因為六至七月中逢周一在信徒神學部教學，加上友人餞行送別，行程忽忽，未能在部落格交代，讓看官朋友詫異，慚愧了。

是 的，離開十六年的群體確實不易，也不捨；但傳道書所說的「有時」，正好說明生命的逆轉並不必是接受不了的驚訝，也絕非完全出乎意料之外的遽變。畢竟，不論 是自己或別人的計算，在神眼裡如滄海一粟，不值一哂。一直來，神總以出人意外的平安和智慧帥領。我需要的，是一種回顧恩惠的洞見（hindsight）和不限於人籌算的制高點（vantage point）。

於是，我以感恩、喜樂和平安的心開始這兩年的旅程，相信此行必定多有收獲。

在 新加坡過去這差不多一個星期裡，主要忙於安頓和手續，生活的調節，還有為隨後而來開學的準備。第一個學期教四科，分別是「釋經講道」、「聖經解釋學」、 「希臘文（三）」、「新約選讀（啟示錄）」。除了「釋經講道」以華語（普通話）授課，其餘都以英語授課。這幾天在校裡，看了看學生名單和人數，了解他們的 背景，下來就是忙於根據學校的科目章程編寫課程內容和要求。還好，這些科目都曾經教過，內容不需要太多準備，教學如何互動是主要的考量。

學校和住處附近的環境都很好。兩地只隔八分鐘的MTR（即香港的MRT）。學校鄰近有圖書館，裡面的café最得我心（竟然不是南洋咖啡，太好了！我馬上買了套票，每喝一杯省三毛錢，十次就是3塊，等如港幣15塊）。昨天（週六）在那裡待了四個小時，讀完了一本書。好不自在。

住處四週有緩跑徑，到處都是樹蔭，看來長跑可以繼續。前天還發現住處對面就是游泳池，馬上買了套票……我是沒有怠惰的理由了。啊，昨晚還打開琴盒，重拾荒慶了的小提琴，拉了一厥練習曲。香港沒空作的，這裡有的是空間和時間。唔……希望我的智慧和身量，在這兩年間加增吧。

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven
I’ll find my way, through night and day
Cause I know I just can’t stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

(instrumental)

Beyond the door
There’s peace I’m sure.
And I know there’ll be no more…
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven

Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven

今天早上在崇基禮拜堂講道，講章中文題目是「知．不知」。與各位分享。

“Deceptive Knowing”

Mark 6:1~6

1-2 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?” 3But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further. 4-6Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. (Eugene Peterson, Message)

There is something in our texts this morning that resonates with some of the Chinese sayings like: 「本地薑不辣」,「外來的和尚會唸經」,「隔離阿婆飯香」，「外國的月亮比較圓」, etc.  Because of  this “knowledge” people hold the vew that anything or any one spectacular could not be produced locally.

Then again there are also sayings at the other end that stress exactly the opposite point: 「猛虎不及地頭蟲」,「茶是故鄉濃」 etc.  Accordingly folks share the opinion that local is always the better.

Which of the two views is closer to the truth any way?  I suppose we would have no problem proving either view valid with experiences and illustration of cases.  It seems that what really matters, however, is what we think we see and understand. In fact, it does not have much to do, if not nothing, with geographical location.  Indeed it is not a matter of physical distance but a distance of mind and heart.  It is not where others are or where they are from, it is really what’s already in our mind, and presumption is its name.

(2)

I recall some years ago when we first went to the States for further studies.  We came to know some nice people, generous, loving and caring, ready to help.  Among those nice people there were a few folks who had some presumptions of us who came from the Orient; and people outside of America and Europe are often stereotyped as “the Third World”. One of these nice folks was our neighbor.

One evening common friends between us invited our family and our neighbor to go over to their house for dinner.  We had a great time chatting and eating.  At certain point of that wonderful evening, I think it was when we were each enjoying our steak, while slicing her steak our neighbor remarked casually but surely,

“This is quite different from what Joe (my English name) and Serena (my wife’s English name) have been doing for their meal at home.”

“How is it different?” The host asked.  Before I really knew what she was getting at, she went on to explain assertively,

“Well, they usually cut the meat into very small pieces, unlike our big portion.  Do you know why?” She looked at the hosts seriously and almost immediately offered her answer as assuredly,

“Back home they don’t have refrigerator to keep the left over.  To make sure no meat is left or all meat would be consumed, they cook very small portion of meat. That’s why they cut it into small pieces.”

I must confess that I learnt something from her answer, but I am not sure if that really explains Chinese cooking pattern.  As far as I know she has not taken any Chinese cooking class, neither has she been keen on Chinese culture.  In fact, before we met she did not have a Chinese friend.  All she knew about Chinese people was from the characters in TV or motion pictures.  But one thing is sure; she considers Chinese people as part of the Third World.  More importantly she has a view of what Third World is like: rather primitive, simple… you see? Presumption.

But is presumption the problem of certain part of the world only?  Several years ago there is a story shared among the sea of web.  I guess many of us have read it or some versions of it already.  According to this story, the United Nations sends out a question or a thought for children in different parts of the world to discuss and interact: “PLEASE SHARE YOUR OWN THOUGHT CONCERNING THE ADEQUACY OF FOOD SUPPLY IN OTHER NATIONS.”  Now the quiz was sent out, but the result has not been satisfactory because,

Children in Africa do not know “adequacy of food supply”;

Children in the US do not know “other nations”;

Children in Latin America do not know “please”;

Children in Asia do not know “their own thought”.

