2016年9月15日 星期四

一位愛心永存的聖徒 一 慕安得烈 Andrew Murray (1828-1917)


慕安得烈的個性極為虔誠,似乎隨身瀰漫著禱告的氣氛,他好像永遠在敬拜的袍子裡。凡是跟他交談的人,即使隨便聊聊家常,也忘不了他那引人深思的一瞥。

少年時的慕安得烈稟承了先人及家庭耳濡目染的虔敬,孕育了往後堅毅的基督徒品格,這名活潑但智慧洋溢的蘇格蘭小男孩,注定將要蒙召向世人宣講聖道,接續其祖先用清潔的良心事奉神,二十歲生辰時他被教會破例按立聖職。他對主熱愛,對會友屬靈生命強烈關心。他事奉的特徵,乃是熱戀靈魂,懇切萬分,人們從各方團集來聽這位奇妙的青年傳道,許多人因他的信息得救。在他一生的巔峰時期,他的講壇就像磁石,激動了千萬人的心。對他而言,永恆的世界極其真實,決非出於臆測;在他的心目中,屬靈的事支配著屬世的事。禱告即是與不可見的神交通,為別人代求,與世界各地神的教會,共同患難與歡樂。

慕安得烈差派千百名宣教士,也奉獻自己的兒女去開拓聖工。慕氏的家庭蒙神厚待,妻子聰明賢惠,協助他推動其平生心繫的基督教教育事工。他是善顧家庭的良夫和八個子女的慈父。慕安得烈在世八十八年,寫下二百四十冊動人心弦的書籍和數不清的單張,並以十五種不同的語言發行世界各地。


A Saint filled with Eternal Love – Andrew Murray was born in 1828 - 1917

Murray was highly devout by personality seemingly filled with an aura of praying. He was liked totally permeated in the robe of worship forever. Whoever conversed with him even just a casual chit-chat, he left people with an unforgettable and provoking glance.

Young Murray inherited a strong influence from his ancestors and family on devoutness, breeding his subsequent unyielding Christian character. This lively but intelligently filled Scottish fellow was destined and being called to preach the holy Word to the world in continuance of his ancestors serving God with a pure conscience. Through making an exception by his church, he was ordained to become a minister at the age of 20. He was so passionate for God and intensely concerned of the spiritual life of his fellow church members. His ministry was characterised by his zealous love for souls and people from all over the places were attracted to gather for his wonderful preaching. Many received salvation through his messages. During the peak period of his life, his podium was liked a magnet inciting the hearts of millions of people. To him, the eternal world was so real that it was no speculation. In his heart, those spiritual matters were dictating the worldly affairs. Prayer was to communicate with the invisible God, interceding for others and the churches all around the globe through adversity and joy together.

Murray sent out thousands of missionaries and also dedicated his children to pioneer ministry. His family was so abundantly blessed with a prudent wife assisting him to drive forward his life-long heart-felt Christian education ministry. He was a good husband looking after his family well and a kind father of eight children. Murray lived for 88 years, wrote 240 touching books and numerous tracts which were published in 15 different languages all over the world.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下


愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

窮人的天使古柏 一 Anthony Ashley Cooper.安東尼.亞斯雷.古柏 (生於1801 – 1885)


《法政捍衛者的憂傷與榮耀》古柏 誠心告白

緩緩地踏上議會講台,低頭
靜靜地撫拭講台堅硬的棱角,
「主啊!我在這裡,請祢剛強我的心,
為祢,
為基督徒的良知,
為那些在礦場日夜被壓榨的孩子,
為貧民區那一批最可憐無助的窮人,
為被綁在泥牆像是野獸的精神病患,
為那些窒息在煙囪裡的男孩,
為流浪在外,辛苦一生卻沒有房子居住的勞工,
為那些缺乏教育與尊重,淪為罪犯、偷竊的無賴、妓女,……
為我的國家
願這議會講台,成為我心深處蒙祢悦納的祭壇。
我知道這個光明堂皇的議會才是人類最骯髒、最腐化、最貶抑人性的地方。
但是,祢若呼召我,即使政治舞台是最髒的地方,仍願意去。
並且願意付上代價,傾家蕩產,在所不惜。
祇要為你,為窮人贏得這一仗。」



The angel of the poor - Anthony Ashley Cooper was born 1801 – 1885.
In “Sorrow and Glory of Great Heroes in Law and Politics”, Cooper sincerely confessed in his heart as he slowly stepped his way to the pulpit with his head down and his fingers gently touching the hard corners of the podium in the Parliament.
“ Oh Lord ! Here I am, please strengthen my heart,
For you,
For the conscience of Christians,
For those children who are being suppressed in the quarry day and night,
For those poor groups who are most helpless and pitiful in the slum,
For those mental patients who are liked beast tied up to the wall,
For those men who suffocate in the chimney,
For those wandering workers who labour so hard all their life but never have a house to live,
For those who are deprived of education and respect, perish to become criminals, stealing rogue, prostitutes,….
For my country,
Hoping from my deepest heart the pulpit of this Parliament becomes the altar pleasing and acceptable to you.
I know this glamorous Parliament is really the most filthy, corruptible and derogatory place in mankind.
Nevertheless, if you call me, I am still willing to go into the political arena despite its most filthy place.
But also willing to pay at all cost, ruined without hesitation.
Only for you, for the poor to win this battle.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下


愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!


2016年9月13日 星期二

向毒品宣戰勇士 一 席勝魔 (1835 - 1896)


席勝魔,原名席子直。出生在山西省臨汾縣西莊村一個書香富家,父母皆行醫。他從小就受到了良好的教育,長大後不僅繼承了父母的醫術,還在十六歲結婚前就中了秀才。靠著行醫和包攬詞訟,他過著非常優裕的生活。由於髮妻早死,又無兒女,使他在哀痛之餘,感到人生的虛空,開始尋求人生真諦。雖然鑽研了儒、釋、道三教經典,卻仍然找不到生死的答案。孔夫子的教訓雖好,卻止不住他靈魂的飢渴,照不亮墳墓的黑暗,更無法使傷心者得到安慰。而佛教除了使他感覺一切皆空之外,再無其它幫助。道教更使他身受其害,因爲修煉道教的長生術,弄得他體羸氣衰,意志消沉,最後竟至染上鴉片煙癮,淪為煙鬼,不僅無法繼續行醫,連父母傳給他的田産也無心管理,以致自己的家業與前途皆被鴉片煙所吞噬,陷入悲慘、貧賤之境地而不能自拔,他就這樣做了十年鴉片煙的奴隸。

席子直機玄巧合下認識李修善牧師,欣然應李氏之邀,成為他的中文教師。他教李修善讀四書五經的同時,他也在李修善的指導下,開始閱讀聖經。慢慢地,這位驕傲的士大夫被聖經上的話語強烈地吸引住了。一個秋夜,席子直跪倒在地,把聖經恭敬地放在面前。當他讀到耶穌在客西馬尼園中獨自憂傷悲痛向天父禱告時,他那關閉已久的心門被打開了。剎那間,聖靈感動他,使他從心裡相信:"耶穌愛我,耶穌是為我捨命"。至此他完全降服,接受耶穌基督作他的救主。受洗後的第一件事就是戒毒,但過程中一點也不容易,他認識到這是屬靈的爭戰,他再三懇求聖靈降臨搭救他,使他脫離魔鬼的一切轄制。戰勝惡魔後,他將家裡的偶像全部焚毀,此擧在村引起極大的轟動。此後,他改名爲"勝魔"。1886年,席勝魔由戴德生(Hudson Taylor)率領的牧師團按立爲牧師。他把自己所有的一切,包括時間、金錢、家庭、朋友和自己的生命,全都放在祭壇上面。他兼具秀才和牧師兩種身份,有豐富的中國傳統文化知識,也有豐富的基督教知識,在兩者的融合上他作出獨到的貢獻。他還寫了很多膾炙人口的白話詩,清新典雅,配上樂曲,唱起來琅琅上口,深受信徒們喜愛。


A Warrior declared war on drugs — Xi Sheng Mo was born in 1835 - 1896

Xi Sheng Mo, whose birth name was Xi Zi Zhi, was born in a literary class family located in Western Zhang village near Lin Fen County, Shanxi Province. His parents were both practising medical doctors. Young Xi received excellent education which helped to inherit his parents’ medical skills. He became a scholar when he was 16 years of age prior to his marriage. He was making a comfortable living as a medical doctor and litigation mediator. Due to his early death of his wife and without children, he was deeply bereaved and felt emptiness in life. He began to seek the true meaning of life. Though he researched into the classic books of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, he was still unable to find the answer to life and death. The teaching of Confucius though was good, it could not quench the thirst in his soul. Nor lighten the darkness of the grave or bring comfort to the broken hearted. Buddhism only made him feel vanity and offered nothing else. Taoism was even causing harm to his body because of practicing Taoist longevity. The practice instigated deficiency syndrome inside his body leading him to suffer from depression, and finally he was addicted to opium and became a heavy smoker. He could not continue practicing medicine and became so self-occupied that he neglected the land assets as inherited from his parents. In the end, Xi’s family business and his future were swallowed by opium. He was unable to pull himself up but felt into total misery and destitution as an opium addict for a decade.

