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復活生命的得勝與盼望

 

在冰凍將近半年的北國，迎來春天是件大事。人們最常聽到的是那全身火紅、頭上頂著如龐克一撮黑毛的紅衣主教鳥（卡通憤怒鳥）的啼叫；一邊仰頭尋找牠的蹤跡，同時驚喜瞥見那熬過寒冬的樹梢也冒出了新芽。蟄伏度過漫長冬天的人們，此時被溫暖的陽光吸引到戶外悠閒踱步，心情愉悅地跟陌生人微笑打招呼，共享大自然新生的喜悅。

我幫女兒用羊毛撚的毛線打了一條圍巾，女兒說她非常喜歡。當冬天全身冷得顫抖的時候，這條圍巾讓她覺得特別溫暖。人生也是如此：唯有歷經死亡的冰冷，才能珍惜復活的歡欣。然而當基督徒頌讚神揀選我們，使我們復活得救的恩典時（參考彼得前書第一章2節），我們不單要看到自己已脫離罪惡轄制，還要經歷那開始啟動的新生命，已進到永生的得勝榮耀裡（參考約翰福音第十七章3節）。

今年我在「聖經研習團契」（Bible Study Fellowship）查考約翰福音，讀到那個死了四天、在墳墓裡發臭的拉撒路復活了（參考約翰福音第十一章43-44節），想到自己不也是另一個拉撒路嗎？因此我把拉撒路的復活與屬靈的重生對照如下：

拉撒路復活的經過：（一）耶穌在墳墓外大聲呼叫說：「拉撒路出來！」（二）那死人就出來了，手腳裹著布，臉上包著手巾。（三）耶穌對他們說：「解開，叫他走！」

基督徒屬靈的重生經歷：（一）我從前因罪而靈命死了（所以看不見、聽不到神），但藉著聖靈的工作，我的靈活了過來，因此我能回應耶穌基督的呼召，來向父神承認所有我犯過的罪（參考約翰福音第六章44節，彼得前書第一章2節）。神就赦免了我一切的過犯（參考歌羅西書第二章13節）。（二）神便叫我與已升天復活的基督一同活過來（參考歌羅西書第二章13節）。（三）因主耶穌的寶血潔淨我（參考彼得前書第一章2節），神塗抹撒旦藉律法控告我是罪人的字據，把它撤去、釘在十字架上，把我的罪債一筆勾銷（參考歌羅西書第二章14節）。

最精彩的時刻是旁人幫拉撒路脫去身上、臉上的裹屍布，拉撒路出死入生；屬靈上，神也幫我們斷開從罪惡與撒旦來的手鐐腳銬，使我們脫離黑暗權勢，把我們遷到神愛子的國度裡（參考歌羅西書第一章13節）。從此我們得以與神和好，因信靠主耶穌都成了聖潔、沒有瑕疵、無可責備的聖徒（參考歌羅西書第一章22節）。

重生的基督徒會因愛神而想要遵守祂的旨意。當我們在靈裡禱告勤讀聖經時，我們因吃靈糧，靈命得以成長，能明白神的旨意已清楚寫在聖經裡，並且看到主耶穌是我們最好的榜樣：完全順服父神，沒有自訂的時間表或事項清單（參考約翰福音第六38節）。

可曾想過為什麼復活的主耶穌能救罪人，祂的名大有能力嗎？因為祂順服天父，以至於死，且死在羞辱人的十字架上，所以神將祂升為至高，賜祂超乎萬名之上的名，使一切天上的天使、地上的君王與受造物、地底下的死者與魔鬼，都要對主耶穌的名屈膝（參考腓立比書第二章6-11節）。基督徒因信，得了主耶穌這個寶貴的名，好像警察被授與警徽，使我們可以靠主踐踏蛇和蠍子（指的是魔鬼惡者），又勝過仇敵一切的能力（參考路加福音第十章19節）。

