本仁愛初心、助幼苗成長
美更在八月底在北加州基督六家舉辦了講座 “本仁愛初心、助幼苗成長”,在南加州舉辦了相同主題的感恩餐會。我們感謝各位在百忙之中抽空參加活動,两場活動得以順利進行。
入中國29年,學習去愛和服侍
A Testimony About Lena
Last night, I went to a charity dinner. They had a lady from mainland China doing a sharing , who lost her arms and hands at 5 years old. Now she is in her late 20s, currently doing an occupational therapist program at a world known university in California.
No hands and doing an Occupational therapist program !
Amazing !
How can we complain again!!!!?????
We cannot complain at all.
That is all God’s work and grace ! She was so loved by the Lord!
I was at her table and had a chance to to talk with her. She was so cheerful and I asked her how she took care of herself. She was using her legs to hold chopsticks, played the cell phone, from time to time she would use her foot to move her long hair ! And she said she even used her foot to hold the keys to open the door and she cooks for herself. She was ‘right-footed’ ! She said she would stand on one leg and used her right foot to do chores if needed……… she is a devoted ‘believer’ she always bringing her problems to Christ in her prayers! Perhaps we should live our lives closer to Christ and learn from the Bible!
We should be more thankful for we already have and not continuously asking for things that we may not or do not need……..
* “There are only two ways to live your life. One as though everything is a miracle. The other is as though nothing is.” – Albert Einstein
* “We must find time to stop and thank people who make a difference in our lives.” – John F. Kennedy
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Gilbert Mak
一個自小失去雙手, 被神祝福的姊妹
李娜出生于中國農村,由祖母撫養。五歲時因意外雙手從肩膀截肢,被父母遺棄,得基督教家庭領養,並在送医院就医前給她施洗成為基督徒。
她雖然失去雙手,又不能配戴義肢,一切事情,如穿衣服、拿筷子吃飯、甚至用手機、彈琴,都得用脚完成,因而備受别人奇怪的眼光,但她却並不感到自卑,而選擇饒恕,因她知道上帝愛她已經足够了, 所以她的童年是挺快樂的。
光陰荏苒,李娜長成青少年,跟其他同齡孩子一樣,她感到迷茫、空虚,孤單,在她20歲生日前,她回歸到上帝的懷抱,重新得力。後來她輾轉來到美國,慿着不屈不撓的毅力完成大學。
李娜在2022 年獲名校 University of Southern California (南加大)取録攻讀博士學位。眾所周知,南加大是私立學校,昂貴的學費及住宿費不是普通學生能負担的,美國文化更新研究中心知道李娜的經歴,感於她特殊的經歴,堅毅的意志及努力,故而為她分担一部分學費。
在此美國文化更新研究中心祝願李娜學業有成,把所學的回饋社會,幫助他人,榮神益人。
無論何人、因為門徒的名、只把一杯涼水給這小子裡的一個喝、我實在告訴你們、這人不能不得賞賜。- 馬太福音 第十章 42 節
Twenty-seven years ago, I was born in a small village in WuAn, Hebei Provence, China. I was raised by my grandma because my birth mother had planned to give me to a random family due to the One Child Law. At the age of five, I had an electrical accident which caused me to lose both of my arms. Because of this accident, my whole life was completely changed. My birth parents abandoned me in an unfamiliar place. Fortunately, there was an elderly grandma who was a Christian who took me to her oldest son’s house to have a safe place to stay. Because of their belief about God, before sending me to the hospital, they had a priest baptize me because they did not want me to die without fulfilling their understanding of the Holy Spirit. After I got baptized, I started experiencing God’s blessings as a young believer. As a child, I did not feel bad because I lost both of my arms. In contrast, my childhood was fulfilled with happiness. Even when my peers and other adults looked at me differently, I chose to forgive them because I knew that God loves me and that was all that mattered.
