牧者手記

聖誕前夕崇拜

感謝主及時的供應,也感謝路德會三一堂列治文聖約翰堂的愛心款待,讓我們在聖誕前夕能有一個溫暖舒適的地方來敬拜。「在至高之處榮耀歸於上帝!在地上平安歸於祂所喜悅的人!」(路 2:14)

Thank God for His timely provision, and also thank Trinity Lutheran Church and St. John’s Richmond‘s for their loving hospitality to accommodate us on Christmas Eve, providing us a warm and cozy space to worship. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

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Some thoughts and reflections on AI, God, and human destiny, on Christ the King Sunday (Nov 26, 2023):

Last week, we witnessed OpenAI’s fiasco with the board ousting their CEO Sam Altman, and his subsequent glorious return, playing his ultimate UNO reversal card. It really showed the world that the prioritization and race to commercialize key technological advances often trump ethical and safety concerns, even when existential risks are involved.

On top of that, there are rumours that OpenAI might have secretly achieved artificial general intelligence (AGI), a thought that sends shivers down my spine. The reason is that the next logical step of attaining artificial superintelligence (ASI), might not be years or months away, but potentially just days or even hours. The likelihood of it surpassing our awareness without us noticing is truly alarming. (If AGI is attaining the intelligence that we humans already possess now, ASI means surpassing our abilities and be able to perceive the world and solve previously unsolvable problems in a way that we humans can never even comprehend, just as an amoeba could never understand humans solving complex quantum mechanics equations.)

In light of these developments, it is timely to revisit Tim Urban’s insightful two-part article from 2015, for a quick primer on the AI Revolution, focusing first on the journey to ASI, and secondly on the (dire) consequences on humanity that could lead to either immortality or extinction.

Yesterday was Christ the King Sunday, and the lectionary texts, especially the Matthew 25:31-46 text, also present to us two vastly different ultimate outcomes: eternal life or eternal damnation. This raises a critical question: Will we create an artificial deity that could either eradicate us or exert supreme dominance over every aspect of human life, or will we proceed with utmost caution to ensure that any emerging superintelligence, alien and beyond our control, takes its first steps aligned with our human values, or at least possesses the capacity to empathize with and value our existence?

Of course, an ASI is under no obligation to align with our human values, just as we humans do not align with the values of chimpanzees, cockroaches, or other creatures we deem beneath us in the dominance hierarchy. (Perhaps appearing cute and cuddly to an ASI might win us some favor? I hope not, for I don’t think I possess any “kawaii”-ness.) Once we have opened this Pandora’s Box and created an artificial overlord, we may find ourselves imploring for mercy and saying “Lord, have mercy on us” in a very different tone and context.

Nevertheless, my hope lies in the true God, the uncreated, unmoved mover of all things visible and invisible, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and crucially, omnibenevolent (i.e. all-loving). He still reigns supreme and has everything under control, as the Alpha and the Omega, who is, who was, and who is to come, guiding humanity towards our intended destiny and our “telos”, out of His love for us, regardless how many times we are on the verge of causing our own destruction and extinction. Having recently just finished preaching on the second half of Genesis, I am reassured: no matter how hellbent we are to stray and prone to err (just like the very flawed chosen family in Genesis), the Lord God remains faithful to His promises, turning our failures into means to fulfill His good purposes in us. Thus, I do not lose hope.

