今天讀到《撒母耳記上》第三章，看見以色列人抬著約櫃出去與非利士人爭戰，以為約櫃的「法力」能使他們得勝。約櫃本是上帝同在的象徵，但他們卻將之視為勝利的保證，把象徵當成依靠，把神的同在當成可操控的力量。結果，他們慘敗，因為他們倚靠的，不再是上帝，而是物件本身。
今天，即使我們擁有聖經、十字架、教堂或事奉的形式，若離開了神本身，這一切都失去力量與意義。信仰的核心不在於外在象徵與形式，而在於那位親自與我們同在、看顧我們的主。唯有祂自己，才是我們真正的倚靠、力量與拯救。
2025年10月31日 星期五
親自與我們同在、看顧我們的主
我小的時候常戴著觀音菩薩的項鍊，心裡相信那能帶來平安與庇護。我一度也以為十字架本身具有某種神秘的力量，可以保護我免於災禍。直到後來我才明白，真正能保護人的，不是任何物品或象徵，而是那位又真又活的上帝自己。
今天讀到《撒母耳記上》第三章，看見以色列人抬著約櫃出去與非利士人爭戰，以為約櫃的「法力」能使他們得勝。約櫃本是上帝同在的象徵，但他們卻將之視為勝利的保證，把象徵當成依靠，把神的同在當成可操控的力量。結果，他們慘敗，因為他們倚靠的，不再是上帝，而是物件本身。
今天，即使我們擁有聖經、十字架、教堂或事奉的形式，若離開了神本身，這一切都失去力量與意義。信仰的核心不在於外在象徵與形式，而在於那位親自與我們同在、看顧我們的主。唯有祂自己，才是我們真正的倚靠、力量與拯救。
今天讀到《撒母耳記上》第三章，看見以色列人抬著約櫃出去與非利士人爭戰，以為約櫃的「法力」能使他們得勝。約櫃本是上帝同在的象徵，但他們卻將之視為勝利的保證，把象徵當成依靠，把神的同在當成可操控的力量。結果，他們慘敗，因為他們倚靠的，不再是上帝，而是物件本身。
今天，即使我們擁有聖經、十字架、教堂或事奉的形式，若離開了神本身，這一切都失去力量與意義。信仰的核心不在於外在象徵與形式，而在於那位親自與我們同在、看顧我們的主。唯有祂自己，才是我們真正的倚靠、力量與拯救。
2025年10月30日 星期四
你們要先求他的國和他的義
天讀到撒母耳記，哈拿不孕，被人羞辱。但哈拿在面對難處時，沒有陷入自憐或苦毒，也沒有讓自己的需要與感受佔據一切。她選擇不住地向耶和華傾心吐意（pouring out my soul），在痛苦中仍信靠神，並立志若得孩子，必將他獻給神。
許多人在向神求恩典時滿懷熱切，卻在得著恩典後，漸漸讓那份恩典取代了神的位置——把禮物看得比賜禮物的上帝更重要。很可能在我們向神求恩典後，常常在得著恩典時，把恩典當成了偶像，也就是把他當作比賜恩典的上帝還重要。但哈拿不是這樣，當神應允她、賜下兒子時，她沒有將孩子據為己有，而是堅定地履行誓言，把他獻回給主。
因著這樣的信心與順服，神不僅悅納她的奉獻，也豐富地賜福於她，使她後來又生了五個孩子。正如聖經所說：「你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」（馬太福音6:33）
許多人在向神求恩典時滿懷熱切，卻在得著恩典後，漸漸讓那份恩典取代了神的位置——把禮物看得比賜禮物的上帝更重要。很可能在我們向神求恩典後，常常在得著恩典時，把恩典當成了偶像，也就是把他當作比賜恩典的上帝還重要。但哈拿不是這樣，當神應允她、賜下兒子時，她沒有將孩子據為己有，而是堅定地履行誓言，把他獻回給主。
因著這樣的信心與順服，神不僅悅納她的奉獻，也豐富地賜福於她，使她後來又生了五個孩子。正如聖經所說：「你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」（馬太福音6:33）
2025年10月19日 星期日
2025年10月16日 星期四
6.2, 6.3
6.2
Around the world, people are using more renewable energy. These alternative energy sources could hold the key to combating climate change. But what is renewable energy? Renewable energy comes from sources that won’t run out. The most common are solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. About 90% of the energy we use comes from non-renewable sources. But renewables are the fastest-growing energy source in the world.
PART 2
6.3
Renewable energy has many benefits. First, it will help us combat climate change. Renewable energy creates no direct greenhouse gases. The only emissions are produced indirectly during manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance—but these are minimal. Second, it will help decrease pollution. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems create no air pollution. Geothermal and biomass energy emissions are much lower than fossil fuel emissions. Third, we will have a reliable source of power. Renewable energy sources are… well… renewable: they will never run out. The facilities cost little to operate, and the fuel is often free. Renewable energy prices will therefore remain stable over time.
But renewable energy is not without downsides. First, it generates power on a much smaller scale than fossil fuels. Second, wind farms and dams can disrupt wildlife and migration patterns, and cause ecological destruction. Third, both solar and wind energy are intermittent—they only work while the sun is shining or while the wind is blowing. Batteries can store energy for later use, but they are often costly.
Switching completely to renewables won’t be easy, but it will get easier with time as the technology gets cheaper and better. And it will definitely help the environment, too. With renewable energy, an end to climate change could actually be within our reach.
