2007年10月31日 星期三

在苦難中要忍耐 - 10/28聖餐聚會演講

1. 開頭: 貓的報恩 – 母親與17歲小春回憶兒時的對白
現代人生活中的苦難: 現在人生活中有什麼苦難
2. 三重獨身寡居項姐妹的見證:"有聖靈與我為伴"
3. 摩爾門經尼腓一書中尼腓所遇到的family abuse, 及尼腓的態度
1 Ne. 7: 16
1 Ne. 18: 11
1 Ne. 18: 17-18
1 Ne. 7: 17, 21
21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.

1 Ne. 18: 3, 21
21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.

4. 舊約中的約伯
約伯記 第一章:15~21
約伯家的苦難在伯一:13~19中記載四次,這四次苦難可分為兩大類:一是天災;二是人禍:伯一:14;17記載約伯家遭遇兩次強盜劫財害命。兩次天災與兩次人禍,使約伯家瞬間家破人亡,只剩約伯和妻子存活,可見這苦難的痛苦是無法以言語形容。

“有一天,約伯的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒,
有報信的來見約伯,說:牛正耕地,驢在旁邊吃草,
示巴人忽然闖來,把牲畜擄去,並用刀殺了僕人;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:神從天上降下火來,將群羊和僕人都燒滅了;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。~這裡指的可能是閃電造成的火災
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:迦勒底人分作三隊忽然闖來,把駱駝擄去,並用刀殺了僕人;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。 ~人禍
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:你的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒,
不料,有狂風從曠野颳來,擊打房屋的四角,房屋倒塌在少年人身上,他們就都死了;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。~這裡指的是風災造成的災害
面對家中的巨變,約伯以「撕裂外袍、剃頭」來表達他的傷痛,雖是連續的苦難臨到身上,約伯仍未失去他對神的信心,讓我們看見約伯雖然失去一切,卻沒有失去他對神的信心,他順服神對他一切的安排。
伯1:21 說:我赤身出於母胎,也必赤身歸回;賞賜的是耶和華,收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。”

5. 舊約中的路得
路得記 第一章:16~17
她是摩押的女子,卻嫁給以色列 青年,沒料到年輕即守寡。摩押人是亞伯拉罕的姪子羅得的後代(參看創世記 19 章 )。路得此行追隨婆婆回到猶大地,要冒的險可真大!可能她會被人輕視、排斥,可 能她一輩子再也嫁不出去……。但是路得立定心意要這樣做,她似乎婆婆和她所敬 拜的上帝所深深吸引。她從婆婆身上見到上帝奇妙的愛,因此,她來投靠上帝,相信 上帝必眷顧、引領。
“路得說:不要催我回去不跟隨你。你往哪裡去,我也往那裡去;你在哪裡住宿,我也在那裡住宿;你的國就是我的國,你的神就是我的神。
你在哪裡死,我也在那裡死,也葬在那裡。除非死能使你我相離!”
正如波阿斯所祝福的,「願耶和華照你所行的賞賜你。你來投靠耶和華─以色列神的翅膀下,願你滿得他的賞賜。」(得 2:12)路得真的是滿滿得到上帝的賞賜!

6. 使徒保羅
哥林多前書 第四章: 11~13
“直到如今,我們還是又飢又渴,又赤身露體,又挨打,又沒有一定的住處,
並且勞苦,親手做工。被人咒罵,我們就祝福;被人逼迫,我們就忍受;
被人毀謗,我們就善勸。直到如今,人還把我們看作世界上的污穢,萬物中的渣滓。”
哥林多後書 第十一章:23~28
“他們是基督的僕人嗎﹖我更是。我比他們多受勞苦,多下監牢,受鞭打是過重的,冒死是屢次有的。
被猶太人鞭打五次,每次四十減去一下;
被棍打了三次;被石頭打了一次,遇著船壞三次,一晝一夜在深海裡。
又屢次行遠路,遭江河的危險、盜賊的危險,同族的危險、外邦人的危險、城裡的危險、曠野的危險、海中的危險、假弟兄的危險。
受勞碌、受困苦,多次不得睡,又飢又渴,多次不得食,受寒冷,赤身露體。
除了這外面的事,還有為眾教會掛心的事,天天壓在我身上。”
羅馬書 第八章:35~39
“誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢﹖難道是患難嗎﹖是困苦嗎﹖是逼迫嗎﹖是飢餓嗎﹖是赤身露體嗎﹖是危險嗎﹖是刀劍嗎﹖
如經上所記:我們為你的緣故終日被殺;人看我們如將宰的羊。
然而,靠著愛我們的主,在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。
因為我深信無論是死,是生,是天使,是掌權的,是有能的,是現在的事,是將來的事,
是高處的,是低處的,是別的受造之物,都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕;這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。”