It was a total coincidence that Xi came to know Pastor David Hill and accepted his invitation to have become his Chinese teacher. While teaching on The Four Books and Five Classics, he started to read bible under the instruction of Hill. Gradually this proud doctor was intensely attracted by the word in the Bible. One night in the Autumn, Xi knelt down on the floor with his Bible before him. He was reading the passage when Jesus was so grieved alone in Gethsemane praying to heavenly Father, his long-closed heart was once again opened. All of a sudden, he was touched by the Holy Spirit to believe in his heart that “Jesus loves him and died for him.” He was in total submission and received Jesus Christ to be his Saviour. The first thing he did after water baptism was to go through detoxification which was not easy. He recognised the reality of spiritual warfare and pleaded with Holy Spirit to rescue him from the claws of satan. After his victory, he burned up all the idols in his house which caused quite a sensation in the village. Thereafter he renamed himself as “Sheng Mo” meaning victory over the devils. In 1886, he was ordained as pastor by Hudson Taylor. He gave everything, including time, money, family, friends, and his own life on the altar. Xi was both a scholar and pastor and with his rich combination of Chinese traditional culture and knowledge along with deep knowledge of Christianity, he made unique contribution. Xi wrote many popular vernacular poetry, fresh and elegant, accompanied by catchy music and singing. This made him popular among believers.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下


愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月12日 星期一

燃燒生命為聖經 一 William Tyndale 丁道爾威廉 (1494 - 1536)


威廉自幼受到良好教育,在牛津大學取得碩士,並熟悉八種語言,成為歐洲一名極傑出的學者。本來他可以優越過一生,但為了翻譯原文聖經而變為被當時教廷追捕的逃亡者。最後在羅馬審判受審,他原有機會不被處死只要他放棄翻譯聖經。但他拒絕妥協,教會將他判以異端之名,囚禁十七個月,直到被判,被火燒死之前,威廉仍為英國禱告,威廉的死看起來是個挫敗,但他朋友接續他未完的舊翻譯,2年後,英王終於同意每間教會均可有一本英文聖經供人自由閱讀。

丁道爾是第一個把原文本聖經譯為現代英語的聖經翻譯家。後來著名的欽定版聖經有百分之九十採用了他的譯本。2002年,丁道爾被英國廣播公司選為最偉大的100名英國人。

在丁道爾的時代,羅馬天主教教廷只允許唯一的拉丁文聖經譯本,不容許私自翻譯,並且只有神職人員可以擁有和詮釋聖經。丁道爾就是在這背景出現,他留下来的遺產,永遠改變英語世界的人所閱讀的聖經。丁道爾主張應該讓普通老百姓都可透過讀聖經來認識神,決心把聖經譯成英文,於是被誣陷為異端,後來在比利時被殺害。

约翰·弗里思是丁道爾的工作伙伴,他後来在倫敦也被燒死。丁道爾在給弗里思的信中曾説:「我從沒有違背良心,竄改上帝話語的一個音節。今日即使有人把世上一切享樂、尊榮和財富給我,我也決不會這樣行。」




Rekindle Life for the Bible一William Tyndale was born in 1494 - 1536

William Tyndale received a good education in his upbringing and obtained a Master degree at Oxford University. He was fluent in eight different languages and had become one of the most distinguished scholars in Europe. He could have enjoyed a superior life, but he became a fugitive pursued by then Curia for the sake of translating the original texts of the Bible. At last, he was put on trial in Rome. He was given an opportunity not to be put to death provided he gave up the translation of the Bible. He refused to compromise and hence was imprisoned of 17 months for heresy followed by the verdict of death sentence. Even prior to his burning to death, William was still praying for Britain. His death might have appeared as a defeat, but his friend succeeded his translation work. Two years later, the King of England finally agreed to place one English bible in every church for free reading by people.

Tyndale was the first person to have translated from the original Bible language into modern English Bible. Subsequently, ninety percent of his translation was applied to the famous King James Version Bible. In 2002, Tyndale was elected as one of the 100 Greatest Britons by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

In the times of Tyndale, the Roman Catholic Church only allowed one Latin Bible translation. Private translation was prohibited, and only the clergy could possess and interpret the Bible. Tyndale came to scene during this background, he left behind a legacy which changed the bible reading of all the English-speaking world forever. Tyndale was an advocate of ordinary people knowing God through reading the Bible. He was determined to translate the Bible into English, but was then falsely accused of heresy and later put to death in Belgium.

John Frith was Tyndale's working partner, he was also subsequently burned to death in London. In Tyndale’s letter to Frith said: "I never go against my conscience, tampering any syllables of God's Word. Even if the world gave me all the pleasure, honour and wealth, I would never change anything. "

澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月11日 星期日

200多年前來澳門帶職傳教仕一馬禮遜Robert Morrison (1782 - 1834)


馬禮遜自小體弱多病,經常頭痛。每當頭痛,他就禱告神。他特別喜歡閱讀和寫作,會比別人早起一小時,閱讀聖經和寫日記。馬禮遜不是特別聰明,但記憶力超群。十二歲時已能一字不漏地背誦詩篇119篇共176節經文。

上帝在1807年差派馬禮遜來到澳門,進入中國宣教地區,他所面對的是絕對孤獨與深沉的寂寞,既不被中國人所接受,也得不到西方人士的支持,使他的宣教生涯倍增艱難。為求能在澳門居留,馬禮遜幾經折騰,只好加入英國東印度公司,受聘為翻譯員。一面擔任翻譯,一面盡心傳道,矛盾掙扎,遭人誤會攻撃,極其痛苦孤寂。然而他能忠於呼召,雖然獨居貨倉之中,仍能堅持到底,完成在華宣教奠基的偉業。在他27年在華宣教的生涯中,他完成了一些幾乎不能完成的工作。

*他第一個把《聖經》全文翻譯成中文並予以出版的人;

*他獨自編撰了中國第一部《華英字典》,編寫了《中國一覽》、《廣東省土語字彙》

*1810年他來中國才三年,就已開始翻譯《使徒行傳》、《路加福音》、《約翰福音》。

*1813年將《新約》(《耶穌基利士督我主救者新遺詔書》)全部翻譯完畢,並在廣州秘密出版。

*1814年9月 蔡高信主耶穌並接受馬禮遜的施洗,成為中國第一位基督新教的信徒,也是馬禮遜吸收了第一個華人基督徒,在澳門創辦蔡高學校。

*1818年馬禮遜在馬六甲和另一位倫敦會傳教士米憐等在創辦了英華書院,教育華人青年及兒童,及栽培後進的來華傳教士,是華人的第一所洋學堂。

*1819年與米憐一同完成《舊約》的翻譯工作,在馬六甲出版。

*1823年12月更正教信徒梁發被馬禮遜按立為中國第一個更正教的牧師。他協助馬禮遜做印刷工作。梁發在1832年用中文寫了一本《勸世良言》,於鄉試時派發給赴考生員。這本《勸世良言》就是日後太平天國開國者洪秀全的思想根據。

*1828年,梁發跟古天青在廣東的高明縣也設了第一所基督徒的私塾,也就是給小孩子讀書的學校。這是初期的新式學堂,除了教文學、文化外,也教聖經,介紹西方的科學、地理知識以及英文。

*1843年,英華書院遷至香港,英華書院是近代傳教士開辦的第一所中文學校,馬禮遜曾任該院牧師曾協助麥滌遜創辦了在中國出版的第一份英文報。


Part-time missionary arrived Macau more than 200 years ago – Robert Morrison was born in 1782 - 1843

As a child, Morrison was frail and weak most of his time and often suffering migraine. Every time he had a headache, he would pray to God. He was particularly fond of reading and writing. By getting up an hour earlier than others, he could read bible and write diary. Morrison was not that intelligent but possessed a powerful memory. At the age of 12, he could recite all 176 verses in Psalms 119 without a single word missing.

God sent Morrison to Macau in year 1807 to enter the soil of China for his mission work. He was faced with absolute loneliness by himself alone. Not accepted by the Chinese and received no support from the west added much more hardship to his mission life. In order to remain staying in Macau, he ended up joining the East India Company as a translator having striven all other means. On one hand he was conducting translation work and on the other preaching the gospel. Such conflicting identity was misunderstood and hurt with criticism which he had no one to confide with. Nevertheless he was faithful to His calling. Even though he was living in the warehouse, he persevered and completed laying down a firm foundation of mission work for the Chinese. During his 27 years of missionary career, he accomplished of what was deemed impossible to complete.

