Not fearing ghost month... 平安七月 Pêng-an Chhit-goe̍h

During the seventh month of the lunar year in which Taiwanese fearfully participate in rites to placate the dead, it is good for Christians to consider the truth about what happens to them after they die. As you make yourself familiar with the verses quoted below, you could get yourself ready for opportunities for discussions with your non-Christian Taiwanese friends.

The following is a link to a sermon by Jonathan Edwards entitled, "True saints, when absent from the body, are present with the Lord."

Please also read the following meditation:

-- Pastor Joel

平安七月 Pêng-an Chhit-goe̍h

啟示錄第一章17-18節，耶穌基督說：「不要懼怕！我是首先的，我是末後的， 又是那存活的；我曾死過，現在又活了，直活到永永遠遠；並且拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙。」

基督徒不怕鬼月。並沒有「好兄弟」的存在。人死後，他們的身體會腐爛，靈魂會離開這個世界，他們不能夠再接觸這個世界，也沒有影響力或權力了，更不會輪迴轉世。人死後只有兩個去處，不信者的靈魂被捆鎖在地獄，等待審判的日子。信徒的靈魂死後馬上與主同在天堂裡，等候他們的復活。末日主耶穌基督會再回來使惡人和義人從死裡復活，並按公義審判他們。

人不應怕鬼，反倒應該想到他們自己的罪，而來信靠耶穌基督

撒母耳記下第十二章23節：「孩子死了，我何必禁食，我豈能使他返回呢？我必往他那裡去，他卻不能回我這裡來。」

哥林多後書第五章6-8節：「所以，我們時常坦然無懼，並且曉得我們住在身內，便與主相離。因我們行事為人是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。我們坦然無懼，是更願意離開身體與主同住。」

帖撒羅尼迦前書第四章13-18節：「論到睡了的人，我們不願意弟兄們不知道，恐怕你們憂傷，像那些沒有指望的人一樣。我們若信耶穌死而復活了，那已經在耶穌裡睡了的人，神也必將他與耶穌一同帶來。我們現在照主的話告訴你們一件事：我們這活著還存留到主降臨的人，斷不能在那已經睡了的人之先。因為主必親自從天降臨，有呼叫的聲音和天使長的聲音，又有神的號吹響；那在基督裡死了的人必先復活。以後我們這活著還存留的人必和他們一同被提到雲裡，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。所以，你們當用這些話彼此勸慰。」

如果你想讀更多關於這個主題的經文，請查閱以下的經文：創三19、路十六19-31、林前十五12-23、腓一21-23、彼後二4-10、彼後三1-13、啟七9-17、啟二十11-15。 (Translated by Helen Lin)

In Revelation 1:17-18, Jesus Christ says, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! and I hold the keys of death and Hades."

Christians do not fear Ghost Month. "Good brothers" do not exist. We know that when a people die, their bodies decay and their spirits depart from this world. They cannot have contact with this world; the dead have no power or influence in this world. There is also no reincarnation. There are two destinations that people go when they die. Spirits of unbelievers are bound in hell to await the Judgment Day. Spirits of believers are immediately present with the Lord in Heaven and await their resurrection. At the end of the world the Lord Jesus Christ will return a raise both the wicked and the righteous from the dead and Christ will judge them with justice.

Instead of fearing ghosts, people should think about their own sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

2 Samuel 12:23 "But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

If you wish to read more about this topic please look at the following passages: Genesis 3:19, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Peter 2:4-10, 2 Peter 3:1-13, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 20:11-15

Preparing your hearts for Worship

親愛的希望教會弟兄姐妹,

希望大家有愉快及風和日麗的假期!
請大家讀下列的經文為主日的心預備，在這個主日講道內容中將帶領我們思考這個問題 ''你這輩子想得到什麼?''


路加福音--九章23-25 節
彼得前書--二章11節
約翰ㄧ書--二章15-17節
提多書--二章11-14節

在基督裡，
印牧師


Dear New Hope family,

I hope you are enjoying the holiday and the good weather.

As you prepare your hearts to worship God on Sunday, please read the following Scripture passages. The sermon for this Sunday asks the question, "What are you trying to get out of your life?"