(3)

Hilarious?  But I also wonder if there is not truth in that.  I am not saying that all Asian children do not have thought of their own. I am not saying that every American kid is always arrogant and self-centered. I am not saying that all Latin American children are aggressive.  I am saying that none of us, young and old, rich or poor, male or female, East or West, can be exempted from presumption, pre-understanding, pre-supposition, even prejudice.

Just because no one is exempted from presumption, as such it is not a problem.  I would even argue that without presumption there cannot be any possibility of understanding or communication.  For example, without some prior understanding or knowledge of languages, both Chinese and English (I am referring to those who are now understanding me with the help of simultaneous interpretation), I am just producing sound. The morning newspapers are random clusters of weird signs without any meaning. Without some pre-understanding we could hardly get this worship go as it should.

The problem is not presumption or pre-understanding, the problem is that we make our pre-understanding the only and final knowledge, refusing to know more, refusing to connect to others, refusing to admit any space for possibility, growth and change. Life is but an endless mathematical deduction.  Every result is nicely predicted and known because of our presumption and our knowledge.  Anything, any one outside of our calculation or formulation would be unreasonable, absurd and therefore unacceptable.

“He’s just a carpenter-Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid.  We know his brothers James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters.  Who does he think he is?” (6:3)

“He is good and marvelous.  Yes indeed, no doubt about that.  But a carpenter’s son can and will only be another carpenter.  We just know that, no matter what he does and speaks.  We just know and will know.”  People in Nazareth said assertively.  People in Nazareth lived safely on their logic and calculation. But a life in lack of faith does not allow anything to happen, not even miracle.

“Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there-he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all.  He couldn’t get over their stubbornness.” (6:4~6)

(4)

Just this week on Tuesday morning 38,000 students received their A-Levels.  I share the joy with those who did well and want to encourage those who did not.  I also wonder, good or bad, if there is anyone who just knew how the students would end up and insists at this moment he just knows how the students will end up in the future.  I wonder how the students’ future would prove what the folks asserted in Nazareth.

“She is a 6 As student, she will fly; I just know.  He is a failure. I’ve known him since he was a child. His father, mother, family… Sorry to say, but it’s a mess. I just know.”  “I know I am destined to be what I am and what I will.  I just know it.” Maybe, but maybe not.

I have recently known a group of young lads that have proved many of our “knowledge” wrong.  They are kids of different backgrounds, but with one thing in common-they once trod their path wrongly into drug addiction.  Then they have their second thing in common-they were sent to Zheng Sheng College.  You all should not be unfamiliar with the news and debates about their future school site in Mui Wo, I would not want to repeat it here.  I would love to point out to you their third thing in common-but it is really most uncommon, not predictable, not logical, even miracle-they have been able to be live a life that surpasses many of our “knowledge” that a failure is a failure.

They had been looked down upon; perhaps they still are by some. For those who could see them as they could be, they see new lives, brave kids, even miracle.  Indeed, people have seen God because of them. [Please go the earlier post: 「你們作了一個很好的見證」] .

Dear friends moment later we will be gathering under the Cross.  As you take the Bread and the Cup, remember Jesus whom had also been concluded by some as “just a carpenter, just a Jew, just a man died on the cross, just a failure.”  With his resurrection, life is proved more than our calculation, knowledge, even prejudice. Because of faith in Him, forgiveness of sin, new life, and miracle are realities of life. Because of faith in Him, you are liberated from the deceptive knowing that binds you and others at the dead ends of life.  Amen.

孩子，勇敢地向前走。光明正大、光明磊落地作光明之子。

看官，click一click就可以放大文章。

感謝香港浸會大學校牧葉敬德博士賜序。葉博士學有專精，所長之學正是基督教倫理學，今蒙葉博士寫序，實深感榮幸。

2006年，我曾自詡已入知命之年。2006至2008年這三年間，於公在私，生命卻經歷了從來未有過的體會和激盪。信仰越過腦袋裡的認知學識，沉澱在血肉的生活裡，糾結於白天的人際交接、黑夜的獨處靜思。

聖經從來沒有如此真實過；我也從來沒有面對過如此的挑戰。信仰與生活，是如此近，那麼遠。對於一個已經五十歲的人而言，何去何從似乎是一個荒謬甚或危險的問題。但心裡明白，「何去何從」是實在和嚴肅的心靈尋索（soul searching）。那不是地理空間的探究，是心緒、價值、方向、情愛、信仰的置放和確定。「怎麼走下去？」是確確實實的「信仰之跳躍」。

士每拿主教坡利甲（Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, c.69-c.155）曾言：「八十六年來我所事奉之主從未薄待於我，我又怎能有負那救我之主？」與古教父相比，我輩猶如滄海一粟，唯一相同的，是恩主耶穌的凝視與同行須臾不棄。是以，我也自勉：「怎能有負於恩主的呼召？」

恩主從未薄待於我，其中一份厚恩，是祂在我四周預備摯友諍朋，他們不僅信任我，更時刻提醒我，甚至伴陪我走當走的路。藉此機會，我必須向友人致謝，他們的同行讓我瞥見基督的容貌。

「人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個更大的了。」（約十五13）

＊          ＊          ＊          ＊          ＊          ＊          ＊

全書大綱

緒論

第一部     耶穌的生平與意義

第一章    耶穌與新約倫理

第二章    從福音書看耶穌的倫理憧憬

第二部     門徒的生活：性、家庭、婚姻

第三章    性、家庭、婚姻

第四章    同性戀

第三部   門徒在世界：權勢與鄰舍

第五章    新約中的政權

第六章    權勢與救贖

第七章    寬恕與復和

第八章    鄰舍

全書約十四萬字，秋季前出版