My Scripture (and reading notes)

hardness of heart

2012-01-17T18:28:00.000-08:00

MY Scripture Today 2012.1.18 Wednesday

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The Text: Mark 3:1-6.
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Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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My Reading Notes
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This can explain many things. One is the law. The other is the heart. Due to the hardness of their heart, they had insisted the law.

Should one save life against the law?

It needs a higher level of viewpoints to see that.

Is it a fairy tale?

2012-01-01T06:03:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2012.1.1.

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The Text: Luke 2:16-21.
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So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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My Reading Notes:
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Is it a fairy tale or true story? It is the most difficult part for us believers.
I believe in Jesus. But this story is so fairy like, I cannot keep thinking to myself, I prefer to accept its inner meaning rather then the story itself.

In deed, there was a man named Jesus born on earth somewhere, sometime, bringing to us the messages from God.......

Life is Light

2011-12-24T21:51:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.25

The Text: John 1:1-18.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'"

From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

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My Reading Notes:
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It is always a puzzle to me, how can a "word' become God. However,
I can understand there are limitation to the human understanding, so I will not argue about this. With my limited brain power, I know I can not understand all things.

And the second difficult point is: life is light. And the still more interesting part is that darkness can not overcome life. That gives us hope.

It is important to have hope, as hope produces strength. And with strength, we can do what God commanded us to do.

You are to conceive a son by God

2011-12-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.18

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The Text: Luke 1:26-38
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26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'

29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,

30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.

31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David;

33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'

34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'

35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.

36 And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month,

37 for nothing is impossible to God.'

38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.

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My Reading Notes:
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No matter how strange this story is, that we must believe, that indeed everything was from God. If there is no God, there will be no nothing. This is the real meaning of the Scripture here.

Now that God had sent us Jesus by Mary.

It meant that God had sent us LOVE. That was the major teaching from Jesus, which is quite different from the Old Testaments.

God's will did change through the ages. It must be different in the Old Testaments and the New.

But the beauty did not change.

It was so beautiful that Mary answered God: 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.'

(King James Version: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.)

He will baptise you with the holy spirit

2011-11-26T08:21:00.001-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.4.

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The Text: Mark 1:1-8
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1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you.

3 A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5 All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.

6 John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.

7 In the course of his preaching he said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals.

8 I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'

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My Reading Notes
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To be baptised with the Holy Spirit is totally different from Water.

One should have a totally different mind and character when he had the insight of God, or, the insight of seeing through a whole scenery of everything.

It is like an electric shock, or the re-format of the mind. And it is just like seeing from blindness. Before that, you are blind, now you are opened with an eyesight. It is a pity that few could admit his blindness.

Where is God?

2011-11-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scriture 2011.11.20

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The text: Matthew 25:31-46
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31 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.

32 All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.

33 He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,

36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."

37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"

40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."

44 Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?"

45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."

46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.'

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My Reading Notes:
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This is very important message from God.

He told us where we could find Him.

He is not in the altar, he is not in the church. But he is in a place in need.

That is where he is.

My question is: Is this true? Is this the reality of the "locations" of God, or is it simply a "teaching"?

To my humble knowledge, I can not tell. But I prefer both.

It is a teaching, and it is true.

Where is God?

Its answer is in the minds of those who have asked.

Why should I stay awake? What is the meanig of staying awake?

2011-11-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.27

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The Text Matthew 13:33-37
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33 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.

34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.

35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn;

36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.

37 And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!'

My Reading notes

There are always unknown factors ahead waiting. We never can be sure where we are, and what we are going to do, or where we are going.

Being awake is to aware the route always. One can always going on and on and on, every day is just like yesterday. But the world had secretly changed, without telling us.

Keep asking, keep reading, keep eyes open. Do not let the railway track betray you.

There are no fixed tracks ahead, and you should always search your way.

Am I an eating machine?

2011-11-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.13

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The Text Matthew 25:14-30
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14 'It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.

16 The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.

17 The man who had received two made two more in the same way.

18 But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.

20 The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."

21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."

22 Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."

23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."

24 Last came forward the man who had the single talent. "Sir," said he, "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered;

25 so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."

26 But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered?

27 Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest.

28 So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has.

30 As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

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My Reading Notes
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This is a concept we must take it as the basic principal of life. That life is productive. The non-productive life is meaningless, and will be punished.

However, some people are very aware of their productivity, while others do not.

And the difference lies in the question:

Am I an eating machine?

Do I have a real goal about the future?

She was sitting at the door......

2011-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.6

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The Text: The Book of Wisdom 6:12-16
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12 Wisdom is brilliant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seek her, she is readily found.

13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.

14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but will find her sitting at the door.

15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon be free from care.

16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.

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My Reading Notes:
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This is the most beautiful verse I had read recently. She is like a girl, sitting at your door steps already. You need only to wake up and seek.

Yes this is the most important element of any culture. Wisdom is what we need.

They do not practise what they teachget away from them

2011-10-25T04:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.30

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The Text: Matthew 23:1-12
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1 Then addressing the crowds and his disciples Jesus said,

2 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.

3 You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach.

4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!

5 Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader headbands and longer tassels,

6 like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues,

7 being greeted respectfully in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

8 'You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers.

9 You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.

10 Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.

11 The greatest among you must be your servant.

12 Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.

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My Reading Notes:
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The most difficult part being a Christian is that you must have direct access to God, forgetting the "agents of God" for they are Pharisees sometimes. The chair of Moses was occupied by them.

Away from the Pharisees, they are evil. Pharisees cannot lead you to Heaven, but the other way. Away from them. What they promised are material entertainments only and that is the way to seek devil.

Two Commandment

2011-10-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.23.

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The Text: Matthew 22:34-40.
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When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them (a scholar of the law) tested him by asking,
Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?
He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandment

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My Reading Notes
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I shall love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind.
I shall love neighbor as myself.

What shall we pay to God?

2011-10-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.16

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The text: Matthew 22:15-21
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15 Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap him in what he said.

16 And they sent their disciples to him, together with some Herodians, to say, 'Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in all honesty, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because human rank means nothing to you.

17 Give us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'

18 But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, 'You hypocrites! Why are you putting me to the test?

19 Show me the money you pay the tax with.' They handed him a denarius,

20 and he said, 'Whose portrait is this? Whose title?'

21 They replied, 'Caesar's.' Then he said to them, 'Very well, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and God what belongs to God.'

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My Reading Notes:
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We all know what is the thing for Ceasar. But do we know, what is the thing belongs to God?

What shall we pay to God?

Please tell me, if you can.

those who were invited proved to be unworthy

2011-10-02T03:35:00.001-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.9.

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The Text:
Matthew 22:1-14
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1 Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again,

2 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding.

3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come.

4 Next he sent some more servants with the words, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, my banquet is all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding."

5 But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business,

6 and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.

7 The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town.

8 Then he said to his servants, "The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy,

9 go to the main crossroads and invite everyone you can find to come to the wedding."

10 So these servants went out onto the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment,

12 and said to him, "How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?" And the man was silent.

13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

14 For many are invited but not all are chosen.'

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My Reading Notes:
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"those who were invited proved to be unworthy".....

Some people were chosen. And They are proved to be unworthy.
Then, What next?

Were The Choice wrong? It is because humans are free. They have a free choice. Even the chosen people can do bad things. And we can not say, the choice was wrong. We can only say, some people are unworthy of God's kind blessing.

Which nation will be the next Israel?

2011-10-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.2.

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The Text:
Matthew 21:33-43
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33 'Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyar
34 When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce.

35 But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a d; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad.
third.

36 Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.

37 Finally he sent his son to them thinking, "They will respect my son."

38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, "This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance."

39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'

41 They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him at the proper time.'

42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing and we marvel at it?

43 'I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'

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My Reading Notes:
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God is expecting us to do something always. He expected humans to work on the field and have some harvest.

Now the Israel is producing no harvest.

Which nation will be the next Israel? To produce enough fruit for the Kingdom of God?

Did you go?

2011-09-25T03:02:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.25.

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The Text: Matthew 21:28-32
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What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

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My Reading Notes:
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The most important things here is the action, not the words.

It does not matter if he say yes or no, but whether you have go.

And that is the difference between a true Christian and a false Christian.

And the question is: Did you really go? Did you performed yourself in your life?

Did you live your life?

What is the meaning of first and last

2011-09-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.18

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The Text: Matthew 20:1-16a
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1 'Now the kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.

2 He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day and sent them to his vineyard.

3 Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place

4 and said to them, "You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage."

5 So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same.

6 Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing around, and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?"

