒然 归，谓 其人 曰：“今日 病矣！余 助苗 长矣！” 其子 趋而 往 视 之，苗 则 槁矣。
天下之 不助苗 长者 寡矣。以为 无益 而舍之者，不耘苗 者也；助之长者，揠苗 者也。非徒 无益，而又 害之。
——孟子《孟子·公孙丑上》
二、现代汉语翻译 Modern Chinese Translation
揠苗助长：宋国有一个农夫，他非常担心自己田里的禾苗不长。有一天，他走到自己的田里，把禾苗一颗一颗地往上拔。之后，他非常累地回到家里，对家人说：“今天可把我累坏了！我帮助禾苗长高了！”他儿子急忙跑到田里去看，结果禾苗都枯萎了！
天下不想帮助禾苗生长的人很少。认为帮助禾苗生长没有益处而放弃不管的人，就像那些不锄草的人一样；而拔苗助长的人，不但没有好处，反而害了禾苗。
三、英语翻译 English Translation：
There was a farmer in the State of Song. He was very worried that the seedlings in his field would not grow out. So one day, he ran into his field and pulled up on the seedlings one by one. After that, he returned home very tired. He said to his family，”Today I am exhausted! I helped the seedlings grow taller!” His son hurried to the field to see them. All the seedlings had withered!
17 Jun 2020 Leave a comment
in Testimonies of Chinese Christians
Since I entrusted my life to the Lord Jesus in 1990, I have heard many wonderful testimonies from Christians and they always encourage me to love God more. However, there is a person who not only has many wonderful testimony stories, his own life itself is the greatest testimony of this era. He is originally the one who need the most help from others, the one who had the most reason to complain, but he always encourages and inspires others. He is Nick from Australia.
07 Jun 2020 Leave a comment
美国纽约州水牛城18岁非裔高中生葛温（Antonio Gwynn），看到上街示威的民众留下满地垃圾和碎玻璃，于本月1日凌晨2点拿着扫把并买来垃圾袋，独自一人打扫10小时，让街道恢复原貌。
葛温的暖举传开之后，27岁男子布拉克送给葛温2004年出厂的红色福特野马敞篷跑车。这辆车的颜色和型号跟葛温已故母亲的第一辆车完全相同。水牛城商人布莱斯兰也透过自己的保险代理机构，为葛温提供1年的免费汽车保险。 此外，葛温原本打算高中毕业后先存钱再继续升学，不过现在水牛城的麦戴尔大学给了他全额奖学金，让葛温可以在今年秋季入校修读商学，完成自己未来开清洁公司的梦想。得知消息后，葛温哭泣落泪。
25 Feb 2020 Leave a comment
in 2. 庇利雅圣经研读 Berea Bible Study
我们信主之后有漫长的成长过程，但往往在很积极、热情地服事主多年后，反而感到灵命长期停滞不前，因为我们将福音简单化，在属灵的知识上没有深入扎根、全面拓展，不明白前面成圣的道路要继续怎样走，也就是不明白什么样的基督徒才是长大成熟的基督徒。
来5:11-14让我们看到婴儿基督徒的问题，也让我们看到前面应该走的道路，即长大成熟的基督徒的道路。
1. 什么样的基督徒是婴儿基督徒？
（1）在神之道方面停留在初级阶段（来5:12）；
（2）不能吃干粮（来5:12）；
（3）不熟练公义的道（来5:13）；
（4）不会分辨善恶（来5:14）。
2. 什么是长大成熟的基督徒？
多2:1-2“但你所讲的，总要合乎那纯正的道理。劝老年人要有节制，端庄、自守，在信心、爱心、忍耐上都要纯全无疵。”
（1）讲得要合乎纯正的道（多2:1），能够按照正意解释神的道（提后2:15）；
（2）节制、端庄、自守（多2:2）；
（3）在信心、爱心、忍耐上纯全无疵（多2:2）；
（4）熟练公义的道，能很好地分辨善恶和是非（来5:14）。
10 Feb 2020 Leave a comment
in 2. 庇利雅圣经研读 Berea Bible Study
申6:4-9 “以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们神是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，也要殷勤教训你的儿女。无论你坐在家里、行在路上，躺下、起来，都要谈论。也要系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文。又要写在你房屋的门框上，并你的城门上。”
自从我们信主之后，大多数基督徒都知道什么是神的最大使命和最大诫命。我们回美国之后，我去了弥赛亚会堂，每周安息日聚会的时候，我们都会背诵申命记6:4-9。但是，怎样活出最大的诫命来呢？最大诫命的意思到底是什么呢？
首先我们要常常阅读圣经，并在具体生活中常常提醒自己，要牢记上帝的诫命。“无论你坐在家里、行在路上、躺下、起来，都要谈论。也要系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文。又要写在你房屋的门框上，并你的城门上。”弥赛亚教会也用很多方式提醒会众要牢记上帝的话：会堂前面有一个小柜子，打开两扇小门就是摩西五经，代表上帝的话语；或者是上帝的名字，也有会众穿戴有穗子的外衣（民数记15:38-39；申命记22:12）等等。
然而怎样爱主呢？圣经教导我们要“尽心、尽性、尽力”。我自己一直不太理解“尽性”的意思是什么，直到有一天我的牧师大卫讲道说：Love God with your mind! 我忽然明白了：爱主要用我们的头脑、智慧、智力，不能盲目地爱、错误地爱。这就需要我们常常被圣灵引导，并深入研读圣经，更多、更深地理解上帝的话语，然后才可能行出上帝的旨意来。
