現在有超過一半的美國人開始相信，有人蓄意拆毀美國的力量與我們共和政體的基本柱子，此包括越來越多總統自己政黨的人。正如賓拉登最近的帶子表示，他們對歐巴馬政府對911世貿中心與五角大廈攻擊的回應感到驚訝，似乎連歐巴馬政府裡的許多人也同樣驚訝，美國人已經開始起來反對其議程。反彈力道已經越來越大，而且不斷上升，事實上每一個選舉都顯出對政府與歐巴馬個人的否決。然而，健保改革法案強行加在美國人身上，反彈聲浪是如此大，真正令人擔憂的是，其顯示出政府完全不管美國人的意願。對許多人看來，彷彿他們不再受選民管制了。 
 
即便如此，隨著選舉的到來，仍有許多事情可以完成。當然，最好的情節就是總統醒悟過來，大膽站出來承認他的許多議程是錯誤的。我們不應該對此放棄，每天為他與他的行政團隊禱告。因為基本的終極議題正是我們國家的非常根基，目前正是緊急關頭，我們需要為著和平來禱告，禱告一切都會平和地解決。 

在過去二十年我所看到也時常分享的先知性情節就是美國向著極左派移動，後來又過度回應，劇烈地向極右派移動，這將會是一個災難。不管往那個極端移動，都應該使我們擔心，因為極左極右都會帶來專制。當神讓我們看見如此先知性的情節，為要顯出我們所朝向的地方，好讓我們可以改變方向。這並不需要成為美國的結局，但我們若不改變方向，我們正朝向那裡。 

要此改變發生，基督徒必須對所發生的事情甦醒過來，定意來面對問題，如同所蒙召的光和鹽投入其中，定意跟隨羔羊，而不是跟隨驢子或是大象。羔羊也是『真理』；尋求真理，定意不計一切代價站立在真理上，從來沒有像現在如此需要這樣的勇氣。 

儘管在每週一話的型態上，我們只能很表面的提出問題，但另有一個對這些時候巨大影響的屬靈要素，就是我們國家與以色列的關係。就在以色列總理在白宮被羞辱的隔天，墨西哥灣開始無止盡的大漏油，這難道只是巧合而已嗎？這對美國所造成的災害有沒有可能超過先前的自然災害呢？當美國向以色列施壓放棄迦薩，我們立刻受到卡翠納颶風的侵襲，受災面積與迦薩所割讓的領土一樣，中間有沒有關連？我們可以回顧其他諸如此類的關連，有充足的資料可循，甚至已經出書了，倘若真有關連，所要表達的信息又是什麼呢？ 

羅馬書9-11章是保羅神學的中心，他提到猶太人，稱他們為『原來的枝子』。在此論述的最後，這位偉大的使徒提醒我們『不可自高』，向著舊枝子誇口。向他們『自高』的後果就是我們被折下來。 

這當然不是指著我們必須同意以色列所做的每一件事，但以自高態度不同意會帶來一定的後果。從以色列建國以來，每一個越線的政府都為此付上可怕的代價。以色列是屬神的氣壓計與計時器，神忌邪地看顧她。祂甚至稱以色列為『祂眼中的瞳人』（參考申命記32：10），這表示動以色列就像戳祂的眼睛一樣。那是極度的自高，也是同樣的驕傲造成撒旦的墮落，這也是人類墮落的原因。我們如何處理與以色列的關係，的確反映出我們對神與其目的的敬重程度。 

再一次，我絕不是說以色列所做的每件事都是對的，但實際上世界對以色列的宣傳是如此的扭曲與偏差，事實上也反映出世界對神的真正態度。這是如何進行的呢？ 

在以色列歷史中我們看見一個重複性的模式，以色列何時遠離神，主就允許以色列周圍的外邦國家侵略或壓制她，直到她醒悟過來，為她的背叛悔改、回轉敬拜主。於是主就重擊這些『自高』的國家，作為碰祂子民後果的示範。正如保羅也在他的書信中解釋到，以色列會被從新接上，並且『以色列全家都要得救』（參考羅馬書11：26）。以色列越來越孤立，現在似乎連她最信任的朋友─美國都要與她斷絕。除了神沒有可倚靠的，她會轉向主。然而，我們若不立刻悔改，我們以如此自高態度碰以色列的後果會很可怕。 

漏油事件，相信與否，是從神來的恩典，在更糟的事情以自然災害的形式臨到我們前，給予我們時間悔改。政府在處理漏油事件上的無能說明了我們是何等無助來面對這些時候的問題，我們何等需要神的恩典，而不是惹祂憤怒。 

