於2010-07-21發佈
在這世代末了,在光與暗、善與惡之間會有著終極衝突,正如我們在以賽亞書六十章所讀到的,光會戰勝,萬國會來就光而不是黑暗。我們若常在光裡面,我們的勝利是必然的。 

因為聖經告訴我們不要輕忽魔鬼的計謀,所以我們需要瞭解這些時候黑暗的意圖,它會如何在末世得著權柄。我們可以在聖經裡看見邪惡的基本特性,歷史上也證明了此,就是邪惡設法引誘人並毀滅人的基本策略與方式從沒改變,只不過是一次又一次的重複上演。 

舉例來說,在伊甸園我們看見蛇是『狡猾的』(參考創世記31。狡猾指的是一個人總是改變規則,想看看可以如何脫身。相反地,真正基督的門徒不是設法找出他們可以脫身之道,乃是他們可以如何更加順服。這兩個本質完全背道而馳;當我們更靠近這世代末了,我們可以預期這兩個本質會越來越明顯,而且會彼此衝突。現在是我們為自己本性中的狡猾悔改的時候,因為我們若不悔改,它一定會使我們跌倒。 

既然我們在談論時事,當目前在政府以下的立法制度突顯時,我們看見憲法透過『狡猾』逐漸在被淡化與削弱中。憲法是以簡單明瞭的英文寫成,現代法律則是以法律術語寫成,基本上是以只有律師能瞭解的法規寫成。以法律術語寫成的文件冗長到沒有人有時間讀;箴言十章19節說:『多言多語難免有過』,或者我們可以說這就是典型的例子。那些一大冊又一大冊的法律,你可能會在裡面發現與憲法完全相法的隱藏測量方式,就像是在等待適當時機爆炸的炸彈。 

我們可以分辨一個人是否真實脫離巴比倫的靈(混亂)的最基本方式,就是藉由清楚的說話或溝通方式。我自己對抗此的一個方法,就是要求我所簽的任何合約沒有多餘的話。我很快學到一份二十四頁的合約可以少於四頁,卻不會影響真正內容。減少話語將會減少其中的潛在問題與欺騙。我們不應該簽任何沒讀過或不瞭解的合約。 

美國已經成為世界最法制的社會,現在每八位律師才有一位工程師。中國和印度則是每八位工程師才有一位律師,這即是何以他們開始要在經濟上打敗美國的原因。其他國家不想與美國做生意,甚至連國內公司都出走的一個原因,是因為美國已經成為法律地雷區,任何產品的任何動作都有著無限的責任。此無法長久,而且對於從商業到健保的每一件事都有其不利影響。我們的政府若真想要支付得起健保,只要改革民事索償制度,至少可以砍掉三分之一的花費,甚至一半或一半以上的花費。然而,改革民事索償制度所應做的遠超過在訴訟中限制責任─要真正有效率就應該控制法律術語到一個地步,任何簽合約的人都應該易讀易懂。 

令人驚奇的是,道(話語)成肉身的耶穌所使用的話語何其少,卻是何等簡潔有力。祂的話如同兩刃的劍,能將事情刺入剖開(參考希伯來書412)。那些行在光中與黑暗中的人越來越明顯的區別,將是話語清楚明瞭vs.話語使別人混淆。 

政治性正確是籠罩在西方的帕子,到一個地步就連清晰的瞭解也昏暗不明。想一想看:在美國國土安全部所列出的潛在恐怖威脅名單,竟將相信聖經末世預言的基督徒與老兵列在其中,卻沒有列出伊斯蘭極端份子。想一想這有多扭曲,什麼時候基督徒駕飛機衝撞建築物或成為自殺炸彈攻擊者?在過去五十年,世界上實質的重大恐怖攻擊都來自一個團體─伊斯蘭聖戰組織,此團體卻不曾被我們的國土安全部視為一個潛在威脅。最近在紐約時代廣場的未遂爆炸案正是由一位聖戰組織份子所為,當其上報時,我們的總統甚至沒有提到對方是伊斯蘭教徒,只不過炫耀此爆炸案如何被攔下來。它是由一位熱狗販所攔下來的!若將目前國土安全部領袖炒魷魚,讓熱狗販取代他們的位置,我們會做得更好! 