7 "Because no one has hired us," they answered. He said to them, "You go into my vineyard too."

8 In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first."

9 So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each.

10 When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each.

11 They took it, but grumbled at the landowner saying,

12 "The men who came last have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day's work in all the heat."

13 He answered one of them and said, "My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius?

14 Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the lastcomer as much as I pay you.

15 Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why should you be envious because I am generous?"

16 Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.'

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My Reading Notes:
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I will learn not to worry if i am the last. For I know that God had given me enough to live for. In that case, first and last are the same. What not the same is my effort. If i have dedicate enough, i will be with God.

none of us

2011-09-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.11

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The Text:
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Reading 2, Rom 14:7-9
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7 For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself;

8 while we are alive, we are living for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord: and so, alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.

9 It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

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My Reading Notes:
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Paul said: "For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself";
Take note on the word: "None". He is searching the basic element of mankind.

Life itself is not life. You need to have a reborn, then you will know what is life. To reborn, is to know the real meaning of life, is to know life is not only flesh, but the fighting spirit inside. It is this spirit that lives, the body is helping the spirit to work. It is important to have the spirit enlightened---that we could say, is re-born.

They might be wrong

2011-09-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.4.

The Text: Matthew 18:15-20

15 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge.

17 But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.

18 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'

My reading Notes

the message to day is only one line:

They are human, and they might be wrong.

Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

2011-08-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.8.28.

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The Text: Matthew 16:21-27
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21 From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day.

22 Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.'

23 But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.'

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.

25 Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

26 What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?

27 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour

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My Reading Notes:
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This is a very basic teaching of Jesus Christ.

Any one who wants to keep his life will lose it, and any one who gives his life may have it.

Why?

And this is very very special among all other religion teachings, and even some Christians may have difficulties understanding it.

The point is: How do you "use" your life?

Do you want to use it, or do you want to waste it?

And what is waste?

just like candle burning.

Those who are willing to burn himself may have life. And those who refuse to burn, will have no life. Its simple and clear, however, not easy for many.

Who is Jesus?

2011-08-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 20110821

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The text: Matthew 16:13-20
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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?'

And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?'

Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.

So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'

Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to say to anyone that he was the Christ.

My Reading Notes:

Who is Jesus? Is he God himself, or is he only a very talented man?

I believe he is God. I believe God had sent different messages to human beings through the ages, including Egypt and China, etc. But this time is the only time God had send himself to the earth, trying to give us some extra message.

She is free because of her faith

2011-08-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

My Reading Notes:

From the point of the supernatural meaning, she is healed.

From the point of parables, that one who has absolute faith, is free. One is free from all the obstacles on earth. This is the point of Zhuang zi the Chinese philosophy also. See my point about true love in my blog.

Why did you doubt?

2011-08-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scritpture 2011.8.7

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The Text: Rom 9:1-5
----------------------

1 This is the truth and I am speaking in Christ, without pretence, as my conscience testifies for me in the Holy Spirit;

2 there is great sorrow and unremitting agony in my heart:

3 I could pray that I myself might be accursed and cut off from Christ, if this could benefit the brothers who are my own flesh and blood.

4 They are Israelites; it was they who were adopted as children, the glory was theirs and the covenants; to them were given the Law and the worship of God and the promises.

5 To them belong the fathers and out of them, so far as physical descent is concerned, came Christ who is above all, God, blessed for ever. Amen.

22 And at once he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he sent the crowds away.

23 After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

24 while the boat, by now some furlongs from land, was hard pressed by rough waves, for there was a head-wind.

25 In the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea,

26 and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.'

28 It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said, 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.'

29 Jesus said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water,

30 but then noticing the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord,' he cried, 'save me!'

31 Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'You have so little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'

32 And as they got into the boat the wind dropped.

33 The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'

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My Reading Notes:
--------------------
I would say, I am a weak person. Jesus asked Peter: Why did you doubt? And that is my question too. Do I have such strong believe, then I could go anywhere and every where?

Please take off my weakness. So help me Lord.

Should We Fight Herod?

2011-07-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture and My Reading Notes 2011.7.31.

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The Text: Matthew 14:13-21
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When Jesus received this news he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot.

So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.'

Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.'

But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.'

So he said, 'Bring them here to me.'

He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full.

Now about five thousand men had eaten, to say nothing of women and children.

__________________
My Reading Notes:
__________________

May be this is the most difficult part in Bible.
When Jesus heard the news of John, who was beheaded by Herod, Jesus did nothing, or say nothing.

It is very difficult to understand. Why Jesus did nothing to interfere? Later, Jesus himself was killed under the same King.

Should we fight for justice, or just accept it?

If we are to fight, in what manner should we fight?

I would be improved if I were to understand, that Herod is not the enemy or even the target of our aim. Something is more important, and Jesus was busy doing the more important thing, then to fight Herod.

What is the kingdom of heaven?

2011-07-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture and reading notes

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The Text: Matthew 13:44-52.
---------------------------

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.

When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.

Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Do you understand all these things? They answered, "Yes."
And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."

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My Reading Notes:
------------------

If you ask me, what is the kingdom of heaven? or, if you ask me, what is heaven? I will probable tell you that is somewhere in the clouds.

But Jesus has a different answer. It must be thoutht clearly.

It seems that, heaven is a behaviour rather then a place.

Heaven is not only a behaviour but a good behaviour.

And the behaviour is so important, that by doing it, we reached heaven.

Now, we can examine, what are the important behaviours........

First you have found the treasure on earth. It is so important, you will trade very thing for it.

Now we must think: What is so important on earth? What is so important to you and to everyone??

With that in mind, the treasue you are willing to give your life for it, is heaven.

What is that particular treasure??

We must think.

Where is the Kingdom of Heaven?

2011-07-17T04:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.7.17

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The Text: Matthew 13:24-43.
-------------------------------
He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'"
He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world)."
Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

_________________
My Reading Notes:
_________________

Where is the Kingdom of Heaven? Is it not in the wheat field? or Mustand seed? or Yeast?

Or is it not in you and me?

When we have done something good, we are in Heaven. Is it not the meaning of Jesus????

Why parables were used?

2011-07-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2011.7.10

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The Text: Matthew 13:1-23
--------------------------

1 That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside,

2 but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore,

3 and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up.

5 Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth;

6 but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.

7 Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

8 Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9 Anyone who has ears should listen!'

10 Then the disciples went up to him and asked, 'Why do you talk to them in parables?'

11 In answer, he said, 'Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted.

12 Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has.

13 The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding.

14 So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled: Listen and listen, but never understand! Look and look, but never perceive!

15 This people's heart has grown coarse, their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me.

16 'But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear!

17 In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.

18 'So pay attention to the parable of the sower.

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the Evil One comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the seed sown on the edge of the path.

20 The seed sown on patches of rock is someone who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy.

21 But such a person has no root deep down and does not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, at once he falls away.

22 The seed sown in thorns is someone who hears the word, but the worry of the world and the lure of riches choke the word and so it produces nothing.

23 And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'

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My Reading Notes
---------------------

It was my wonderful feeling to know that may be all the truth were explosed to us human beings in the form of parables.

It was because we can not understand the things directly, so, Jesus could only tell us stories, like adults tell stories to children.

Do not think that you can know all, but that we can see into the world in a form of parables.

Do we have such "rich soil" in our mind, to learn the parables?

YOU have hidden these things from the wise

2011-07-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.7.3.

The Text: Matthew 11:25-30.

At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

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My Reading Notes:
-----------------

Yes, The truth has been hidden from the wise and the learned. They didnt know the ultimate truth. And the truth is revealed only to the childish people.

That means, you need to have a heart to learn things.

Why is the self not the self

2011-06-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.6.26

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The Text: John 6:51-58
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I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.'

Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?'

Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person.

As the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me.

This is the bread which has come down from heaven; it is not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

That is one very important aspect of life: I am in you and you are in me.

IN this case, the one we are connected is God himself. Actually we are all connected. But the important part is that we are not only connected ourselves, but also with God. That means, our life has gone through all the world, to the another world. We are all one not only on this planet, but on every where in the universe. In such manner, we can see that the self is not the self, but a part of everything. What does that mean?

It means life is meaningful. It gives us courage.

If you are with God, you will fear nothing.
If you are with God, you will always be happy!

What is eternal life?

2011-06-18T03:38:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.6.19.

________________________

The Text: John 3:16-18
________________________

For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.

No one who believes in him will be judged; but whoever does not believe is judged already, because that person does not believe in the Name of God's only Son.