你因感謝神看自己是蒙恩的罪人，這是向神謙卑，因為你承認你可能會因不完美、軟弱無知而不小心犯罪；但你不會停留在罪惡感中，而能在知罪的第一時間裡，到神面前認罪改過，因你相信：只要你認罪悔改，信實公義的神必要赦免你的罪，洗淨你一切的不義（參考約翰一書第一章9節）。但在屬靈爭戰時，魔鬼會欺騙你，讓你以為自己因天性敗壞而仍會犯罪，所以情有可原，或是叫你消沈喪志。這時你要宣告你聖徒的地位：因主耶穌基督的寶血，你已脫去肉體的敗壞，得著屬天的性情（divine nature，參考彼得後書第一章4節）：因此你有自由不犯罪，你也不會故意去犯罪，因為你是從神生的，就有神的性情（參考約翰一書第三章9節）。你一次又一次操練「向神認罪、抵擋惡者」，信心的肌肉就愈增強。因祂已領你到光明中（彌迦書第七章9節），你能在一切事上靠主得勝（參考羅馬書第八章37節）。

至此，我們因清楚宣告自己屬神兒女的身份，就能靠真理抵擋與拆穿魔鬼的謊言（參考雅各書第四章7節，以弗所書第六章17節），你會發現魔鬼逃跑，控告的聲音或罪惡感消失了。但耶穌說：「不要因鬼服了你們歡喜，而要因你們的名記錄在天上歡喜」（參考路加福音第十章20節）。當耶穌再來時，我們就要得著稱讚、榮耀和尊貴（彼得前書第一章7節）。願神祝福每一位清楚認識主耶穌的聖徒，隨著靈命成熟長進，心中得著救恩的確據，與存到永恆的榮耀盼望。

高虹「中式英文」獨奏會 細述45年琵琶行

圖：高虹的琵琶音樂創作首演：「中式英文」（Chinglish）音樂會。（陳曼玲攝影）

記者陳曼玲╱明尼蘇達州報導

明州知名琵琶音樂家高虹，今年初應邀到標的中心（Target Center），在明尼蘇達灰狼（Timberwolves）的本地職籃賽開幕時，以琵琶獨奏美國國歌。日前她在聖凱瑟琳大學（St. Catherine University）音樂廳，舉辦一場名為「中式英文」（Chinglish）的琵琶獨奏音樂會。高虹的音樂創作包括預先錄製琵琶音樂為背景、加上現場獨奏，並配合影片與旁白，細述她45年來的琵琶演奏生涯與23年在美國的生活點滴。

有別於華裔百老匯劇作家黃哲倫，從觀察中國人錯用英文而寫的「中式英文」歌劇，高虹的「中式英文」則是調侃自己因不懂英文，在異國婚姻與美國生活中所鬧的笑話。高虹說希望藉由分享她的真實故事，鼓勵有類似經驗的華人移民，在異鄉努力不懈。

高虹26歲時在中國初識一位美國作曲家保羅，兩人並沒有立即迸出愛的火花。但之後一年雙方用母語寫信與傳真聯繫，也透過翻譯人員用電話溝通。高虹回憶說，當翻譯者不在時，兩人在電話中只能發出嘆息或是傻笑聲，結果是電話月費高達上千美元。1992年當高虹到日本巡迴演出，並在東京研究中國琵琶比較學時，保羅到日本探望高虹。高虹在機場苦等了四小時才發現跑錯機場。及時趕到另一個機場後，高虹擔心認不出僅有一面之緣的保羅，但擦身而過的兩人仍認出了彼此。這一次他們沒有任何言語，但互相擁抱良久，高虹說那一刻有如天堂般的永恆。保羅也在當天用中文向高虹求婚，高虹聽了幾次才明白他的意思。1994年嫁到美國來的高虹說，他們的婚姻在前12年中摸索溝通的方式，也培養出兩人才懂的獨特語彙；之後的11年以來則開始學習約會。