耶稣用了很多时间跟以色列的文士们辩论，就是为了让他们真正理解、领悟上帝的话语，因为这些律法的教师们对神的话语有很多错误的理解。我们中国人常常说：“人生得一知己足矣。”可见“理解”的重要性。所以，“爱神”首先要“理解神”，理解神的最佳途径就是依靠圣灵，广泛、深入地研读祂的话语，不能浅尝即止，或不求甚解、马马虎虎、敷衍了事。
张宇红Marie 2020.2.10
07 Feb 2020 Leave a comment
in 2. 庇利雅圣经研读 Berea Bible Study
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
当用各样的智慧，把基督的道丰丰富富的存在心里，用诗篇、赞美诗、灵歌，彼此教导，互相劝戒，以感恩的心歌颂神。你们无论做什么，或说话或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着他感谢父神。（和合本修订版）
16 Jan 2020 Leave a comment
in A. 中国成语 Chinese Idioms, （1）守株待兔
守 株 待 兔
一、原文 Original Text
宋人 有 耕者，田中 有 株。兔 走 触 株，折 颈 而 死，因 释 其 耒 而 守株，冀 复得 兔，兔 不可 复得，而身为 宋国 笑。
——（战国）韩非《韩非子·五蠹》
二、现代汉语翻译 Modern Chinese Translation
守株待兔：宋国有一个农夫，他的田里有一个树桩。 有一天，一只兔子飞快地跑过来，撞到树桩上，扭断脖子死了。这个农夫白白地得到一只兔子，非常高兴。于是，这个农夫放下他的犁耙，天天坐在树桩旁边等候，希望能再得到兔子。兔子没有再来，而他自己却成为宋国人的笑柄。
三、英语翻译 English Translation
Once there was a farmer in the State of Song. His field had a tree stump. One day a rabbit ran over quickly and hit the stump. The rabbit twisted its neck and died. The farmer was very happy to get a rabbit for free.
So the farmer put down his hoe, and sat next to the stump all day long. He hoped to get more rabbits for free. However, the rabbits never came, and he became a laughing stock of the Song people.
12 Jan 2020 Leave a comment
in Testimonies of Chinese Christians
The Cultural Revolution, which started in 1966, was one of the darkest periods in China’s history. Many families were torn apart, and many people died. Yet even in the midst of such a dark period, many enjoyed heavenly peace and joy through the grace and mercy of God. Two church elders and a young man Brother Xu from the Mountain Village told me the following true story in my home, in January of 2007.
The village was located on a high, steep mountain, with a small brook flowing through it. It had a population of only about five hundred people. It was poor, backward, and spiritless. You could always find some people from the village standing at the top of the mountain looking into the distance hoping for someone to come, but rarely did anyone even pass by.
Before what is known as “Liberation”，when the communists came to power in 1949, there was a pastor in the county in which the village was located known as Pastor Yang. One day as he was praying, the Holy Sprit strongly worked in his heart， “Go to the Mountain Village and preach the gospel!” Pastor Yang didn’t know anyone in the village, but he immediately took some rice and a torch and quickly went up to the Mountain Village. He spent a few days trying to talk to the people of the village, but no one was interested in what he had to say, nor did anyone open their home to him. He finally returned home, quite discouraged. After many months had passed, during his prayer time, the Holy Sprit touched his heart again: “Go to the Mountain Village and preach the Gospel!” Again, he rose quickly and went up to the village. This time, there was a man named Liu who received him into his home. Liu accepted Jesus that night and encouraged his whole family, including his daughter, to believe.