* He was the first to translate the whole “Bible” into Chinese and gave for publication;

* He alone compiled in China the first ever “Chinese English Dictionary”, wrote “China at a Glance” and “Vocabulary of the Canton Dialect”;

* In 1810 only three years after arriving China, he commenced the translation of “The Book of Acts”, “The Gospel of Luke” and “The Gospel of John”;

* In 1813 the whole book of “the New Testament of Lord Jesus Christ my Saviour” was completely translated and secretly printed in Guangzhou;

* In September 1814 Choi Kou came to believe in Jesus and received water baptism from Morrison. He was the first Chinese Protestant believer and adopted by Morrison as the first Chinese Christian to have establishd Choi Kou School in Macau;

* In 1818 Morrison and Milne from London Missionary Society found Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca teaching Chinese youth and children and cultivating subsequent overseas missionaries coming to China. This became the first English School for the Chinese;

* In 1819 Morrison and Milne jointly completed the translation of “Old Testament” which was published in Malacca;

* In December 1823 a Protestant believer, Liang Fa was ordained by Morrison to be the first ever Protestant Pastor. He assisted Morrison in the printing work and later wrote a book called “Good Words Exhorting Mankind”. This book was distributed to those taking the provincial examination and became the reference to the ideology of Hong Xiuquan, the founder of subsequent Taiping Heavenly Kingdom;

* In 1828 Liang Fa and Koo Tien Ching opened a private School in Gaoming County, Guangdong to provide education for the children. This was the beginning of the early days classrooms for learning not only literature and culture but also bible, western science, Geography and English.

* In 1843 Anglo-Chinese College was moved to Hong Kong. This College was the first Chinese School opened by missionaries in modern times. Morrison was the Chaplain of the College and later supported Mak Teo Sung to have established the first English newspaper printed in China.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月9日 星期五

以花草作朋友博士/植物農化學家一George Washington Carver 喀威爾 (1864 - 1943)


一天早晨,我向上帝問道:『祢創造宇宙的目的是什麼呢?』神回答說:『你要的太多了!你的智慧太有限了,如何能懂這個問題的答案呢?』。 我又向神問道:『那祢創造人的目的是什麼呢?』神回答說:『你這個小傢伙,你仍然要的太多了!然後,我又問道:『那麼神啊!祢創造花生的目的是什麼呢?』神回答說:『這才差不多。』然後我回到實驗室,嘗試瞭解:什麼是花生?以及,神為什麼要創造花生?在花生中找到了三百種以上的應用方法,包括花生牛奶、花生咖啡、麵粉、墨水、染料、肥皂、化妝品、油氈、食用品、醫學用品等,而聞名於世。

他一生獲獎無數。發明大王愛迪生(Edison)以年薪一百萬美金,重金禮聘他,他卻拒絕而仍繼續研究花生。其成果幫助了無數黑人同胞。美國政府為此在一九四O年至一九四二年期間,釋放五百萬公頃土地給南方的黑人種花生。在他所在的小小研究室裡,美國兩位總統柯立芝(Coolidge)與羅斯福(Roosevelt),印度聖雄甘地(Gandhi),大企業家福特(Ford)都來拜訪過他。連蘇俄暴君史達林(Stalin)都邀請他擔任農業部長,喀威爾拒絕了。他一生留在小城裡,以研究花生來服事上帝。

三十歲念大學 - 最老的學生

喀威爾在愛荷華州立大學表現優異,他是第一個擁有如此高學位的黑人,也是該校第一個黑人農業系畢業生。

  他在離開學校以前,寫道:『我生命最大的意義是能夠幫助我的同胞。這麼多年來的接受教育,主要的目的在説明我達到這一個目標。我深深地感覺到,教育彷佛是神給我的一把鑰匙,可以解開黑人貧窮的鎖鏈。』喀威爾對學生參與政治活動看的很清楚,他說:『學校的目的,在教育學生成為有用的人,社會只會照有用的人的建議去行。』又說:『我們不是要訓練學生去參加政治,那太單方面了。教育的目的,在訓練學生各方面的成長,像一隻手的五根手指,有一天步出校園後,能抓住社會給他的責任…… 倘若在學校太強調政治的學生,將來除了寄生於政治,別無生存之道。』有些基督徒也批評他,應該盼望放在未來的天國,怎麼在地上努力教人種花生?喀威爾回答說:『成為基督徒的目的之一,在説明別人,活出人真正的尊嚴與價值。』

  喀威爾死於一九四三年一月五日。他被視為二十世紀黑人的良知。他終身未娶,獻身於教育。有人問他動力的來源,他靜靜地說:『我每天上午四點鐘就起床向神禱告。』


A Botanist, Chemist and Scientist who makes friend with flowers - George Washington Carver was born in 1864 – 1943

One morning, I asked God, “what is the purpose of your creation of the universe?” God answered, “you are asking too much! Your wisdom is so limited. How you could understand the answer to this question.” I asked God again, ‘what is the purpose of your creation of mankind then.” God answered, “you little brat, you are still wanting too much”! Then I asked again, “oh God! What is the purpose of your creation of peanut?” God responded, “this is more like it”. I returned to the laboratory and tried to figure out “what is peanut? Any why would God create peanut? It is worldly known that out of peanut come more than 300 applications including peanut milk, peanut coffee, flour, ink, dye, soap, cosmetic, linoleum, food and medical supplies, etc.

He received countless awards in his life. Even the king of Invention, Edison offered one million US dollar to recruit him. He refused and continued to research peanut. His achievement helped uncountable black compatriots. During the period from 1940 to 1942, the US Government released five million hectare of land to southern blacks to grow peanut. Two American Presidents, Coolidge and Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi of India, great entrepreneur, Ford came to visit him in his tiny laboratory. Even Stalin, the dictator of Soviet Union invited him to be the Minister of Agriculture. Carver refused and rather remained in his little town all his life o serve God through peanut research.

The oldest student – read University at 30

Carver performed excellent at Iowa State University. He was the first black graduate who ever attained such remarkable academic results and was also the first black graduate in that University with Bachelor of Agriculture.

Prior to his leaving University, he wrote, “the greatest meaning of my life is to be able to help my compatriot. The main purpose of my receiving education for many years speaks out the attainment of this goal. I feel deeply that perhaps God gives me the key to unlock the chain of poverty to the black.” Carver clearly understands students towards participating in political activities. He said, “the purpose of school is to educate students to become useful people. The advancement of society follows only the suggestions from this useful people.” He added, “we do not train students to participate in politics. This is too unilateral. The purpose of education is to prepare students for all rounded development. Like the five fingers of a hand to take up the responsibility given by the society once they step out of the campus. If the schools over-emphasize politics to the students, there is no other way of living other than dwelling on politics only in the future.” Some Christians criticized him that he should have placed future hope on the kingdom of God rather than relentlessly teaching others to grow peanut? He replied, “one of the purposes of becoming a Christian is to show others to live out real dignity and value.”

Carver died on 5 January 1943 and was considered the conscience of the black in the 20th century. He was never married but dedicated his life to education. Someone asked him what was driving his motivation. He quietly said, “I get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to pray to God.”


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月8日 星期四

中國需要我,熱帶醫學之父 - 培特瑞克•梅森 Patrick Manson (1844 - 1922)


親愛的依莎貝爾小姐,這也許是我給你的最後一封信了。當倫敦午夜的霧笛響起,就是我要離開的時間,再度回到中國,我日夜夢回的所在。成千上萬的中國人,染著可怕致死的嗜血絲蟲、血吸蟲、瘧疾,在還沒有認識耶穌基督的救恩前,病魔就先奪去了他們的性命。中國需要我!藉著高明的醫術,移去他們的封閉與保守…… 親愛的依莎貝爾,滿了如火熱情的我,在短短相聚的十個月裡,不是在圖書館裡苦讀,就沉湎在顯微鏡前,很少對你細語呢喃,情話深訴,真是滿心的歉疚。對中國人苦難的負擔,使我無法扮演一個好情人。但是,如果回到福音的戰場,你將發現我是全力以赴的一流戰士。親愛的,你願意來中國嗎?』

一八七五年十二月二十一日,依莎貝爾小姐搭船到中國的廈門,與梅森醫生結婚。因著這一對夫妻的努力,使得當時許多可怕的傳染病在太平洋沿海島嶼成為稀有疾病。

生命影響生命 - 李鴻章與孫中山

一八八七年李鴻章身染舌疾,群醫束手無策。梅森已經很有名氣,李鴻章希望梅森去醫治他。那時梅森自己也患痛風,嚴重得站不起來。但是他知道只要治好李鴻章這個大人物,中國人就更容易接受醫學,於是忍受疼痛,航海一千八百哩到北京,給李鴻章治病。治好後,果然大大消除了中國人對西醫的疑慮與排斥。

梅森知道這是成立醫學院訓練中國人的時候,他到香港成立『香港西醫書院』(香港大學前身),由康得禮(J.Cantlie)任教務長,兼收男女生。一八九二年,第一批學生畢業,其中有一位名叫『孫中山』,後來成為中華民國的國父。梅森對中國貢獻太大了。

梅森醫生病逝於一九二二年四月九日。他生前立下遺囑,把所有的財產設立作獎學金,資助研究『熱帶醫學』的學生,使一批批的生力軍不斷進軍到各個落後的地方去。

China needs me, Father of Tropical Medicine - Patrick Manson was born in 1844 – 1922

Dear Ms Isabelle, perhaps this is my last letter to you. When the midnight foghorn is blown in London, this is the time of my departure for returning to China. This is my dream where I want myself to be. Thousands of Chinese are inflicted with Filarial, Schistosoma, malaria which are fatal disease to take their life even before they come to know the salvation of Jesus Christ. he devil of death takes away their life. China needs me! From my medical skills, I can remove their closeness and conservatism. Dear Isabelle, I, being filled with passion, spent our shortest 10 months which either I studied hard in the library or submerged in the microscope instead of sharing intimate time with you and pouring my heart to you. I am full of regrets. In view of my suffering burden for the Chinese, I am prohibited to perform as a good lover. Nevertheless, if returning to the battlefield for the gospel, you will discover me to be a brilliant warrior with all my strength. My dear, are you willing to come to China?