Being able to go to a public school was hard for me in China. After I graduated from elementary school, it took me two years to be able to find a middle school that did not mind me being a disabled person. During those two years, I experienced the most difficult times. I spent one year at a catholic orphanage, another year with an American foster family in China. Even those two years were challenging, I leaned on God for everything. Because of that, God gave me the chance to finish middle school in Beijing. After I graduated from middle school, I went back to my hometown for high school. In my senior year, I felt lost on this journey because I had been thinking about my own will and desires rather than what God wanted me to become. After reflecting on what I had become by then, I thought that it was time for me to serve God. Therefore, I decided to volunteer at a nonprofit bakery where they only hired individuals with special needs so that they could help them become more independent. While I was working there, I realized that most of them felt hopeless about their future because of their physical disabilities. It was then I had a strong desire to bring the light of hope into their life. It was also during this period that God was calling me to study Psychology at Seattle Pacific University.
Just as God had planned, I graduated from SPU this year. While I was struggling to find an internship, Randy and I unexpectedly reconnected. We had not been in contact with each other for almost 9 years. Over the years, I thought that there was no way we could get in touch again because I did not have any contact information. However, God made this happen. After sharing with Randy my plans, he said “we can help you!”. I thought maybe Randy was just being nice, but I was wrong. He really made it come true, he brought me here to Lubbock and found an internship for me. It took me a while to realize that God led me here for a reason. I finally recognized how much God loves me because I can see constant daily reminders of His love and care for me through the people around me.
Continuing to pursue God’s calling, I applied for Occupational Therapy school last year. Recently, I received two offers from OT school. One from USC (University of Southern California), the other one from ACU (Abilene Christian University). I know that God has given us the free will to choose life. No matter which one we choose, God will use us to better serve Him in this chosen journey. In this new journey, He will continue to provide and bless us. After Sunday church, I prayed again and wrote my devotional journal. Then, I decided to take the offer from USC. I know this is not an easy journey, but I trust God that He will walk with me through my difficulties. Even though there are some financial difficulties, I believe God will not stop opening the door for me.
Thank you for hearing my story and for considering assisting me in furthering my graduate education.
Lena Li
艱苦年代的信心和愛心
這四年全世界經受各種大災难,中美惡鬥、香港大暴亂、病疫侵全球、俄烏之戰爆發、油价急升、加上美國量化寬鬆,帶來全球通貨膨脹,經濟衰退之象形成。我們憑信心面對帝國興衰,歷史現實的暴虐,尋求如何堅持行出無條件的愛,去減少人間的苦難。
我們已有三年未入中國探望孩子了,十分懷念他們,不過仍不斷收到他的信件,每封信都描述著成長的艱辛和眼淚,我們只能通過視頻和他們交談和鼓勵。下面是一些來信,可窺見青年學生的奮鬥和感情:
都安縣瑤中,藝俸同學來信
今年年初的時候,由於我父親因為耳鳴,不得不居家歇息,所以我的母親剛過完年便進到水泥廠裏打工去了。而我和三個妹妹也開啟了今年的校園生活,我母親剛去工作,依靠家裏僅剩的微薄積蓄分擔著我和妹妹們的學費和生活開支,但到了出生活費時捉襟見肘,我也沒有那麼大的勇氣和底氣再去問她要,因為我覺得她已經很辛苦了,我實在沒有那個臉面,而且她在外工作也是需要花費生活開支的,而在我們家處於這種尷尬局面下的時候,是您們出現了!那些補助基金猶如及時雨一般到來了,為這個炎熱的夏天帶來了一絲清涼,感動也密密麻麻地佔據了我的心頭。
還有今年發生了一件令我最難受的事情,但我不是很想和其他人面對面的溝通,就是我被逼放棄了美術生的身份。因為之前成為美術生是因為我父親說支持我,去培訓的幾萬塊錢他會努力去掙,但由於他身體出了狀況,在家養病,治療和吃藥,這些都是一筆筆大開銷,但是他沒有讓我放棄,但是我心裏已經隱隱地有了答案。
真正說出來讓我放棄的是我的母親,那時候我真的感覺我得到這個消息後要窒息了,但是我不能拒絕她,我不能自私地去追尋我自己喜歡的東西,我不能看著他們再為我操勞,我很清楚地知道,只要我肯求,他們一定會心軟會讓我學,但是我做不到,我想,我應該是真的長大了罷,我真的有我自己的思想了。
每一次的感謝信,雖然是紙上的傳遞,但活生生的文字就是溫度的渲染。很高興我能有寫信的機會,也很感激您們百忙之中的「傾聽」,感謝您們每一次的幫助,感謝您們每一次的付出……
曾經我也會怨恨父母為甚麼會有這麼多個小孩,也會怨恨為甚麼生在這樣的家庭,但其實我更怨恨我為甚麼出生,為甚麼這麼笨,為甚麼身體不好花掉了那麼多錢?所以其實我是沒有那個資格去怨恨我父母的,有的只是自己真的不夠好,不夠優秀。但是其實很多人都在開導我,也有您們一直在幫助我,讓我覺得好像一切坎坷與苦難都是生活的恩賜,所以抱怨是最沒有用的辦法,只有努力才是生活的出路。
我的迷惘和膽怯一直都在,但是您們都一直在用實際行動提醒著我,這個世界並不壞,我也一直在擁有很多的愛。所以不管未來就算是萬丈深淵,走下去也是前程萬里,真的特別慶興與感激,一路有您們!
