SATAN 撒但
慕迪說：他所認識最快樂的人是一位住在蘇格蘭丹地城的男人，這人在15歲時因跌倒而摔斷背骨。從此躺在床上４０年之久，而且只要一移動就會感到劇痛。
這麼多年來，他大概沒有一天能幸免於這急劇的痛苦。但日復一日神的恩典始終眷顧他，當慕迪先生到他房裡時，看到他看起來就像是在天堂一般地快樂。
慕迪想到他必定已勝過了試探才能如此快樂，於是問他：「難道撒旦從沒引誘你懷疑神而認為神是個嚴厲的主人嗎？」他回答：「噢，是的，他的確嘗試要誘惑我。我躺在這看到我的老同學們開車經過，撒旦說：如果神真的那麼好，為什麼他把你困在這這麼多年呢？不然你早已是個有錢人開著你自己的車了。然後我又看到一個和我受傷前一樣年輕擁有健美體格的男人走過去，撒旦悄悄問我：如果神真的愛你，他難道不能使你不摔斷背嗎？」慕迪問：「那當撒旦試探你時，你做了什麼呢？」「噢，我只是帶他到十字架前，讓他看看基督，我指著耶穌手和腳及肋旁的傷說：他怎會不愛我呢？事實是撒旦在九百年前就在十字架前因無法忍受神竟如此愛我而嚇跑了；所以現在每一次我仰望十字架時撒旦就離開我了。
」那位臥病在床的聖徒並沒有對神懷疑的困擾，因為他已得著神滿滿的恩典了！
Dwight L. Moody said that one of the happiest men he ever knew was a man in Dundee, Scotland, who had fallen and broken his back when a boy of fifteen. He had lain on his bed for forty years and could not be moved without a good deal of pain. Probably not a day had passed in all those years without acute suffering. But day after day the grace of God had been granted him, and when Mr. Moody was in his room it seemed as if he was as near heaven as he could get on earth. When Mr. Moody saw him, he thought he must be beyond the reach of the tempter, and he asked him, “Doesn’t Satan ever tempt you to doubt God and to think that He is a hard master?” “Oh, yes,” he said, “he does try to tempt me. I lie here and see my old schoolmates driving along, and Satan says, ‘If God is so good, why has He kept you here all these years? You might have been a rich man, riding in your carriage.’ Then I see a man, who was young when I was, walk by in perfect health, and Satan whispers, ‘If God loved you, couldn’t He have kept you from breaking your back?’ “ “And what do you do when Satan tempts you?” “Ah, I just take him to Calvary, and I show him Christ, and I point out those wounds in His hands and feet and side, and say, ‘Doesn’t He love me?’ The fact is Satan got such a scare there nineteen hundred years ago that he cannot stand it; he leaves me every time.” That bedridden saint of God did not have much trouble with doubts; he was too full of the grace of God.
(from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 681)
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一位年老且嚴肅的傳道人曾向他的會友發出禁止跳舞的命令，視此活動為魔鬼的工具，一些年輕人違背了禁令參加了鄰近城鎮舉辨的舞會。此事最後傳到了這位傳道人的耳中，有一天早上在街上，他遇到被他視為和匪徒一樣的那群年輕人中的一位，他於是以嚴厲的語氣說：「早安，魔鬼的孩子！」而這位漂亮小姐微笑著回答道：「早安，父親！」
A stern old preacher had issued to his people a command against dancing, believing it to be a device of the devil.
A few of the young people disobeyed and attended a dance given at a neighboring town. Finally it reached the ears of the preacher, and, meeting one of the culprits on the street one morning, he said in a stern voice:
“Good morning, child of the devil!”