On 21 December 1875, Ms Isabelle took the cruise to Xiamen, China and was married to Dr Manson. As a consequence of the hard work of this young couple, many horrific and contagious diseases in the Pacific Ocean coastal islands rarely recurred in those days.

Life affecting life to – General Li Hung Zhang and Dr Sun Yat Sen

In 1887 Li was inflicted with tongue disease, many local Chinese doctors were helpless. Dr Manson was then fairly popular. Li wanted Manson to go and heal him. During those days, Manson was suffering from gout so serious that he could hardly stand up. But he knew if he could heal Li this figurehead, China would then embrace western medicine. Hence he bore the pain and travelled 1800 miles to Beijing. Li was finally healed and because of that Chinese greatly eliminated their anxiety and rejection towards western medicine.

Manson realised that this was the best time to establish medical school to train more Chinese. He went to Hong Kong and established Hong Kong College of Medicine (the predecessor of the University of Hong Kong) and assigned James Cantlie as Provost to accept man and woman as students. In 1892, the first group of students graduated and amongst them a student named Dr Sun Yat Sen. He then became the founding Father of People Republic of China. Dr Manson had contributed enormously to China.

Dr Manson died of illness on 9 April 1922. In his will, he gave all his wealth towards setting up scholarship to support those students conducting researches on “Tropical Disease” so that waves of new bloods continue to enter into many under-developed places.

澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月7日 星期三

音樂引領人心遇見上帝- George Frideric Handel 亨德爾 (1685 - 1759)


於1759年4月,這位偉大的音樂家不顧久病和失明,再度站上了倫敦皇家劇院的舞臺,親自主持指揮《彌賽亞》的演出,亨德爾昏倒了在指揮臺上,8天后,與世長辭,享年74歲。他被熱愛他的英國人按其遺願安葬於倫敦威斯敏斯特大教堂,墓碑上刻著 《彌賽亞》“我知道我的救贖主活著”。在亨德爾死後英國沒有出現什麼大音樂家,在他死後所掀起的亨德爾熱持續一個世紀。

在巴羅克時代多如繁星的音樂作品中,有三部以聖經中的救贖故事為題材的神劇,在音樂史上公認是永垂不朽的曠世巨作。他們分別是《約翰受難曲》(1723年)、《馬太受難曲》(1729年)和亨德爾的《彌賽亞》。因為創作者的音樂理念不同,這些傑作也呈現出不同的面貌。

亨德爾的彌賽亞是可以在劇院演出的大眾化作品,它客觀地描寫耶穌出生、受難和救贖的過程,將福音置於想像的舞臺,並使聖經故事推向戲劇性的高峰。音樂權威人士說:“亨德爾是所有音樂大師中的大師,我對他只有五體投地,因為他能以最簡單的音符達到最偉大的效果。”單純而大眾化和精美而嚴整原來是對立的兩個因素,彌賽亞最大的魅力在於將超越性的宗教理念與世俗化的美感圓滿融合為一,使它在兩個半世紀之後,仍能普受歡迎,弦歌不絕。

1741年,一位飽受生命挫折、人生陷入低潮的音樂家──亨德爾,被彌賽亞的故事深深感動,於是提起筆來,日以繼夜在樂譜上渾灑他澎湃洶湧的靈感。

「我看到了!」亨德爾在不眠不休的創作狂熱中,不由自主地雙膝跪倒,無法遏止的眼淚,滴落在剛完成的譜表上,他雙手顫抖地向上舉起,大聲呼喊:「主啊!主啊!我看到天開了!」

從那時開始,兩百七十五年來,《彌賽亞》這齣由亨德爾創作的神劇,一直歷久不衰地在世界各地反覆傳唱演奏。1743年,這齣神劇在英王喬治二世御前演出,當聽到〈哈利路亞〉大合唱時,喬治二世不由自由從座位中恭敬地站起來,聆聽完全曲。從此奠下在所有演唱會中,只要唱到〈哈利路亞〉大合唱時,聽眾都會站立聆聽,以示崇敬的傳統。

《彌賽亞》這齣神劇的內容多直接引用聖經,譜寫出基督降生的神聖與莊嚴。在〈有一位嬰孩為我們而生〉那首合唱曲中,亨德爾直接引用聖經〈以賽亞書〉的記載,將耶穌降生後的身分與地位,輕快有力卻肅穆莊嚴地宣示出來:

必有童女懷孕生子,給他起名叫以馬內利(就是「上帝與我們同在」的意思)。因有一嬰孩為我們而生;有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上;他名稱為奇妙策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君。(聖經:以賽亞書7章14節、9章6節)


Music leads a man’s heart to meet God - George Frideric Handel was born in 1685 -1759

In April 1759, a great music composer, Handel despite his long illness and blindness attended for the last time the performance of the Messiah at Royal Opera House in London. He fainted on stage and passed away eight days later at the age of 74. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in London with his tombstone engraved “Messiah” with “I know my Redeemer lives”. After his death, there was hardly any greater music composer emerging in Britain and an upsurge of Handel lasted for a century.

During the Baroque era, there were as many music pieces as stars. Amongst them was three pieces of Oratorio with the theme on the story of salvation from the Bible. In the history of music, Johnpassion 1723, Matthäuspassion 1729 and Messiah by Handel are publicly known and accepted as imperishable masterpieces. Due to different philosophy of composers, these pieces were presented in various faces.

Handel’s Messiah are popular in theatres; it objectively describes the life of Jesus and the process of crucifixion and salvation making the gospel performance on stage and the biblical stories to reach dramatic new heights. An authoritative figure in the music industry said, “Handel is the musical master of masters. I am in total submission to him because he made use of simple notes to produce the greatest effect”. Simple but popular and exquisite but thorough are two contrasting elements. Handel’s greatest charm was to be able to combine the transcendence of religious faith and the aesthetic of secular beliefs together as one. Such music still remains universally popular without a break even after two and half century.

澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月6日 星期二

「至死忠心的人」- William Wilberforce 威廉·威伯福斯 (1759 - 1833)


約翰.紐頓John Newton 為他禱告,「我盼望並且相信主耶穌高舉了你,是為了祂的教會與我們國家的好處」,這個代禱成為威伯福斯一生的方向 ...廢除黑奴的奮鬥故事,多數基督徒可能聯想到約翰紐頓(John Newton)的聖詩,兩者的確有關連,因為威伯福斯在童年時已認識紐頓,而當威伯福斯在一七八五年信主後,曾想過放棄政治,全時間事奉神,因為他覺得「屬靈」的事比「世俗」的事更重要。那個時候其中一個鼓勵威伯福斯不要放棄的人就是紐頓(他本是參與販賣黑奴的,一七四八年決心信主並痛改前非,卅九歲那年成為牧師)。他讓威伯福斯明白,上帝要他留在政治界事奉祂。紐頓寫道:「我們……相信,上帝是為了國家的利益而興起你。」

在西方歷史上,沒有任何一位偉大的改革家像威伯福斯這麼被人忽略。的確,很多人從來沒有聽過他的名字,與解放美國黑奴的林肯總統的家喻戶曉是極大對比,但他的成就不比林肯低,最少他不用流血,就成功地解放了數以十萬計的黑奴。


“Faithful unto death” - William Wilberforce was born in 1759 - 1833

John Newton made a prayer for Wilberforce, “I hope and trust the Lord Jesus will lift you up for His church and for the benefits of our country.” This intercessory prayer became the life-long direction of Wilberforce on his battle against slave trade, which amongst many Christians is reminiscent of the hymns written by John Newton. Both were indeed related because Wilberforce already knew John Newton in his childhood. When Wilberforce came to believe in God in 1785, he had thought to quit politics and serve God in full time ministry. He believed the “spiritual” affairs are more important than those of “secular”. One of the people during that time who encouraged Wilberforce not to relinquish was Newton (he was a slave trader himself before but in 1748 he decided to believe God and repented of what he did. He then became a pastor when he was 39). He helped Wilberforce to understand that God wanted him to stay in the arena of politics to serve Him. Newton wrote: “we believe God raised you up for the benefits of our country”.