「冬天的河乾涸了,但我相信,春天還會來臨。」
從這信我們閱讀這位瑤族姑娘的情懷、理想及家庭遭遇的困難,我們將資助這位熱愛藝術的同學,完成學藝術的志願,今等待她的高考成績,我們告訴她,若成績可入讀藝術學院,不用担心金錢問題。
還有田東縣田東高中晶晶同學來信
有人為了你,犧牲他的時間、精力或是個人財富,你該如何道謝?也許沒有合適的字句來表達。你該如何感謝一個不肯棄你而去的人?就在你決定不再掙扎,任憑自己下沉時,正是他們抓住了你的手,將你拉上了岸。這一切沒有言語能夠形容。
我曾怯懦、崩潰、自我懷疑,內心裏甚麼東西腐爛了,惡臭熏天。直到我逃離大山,打開另一個世界。那是教育給我的新世界,那是我生命的無限可能
晶晶同學明白他人為她的奉献和犧牲,助她重新振作,追尋一個無限可能的世界。
又田東縣田東高中相榮同學來信
去年7月底,我的父親過世了,導致我本來就不富裕的家庭更是雪上加霜。家裡還要維持我和弟弟妹妹三人上學,還要贍養爺爺奶奶和外公外婆四位老人,生活的重擔全壓在繼母一人身上。**所以我非常感謝你們的資助,減輕了我們家的一部分壓力,我也能繼續安心學習。
我們素未謀面,甚至不認識,你們卻無私地資助我們,這一份善意深深地溫暖了我。若我今後不是窮困潦倒,只要我有拿得出的錢,我一定也會向你們學習,繼續捐助其他的困難學生,將這一份溫暖延續下去!
剛失去父親的相榮同學,悲傷以外還要担心家庭的收入,兩弟妹教育及四老人的生計,這十多歲的兄長承受著無法形容的壓力,愛心使他决定將來也要關愛他人。
從這三封信,均可見到這些高中生面對的困難和壓力,他們都明白陌生人無私的愛,而學會了愛其他人,愛人民、愛國家、愛人類,這就是文化更新多年的理想和精神,以上天無條件之愛,貢献中國。我們没有資金和能力救助世界所有受苦的人,但能做多少就多少,這是天國在地的使命。
近期我在思考,中國政府克服貧困問題已作出重大改進,我們服侍中國農村教育22年,親見農村面貌的改變,貧困兒童因完成大學教育而改變了命運,但只要仍有孩子需要,我們仍够全力以赴。
現今我正探索城市孤隱者 (Hikikomori) 及自閉兒童 (中國稱孤獨症兒童) 的問題,與中國愛德基金會合作,籌款資助有自閉兒童的家庭,與其父母同行,幫助與其孩子溝通,找尋改善內心自困的出路。另一面推動社會接纳和協助一些自困愁城的孤隱者,及發展社會服務幫孤獨自閉症的孩子,安排其獲得生存的方法。並特別發展對自閉天才的計劃,有一小部份孤獨自閉症孩子是特級天才,若能及早發掘出來,可能是科學、數學、藝術及文史哲的大師,對國家和文化將有大貢献。
我們一向支持的瀘州福音醫院事工,是將教會與社會服務的結合,是中國教會的發展方向,其關愛工作因提供免費手術給貧困人士,很受社會歡迎。
瀘洲政府撥地100畝建大型福音醫院及教堂,至今已成功建好地基,開始建造教堂和醫院 。在病疫期間原有的福音醫院對地區防疫作出了貢獻,不過這段時間各方奉獻並不夠,今年仍欠1100萬才能達標,若不達標,政府可能年底收回土地。期盼有能力的機構或人能支持。