高虹除了說英文時把高麗菜（cabbage）說成垃圾（garbage），把克利夫城（Cleveland）說成乳溝（cleavage）等，她在明州的開車經驗也是糗事連篇。她曾因開車迷路而從市區開到數小時之外的得路斯市（Duluth）、在高速公路車速過慢、晚上忘了開車燈、甚至開到對方車道等，高虹說她卻一張罰單都沒拿過，不禁讚嘆明州的交通警察實在善良。高虹在影片結束時，豪氣地背起她的琵琶，旁白說她不開車，就徒步在公路上浪跡天涯。

高虹除了巡迴美國與世界各地演奏之外，也藉由琵琶彈奏示範，在大學、中小學裡熱心推廣中樂與中國文化。她自2001年起任教於明州卡爾頓學院（Carleton College）的中國音樂課程，並且擔任該校中樂團的音樂總監至今。

Could You Be Saved But Not a Free Christian?

Are you the person who goes on the bus with a seat and still carries your heavy, bulky backpack on your back, even when the driver kindly reminds you to put it down because it will be a long way to the next stop?

This analogy completely reflects my spiritual life. I was saved as a God’s child (meaning I was on the bus), but I was not free (meaning I still carried my backpack). Even worse, I was miserable because I could not fulfill most of the commandments in the Bible with a genuine heart.

I did want to be a good Christian but I found that I often heard voices like “you just fake to be loving because you still have jealousy in your heart,” or, “it’s impossible for you to be totally selfless because the Chinese saying says, ‘the heaven and earth would be destroyed if a human was not selfish’ ”.

Besides believing the condemning voices, I suffered with depression, self-rejection, low self-esteem, anxiety, control, an angry temper, suicidal temptation, etc. At that time, I did not fully understand the solid Bible truth for transforming my mind. I practiced and knew little about how fortune-telling and astrology are connected with evil and detested by God (refer to 2 Chronicles 33:6). And the human-centered world view plus my own unconfessed sins from my lineage and my heart still haunted me.

When I was in early elementary school, I had never heard about baptism in Christianity. But I sometimes immersed myself in the bathtub that my mom stored water in for cleaning. I wished I could wash away my wickedness after coming out of the water. There’s a temple for worshipping Guan-Gong (ancient Chinese general) near my house. I often went there to play in the big front yard and also accompanied adults to go inside to worship many different idols. The strong smoke of incense and the pictures about hell in the books were the vivid memory about the temple. In my young mind, I remember I often asked myself that if I only worship this god, would I offend the other gods?

When I was 18, in the college, I heard about God’s creation for the first time from the pastor who came to the campus to preach the gospel. I immediately accepted the idea that humans are God’s creation because it solved my long-time puzzle about the theory of evolutionary which I was taught in high school biology class. After a few months, I was urged by a local house church to be baptized so that I can be saved from the world. Afterwards, I walked my Christian life in the dim light for almost 20 years until I got an opportunity to translate an English speech to Chinese.

This speech was about how to tell the difference between mental illness and demonization. The speaker was a pastor’s wife and a nurse. I read through her article and asked her if she could pray for me because my situation fitted the demonization as what she described from her experiences in the deliverance ministry. During the consoling time, she gave me a list helping me to identify the sins I committed in the past. It seemed that the light of Holy Spirit shone through my heart and I was reminded of a long list of sins from myself, my family and the sins against me from the religious cult I joined ignorantly as a child, from the curses someone spoke to me, from the sexual harassment by other adults and from the possible sins in my lineage (ancestors).

Nothing dramatic happened during the prayer time. The pastor’s wife told me that I may stop being afraid of something after the deliverance prayer. Then I noticed I did not fear the bitter coldness of the winter in Minnesota for the first time after I moved here for nine years. My spiritual journey was like the blind man in Bethsaida who was brought to Jesus. Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him. The man saw people but they looked like trees walking around. Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes, then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly (refer to Mark 8:22-24). After the deliverance prayer, my eyes are bright and I walk in the full light of God since then.