Around the world, people are using more renewable energy. These alternative energy sources could hold the key to combating climate change. But what is renewable energy? Renewable energy comes from sources that won’t run out. The most common are solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. About 90% of the energy we use comes from non-renewable sources. But renewables are the fastest-growing energy source in the world.
PART 2
6.3
Renewable energy has many benefits. First, it will help us combat climate change. Renewable energy creates no direct greenhouse gases. The only emissions are produced indirectly during manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance—but these are minimal. Second, it will help decrease pollution. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems create no air pollution. Geothermal and biomass energy emissions are much lower than fossil fuel emissions. Third, we will have a reliable source of power. Renewable energy sources are… well… renewable: they will never run out. The facilities cost little to operate, and the fuel is often free. Renewable energy prices will therefore remain stable over time.
But renewable energy is not without downsides. First, it generates power on a much smaller scale than fossil fuels. Second, wind farms and dams can disrupt wildlife and migration patterns, and cause ecological destruction. Third, both solar and wind energy are intermittent—they only work while the sun is shining or while the wind is blowing. Batteries can store energy for later use, but they are often costly.
Switching completely to renewables won’t be easy, but it will get easier with time as the technology gets cheaper and better. And it will definitely help the environment, too. With renewable energy, an end to climate change could actually be within our reach.
2025年10月15日 星期三
Quiz 1
1. Yumiko wants a job that's rewarding.
2. Sara wants a job that pays well.
3. You enter information, and it recommends a job for you.
4. I want a job that allows me to work with computers.
5. It sounds a little boring.
6. What would you like to do?
7. I'd like a job that involves working with animals.
8. Maria would like to be a designer because she wants a job that allows her to be creative.
9. Wang trained very hard for many years.
10. Wearing a spacesuit and carrying heavy equipment, she walked.
11. Imagine how many potential medications you could find.
12. Being a snake researcher allows Takacs to travel to many remote places.
13. He was bitten by venomous snakes six times.
14. Sometimes it was so windy and dusty that we couldn't see each other.
15. Vets care for injured animals.
16. Astronauts are people who work in space.
17. Marine biologists study life in the ocean.
2.1
2.1
Max Lowe is a National Geographic Explorer. He travels the world and tells the stories of the people he meets through photographs. But how did Max become an explorer? And did he always want to be a photographer?
“No, a long time ago actually, I wanted to be an airplane pilot. But in high school, I started writing and taking lots of photos. That’s when I fell in love with photography. At that time, I wanted to become a journalist. When I graduated from high school, my parents gave me my first digital camera.”
Family is very important to Max.
“My father was my hero during my childhood. He died when I was 12 years old, but he continues to inspire me. My mother is also my hero. She is the one who introduced me to the outdoors. My mother re-married, so my adopted father is also my hero. He’s always very supportive of me.”
Max Lowe is a National Geographic Explorer. He travels the world and tells the stories of the people he meets through photographs. But how did Max become an explorer? And did he always want to be a photographer?
“No, a long time ago actually, I wanted to be an airplane pilot. But in high school, I started writing and taking lots of photos. That’s when I fell in love with photography. At that time, I wanted to become a journalist. When I graduated from high school, my parents gave me my first digital camera.”
Family is very important to Max.
“My father was my hero during my childhood. He died when I was 12 years old, but he continues to inspire me. My mother is also my hero. She is the one who introduced me to the outdoors. My mother re-married, so my adopted father is also my hero. He’s always very supportive of me.”
2025年10月12日 星期日
2025年10月10日 星期五
2025年10月6日 星期一
2025年10月5日 星期日
在這個數位化的時代，能收到用心寫下的一句句文字，格外珍貴與溫暖。
2025年10月3日 星期五
6.1
6.1
Mark Lynas is the author of Six Degrees. In his book, he describes what will happen when the world’s temperatures increase by six degrees. Even a one-degree change has a huge impact.
“Most of the world’s coral reefs will disappear. They will die. With a two-degree increase, we will see further big changes. For example, polar ice caps will melt faster, and this will cause sea levels to rise. At three degrees, much of the world will experience increased drought. According to some computer models, parts of the Amazon could become extremely dry. It would then take just one fire to burn down much of the Amazon.”
After just a three-degree increase, the results are frightening. But Mark says there are solutions.
“For example, we need to decrease our use of coal, oil, and natural gas. But of course, we need to get our energy from somewhere.”
How does Mark feel about solar and wind energy?
“These are important, but I also think we should use nuclear power. Without it, I believe the fight against global warming will be almost lost.”
And finally, Mark has one last suggestion.
Mark Lynas is the author of Six Degrees. In his book, he describes what will happen when the world’s temperatures increase by six degrees. Even a one-degree change has a huge impact.
“Most of the world’s coral reefs will disappear. They will die. With a two-degree increase, we will see further big changes. For example, polar ice caps will melt faster, and this will cause sea levels to rise. At three degrees, much of the world will experience increased drought. According to some computer models, parts of the Amazon could become extremely dry. It would then take just one fire to burn down much of the Amazon.”
After just a three-degree increase, the results are frightening. But Mark says there are solutions.
“For example, we need to decrease our use of coal, oil, and natural gas. But of course, we need to get our energy from somewhere.”
How does Mark feel about solar and wind energy?
“These are important, but I also think we should use nuclear power. Without it, I believe the fight against global warming will be almost lost.”
And finally, Mark has one last suggestion.
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