Even if we are able to ensure ASI does align with our values and come alongside to aide our human flourishing, we might find ourselves greatly humbled by the prowess of this artificial superintelligence. By then, where does the value and dignity of human beings lie? Do we have an inherent worth that cannot be measured by intelligence or performance? Perhaps Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2 can shed us some light when humans are compared with angels, who are indeed superior in many ways, except that God has only fashioned humans in His own image and crowned them with glory and honor. Nothing should threaten our value and dignity, because they are not based on our ability or performance, but on our inherent worth as sons and daughters of the One who created it all, and the special relationship that we enjoy with the Father through Christ. Paul said in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers [including ASI], neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What does the future look like for us then? With the advent of ASI, our livelihoods might drastically change and become so much more convenient and easy (just as how people from 300 years ago might marvel at our washing machines, Teslas, satellites, and 5G smartphones), but that does not exempt us from the need to continue to learn and to grow. Even if one day we are no longer on top of the dominance hierarchy, that does not mean we just sit there and remain idle, for the joy in life is in the process of learning, growing, experiencing, transforming, including the experiences of failing and suffering. Only when we realize the meaning of life is in the journey itself and not the destination, will we be able to withstand anything that might come our way, even something as challenging as having an ASI that humbles us. And it is okay, for being “human” means to be “humbled” (from the Latin root “humus” meaning earth or soil). And Jesus reassured us: “Blessed are the meek [or humbled ones], for they will inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5)

Collect for Christ the King Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


For more reflection on AI and the biblical story, check out this talk from FaithTech, by Derek C. Schuurman, Ph.D., a Christian computer scientist:

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配受恩惠?

今天在 Broadway 街買咖啡時,身旁突然出現一位目光呆滯的黑人(並非圖中之人),看似是位無家可歸人仕。他問我道:「可否為我買點東西?」我原本也打算用積分換取免費 donut。我心想,既然我得了恩惠,為何不也施恩惠給別人呢?想了一想,便問他:「你想我為你買什麼?」他回答說:「我想要一支可樂。」我隨即付錢買他一支可樂。送他之前,我問他叫什麼名字,他說他叫 Elias。我說:「Elias,我買這支可樂給你,是因為上帝愛你。你要感謝上帝喔!」他輕微點點頭,仍帶有點目光呆滯,轉身便離去了。

雖然他沒有展示萬般感恩的反應,但我沒有不高興,因為我想起昨天講道中有提及主耶穌在‭‭路加福音‬ ‭6:30‭-‬36‬ ‭所說的話:

「凡求你的,就給他。有人奪你的東西去,不用再要回來。你們願意人怎樣待你們,你們也要怎樣待人。你們若單愛那愛你們的人,有甚麼可酬謝的呢?就是罪人也愛那愛他們的人。你們若善待那善待你們的人,有甚麼可酬謝的呢?就是罪人也是這樣行。你們若借給人,指望從他收回,有甚麼可酬謝的呢?就是罪人也借給罪人,要如數收回。你們倒要愛仇敵,也要善待他們,並要借給人不指望償還,你們的賞賜就必大了,你們也必作至高者的兒子,因為他恩待那忘恩的和作惡的。你們要慈悲,像你們的父慈悲一樣。」

有時候當我們施恩惠給別人的時候,不期然都會帶着半點期望想對方連忙道謝,才覺得對方「配受」自己的恩惠。但若要論到「配受」,就已經不再是恩典了,因為恩典的定義根本就是「不配受」的。

唯有領受過、經歷過、親嘗過那「不配受」主恩的滋味,才能懂得無條件地、不問回報地施恩給別人,因為我們的主正是有這種心腸的主。雖然我們經常忘卻主恩,不但沒有感謝的心,也只懂歸功勞歸榮耀給自己。但這並沒有使主忘卻我們、施恩保守我們,因「祂‭‭叫日頭照好人,也照歹人;降雨給義人,也給不義的人。」(太5:45)

願每一個跟隨耶穌基督的人,都能明白恩典、深受恩典、常施恩典。共勉之。

重溫上主日講道:
以恩報怨(創世記 43:16-34)

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按立會吏

恭喜 Kyung-Hyun (James) Kim 和黃果茵姊妹在屬上帝唯一、聖潔、大公並使徒承傳的教會中,分別被按立為(過渡性)會吏和終身會吏。👏🙏⛪✝️

一旦被按立為會吏,終身都帶有會吏的職事。每一次再讀按立禮的禮文,都讓我想起12年前我在主面前所作過的應許。但願上帝繼續助我,賜我力量來履行這神聖的呼召。

直播錄影: https://youtu.be/Z7eZJpZdr9E

Congratulations to Kyung-Hyun (James) Kim being ordained into the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of God as a transitional deacon and Kwor Yan Anita Wong as a vocational deacon 👏🙏⛪✝️

Once a deacon, always a deacon. Reading the ordinal again always remind me of what I vowed before God 12 years ago. May the Lord continue to be my helper, empowering me to fulfill this holy calling.