In Western history, no great reformer like Wilberforce was ever so neglected. In fact, many had never heard his name in sharp contrast to the renowned emancipation of American slaves succeeded by President Lincoln. But the degree of his success was not lower than Lincoln for the least he successfully emancipated hundred thousands of black slaves without a shed of blood.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!


清楚的理性.熾熱的心「數學奇才」一 Blaise Pascal 帕斯卡 生於1623 - 1662


黙想錄

1. 上帝要改變人以前,必先改變人的意志。上帝以完全的愛幫助人,但是並不幫助人自己的意志。所以驕傲的人能夠謙卑,是上帝在人身上工作的第一步。

2. 我們經常會發現,把一件困難的事情做好,最後的一個方法是:在上帝面前,把事情放下來。

3. 真實的信仰是視人性為真實,虛假的信仰是視人性為虛幻。

4. 認識上帝卻不認識自己的罪惡,與認識自己的罪惡卻不認識上帝,二者同樣危險;因此,上帝必須向前者隱藏,向後者顯現。

5. 人是何等的虛空,為芝麻小事難過,又為芝麻小事快樂。

6. 智慧引導我們回轉像小孩。

7. 獲得權力的方法!如果是追隨眾人的喜好,而非公義的原則,那麼愈有權力的地方,就愈找不到正直的人。

8. 輿論不像權力能夠管理世界,但是能夠監督權力之用。

9. 錯誤的敬虔是只要平安不要真理,或是只要真理不要愛。

10. 信仰偏差的兩大主因:經文過度拘泥字句,化萬事過度靈意解。

11. 一個人如果宣稱,對上帝必須理解清楚才能相信,那他將永遠無法有真正的信心。信仰有些地方,不是知道,而是內心深處對上帝的體會。


“A Mathematics genius” with clear reasoning and a burning heart - Blaise Pascal was born 1623 – 1662

Meditation Page

1. A man’s will must firstly be changed by God before he can be changed. God helps man with His perfect love but not his will. So the first step that God will work on man is for the proud to become humble.

2. We often discover to accomplish a difficult task, the last solution is to lay it down before God.

3. A true faith sees human nature is real. A false faith sees human nature is illusion.

4. Knowing God but not self sins or knowing self sins but not God. Both are equally dangerous. Hence, God must hide in the former and reveal in the latter.

5. People are so meaningless to be sorry for petty things and happy for petty things.

6. Wisdom leads our way back to be liked a child.

7. A method to gain authority! If merely follow the liking of the crowd but not the principles of righteousness. The higher the authority places are, the lesser the righteous people be found.

8. Public opinion is not liked authority that can govern the world but can supervise the use of power.

9. A wrong devoutness wants peace only and not truth or wants the truth only and not love.

10. Two main reasons of deviation in faith: the words in the sentence are too narrowly interpreted out of context and general passages are over spiritually interpreted.

11. If a person claims to believe only when comprehends God so clearly, he will never have real faith. Some places of faith are not through knowing but experiencing God deeply within your heart.


澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月5日 星期一

台大教授張文亮:從教室逃走的天才

小五就放火燒了全班考卷,中學因為太愛問問題,被校長痛打、被學校開除,大學重考才勉強考上。從小到大在教育體制裡跌跌撞撞、受傷不斷的張文亮,如今卻是台大最受學生肯定的教授之一。他不僅獲得台大優良導師獎,他所開的課程,常常塞滿三、四百名學生。

在課堂上,他可以把冰冷的科學變成一堂堂精采的故事,用科學寫文學,從文學探索科學,牛頓、法拉第、金庸、《福爾摩斯》、《唐詩》、《宋詞》、《西遊記》在他的課堂裡都可以相遇、碰撞出火花。有人形容張文亮是最會說故事的科學家,他寫書超過二十本,主題從科普到文史、傳記、工程、漫畫,幾乎每本書都獲獎。

張文亮如何從一個教室裡逃走的問題學生,變成一個激發人心、鼓舞學習的老師?他的故事,提供了教育現場什麼樣的啟示?

我是公務人員的孩子,母親在銀行工作,父親在糖廠工作,弟妹成績都很好,但我的成績卻起伏很大。雖然我很喜歡念書,但考試往往無法呈現我努力的成果。

從小我就是個問題學生,小學五年級的時候,我曾經跑到教室裡,把全班的考卷給燒了,因為我討厭這種教育的方式。還有一次老師在監考的時候,我把鋼筆打開,從他後面這樣唰的~~噴過去,把他的衣服全部噴髒了!我覺得這是上學真正有趣的地方。當然,我受到嚴重的懲罰。我爸也會打我,小五我曾被打到手心噴血,手上現在還有疤,臉上也被踢過,因為我爸媽也不知道該怎麼辦。

到了中學,我被老師修理得很厲害,後來還被開除過,因為我在教室裡喜歡問一些奇怪的問題。我問老師:「波義耳是誰?」又很想知道,安培和焦耳是誰,因為我相信他們一定是活生生的人,而且某些因素讓他們寫下這些公式。但老師要我不要再問這些問題了,因為聯考不會考,只要把公式背下來就好了。但我還是一直追問,就一直被處罰,有一次我反射性揮手擋了回去,就被當做毆打老師,後來就被學校開除了。


一個被教育界放棄的孩子

我在教室裡沒有辦法獲得滿足,我比較喜歡教室外面的鳥在叫、樹葉是那麼綠、雲是那麼藍,所以很容易分心。下課後我很喜歡到野外去,我的自我學習都來自野外,因為在野外,我看到不懂的事物或是我沒辦法再深入看第二次的,就會回來看書找答案。譬如「雲為什麼會是這個形狀?」「為什麼草的旁邊會有這種花朵?」「葉子跟花朵的顏色為什麼會差這麼多?」我就會去圖書館翻書。

我不一定是回來讀教科書,因為教科書通常是不太會教書的老師去編的。教科書應該有非常好的文學、非常好的音樂。教科書應該是帶著色彩的,教科書不能取代我去接觸大自然的機會。但我覺得我們的教科書往往是攔阻我們接觸大自然的機會,所以我寧願接觸課外書。

回顧我的學習歷程,我小學是一天到晚被學校毆打的,中學是被學校開除過的,高中是念夜間部的,大學是重考才勉強考上中原大學的。但是,我後來為什麼會變成台大的教授?

這是因為我到後來,其實是一個已經被教育界放棄的孩子。我在教育體系裡、考試的方式下,找不到對知識的喜愛,到了大學以後,再也沒有人給我壓力了,那是我重新開始的時候。從此我海闊天空,我有一個自由的空間,我不需要再去跟別人競爭。

那時候我才知道,用考試去分辨學生的程度是滿低層次的。高層次的教育,只要問幾個問題就知道學生的程度。所以我們的中小學,是在培養低層次的學生,不是在培養高層次的學生,因為我們整個教育是用低層次的方法評斷學生。

我在大學的時候,也是個異類,但當時我遇到一個老師,他只收異類。這個老師是國科會科教組的組長毛松霖。他就只收幾個學生,每週一次,跟他問一些問題,無所不談。他的教材就是報紙,我們可以談政治、性行為、信仰、經濟、藝術等各種問題。我們談論的地方就是在冰果室或是校園的草地上,這個老師帶了我們四年,每個星期跟我們談一次。我覺得「冰果室裡的這一堂課」是我一生裡所受的教育,最精采的地方。

那時候我才知道,原來我不是沒有希望的。我第一次跟毛老師談話之後,他給我一個功課,要我下次講給他聽,我講給他聽之後,他就跟我說,我是個天才。我說:「我聯考都考不上,怎麼會是個天才?」

他說:「天才有四種,第一種很會記憶,考試可以考得很好。第二種很會分析,考試也可以考得很好。第三種天才,很會整合,他就『完蛋』了。第四種,他有藝術跳躍的思維,直覺類型的天才,他也會『完蛋』了。」他所謂的「完蛋」,就是指會被聯考放棄的學生,在聯考教育體制下,後面這兩種天才就「完蛋」了。所以必須想辦法讓後兩種天才不要被教育體制犧牲。

我聽完他的話,當下很感動,因為從來沒有人說我是天才,大家都說我是問題學生。我後來自己體會,我應該是屬於第三種類型的天才。

我是異類的天才?
我知道自己是個異類的天才之後,就自己開始去做整合的工作。我曾經問過毛老師要怎麼整合?他說要整合對人類文化有影響的科目。我問他是哪些科目?他說,只有三科。第一科,歷史。第二科,經濟。第三科,音樂與美術。這三門課裡選一門,就可以影響人類的文化。