My story may not be the situation for some Christians who were healed by Jesus and got their eye sight right away like the blind man, Bartimaeus (refer to Mark 10:46-52). But one thing I am sure–God intends His children to be free and joyful in the faith, hope and love, because that’s what Jesus came to do:

“This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroyed works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

When I look back and wonder how I got here, I know that the long nights in the spiritual life were meant for me to finally surrender myself to God and ask Him to be my Lord, not just Savior in my life so that I can be filled with His Holy Spirit and gain the power with His authority to resist the devil. During the gloomy times, I call upon Him in the day of trouble and He delivers me and I shall glorify Him (refer to Psalms 50:15). I went through the bitterness of being a saved but not free Christian. Then God came through for me and I can savor the full sweetness of living in Jesus.

After I was set free in Jesus’ name, I noticed the gradual changes in my spiritual life:

I am hungry for the Bible’s truth and love to talk to God in prayer. (Psalms 42:1)

I can love God with all my heart after I pray to Him for giving me love. (Luke 10:27)

I make peace with myself and others. (Galatians 5:22)

I learn to discern with the help of Holy Spirit and discard the fault from the cultural/social influence and the lies coming into my thought. I am transformed by renewing my mind by practicing the truth. (Romans 12:2)

I am alert to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. If what I hear does not align with the truth, I resist it right away. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I learn to fight with Scripture in the spiritual warfare. (Ephesians 6:12)

I have the spirit of power, love and self-control to obey God’s commandments and live a holy life. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Corrie Ten Boom, the Dutch missionary and a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp said:

“Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the fullness of the Holy Spirit is the birthright of every child of God. But we must make room for Him, even in the hidden corners deep in our hearts. Then we can count on Him who will accomplish His work through us”.

Every child of God ought to be a free and victorious Christian.

If Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed (refer to John 8:36) and you have the power to overcome sins and the freedom not to sin again.
​
You can learn more from the biblical teaching about the victorious Christian life from the free download documents on this ministry website.

https://www.lighthouseministryintl.org/resource-downloads/

Original posted on: http://www.tblfaithnews.com/faith-religion/could-you-be-saved-but-not-a-free-christian

Is God Silent During Suffering?

Recently my Japanese friend, a missionary in Japan, asked for prayer about her troubled feeling aroused by the movie, Silence, shot in Taiwan by Hollywood director, Martin Scorsese. According to Time Magazine, “Silence is a somber epic about Jesuit priests struggling to keep their faith in violently anti-Christian 17th century Japan”. (Note1)

My friend also posted an article written by a Japanese pastor, Marre Ishii. He was upset after watching a screening of this film. I learned from this article that the movie was adapted from the novel, by the same name, about Japanese history. According to Mr Ishii, the book author, Shusako Endo, ” … wrestled with Catholic faith but continued to be a Catholic out of respect for his mother”.

After reading through Ishii’s article (Note 2), I cannot help but point out three observations and hope to encourage my Christian fellows to discern Satan’s deception.