7. 自己的經驗// 畫家梵谷 // 音樂家貝多芬
淺提自己的經驗
荷蘭銀行廣告, Stary night賞析歌詞 ; 此曲為麥克唐林所作 歌詞描述梵谷畫作色彩極為精緻 不僅是音樂與繪畫之結合; 介紹不同時期梵谷作品 如「食薯者」「鳶尾花」「郵差」「自畫像.
對世人來說梵谷的畫作是不朽的禮物 但卻是經歷許多磨難 與人情冷落與瘋狂所粹鍊.
文生‧梵谷 (1853-1890), 是繼倫勃朗 (Rembrandt, 1606-1669) 後被認為是荷蘭最偉大的畫家。他和高更、塞尚並稱為後印象派。他們吸收了印象派的精髓,卻反對印象派純客觀理性的畫法,提倡事物的實質和象徵意念,是現代藝術最重要的先驅。1878年,文生到比利時Borinage礦區任傳道員的工作。礦區人民生活的困苦,大大震撼了文生;礦區的小孩八歲就要到礦洞幫手搬運, 十三歲就得挖掘煤礦, 三十歲左右就會患上肺病,一般活不過四十歲。他們辛勞了一生,也不能換取溫飽。為了和礦民打成一片,文生用煤炭塗黑自己的臉頰,在煤渣堆中撿拾煤屑,送給區內的老弱。又把自己所有的金錢、食物、衣服分派清光,也無法幫助到這麼多的貧民。他甚至為了改善礦區人民的生活,不惜親自到煤礦公司, 為工人爭取合理的工資,及較安全的工作環境,結果不但徒勞無功,且引起教會的不滿。就在這年冬天, 礦洞發生坍塌的悲劇,傷亡慘重。1879年,教會撤除了文生的職務。被撤職後的文生仍然留在礦區,開始對繪畫發生興趣,並認定此為其人生的意義,亦得到弟弟德奧經濟上的支持。
文生27歲時才開始繪畫, 係短短十年間, 繪畫了八佰多幅油畫及同等數目的素描, 卻幾乎從未能覓得買家, 只能長期依賴弟弟德奧 (Theo) 在經濟上和精神上的支持。他的一生,就正如他的印象派同道畢沙蕾所說: 『這人將來一是瘋了, 一就是成為我們當中最出色的。
1888年,文生受塞尚的影響,到法國南部的普羅旺斯省,尋找創作的靈感。他在亞耳定居,並在此繪畫了二佰多幅油畫,當中卻只能買出一幅 (註:紅葡萄園) ,得到一則畫評。在貧困的生活中 ,赤熱的陽光下,不竭的創作令文生變得神經衰弱。無法抑制自己的激動,竟割下自己的左耳。從此,他不但失去高更這個好朋友,還給所有人笑作瘋子。1889年,文生入住 St. Remy 的精神療養院。1890年5月,文生搬到 Auvers-sur-Oise, 靠近弟弟居住,並在短短兩個月內,繪畫了七十多幅油畫。狂熱而不可抑制的創作激情,有如烈火焚燒著他的內心,使他心力交瘁,精神瀕臨崩潰。1890年7月27日早上,文生‧梵谷在麥田中吞槍自殺,延至7月29日傷重不治,享年37歲。
紐約的創作歌手唐麥克林紀念畫家梵谷的作品,stary night也是梵高著名的畫作之一,而這首歌的另一個名字VINCENT,則是梵谷高的名字.
“天上滿繁星 繁花似錦燦爛如火
天上的捲雲 在他眼眸中 是一場紫色風暴
色彩 變著調兒
清晨的禾場 琥珀色的麥子
苦痛在蒼然的臉上刻上的線
被畫家溫柔的手 撫順了”
他的「鳶尾花」還有「向日葵」都是史上拍賣價格最高的作品,以近二千萬美元成交。

