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Pastor's Corner by Pastor Jonathan Lee

July, 2005

In this season of graduations and commencements, a friend sent me this inspiring story:

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would not pray during the commencements ----- not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine......until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!! The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, "GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

A true story or not, it illustrates that though we declare religious freedom, we cannot take our freedom for granted.  As we celebrate Independence Day, remember that true independence comes when we are dependent upon God. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31and 36)

When Jesus is our Lord and we follow Him, not only are we free from the punishment of sin and the power of sin, but we are free to exercise the privileges abundantly granted to us by God. Prayer is one such privilege. Although government authorities may prohibit public praying, prayer cannot be bound by any external force since it is in essence communication from heart to heart.

What is our heart saying? What is God saying from His heart? Prayer is a heart language that must be spoken frequently with gratitude and never taken for granted. As we “commence” together in our journey with Jesus, I pray for you. As your new Pastor, pray for me. Together let’s pray for a multitude of nations to find freedom in Christ.

---

牧　者　之　欄

在這個畢業及畢業禮的季節，有一位朋友送給我一個令人鼓舞的故事：

九十二位學生正排好隊操進那已經擠滿了人的禮堂，穿戴著那深棗紅色的袍和傳統的帽子，他們的模樣差不多與他們的感覺一樣成熟。父親們在燦爛的笑容後面正猛力抽嚥；而母親們就不住地擦掉她們的淚水。這一班學生不會在畢業禮中祈禱─不是他們的選擇，乃是最近法庭的裁決禁止他們這樣做。

校長和幾位學生努力地跟據裁決的規定去做，他們給與鼓勵和挑戰的演說，但沒有一個人提及神的引導也沒有一個人為畢業生和他們的家人祈求祝福。講詞是精彩的，但只是例行公事而已…..直至最後的演詞才得到熱烈的喝采。

一位學生獨自昂首的走到咪高峰前，他安靜地站立片刻，跟著事情就發生了…..全場九十二位學生突然一起的〝打噴嚏〞；那位在台上的同學看著觀眾，然後說：「神祝福你，你們每一位！」然後他就走下台去……

觀眾哄然而鼓掌喝采，不論法庭批准與否，這群畢業生以一個與別不同的方式來祈求神祝福他們的將來。

不論這個故事的真假，但它說明雖然我們宣稱宗教自由，但我們不能夠把自由看成是理所當然的。當我們慶祝〝獨立日〞的時候，記得真正的獨立是來自當我們依靠神的時候。耶穌說：『你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒。你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。……..所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。』﹝約翰福音8:31, 36﹞

當耶穌是我們的主而我們又跟從祂的時候，我們不單止從罪惡及罪的權勢中被釋放，我們更可以自由地行使神豐豐富富賜給我們的特權。雖然政府或許會禁止公開的祈禱，但祈禱不可以被這些外來的力量所限制，因為這是心連心溝通的一個重要原素。

我們的心怎樣說？神從祂的心又說什麼？祈禱是心靈語言，一定要經常以感謝的心來表達，而不可以當作是理所當然的。在我們一起開始與耶穌同行的旅程時，我為你們祈禱。作為你們的新牧師，請也為我禱告。我們一起為更多的國家可以在基督裏找到自由來代禱。

「我勸你第一要為萬人懇求、禱告、代求、祝謝，為君王和一切在位的，也該如此，使我們可以敬虔、端正，平安無事地度日。這是好的，在　神我們救主面前可蒙悅納。他願意萬人得救，明白真道。」﹝提摩太前書 2:1-4﹞

李振倫牧師

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