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2010年4月16日，攝於我可愛的天糧團契。

　　今天主日崇拜的時候，我正式成為西雅圖證道堂的會員。

　　加入證道堂的會員，除了可以名正言順領取通訊錄（也還沒有真的拿到），其實沒有太多了不起的權利或義務。對我個人而言，加入會員象徵我對教會的委身，也慶祝我離家留學以後，第一次正式加入一個屬靈的家，並預期在這裡建立幾年的教會生活。

　　在歡迎新會員儀式之前，我打開週報，看到今天詩班所要獻的詩「Before the Throne of God Above」（歌詞附於文末），覺得上帝真是幽默。

　　這首詩歌是我來美國最喜歡的一首詩歌。第一次唱這首歌，是在2007年的紐海芬。那時候對於自己的教會生活有許多掙扎，在跟上帝角力的過程中，經HH介紹，拜訪了這個不屬於自己的小組。那天小組長用吉他伴奏這首歌，一群年輕人在小小的客廳唱著，琴聲美妙、歌聲動人，卻令我心情更加複雜。

　　後來到了紐約，Redeemer仍常常唱這首歌，在我紐約生活許多寂寞或徬徨的時刻，帶給我含著眼淚的安慰與盼望。來到西雅圖以後，自己仍不時會聽這首歌，卻幾乎沒有機會在證道堂聽到。

　　上禮拜剛好同時為幾件教會的事而忙碌，所幸忙碌中仍有喜樂。這一天，在正式成為會員的前一刻，看著詩班唱著這首對我意義非凡的歌，我的心情已經不再複雜想哭，只看見上帝再一次藉著這首歌，提醒我教會生活的可貴與得來不易。

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea:

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

My name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Behold him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by his blood

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God

With Christ, my Savior and my God