拯救時代廣場的熱狗販是位老兵真的是件好事,這並不是陳腔濫調,我們的老兵一直是最好的美國公民,他們從一開始就保護與維護我們的國家。他們打過仗,經歷過難以想像的苦境,回到家鄉成為各領域的最佳領袖,因為他們知道如何勝任最艱鉅的工作並且成功。他們也學會清楚簡潔的下令與接令─他們瞭解清楚的言論,他們絕大部分非常瞭解美國現在正發生的事。 

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 28, 2010)


预备时候-之28(雷克乔纳)
在这世代末了,在光与暗、善与恶之间会有着终极冲突,正如我们在以赛亚书六十章所读到的,光会战胜,万国会来就光而不是黑暗。我们若常在光里面,我们的胜利是必然的。

因为圣经告诉我们不要轻忽魔鬼的计谋,所以我们需要了解这些时候黑暗的意图,它会如何在末世得着权柄。我们可以在圣经里看见邪恶的基本特性,历史上也证明了此,就是邪恶设法引诱人并毁灭人的基本策略与方式从没改变,只不过是一次又一次的重复上演。

举例来说,在伊甸园我们看见蛇是『狡猾的』(参考创世记3:1)。狡猾指的是一个人总是改变规则,想看看可以如何脱身。相反地,真正基督的门徒不是设法找出他们可以脱身之道,乃是他们可以如何更加顺服。这两个本质完全背道而驰;当我们更靠近这世代末了,我们可以预期这两个本质会越来越明显,而且会彼此冲突。现在是我们为自己本性中的狡猾悔改的时候,因为我们若不悔改,它一定会使我们跌倒。

既然我们在谈论时事,当目前在政府以下的立法制度突显时,我们看见宪法透过『狡猾』逐渐在被淡化与削弱中。宪法是以简单明了的英文写成,现代法律则是以法律术语写成,基本上是以只有律师能了解的法规写成。以法律术语写成的文件冗长到没有人有时间读;箴言十章19节说:『多言多语难免有过』,或者我们可以说这就是典型的例子。那些一大册又一大册的法律,你可能会在里面发现与宪法完全相法的隐藏测量方式,就像是在等待适当时机爆炸的炸弹。

我们可以分辨一个人是否真实脱离巴比伦的灵(混乱)的最基本方式,就是藉由清楚的说话或沟通方式。我自己对抗此的一个方法,就是要求我所签的任何合约没有多余的话。我很快学到一份二十四页的合约可以少于四页,却不会影响真正内容。减少话语将会减少其中的潜在问题与欺骗。我们不应该签任何没读过或不了解的合约。

美国已经成为世界最法制的社会,现在每八位律师才有一位工程师。中国和印度则是每八位工程师才有一位律师,这即是何以他们开始要在经济上打败美国的原因。其它国家不想与美国做生意,甚至连国内公司都出走的一个原因,是因为美国已经成为法律地雷区,任何产品的任何动作都有着无限的责任。此无法长久,而且对于从商业到健保的每一件事都有其不利影响。我们的政府若真想要支付得起健保,只要改革民事索偿制度,至少可以砍掉三分之一的花费,甚至一半或一半以上的花费。然而,改革民事索偿制度所应做的远超过在诉讼中限制责任─要真正有效率就应该控制法律术语到一个地步,任何签合约的人都应该易读易懂。

令人惊奇的是,道(话语)成肉身的耶稣所使用的话语何其少,却是何等简洁有力。祂的话如同两刃的剑,能将事情刺入剖开(参考希伯来书4:12)。那些行在光中与黑暗中的人越来越明显的区别,将是话语清楚明了vs.话语使别人混淆。

政治性正确是笼罩在西方的帕子,到一个地步就连清晰的了解也昏暗不明。想一想看:在美国国土安全部所列出的潜在恐怖威胁名单,竟将相信圣经末世预言的基督徒与老兵列在其中,却没有列出伊斯兰极端份子。想一想这有多扭曲,什么时候基督徒驾飞机冲撞建筑物或成为自杀炸弹攻击者?在过去五十年,世界上实质的重大恐怖攻击都来自一个团体─伊斯兰圣战组织,此团体却不曾被我们的国土安全部视为一个潜在威胁。最近在纽约时代广场的未遂爆炸案正是由一位圣战组织份子所为,当其上报时,我们的总统甚至没有提到对方是伊斯兰教徒,只不过炫耀此爆炸案如何被拦下来。它是由一位热狗贩所拦下来的!若将目前国土安全部领袖炒鱿鱼,让热狗贩取代他们的位置,我们会做得更好!