“Good morning, father!” smilingly answered the pretty miss.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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撒旦召聚了他的囉嘍們開會討論如何使一位好人犯罪，一位邪靈起頭說：「我會使他犯罪。」撒旦問：「你怎麼做呢？」他回答：「我會為他預備罪中之樂，我會告訴他有什麼樂趣和隨之而來的優渥酬償。」撒旦說：「哼！那才不會成，他已經試過而且很了解什麼是罪中之樂。」然後另一位小魔鬼說：「我會讓他犯罪。」撒旦問：「你要怎麼做呢？」「我會告訴他遵守道德的痛苦和悲傷，我會讓他看到美德是不會帶來快樂的，而且沒有任何報酬。」撒旦驚呼：「噢不！」「那樣做完全沒用；因為他已經試過而且知道智慧之道就是喜樂之道，而且所有智慧的路徑都是平安。」「好吧！」另個小魔鬼簡短地說：「我會使他的魂喪志，」
「啊！那會成！」撒旦大叫；「那會成！我們能征服他了！」
Satan called together a council of his servants to consult how they might make a good man sin. One evil spirit started up and said, “I will make him sin.” “How will you do it?” asked Satan. “I will set before him the pleasures of sin,” was the reply; “I will tell him of its delights, and the rich reward it brings.” “Ah” said Satan, “that will not do; he has tried it and knows better than that.” Then another imp started up and said, “I will make him sin.” “What will you do?” asked Satan. “I will tell him of the pains and sorrows of virtues. I will show him that virtue has no delights, and brings no rewards.” “Ah, no!” exclaimed Satan, “that will not do at all; for he has tried it and knows that `Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’” “Well,” said another imp, starting up, “I will undertake him to make him sin.” “And what will you do?” asked Satan again. “I will discourage his soul,” was the short reply. “Ah, that will do!” cried Satan; “that will do! We shall conquer him now.” (Smith, Happy 76-77)
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有一大群人。這群人的一邊站著一名男子，耶穌。在另一邊站著撒旦。分開他們的是一個貫穿在這群人的柵欄。現場設置，耶酥和撒旦兩方開始呼喚這群人，一個接著一個 － 每個人彌補了他或她自己的心 － 每個人不是到耶穌就是到撒旦那邊。
這不斷持續進行。不久足夠了，耶穌己經從這一大群人中聚集了許多的人在他的周圍，撒旦也是一樣。
但有一個人兩邊都沒有加入。他爬上柵欄坐在上面。這時，耶穌和他的人離開，並消失了。撒旦和他的人也相同的不見了。而只剩該男子單獨坐在柵欄上。
當這名男子坐著時，撒旦回來，找一些似乎牠已經喪失的東西。該男子說： 「你有遺失什麼東西嗎？」撒旦直視著他，回答說： 「沒有，只有你在這裡，來跟從我吧。」
但是該名男子說， 「我就坐在柵欄上，我選擇不加入你也不加入他。」
撒旦說：「那沒問題 ， 我擁有這個柵欄。」
There was a large group of people. On one side of the group stood a man, Jesus. On the other side of the group stood Satan. Separating them, running through the group, was a fence.
The scene set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one - each having made up his or her own mind - each went to either Jesus or Satan. This kept going. Soon enough, Jesus had gathered around him a group of people from the larger crowd, as did Satan. But one man joined neither group. He climbed the fence that was there and sat on it. Then Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So too did Satan and his people. And the man on the fence sat alone. As this man sat, Satan came back, looking for something which he appeared to have lost. The man said, “Have you lost something?” Satan looked straight at him and replied, “No, there you are. Come with me.”
“But”, said the man, “I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor him. ““That's okay,” said Satan. “I own the fence.”
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在主日禮拜開始前幾分鐘，鎮上的居民們正坐在他們的教堂長椅子上聊天。突然，撒旦出現在會堂的前面。每個人都開始尖叫並向大門入口處奔逃，在一陣為擺脫邪惡的魔鬼體現下，大家極力的發狂致使彼此踐踏對方。很快地除了一位老先生外大家都已經退出了教會，他從容鎮靜的坐在教堂的長椅子上沒有移動，似乎無視上帝的終極敵人存在的這一事實。
所以撒旦走向這位老先生，並說： 「難道你不知道我是誰嗎」 ？
這位老先生回答說： 「 是的 ，當然知道。」
撒旦問：「你難道不怕我嗎？ 」
這位先生說：「不，當然不怕。」
撒旦問：「你難道不明白，我可以用一個字殺死你嗎？」
一點也不用懷疑，「這位老先生回應說，即使在一個語調。
撒旦堅定的說：「你知道嗎？我可以造一個深刻的、駭人的永恆極大苦楚給你。」
「是的 」，平靜的答復。
撒旦問：「你仍然不害怕嗎？」
那位老先生說： 「 不 。 」
一個不小的騷動，撒旦問道： 「那麼，你為什麼不害怕我呢？ 」
這位先生平靜地回答說： 「我己經和你的妹妹結婚有48年之久了。」
A few minutes before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence.