Livestream Recording: https://youtu.be/Z7eZJpZdr9E

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華人對情緒的迷思

10月10日是世界衛生組織 (WHO) 訂立的「世界心理健康日」(World Mental Health Day)。

華人普遍對情緒或處理情緒都抱著一些迷思(myths)或錯誤觀念,例如:

  1. 不顯露情感是一種美德:在某些文化背景下,特別是老一輩的人,認為應該克制自己的情緒,不讓其他人看到自己的弱點或不安。
  2. 情緒問題等同於精神問題:有時,一些人可能會把日常的情緒困擾或壓力等同於嚴重的精神健康問題,而避免尋求幫助。
  3. 家醜不可外揚:在中國文化中,家庭的和諧和面子非常重要。因此,有些人可能會選擇隱藏自己或家人的情緒問題,以避免給外人留下不好的印象。
  4. 情緒問題是個人問題:有些人認為情緒問題是個人的問題,需要自己解決,而不應該牽涉到外人或尋求專業幫助。
  5. 強調忍耐和堅忍:在某些情境下,人們認為應該要忍受困難和痛苦,而不是尋求解決方法。
  6. 對心理諮詢或心理治療的誤解:雖然近年來情況有所改善,但在某些地區或群體中,心理諮詢和治療仍然被看作是「瘋子」的治療,導致需要幫助的人羞於尋求。
  7. 用物質或活動來轉移注意力:有時,人們可能選擇用工作、購物或其他活動來避免面對或處理情緒。

不懂正面處理情緒或只不斷抑壓情緒,只會帶來更多問題。唯有每一天學習…

  • 面對過去
  • 面對自己
  • 面對上帝

…才能達至「身」、「心」、「靈」都健康,與上帝和友鄰保持良好的關係。如有情緒問題,可放膽向愛你的家人、朋友、教會兄姊或牧者傾訴,也不要排除找專業輔導員幫助的可能性。信仰和情緒是沒有衝突的。反而主更喜悅人將自己的情緒帶到祂面前尋求幫助。

「耶和華靠近傷心的人,拯救心靈痛悔的人。」(詩篇 34:18)
「你們要將一切的憂慮卸給上帝,因為他顧念你們。」(彼得前書 5:7)

重溫上主日講道:面對過去(創世記 42:1-25)

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聖法蘭西斯禱文

Credit: AI-generated art from reddit

這幅畫不是人劃的,是靠人工智能電腦生成的 (A.I. generated)。雖然科技日新月異,但人性的需要跟一兩千年之前無異。人仍然需要愛與被愛。

10月4日是教會年曆紀念意大利亞西西的聖法蘭西斯 St. Francis of Assisi (或聖方濟各) 的日子。他是十三世紀的一名修士,生於一個富有的商人家庭,年輕時過著奢華的生活,但後來蒙基督呼召,放棄了富有的生活,選擇了以簡樸、謙卑的方式生活,並建立了方濟各會 (Franciscans)。他以愛護大自然和動物、憐憫幫助窮人為後世所紀念。以下是屬於他最為人所認識的禱文:

《聖法蘭西斯禱文》

主啊!使我作祢和平之子;
在仇恨之處,播下愛;
在傷害之處,播下寬恕;
在懷疑之處,播下信心;
在絕望之處,播下盼望;
在幽暗之處,播下光明;
在憂愁之處,播下歡愉。