_________________________

My Reading Notes:
_________________________

To me, eternal life is not some where you go to after your death.
It is now and it is here.
If one has received the holy spirit, if one is jointed into the spirit,
then one is one. That means, one has jointed into the real life. And that is eternal.

Receive the Spirit

2011-06-18T03:19:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.6.12

The Text: John 20:19-23.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, «Peace be with you.»
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
(Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

My Reading Notes:

Receive the Holy Spirit is the most important thing in one's life.
To have a spirit and to have not, is totally not the same.
Hope we all enjoy the spirit in us.

Life has such been a fuss with me.........

2011-06-04T03:13:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.5.29

The Text: John 14:15-21.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

My Reading Notes:

Life has such been a fuss with me in the last week. I was so busy, and had almost forgotten my daily Bible. Now that when I sit down, trying to locate that particular daily reading from last week, and I couldnt find it in the catholic.org; though I still can locate it from my mails.

We are always like orphans in the world. This is a very vivid feeling for me always. I felt weak and unsafe. However, when I read this passage, I feel much stronger. Yes, the advocate is always IN me. Jesus will not and will never leave us orphans. This is the most comfortable words I hear in years.

What is the "Way"?

2011-05-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.5.22.

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The Text: John 14:1-12
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1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in me.

2 In my Father's house there are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you,

3 and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you to myself, so that you may be with me where I am.

4 You know the way to the place where I am going.

5 Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'

6 Jesus said: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

7 If you know me, you will know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.

8 Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him,

9 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, "Show us the Father"?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works.

11 You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.

12 In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

I have been thinking about the quesion in my blog recently: What is the way for future human beings? Where are WE going? What should WE do?

Shall we Fight with each other, then peril in the several huge difficulties like the oil crisis, weather crisis, economic crisis?

Or simply love each other and WAIT for help from about and doing Nothing?

What is our WAY?

The point is, whether we understand what is the meaning behind the words of Jesus.

We have one way to connect each other, to connect all the human beings, to connect their will, their wisdom, their power, their love, too. The way is in Jesus. He is the way. That means we have to have some channel to connect.

And that means we should have build up some common believe in the whole world. the Common Believe I mention here is: We are all in one. we should love each other, we should share. We should share our wisdom, share our property, share those things all we have. Then that is the way to God, and the Way to future.

What is the "Gate"?

2011-05-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.5.15.

The Text: John 10:1-10.

Jesus said: «Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------

Why should be all, the human beings all, should come through the "gate" to be saved?

Should all other religions, all other nations, all human beings do the same?

Yes. It is definitely so.

For Jesus has brought us love. Without love, human can never be saved.

Why are the human hearts "slow"?

2011-05-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2011.5.8.

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The text: Luke 24:13-35.
--------------------------

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?"
And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see."
And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?"
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them
who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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My Reading Notes
-----------------

First, they could not recognise him. Sometimes even when Jesus were talking to you directly, and you can not recognise him.
They are looking downcast. Jesus knew that they did not understand what was going on. Jeses said, "How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!"

What is "Slow" and Why are we "slow"?

One thing is for sure, that the mind need some time to compute what is going on. Seeing is not believing, because it need the mind to compute and function. When the mind has a decision, then, there comes the believing.

It needs time. But if we know that it needs time, then we could have learn things better and faster.

What is the aim of my faith?

2011-05-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2011.5.1

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The text: 1 Peter 1:3-9
--------------------------

3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

4 and into a heritage that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you

5 who are being kept safe by God's power through faith until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the final point of time.

6 This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials;

7 so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even if it has been tested by fire, may be proved -- to your praise and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8 You have not seen him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and so are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described;

9 and you are sure of the goal of your faith, that is, the salvation of your souls.

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My Reading Notes
------------------------

What is the aim of Faith?

Peter said that is for the salvation of souls. If I believe, then, I would join the network of Souls in the universe. And I could be saved.

That could be a theory. But why do I believe in God?

It is because I felt it.

It is because I know there is a God.

The Real Essence of Christianity

2011-04-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.4.25

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The Text: John 20:1-9.
-----------------------

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

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My Reading Notes
-----------------------

What is the real essence of Christianity?

That There is a God
That God has send his son to tell us something
That that something is we must love each other, and love God.
That the love is connection between every one, and the Center of the Universe, that is, God himself.
That when we are totally connected, that something wonderful will happen.

why have you forsaken me?

2011-04-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.4.17

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The Text: Matthew 27:46
-----------------------

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

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My Reading Notes:
------------------
We do have such feelings sometimes. Feeling deserted, forsaken.

Why have you deserted me? This is very painful feeling,if we can not understand the way God chooses. It is because we can only see from a very low level, we cannot see clearly what is lying ahead.

God will never desert us. It is only that sometimes we are in pain and our eyes cannot be openned. So, We should pray for a clearer eyesight.

He cried in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out!

2011-04-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scritpure and reading notes 2011.3.10

The text:

When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'

The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with strips of material, and a cloth over his face. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, let him go free.'

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My Notes:
----------------

And this is the important part of faith.
If you can believe in this, your faith is complete.
If you dont, you can only partly understand the truth of God.

Many had lost their faith here.

worship the Father in spirit and truth

2011-03-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.3.27

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The Text John 4:5-42
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5 On the way he came to the Samaritan town called Sychar near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Jacob's well was there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Give me something to drink.'

8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew. How is it that you ask me, a Samaritan, for something to drink?' -- Jews, of course, do not associate with Samaritans.

10 Jesus replied to her: If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me something to drink,' you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water.

11 'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered, 'and the well is deep: how do you get this living water?

12 Are you a greater man than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?'

13 Jesus replied: Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again;

14 but no one who drinks the water that I shall give will ever be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life.

15 'Sir,' said the woman, 'give me some of that water, so that I may never be thirsty or come here again to draw water.'

16 'Go and call your husband,' said Jesus to her, 'and come back here.'

17 The woman answered, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You are right to say, "I have no husband";

18 for although you have had five, the one you now have is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.'

19 'I see you are a prophet, sir,' said the woman.

20 'Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, though you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.'

21 Jesus said: Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming -- indeed is already here -- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father seeks.

24 God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.

25 The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah -- that is, Christ -- is coming; and when he comes he will explain everything.'

26 Jesus said, 'That is who I am, I who speak to you.'

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus had talked about "Truth" in different places. One is here, and the other is about baptism. John said that when the Messiah comes, the Mesiah will baptise us with "The holy spirit and fire"

And these are highly symbolic terms:

We shall worship God in "spirit" and "truth"
and We shall be baptised with "spirit" and "fire"

What is "Fire"? and What is "Truth"?

I can only say, I have but a very vague feeling in it. And I believe this is the most important point.

How are we to worship God?
Shall we do as the Scripts and Pharisee?
Shall we knelt in the churches without knowing what we are and where we are going?
Or, Shall we seek an answer? Shall we seek the truth? With the help of the spirit?

I believe we shall seek the truth. That is the proper way to worship God.

When should we expect divine intervention?

2011-03-12T22:27:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.3.13.

The Text: Matthew 4:1-11.

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'" Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

My Reading Notes:

The most important issue here is:

When should we expect divine intervention?
For example, in the height of an Earth quake, should we or could we expect an divine intervention?

How do we seperate the human effort and divine intervention?

There must be a balance between the two, thouhg we can not handle it well always. And the first important question is: Havent I well prepared?
Havent we done our best?

Yes you can ask always. But you have to ask yourself first.

I have only one word here: Act!

2011-03-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.3.6

The Text: Mathew 7:21-27

'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.

When the day comes many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?"

Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, all evil doers!

'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.

Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.

But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand.

Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!'

My Reading Notes:

I have only one word here: Act!

Serve only one master

2011-03-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2011.2.27

The Text: Matthew 6:24-34
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'No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.

'That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body more than clothing!

Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are?

Can any of you, however much you worry, add one single cubit to your span of life?

And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin;

yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his royal robes was clothed like one of these.

Now if that is how God clothes the wild flowers growing in the field which are there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you who have so little faith?

So do not worry; do not say, "What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to wear?"

It is the gentiles who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.

Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God's saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well.

So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

My Reading Notes:

Yes, this is the most important lesson in life. If any could explain it well, he will pass the examination of the kingdom of God.

This is the meaning of Oneness

If there is fire, there will not be wax.

If you are but a drop of wax, if you wanted to burn yourself, your wax will be gone.

Life is for burning, for using, not for keeping.

It is either this or that. Only one matters.

If you can enlighten yourself with this flame, you will be happy in the rest of your burning.