So Satan walked up to the old man and said “Don't you know who I am?” The man replied, “Yep, sure do.” “Aren't you afraid of me?” Satan asked. “Nope, sure ain't.” said the man. “Don't you realize I can kill you with a word?” asked Satan. “Don't doubt it for a minute,” returned the old man, in an even tone. “Did you know that I could cause you profound, horrifying, AGONY for all eternity?” Persisted Satan. ““Yep,” was the calm reply. ““And you're still not afraid?” asked Satan. “Nope,” said the old man. More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, “Well, why aren't you afraid of me?” The man calmly replied, “Been married to your sister for 48 years.
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魔鬼八福
1、無暇聚會的人有福了！他們是我的部下。
2、期待別人稱讚的人有福了！我用得著他們。
3、臭脾氣的人有福了！他們動輒不返教會，是我的宣教士。
4、愛生事端的人有福了！他們得稱為我的兒女。
5、無閒禱告的人有福了！他們是我的獵物。
6、愛講閒話的人有福了！他們是我的偵探。
7、愛挑剔教會的人有福了！他們必繼承我在地獄裡的產業。
8、愛埋怨的人有福了！我必垂聽他們。
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「如果你聽了這些話，覺得我在說其他人，而與你無關的話，你就有福了！因為你已經是我的人了。」
曾經有個畫家想要畫一幅「天使與魔鬼」的畫像，他找到了一位純美的少年，完成了「天使的畫像」。但是，過了許多年，他一直無法找到一個可以讓他繪畫魔鬼的模特兒。 有一天的深夜，當他從朋友家回來時，在路旁發現一個精神枯槁、全身髒臭，縮在牆角的流浪漢，他把這個人帶回家，並且以他的形象完成了「魔鬼的畫像」。當他完成了這幅畫時，他發現這個流浪漢在哭，於是就問他：「你為什麼這麼傷心呢？」流浪漢望著這幅「天使與魔鬼」的畫像，就對畫家說：「先生，多年以前在這裡讓你畫天使的少年就是我，想不到如今，我竟然又坐在這裡，成為魔鬼的模特兒。」 這個畫家大吃一驚，仔細察看這個流浪漢的臉孔，他不得不相信，眼前這個流浪漢竟然就是昔日純美如天使般的少年。
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Quotes引證 :
There is no devil in the first 2 chapters of the Bible, and no devil in the last two chapters. Vance Havner
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SERVICE 事奉
有一個很受困擾的男人來找牧師，他說因為他察覺到他所有的善行中竟夾雜了自私的動機。於是他困惑地問牧師：「我發現有些自我滿足在其中，我該停止做這些好事嗎？」這位有智慧的牧師向他確認地說：當我們在肉體中時，我們總是會經歷到知道自己仍不完美的羞愧感，甚至動機也是如此。這是要在我們所行的任何事上交付我們自己給神，為了領受神的愛也為了來服事祂；而如果我們的善行的副產品是喜悅和滿足，那麼就沒有什麼錯在其中了。
A man who was greatly troubled came to his pastor because he said in all his good deeds he detected a mixture of selfish motives. “Should I stop doing these things,” he asked in perplexity, “since I find some self-gratification in all of them?” The wise pastor assured him while we are in the flesh we shall always suffer the humiliation of knowing that nothing about us is perfect, even our motives. It is a matter of committing ourselves to God to love and serve Him in all that we do; and if the byproduct of our actions is joy and satisfaction, there is nothing wrong in that. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 992)
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一個傑出具影響力的年輕人去到宣教的禾場，他的薪資很微薄。一間大型商業公司非常渴望得著這個人才，所以要提供他現有薪資十倍的薪水，但他拒絕了。
他們甚至在他拒絕後又提供了很大筆的錢想要雇用他。他告訴他們：「噢！這薪水夠好了，但這工作並不夠！」
A brilliant young man with a magnetic personality went out to the mission field. His salary was just a pittance. A large commercial firm was so eager to obtain his services that they offered him ten times his salary, but he refused. They offered to make it even larger if he would accept. “Oh, the salary is big enough,” he told them, “but the job isn’t!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 999)
