Now it happened that on a Sabbath day he had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.
He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this,
'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.
For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.'
Then he said to his host, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.'
(Luke 14:1, 7-14 )
My Reading Notes:
Do the dogs need to be honoured? Yes, they do. If you have two dogs and you treat them differently, they will compete for your attention. Men are eager to be honoured. May be that is a build-in feature for the human beings. So, humble is important.
2010年8月28日 星期六
2010年8月21日 星期六
Try the narrow gate, before it is too late
My Sunday Scripture 2010.8.22.
Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them,
'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from."
Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets,"
but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!"
'Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out.
And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God.
'Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.'
Luke 13:22-30
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My Reading Notes:
--------------------
Try the narrow gate, before it is too late.
the last will become first..........
All those who try the easy way, going fast, becoming rich quick,
will be the last.
But why?
Yes. Only those who work for a real result will have the result. All those who work for vanities will have vanities. All those who tried the easy gate will not entry, and only those who tried the narrow gate will gain entrance.
Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them,
'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from."
Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets,"
but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!"
'Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out.
And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God.
'Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.'
Luke 13:22-30
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
Try the narrow gate, before it is too late.
the last will become first..........
All those who try the easy way, going fast, becoming rich quick,
will be the last.
But why?
Yes. Only those who work for a real result will have the result. All those who work for vanities will have vanities. All those who tried the easy gate will not entry, and only those who tried the narrow gate will gain entrance.
2010年8月14日 星期六
Mary the mother of God and Elizabeth the mother of John
My Sunday Scripture 2010.8.14
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.
She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.
Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly. He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
(Luke 1:39-56 )
My Reading Notes:
Mary the mother of God and Elizabeth the mother of John met before they deliver the babies. John was the fore-runner for Jesus, he had come ealier to proclaim to the world that Jesus will be coming. The lines here is a little strange, like that of the old textament. It mentioned that God is all for Israel and the Princes will be pulled down and riches will be sent away.
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.
She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.
Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly. He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
(Luke 1:39-56 )
My Reading Notes:
Mary the mother of God and Elizabeth the mother of John met before they deliver the babies. John was the fore-runner for Jesus, he had come ealier to proclaim to the world that Jesus will be coming. The lines here is a little strange, like that of the old textament. It mentioned that God is all for Israel and the Princes will be pulled down and riches will be sent away.
2010年8月7日 星期六
Be Awaken, He will come suddenly
My Sunday Scripture 2010.8.8.
'There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.
'Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it.
For wherever your treasure is, that is where your heart will be too.
'See that you have your belts done up and your lamps lit.
Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.
Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them.
It may be in the second watch that he comes, or in the third, but blessed are those servants if he finds them ready.
You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house.
You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.'
Peter said, 'Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?'
The Lord replied, 'Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his household to give them at the proper time their allowance of food?
Blessed that servant if his master's arrival finds him doing exactly that.
I tell you truly, he will put him in charge of everything that he owns.
But if the servant says to himself, "My master is taking his time coming," and sets about beating the menservants and the servant-girls, and eating and drinking and getting drunk,
his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
'The servant who knows what his master wants, but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes, will be given a great many strokes of the lash.
The one who did not know, but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating, will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is entrusted with a great deal, of that person even more will be expected.
Luke 12:32-48
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My Reading Notes:
-------------------
Yes Yes Yes, It is so important to be awaken. He will come all in a sudden. Actully He is here. Yes I will be awaken. I am clear about everything. I am not sleeping,
I am expecting. I expect the moment will come. I expect the important moment will come. I shall rejoice the moment comes.
'There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.
'Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it.
For wherever your treasure is, that is where your heart will be too.
'See that you have your belts done up and your lamps lit.
Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.
Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them.
It may be in the second watch that he comes, or in the third, but blessed are those servants if he finds them ready.
You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house.
You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.'
Peter said, 'Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?'
The Lord replied, 'Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his household to give them at the proper time their allowance of food?
Blessed that servant if his master's arrival finds him doing exactly that.
I tell you truly, he will put him in charge of everything that he owns.
But if the servant says to himself, "My master is taking his time coming," and sets about beating the menservants and the servant-girls, and eating and drinking and getting drunk,
his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
'The servant who knows what his master wants, but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes, will be given a great many strokes of the lash.
The one who did not know, but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating, will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is entrusted with a great deal, of that person even more will be expected.
Luke 12:32-48
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
Yes Yes Yes, It is so important to be awaken. He will come all in a sudden. Actully He is here. Yes I will be awaken. I am clear about everything. I am not sleeping,
I am expecting. I expect the moment will come. I expect the important moment will come. I shall rejoice the moment comes.
2010年8月1日 星期日
Life does not consist in possessions
A man in the crowd said to him, 'Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.'
He said to him, 'My friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?'
Then he said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has more than he needs.'
Then he told them a parable, 'There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, "What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops."
Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time."
But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?"
So it is when someone stores up treasure for himself instead of becoming rich in the sight of God.'
Luke 12:13-21
----------------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------------
If life does not consist in possessions, then what is life?
Life is a spirit in action. A spirit cannot store up things, but a spirit can work up things. A spirit is a part of all. A spirit can work. A spirit is an joint effort of the universe. A spirit is love. And love is to join together.
Life is as simple as that. But the children do not know. Please tell them.
He said to him, 'My friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?'
Then he said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has more than he needs.'
Then he told them a parable, 'There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, "What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops."
Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time."
But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?"
So it is when someone stores up treasure for himself instead of becoming rich in the sight of God.'
Luke 12:13-21
----------------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------------
If life does not consist in possessions, then what is life?
Life is a spirit in action. A spirit cannot store up things, but a spirit can work up things. A spirit is a part of all. A spirit can work. A spirit is an joint effort of the universe. A spirit is love. And love is to join together.
Life is as simple as that. But the children do not know. Please tell them.
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