Somehow, you will ask: Should I give up my job? Should I give away all my money? Yes, you should. But to use all your money and your strength in a meaningful way. Use it as a life should use. Use it as a flame should use.

If you really understand that the meaning of oneness, you will not be stupid enough to throw away all your money, even to put that money into some stupid organisation is not wise. Effort should put into the most needed place. Feeding the poor is only secondary important. To teach them how to feed themselves are much much important.

Fight the Devil and Love the Enemies

2011-02-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Text: Matthew 5:38-48.

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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My Reading Notes
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I think this is the most difficult part in the theories of Christianity. Things had to be understood internally, not externally. You must fight devils, or else, devil will bring us to hell. But, you must love your enemies.

Are enemies devils? That remains only part of the question.

Some enemies are devils, some are not. Some of the enemies are only our competitor, or some one who took advantages of us.

Only the real devil would take us all to total destruction.

If you can see things from the true side, not the external side, you will know what to do. And we need to have a cool cool mind, and a real understanding, to handle such issues.

And the delicate point is here: What is truth? Do I know what is truth? Can I judge what is right and what is wrong?

All I can say is that, I can judge them from my own level of understanding, though I know the ultimate truth is in God's own hand, however, I will do what is necessary and I do hope God will bless the right choices, if I am wrong, I am willing to be punished.

Could we explore the depths of God?

2011-02-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.2.13.

The Text:
Reading 1: Matthew 5:17-37

'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.

In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved.

Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.

'For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.

'You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.

But I say this to you, anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court; anyone who calls a brother "Fool" will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him "Traitor" will answer for it in hell fire.

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.

Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

In truth I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

'You have heard how it was said, You shall not commit adultery.

But I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell.

And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell.

'It has also been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal.

But I say this to you, everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of an illicit marriage, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

'Again, you have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.

But I say this to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God's throne;

or by earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great King.

Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.

All you need say is "Yes" if you mean yes, "No" if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the Evil One.

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Reading 2, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

But still, to those who have reached maturity, we do talk of a wisdom, not, it is true, a philosophy of this age or of the rulers of this age, who will not last long now.

It is of the mysterious wisdom of God that we talk, the wisdom that was hidden, which God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began.

None of the rulers of the age recognised it; for if they had recognised it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

but it is as scripture says: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, what the mind of man cannot visualise; all that God has prepared for those who love him;

to us, though, God has given revelation through the Spirit, for the Spirit explores the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

This is a bold finding from Paul: That there will be no secret between human and God, for the Spirit had granted us revelation, to explore the depths of God.

In such sense, that means God had given the truth. The question is that whether we believe it or not, or that whether we are smart enough to comprehend

We are what we are

2011-02-06T00:59:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.2.6.

The Text: Matthew 5:13-16.

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------------

This is one of the best analogy to tell us what is life.

You are salt. The nature of salt is its taste. If a salt loses its taste, then it is not salt at all. The same may apply to other things. You are sugar. You are a tree. You are a flower. The myth is that we are what we are. Only human beings have such problems. Sometimes we forget what we are. A tree never forgets. Salt never forget. Animals never forget. They would grow, they would shine, they would live like themselves. Only human being sometimes would forget. We forget that we are light, we can shine and we should shine. Some times we tend to think that we are only wax. Like candles never lit.

What are blessed and what are not

2011-01-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.1.30

The Text: Matthew 5:1-12.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

My Reading Notes:

The 8 categories are: the poor, those who mourn, the meek, those hunger for righteousness, the merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness,
and those represent God under persecution, thus totally are nine kinds of people who are blessed.

From the nine categories, we shall know what God expects us to do. We shall know what are blessed and what not blessed.

Why Should I Repent???

2011-01-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.1.23.

The Text: Matthew 4:12-23.

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

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My Reading Notes:
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Yes, If I can see what is right and what is wrong, and give up the wrong path, choosing the right one, then the Kingdom of heaven is at my side.

It is only as simply as that. That if I could find out the right path, that if I could give up the wrong path, that I could reach my dream, and it is a dream so beautiful, that you can say, it is heaven. Isn't that simple????

baptize with the holy Spirit

2011-01-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.1.16

The Text: John 1:29-34.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

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My Reading Notes:
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In Matthew 3:1-12, John has expressed similar ideas:
"he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire." But the "fire" element here was omitted. Though the idea is still very clear: We need a cleaning. We need washing by something, more then water.

How to clean myself?

With water is one level. But we may need more then that. We need the holy Spirit to help us to obtain wisdom, to have an access to knowledge, to keep our minds clear and sound.

"This is my Son"

2011-01-07T03:30:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.1.9.

The Text Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.

John tried to dissuade him, with the words, 'It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!'

But Jesus replied, 'Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that uprightness demands.' Then John gave in to him.

And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.

And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.'

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus himself was baptised with water.

But he had once said: He will baptise us with truth and holy spirit.
I am always looking forward for such a day.

Where is the Messiah to be born?

2011-01-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2011.1.2.

(The text: Matthew 2:1-12.)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

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My Reading Notes:

Here is a very typical story on how the Christ was to be born.

The question is: Where is the Messiah to be born?

The typical answer was: In Bethlehem.

Now may we have a more modern answer: In Love.

Christ is born in love. Love is the salvation of the world.

What is after the silent night?

2010-12-25T20:17:00.001-08:00

MY Sunday Scripture 2010.12.26

The Text: Matthew 2:13-15.19-23.

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean."

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My Reading Notes:

In my memory as a child, the song "Silent Night" was always a comfort for me. I would remember the time when I heard it, somewhere near my old primary school, some children singing, the night was so lovely. That moment of (k)uietness is so important that you will expect the life in the coming years will be always like that.

What made you cherish that particular moment was the things coming afterwards. Endless fighting, endless chase. (K)uietness is but a lovely dream. However, hoping that the dream would come true one day, one will keep on going. You search and search. and search.

What is Immanuel?

2010-12-19T01:55:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2010.12.19

The text: Matthew 1:18-24

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Her husband Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally.

He had made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.'

Now all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Immanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'.

When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home;

My Reading Notes:

I think of all the scripture, the line to explain what is christianity, is here:

God is with us.

And this idea is so vitally important, that all the cultural activities and all the quest in human kind, including the East and the West, is in such a recognition, know that all life on earth are linked up, and that the link is God himself.

God is with us. So that one can march forward, without fear or any selfishness, on the condition that God is with us, and we are not alone.

How to deal with the Law or the Prophets?

2010-12-11T23:24:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.12.12.

The texts are here, though a bit long, but there is something hidden inside:

Matthew 5:17-20

17 'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.

18 In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved.

19 Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.

20 'For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 11:2-11

2 Now John had heard in prison what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him,

3 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?'

4 Jesus answered, 'Go back and tell John what you hear and see;

5 the blind see again, and the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor;

6 and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling.'

7 As the men were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John, 'What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No?

8 Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces.

9 Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet:

10 he is the one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you.

11 'In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

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My reading notes:
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What is the difference between the old and new testament, are always a puzzling thing.

Though Jesus had said, do not expect him to challenge the Law. He said, those who infringes the Law will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Will you be the "least in the kingdom of Heaven"? It is a praise (or a title) much bigger then John the Baptist. Because Jesus had said, "yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. "

The books in the Old Jews tradition are not perfect, and need reconsideration. But in Jesus day, he is not going to challenge them. Am I right? I am trying to think it again.

And Jesus had said, if you can not go further beyond those of the old Jews, you will not succeed. "For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven."

Jesus had bring us "Love", though in the old time, there was only "Law" prevailed.

Should one challenge the old "Law"? Should we gain an new insight of "Love"??

Please so help me, to think it clearer.

Baptise with Holy Spirit and Fire

2010-12-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.12.5.

Matthew 3:1-12

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea,

'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.'

This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, 'Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,

and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.

But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, 'Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming retribution?
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and do not presume to tell yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father," because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is being laid to the root of the trees, so that any tree failing to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'

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My Reading Notes:
------------------

Yes I am afraid of the fire, though I love the Holy Spirit very much. But they are always coming together. Through hardship and wisdom, one can discover God.

Fire is good, wisdom is good. They can bring us to the heavens.

Know what is going on

2010-11-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scritpure 2010.11.28.

The text: Matthew 24:37-44

'As it was in Noah's day, so will it be when the Son of man comes.

For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept them all away. This is what it will be like when the Son of man comes.

Then of two men in the fields, one is taken, one left;

of two women grinding at the mill, one is taken, one left.

'So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming.

You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house.

Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

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My Reading Notes:
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The point is: Staying Awake.

But how do I know that I am awaken? not sleeping?