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蘇菲是一位在做清潔工作的基督徒，她工作的大樓裡有位紳士對她說：「蘇菲， 說說吧！ 我知道你是位基督徒。」蘇菲即刻回答：「是的，先生，我是君王的孩子」「噢！所以你一定是位公主，既然神是你的國王。」「我的確是。」「好吧！如果神是你的父親，而你是位公主和君王之子，你不會想說被人發現你在紐約市擦著骯髒階梯是有損於你的尊嚴的嗎？」蘇菲一點也不被嚇到地回答道：「不管做什麼事都不用感用羞耻。因為如你所見，我不是在為我的老闆伯朗先生而擦這些階梯，我是為我的拯救主－耶穌基督在清潔這些階梯。」
Sophie, the scrub woman, was a Christian. One of the gentlemen in the large building where she worked said to her, “Say, Sophie, I understand that you are a Christian.” “Yes, sir, I am a child of the King,” was her immediate reply. “Oh! So you must be a princess, since God is your King.” “I sure am.” “Well, if God is your Father, and you are a princess and a child of the King, do you not think that it is beneath your dignity to be found here in New York City scrubbing these dirty steps?” Not being daunted Sophie replied, “There is no humiliation whatsoever. You see, I am not scrubbing these steps for my boss, Mr. Brown. I am scrubbing them for Jesus Christ, my Savior!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 118)
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這個故事是關於一位傳教士從利物浦坐船到非洲海岸。他轉了在拉各斯的船隻。他登上了沿海的拖輪，要到一個患熱病的地區，他將在那裡以他餘下的生命去服事。當他轉船時，他遇上一個年老的商人批評地對他說：「如果你去那個地方，你會死。」傳教士溫柔地回答：「在我永遠離開利物浦之前我已死了。」
There is this story about the missionary who sailed from Liverpool to serve Christ along the African coast. He changed vessels at Lagos. He boarded a coastal tugboat to make his way into a fever-infested region where he would invest the rest of his life. While changing vessels, he came upon a cynical old slave trader who looked critically on the man’s decision by saying, “If you go to that place, you will die.” The missionary, a devoted Christian, replied softly, “I died before I ever left Liverpool.”
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Colin Powell:
不久前，我在弗羅里達州探視一個位在貧民區的孩童收留所，當時我正和一群圍繞著我坐在地板上的孩子們提到我自己的童年，我的家庭並不富裕；事實上，我們住在也屬貧民區的布朗區的房子，我告訴孩子們：但是我的父母營造了一個保護家庭的環境，給了我們生命的營養，架構和紀律。我們被教導對自己有自信。當我在說這些的時候，一個九歲男孩舉起手來發問：「總地來說，你覺得如果你沒有兩對父母，你就可以捏造嗎？」那孩子這麼說讓我感到受傷了，但他在說的其實是：你在說的並不是我的世界，所以我可以用想像的擁有這麼的父母嗎？我的回答是：「是的，你可以。」那孩子也許無法經歷我所成長的環境，但我告訴他：「在這的確有人在關心著你，看顧著你和教導你什麼是對錯。」
我知道我人生的導師在成為牧師前曾做過學校行政人員和二手車銷售員，他比我年長15歲，當時我對進修的計劃常常延遲未進行，在他問及此事時我也感到很挫折，我的回答是：請給我一個答案：是或不是。在達拉斯神學院拿到畢業學位真的那麼重要嗎？真的值得投入如此多的金錢來這讀書嗎？然後他說：「是的，對我來說的確是的。」（他真正的意思是：為何服事神是重要的：因為有太多問題是政府無法解決的，所以留給我們這些人來處理－但是是在還未太遲以前）
NOT LONG AGO, I VISITED a Boys and Girls Club in a poor area in Florida. I was talking to a group of kids sitting on the floor around me about my own childhood. My family wasn’t rich; in fact, we lived in a tenement in the Bronx. But, I told the group, my parents had created an enveloping family environment that gave sustenance, structure and discipline to our lives. We were taught to believe in ourselves. As I spoke, a 9-year-old boy raised his hand. “General,” he asked, “do you think if you didn’t have two parents you would have made it?”
