A Joyous Baptism Sunday

#2025-0112

Congratulations to Garret Jones, Blake Jones, Eva Jones, and Darvin Budhrani on their Holy Baptism!

Today is the First Sunday after the Epiphany, a day when our church traditionally celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord. We are especially joyful to witness several members, including four from the English congregation, receiving the Sacrament of Baptism today.

Below are photos I took this morning during the English service, which began at 9:30 a.m. (Photos of those baptized later during the Chinese service will be taken and shared by others.)

I want to thank Laura Moye for kindly taking my role as the LEM this morning. Since I’ve been dealing with a cold and felt like coughing at times, her support was a great help. In our church, we care for one another like members of the same family. For this, we give thanks and praise to the Lord.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Holy Baptism (聖洗禮)     (2021)

2)  Easter Day + Holy Baptism (2019)

3)  Holy Baptism on Easter Day     (2021)

Vivid Beauty, Gospel Reminder

#2025-0105

~~ A quote from Luke 12:27 ~~

（路加福音第 12 章 27 節）

(Taken from Good News Translation) 

Look how the wild flowers grow: they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.

(Taken from Good News Translation) 

Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

(Taken from New International Version) 

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

(Taken from Revised Standard Version)

Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

(Taken from New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

(Taken from 新舊約聖書 文理串珠)

試思百合花、如何而長、不勞不紡、吾語汝、當所羅門榮華之極、其衣不及此花之一。

(Taken from 聖經 現代中文譯本 修訂版)

看看百合花怎樣生長吧。它們既不工作又不縫衣，可是我告訴你們，甚至像連所羅門王那樣的榮華顯赫，他的衣飾也比不上一朵野花那樣的美麗。

(Taken from Chinese Contemporary Version)

看看百合花如何生長吧，它們既不勞苦，也不紡織，但我告訴你們，就連所羅門王最顯赫時的穿戴還不如一朵百合花！

(Taken from Chinese New Version)

你們想想百合花，怎樣不勞苦，也不紡織。但我告訴你們，就是所羅門最榮華的時候所穿的，也比不上這花中的一朵呢。

(Taken from Chinese Standard Bible)

應該想一想百合花是怎麼生長的：它不勞動，也不紡織。但是我告訴你們：就連所羅門在他最榮耀的時候，所穿戴的也不如這些花中的一朵。

(Taken from Chinese Union Version)

你想百合花怎麼長起來；他也不勞苦，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們，就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！

(Taken from Revised Chinese Union Version)

你們想一想百合花是怎麼長起來的：它也不勞動，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們，就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的還不如這些花的一朵呢！

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Note: This morning, as soon as I entered the room downstairs—where we usually have "coffee hour" after the English service on Sundays—I was immediately drawn to the flower arrangements on the tables. Among them, I noticed the GREEN flowers, surrounded by small red fruits and various shades of green leaves. Their vivid beauty reminded me of the Gospel of Luke 12:27 (as quoted above).

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  草之風光：共 2 組     (2010)

2)  The Sermon on the Mount (山上寶訓) #05     (2014)

3)  我喜愛的聖經譯本 (Translations of the Bible)     (2014)

New Year, New Commitment

#2025-0103

Over the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on what my New Year’s Resolution for 2025 should be. I know that making plans—or simply stating them—is far easier than following through. So, what could be a realistic and meaningful goal for this year?

Fortunately, I don’t need to quit smoking or drinking, as I’ve never picked up those habits. I’m also not overly concerned about my daily two or three cups of coffee. Even though coffee might not be ideal for those with weaker bones, I see no reason to cut back unless my doctor explicitly advises me to.

So, what should I focus on doing more of—or start doing—in this fresh and significant year? After some thought, I finally made up my mind today, January 3, 2025: I will dedicate myself to reading—and learning from—the Bible.

To begin, I revisited two of my favorite versions, the New Living Translation (NLT) and the Good News Translation (GNT). Then, I made an exciting discovery in the “forgotten” corner of my bedside shelf: The Reader’s Digest Bible. This condensed version, stripped of verse numbers, is thoughtfully edited and printed to resemble a novel. Its large print, adapted from the Revised Standard Version (RSV), feels fresh and inviting (see photos). I’m eager to explore this novel-like Bible and compare it with the NLT, GNT, and the New International Version (NIV).

May the Lord help me remain steadfast in this New Year’s Resolution. May He guide me as I strive to “live, learn, and love.” (For more on the meaning of these three L’s, refer to The 3-in-1 Philosophy of Life.)

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  看聖經 > 學英文 John 1:1-5     (2024)

2)  學習篇：The NLT, GNT, and NIV Versions     (2023)

3)  我喜愛的聖經譯本 (Translations of the Bible)     (2014)

4)  The Sermon on the Mount (山上寶訓)
      #01 ~~ #02 ~~ #03 ~~ #04 ~~ #05 ~~ #06 ~~ #07     (2014) 

元旦貼文（圖：牽牛花～又開花了）

#2025-0101

二零二五，新的一年，自今日開始。

去年元月二日，我的貼文寫道：

「今天早上，我和妻子沿著一條不知名的小溪漫步，看到許多鳥兒盤旋飛翔，時而翩然掠過。忽然，我有所領悟，不是要立下新年志願，而是為自己祈禱，說：

~~~ "新" 的一年，願此 "心" 飛越高山低谷，（隨遇而安）暢行無阻。」

今年，我的 "New Year, New Commitment"（新年決志／自我承諾）又是什麼呢？

過了年，老了一歲，體認身心耐力上不再「勇猛」如從前，對於新年「新希望、新計畫」之類的思維，或許應採取不一樣的觀點和模式了。

無論「知易行難」或「知難行易」，我們都該「三思而後行」吧！

先前曾反覆思量，且憑藉「三一」神學概念，歸納出一種類似座右銘的「三合一」人生哲學⸺此時此刻，它（或祂！）依然清楚提醒著我：

走在人生（及信仰）的道路上，彌足珍貴的，就是追尋一種身、心、靈的協調與平衡。那會是一種真、善、美的全然融合，一種學識、品德、健康三者兼顧的進步或更新。祈願在主的同在、同行當中，把握現在，終身學習，修身養性，做到思想、言語、行為都日有長進。又能全心信靠主恩，而最終，達到一種不惑、不憂、不懼的極為崇高的「三不」境界。

果真如此，感謝讚美主！（阿們）

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本文附圖：《牽牛花～又開花了》拍攝於 2024 年 12 月 28 日；與前文《十月榮光》的插圖一致，是在同一地方（但不同時間）所拍攝的。

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  元旦貼文     (2023)

2)  New Year, New Commitment     (2024)

3)  Glory in October (十月榮光)     (2024)

4)  The 3-in-1 Philosophy of Life     (2010)