  • “Why was God silent in the midst of this tragedy in history?”Mr Ishii wrote that this is an universal question asked by all religions and races. He mentioned tragedies like the Holocaust, African slavery and the 9-11 terrorist attack. Nevertheless, I feel sad to say that not many people in the world know much about another tragedy: the Nanjing (Nanking) Massacre. This was an episode of mass murder and rape committed by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanjing in 1937.According to BBC Magazine, reported by Mariko Oi in 2013 (Note 3), the former history teacher and scholar, Tamaki Matsuoka, accuses the Japanese government of a deliberate silence about atrocities in the massacre. I do not mean to condemn the Japanese people. On the contrary, it’s urgent to recognize that the spiritual darkness over Japanese society is so heavy there has been an increase in suicide rates and many other emotional issues.“Japan has no history of Christianity so here suicide is not a sin,” says Wataru Nishida, a psychologist at Tokyo’s Temple University (Note 4). Therefore, I pray for my missionary friend whom God sent to “ … open their (Japanese people’s) eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus” (Acts 26:18).
  • Mr Ishii wrote that from his experience in Japan, and as a pastor, that this movie will portray a God of great love and compassion as indifferent to the suffering of his saints. Faith in Jesus and love for all saints springs from the hope that is heard from the word of truth (refer to Colossians 1:5). As Christians, we shall spread the gospel in a God-loving motivation, rather than the fear of not completing our obligation.When we are asked, “How is a loving God indifferent to the suffering of His saints?” we don’t need to fear people and sugarcoat the gospel of sins and forgiveness. Instead, we rely on the Holy Spirit to intelligently and graciously encourage people to find out what a faithful saint’s reaction would be during the suffering from the testimonies of those who endure hardship to the end in the whole wide world. This is what I observed from African and Chinese persecuted Christians who still spread God’s love and love their enemies.
  • Mr Ishii said he was aghast when he heard that an American pastor said hell is where a non-believer goes after death. Mr Ishii said, “This type of insensitivity has turned many Japanese people into adversaries of God.” I agree with Mr Ishii that only God truly knows if a person has a genuine faith to go to heaven. In Asia, many people believe in various religions and think that they don’t need Jesus in order to be saved because they worship gods and try to do good. On one hand, telling the truth could be seen as insensitive because it hurts people’s pride. On the other hand, it could also be sensitive to the real danger of one’s spiritual death.Pastor John Piper wrote in his book, Jesus, The Only Way To God: “The world will tell you that you are arrogant, not loving, if you spread the message of Jesus’s saving work as the only way to God. But God calls it love … Oh, how we need to let the Bible define what love does! … Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, who works through the word of the gospel of Christ (1 Peter 1:23-25), there is no faith and no new birth and no salvation. This is why repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations’ (Luke 24:47).” (Note 5)

I painfully remember that I did not tell my uncle, sick with cancer, about where he would go after death without believing in Jesus because I worried that he might feel scared. Shortly, he was sent home from the hospital without the hope of living. While he was still alive, his family dressed him with a funeral shroud to keep his muscles from getting too stiff to wear it after he died.

I was in grief to know that tears rolled down from his eyes while lying on the bed waiting for the unknown destiny. Sadly, I was not around and could not tell him to receive Jesus. Even today, I hope in the bottom of my heart that my uncle did listen to the gospel tape I left him and received Jesus as his Savior in his mind. Since then, I would rather risk being shamed or rejected by people than fail to tell them the gospel in love.

I believe God chose His anointed saints and will bring them back to one holy nation (Refer to 1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, my heavenly identity as a citizen of God’s kingdom is higher than my earthly identity as a citizen of the USA and Taiwan with Japanese blood.

God sent Ezekiel to open his mouth and say to people, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says, ‘Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.’ “(Ezekiel 3:27)

It’s only God who can soften every sinner’s heart to listen. Meanwhile, we shall be like Ezekiel to “listen carefully and take to heart all the words God speaks to us,” (Ezekiel 3:10) as we share His truth in love. For only the truth shall set each of us free from the trap of sins and stronghold of evil darkness. (John 8:32)

Original posted on: http://www.tblfaithnews.com/faith-religion/is-god-silent-during-suffering

夢想路上—寫作讓我更認識神

 

我從小到大忙著讀書考試，沒有什麼特殊才藝，除了小時候看古裝武俠劇，想當俠女以外，不記得有過什麼特別的夢想。出國唸書算是完成一個階段性的夢想，但是實現了以後，就不再是夢想了。接下來要找個能學以致用的工作，才不愧當個「有理想、有抱負」的青年。我在美國當過電腦老師、商業分析師，仍然對朝九晚五的工作型態感到不滿足。但我的責任感告訴自己要惜福、不可以沒有定性，既然要賺錢貼補家用，找到工作就要認真去做。