我年歲已到古稀之年,不過心仍很年輕,盼自己在人生最後一段日子,仍能對國家和人類作出貢獻。
香港戒毒工作的見証
病疫期間我在香港參與一些關愛草根大眾的工作,知道在國內從事戒毒和關懷愛滋病工作的陳子明弟兄,因國內病疫清零,已退回香港,並展開關顧香港草根大眾的工作。
陳子明在13歲時開始吸毒,而且還加入了黑社會,生活一塌糊塗。那是作為牧師、傳道的父母做夢也沒想過、傷心至極,在13歲時開始吸毒,又加入了黑社會,生活充滿恐懼,毒癖帶來很大痛苦。父母是牧師傅道,做夢也沒想過兒子變得如此墮落、傷心至極。
1989年6月20日,走投無路的陳子明在家中割脈服藥自殺。剛好當時有些基督徒來到家,他們見情況馬上跪在地上為他祈禱,為他裹傷,說:「子明,不要死,耶穌愛你!」他見這些不認識的人卻這樣愛自己,深深受到感動。像自己這種人,怎可能有人願意愛?他自己祈禱說:「耶穌,如果你是真的,我就願意嘗試去接受福音戒毒。」
在這痛苦掙扎期間,母親流著充滿期盼的淚眼、拖著他來到晨曦福音戒毒中心見陳保羅牧師,結果因著上帝的救贖,轉化了他沉淪的生命,他在福音戒毒所住了一年多,親身經歷那些原是黑社會的人,竟會真實的關愛他,每個人都說是耶穌的愛改變了他們。他很明白,戒毒並不困難,人心和性格的改變才最吸引他。
終於他在戒毒所作了一個禱告:「上帝啊!若祢救我脫離毒癮,我願意將我的生命與別人分享。」1989年,由陳保羅牧師為他施浸,之後還獻身一生服侍上帝,終於完全戒除毒癮。
成功戒毒後,他有機會經營一間印刷廠,也賺到一些錢,生活開始稍為富裕,表面看來也很循規蹈矩,但一方面勸人戒毒,另一方面仍軟弱,私生活不檢點,因此內心很是糾結,自卑、矛盾、掙扎、虛偽的感覺更不時湧現。
後來,遇到一位已成功戒毒的老師,鼓勵他到內地去服侍同胞,他被聖靈深深感動,重新得力,拋棄一切敗壞,帶著一份微小的信心,開始了在內地的戒毒事工,並取得一位賢妻,一同事奉。上帝不斷陶造他、讓他能以「過來人」的身份,來服侍國內那些與自己一樣,曾經被毒品毐害的癮君子同胞,幫助很多人回頭。
他成立了國際晨曦會漁夫生命輔導中心,配合當地教會開始了福音戒毒事工,包括,兩個農場,一個中途之家。十多年來幫助國內很多青年戒毒,以及不幸被愛滋病傳染的母親和孩子。也支持中國政府的戒毒工作,常向社會大眾作反攻毒宣傳,曾成為四川資羊禁毒大使。
我在2018年到深圳教會分享時,陳子明曾帶我參去了解戒毒事工,見到很多因戒毒而人生改變的年青人,充滿喜樂,我也深受感動,為他獻身服待中國人的心感謝上帝。
漁夫生命輔導中心在香港草根大衆的工作
病疫期子明退回香港,得到香港弟兄姊妹支持,在荃灣工廠區其中一層,建立生命輔導中心,藉各方捐助提供食物銀行,供應社區貧困階層需要,也讓劏房孩子到寬大和有空調的中心做功課。
子明曾約我去在晚會分享幾次,後來帶我去了解其事工,參加午間免費午餐的工作,見有幾位教會姊妹先來煮菜,香味四溢。而後近百社區的公公婆婆及露宿者上來中心,先有詩歌和短信息分享,然後多位義工來分派食物,還有一些上中心做功課的小妹妹幫手派發,大家樂也融融,我感到這是很美的景象。我们很支持他這努力。