That kid cut me right to the quick. He was saying, “This isn’t my world you’re talking about. Can I still make it?” My answer was: “Yes, you can.” That boy may not have had what I had growing up, but, I said, “There are people here who care for you, who will mentor you, who will watch over you and teach you right from wrong.”
I knew my mentor as a school administrator and a used car salesman before he became a pastor. He was 15 years older than me. My plans for further study were often postponed and frustrated when he asked me about it. I answered: “Please give me one answer: Yes or No. Is it really that important to get my graduate degree at Dallas? Is it worth it to put so much money to study there?” Then he said, “Yes.” That’s it for me. (“Why service matters: there are problems governments can’t solve, so its up to the rest of us - before it’s too late” Newsweek 2/3/97)
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無論你是誰…
有些較年少者認為你很完美
如果你不做它的話, 則有些工作不會完成
如果你離去, 則有些人會想念你
有一個比你現在變更好的理由
有一個你獨處的地方要被充滿
Whoever You Are...
There is some younger person who thinks you are perfect.
There is some work that won’t get done if you don’t do it.
There is someone who would miss you if you were gone.
There is a reason for becoming better than you are.
There is a place to be filled that you are alone. (Pulpit Helps 2/97)
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哈里霍普金斯在二次大戰期間，正值他對羅斯福總統的影響力達到顛峰，他擁有非正式的內閣閣員職位。此外，霍普金斯與羅斯福的親密程度使許多人視他為羅斯福的隨身影子，一個險要的人物。結果他對總統來說成了一個主要的政治責任，一位政治對手有一次問羅斯福：為何你和霍普金斯走那麼近呢？你應該明白人們並不信任他且厭惡他的影響力。羅斯福回答：有一天你也可能坐到我這個位子上成為美國總統。而當你真的是的時候，你將會注視著那扇門發現實際上每個進來的人對你都有所要求。你會明白這是一個多麼孤單的職位啊，而且你將會發現某些人，就像哈里霍普金斯就是這種人，他唯一的需求是對你無所求除了真正為你服事以外！
Harry Hopkins. During World War II, when his influence with Roosevelt was at its peak, Hopkins held no official Cabinet position. Moreover, Hopkins’ closeness to Roosevelt caused many to regard him as a shadowy, sinister figure. As a result he was a major political liability to the President. A political foe once asked Roosevelt, “Why do you keep Hopkins so close to you? You surely realize that people distrust him and resent his influence.”
Roosevelt replied, “Someday you may well be sitting here where I am now as President of the United States. And when you are, you’ll be looking at that door over there and knowing that practically everybody who walks through it wants something out of you. You’ll learn what a lonely job this is, and you’ll discover the need for somebody like Harry Hopkins, who asks for nothing except to serve you.” (Robert Sherwood, Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History NY: Harper and Row/1948 pp 2-3 as quoted by Jack B. Hoey, Jr. in Discipleship Journal Issue 39/87)
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卡爾博士，是個有名的心裡學家他剛結束一場關於心理健康的演講，一名聽眾問他：「若有人覺得緊張精神要崩潰了，你會建議他怎麼做呢？」很多聽眾認為博士會回答：「去看心理醫生」出乎聽眾意料之外，博士回答：「關上你家的門，越過鐵軌找個需要幫助的人，為他做點什麼！」
Dr. Karl Menninger, a famous psychiatrist, has just finished a lecture on mental health and answering questions from the audience. “What would you advise a person to do,” asked one man, “if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Many people expected him to reply, “Consult a psychiatrist.” To their surprise, he said, “Lock up your house, go across the railway tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.” Bits and Pieces 11/10/94
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有一天聚完會，我的朋友在我的前面，正要從教會出去。 牧師站在教會的大門口與每一位會友握手寒喧，當他握著我朋友的手時，把他拉到一旁。
牧師對他說:你需要參加主的軍隊。
我的朋友回答說:牧師，我已經在主的軍隊裏。
牧師很懷疑的說:除了聖誕節與復活節的節日外，我很難得能看到你。
我的朋友小聲的在他耳旁回答:我參加了軍隊裏的祕密組織。
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以下是史懷哲服務的榜樣，他放棄在西方作醫生的特權，去非洲當地貧窮的人中建立醫院，他的許多朋友覺得他放棄專業的訓練可惜，就派了代表到非洲去，希望游說他回到英國。
他們說:「為何像你如此有才幹的人，放棄來服務非洲土著呢？」
史懷哲說:「當一個人能在某地服務別人這不是放棄，我謝謝你們的好意，但我已決定留在此地，照顧我的非洲朋友。」他留在非洲直到1965年九十歲，他保持工作生存之熱情到離世。
Albert Schweizer is what service is about He gave up a prestigious career as a doctor and went to Africa to build hospitals for the poor natives.
