史百克（T. Austin Sparks） 弟兄曾经讲： To conform is to lose spiritual power。
弟兄指的是神的儿女不可随同今世的风俗，否则就失去了生命的能力。
我们可能会比较容易想到如果随同今世的风俗我们会失去见证，但不常想到会失去生命的能力。[……]
2014-11-22
Category: 拾记 Gathered notes
2014-11-03
至亲的亲属
我们与主的关系，是一种实际的亲情关系。
我们平常喊主啊，主啊，但并不总能感到或记得他是我们至亲的亲属。
他是我们的约瑟。他真的爱我们，不是因为我们好，而是因为我们是他的弟兄。
地上最好的亲情，也只是天上关系的某一部分的一个影子而已 （并不是本体，甚至不是全部整体的影子，只是某一侧面的影子）。[……]
2014-10-25
属灵的骄傲
在我的基督徒生活中，最矛盾和令人困扰的经历之一是发现一个基督徒会有属灵的骄傲。这种所谓骄傲的存在本身就是令人困惑的，因为 “属灵”和“骄傲”不应该能够同时存在。
仇敌的诡计
骄傲作为一种人类行为很常见，是罪恶人性最基本的方面之一。但属灵的骄傲则更难理解，更难应对。
我们很容易断言，任何导致[……]
2014-10-25
Spiritual Pride
One of the most paradoxical and troubling experiences I have had in my Christian life is the existence of spiritual pride.
Pride as a human behavior is common, and is a very basic aspect of sinful human nature. But spiritual pride is much harder to understand, and even harder to deal with.
It’s easy to categorically say that any spiritual revelation that leads to pride is not true spiritual revelation. The real life experience, however, tells you that it’s far more complicated than that.
Often, you see terrible and hurtful pride in some men and women who have such profound spiritual knowledge. The spiritual knowledge demonstrated by such individuals are so profound and admirable, yet the person is so evidently and hurtfully prideful, condescending, and self-important, it challenges a normal definition of “pride”.
[……]
2014-03-05
男人和女人
神的观点
神的话中，有关男人和女人的关系，有两个很不同的着眼点, 需要分别认识。
第一个是关乎丈夫和妻子的关系，这里 神所强调的不是一般的道德层面， 也不是个人的行为本身，而是夫妻关系在 神的定规中的圣洁，因为这个关系代表着宇宙中重要的关系，即基督和他的教会之间的关系， 这是极大的奥秘。 世人不能明白。
第二个是个人道德层面的，虽然也常常和婚姻有关，但着眼点是个人行为和个人的圣洁。 这一点大部分的人靠良心和直觉都知道许多。
[……]
2014-02-06
A letter to a college student
To a girl who wants the best, and hates her life for having to settle with something not as good:
… although I don’t share the specific experience you have now, I know how it feels like when you are distressed by certain disappointment, disadvantage, detriment, or a prejudice, and worse yet, you can’t pinpoint what that is, let alone fight against it, you’re just unhappy with dissatisfaction.
In terms of people’s birth, family background, cultural background, upbringing, and natural gifts, the world has never been equal. And the appearance of inequality stirs up all kinds of evil. Jealousy, hatred (of others, of self and of God), and even murder. All that started from Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve.[……]
2014-01-04
China’s future
Friends debate over the future of China. Commentators and bloggers instigate some fierce arguments between those who criticize the country (including its government, society, culture and people) and those who zealously attack the criticisms. Though I have no intention to join the debate, I desire to share a little bit of my personal observations.
In today’s China, negatively criticizing everything has become a national hobby, which is not making anyone happier.
But on the other hand, the increasing number of Chinese who take a prideful position and passionately argue against all criticisms, denying the country’s major problems, indicates an condition that is just as sad, if not worse.[……]
2013-05-03
箴言读经笔记
I. 箴言与普通智慧的区别
(1) 箴言教我们如何生活，但箴言主要的目的并非为了帮助我们在地上的生存。如果箴言只是为了帮助我们属地的生存的话，亚伯（创世纪 4:8）的经历就足以证明智慧是软弱无力的。就人的经历来讲，亚伯是信心生活的开始，是智慧首次显现。但亚伯很快就被他哥哥该隐杀了。如果单从生[……]
2013-04-22
Reflections of Proverbs – Seeing Christ in Proverbs
I. Proverbs is not common wisdom:
(1) Proverbs teaches us how to live, but this book is not primarily about practical social skills for survival in t[……]
2012-05-27
The Lord’s Table
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His ow[……]