拯救时代广场的热狗贩是位老兵真的是件好事,这并不是陈腔滥调,我们的老兵一直是最好的美国公民,他们从一开始就保护与维护我们的国家。他们打过仗,经历过难以想象的苦境,回到家乡成为各领域的最佳领袖,因为他们知道如何胜任最艰巨的工作并且成功。他们也学会清楚简洁的下令与接令─他们了解清楚的言论,他们绝大部分非常了解美国现在正发生的事。

(摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 28, 2010)


Prepared for the Times, Part 28
Week 28, 2010


At the end of this age, there will be the ultimate clash between light and darkness, good and evil, as we see in places like Isaiah 60. The light wins and the nations come to the light, not to the darkness. Our victory is inevitable if we will just abide in the Light. 

Because we are told not to be ignorant of the devil’s schemes, we need to understand the purpose of the darkness in these times and how it gains the authority for a time at the end. One of the basic characteristics about evil that we can see throughout the Scriptures, and is verified through history, is that the basic strategy and ways evil seeks to seduce and bring destruction upon men are the same, just repeated over and over.

For example, we see in the Garden that the serpent was “crafty” (see Genesis 3:1). This word implies one who is always bending and stretching the rules to see how much they can get away with. Contrary to this, the true disciples of Christ are not always trying to find out how much they can get away with, but rather how to obey better. These are exactly contrary natures. We can expect as we get closer to the end of this age that these two natures will become increasingly distinct, and they will clash. Now is the time for us to repent of the craftiness in our own nature because it will surely cause us to fall if we do not.

Since we are covering current events, as the nature of the legislation presented under the current Administration becomes manifest, we see that it is through “craftiness” that our Constitution is being diluted and undermined. The Constitution is written in plain English, and modern laws are written in legalese, which is basically a code that only other lawyers can understand. Documents written in legalese become so long that no one has the time to read them. Proverbs 10:19 certainly applies: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,” or we might say that we can count on it when this is the case. In these huge volumes that laws have become, you can now find hidden within virtually each one measures that are like bombs waiting to go off at the right time, which are contrary to the Constitution. 

One of the most basic ways that we can tell if someone has been truly delivered from the spirit of Babylon (confusion) is by clear speech, or clear communication. One way I started combating this in my own private little war against it was to require that any contract I sign be in plain English and with no unnecessary words. I learned quickly that a 24-page contract can be 4 pages or less without losing any real content. Reduce the words and you will reduce the potential problems and deceptions in it. No one should ever sign a contract that they have not read and that they cannot understand.

America has become the most legalistic society in the world, now producing about eight lawyers for every engineer. China and India produce eight engineers for every lawyer, which is one reason why they are starting to beat the U.S. economically. A major reason why other countries no longer want to do business in the U.S., and even American companies are leaving the U.S., is because of the legal minefield that America has become, with almost unlimited liability for and action on any product. This cannot last and is having a detrimental impact on everything from commerce to healthcare. If our government truly wanted to make healthcare affordable, it could cut the costs by at least one-third, and maybe by one-half or more, just by tort reform. However, tort reform should do more than just limit liability in lawsuits—to be truly effective it should rein in legalese to the point where anyone who signs a contract should be able to easily read and understand it. 

It is a marvel how few words the Word Himself used and how powerful and concise they were. His Word is like a two-edged sword that cuts right to the point of the matter (see Hebrews 4:12). One of the ways that those whom walk in the Light are going to become increasingly distinguished from those in darkness will be the clarity of their speech vs. the confusion in others. 

Political Correctness (PC) is one of the veils that is being cast over the West to the point where clear understanding is darkened. Consider this: In the infamous memo put out by the Department of Homeland Security about potential terrorist threats in America, it named Christians who believe the end-time prophecies in the Bible and veterans, but did not name Islamic extremists. Think about how skewed that is. When was the last time a Christian flew an airplane into a building or was a suicide bomber? Over the last half century virtually every major terrorist attack in the world came from one group, Islamic jihadists, and yet that group is not even named as a potential threat by our DHS. The recent bombing attempt in Times Square was by an Islamic jihadist, and yet when pressed, our President would not even acknowledge that he was Islamic, but rather boasted about how this attempt was stopped. It was stopped by a hot dog vendor! We would do well to fire the present leaders of DHS and put hot dog vendors in their places! 

It’s a good thing that the hot dog vendor who saved Times Square was a veteran. It is not just a cliché, but our veterans are and always have been our finest citizens. They are the ones who have protected and preserved our country from the beginning. They fight the wars, going through unimaginable hell, and then come home and make the greatest leaders in just about every field because they know how to take on the hardest jobs and succeed. They also learn to make and take orders that are clear and succinct—they understand clear speech, and they, for the most part, profoundly understand what is happening in America now.