Later, the daughter married a man from the Qiu family in the village. She brought the gospel to the Qiu family. A young man from the Qiu family became the first preacher in the village. He constantly preached the gospel to the people until the gospel had spread throughout the village. More than half the village became Christians before the Liberation.
Then the Cultural Revolution started. The leaders from the country encouraged the people of the village to criticize each other and expose each other’s crimes. The young people in the village formed two groups of the Red Guards. The two groups often fought each other over trivial matters. People were constantly getting hurt. The people of the village grew to hate each other more and more and finally broke off all relationship with each other. Another young man from the Qiu family was one of the Red Guards.
Qiu’s parents were preachers in the village. Although he was born into a Christian family, and had prayed to receive Jesus, he didn’t really believe in God. He was a Red Guard, often gambled, got drunk and got into fights. He was also a heavy smoker. Because his parents were preachers and most of the village people often went to Christian meetings to worship God, he sometimes attended their meetings, although unwillingly. He felt that Christians were odd, and he often laughed at them behind their backs.
One day, the village elders invited a preacher to come to the village. Most of the village went to the meeting. Qiu’s parents asked him to attend, but he made an excuse saying he had to take his children to his mother-in-law’s home. That afternoon, on the way back home, he heard voices singing worship songs. He looked around but didn’t see anyone. He thought that it must have been his imagination; however, as he walked on, he continued to hear the singing. From above, from behind, on his left, and on his right, everywhere was singing. He kept looking around but still could not see anyone. He felt it was miraculous, so he decided to go to the meeting that night.
When he arrived at the meeting, he chose a seat at the back and sat down. The preacher was preaching from Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Suddenly, he heard the Word and understood it. He had attended meetings many times before but had never really listened. He had always scoffed at Christians in his heart. But this time he realized he was truly a sinner and worse than most of the people there.
After the message, everyone kneeled to pray. He also knelt, and immediately felt wrapped in warmth. His heart became soft and open and he began to weep. His tears flowed uncontrollably until finally he began wailing loudly. He knew he was a dreadful sinner and had hurt many people in the village. He was horrified by his sins.
A brother put his hand on Qiu’s shoulder and said, “You have been gripped by the Holy Sprit. Confess your sins to God and He will forgive you! Whatever you have done wrong, no matter how bad, confess them to the Lord, and He will forgive you!” He remembered many bad things he had done, and he cried out for God’s forgiveness. Then he remembered his cousin, whom he hated more than anyone else, because he had turned against him by taking his enemy’s side during the Cultural Revolution.
Qiu called the brother and asked: “Can you please tell my cousin to come here?” His cousin came. Qiu told him, “We were such good friends when we were kids. But I have hurt you a lot these past years. Will you please forgive me?” His cousin was deeply moved by his words, and said, “I forgive you! I forgive you!”
Then his cousin realized that he had also hurt others. He asked some people to call the ones he had hurt. When they came, he confessed his sins to them and they forgave him also. Finally, the head of the village and the head of the Red Guards also repented and confessed their sins. Almost everyone in the village came to the meeting that night. Many people fell to the floor and lied there for hours praying and weeping before God. The meeting that night became a time of confession and repentance. On that day, the people of the village began living in harmony and peace with each other. During one of the darkest periods in Chinese history, the people of the Mountain Village enjoyed their happiest time on earth. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
On that day, the people of the Mountain Village began gathering together daily for prayer and worship. Because signs and wonders happened constantly, more and more Christians came from other places to attend their meetings. One day, a sick man was carried to the village. At times he was normal but other times he had severe seizures and felt as if there were many insects climbing on his chest. He had gone to many doctors and spent all his money, but no one could help him. Every time a doctor examined him, they couldn’t find anything wrong with him, or didn’t understand what his problem was. Then he was carried to the Mountain Village. A few brothers fasted and prayed for him day and night, but there was no change. The more the brothers prayed for him the more severe his seizures became. Finally, God revealed to a brother that the sick man’s sins had not been dealt with; he could not be healed. So the brother told him to go home and repent for his sins and to lead his whole family to the Lord. On his way home, suddenly, the sick man was cured and his mind became clear again.
During that time, there were often angels singing in the sky over the village. People often heard the singing, yet couldn’t see the singers. Many people went out every day to listen to the angels’ singing. Children danced to the music. Many middle aged and elderly men and women sang the spiritual songs and danced also. “The glory of the Lord shone round about them” (Luke 2:9).