Many of his friends , who felt that he was throwing away his talents and training, sent a delegation to Africa to attempt to persuade him to come back to his native land. They asked, “ why should such a gifted man as you give up so much to labor among African natives?”
Schweitzer replied: "Don’t talk about sacrifice. What does it matter where one goes provided once can do good work there.: much as I appreciate your king words, I have made up my mind to stay here and look after my African friends:” He remained there until he died in 1965 , at the age on 90.He worked until the very end, maintaining his zest for living. John Mason Brown.
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有一位年輕神父向德瑞莎修女抱怨工作太忙了，使他無法服事窮人，而那才是他最渴望做的事．德瑞莎修女聽了他的話後，回答他說：「你的任務不是服事窮人，而是愛耶穌．」（《如何自我成長》，中主，160。）
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Quotes引證 :
Service is the true measure of a life.
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SIN 罪
一位印地安人和一位白種人都因為一篇講道而有很深的認罪感，這位印地安人立刻在憐憫赦免中得到喜樂，而另位白種人則長期在抑鬱中幾乎絕望了，但至少他有被赦罪的愉悅感，過了一陣子，他遇到那位印地安弟兄，他對印地安弟兄說：「這是怎麼回事，我一直都在認罪悔改中，你卻立刻找到平安呢？」印地安弟兄回答：「噢，弟兄，我會告訴你的，有一個很有錢的王子，他很想送你一件新大衣；你看著你自己的外套卻說：『我不知道吔，我的外套看起來很好啊！可再穿一段時間。』所以他就將那件新大衣給我了，我看著我的舊毯子，我說：『這是沒出息的樣子，而接受了全新漂亮的衣裳了。』正因如此，弟兄，你試著留住你自己的稱義。你並沒有放棄自己原有的，但是我這個窮酸的印地安人，可以看到我其實什麼好的都沒有，所以我立刻歡喜接受上帝的公義－也就是主耶穌基督」
An Indian and a white man were brought under deep conviction of sin by the same sermon. The Indian was immediately led to rejoice in pardoning mercy. The white man was in distress for a long time, almost to despair. But at last he was brought to a joyous sense of sins forgiven. Sometime after, while meeting his Indian brother, he said to him, “How is it that I should be so long under conviction, when you found peace at once?” “Oh, brother,” replied the Indian, “I will tell you. There comes along a rich prince. He proposes to give you a new coat; you look at your coat and say, ‘I don’t know; my coat looks pretty good; it will do a little longer.’ He then offered me a new coat. I look at my old blanket; I say, ‘This is good for nothing,’ and accept the beautiful new garment. Just so, brother, you try to keep your own righteousness. You won’t give it up; but I, poor Indian, could see that I had none, so I was glad at once to receive the righteousness of God—the Lord Jesus Christ.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 714)
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美國有名的奮興佈道家查普曼博士提及一位澳洲傑出的衛理公會牧者如何傳講罪，這位牧者的一位教會同工在講道結束後對他說：「哈佛博士，我們不希望你把罪講得這麼白，因為假如我們的孩子們聽到你講那麼多關於罪的內容，他們會更容易成為犯罪者的，你可以稱罪為犯錯即可，而不要講得這麼白－犯罪」這位牧者拿了一瓶標示「毒藥」的中樞神經藥物，他說：我明白你要我做什麼了，你要我改變這個標籤，例如改成「薄荷成份」，但你難道不明白會發生什麼事嗎？你標示得越輕微，就使這毒藥愈危險了。
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished Methodist minister of Australia who preached on sin. One of his church officers came afterward to talk with him in his study. He said to the minister: “Dr. Howard, we don’t want you to talk so plainly about sin, because if our boys and girls hear you talking so much about sin, they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.” The minister took down a small bottle of strychnine that was marked “Poison.” He said, “I see what you want me to do. You want me to change the label, such as ‘Essence of Peppermint.’ Don’t you see what would happen? The milder you make the label, the more dangerous you make the poison.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 735)
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三個牧師在參加牧師會議時被分配在同一間房。其中第一位牧師建議說：『我們彼此來分享承認我們的不可告人的罪。從我先開始；我的不可告人之罪是，我酷愛賭博，每當我出城就會想要賭。』第二個牧師說：『我的不可告人之罪是我討厭工作，我講道的講章都是抄來的。』第三個牧師說：『我的不可告人之秘密是喜歡說閒話，我現在就等不急要出去說了。』
Three pastors went to the pastor convention and were all sharing one room. The first pastor said, “Let's confess our secret sins one to another. I'll start - my secret sin is I just love to gamble. When I go out of town, it's cha-ching cha-ching, let the machines ring.”The second pastor said, “My secret sin is that I just hate working. I copy all my sermons from those given by other pastors.”The third pastor said, “My secret sin is gossiping and, oh boy, I just can't wait to get out of this room!”