直到幾年前我因工作家庭兩頭燒，讓家人陷入緊張的生活步調，和先生商量後，我辭職在家。這段時間我不需要帶小孩，每天只要煮飯打掃。剛開始我的「好學生」心態蠢蠢欲動，擔心這樣無所事事怎麼可以。然而上帝卻用這段時間，吸引我渴慕愛祂而大量閱讀聖經。在聖靈的光照下，我經歷到真理教我識破撒旦謊言，思想得以被更新變化得自由；聖靈也是我最好的個人家教，我一邊讀聖經一邊問上帝問題，然後勤做筆記把每次的感動寫下來。就這樣，我愈寫愈明白神的心意，我開始享受寫作，因為那是與神親密交通的時刻。

我在患難之日求告祂，祂搭救我，我也要榮耀祂（參考詩篇50篇15節），我憑著感恩的心，想對全世界訴說祂給我的愛與感動。因為寫作，我開始懂得欣賞別人的文章，那些透過個人獨特眼光對生命的觀察與詮釋，每篇都像是以特殊角度入鏡的攝影作品，讓人心中的眼睛為之一亮。每讀到一篇好文章，我便讚嘆神藉著按祂形象所造的各人，彰顯出祂創造萬有的豐富。

當神把寫作傳揚祂的心願放在我裡面，我按著祂的心意去禱告，祂就照著運行在我心裡的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我所求所想（參考以弗所書三章20節）。去年我的牧師要我在主日學裡邀請宣教士來跟小朋友短講。我聽到這些宣教士遠征非洲、亞洲的感人故事後，覺得想讓更多人知道，因此採訪宣教士們，寫了三篇英文報導分享給學生家長。今年初我覺得神說我有更重要的事要做，所以順服地戒掉了平日閒來無事喜歡看的日劇。不久之後，在教會認識一個美國姊妹，她也喜歡寫作，推薦我投稿給一個福音網站。這個網站的理念與我相同，都是希望藉由寫作傳福音。他們要我提供作品，因此去年寫的三篇宣教士故事剛好派上用場。在今年以前，我不敢想像自己可以用英文寫作，但神卻已經在為我鋪路。

當這篇文章寫到一半時，一個教會的老姊妹剛好打電話來。我們聊到寫作，我告訴她我想太多，寫得慢，有時還會受試探想放棄，去做更容易賺錢的事。但她提醒我不要看自己有沒有能力，不要擔心用字簡單；要從心裡寫，要讓神把祂的能力透過我流出。神真是知道我的軟弱，差祂的僕人來鼓勵我。因為有主相伴，寫作成了我一生努力追求卓越的夢想。寫作是上帝對我說話、與祂相親的獎賞，是祂賜給我傳福音的榮耀使命，也是我一生持續倚靠祂去多結果子的善工（參考腓立比書一章2節）。

MOA過年

圖1：徐夢鴿的二胡演奏，技巧精湛，感情奔放，贏得現場觀眾熱烈掌聲。（陳曼玲攝影）

圖2：多位中國中央音樂學院的高材生，用源自印尼一種叫安格隆的樂器，演奏美國樂曲「多瑞咪」（Do-Re-Mi）（陳曼玲攝影）

圖3：陳崴並示範用雙手拍打空氣，來震動中空竹管的一種絕妙的演奏方式。（陳曼玲攝影）

記者陳曼玲╱明尼蘇達州報導

全美最大的明州美國商城（Mall Of America）日前聯合明州的中美聯誼會、傳龍基金會等三十多個華人團體，舉辦首屆中國農曆新年活動，除了文化攤位以外，一整天下來有二十多個舞蹈、音樂等表演節目，吸引數千名人潮湧入參觀，現場洋溢著濃厚的過年氣氛。

