Monthly Archives: December 2010

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抉擇

決擇

面對某些重要的決擇，心裏不免有點忐忑。

先前因為有了偏差，以致產生了錯誤的觀點。不久再出現了新議題，起初在想，難道這便是答案？細心去想想，一般人會很雀躍的以為找對了，但分析了最基本又最重要的元素後，開始懷疑這是一種假象。很多時候人會自我製造一些假象，甘願被蒙蔽，及將自己引到岔路上。

正路當然是較容易走的，但會有點乏味。小路往往是較神秘及崎嶇的，卻又會帶給人新的景象，又或是特別的經驗。

大部份的決擇不能以對或錯來評價，而是看官能否面對及承受它的後果。

 

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Researchers: Ancient human remains found in Israel

Researchers: Ancient human remains found in Israel
 
By DANIEL ESTRIN, Associated Press Daniel Estrin, Associated Press – Mon Dec 27, 6:13 pm ET

JERUSALEM – #yn-story-related-media { display: none; }

Israeli archaeologists said Monday they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man, and if so, it could upset theories of the origin of humans.

A Tel Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said teeth found in the cave are about 400,000 years old and resemble those of other remains of modern man, known scientifically as Homo sapiens, found in Israel. The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half as old.”It’s very exciting to come to this conclusion,” said archaeologist Avi Gopher, whose team examined the teeth with X-rays and CT scans and dated them according to the layers of earth where they were found.

He stressed that further research is needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, “this changes the whole picture of evolution.”

The accepted scientific theory is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated out of the continent. Gopher said if the remains are definitively linked to modern human’s ancestors, it could mean that modern man in fact originated in what is now Israel.

Sir Paul Mellars, a prehistory expert at Cambridge University, said the study is reputable, and the find is “important” because remains from that critical time period are scarce, but it is premature to say the remains are human.

“Based on the evidence they’ve cited, it’s a very tenuous and frankly rather remote possibility,” Mellars said. He said the remains are more likely related to modern man’s ancient relatives, the Neanderthals.

According to today’s accepted scientific theories, modern humans and Neanderthals stemmed from a common ancestor who lived in Africa about 700,000 years ago. One group of descendants migrated to Europe and developed into Neanderthals, later becoming extinct. Another group stayed in Africa and evolved into Homo sapiens — modern humans.

Teeth are often unreliable indicators of origin, and analyses of skull remains would more definitively identify the species found in the Israeli cave, Mellars said.

Gopher, the Israeli archaeologist, said he is confident his team will find skulls and bones as they continue their dig.

The prehistoric Qesem cave was discovered in 2000, and excavations began in 2004. Researchers Gopher, Ran Barkai and Israel Hershkowitz published their study in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

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耶穌基督的生平與地圖

要將聖經所敘述耶穌基督的生平與地圖連結的確花了很多時間，但在過程中卻叫我能對事件有更清晰及更具體的概念。

好些時候讀聖經都是一卷書的去看，就是要參考都只會單看相關經文，要整全的了解基督一生所作的事，透過不同的地方，會有另一體會。每次修改都讓我能有更深刻的印象，就好像門徒跟隨主一起走過每個日子。

感謝主讓我能有這機會去學習跟隨祢，求主幫助我能在主裏好好裝備自己，隨時被主使用者。

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朋友相約吃早餐

朋友相約吃早餐，已預計讓他好好地吐吐心事。

得知他家的問題已有一時，曾經相當著緊，希望可以幫助他們去改變一點。但冰凍三呎，非一日之寒，要改善並不是件易事。

人並不是不懂得如何去解決問題，只是喜歡逃避多於面對事實。情願留在困境，讓大家承受大大的折騰，都不願去正視彼此的問題。

慶幸一方開始有所改變，希望對方也能踏出一步。

 

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『無用的僕人』

今早崇拜的講道是『無用的僕人』- 路加福音 17：1-10

總是捉不到主題，回家查看英文版後才清晰多一點。

  1. 耶穌又對門徒說、絆倒人的事是免不了的．但那絆倒人的有禍了。
  2. 就是把磨石拴在這人的頸項上、丟在海裡、還強如他把這小子裡的一個絆倒了。
  1. Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.
  2. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

不明白被磨石拴在頸沉到海中會強過絆倒人，就連牧師的解釋都變得混淆。

絆倒人，饒恕人，信心以至無用的僕人，我完全掌握不到跟無用的僕人有甚麼關連。幸好牧師用了 unworthy and underserving servant 來解釋了第 10 節無用的僕人，才不至於整篇完全不明白。

之前已看過很多次，回家不得不再去深思，把這經文好好的查考一番，才對箇中的道理了解多一些。

講道的題目往往是重重複複的，今天的主題是少有的，本以為可以在自己看聖經以外聽聽牧師的看法，不料是聽得一頭霧水。沒看聖經的或許以為自己不懂才聽不明白，不敢去說甚麼。當然，自己也不會去批評，因為有講道恩賜的人實在太少。信徒甚至長執也不會反映，以為這叫愛，叫包容，致令問題變得更嚴重，以為聖經是十分艱深，所以不願去讀。

對所信的只抱一知半解，人云亦云的態度，難道這就叫做 “ 信 ” 嗎？