April 11, 2013

  • 2 Chronicles 34:1-33

    Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

    And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

    For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

    And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence;

    and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down;

    and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them , and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

    And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

    And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

    And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

    Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

    And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin;

    and they returned to Jerusalem.

    And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord , and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord , to repair and amend the house: Even to the artificers and builders gave they it , to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

    And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari;

    and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward;

    and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.

    Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

    And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord , Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.

    And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord .

    And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

    And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it .

    And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord , and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.

    Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

    And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

    And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord , to do after all that is written in this book.

    And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed , went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect .

    And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord , Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

    And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord , so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;

    Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me;

    I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord.

    Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same.

    So they brought the king word again.

    Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

    And the king went up into the house of the Lord , and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord .

    And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord , to walk after the Lord , and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

    And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it .

    And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

    And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God.

    And all his days they departed not from following the Lord , the God of their fathers.

    思想問題:古卷及先知的話是在約西亞立志向神多久才找得著呢?

April 7, 2013

  • 感謝主給我的,能夠有小組我要多謝上帝。我知道無論做得好與壞這恩典仍然在這裡。

April 5, 2013

  • 2 Chronicles 31:1-21 KJV

    Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

    [2] And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord .

    [3] He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit , for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord .

    [4] Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord .

    [5] And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

    [6] And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.

    [7] In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

    [8] And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord , and his people Israel.

    [9] Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

    [10] And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord , we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

    [11] Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord ; and they prepared them ,

    [12] And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

    [13] And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

    [14] And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord , and the most holy things.

    [15] And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

    [16] Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the Lord , his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

    [17] Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

    [18] And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

    [19] Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

    [20] And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

    [21] And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

    當教會需要大量資源擴展既時候,我就想到這些了:

    1. 除了要想用什麼特別方法外,很多事情更要提早留意。

    2. 民眾們需先按聖經所記的方式獻上:不是獻上幾多的問題,而是神的子民本來就當遵從神。(v5)

    3. 當民眾遵命而行時,事奉神的也被鼓勵。(v6)

    4. 當神祝福遵命的民時,所獻的終會足夠。換句話說,不是因為有民中有沒有富人的問題。前者是神的問題,那追逐富者的想法是人自尋的問題。(v10)

    5. 奉獻是一個流,而不是一個點:奉獻的人或會想為何要奉獻來「祝福」某些人或某教會。但這裡從奉獻得到祝福的是許多教會,並很多奉獻者本來不能設想的人。(v18)

    6. 神的之民是否因獻上而昌盛是後話,不是原因。(v21)

    Offerings is not a matter of “how much”.

    It’s a matter of how one race dedicate their heart to the true God.

    It is an expression of obedience, not an expression wealth.

    If we truly are God’s people, the one who know us will make their offerings as well, because our Lord blesses those dedicated themselves to him.

    Fear Lord, and it is what we should do.

April 3, 2013

  • 2 Chronicles 30:1-27 KJV

    And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel. [2] For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. [3] For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. [4] And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. [5] So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. [6] So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. [7] And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. [8] Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord , and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. [9] For if ye turn again unto the Lord , your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. [10] So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. [11] Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. [12] Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord . [13] And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. [14] And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. [15] Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord . [16] And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. [17] For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord . [18] For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one [19] That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. [20] And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. [21] And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord . [22] And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord : and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers. [23] And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. [24] For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. [25] And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. [26] So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. [27] Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

     

April 2, 2013

March 26, 2013

  • 曆代志下 24:22

    這樣、約阿施王不想念撒迦利亞的父親耶何耶大向自己所施的恩、殺了他的兒子。撒迦利亞臨死的時候、說、願耶和華鑒察伸冤。

March 10, 2013

  • News Quote

    不一樣CV 從不一樣教育開始?

    【經濟日報專訊】年輕人不滿機會少、上流慢,財爺曾俊華昨在網誌呼籲家長和年輕人接受「行行出狀元」,思考核心商業區以外的發展機會。誠然年輕人需要新出路,但他所指「不一樣的CV(履歷表)」,從何而來?