The leaders of the county heard about what was happening. They sent people to interfere. But every time when they were on their way to the Mountain Village, they suffered terrible stomachaches. They couldn’t even stand. They ended up going back home. This happened several times, until they finally gave up.
The Mountain Village has since disappeared, because half of the people went abroad to preach the gospel, and the rest moved down from the village because the government started to construct reservoirs nearby. The people of the village are now spread throughout the world. Qiu’s children went to Europe and became preachers. Decades have passed, and most people in the hilltop villages are still preaching the gospel around the world. They maintained that warm first love for God and for man. This God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of their fathers and the God of their own.
张宇红Marie
2013/9/9
12 Jan 2020 Leave a comment
文化大革命是中华民族历史上最黑暗的时代之一，多少人家破人亡，多少人含冤而死。然而，因着神的怜悯和保守，也有一些偏远地方的人，却享受着属天的平安和喜乐。下面的故事就是发生在那个时代的一个真实的故事，是那个村庄的几个长老亲自告诉我的。
那是一个建造在偏远山顶上的村庄，山特高、特陡，村子里有一条溪水流过。村子口每天都有人站岗，若看见有人来了，就报信给村子里的人。整个村庄的人口只有五百多人。这个村庄一如其他的中国农村村庄一样，贫穷、落后、死气沉沉，很少有陌生人来，直到一个姓杨的牧师来到这里。那还是解放前，杨牧师在县城里作牧师，他在一次祷告中被圣灵感动，催促他去这个与世隔绝的山顶村庄。他不认识那里任何人，但他还是穿着草鞋，带着米和蜡烛就去了。第一次去的时候没有人接待他，他在街上待了几天就返回县城。不久之后圣灵再次感动他，他再次来到这个山顶村庄。这次有一位姓柳的男人接待了他，把他请到自己家人，并且接受了耶稣。柳家的人因着柳弟兄就都信了主，柳家的姑娘也信了主。之后柳家的姑娘嫁到了邱家，把福音也带到了邱家，邱家出了村子里的第一个传道人，这个传道人就把福音在村子里传开了，所以在解放前的时候，这个村子里的大部分人就都信了上帝。
文革来临，祸及这个山顶村庄。村子里的人也分成对立的两派，常常因为很小的事情就大打出手、群殴。有不少人因此受伤，彼此结怨、仇恨，不相往来。邱弟兄就是那些红卫兵中的一员。
邱的父母是村子里的传道人，他因家庭遗传而作了基督徒，其实不信，只是一个挂名的基督徒。实际生活中他非常腐败：赌博、酗酒、武斗，还是烟鬼。因为村子里的人大都是基督徒，常常聚会，他有时候也被迫去聚会一下，但他感觉那些基督徒很可笑，所以常常嘲笑基督徒。
有一天，村子里请了一个传道人讲道，大家都去听。他借口去岳母家送孩子躲开了。从岳母家回来的时候是下午，一路上走在乡村的羊肠小道上，他老是听见唱歌的声音，上面、后面、左边、右边，都有唱赞美诗的声音。转过身前后看看，却又不见人。往前走走，还是只听见唱赞美诗的声音，回头再看看，还是不见人。他感觉很神奇，所以那天晚上他就又去教会聚会了。
他坐在最后一排。讲员当时讲得是罗马书3:23-24 “因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。如今却蒙神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白地称义。” 他生平第一次认真留心地听道，感觉自己原来只会嘲笑别人，自己实在也是个罪人。