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新上任的牧師到教友家去探訪。到了一人的家裏，很明顯地有人在家，但敲門多次後還是沒人應聲。牧師拿出紙筆，在名姓片後頭寫上「啟示錄 3:20」，然後將名姓片塞在門縫裏。主日崇拜收奉獻後，牧師發現他的名姓片被退回來了，但上面多了幾個字：「創世記 3:10」。 牧師打開聖經查那是什麼經文，他開始大笑不已。啟示錄 3:20是「看哪！我站在門外叩門。」而創世記 3:10 讀為：「我在園中聽見你的聲音，我就害怕；因為我赤身露體，我便藏了。」-----我的朋友渥特將車開在一排的卡車拖車中間，一個警察把他攔下因為他超速。他很驚奇只有他被抓到，就問道，「那些卡車都和我開的一樣快，為什麼你把我攔下？」「你有釣過魚嗎？」警察問道。「是的，」渥特回答。「那麼，你是否抓到池潭里所有的魚呢？」
My friend Walt was driving a rig in a long line of tractor-trailers when a police officer pulled him over for speeding. Astounded that he alone was caught, he asked, “Out of all these trucks that were going just as fast as I was, why did you pull me over?”“Have you ever gone fishing?” the officer asked.“Yes,” Walt replied.“Well, have you ever caught all the fish in the pond?”
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宣教士約翰．湯姆士在印度恆河，對看群眾講道。突然有一位宗教領袖質問：「先生，你剛才不是說魔鬼引誘人犯罪嗎？」湯姆士回答：「不錯，我是這樣說過。」那人追問：「既然如此，罪在魔鬼，魔鬼應當受到懲罰，人是無辜的。」宣教士安靜禱告片刻，尋找聖靈的光照，之後發現有一條船沿看河流而下，搭載了若干乘客。他就轉向群眾說：「朋友們，你們都看見那條船吧：假如我差一個人去把船上的人都殺光，奪下他們的財物，拿來給我。究竟誰該受罰：是唆使別人行凶的我，還是受我擋使去行刺的人呢。」那位領袖搶看答腔：「你們兩人都得處死。」湯姆士同意他的見解：「他說得對！任何人和魔鬼聯手犯罪，那麼他跟魔鬼都將受到永恆的懲罰。」
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上海一位老牧者遇上年輕人問道：「何以你常說罪是重擔，在我來說，罪中之樂無窮，何重之有？」牧師回答：「一個人若要背三十斤米，比背五十斤米，那一個要重呢？」「當然是五十斤啦！」年青人想也不想便回答。「那，若果是一個死了的人，放三十斤在他身上與放五十斤又會如何呢？」年輕人想了想：「應該不會有分別，因為他是死的，不會有任何感覺。」牧師瞪著對年輕人說：「你若說罪不是甚麼擔子是因為你是死了的。」
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有一對兄弟常常在一起遊玩。有一次哥哥不小心，打破一隻花瓶；因為害怕母親責打，請求弟弟不要將此事洩漏。弟弟很是俏皮，開出條件，說，『今後你若凡事聽從我的吩咐，我就不將此事告訴母親。』哥哥惟恐被他母親責打，只好答應下來。從此他惟弟弟之命是聽，供他驅策，實在忍受不了。過了一週，就想，與其這樣受氣，不如去向母親坦白認罪，縱使受罰，一次也就過去，不至這樣天天受氣。於是跑到母親那裏認罪，母親見他誠實知過，就說，『好孩子，你很勇敢認錯，媽媽也不責打你了，可以快樂的去玩罷！』他很喜樂的跑了出來，再去找他弟弟玩耍。弟弟見他喜氣洋洋，卻不知道怎麼一回事，又是命他作事；他卻不理不睬，弟弟氣極，威脅他說，『今天你不聽命罷！好，我去告訴媽媽。』哥哥笑嘻嘻的說，『我不再作你的奴隸了，我已經告訴媽媽，媽媽也赦免了，你能拿我怎樣！』人一悔改認罪，就得赦免，並且脫離魔鬼的轄制。-----據探險家說:非洲獵人捉拿森林中的小猴，並不需要安置圈套或陷阱，他們是用一種很簡單的方法:只帶著一壺摻著蜜的啤酒到樹村中，把壺蓋打開以後藏躲在附近。猴子因為好奇，對於這種不熟識的物件發生興趣。一個一個從樹上跳到酒壺前，就開始盛筵，及至沉醉猴子們就亂跑、亂跳、亂打、亂鬧，直到醉倒為止。這時獵人就開始行動了，不幾分鐘內酣睡的猴子們就被堅牢的繩子縛起來了，及至猴子醒來才知道已經成了俘虜，於是亂叫亂咬，但總是徒勞無益了。
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Quotes引證 :