    行船吸引嗎?財政預算案提出投放1億元成立海運及空運人才培訓基金,曾俊華在新一篇網誌《不一樣的CV》,鼓勵年輕人行船。他稱在70、80年代,行船是熱門行業之一,如今輪船設備、僱員待遇已有所提升,雖然工作環境或較枯燥,但有機會到世界不同角落走走,看看旅遊景點以外的風土人情,對年輕人而言,他認為很有吸引力。

    財爺籲行船 行行出狀元

    財爺鼓勵年輕人行船,出於好意,可是從現今年輕人,不乏機會周遊列國旅行,要吸引他們入行,可看風土人情難有說服力,他的一番心意,相信年輕人也未必「心領」。

    但曾俊華提到,「中環價值」在港根深柢固,年輕人及其家長自然較少思考核心商業區以外的發展機會,要改變這情況,要通過教育宣傳,讓大眾慢慢接受「行行出狀元」。這說法則中聽得多,尤其是於現今社會,各界也在探索如何為年輕人提供新出路。

    誠然,本港一向被指經濟傾斜於某些行業,入大學是為「錢途」,選科偏愛「搵錢」的商科或金融相關科目。無他,畢業後投身銀行業、金融業有高薪厚職,追求較好的事業前景,這不正是經濟掛帥世代的「遊戲規則」?不止大批年輕人投身金融業,大專學校也致力開辦金融課程。

    如何才可做到「行行出狀元」?不是口頭說說便可做到,而是政府應由教育制度着手,加強教育配套,讓年輕人看到不同行業的前景,才能吸引年輕人選擇「不一樣的CV」。

    行業有前途 減職業錯配

    事實上,本港鄰近的台灣,也有類似問題,當地大學入學率約90%,但青年搵工難,台灣《今周刊》近日報道,青年失業率高達12.66%,但是企業卻屢表示聘請不到員工,缺口達18萬人,有僱主投訴「學校教出來的學生根本不能用」。

    於是,台灣當地有人提出,應效法德國發展「雙軌制」(Dual System)的職能訓練,即是結合政府與業界的力量,共同為年輕人打造技能課程。學生每周可能在學校上課1至2天,然後到企業受訓練3天,企業更會負責70%的教育訓練成本。

    在這制度下,不但可確保年輕人學到的技能,正是現時業界所需的,更可為年輕人帶來工作前景的信心,例如由西門子公司訓練的學生,80%畢業後在西門子上班。

    就算近年歐洲經濟不景,德國仍然能夠維持較低的青年失業率,即7.9%,屬歐盟27國中最低。德國的經驗也引來其他地方爭相仿效,例如瑞士、奧地利等,近年,美國也出現不少大學生「高材低就」問題,當地教育界也開始有意引進。

    中大校長沈祖堯近日在網誌撰文《如何培養年輕一代》,便反思為何本港學生會覺得離校後在事業上有志難酬、為何僱主會抱怨大學畢業生的技能,與他們的崗位所需不符?是否我們的學術課程太重着狹隘的專科知識,忽略了跨學科訓練?

    本港若然要解決大專生學不能用的問題,應開拓新行業,創造更多職位,另一邊亦也可仿效外地,加強更多類別的技能學習機會,並且應探究政府與業界是否可有更大合作空間,減少職業錯配,大學生不會淪為「學非所用」,市場又不會怨「無大學生肯做」。

    有網上評論曾感歎,本港的第五大支柱產業是「倒模業」:學生走一條倒模生產綫,從考試、讀書、入讀大學、搵好工,讀商科、醫科或法律才是叻仔叻女。我們不想學生如工廠製品般倒模成品,要行行出狀元,年輕人可以有不一樣的CV,但大前提是,社會有否提供機會令他們可有不一樣的選擇?

    沈祖堯網誌撰文《如何培養年輕一代》:

    http://www.vco.cuhk.edu.hk/js_blog/index.php?option=com_jaggyblog&task=viewpost&id=60&lang=zh-TW

March 7, 2013

  • 一點感觸

    看得見自己生為一卑微人,

    活在這世間,和許多鄰舍一樣的為生活親手作卑微的服侍。

    如果我覺得自己本不該接受這樣的生活,

    求讓我好好的反省。

     

    能夠把使這樣的看見轉化為真實,

    是基於人能相信自己身份的高低,

    本來就不應該憑內心追求的多寡去定斷。

    神若把我高升,自己有什麼可誇耀的呢?

    神若把我降卑,把我的本相表露了,那祂又有什麼虧欠了我的呢?

    沒有,因為我已確信自己的人生總不缺少恩典。

     

    對於新一年定位如何明朗了一點點,很好。

    —-

    Rest in peace

February 28, 2013

  • 2 Chronicles 17

    And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

    And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

    And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

    Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand;

    and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents;

    and he had riches and honour in abundance.

    And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord:

    moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

    Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

    And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites;

    and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

    And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

    And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver;

    and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

    And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly;

    and he build in Judah castles, and cities of store.

    And he had much business in the cities of Judah:

    and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

    And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers:

    Of Judah, the captains of thousands;

    Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

    And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

    And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord;

    and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

    And of Benjamin;

    Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

    And next him was Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

    These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.