To stay awake, is to know what is going on.

Do I know what is going on in China?

Do I know what is going on in the world?

Do I know what is going on above the world?

And that is a big big challenge.

Today you will be with me in paradise

2010-11-16T00:49:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scritpture 2010.11.21

The Text: Luke 23:35-43

The people stayed there watching. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.'

The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar,

and saying, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.'

Above him there was an inscription: 'This is the King of the Jews'.

One of the criminals hanging there abused him: 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.'

But the other spoke up and rebuked him. 'Have you no fear of God at all?' he said. 'You got the same sentence as he did,

but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.'

Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

He answered him, 'In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'

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My Reading Notes:
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Yes. The important thing happens right now. If one has found the truth, then, in the same day, one will be in paradise.

The most important thing is now. What is in your mind now.

Every thing will be destroyed

2010-11-16T00:32:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.11.14

The Text: Luke 21:5-19
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, he said,

'All these things you are staring at now -- the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed.'

And they put to him this question, 'Master,' they said, 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?'

But he said, 'Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the one" and "The time is near at hand." Refuse to join them.

And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.'

Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.

'But before all this happens, you will be seized and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name

-and that will be your opportunity to bear witness.

Make up your minds not to prepare your defence,

because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death.

You will be hated universally on account of my name,

but not a hair of your head will be lost.

Your perseverance will win you your lives.

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------

Those are the most terrible things to happen. And those things are happenning and will happen again and again, wars, famines and presecutions, and the most unbearable at all, is that the betrayals from your love ones.

And this is nothing but an opportunity to bear witness to God.

And by perseverance, one will save himself.

Every thing will be destroyed. But, may I dare to ask: Why? What will happen after the solar system? or all systems? What is the purpose of life?

What is heaven like?

2010-11-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

My Sunday SCripture 2010.11.7.

The Text: Luke 20:27-38

Some Sadducees -- those who argue that there is no resurrection -- approached him and they put this question to him,

'Master, Moses prescribed for us, if a man's married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother.

Well then, there were seven brothers; the first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since she had been married to all seven?'

Jesus replied, 'The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are children of God.

And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him everyone is alive.'

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My Reading Notes:
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The Scripture today has given us a clue: what is Heaven like? Do we still have marriage life or other every day life like earth in heaven?

Jesus has given us a hint:

That in heaven, every thing is not the same.

There might not be sex, or time, or life and death, or anything imaginable on earth. Heaven is a place we might be going, and only those who had been good can go there----or can reach that kind of feeling------, and those who can not reach to the same level might not be going. And that is heaven.

What is the meaning of "Lost" ?

2010-10-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.10.31.

The Text: Luke 19:1-10.
He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

What is "lost"? What is the meaning of "lost"? That means, before the "lost", we have it. If we don't have anything, we cannot lose it.

What do I have? Do I know it? Do I know that the important "thing" was lost?

And Jesus is the one to help us finding all the lost sheeps on earth.

Mission Completed or Not completed???

2010-10-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.10.24

Reading 1, 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart.

I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith;

all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.

The first time I had to present my defence, no one came into court to support me. Every one of them deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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My Reading Notes:
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The words of St Paul is so appealing, I will think that is the life worth living. Before I die, if I could say the same, that must be the greatest blessing from God himself directly. The mission is completed, how wonderful. However, I can only add one point: The mission (for my part) is completed, the other mission remains to be done by my future friends, or for my next life. How big is my hope to come again and work for all projects of God?????

God will hear it

2010-10-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.10.17

Luke 18:1-8
Then he told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.

'There was a judge in a certain town,' he said, 'who had neither fear of God nor respect for anyone.

In the same town there was also a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, "I want justice from you against my enemy!"

For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, "Even though I have neither fear of God nor respect for any human person,

I must give this widow her just rights since she keeps pestering me, or she will come and slap me in the face." '

And the Lord said, 'You notice what the unjust judge has to say?

Now, will not God see justice done to his elect if they keep calling to him day and night even though he still delays to help them?

I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of man comes, will he find any faith on earth?'

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My Reading Notes:
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I must confess to you: Keep praying is not enough. If that you have such important wish, then you must be the one to try to carry it out, to do it yourself.

If you do have such strong motive, you pray to God, and you do it with your greatest
effort, God will hear it.

"Your Faith has saved you"

2010-10-10T03:11:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.10.10.

{The text:Luke 17:11-19)
Now it happened that on the way to Jerusalem he was travelling in the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee.

As he entered one of the villages, ten men suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, 'Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.'

When he saw them he said, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' Now as they were going away they were cleansed.

Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice
and threw himself prostrate at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan.

This led Jesus to say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?

It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.'

And he said to the man, 'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'

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My Reading Notes:
--------------------

This is the repeated message for many times in Bible. And this time one more element was added. Faith itself includes thankfulness. If one is to have faith, no matter how small that faith is, even small as a mustard seed, that faith would save us. And thankfulness is included in the small mustard seed.

And I shall not forget: That which constituted faith, is love. Without love, faith is not faith.

If you had faith like a mustard seed

2010-10-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.10.3.

The Text: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'

The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey you.

'Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, "Come and have your meal at once"?

Would he not be more likely to say, "Get my supper ready; fasten your belt and wait on me while I eat and drink. You yourself can eat and drink afterwards"?

Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told?

So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, "We are useless servants: we have done no more than our duty." '

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My Reading Notes:
------------------

If we had faith like a mustard seed, then we can do things. As for the reward, though that is also important for the self, but is secondary. The important thing is the aim. That is absolute important, that is what we lived for.

You Must Do Something

2010-09-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.9.26.

(The Text: Luke 16:19-31)

'There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day.

And at his gate there used to lie a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores,

who longed to fill himself with what fell from the rich man's table. Even dogs came and licked his sores.

Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham's embrace. The rich man also died and was buried.

'In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his embrace.

So he cried out, "Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames."

Abraham said, "My son, remember that during your life you had your fill of good things, just as Lazarus his fill of bad. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony.

But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to prevent those who want to cross from our side to yours or from your side to ours."

'So he said, "Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father's house,

since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too."

Abraham said, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them."

The rich man replied, "Ah no, father Abraham, but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent."

Then Abraham said to him, "If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead."

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My Reading Notes:
--------------------

The growth of a man is like filling up bottle. Now that your bottle is full. What will you do with the rest water? You keep on filling, let your belly swell or, use your strength to help out? to extend your energy into the outside world?

Life is not only a bottle. Life is an energy box. When you find yourself is full, you must do something. That is the meaning of dedication.

Son of Lights vs Son of This World

2010-09-18T03:50:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.9.19

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The Scripture: Luke 16:1-13
-----------------------

He also said to his disciples, 'There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property.

He called for the man and said, "What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer."

Then the steward said to himself, "Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed.

Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes."

'Then he called his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, "How much do you owe my master?"

"One hundred measures of oil," he said. The steward said, "Here, take your bond; sit down and quickly write fifty."

To another he said, "And you, sir, how much do you owe?" "One hundred measures of wheat," he said. The steward said, "Here, take your bond and write eighty."

'The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.'

'And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

Anyone who is trustworthy in little things is trustworthy in great; anyone who is dishonest in little things is dishonest in great.

If then you are not trustworthy with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches?

And if you are not trustworthy with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

'No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.'

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My Reading Notes:
--------------

The question is whether "This world" and "Other World" is the same or different.

Do I Love Him?

2010-09-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.9.12.

The Scripture: (Luke 15:1-32.)
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------

It turns out that we need a reason for every thing. Even "joy" itself needs such a reason. "Why are you so happy?" Some people would be puzzled.

"Yes, yes," and you would answer: "Because my brother was dead and has come to life again!" And this answer, is a challenge: Do you love your brother? Did you see that he is dead? Do you wish him come back to life again? If people found it puzzling, then it might be that they did not share the feeling.

The feeling is important. Do I love him? Should be the important question for everyone.

What is the meaning of "Give up"

2010-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.9.5.

Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them.

'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple.

No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple.

'And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it?

Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, anyone who saw it would start making fun of him and saying,

"Here is someone who started to build and was unable to finish."

Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who was advancing against him with twenty thousand?

If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace.

So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple without giving up all that he owns.

Luke 14:25-33

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My Reading Notes:
------------------

The point of "give up" can be understand more easily in the context of Zheong Zi.
If we could see through the secret of life: life is but a will and this will can produce real effort with the help of material. Material it self is not life.

Life is something behind the body, is something like a will power.

How can a will power itself "own" material ? no and never.

The point is people seldom understands this. They thought life is material, hence giving up has become impossible.