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 31, 2010)


预备时候-之31 (雷克乔纳)
现在有超过一半的美国人开始相信，有人蓄意拆毁美国的力量与我们共和政体的基本柱子，此包括越来越多总统自己政党的人。正如宾拉登最近的带子表示，他们对欧巴马政府对911世贸中心与五角大厦攻击的响应感到惊讶，似乎连欧巴马政府里的许多人也同样惊讶，美国人已经开始起来反对其议程。反弹力道已经越来越大，而且不断上升，事实上每一个选举都显出对政府与欧巴马个人的否决。然而，健保改革法案强行加在美国人身上，反弹声浪是如此大，真正令人担忧的是，其显示出政府完全不管美国人的意愿。对许多人看来，彷佛他们不再受选民管制了。

即便如此，随着选举的到来，仍有许多事情可以完成。当然，最好的情节就是总统醒悟过来，大胆站出来承认他的许多议程是错误的。我们不应该对此放弃，每天为他与他的行政团队祷告。因为基本的终极议题正是我们国家的非常根基，目前正是紧急关头，我们需要为着和平来祷告，祷告一切都会平和地解决。

在过去二十年我所看到也时常分享的先知性情节就是美国向着极左派移动，后来又过度响应，剧烈地向极右派移动，这将会是一个灾难。不管往那个极端移动，都应该使我们担心，因为极左极右都会带来专制。当神让我们看见如此先知性的情节，为要显出我们所朝向的地方，好让我们可以改变方向。这并不需要成为美国的结局，但我们若不改变方向，我们正朝向那里。

要此改变发生，基督徒必须对所发生的事情苏醒过来，定意来面对问题，如同所蒙召的光和盐投入其中，定意跟随羔羊，而不是跟随驴子或是大象。羔羊也是『真理』；寻求真理，定意不计一切代价站立在真理上，从来没有像现在如此需要这样的勇气。

尽管在每周一话的型态上，我们只能很表面的提出问题，但另有一个对这些时候巨大影响的属灵要素，就是我们国家与以色列的关系。就在以色列总理在白宫被羞辱的隔天，墨西哥湾开始无止尽的大漏油，这难道只是巧合而已吗？
这对美国所造成的灾害有没有可能超过先前的自然灾害呢？
当美国向以色列施压放弃迦萨，我们立刻受到卡翠纳飓风的侵袭，受灾面积与迦萨所割让的领土一样，中间有没有关连？
我们可以回顾其它诸如此类的关连，有充足的数据可循，甚至已经出书了，倘若真有关连，所要表达的信息又是什么呢？

罗马书9-11章是保罗神学的中心，他提到犹太人，称他们为『原来的枝子』。在此论述的最后，这位伟大的使徒提醒我们『不可自高』，向着旧枝子夸口。向他们『自高』的后果就是我们被折下来。

这当然不是指着我们必须同意以色列所做的每一件事，但以自高态度不同意会带来一定的后果。从以色列建国以来，每一个越线的政府都为此付上可怕的代价。以色列是属神的气压计与定时器，神忌邪地看顾她。祂甚至称以色列为『祂眼中的瞳人』（参考申命记32:10），这表示动以色列就像戳祂的眼睛一样。那是极度的自高，也是同样的骄傲造成撒旦的堕落，这也是人类堕落的原因。我们如何处理与以色列的关系，的确反映出我们对神与其目的的敬重程度。

再一次，我绝不是说以色列所做的每件事都是对的，但实际上世界对以色列的宣传是如此的扭曲与偏差，事实上也反映出世界对神的真正态度。这是如何进行的呢？

在以色列历史中我们看见一个重复性的模式，以色列何时远离神，主就允许以色列周围的外邦国家侵略或压制她，直到她醒悟过来，为她的背叛悔改、回转敬拜主。于是主就重击这些『自高』的国家，作为碰祂子民后果的示范。正如保罗也在他的书信中解释到，以色列会被从新接上，并且『以色列全家都要得救』（参考罗马书11:26）。以色列越来越孤立，现在似乎连她最信任的朋友─美国都要与她断绝。除了神没有可倚靠的，她会转向主。然而，我们若不立刻悔改，我们以如此自高态度碰以色列的后果会很可怕。

漏油事件，相信与否，是从神来的恩典，在更糟的事情以自然灾害的形式临到我们前，给予我们时间悔改。政府在处理漏油事件上的无能说明了我们是何等无助来面对这些时候的问题，我们何等需要神的恩典，而不是惹祂愤怒。

(摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 31, 2010)


Prepared for the Times, Part 31
Week 31, 2010

It now appears that more than half of the people in America are at least beginning to believe that there is an intentional dismantling of America’s strength and the basic pillars of our Republic. This includes an increasing number from the President’s own party. Just as recent tapes from Osama bin Laden have indicated that they were surprised by the response of America to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 911, it also seems that many in the Obama Administration have been surprised by the way Americans have arisen to counter its agenda. The pushback has indeed been very strong and growing in strength. Virtually every election has been a rejection of the Administration and of Obama personally. However, the way that the Healthcare Reform Bill was rammed down the throats of Americans who were so overwhelmingly against it seemed to indicate that there was confidence on the part of the Administration that the will of the American people did not matter, which is deeply alarming. To many it seemed as if they did not feel that they would be subject to voters much longer. 

Even so, with elections coming up, much can be accomplished. Of course, the best of all scenarios would be for the President to have an awakening and to stand up boldly, declaring that much of his agenda has been wrong. We should not give up on this, pray for him daily, as well as for his Administration. Because ultimate and basic issues are at the very foundation of the Republic and are coming to a head, we need to pray for peace and that they will be resolved peacefully. 

A prophetic scenario I saw and have shared often over the last two decades was a move in America to the extreme left, followed by an even more drastic move to the extreme right in overreaction. This, too, would be a disaster. We should be concerned about the extremes in either direction, as either one could result in tyranny. When we are shown such prophetic scenarios it is to reveal where we are headed so that we can change where we are headed. This does not have to be the conclusion for America, but it is where we are headed if we do not change our direction. 

For this to happen, Christians must wake up to what is happening, resolve that they are going to face it, be engaged as the salt and light they are called to be, and resolve to follow the Lamb, not the donkey or the elephant. The Lamb is also “The Truth.” Seek truth and resolve to stand on the truth at any cost. There has never been a time when such courage was needed more. 

Even though we can only superficially address the issues in this format, there is another spiritual factor that is having great impact on the times. This is our national relationship to Israel. Is it a coincidence that the day after the Israeli Prime Minister was so humiliated at the White House, that the Deep Water Horizon exploded and an oil leak began that has no end in sight, and could be more devastating to the U.S. than any previous natural disaster?
Is there a link between the U.S. pressuring Israel to give up Gaza, and immediately we are struck by Hurricane Katrina that devastated seemingly exactly the same amount of territory as Gaza?
We can go back to other such links, which have been well-documented and even made into books, but what is the message, if there is such a link?

In Romans Chapters 9–11, at the very centerpiece of Paul’s greatest theological discourse, he brings up the place of the Jewish people, calling them “the natural branches.” At the end of this great discourse, the great apostle gave us a sober warning: “do not become arrogant” toward the natural branches. The consequence of becoming “arrogant” toward them is to be cut off ourselves. 

This certainly does not mean that we must agree with everything Israel does, but there are certain definite consequences of disagreeing with arrogance. Every Administration that has crossed that line since Israel became a nation which has paid a terrible price for it. Israel is a divine barometer and a timepiece that God jealously watches over. He even called Israel “the apple of His eye” (see Deuteronomy 32:10), indicating that to touch Israel was like poking Him in the eye. That is supreme arrogance, and since it was such pride that caused the fall of Satan and virtually every fall since, how we deal with Israel does reflect our reverence to God and His purposes. 

Again, I am not at all saying that Israel is doing everything right, but the propaganda put out virtually worldwide about Israel is so skewed, distorted, and one-sided that it virtually reflects the world’s true attitude toward God also. How does this work?

In Israel’s history, we see a repeated trend that whenever she fell into apostasy, the Lord allowed the heathen nations around her to invade or otherwise oppress her until she awoke, repented of her apostasy, and returned to worship the Lord. Then the Lord would smite the nations that He had allowed to be used in this way for their “arrogance,” which was demonstrated by their touching His people. As Paul also explained in his letter to the Romans, Israel will be grafted back in, and “all Israel will be saved” (see Romans 11:26). Israel is becoming increasingly isolated, and now even seems to be cut off from her most trusted friend, the United States. Having no one left but God, she will turn to the Lord. However, the consequences of our having touched Israel with such arrogance will be terrible if we do not repent quickly. 

The oil spill is, believe it or not, grace from God to give us time to repent before even worse things come upon us in the form of natural disasters. The incompetence of the government to deal with the oil spill is illuminating just how helpless we are in the face of the problems of the times, and how badly we need the grace of God, not His displeasure.