小羊
一个基督徒的信仰随笔
中国戏曲里女扮男装的花木兰、穆桂英、和祝英台都是笔者尊敬的角色，因为她们勇敢向上。一些女孩为了生活方便、工作进步“变成”男性，值得同情。虽然化学可使水火互容，但是生物永远不会让男女性染色体互变。当今，有拜金男（XY）冒充女性（XX）在高强度对抗的竞技场上痛殴女运动员，还得奖牌！男女有别、黑白分明，天经地义。试想，专业与业余、Major和Minor岂可一比？
1. Ping Pong game
大学时，一个省队来了几名乒乓选手与本校的尖子们进行友谊赛。本校的冠军全神贯注地使尽了全力，那位省队选手则似乎轻松自如、甚至看上去有点心不在焉。结果，校队冠军有一局拿了七分，虽败犹荣。大家都为那七分高兴，因为其他尖子们只拿了两、三分。
2. Football game
九十年代一个周末，在哈佛橄榄球场偶然观看了一场哈佛对阵波士顿学院的比赛。结果7:34。散场时，我情绪低沉平静，毕竟哈佛学生智商比球商高。让我惊讶的是，有位教授模样的长者兴奋地夸奖哈佛校队在拿那7分时表现出色，令我也欢乐起来。近年来，哈佛也学其它大学招收运动员当学生；有的毕业生还获得奥运冠军。虽然国际运动赛冠军不是哈佛培养的结果，但是它们的运动资质却给学校扬名。
3. Square bank clerk
USA is not a racist country. But somehow you may encounter unfriendly remarks by surprise. A bank clerk came from Singapore told me out of blue that she voted against Chinese like me for immigration into US, when she was serving me at the counter. I smiled and steered to another topic before leaving.
A Professor from Singapore later coached me to ask her: “你能来，为什么我就不能来？”
4. Money cook
刚来美国时，因猎奇在超市买了十枚折价的Artichokes. 当时，还没有网路可以查询怎样吃它。琢磨了一会，决定先尝试五枚：将硬硬的大叶片炖汤，将白嫩的小心扔进了公用的厨房垃圾筒。一位女同学看到后大笑惊呼：“Artichoke is a delicate food. The heart is the best portion!” 从那以后，遇到厨师就想套近乎请教几招。
I met a senior cook at a company party and volunteered to wash dishes for her. A few days later, she asked me if I could help her fill out online forms to get a $100K loan. I was about to start the application, but for caution I asked her: “for what?” Then, she showed me an email that said she had ~$700K bitcoins, and she needed to pay ~$80K to the stock keeper as annual taxes. I warned her that it was a fraud and refused to help her with the loan.
Her role in the small company was to prepare three meals for four residents daily. She proposed to work from 7 am to 6 pm, from Monday to Thursday every week. The boss said that 5 hours was enough for the cooking role, since breakfast and lunch did not need flame cooking. However, she filed a timesheet reporting 10 hours a day, since she needed to arrive at 7 am to prepare breakfast, and dinner-related chores made her stay until 6 pm. She claimed that she was for money only.
The boss intended to help her become a Christian in the beginning, but one needs to be rich to continue the game. 爱财无罪，贪财才掉入陷阱。在美国，除了基督徒们外，有多少富人愿意付上爱心、冒着血本无归的风险作这善工呢？小企业主想当不做事的躺平式老板都难。
5. Stock myth
I received $900 stocks as a bonus from a company a while ago. The company managed it for 10 years, and it grew to $1900. Then, the company gave it to me to manage. Due to its tiny amount, I traded it online using skin-deep information. Within 10 years, it is now worth $300. It made me feel that my portion of the stock market resembles gambling resorts.
结语
使徒保罗曾谆谆教诲基督徒们：你们中间，有智慧的不多；如果没有复活，基督徒们就比世人更可怜。新约圣经的作者和主人翁们多数都在肉身遭受蹂躏中去世，但是他们对复活的盼望坚定不移。耶稣基督在世时教导门徒们说，人的心在哪里，财宝就在哪里；财宝存在今世，有贼偷、虫咬；存在天上，得永生。诚然，今生的Major是播种复活的种子的人有福了。
Golden Verses: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)
Hymns: “Priceless” (Seth Mosley & 4 Others, 2015),
“My Jesus” (Anne Wilson, J. Pardo & M. West; 2021),
“I’m so Blessed” (Jonathan Smith & 4 Others, 2021),
“Who You Say I am” (Reuben Morgan & B. Fielding, 2018),
“Perfectly Loved” (Rachael Lampa, E. Hulse & A. Ripp; 2022).