Once you get the point, all problems are gone.

Who need to be honoured?

2010-08-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

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.

Try the narrow gate, before it is too late

2010-08-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

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.

Mary the mother of God and Elizabeth the mother of John

2010-08-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Be Awaken, He will come suddenly

2010-08-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

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:
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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.

Life does not consist in possessions

2010-08-01T02:32:00.000-07:00

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

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My Reading Notes:
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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.

Dare to ask from the Lord

2010-07-14T03:08:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.25

(It is so much pleasure to read the scripture in advance. It seems a light in advance has shine into my heart.

Sorry I have to list the scripture here before time. since I will not be in HK for two weeks, and I am not sure whether I can upload anying in Sheunghai. Richard, 2010.7.14)

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Then Yahweh said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so grave, that I shall go down and see whether or not their actions are at all as the outcry reaching me would suggest. Then I shall know.'

While the men left there and went to Sodom, Yahweh remained in Abraham's presence.

Abraham stepped forward and said, 'Will you really destroy the upright with the guilty? Suppose there are fifty upright people in the city. Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare the place for the sake of the fifty upright in it?

Do not think of doing such a thing: to put the upright to death with the guilty, so that upright and guilty fare alike! Is the judge of the whole world not to act justly?'

Yahweh replied, 'If I find fifty upright people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place because of them.'

Abraham spoke up and said, 'It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord, I who am dust and ashes: Suppose the fifty upright were five short? Would you destroy the whole city because of five?' 'No,' he replied, 'I shall not destroy it if I find forty-five there.'

Abraham persisted and said, 'Suppose there are forty to be found there?' 'I shall not do it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the forty.'

Abraham said, 'I hope the Lord will not be angry if I go on: Suppose there are only thirty to be found there?' 'I shall not do it,' he replied, 'if I find thirty there.'

He said, 'It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord: Suppose there are only twenty there?' 'I shall not destroy it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the twenty.'

He said, 'I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.' 'I shall not destroy it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the ten.'

Genesis 18:20-32

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Now it happened that he was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'

He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.'

He also said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, "My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him;"

and the man answers from inside the house, "Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you."

I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

'So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

What father among you, if his son asked for a fish, would hand him a snake?

Or if he asked for an egg, hand him a scorpion?

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'

Luke 11:1-13

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------------

When I read about the story of Abraham a long long ago, I did find it admiring. Yes, his courage is admirable. Who can talk to God like that? Who can bargain with God is such a way????

And the question is: Where does his courage come from? Why is he so courageous?

Yes, it is because of LOVE. He did love his people, so he can dare to ask.

And now Jesus had ENCOURAGED us to ask. Do I have the courage to ask God anything?

It is so much pleasure to read this two scriptures together. It explains many thing.

It is one thing I can assure for the whole world, that if we did ask anything, we are sure to receive it. All those in h
istory, all those who had fought hard, did have a result. Any one who did ask, did receive.

We worry so many things that is not needed

2010-07-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.18.

(Sorry I have to list the scripture here before time. since I will not be in HK for two weeks, and I am not sure whether I can upload anying in Sheunghai, Richard, 2010.7.14)

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In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking.

Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.'

But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'

Luke 10:38-42

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My Reading Notes:
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Why we worry so many things that is not important? And now She wanted to take away the part Mary is doing.

What we do need worrying is the soul, not only my own soul, but a whole generation's soul need more care. If we could see into the reality, we shall know what to do.

It is not an excuse to escape from work, but to allow more burden on our shoulders.

Who is my neighbour?

2010-07-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.11

And now a lawyer stood up and, to test him, asked, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?'

He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.'

Jesus said to him, 'You have answered right, do this and life is yours.'

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'

In answer Jesus said, 'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of bandits; they stripped him, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead.

Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan traveller who came on him was moved with compassion when he saw him.

He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him.

Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper and said, "Look after him, and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have."

Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?'

He replied, 'The one who showed pity towards him.' Jesus said to him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'

Luke 10:25-37

Any one in need is my neighbour. Any one within the reach of my help, is my neighbour.

And to love is to extend a loving hand, to help.

To love is the action itself. To love is not a word. To love is a deed.

And this is the most important teaching from Jesus. We must love each other, and
we must help each other.

Yes I can do that

2010-07-03T03:14:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture, 2010.7.4.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting.

And he said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to do his harvesting.

Start off now, but look, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"

And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.

Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.

Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you.

Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."

Luke 10:1-9

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My Reading Notes:
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The mose difficult part of this scripture is that, how can you travell without money, and no food, and no shoes. And how can you cure people.

It must be a metaphor. And the meaning is hidden. If you wanted to do something, but there is no resources, What can you do? You have no money, no food, no shoes, no nothing. How can you do that? With what power inside your mind, that you know you will fulfill that task? And you can cure people, too.

The question is, how can I do anything without resources????

Yes, I can do that.

we are free

2010-06-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.27

Gospel
59 Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.'

60 But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.'
(Luke 9:51-62)

Reading 2,
1 Christ set us free, so that we should remain free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be fastened again to the yoke of slavery.

13 After all, brothers, you were called to be free; do not use your freedom as an opening for self-indulgence, but be servants to one another in love,
(Galatians 5:1, 13-18)

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My Reading Notes:
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The idea of freedom by Paul is very much the same as Zhuang-zi.
Once you are free, you will not be slave again. You will be free to do what you wanted to do, without any resistancy of the earthy world. Let the dead bury the dead, said Jesus. Once we could turn away from the earthy world, we are free.

Is the Bible against common sense?

2010-06-19T02:27:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.20

Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it.

(Luke 9:18-24)

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My Reading Notes:
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This is a line few would dare to think deeply into it. It seems, it is against the common sense of us all. Who would like to have a bitter life like Jesus? Who would like to be nailed into the cross? Who would like to pick up the cross?

Who would not like to choose an easy life? to enjoy good food, good clothes, and every kind of material satisfaction?

What is the meaning of losing ones life? who would choose to lose it, but not to save it?

May be this is the most most important secret about life itself.

Those who choose to enjoy the material, will lose it. Those who choose to work out all his effort with blood and tear, will save it. Life is something for us to fight for, not to waste for.

The question is WHY. Where does the important motive come from? Why would I do thing this way? but not that way?

This is the biggest secret of life. Every one can choose, and every one can see into the secret in a split second, and understood, or leave it there, and go into the mess of the fussy world, like a fly fly into the dunghill.

Nothing is important now

2010-06-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.13.

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
(Luke 7:36-50.8:1-3.)

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My Reading Notes:
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She must be in great agony before she came to Jesus. Where did her tears came from? Where did her pain came from? How she longed to release all this pain?

When she was kneeling before Jesus the one who could save her, how sad she was and how deeply in mood she was. When she found her tears has dropped onto Jesus foot, she wipe it and she cleaned Jesus's foot with her hair.

In such a moment, nothing is important. She just expressed herself. And She was saved.

How do the Creator feed us

2010-06-05T02:55:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.6.

But the crowds got to know and they went after him. He made them welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.

It was late afternoon when the Twelve came up to him and said, 'Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.'

He replied, 'Give them something to eat yourselves.' But they said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.'

For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, 'Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.'

They did so and made them all sit down.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps left over were collected they filled twelve baskets.

Luke 9:11b-17

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My Reading Notes:
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The question is how do the Creator of the Universe feed us.

Jesus had asked Peter at the last moment. He asked him does he love him.
He said he does. And he said, you feed my lamp. And he said, you tend my sheep. And he said, you feed my sheep. If Peter is to love God, he has now got a mission. That mission is to feed the people.

The question is how. How can he feed all other sheep on the planet earth?

Yes he can.

All the other creatures on earth are fed properly. Why not us people?

Its because God has leave us the "choice". Its that he had given us wisdom.

To feed all the people, Peter must deliver this wisdom to the people on earth.

And this wisdom, is the Gospel.

What else will Jesus tell us?

2010-05-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.30.

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come.

He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine.

John 16:12-15

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My Reading Notes:
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Sometimes, when we tried to think in terms of our own human race, we will have lots of questions and puzzles. What is the ultimate truth about us and the universe?

There had been a moment, that God had send us his own son, to tell us what to do.
However, His son had had only a limited time. When His son left us, he had said the above line. He wanted us to know more. He said, "I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now."

Yes, I can believe that by our present day understanding ( I would say, two thousand years ago till now, we had made little progress), if all truth were revealed, we can hardly bear it.

That is why we need the Holy Spirit. He will guide us to find our what we CAN understand.

We are not thinking alone

2010-05-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.23.