主啊!使我少為自己求;
少求愛,但求全心付出愛;
少求得安慰,但求安慰人;
少求被瞭解,但求多瞭解人;
因為在捨去時,我們有所得;
在赦免時,我們便蒙赦免;
在死亡時,我們便得重生,進入永恆。

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

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積穀防饑

中國人非常懂得「積穀防饑」,因為幾千年來經歷過或多或少缺乏的歲月,這種危機意識已經深入我們的 DNA 之內。但「積穀防饑」是否只應用在物質和財富之上呢?朋友關係呢?主內弟兄姊妹之間在屬靈上的深交呢?我們對主話語的熟悉和與主的關係呢?

主耶和華說:「日子將到,我必命饑荒降在地上。人飢餓非因無餅,乾渴非因無水,乃因不聽耶和華的話。他們必飄流,從這海到那海,從北邊到東邊,往來奔跑,尋求耶和華的話,卻尋不著。」

阿摩司書 8:11-12

在先知阿摩司的年代,北國以色列在經濟上享盡安逸繁榮,但在信仰上卻放縱怠慢 (摩 6:1-6)。第六節「以大碗喝酒,用上等的油抹身,卻不為約瑟的苦難擔憂。」對,這就正是創世記的約瑟。先知阿摩司以約瑟在埃及的故事 (創 41),警告他們必需居安思危、積穀防饑,以免當旱災來臨的時候,所遭的難不堪設想。

當然,上帝的審判不只糧食的缺乏,更包括祂說話之短缺。當人不珍惜和不稀罕上帝的話語,上帝便不再說話,在新舊約之間緘默了四百年之久,如遭遇饑荒一樣,人不停尋求上帝的話卻尋不著。

有不少信徒卻見證著當平日有恆常習慣讀聖經、查經、背聖經的話,將聖經的話語放在心內,當有突發事出現時,上帝的話語卻奇妙地成為他們隨時的安慰和指引,成為那「活生生的道」。

今日幾乎人人都有聖經在手,我們會珍惜嗎?我們會為上帝寶貴的話語「積穀防饑」嗎?

共勉之。

重溫上主日講道:救世之君(創世記 41:1-57)

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真相與和解

南非聖公會杜圖大主教
Archbishop Desmond Tutu

今天是加拿大全國真相與和解日 (National Day for Truth & Reconciliation)。當我們繼續閱讀《創世記》關於約瑟與他的哥哥們之間的怨恨時,讓我們記得:

若沒有真相,就沒法真正的和解。若只有冷冰冰的真相,卻沒有願意復和和寬恕的心,也一樣沒有出路。只有兩者並行才能看得見曙光。

「寬恕我們的敵人或我們所愛的人並與之和解,並不是要假裝事情並非如此。 這不是拍拍對方的背,對錯誤視而不見。 真正的和解會揭露可怕、虐待、傷害和真相。 有時甚至會讓事情變得更糟。 這是一項冒險的舉動,但最終是值得的,因為只有坦誠地面對現實,才能帶來真正的療癒。 膚淺的和解只能帶來表面的癒合。」- 南非聖公會杜圖大主教(真相與和解委員會主席、1984年諾貝爾和平獎得獎者)

“Forgiving and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing. Superficial reconciliation can bring only superficial healing.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recipient of 1984 Nobel Peace Prize)

#truthandreconciliation #DesmondTutu

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Back to School Prayer

Dear Lord,

Use my EYES to see new friends.

Open my EARS to hear my teacher.

Let my HEART remember YOU are near when I’m afraid.

Help me to LOVE others like you do.

I want to SHINE your light so bright in my school.

Amen.

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主日崇拜

逢星期日下午 1:30-3:00
(實體崇拜同時有網上直播)
Richmond Caring Place
列治文加愛中心
#340 – 7000 Minoru Blvd.
Richmond, B.C.
Canada, V6Y 3Z5

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