作者: BBIO (放暑假) 看板: TheLife
標題: [轉錄]A DAILY REPENTANCE WORKOUT 
時間: Fri Jul 12 17:29:10 2002

練習英文哦....

Dear All：
這篇文章不錯，a good daily practice !

Joyce Chen Hsu


   A DAILY REPENTANCE WORKOUT
   From the earliest centuries, Christians have identified
   certain practices that have been helpful to the "athlete in
   training." Here are some of them:

   FASTING.
   People are beset by different temptations, but everybody eats.
   Restricting foods -- simply declining favorites for a time --
   can strengthen the "willpower muscle." An athlete doesn't lift
   weights just so he can lift more weights. Those healthy
   muscles are ready for any situation. Turn down a doughnut
   today, and tomorrow you might be able to resist calling the
   driver in front of you an idiot.

   BITE YOUR TONGUE.
   Yes, not calling someone an idiot is a frequent theme in
   Scripture and early Christian writings. Both place great
   emphasis on controlling anger. Jesus said the penalty for
   calling your brother a fool was "the hell of fire." That
   includes people who can't hear you, like politicians on TV.
   It's not the harm to them that's at stake so much as the
   disorienting pride in your own heart.

   MIND YOUR THOUGHTS.
   Jesus said that to commit adultery in the imagination is the
   equivalent of committing it in fact. Nearly all sins begin
   with thinking about sin. Control the thoughts and you have a
   good head start on behavior. You may not be able to keep
   thoughts from appearing, but you can decline to entertain
   them. Paul counsels us to think about things that are true,
   lovely, gracious, excellent, and praiseworthy, so you might
   want to read some Dickens tonight instead of watching that
   sleazy sitcom.

   PRACTICE HUMILITY.
   Humility is remembering that you have a beam in your eye. In
   every situation remember what God knows about you, and how
   much you have been forgiven. You might think you can fool
   people, but no matter how charming you appear, spiritually you
   have spinach in your teeth. Account yourself the "chief of
   sinners" and be gracious toward the failings of others.
   Overlook insults and be kind to those who misuse you. Be swift
   to admit when you're wrong. Ask others to forgive you, and
   forgive them without asking if you want God to forgive you.

   PRAY CONSTANTLY.
   Try always to recall that God is dwelling in you. (This helps
   in controlling thoughts.) For years, some Christians have
   formed the habit of praying, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
   have mercy on me" all the time, a background music to other
   thoughts. It helps one resist more turbulent thoughts, and
   creates a kind of mental foyer in which thoughts and impulses
   can be examined before they're allowed inside.

   ASK GOD TO HELP YOU REPENT.
   We don't want to do this and we find a million excuses
   to change the subject. Read stories about repentant saints,
   like John Newton, the slave dealer who wrote "Amazing Grace,"
   or the once promiscuous Mary of Egypt. Those are reasonable
   models, not ivory-tower saints. Think over your deeds and
   creates a kind of mental foyer in which thoughts and impulses
   can be examined before they're allowed inside.

   ASK GOD TO HELP YOU REPENT.
   We don't want to do this and we find a million excuses
   to change the subject. Read stories about repentant saints,
   like John Newton, the slave dealer who wrote "Amazing Grace,"
   or the once promiscuous Mary of Egypt. Those are reasonable
   models, not ivory-tower saints. Think over your deeds and
   conversations each evening and look for areas to improve. Read
   Psalm 51 before bed every night. Someday you may actually
   believe it.

詩篇51篇: http://springbible.fhl.net/cgi-bin/read5.cgi?ot1_529