從中國來的北京竹樂團，此次專程前來明州表演。由作曲家陳崴擔任指揮，有國家一級演員李增光吹笛、季節拉胡琴、伊永仁奏笙、馬瑞與尚蕾打擊竹板琴，還有多位中央音樂學院的高材生用源自印尼一種叫安格隆的樂器，演奏美國樂曲「多瑞咪」（Do-Re-Mi）；另用來自雲南彝族的小悶笛，吹奏出如竹林中蟲鳴的悅音；其中一位碩士生徐夢鴿的二胡演奏，技巧精湛，感情奔放，贏得現場觀眾熱烈掌聲。陳崴並示範用雙手拍打空氣，來震動中空竹管的一種絕妙的演奏方式。

竹樂團的所有樂器用各種品種的竹子製作，共有三十餘種。根據團長王巍表示，竹子生長快速，有些種類每天可長四呎，用來代替木材製造，能保護森林，是他極力推廣的綠色理念。學音樂的王巍從研究中國古代的竹樂器，到上山下山遍地尋找各種竹子、多方嘗試製作樂器的方法，除了中國傳統可吹拉彈打的民間樂器外，許多自製的竹樂器更獲得中國國家專利。努力了二十多年，王巍的熱誠感動了多名音樂家共襄盛舉成立北京竹樂團。

王巍不僅醉心竹樂，還熱心交流竹子的各項特點。他從中國帶來方竹、斑竹等不同種類的竹子，以及竹籽、竹筍等在現場展示。

根據美國商城表示，他們今後計畫每年定期舉辦農曆年活動，希望能推廣旅遊事業、聯絡東西文化交流，與促進中美文化與商務合作。

明州雙城中校 大秀才藝喜過年

圖1：明州雙城中文學校功夫班的成人與小朋友表演少林拳。（陳曼玲攝影）

圖2：盧明潔老師（右）慶祝雞年，指導小朋友做小雞圖案的摺紙手工藝。（陳曼玲攝影）

圖3：小朋友踴躍舉手猜燈謎。（陳曼玲攝影）

記者陳曼玲╱明尼蘇達州報導

明州雙城中文學校在聖保羅市的哈伯中心（Hubbs center）舉辦新春活動。華洋學生字正腔圓的主持及表演，讓在場的小朋友與家長開心度過一個充滿喜氣的農曆年。

當天先由成立十多年的何家班醒獅團，帶來舞獅雜耍，小朋友拿著紅包戰兢地餵獅子，獅子則張大嘴巴丟灑糖果給觀眾，並跳高高秀春聯。

幼小班的小朋友隨著「魚兒水中游」的音樂搖擺身體，並用中文祝賀大家「新年快樂，年年有餘」。另外有二年級表演年獸的故事、四年級表演新詩朗誦「水果們的晚會」、功夫班的少林拳、以及B3班的「老鼠娶親」話劇。

曾住過香港兩年的美國家長羅賓‧蒙（Robin Monty）說，自己雖不瞭解十二歲女兒表演的話劇內容，但對女兒能學習中文感到欣慰。她說女兒曾上過中文沈浸式學校三年，現在自己請中文家教在家練習。去年從網路上找到雙城中文學校，於是每週六從靜水市（Stillwater）開車約四十分鐘來上課。她說能夠認識中華文化與其他學中文的朋友，是他們最大的收獲。另一名美國家長珊蒂‧連（Sandy Lange）也是第一年帶著兩個從湖南領養的雙胞胎女兒來上中文學校，很高興透過新年表演，看見女兒們快樂學習的狀況，自己也接觸到志同道合的美國家長。

美國老師佩德（Ron Petit），在中文學校下午的文化班教授二胡，他與兩個學生的表演也博得熱烈掌聲。擅長吉他等弦樂器的佩德說，他第一次聽到中文，覺得中文音調像有節奏的音樂，吸引他從四年前開始學中文。他不僅拜師學二胡，最後還娶到了深圳來的中國太太。