Luke 9:23-25
1 Peter 2:11
1 John 2:15-17
Titus 2:11-14

In Christ,

Pastor Joel

A Gospel Summary of the Bible's Message

Heaven is a free gift.
天堂是免費的禮物。

It’s not something you can work for or deserve.
它不是你可以賺取或應得的。

Man is a sinner and can not save himself.
人是罪人，不能救自己。

God is holy, loving and just.
上帝是聖潔、慈愛又公義。

On the one hand, God loves us and does not want to punish us.
一方面，祂是慈愛；所以不願意處罰我們。

On the other hand, he is just and must punish sin.
另一方面，祂是公義；所以必須處罰罪惡。

Do you see the problem?
你瞭解這個問題嗎？

God solved this problem by sending Jesus.
上帝派耶穌來解決這個問題。

Jesus is God.
耶穌就是上帝。

He came from heaven to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day.
祂從天堂來到世間，活過一個完美的生命，為贖我們的罪債死在十字架上，然後從死裡第三天復活。

He is in heaven now, offering us the free gift of eternal life.
現今祂在天堂要賜給我們永生的禮物。

This gift received by faith.
這禮物要用信心接受。

Faith is not just knowing about God in your head.
信心不是單用頭腦知道上帝。

Faith is not just temporary.
信心也不是暫時的。

Saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone with your whole heart.
信心是用整個心單單信靠耶穌基督。

Does this make sense to you?
以上所說你明白嗎？

Would you like to pray now to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to give you eternal life?
你願意的話，現在就可以祈求耶穌赦免你的罪並且賜給你永生。

We can pray together.
我們可以一齊祈禱。

“Dear Jesus, forgive my sins, come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Amen”
親愛的主耶穌！請你赦免我的罪並請你進入我的心作我的救主。阿們！

The Bible says he who believes has everlasting life.
聖經告訴我們信的人有永生。

Welcome to the family of God.
歡迎來到上帝的家！

Christmas through the Bible

親愛的希望教會弟兄姊妹，

和家人慶祝聖誕節的好方法之一，是一起讀聖經中和聖誕節有關的經文。從現在起到元旦期間，可以每晚讀幾段相關經文。

Dear New Hope family,

A good way for you and your family to celebrate Christmas is to read together through Bible passages that tell part of the Christmas story. You can read a few each night through the New Year.


聖經中和聖誕節相關的經文：
創世記 3:15
創世記 15:6
創世記 22:6-8
創世記 22:18
創世記 28:13-15
創世記 49: 8-12
申命記 18:14-22
路得記 4:9-22
撒母耳記上 16:1-13
撒母耳記下 7
歷代志上 17
以賽亞書 7:13-14
以賽亞書 9:1-7
以賽亞書 11:1-10
以賽亞書 40
以賽亞書 42:1-9
以賽亞書 49:1-7
以賽亞書 52:13-53:12
耶利米書 23:1-6
瑪拉基書 4:4-6
馬太福音 1 & 2
路加福音 1 & 2
路加福音 3:21-37
約翰福音 1:1-27
希伯來書 1:1-14
希伯來書 2:9-18


Christmas through the Bible:

Genesis 3:15
Genesis 15:6
Genesis 22:6-8
Genesis 22:18
Genesis 28:13-15
Genesis 49:8-12
Deuteronomy 18:14-22
Ruth 4:9-22
1 Samuel 16:1-13
2 Samuel 7
1 Chronicles 17
Isaiah 7:13-14
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 11:1-10
Isaiah 40
Isaiah 42:1-9
Isaiah 49:1-7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Malachi 4:4-6
Matthew 1 & 2
Luke 1 & 2
Luke 3:21-37
John 1:1-27
Hebrews 1:1-14
Hebrews 2:9-18

Ezekiel Class - Dr. Dean Ulrich

Dean Ulrich is teaching a class on the book of Ezekiel from November 2008 through February 2009. The recorded weeks can be found here: [Note we are missing the second week's audio.]