讲道结束之后大家都跪下来祷告，他也跪了下来。这一跪下就很长时间起不来了。圣灵光照他，温暖他，使他敞开心门，接受神的恩典。他的眼泪止不住地流，大哭起来，控制不住地哭。在神的圣洁当中，他深感自己是一个罪人，需要赦免。因为不知道怎样得着赦免，而惧怕起来。这时候有一个弟兄走过来，到他面前，对他说：“你被圣灵抓住了，赶快跪下来认罪悔改。你做过什么不好的事情，对不起谁，只要你向神承认你的罪，神必赦免你！”这时他开始明白问题所在，就开始一样一样地向神认罪悔改。后来他想起自己最不喜欢的一个堂哥，跟自己是文革斗争的对立派。就对那位弟兄说：“请你把我堂哥叫来。”他堂哥来了以后，他就向他堂哥认罪、道歉。堂哥很感动，泪流满面，也悔改认罪了。堂哥又把他伤害过的人叫来，认罪、道歉。后来有很多人都把其他人叫来，彼此认罪、悔改、饶恕。村长也悔改、认罪，民兵队长也悔改、认罪了。结果村子里大多数人都来到了教会，有很多人躺在地上或跪下几个小时，不断地流泪祷告，悔改、认罪。那天的聚会成为一个认罪悔改的大会，从此之后全村的文革斗争就结束了，人们开始和睦相处。那正是文革斗争最激烈的时候，但造物主的平安却因着村里人归向耶稣，悔改、认罪，而降临到这个山顶村庄！“在至高之处荣耀归于神，在地上平安归于他所喜悦的人。”（路加福音2:14）
从那天开始，村子里的人天天一起聚会，一起祷告。因为神迹奇事不断发生，外地的基督徒也开始陆陆续续来到这里参加聚会。有一个人，从很远的外村被抬过来，他病发作的时候，就感觉胸前有很多泥鳅在爬来爬去，躺在地上就不能动了。多次医治无效，钱都花完了，检查又没有问题。家里人都认为他必死无疑。他被抬到山顶村庄之后，几个兄弟整天整夜陪着他，为他禁食祷告，但却没有什么果效。最后一天为他祷告的时候，越祷告他就越发作。后来神启示这几个弟兄：罪的问题没有解决，就不能得医治，所以就让他回家，让他全家人悔改信主。在回家的路上，这位远方来客就得了医治，脑子立时清醒了！
那段时间里，整个村庄的上空常常飘扬着天使的歌声，但却只闻歌声，不见影子。很多人天天都在村口听天使的歌唱。孩子们跟着歌声唱歌跳舞，很多四五十岁的人也唱灵歌，跳起舞来。“主的荣光四面照着他们”（路加福音2:9）。
县政府闻声派人来干涉，但来人几次走到半路上，还没有上山，就因为肚子疼痛无法站立，不得不打道回府了。
现在这个山顶村庄已经消失了。因为村子里的年轻人大都出国了，邱弟兄的儿女们也已经去了欧洲，他们到世界各地去传福音。老年人也因为修水库搬家到了山底下。现在，山顶村庄的人已遍布全世界，在世界各地继续传扬他们父母的神至高的名和奇妙的作为——就是亚伯拉罕的神、以撒的神、雅各的神，也是他们自己的神。
张宇红
2013/9/9
于美国南卡
04 Sep 2014 Leave a comment
说起宗派，人们想到的往往是其负面的意思，即派别和纷争，是结党营私。《汉语辞典》里面对“宗派”意思的解释也有这方面的内容：“今指不正当目的结成的小集团”。但起初并不是这样的，“宗派”最初的意思就是“宗教的支派”。基督教宗派的兴起，起初都有上帝的美意，是上帝在祂子民当中做工的结果。上帝之所以让不同宗派不断兴起，不是为了纷争，而是为了真理的回归和完全，“为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体”（以弗所书4：12）。教会在不同时代都有一些重要的真理被忽视，以至于教会变得不健康、甚至病态、甚至误入歧途。上帝为了教会的健康发展，为了让这些被忽视或不见的基要真理重新被看见，被应用，就使用祂的仆人不断传讲各方面的信息，一传十、十传百、百传千……直到这个真理在教会中确立下来。由此就产生了宗派。
近代基督教的宗派主要有三大宗派：天主教、东正教、新教。大家熟悉的基督教新教宗派主要有：路德会、长老会、卫理公会、圣公会、循道会、浸信会、五旬节会、神召会等等。如今在美国兴起一个新的宗派，即弥赛亚教。虽然已经有十几年了，但如今却开始兴旺发展。单是美国北卡我去过的弥赛亚会堂就有六家: Hope of Israel Congregation，Sha’arei Shalom Synagogue，House of Israel，Antioch International Church，Sid Roth Ministry，Nazareth Church。这个宗派主要是由信耶稣的犹太人建立或带领的，其实最初的教会都是弥赛亚教会，是今日教会的根源，后来因为外邦教会支派发展极其繁荣和茂盛，因此将一些外邦习俗带入教会，并固定下来，因此犹太信徒的会堂就被忽视或淹没了。如今，这一支派在美国开始蓬勃发展，称为“Messianic Congregation”（弥赛亚会）或Messianic Judaism（弥赛亚犹太教）。
