Apostles' Creed

I saw a quotation in the net "God is too big to fit in one religion". This quotation is refer to an analogy where the is a hill and to reach the top, there is many ways, in other words, there are many religions that lead us to God, but is that true? Let us listen to what Jesus said:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

So obviously that quotation and that analogy is totally WRONG. It is WRONG to say that there are many religions that lead to one true living God, only through Jesus, we can know our heavenly Father.

By the way, all religions have different view of God. Buddists not believe in God, but believe in reincarnation and karma. Hindus believe there are many gods (polytheism). Muslims believe in Allah alone, they don't believe Trinity, and they recognize Jesus as a prophet only, but Jesus himself said that he is Son of God*. The most important is, all religions other than Christianity believe in work-based salvation, i.e. by accumulating piles of good work, one may gain entry into heaven, but we should know that the entrance into heaven is received, not earned!

* But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:63-64)

So what christians believe? The answer can be found in Apostles' Creed.

The Apostles' Creed
Source: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/apostles.htm

I BELIEVE in God the Father almighty,
I also believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord,
conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell,
rose again the third day,
ascended into heaven,
sat down at the right hand of the Father,
thence he is to come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the remission of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh and life eternal.

Christian = ?

Many people might ask, "Who is Christian?" Since the word Christian come frome the combination of Christ + ian, a simple answer to that is the follower of Jesus Christ. But this answer don't really reflect who Christian actually is.

I found a very good definition for the word Christian from a English dictionary (better than those given in Wikipedia >.<).

Chris-tian ( krɪs-tʃən) n. A person who believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior from sin, eternal death, and the devil; one who knows that he has eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ who died for him and rose again: The disciples of Jesus were first called Christian at Antioch [in Syria] (Acts 11:26).

Note: ...... A Christian knows that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Roman 6:23). He knows that it is by grace (unmerited love and favor of God) that we have been saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). A person may become a Christian, no matter who he is or what evil he has done if he repents (turns from his evil ways) and believes (out his trust in) Jesus for salvation. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus] will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15).
Have you repent and call on the name of the Lord already?

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

Note: This is written by someone, and I found it very meaningful and would like to share it with others

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain....
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.

渺小，好比沧海一粟

“人子啊，你对推罗君王说，主耶和华如此说：因你心里高傲，说：‘我是神；我在海中坐　神之位。’你虽然居心自比　神，也不过是人，并不是神！哪，你比但以理更有智慧，甚麽秘事都不能向你隐藏。你靠自己的智慧聪明得了金银财宝，收入库中。你靠自己的大智慧和贸易增添资财，又因资财心里高傲。”

所以主耶和华如此说：“因你居心自比　神，我必使外邦人，就是列国中的强暴人临到你这里；他们必拔刀砍坏你用智慧得来的美物，亵渎你的荣光。他们必使你下坑；你必死在海中，与被杀的人一样。在杀你的人面前你还能说我是　神麽？其实你在杀害你的人手中，不过是人，并不是神。”

以西结书 28：2-9

在小学的时候，老师们常常教导我们要勤力和自律，“世上无难事，只怕有心人”。我觉得我的生活掌握在我手中，我的努力将决定生活的成败。渐渐的，我变得很信靠自己的力量，并觉得自己的努力很了不起。因此我抱着这想法生活了很多年 ，并在学业上得到不错的成绩，而且还拿到奖学金来到伏尔加格勒求学。

然而，当我来到异乡后，生活渐渐的碰上许多的麻烦和问题。虽然学业进展得不错，但学业和生活上的压力几乎把自己搞得喘不过气。自己的骄傲变成了自私和怕输的心态，与朋友的相处渐渐出现了问题。一直想靠自己的力量过个好生活，但常常有心无力。

在大二开学时，不小心将自己的钱包遗失在小巴里。遗失了钱包里的钱是小事，但遗失了钱包里的提款卡可是大事啊，没了它就不能取钱。当我跑回去道路，想找回那辆小巴，但那辆车却从我眼前飞驰而过，我想追那辆车，却力不从心，只能眼巴巴地看着那辆车越走越远。突然发现自己的力量是那么的渺小，好比沧海一粟。曾经以为自己是生活上的主宰者，一直以来一直照着自己的方式做事，并没有听神的指示，而且没将应有的荣耀归与神，但这个时候才发现自己的能力是那么的有限。当是我想求上帝的帮助，却发现自己身为一个罪人， 并没有资格向神求助。 “我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义 。”（约翰一书1：9）我向神认错，并祈求他的原谅，求他给予我力量支持下去。 神透过这事件让我了解到自己的自大和软弱，神要我学会谦卑 “所以，你们要自卑，服在神大能的手下，到了时候他必叫你们升高。”（彼得前书 5：6）

过了几天，还是没有钱包的消息。心情很失落，觉得神好像抛弃了我。这时，我的基督徒室友从教会回来，想送我书签。他让我从两个书签选一个。我就随手抽一个。奇迹出现了，书签上居然写着：“因为主曾说：‘我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。’”（希伯来书 13：5） 这是何等的安慰啊！神居然用这样的方式安慰我。有些人会觉得这只是个巧合，因为我也曾这样怀疑，如果我选另一张书签，可能就读不到那经文。过了一段日子，我看到另一个书签在我的室友的书桌上。书签上写着：“ 耶和华必在你前面行；他必与你同在，必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。”（申明记 31：8）。结论是，无论当时我选哪一张，他还是跟我说一样的话：“我不撇下你，也不丢弃你”。世人要求奇迹，对我来说，这就是奇迹。

很多人要求神出现在她们的面前，并和他们说活，但神是万能的，他用他自己独特的方式传达他的话语。神曾经跟你说过话吗？

Plastic Bags

Recently too busy with studies, but anyway I'll post something. I think most people knew this joke already.

Q: Who is the most stupid person in the world?
A: Superman, because he wears underwear outside his pants.

Q: Who is more stupid than Superman?
A: Batman, because not only he wears underwear outside his pants, he also wears underwear on his head.

Q: Who is more stupid than Batman?
A: Their authors/designers, cause they created them.

Q: Who is more stupid than their authors/designers?
A: We, because we like to watch Superman and Batman.

Now a medical version of this joke.

Q: Who is the most stupid person in the world?
A: Medical students who are going to hospital, because they wear plastic bags on their foot.

Q: Who is more stupid than medical students who are going to hospital?
A: Medical students who are going to surgical department, because not only they wear plastic bags on their foot, they even wear plastic bags on their head.

Q: Who is more stupid than medical students who are going to surgical department?
A: The russians in Volgograd, because they created this rules.

Q: Who is more stupid than the russians?
A: Medical students, because they are following those rules.

I derived this joke from my internal disease lecturer. He asked us to bring slippers and medical caps, cause future doctors should have proper attire, and shouldn't put plastic bags on their foot or head. This rule (putting "plastic bags") sounds stupid but it is for hygienic purpose, especially in place with winter.