It was painful for me to see members burying their heads on their phone playing mobile games before the morning service starts. The church was full of people, yet only a few were interacting meaningfully while the rest were like the new perennial monkey – “speak nothing, see nothing, and hear nothing” – burying their heads in their phones. No! They were not preparing their hearts for the worship of God. If anything, they wish they were not there and somewhere else indulging in their fantasies.

Yes, I know that you are going to say that I am going on my perpetual complain about using the mobile phones. No, I am not against the using of the phone as a tool. I am against a new form of addiction, that cannot be enforced like abuse of drugs or gambling. I know that parents lament their inability to ‘control’ their children doing so. Well, the first thing is to start controlling themselves.

I hope I am wrong in this prediction of the future. But I am quite sure that many children, especially boys, will grow up to regret their indulgence in mobile gaming. They will not do well in their education, and their focus is perpetually elsewhere. Addiction in any form – drugs, vaping, mobile gaming – will one day destroy your health, family and career. Shout all you want for the government to ‘protect’ your job. It won’t happen. The global competition had started long before and it is not going to stop. Be good enough or be disqualified. You had your chance for a head start, destroy it at your own peril. Start to think and refocus your direction and life. Do not give the silly excuse of stress. With good planning and consultation with those who gone before, difficulties can be managed.

Most importantly, we have the Almighty God who is our father in heaven. He will lead and guide us, if we are willing to spend the time listening to him instead of the heart trumping sounds of mobile games.

Brothers and sisters, neglect God at your own risk. All I can say to you is the it is not worth it. Love God and Him alone, and you will find true joy, peace and love.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

每当我看见会友在上午的崇拜开始前埋头于手机游戏，确实令我心痛。教会虽有很多人，但是只有一些人会用心的彼此沟通，而其他的却像新版的三不猴（perennial monkey)——“非礼勿言，非礼勿视、非礼勿听”—— 将他们的头都埋在手机里。没有！他们并没有预备自己的心敬拜上帝。或者，他们甚至希望自己并不在场而是在别处沉溺在他们的梦幻中。

是的，我知道你又要说我不断对使用手机作出抱怨。不是，我不是反对把手机当用具使用。我是在针对一个上瘾的新形式，它与滥用毒品或赌博一样是不能被沾染的。我知道父母也因为无力“控制”孩子如此行而哀叹。但是，首先要作的就是先控制他们自己。

我希望我如此预测未来是错误的，但是我可以相当肯定有很多孩子，特别是男生，将来长大会对他们沉溺于手机游戏而感到懊悔。他们将不会在教育上有好成绩，他们的专注力一直都在别处。任何形式的上瘾——毒品、电子烟、手机游戏——总有一天会毁掉你的健康、家庭和事业。你可以大声嘶喊让政府来“保住”你的工作，但什么都不会发生。全球性的竞争早已经开始，也不会停止下来。足以胜任或遭受淘汰。你的机会就在起跑点，你可以冒险把它毁坏。开始思考并重新聚焦在你的方向和生活。不要以压力作为愚蠢的藉口。有好的计划以及向有经验者咨询，困难就可以在掌握中。

最重要的是，我们有全能的上帝，祂是天上的父。如果我们愿意用时间聆听祂的声音胜于手机游戏发出的声音，祂会带领及引导我们。

弟兄姐妹，若忽略上帝就要自负后果。我可以对你说的是，这绝对不值得。爱上帝并单单爱祂，你会找到真正的喜乐、平安和爱。

上帝赐福，
主里同工的，

Barry Leong