弥赛亚教是由重生得救、相信耶稣就是弥赛亚的犹太信徒主导的，其本质与基督教完全一致，但因为会堂的领袖多为犹太拉比，所以其敬拜仪式、语言、时间，及信守犹太节期、安息日等，在形式上更接近犹太教。“弥赛亚”一词是从希伯来语原文翻译而来，“基督”一词则是从希腊语转译而来。“弥赛亚教”其实就是“基督教”，但其渊源和敬拜形式都不同，弥赛亚教的渊源是犹太信徒，基督教的渊源则是外邦信徒。因为弥赛亚教不是从基督教里面分开的支派，而基督教却是从弥赛亚教里面分开的支派，因此我借鉴“天主教”、“东正教”的翻译，将此新宗派的名称翻译为“弥赛亚教”，而不是“弥赛亚宗”或“弥赛亚会”。
弥赛亚教使用的圣经与基督教完全一样，其敬拜方式也跟基督教相似，主要内容都是：用诗歌敬拜上帝、讲道。因为犹太拉比都熟读希伯来原文圣经，所以弥赛亚会堂多使用希伯来语和英语双语敬拜。圣经人名的翻译则从希伯来原文而来，而不是从希腊文转译的。比如：“耶稣”是“Yeshua”,而不是“Jesus”,这点倒与中文圣经人名的翻译完全一致！因为中文和合本就是从希伯来原文翻译而来的！
弥赛亚会堂使用的诗歌多为犹太信徒自己创作的，主要是一位犹太美国信徒Paul Wilbur 创作的诗歌，他的诗歌《Shalom Jerusalem》（平安，耶路撒冷！）也是众多国内信徒喜爱的，他们也用一些基督教堂常使用的诗歌。在讲道方面，弥赛亚教注重讲解圣经，虽然有主题式六经注我的讲道内容，但重点还是我注六经式的讲解圣经。拉比讲经新旧约融会贯通，让你切实感到新旧约是一体的，而不是分割开的。这一点非常吸引喜爱圣经的兄弟姐妹们，所以有越来越多的基督徒进入弥赛亚会堂。
犹太弥赛亚会堂在每次诗歌敬拜之前，会用希伯来语和英语双语诵读申命记6：4-9“以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，也要殷勤教训你的儿女。无论你坐在家里，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论。也要系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文；又要写在你房屋的门框上，并你的城门上。”犹太人特别重视孩子的信仰教育，所以在每次诗歌敬拜结束、讲经开始之前，拉比都会把孩子们叫到台前，为他们祷告祝福。
弥赛亚教与基督教最大的差别就是弥赛亚教信守安息日，其敬拜时间都是在周六安息日，并且信守圣经旧约里面的节期。他们在星期五准备好次日安息日的食物，安息日则不做工，也不做买卖，连信仰书籍也不卖。我们知道犹太民族常常打仗，其实日常生活中的犹太民族性情温和、信徒大都生活敬虔。
弥赛亚教的起源就是初代教会，就是初代教会的使徒和门徒。因为初代教会的信徒和领袖都是犹太人，他们都遵守旧约律法、节期和安息日。虽然耶稣来成全了律法，使我们不再需要献祭、不再担当罪的刑罚，使我们在犯罪的时候可以通过向耶稣承认我们的罪、悔改我们的行为而得赦免，但他们没有用一些外邦人的习俗取代犹太传统。犹太节期和传统有上帝的印记，是为了纪念上帝的作为和话语而建立的，是上帝亲自建立的，是上帝吩咐祂的子民世世代代都要遵守的。
弥赛亚教由始至终、自成一体，将基督教的根源及根本凸现出来，使我们能够更清楚、更深刻地领悟上帝的话语和上帝的作为。弥赛亚教传福音的主要对象之一是犹太人，因为他们信耶稣是弥赛亚，所以他们受到不少犹太人的排斥。
犹太人归主、福音传回耶路撒冷是耶稣再来之前的征兆。罗马书11：25-26“弟兄们，我不愿意你们不知道这奥秘（恐怕你们自以为聪明），就是以色列人有几分是硬心的，等到外邦人的数目添满了，于是以色列全家都要得救。”福音已经从耶路撒冷传到欧洲、英国、美国、亚洲，现在福音的浪潮正传向中东和犹太人，直到传回耶路撒冷。外邦人信徒的数目快要填满了，以色列全家将要得救！让我们为弥赛亚信徒加油！让我们为犹太人归主欢呼！
“证明这事的说：‘是的，我必快来！’阿们！主耶稣啊，我愿祢来！”（启示录22：20）。
张宇红
2014/6/6于美国南卡
密释华夏 - Mishnah in Chinese
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Berea
Berea.life 庇利雅 
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