因為我不太懂經濟、也不懂音樂,所以我選歷史。一個人如果懂歷史,他可以懂大學裡所有的學科。我就開始讀所有的歷史,像是講醫學的歷史、美術的歷史……只要有歷史這兩個字我統統挑出來讀,不是為了興趣,是為了使命。

在大學那段時間,我就是用60%的時間去讀我科系的東西,用40%讀課外的書,然後整合在一起。

大學我讀環境汙染,那是因為我考試分數很低,所以進到這個系。當我在讀環境汙染的時候,其實台灣沒什麼環境汙染,等到我大學畢業的時候,台灣的環境汙染變得很嚴重,我剛好「躬逢其盛」,接觸了很多環境汙染的議題,也排解了很多糾紛。在那段期間我幾乎走遍台灣所有的鄉村、所有的客家庄,所以後來我可以寫關於台灣的水、台灣的客家庄。

在排解糾紛的過程中,我發現我的知識不夠,解決問題不是有熱情就可以了,所以就再去念環境汙染的博士學位。因為我覺得很虧欠那些受害的農漁民,他們對我有很高的期待,但是我幫不了忙。

拿到博士學位之後,我就來台大教書。我在大學教書這麼多年的觀察發現,只要學生服你,他就會有學習動力,他就會學得好。因為在教學裡面,最重要的是師生關係,關係超過知識的傳授、品德的傳授。University(大學),原意應該是指「師生聯盟」,因為我們一生裡面遇到最好的教育都是因為我跟某個老師發生一種非常好的「師生聯盟」的關係。一個老師之所以有魅力,是因為他本身就是「老師」,他的魅力來自於他的使命感,來自於他和學生所建立的聯盟關係。

張文亮

職稱|台灣大學生物環境系統工程學系教授

經歷|曾獲台大優良導師獎,著作包括《法拉第的故事》、《誰能在馬桶上拉小提琴》等20幾本書,主題橫跨科普、傳記、環境、生態多個領域,並多次獲得金鼎獎、「好書大家讀」推薦。




本文摘自:2012-04 親子天下雜誌 33期  (作者:許芳菊)



澳門耶路撒冷之城
Website: coj-macau.com   E-Mail:coj@macau.ctm.net
Tel:853-28529277       Add:澳門文第士街39號A地下

愛.是永不止息!   愛.能征服一切!
LOVE never fails! LOVE can overcome all!

2016年9月3日 星期六

《我聽見石頭在唱歌》 作者:張文亮

牛頓——在海邊尋找貝殼的人
愛因斯坦說:「在人類的歷史上,能夠結合物理實驗、數學理論、機械發明成為科學藝術的人,只有一位-----那就是牛頓。」 牛頓發現萬有引力定律; 發明微積分;首先提出可見光是由七個分光組成;他將數學導入科學,使物理、化學成為更精確的學問;在牛頓的運動力學三定律裡,奠定了數學成為描述宇宙運動的語言。種種傑出成就,為他羸得今日「歷史上最傑出的科學家」與「近代物理學之父」的尊稱。

市面上有許多牛頓的傳記,大多歌頌牛頓的科學成就或是提到那顆掉到地上的蘋果,卻遺漏或扭曲了牛頓的信仰。本文的目的在於:根據牛頓自己的手稿,說明信仰在牛頓科學生涯中所占的地位。

哈拿的禱告
牛頓 (Isaac Newton)生於1642 年12月25日午夜,是一個早產兒。在那個嬰兒死亡率很高的年代,一個早產兒能夠活下來是很少有的事。牛頓的父親是不識字的農夫,與個性堅強的妻子哈拿.艾思克一起,經營在英國烏斯扥普的一個小農場,夫妻倆都屬於「清教徒」-----一群信仰堅定的基督徒。在牛頓出生前三個月,他的父親病逝,缺乏人力的小農場沒有收成,家境更是貧窮。等到牛頓出生時,家徒四壁,哪有錢去購買營養品來餵養這個早產兒? 哈拿才死了丈夫,眼看唯一的孩子也要死了,在最絕望的時候,想起聖經上也有一個名叫哈拿的女子,在難過時向上帝的禱告:“你若垂顧婢女的苦情,眷念不忘婢女,賜我一個兒子,我必使他終身歸與你”(撒母耳記上一章11節)牛頓的母親懷抱著她的早產兒,向上帝發出同樣的禱告。


筆記間的沉思記錄

在牛頓的一生中,母親的這個禱告對於他的個性與信仰他有很深刻的影響。牛頓在成長過程留下的最早記錄就是他的禱告,他經常在課堂筆記空白處記下禱告,例如在一六六二年,他大學二年級時寫下:上帝啊!若我心偏於邪惡,請勿成全我;不容我單靠自己的信念去生活;不以愛上帝做為我不愛人的藉口﹐不是為得祝福來跟隨你;不是只在教會中渴慕你﹐讓我做個敬畏你的人,且因著敬畏你,而不畏懼人。

牛頓經常思索上帝當年聽他母親的禱告,上帝讓他活下來一定有些事是要他去完成的。到牛頓三歲時,因為家裡實在太窮,母親只好再嫁給鄰村一位六十三歲的鰥夫---巴拿巴.史密斯牧師。史密斯牧師靠著微薄的薪水把牛頓養大,八年後過世,母子倆領了一些撫恤金,牛頓下課後還要替人看牛管馬才夠生活。

牛頓的風箏頓
原來牛頓住的烏靳扥普村,是英國生產馬車最有名的地方。這裡的小孩長大後的願望大多是做個馬車夫。牛頓可不同,他的個性安靜,尤其史密斯牧師給他留下一大堆包括聖經、神學、詩歌、數學、歷史、法律、機械等類的書籍,成為他家裡最好的寶藏。他經常在藏書的閣樓看書,連看牛看馬時也帶著書去看。他的母親在一旁靜靜地觀察,發現這小孩真有點不同。

牛頓進中學時,開始顯出他的特殊天才。學校要做風箏,許多學生立刻動手去裁紙、綁支架,牛頓卻先在書桌上放一張紙,仔細設計風箏的尺寸,計算一番才開始動手做。他的風箏交得最慢,但是一試飛,讓全班同學連老師司扥克斯都嚇一跳:牛頓的風箏怎麼飛那麼高又那麼快?事後司扥克斯老師對牛頓的母親說,無論如何要讓這個孩子去念大學。哈拿微微一笑:她早就準備好這孩子的大學學費了。

一六六一年六月牛頓進劍橋大學。當時劍橋大學的紈絝學生流行喝酒、打牌,稱這是「單純的娛樂」。牛頓是個窮學生,母親存的錢只夠付學費,他必須為老師做實驗的助手,才能賺取生活費。如此無意中使他接近當時劍橋的優秀教授承襲了這些教授一生的研究精華,成為牛頓後來的名言:「我看的比別人遠,是因我站在巨人的肩頭上。」

牛頓的讀書法亨利.摩爾是影響牛頓科學與信仰最深的老師。摩爾是數學家,也是位虔誠的基督徒,他說:「上帝創造這個世界的目的,是要使人認識他,尋求他,感謝他。若有人輕看這世界奇妙的受造物,要看到世界所沒有的才算神蹟,那是自大。」摩爾教授以敏銳直覺,一下子就發現牛頓的不同。他發現牛頓每學期開學以前,先利用假期,將要上課的所有課本都看完,等到上課時,牛頓已經在看比那門課更進階的研究報告了。牛頓自己也寫道:「當我走進教室上課時,常發現對上課內容的瞭解深度,已經超過了我的老師。」

這種讀書法會令一般老師備受壓力,摩爾卻找牛頓來,給他更深的書,像開普勒的「光學」,桑德森的「邏輯學」,並把自己擁有的一千八百本藏書,成為「隨時向牛頓開放的圖書館」 摩爾也長期支付牛頓的生活費。

金錢的享受對一個窮學生是一種莫大的吸引,牛頓寫下:「主啊,赦免我,因為我的心想以賺錢為樂,多於渴想你的同在。但是在主曰聖餐聚會裡,我的心又重新與你聯合。」牛頓和他的室友魏克金斯經常在校外分發聖經給窮人,向他們傳福音。購買要分發的聖經成為牛頓學生生涯中除了房租與伙食費外最大的花費。

蘋園果與花一六六四年,牛頓開始利用課餘進行研究。他首先以三菱鏡研究光的結構,發現光的分光有不同的折射率。

一六六五年至一六六七年,英國發生可怕的黑死病,死了許多人。大學宣佈停課,政府並且下令所有人不准離家遠行,以免傳播或感染黑死病。當全國籠罩在黑死病的陰影下,風聲鶴唳之際,牛頓事後寫道:這兩年沒課可上、沒地方可去,是他「人生思想邁向顛峰的時刻」。在這時他由無窮等比級數的解法裡創立了一門很重要的數學--------微積分。