推動青年創業及地緣屬靈戰略
香港經過一段慘痛撕裂後,正在逐步重建。我曾三次被不同人邀請至港九至高點看維港,在高處為香港祝福,上帝在呼召我在服侍中國人時,同時要關懷香港。
第三次高處禱告在7月1日回歸25週年,登上大廈75層的頂樓,俯視整個港口,為香港祝福祈禱,在一段靈性靜默時,感到聖靈的榮耀臨在,知上帝呼召我們以愛醫治香港人的傷痛。
文更支持一群專業人士創辦的凝聚民心運動,我曾參與其關懷劏房兒童活動、及獲特准向監房中青年講中國歷史文化。近期運動的中堅企業家李文輝禁食22日,為過去數十年各種罪和壞習慣懺悔,淨化身心,盼能為香港重建作出貢獻。
李文輝又和藝術家林旭輝推動「萬人創」事工,支持青年人在科技、文化、藝術、餐飲及中小企上發展,以某些資金協助萬計青年創業。最先一項是投資著名意大利披薩(pizza)品牌 Pieology ,在蘭桂坊德己立街(D’Aguilar Street)過榮華里處開香港第一店,林旭輝在這很有香港古雅味的街角盡頭,於週圍破舊牆壁繪上色彩盎然的壁畫,成為一藝術文化角落,與企業結合。聘請青年去管理及推展,然後提供資金投資專利加盟店,鼓勵青年以這品牌創業,若成功即交其經營,可在全港、大灣區、到全國開加盟店。這是以品牌企業支持年青人開創自己的事業。他們也鼓勵其他企業或愛護香港的機構,用類似理念支持青年創業。我也參與及支持他們這救港的鴻圖。
此外,有一群信徒常恆守望香港,並在不同日子坐船到香港東南西北四個方位,祈禱宣告基督寶血遮蓋保護香港。我也參與了一次為香港的船上祈禱會,在風和日麗的一天,坐船到香港東南邊界的果州群島,於波濤起伏及烈日照射下,和一群基督徒到島上唱詩,熱烈為香港的平安和醫治祈禱,既有靈裡的喜樂雀躍,也有為世間到處戰亂衝突而感到悲傷流淚。從荃灣廠區派飯,到灣仔高樓祝福,到蘭桂坊街角畫壁畫,到波濤小島唱詩祈禱,到船上為香港求平安。這可說是基督大能的地緣屬靈戰略。
梁燕城
明星藝人的人生, 可經歷虛空轉為喜樂
2022 文更南北加感恩聚會
從父親的親情尋索宇宙恩情
屈原与耶穌
屈原面對橫暴的秦國興起,勢將滅楚,而楚懷王不知圖強,國將敗亡,民將受苦,這將是一不可改變的處境,世界面臨邪惡勢力得勢,苦難來臨,而自己又是如此無能為力。屈原忠信於大道,為維持義,選擇自殺,以表現自己的真誠正直,不向邪惡世代低頭。故他捨生取義的人格價值被記念,成為不朽的聖賢,產生了端午節。
耶穌經歷當時猶太與羅馬的各種勢力衝突,清楚人間整體的罪惡苦難,而且自己將被殘酷地釘上十字架。面對將要承受的極大痛苦,他可以逃亡或自殺, 但他卻選擇接受苦難,甘心被虐及被釘十架。因他深深地愛人類,他本是宇宙永恆之道,他要同擔人類的苦難,以自己受極大的痛苦去代人類贖罪,使人得上帝寬恕。
然後耶穌基督死而復活,戰勝苦罪和死亡,使悔改的人轉化出新生命,靈性重生。
耶穌基督走入絕望中,於絕望的深淵創造出希望,他的救贖除去人的苦罪,使人得和天父上帝回復親愛關係,由此打開永生的門,人得進入永恆親情之中,由之得大喜樂。
梁燕城