另外學校還準備了六個文化攤位應景：用書法寫春聯，玩扯鈴踢毽子的童玩，學包水餃，摺紙手工藝，吃年糕與說吉祥話，和元宵節介紹與猜燈謎。

明州鄉親聯歡 「三代同堂」迎金雞

圖1：黃政哲（左）發紅包給朱書賢不滿一歲的女兒。（陳曼玲攝影）

圖2：林奕瑄（右）和陳乃嘉深情對唱「廣島之戀」。（陳曼玲攝影）

圖3：鄭如翔用台語和中文朗誦宋詞和唐詩，搖頭晃腦笑點十足。（陳曼玲攝影）

記者陳曼玲╱明尼蘇達州報導

台灣同鄉會舉辦農曆春節晚會，日前在明尼蘇達大學聖保羅市校區的學生活動中心舉行，約有150個台灣同鄉與洋朋友參加。節目由擅長京劇的陳美含和司徒曉昉，以精緻彩妝的臉譜、唱腔和身段，表演「小放牛」熱鬧開場。接著由長輩發紅包給十多個十二歲以下的小朋友。其中明大電機系博士生朱書賢，帶著不滿一歲的女兒從長輩手中接過紅包，是海外遊子一家親的團圓景象。另外蔡崇義帶著媽媽、妻子與兩個孩子，還有1978年來美讀博士的王敬仁和他的兒子王怡明，及兒子的美國妻子與三個孩子，都是美滿的三代同堂。

同鄉會會長鄭光生的夫人王宗明，主持時妙語如珠，為表演節目畫龍點睛。她特別挑選播放幾段台灣影片，分別講述返鄉遊子思念父母和台美隔代祖孫的互動，溫馨感人。表演之外還穿插抽獎，用網路輪盤的方式，讓大家摒息期待中獎。

施建德準備的「猜燈謎」，考驗大家的台語和腦筋急轉彎。會長的兒子鄭如翔，從頭到腳一身古裝打扮。他花了兩週時間練習用台語和中文朗誦宋詞「水調歌頭」和唐詩「將進酒」，表演時字正腔圓，搖頭晃腦則笑點十足。會長的女兒鄭如蜜，以小提琴表演蕭泰然創作的「出外人」與「冥想曲」，技巧精湛，旋律優美。鋼琴伴奏則是來自遼寧的明大音樂博士生程通。

主修小提琴的明大音樂博士生林奕瑄，和主修聲樂的陳乃嘉，分別演唱「藍色眼睛」、「我願意」，並深情對唱「廣島之戀」，充滿青春浪漫的氣息。最後由慈濟人表演手語歌「因為你，因為我」結束當天的表演節目。

當天還有外交部副組長李佳儀前來辦理領務，並與華僑文教中心主任王偉讚都提供抽獎禮物，讓明州鄉親覺得相當貼心。

A Stepping Rock

“He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand”. ~ Psalms 40:2b

Have you ever wondered where the next step for your life is? Especially when you are searching for the life direction, there seems no path to walk on because you feel like you were drifting in the ocean.

However, Jesus commands my destiny just like He commanded Lazarus to come out of death and into life. If you believe Jesus as your Savior and the Lord, your life is a miracle like Lazarus’.

Jesus knows when it’s time for me to move on. Then, He anchors a rock in the water for me to step on.

“Will it be stable?”, I ask.

If that rock is placed by my effort, I doubt it could withstand the strong current. However, if Jesus anchors that rock for me, His power and wisdom is more than 100% trustworthy.

So, be still and wait for the Lord. When He firmly positions the rock in front of you, just step on it.

 

I would like to tell you about my passion and vocation…

A current freelance reporter and writer based in MN. Much of my writing is in the areas of spiritual learning, bible study, parenting, education, Sunday School, opinions, interviews, people’s stories, etc.

My work has appeared in the national Chinese newspaper, “World Journal” in USA, and “Chinese Christian Tribune” in Taiwan.