Class 1

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5


Ezekiel Christmas Special - Part 1


Ezekiel Christmas Special - Part 2


Summary of the first Half of Ezekial's Message -- Themes in Ch. 16, 23...

Reading List to get to Know Your Faith

Reading List to get to Know Your Faith
以下的閱讀清單可以幫助你瞭解自己的信仰

-------------------------------------
In the Bible, here is a place to start:
讀聖經時，可以從這幾卷書開始讀起

1. 路加福音或約翰福音 read Luke or John
2. 使徒行傳 read Acts
3. 羅馬書或以弗所書 read Romans or Ephesians
4. 創世記 read Genesis
5. 出埃及記 read Exodus

(另外，讀詩篇或箴言也很有幫助)
(along with this, it is good to read Psalms and Proverbs)

-------------------------------------
有些基督教的好書也值得一讀，以下是清單：
There are other good Christian books to read. Here is the list.


† Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis 返璞歸真(or 如此基督教)，路益師著，香港：海天書樓
† Reason for God - Tim Keller (not yet been translated)
† Reason to Believe - R.C. Sproul 教我如何不信祂，史普羅著，趙中輝譯， 改革宗出版(Reformed Press)
† Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis 地獄來鴻，魯益師著，香港：基督教文藝
† The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel 重審耶穌，史特博著; 李伯明譯，香港：海天書樓

† Westminster Confession of Faith 基督教信仰告白，趙中輝譯，改革宗出版
† Westminster Shorter Catechim 韋斯敏斯德小要理問答
† 基督教要道初階──要理問答精解（修訂版） The Shorter Catechism──First Steps in Christian Doctrine 魏廉森 G. I. Williamson，改革宗出版
† Westminster Larger Catechism 韋敏斯德大要理問答


† A Faith Worth Sharing - C. John Miller (not yet been translated)
† Outgrowing the Ingrown Church - C. John Miller (not yet been translated)
† The Golden Booklet on the True Christian Life - John Calvin 基督徒生活手册，約翰‧加爾文著，趙中輝譯，改革宗出版
† 盤石之上(The Christian Life-A Doctrinal Introduction), 辛克萊‧傅格森(Sinclair B. Ferguson), Virginia Yip譯 ，改革宗出版

† Passion and Purity - Elizabeth Elliot 郵遞真愛，伊莉莎白˙艾略特著，中國學園傳道會出版
† Through the Gates of Splendor - Elizabeth Elliot 奧卡人的新生，伊莉莎白˙艾略特著，大光出版社

† Chosen by God - R.C. Sproul 認識預定論，史普羅著，校園出版(Campus bookstore)
† The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul 神的聖潔, 史普羅著，黃一亭譯,中國主日學協會 (缺貨)
† The Knowledge of the Holy - A. W. Tozer 認識至聖者，陶恕著，香港宣道出版
† The Pursuit of God - A. W. Tozer 渴慕神，陶恕著，香港宣道出版


Parenting
† Infant Care Book - Judy Linton 百歲醫師教我的育兒寶典，作者:林奐均
† To Train Up a Child - Michael Pearl


Booklets

† Biblical Baptism - George W. Marston
† Come Take a Walk with Me (Testimony) - Judy Linton
† Thinking about Idolatry 拜偶像 Pài Siâ-sîn - Tim Keller
† Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God - Jonathan Edwards
† Dating, Courtship and Marriage - Jim Neuheiser

More evidence for Noah's Flood and against evolution

I just read an article in the BBC online edition that yet again mentions fossils with soft tissue still intact, yet these scientists blindly believe that these fossils are tens of millions of years old, but somehow the soft tissue did not decay.

A much more natural explanation would be that their dating scheme is totally off, and that many of the fossils were formed around 4000 to 5000 years ago in the global flood that the Bible talks about where there would be high pressure from all that water, quick deposition, and low oxygen, so not much chance for the fossils to decay -- ideal conditions for fossil formation, and exactly the type of flood described in Genesis 8-9. This is also possibly where all the oil in the world came from. You have a massive amount of water washing all the vegetation into low-lying areas and then build up pressure and low oxygen so that it becomes oil, coal or natural gas instead of decaying.