We are not thinking alone

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'

and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,

and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.

John 20:19-23

My Reading Notes:

I think St Paul had put the question very straight:

"Live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you."(Romans 8:9)

by such proclamation, St.Paul had separated the flesh from the spirit.

The human spirit, aided by the Holy spirit, can have a better choice. Our natural inclination can always lead us astray, but the spirit could lead us to where we really wanted to go to.

And we can say, we are not thinking alone, but thinking together with the "whole".
With such a thought, we could be always in peace, and find our way.

What is the meaning of "One"

2010-05-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.16.

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

John 17:20-26

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My Reading Notes:
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We are all in one. Me, you, The Creator, The Creator's son, and many many.

We are actually one. We share bodies. We eat others. And we are eaten. Our bodies are composed from other bodies. And Jesus had made us to eat his body too. Every Sunday, people around the world, once they know God, they will share God's body together.

But, what is the meaning of One?

First we must think like one. We ought to raise our thinking level into the same measuring unit: the one. All other units, like "self", "nation", "family" are secondary. We are free once we have achieved this view.

Then we would have a second question. What shall we do when we are one???

Jesus had taught us that, we must love each other. We can die for each other. That is the real meaning of being one.

Paraclete

2010-05-08T04:14:00.001-07:00

My Sunday Scripture, 2010.5.9.

Jesus replied: Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him.

Anyone who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not my own: it is the word of the Father who sent me.

I have said these things to you while still with you;

but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me say: I am going away and shall return. If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe.

John 14:23-29

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus had send us the Paraclete before he went back to the Father. And it has been one of my own habit, whenever I have difficult problems, I will ask for the Paraclete
to come to stay with my mind. And He will sure come, and I will have peace in mind and be well prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

In some difficult situations, I found it hard to handle, I found it uneasy to meet people, and I am not happy, then, I will call upon him, ask him to come, and he will surely come, and I have peace in mind and will be happy again. Only in very few times, when I found I could not be happy, and I ask him to help. And it came the strange answer. He will tell me, you ought to be sad. Then I will be really sad by then.

Am I dare enough to ask?

2010-04-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.2.

7 If you know me, you will know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.

8 Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him,

9 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, "Show us the Father"?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works.

11 You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.

12 In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.

13 Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:7-14

My Reading Notes,

The line was addressed to Philip in the Bible, but, it seems that it could be addressed to us all.

In Luke 11:9, Jesus had expressed similar meaning: "Ask, and it will be given to you."

And this is one of the very important part in our faith. Am I dare enough to ask anything from Him? As he had said also: "whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself". That means, if I am brave enough to carry the cross, I am also brave enough to ask.

And if I am brave enough to ask, the Holy Spirit will sure to come, helping me to fight for the things I had asked, and success itself is a sure outcome.

In the whole of our human history, all those who had fight with a pure motive were all successful. The world is moving onward with the help of the successful.

The meaning of FOOD

2010-04-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.25.

Jesus said: «My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
(John 10:27-30.)

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My Reading Notes:
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I had discussed with my students sometimes ago, that what is the meaning of FOOD.
We had found that all food are composed of life, the bodies of other life. We eat plants, and animals. They are all food. And in due course, we will render our body as food for others. We are one in such a meaning, though it is somewhat external.

And once Jesus asked his disciples to eat his flesh and blood.

Now I can understand, this is a highly symbolic meaning that we are one, with the Lord above, and with every other on the planet. Thus we had achieved eternal life.

To Love is To Serve

2010-04-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.18

Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this:

Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together.

Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.

Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,'

he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish.

The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water.

The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.

As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it.

Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.'

Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken.

Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord.

Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.

This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'

A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.'

Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.

In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.'

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'

John 21:1-19

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My Reading Notes:
------------------------

What had Jesus told Peter three times? To feed my lambs, to look after my sheep, to feed my sheep.

This is the most important order from God Himself. If we are to love God, we must obey this order.

How could I "feed" and "Look after" my people?

In Luke 11:9-13, He had taught us a really important method, that is, to ask the help from God, to seek the answers from God. And God will send us the Holy Spirit, we will know how to do and what to do.

Yes, to love God is to serve the people. And to serve the people, is loving God. Lets get things done. Thus a true Christian must walk outside to do something.

We are evolving internally

2010-04-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.11.

Reading 1

The apostles worked many signs and miracles among the people. One in heart, they all used to meet in the Portico of Solomon.

No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise

and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles

so that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past.

People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

(Acts 5:12-16)

Gospel

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'

and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,

and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive any one's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain any one's sins, they are retained.

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.'

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said.

Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.'

Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'

Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.

These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

(John 20:19-31)

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My Reading Notes:
-----------------------

I had always found it wonderful to see how the apostles acted in their time. People came from all the places, to hope for a healing from them. Even Peter's shadow, could have such healing power. They didn't even need hospitals.

And this is my question. Why is it that this miracles not seen today? And I must correct myself: Miracles are still here with us, but not in the form of the ancient world any more.

What is the meaning of the line? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

In the evolution of mankind, one very important aspect is that we are evolving internally. The mind is powerful. And we are making progress on it. We ought to use our mind more then physical feelings. I think it personally that is the reason of why the apostles today do not perform miracles like Saint Peter.

Now I would come to the point about "believing". One kind of believing never need thinking and acting. The other believing needs to think, and more importantly,
to act. Thus a true Christian tends always be also a saint. He can act according to what he thinks.

Is it true?

2010-04-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.4

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb

and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,' she said, 'and we don't know where they have put him.'

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.

They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.

Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground

and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

Till this moment they had still not understood the scripture, that he must rise from the dead

John 20:1-9

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My Reading Notes:
----------------------

Yes, this is the question one must ask, and must answer to one's honest self.
Even though the answer might be wrong someway, but, as Jesus had once told us:
"Seek, and ye shall find." Sooner or later, we would find it out.

And this question is related. It is related to the following:

1. Is there a creator?

2. Is the creator a mighty one?

3. Is it a need to send his son to do something for us on earth?

4. What had His son done to help us?

And all my answers to the above are positive. Especially the 4th question, it is so urgent we need his teaching on our planet. Every thing conceivable are so badly needed to change. We need love. And the love had been brought to us through Jesus Christ.

And so, yes, it is true. It is true that God had sent us his son to save us. And His son had raised from the dead, leaving us the Holy Spirit, whom we could plead for at any moment.

'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.'

2010-03-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.3.28.

The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate.

They began their accusation by saying, 'We found this man inciting our people to revolt, opposing payment of the tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king.'

Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He replied, 'It is you who say it.'

Pilate then said to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no case against this man.'

But they persisted, 'He is inflaming the people with his teaching all over Judaea and all the way from Galilee, where he started, down to here.'

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man were a Galilean;

and finding that he came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Herod was delighted to see Jesus; he had heard about him and had been wanting for a long time to set eyes on him; moreover, he was hoping to see some miracle worked by him.

So he questioned him at some length, but without getting any reply.

Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes were there, vigorously pressing their accusations.

Then Herod, together with his guards, treated him with contempt and made fun of him; he put a rich cloak on him and sent him back to Pilate.

And though Herod and Pilate had been enemies before, they were reconciled that same day.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests and the leading men and the people.

He said to them, 'You brought this man before me as a popular agitator. Now I have gone into the matter myself in your presence and found no grounds in the man for any of the charges you bring against him.

Nor has Herod either, since he has sent him back to us. As you can see, the man has done nothing that deserves death,

so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.'

But as one man they howled, 'Away with him! Give us Barabbas!'

(This man had been thrown into prison because of a riot in the city and murder.)

In his desire to set Jesus free, Pilate addressed them again,

but they shouted back, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'

And for the third time he spoke to them, 'But what harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death, so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.'

But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices, demanding that he should be crucified. And their shouts kept growing louder.

Pilate then gave his verdict: their demand was to be granted.

He released the man they asked for, who had been imprisoned because of rioting and murder, and handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased.

As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.

Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children.

For look, the days are surely coming when people will say, "Blessed are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne children, the breasts that have never suckled!"

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"; to the hills, "Cover us!"

For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?'

Now they were also leading out two others, criminals, to be executed with him.

When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' Then they cast lots to share out his clothing.

The people stayed there watching. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.'

The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar,

and saying, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.'

Above him there was an inscription: 'This is the King of the Jews'.

One of the criminals hanging there abused him: 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.'

But the other spoke up and rebuked him. 'Have you no fear of God at all?' he said. 'You got the same sentence as he did,

but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.'

Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

He answered him, 'In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'

It was now about the sixth hour and the sun's light failed, so that darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The veil of the Sanctuary was torn right down the middle.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice saying, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' With these words he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he gave praise to God and said, 'Truly, this was an upright man.'

And when all the crowds who had gathered for the spectacle saw what had happened, they went home beating their breasts.

All his friends stood at a distance; so also did the women who had accompanied him from Galilee and saw all this happen.

Luke 23:1-49

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My Reading Notes:
-----------------------------

'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.'

I would ask myself too: do I know what I am doing? I suppose I do. But sometimes, I should remind myself, that there might be black spots in my eyes, that I really do not know what I am doing. Please forgive me My Lord, and please open my eyes, let me see clearly what I am doing and what ought I shall be doing. Please open my eyes.

Before blaming others

2010-03-20T01:31:00.001-07:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.3.21

and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle

they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery,

and in the Law Moses has ordered us to stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?'

They asked him this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.

As they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her.'

Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground.

When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained in the middle.

Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

'No one, sir,' she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.'

John 8:1-11

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My Reading Notes:
----------------------

Before blaming others, I should first check myself......

and this is the only feature I could find in Abraham Lincoln, he is the only one who can do this.

What is God's way?

2010-03-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

My sunday Scripture 2010.3.14

The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him,

and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

So he told them this parable:

Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons.

The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that will come to me." So the father divided the property between them.

A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch;

so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

And he would willingly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them.

Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger!

I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men."

So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him.

Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son."

But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast,

because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.

'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing.

Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe and sound."

He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in;

but he retorted to his father, "All these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends.

But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loose women -- you kill the calf we had been fattening."

'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours.

But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

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My Reading Notes:
--------------------

This is a parable. The hidden meaning is always fresh.

The meaning goes like this: People goes away from God, and what they got is poverty. The treasure is in God's place. It is as simple as that. But the parable remains a parable still. People got to think: Is it true that you will find poverty instead of fortune?

People are seeking pleasure. People are seeking to satisiy earthly desire. People are not using their mind. They use only organs. By doing so, poverty is waiting, not only for one man, but countries and cultures.

And the question still remains: What is God's way? How can we find fortune in God's way?

unless you repent

2010-03-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010. 3.7.

It was just about this time that some people arrived and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them,

'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than any others, that this should have happened to them?

They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.

Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell, killing them all? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem?

They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.'

He told this parable, 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.

He said to his vinedresser, "For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?"

"Sir," the man replied, "leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it:

it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down." '

Luke 13:1-9

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My Reading Notes:
--------------------

Why do I need to repent? What had I done wrong?
May be this is the most difficult question in the Bible.

We are all wrong, if we can see the problem in a higher level. Just like seeing that in yesterday. No one could deny that one had done something wrong, and very wrong in the past. .. I will try to understand more about this matter. Hope some one could help me.

Is it necessary to send Jesus as his son to us?

2010-02-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.28

Now about eight days after this had been said, he took with him Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray.

And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became sparkling white.

And suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah

appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they woke up and saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He did not know what he was saying.

As he was saying this, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid.

And a voice came from the cloud saying, 'This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.'

And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

(Luke 9:28b-36)

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------

I had used to think that if God had ever created human being, he must had build in some connection inside the human body for us to communicate with him. This inborn connection, we may say, is the inner feeling about God, and about every other creature in the universe. We are connected from the very beginning. Of all the connections, of course, the most important one should be the one we connect with God.

Is it necessary to send Jesus as his son to us?

There might be something we can hardly understand. However, for the uncivilized human being, we will be easier to reach by something not within but from outside. In another word, we are foolish enough, that we can not understand things from within, thus God sent us his Son, making us to listen to Him better.

This is the same reason as we have a mind, but still we need to read books and to do every exploration to achieve anything.

How do we get to our wishes by avoiding the baits?

2010-02-20T19:52:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.21

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert,

for forty days being put to the test by the devil. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry.

Then the devil said to him, 'If you are Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.'

But Jesus replied, 'Scripture says: Human beings live not on bread alone.'

Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world

and said to him, 'I will give you all this power and their splendour, for it has been handed over to me, for me to give it to anyone I choose.

Do homage, then, to me, and it shall all be yours.'

But Jesus answered him, 'Scripture says: You must do homage to the Lord your God, him alone you must serve.'

Then he led him to Jerusalem and set him on the parapet of the Temple. 'If you are Son of God,' he said to him, 'throw yourself down from here,

for scripture says: He has given his angels orders about you, to guard you, and again:

They will carry you in their arms in case you trip over a stone.'

But Jesus answered him, 'Scripture says: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Having exhausted every way of putting him to the test, the devil left him, until the opportune moment

Luke 4:1-13

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

It is the things we needed, the vanities we wished, and the special magic we always hoped. The devil hope to use them as baits to catch us. And so many times we had forgotten, those are baits.

How do we get things we wanted? By working hard, and with the holy spirit guiding us, we can achieve our aim.

How blessed are you who are poor

2010-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.14

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon

Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.

'Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man.

Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!-your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.

Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep.

'Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.

(Luke 6:17, 20-26)

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

I have never had any other comfort greater then the comfort from The Lord. Its the blessing coming from above. Its the ultimate blessing. By this blessing, we who are living in the up-side-down world will know, one day, darkness will be driven away, and light would be anywhere and everywhere, by then, we are all very happy.

We would rejoice for such a day.

And that is why I will keep on smiling, because I know that day will come.

Only in weakness do I weep, but once the cloud is over, I will smile like broad sunshine.

it is people you will be catching

2010-02-06T00:31:00.001-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.7

Now it happened that he was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God,

when he caught sight of two boats at the water's edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets.

He got into one of the boats -- it was Simon's -- and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.'

Simon replied, 'Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.'

And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear,

so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.

When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.'

For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made;

so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.'

Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11

My Reading Notes:

It might be difficult to get people back in believe, but it is sure that they will come back. Truth is always there, only sometimes the eyes are blind. Once the blinding elements removed, sight will be clear again.

People will see things as they are.

When heaven remained shut

2010-01-30T17:34:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.31

Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, 'This is Joseph's son, surely?'

But he replied, 'No doubt you will quote me the saying, "Physician, heal yourself," and tell me, "We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own country." '

And he went on, 'In truth I tell you, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

'There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah's day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land,

but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a town in Sidonia.

And in the prophet Elisha's time there were many suffering from virulent skin-diseases in Israel, but none of these was cured -- only Naaman the Syrian.'

When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged.

Saint Luke 4:21-30

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My Reading Notes:
-------------------

May be this is the most terrible thing of all. And it might be true.
Heaven is not always open. Sometimes, it is shut. All the people on earth,
except a very very few, cannot reach help.

People will got angry only by hearing this. But it is true.

Some times, there was total darkness, even the most wise man on earth had become blind. For the older generation of China, they had all experienced the Cultural Revolution. By that time, all were blind. And the heaven was shut for them. There was nowhere for light, and nothing could help. People were all blind in the mind.

But why? but why? I can not understand this. May be that was a serious lesson to learn. We should open our eyes.

What is the good news?

2010-01-23T02:04:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.24

Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us,

as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus,

so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.

-------

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside.

He taught in their synagogues and everyone glorified him.

He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read,

and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

Saint Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

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My Reading Notes:
---------------------

There was a time when, only words of the prophet can be of some comfort. Because people are all captives, are all blind. All human being are not free.

And there was a time when, Jesus had descended on earth, proclaiming to us the good news, that we could open our eyes and see. We are free. That is the biggest favor given to us people from the Lord.

We were all blind, and now that we could open our eyes. And that was the good news told us two thousand years ago.

Somehow, not every one on earth could reach the meaning behind it.

And I had found out, only Zhuang Zi had the similar meaning about free in the Chinese culture.

Can we turn ourselves into wine?

2010-01-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.17

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there,

and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited.

And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.'

Jesus said, 'Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.'

His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water,' and they filled them to the brim.

Then he said to them, 'Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.'

They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from -- though the servants who had drawn the water knew -- the president of the feast called the bridegroom

and said, 'Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.'

This was the first of Jesus' signs: it was at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus had turned water into wine. And this could also be explained into an analogy: that Jesus had come to earth to turn human beings into a higher form
of human beings, that the higher form of human beings are the human beings who know love.

Can each of us, turn ourselves into wine through Jesus? and through our own effort?

And this process has been going for two thousand years. At least for the western culture, they had received Jesus for that long, and for us in the fareast,
we had come to know this for only a few hundred years.

Can we raise ourselves up a level?

Can I raise myself up a level?

Yes, I hope I can.