事後有人問牛頓,為什麼他能夠有這麼偉大的發現,牛頓答道:「我始終把思考的主題像一幅畫般擺在面前,再一點一線的去勾勒,直到整幅畫慢慢的凸顯出來。這需要長期的安靜與不斷的默想。」

牛頓對科學的思索與他的禱告生活有密不可分的關係。他常在信仰的思索裡想到科學,在科學的思索裡想到信仰。在一六六六年他開始思索地球在軌道上的運轉,並且計算運轉時的電力與離心力的關係,一六六九年他在筆記上寫下他的發現---萬有引力定律 (Law of Gravity)。你知道嗎? 宇宙裡如果沒有這一條不變的定律,所有的物體,小至一粒沙,大至一個星球,都將亂飛亂撞,成為混沌(chaos)。

牛頓是在什麼情況下發現萬有引力定律的呢?他的好友史塔克利答道:「牛頓經常在花園散步,有一天中午他回來了,對我說他看到一個蘋果掉到地上,想到了萬有引力。」這個蘋果後來成為牛頓發現萬有引力的標誌,其實更重要的是,牛頓有一種獨自來到花園禱告與默想的習慣。

紐約大學歷史系教授曼紐,一九六八年在他所著的(牛頓傳》中寫下:「近代的科學是源自牛頓對上帝的默想。」

啊 ,原理!
當時許多科學家、教授都看不懂牛頓的傑出發現,甚至譏諷為:「又是一群解釋天體論的陳腔濫調。」幸好這時有貝若(Isaac Barrow)的支持。

貝若是當時歐洲的光學泰斗,劍橋大學首屈一指的數學與天文教授,是少數能仔細驗證牛頓數學與物理觀念的人,也是一位基督徒。他找牛頓來,對這個最優秀的學生,私下給與最嚴格的要求。貝若要求牛頓:「回到物理學上最基本的假設,精密地驗證每個假設,一次、一次又一次,幾乎無止境地反復驗證,並把所有的精力都投入,以免浪費在無用的芝麻小事上。」然後貝若申請退休,讓二十七歲的牛頓接續他的職位,成為劍橋大學的教授。

劍橋的教職並不是牛頓的桃花源。當時貝若的職位有多人在背後垂涎,牛頓一接任,立刻嚐到號稱學術自由、獨立的大學裡面,眾多的派系紛爭、人事傾軋。喜歡安靜思考、不愛交際的牛頓,被排擠成為權力圈外的邊緣人。

牛頓的老友魏克金斯寫下:「牛頓看起來更孤獨、沉默,三十歲不到,頭髮已經半白。」牛頓立志不涉入這些糾紛,他定睛永恆,不管人家怎麼論斷、怎麼中傷他,只把努力放在科學的研究,與對基督的信仰上,而不陷入被中傷後的自憐中。牛頓寫下:「我的心經常是認真與安靜,不陷入憂鬱。」

慢慢的,他將更深的思索與實驗結果寫成曠出名作《原理》(Principle) 一書。這本書不只記載牛頓的科學發現,也反復提到他的「機械論」與神的關係,他說真神與假神的差別是假神沒有掌管宇宙,沒有不變的旨意,沒有最後的判決,屬於必朽壞的受造之物。

書中不斷提到「掌管」(dominant )這個字,他認為這是神的屬性裡,最神聖又是最奇妙的,讓尋求他的人可以明白;機械論做為神掌管宇宙的法則,是神擺在宇宙裡讓人明白他能力的法則。愛因斯坦說:「宇宙裡最奧秘的,就是人竟然可以去明白這個宇宙。」

牛頓在《原理》一書中寫著:如同生來是瞎眼的人不瞭解光,我們無法明白神的智慧與全能。神的形像沒有人看到、聽到、接觸到,更不是世上必朽壞的假神所能代表,----我們只能在他所創造的萬物中瞭解他,他仍在掌權,我們都在他的掌管下。

而假神沒有掌管的權柄,沒有永遠的看顧,沒有創世的起初,不過是虛無、有限,與大自然一樣。----因著神的掌權,我們稱他是主(Lord)。我們是他的僕人,不過是有限與不完全。

死蔭的幽谷
一六七二年牛頓加入英國皇家科學協會---全國最高的科學研究協會。〈原理》的出版,對全歐洲的科學界是一大震憾,引來稱讚也招來攻擊。雖然如此,牛頓仍在皇家科學會裡提出「星球運轉橢圓軌道的原理」(1676~1677年),與「萬有引力的數學證明」(1680~1684 年)。牛頓的學生艾斯頓後來寫道:「牛頓講話慎重、緩慢。他儘量避免意氣之爭,不見利忘義,不奉承人,寧願默默忍受侮辱,也不願披掛著一身的裝甲去與人爭戰。牛頓說。「一個人如果控制不了自己的脾氣,脾氣將控制你。」引導牛頓一生的,是信仰而非起伏不定的脾氣。」

牛頓身為一個傑出的科學家,喜歡公開表白自己的信仰,又有個不擅與人交際、喜愛獨自安靜工作的個性,現實的社會對像他這種善良、單純的人,有時是非常殘酷的。

當時宗教分子攻擊他有一流的科學,卻有三流的神學;科學分子攻擊他有一流的神學,卻有三流的科學;政治分子攻擊他的科學、神學、人際關係都屬三流;有人看他孝順母親又終身未婚,就中傷他心理不健全,現今還有人說牛頓有戀母情結;有人看他對學生好,就說他是同性戀。這種種無情的攻擊搞得牛頓幾乎發瘋。

一六九二年,日內瓦來的拜特教授大力抨擊牛頓,謔稱他是「倫敦先知」,說:「牛頓的萬有引力定律是來自對宗教的默想,而非科學的發現,------他必須撇清,如果這是科學就不要寫上帝如何如何,如果是與上帝有關的就不要放入科學範疇。」

拜特一開炮,許多人就群起圍攻牛頓。平常沒有防備的牛頓,幾乎赤裸裸地站在科學的刑場上,接受無情的攻擊。 一六九三年九月三十日 牛頓寫下:「我陷在極端的難過中。過去十二個月,我無心進食也無法安穩地入睡,我心動搖,無法思想。」無情攻擊持續下去,一六九四年有人黑函中傷牛頓與女人搞性關係;一六九五年牛頓幾乎精神失常,各地都傳聞牛頓死了。牛頓百口莫辯,更退出人群;他寫道:「斯賓塞的《希伯來律法》一書成為我困難中的安慰」。

在英國國王出面,任命他為「英國皇家協會會長」後,這些攻擊就突然消失了。

牛頓在以後數十年,根據過去兩年半受中傷的經驗,堅持給科學界建立「誠實的體系」而他本身就是最好的模範。

不讓別人的錯誤成為自己的絆腳石苦難並沒有離開牛頓。當時間的腳步進入十七世紀末,忽然有些基督徒自稱是上帝派來的先知,到處呼喊「世界末日就要來了」。這波「世界末日說」傳自法國。野火般的燒遍英國各大城。許多人起來附和,聲稱看到異象:有一艘滿載鮮血的船在英國大街上飛過;有人說看到許多人浴血倒臥沙灘邊,說這是上帝要來審判的先兆。

短時間內成千上萬的販夫走卒跟隨末世先知,連皇家科學院的一些優秀科學家也趨之若鶩,因為一名優秀的科學家,也可能因著對宗教的無知,而陷入異端的泥沼。

牛頓本人是基督徒,他長期研究聖經但以理書與啟示錄,相信聖經裡提到的這個世界有結束的一天,那是基督耶穌要來審判的時候,但是沒有人知道那是哪一天,而且面對末世正確的態度,應該是感恩多於恐懼,坦然多於逃避。因此他不贊同這些到處宣傳末世的先知。他認為敬虔的信仰是在熱忱中帶著節制而非放縱,真正的被聖靈充滿是由上帝的靈主動,而不是出於自稱先知者近乎催眠與暗示的教導。

牛頓對這批先知的批評,立刻引來許多偏激基督徒苦毒的批評與責駡。這種誤解實在傷透牛頓的心。牛頓的一生中有一段漫長的信仰動搖期(1698-1707年)就是在這個時候。

對基督徒而言,來自其他基督徒無情的咒詛,比被一般人傷害更難受。傷害容易使人走向極端,後來許多人要證明牛頓是無神論者或不可知論者,就是引自牛頓這段時期的言行。不過信仰的成長,本來就不是一帆風順的,難免常經憂患。

一七○七年英國國王下令,這批所謂的先知,已經利用宗教得到太多不法利益,便把他們送入倫敦監獄。世界的末日尚未來到,他們的末日倒先來到。自此,末世之風才逐漸平息。

撿貝殼的男孩時間往往是最佳的療傷劑。牛頓從苦境中轉回,他的信仰又逐漸堅固,並且能區分信仰的真實與偏激,能夠分別順服在聖經真理前與在人話語前的不同,且重新思索物理、數學與光學。他在再版的《原理》上寫著:「讓人知道我是帶著對神的信仰來完成這浩大的工作,是我出版這本書最大的喜悅。」