人類是一種能夠同時非常好又非常可怕的生物
A human being is capable of both very great, good things, and very horrible things. Elie Wiesel
在地上隱秘的罪卻是天堂裡公開的醜聞
A secret sin on earth is open scandal in heaven. Charles Swindoll
罪人很像蟑螂，他們不喜歡光亮，不是因為他們怕看見什麼，而是因為怕他們被看見。
Sinners are a lot like cockroaches. They dislike an abundance of light. Not so much because they’re afraid to see, but because they’re afraid to be seen.
這世界是很危險能生存下來的地方，不是因為有邪惡的人，而是因為人們一點都不對付處理邪惡。
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. Albert Einstein
我的心總是告訴我人的本質是良善的，但我的經驗卻提醒我不是這樣的。
My heart always told me that people are inherently good. My experience suggests otherwise. Blood Diamond
亞當不過是人罷了，這解釋了一切，他不想為了吃蘋果而要蘋果，他只想在被禁止吃蘋果時而要蘋果。這個錯誤在於沒有禁止吃蛇，不然他就會吃掉蛇了。
Adam was but human. This explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple’s sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent. Mark Twain (Forbes 7/18/94)
It may be a secret sin on earth, but it is open scandal in heaven. Lewis Sperry Chafer
世界上有兩種罪人：被定罪卻尚未被拯救的罪人和那些已被拯救的罪人。
There are two kinds of sinners in the world: sinners who are condemned and not yet saved, and those who are saved. Howard Whaley
在我們的葡萄園附近，有個花園，裡面種了一棵梨子樹，有一天晚上，又到了我們無法無天的惡習－玩街頭遊戲的非常時刻了，我們這群很壞的年輕人搖下這棵樹的大量水果，卻不是為了想吃，而只是為了拿水果來丟豬，犯規就是邪惡，而我超愛的，我愛犯錯的本身，因為我就是這樣的靈魂。
In a garden nearby to our vineyard there was a pear tree… Late one night -- to which hour, according to our pestilential custom, we had kept up our street games, a group of very bad youngsters set out to shake down and rob this tree. We took great loads of fruit from it, not for our own eating, but rather to throw it to the pigs…Foul was the evil, and I loved it…I loved my fault itself. Base in soul was I. Augustine
偶發－因為我們太隨便看待「罪」了
Casualty happens because we take sin too casually. Michael Wu
罪看來像個淺水灘，好似我可以從任何罪中不泥濘沾染地涉水而過，但當我真的犯罪時， 卻常深陷其中要逃離就會溺斃了。
Sin seems so shallow that I may wade through it dry-shod form any guiltiness; but when I have committed it, it often seems so deep that I cannot escape without drowning. Thomas Fuller
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