牛頓晚年名滿歐洲,貢獻普獲肯定。他老年最大的樂趣就是跟小孩玩耍。有一天他對他的小姪兒講:「我不知道這個世界將來怎麼看我,對我而言,我只像海灘邊玩耍的男孩,偶然間發現了一粒比較圓的石頭和一粒比較漂亮的貝殼,就覺得很愉快,但是在我前面,尚未被發現的石頭、貝殼仍然多如大海。」

牛頓死於1727年3月20日,晚年寫下:「不管任何環境下,要守住耶穌基督救贖的真理與最大誡命---愛人如己。」


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用繪本療癒生命的傳教士 - 劉清彥

攀上人生高峰,也曾落入絕望的深谷,兒童文學作家劉清彥陽光般的笑容下,有著多舛的生命經歷。 陪伴孩子從故事裡體驗人生,讓他重新找到自己的位置。 無論說故事或創作,他都全力以赴。

如果生命是一本故事書,那麼在劉清彥的故事書裡,肯定有許多驚嘆號。

四十三歲的劉清彥,投身兒童文學十三年,翻譯、創作了兩百本童書,二〇一〇年更榮獲好書大家讀二十年得獎總數翻譯者第一名。(2014金鐘獎教育文化節目主持人)

劉清彥是繪本的魔法師、閱讀的傳教者。他喜歡一手拿著布偶,用腹語模擬故事主角的聲音,時而大笑、時而低泣;他用繪本療癒人心,每每令台下聽眾動容不已。

命運多舛的彼得潘
在多年好友、師大人類發展與家庭學系教授黃迺毓眼裡,劉清彥就像「彼得潘」一樣,即使長成大人了,仍保有對生命最純真、熱情的性格。可這位彼得潘從小到大的命運,卻滿是磨難。

劉家三代篤信基督教,他是家裡的第三個男孩。父親最疼成績優異的大哥,偏偏他從國小到研究所,都和大哥讀同所學校。拚命想被父親看見,卻始終得不到回應。他心裡埋下了自卑的種子,好幾次在禱告室裡大哭。

劉清彥和感情最好的二哥從高中開始教主日學,兄弟倆常一搭一唱,每週六到教會說故事給小朋友聽。高二那年,剛考上機車駕照的二哥意外車禍身亡,他大受打擊;重要的生命支柱垮了,他的成績從全班前十名掉到倒數第五名。

在長輩關照下,劉清彥最後拾回書本,高分錄取政大新聞系。在幾乎年年拿第一名的高分紀錄下,保送政大新研所。正當劉清彥處於人生高峰狀態,準備赴英攻讀博士學位的前夕,卻發現因為長期壓力過大,他的食道末端泡在胃酸裡太久產生病變。而在開刀切除部分食道的過程,神經受到傷害,使得他開完刀後,完全無法進食。

好幾年的時間,他成為一個連喝水都會吐的孱弱病人。所有的夢想和計畫都因此停頓,戛然而止。

一個走上雲端的人,「砰」的一聲,又被無形之手打回地面。醫生要劉清彥像嬰兒一樣,重新學習如何進食。如果要喝完一杯水,他得把水沾在嘴脣上,花兩個小時慢慢抿進去;吃完一片餅乾,得花三十分鐘。

臥病在家兩年,他一度瘦到只有三十九公斤。有回下樓幫媽媽買醬油,因為風太大,把他吹倒在地,最後只能用爬的回家。

「生病把我給打趴了!我覺得自己是個廢人,死了算了,」劉清彥坦言,當同學來看他,他甚至懷疑對方是不是專程來嘲笑他的。他認真計畫過要結束生命,還曾為此騙醫生晚上睡不著,要醫生多開幾顆安眠藥。

有天,教會裡的媽媽帶兩個小男孩來探望劉清彥。小男孩都上過劉清彥教的主日學,一進門就要他說故事。劉清彥都病到對自己絕望了,哪有氣力再為別人做些什麼?只好臨時想個故事。兩個小男孩聽得好開心,一星期後又跑來要聽故事。

原來我的位置在這裡

不知道為什麼,小男孩們離開的那個晚上,劉清彥躺在床上翻來覆去,怎麼也睡不著。他突然想起大二暑假那年,曾在教堂裡寫了一張卡片,他向上帝承諾:「未來要用文字做出貢獻,服務兒童。」他馬上跳起來翻箱倒櫃,卻找不著那張卡片,於是就坐在書桌前,徹夜把隨口跟小男孩們說的故事寫下來投稿。「上帝很奇妙,當你走在祂要的路上,啪!一下子路就打開了,」劉清彥說。

踏上自我實現的路不可能平整無礙。雖然劉清彥打起精神翻譯、創作兒童文學,為了譯好一本童書曾耗時一年半,但最後報酬只有一萬元,他根本無法單靠兒童文學活下去。於是,他四處接譯書工作,育兒百科、鬼魂學……什麼書都翻譯,這一做就是五、六年。那段期間,他常常問上帝:「祢不是要我走向兒童文學嗎?怎麼會變這樣?」

有天,劉清彥接到朋友來電,說有人想見他。一位科技公司董事長想提前退休,推動基督教兒童文學,希望劉清彥來幫他。在他贊助下,劉清彥得以專心投入兒童文學。後來,黃迺毓引著劉清彥踏入台灣兒童文學界。

第一次演講時,台下坐了兩百多位幼稚園長,他怕得要死。沒想到當他讀完故事,燈一打開,台下人們哭成一團。這一條路,他走了好久,這才真正知道,「原來我的位置在這裡!」

經歷種種劫難,劉清彥的笑容陽光、乾淨,好像什麼事都沒發生過。朋友、學生們都說他是個「充滿正面能量的人」。

信仰和愛縫補了他生命多舛的傷口。在劉清彥的生命裡,有兩位醫生對他影響極深。

第一位是馬偕醫生。劉清彥的外曾祖父追隨馬偕四處為人拔牙看病、傳福音,後來家族裡每代都有人做牧師。劉清彥在新書《閱讀裡的生命教育》裡特別提到,「若沒有家族代代相傳的美好信仰,在人生落入谷底沮喪絕望之際,早就輕易宣告放棄了。」

另一位是在彰基當牙醫的盧俊泰醫生。和劉清彥在教堂唱詩班唱同一個聲部,盧俊泰的聲音宏亮又好聽,劉清彥第一次站在他旁邊唱歌時自卑極了。沒想到,一唱完盧俊泰捏捏他的脖子說:「你潛力無窮哦!」

這句話牽起他和盧俊泰三十年來,沒血緣關係、卻情比父子深的緣分。

劉清彥的二哥驟逝後,盧俊泰發現他不太對勁,主動跟劉清彥要成績單來看,一路為他打氣加油。盧俊泰和太太沒有子女,將劉清彥視如己出,陪他走過許多低潮。

共讀繪本裡美麗的人生故事

多年來,劉清彥不斷的把盧俊泰給他的愛傳承下去;也寫了本圖畫書《盧公公》,紀念這位無私付出的長輩。在就讀政大期間,劉清彥每週六下午帶社區小朋友讀繪本;而今這群小朋友長大成人,有的還是劉清彥創作童書的夥伴。他們跟隨劉清彥的腳步,陪伴家庭有變故的小朋友長大。

因為信仰、也因為自己經歷過生命的低谷與挫敗,讓劉清彥在推廣兒童閱讀時,特別喜歡挑選各種真實的人生故事。這十年來,他長期在教會兒童主日學帶領孩子,從閱讀傳記故事和繪本中,探詢生命的意義、尋找自我的價值。他也定期幫生命教育志工、故事媽媽們上培訓課程,引導他們用圖畫書帶領孩子走出困頓、看見希望。

劉清彥將自己與小讀者對話的經驗,以及他用傳記、繪本帶領生命教育討論的過程,寫成了《閱讀裡的生命教育》一書。希望鼓勵更多家長或老師,與孩子一起經歷繪本裡美麗的人生故事。

「因為每次聽故事,他們就跟著經歷了一段真實人生,在當中看見這些人如何成長、自我裝備、克服困難、解決問題和實現夢想,這些人物也因此成為小孩真實又明確的學習榜樣。」劉清彥在新書中寫道。

問劉清彥是否想過把自己的人生際遇畫成繪本?他羞赧的笑了笑。原來他早就在動筆了,要寫一個「餅乾男孩」的故事:小男孩什麼都不會,只會做餅乾和說故事,最後如何靠做餅乾找回自信,也讓同學喜歡他。

什麼是生命教育?劉清彥用他的故事回答了這個問題,「其實就是生命與生命彼此影響的過程,而且生命的影響力無所不在。」


本文摘自 : 2011-10 親子天下雜誌 28期     (作者:吳昭怡)


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