貝多芬是在1770年12月16日在波恩的波恩衚衕(Bonngasse)街20號出生的,。最初,貝多芬家庭情況還算如意。約翰的經濟狀況不錯,老路德維希在經濟上也能幫助一下這個家庭[5]。約翰有酗酒的習慣,脾氣暴躁,母親則體弱多病,這是日後作為長子的貝多芬必須挑起家庭重擔的重要原因之一。也正是因此,貝多芬愛母親遠勝於父親。貝多芬可能在5歲時患有中耳炎,但並沒有得到很好的治療,這可能為其日後的耳疾埋下禍根。多芬到維也納的修養地聖城(Heiligenstadt),意圖靠當地礦泉水浴,以治療自己日益嚴重的耳硬化症. 貝多芬寫下過:“我決心掃除一切障礙,我相信命運不會拋棄我,我恐怕需要充分估量自己的力量,我要扼住命運的咽喉。”的壯語,但是在聖城他的情緒則一度陷入低谷,還寫下了一封寄給自己兄弟的信,後世稱之為《聖城遺書》(一譯海利根施塔德遺書)(Heiligenstädter Testament)。信中的語氣悲觀可憐,貝多芬的耳疾導致其出現自殺的念頭,只有他的音樂,和一種模糊的對世人的使命感才讓他免於自己逼自己走上絕路。在1819年他變成全聾,這無疑剝脫了他指揮和演出權。就是日常的溝通,也顯得非常的吃力。貝多芬的d小調第九交響曲完成於1824年,全曲共分4個樂章。在這首交響曲中的最後一個樂章(第四樂章)中,貝多芬首次聯合了合唱團與管弦樂團,為歷來在交響樂上的創舉, 聯合國教科文組織將第九交響曲的原譜定為人類文化遺產。
他說:”我只希望自己能給這個世界一些美好的音樂,然後就像一個老頑童一樣,在各位體面的先生面前了結塵世上的事。”

從所結的果子判斷
D&C 78: 19
19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

來12:5 你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話,說:我兒,你不可輕看主的管教,被他責備的時候也不可灰心;
來12:6 因為主所愛的,他必管教,又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。
來12:7 你們所忍受的,是神管教你們,待你們如同待兒子。焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢﹖
來12:10 生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們;惟有萬靈的父管教我們,是要我們得益處,使我們在他的聖潔上有分。
來12:11 凡管教的事,當時不覺得快樂,反覺得愁苦;後來卻為那經練過的人結出平安的果子,就是義。
啟3:19 凡我所疼愛的,我就責備管教他;所以你要發熱心,也要改。
8. 結論:永生是神所有恩賜中最大的,
Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance.
Are we living with apprehension, fear, and worry? Or have we, amidst all of our challenges, not reason to rejoice?
We all go through different life experiences. Some are filled with joy, and others with sorrow and uncertainty.

I remember a time when things didn’t look good for our family when I was a child. It was in the winter of 1944, one of the coldest during World War II. The war front was approaching our town, and my mother had to take us four children, leave all our possessions behind, and join the millions of fleeing refugees in a desperate search for a place to survive. Our father was still in the military, but he and Mother had agreed that if they were ever separated during the war, they would try to reunite at the hometown of my grandparents. With bombing raids during the night and air attacks during the day, it took us many days to reach my grandparents. My memories of those days are of darkness and coldness. My father returned to us unharmed, but our future looked extremely bleak. We were living in the rubble of postwar Germany with a devastating feeling of hopelessness and darkness about our future.
In the middle of this despair, my family learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the healing message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This message made all the difference; it lifted us above our daily misery. Life was still thorny and the circumstances still horrible, but the gospel brought light, hope, and joy into our lives. The plain and simple truths of the gospel warmed our hearts and enlightened our minds. They helped us look at ourselves and the world around us with different eyes and from an elevated viewpoint.

My dear brothers and sisters, aren’t the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in His Church great reasons to rejoice?

Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” And like Paul we can answer: “My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

What Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, glad tidings, and much more. It is my firm belief that all truth and light originating with God is embraced in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God, our loving Father in Heaven, has said that it is His work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes redemption and salvation possible. Through the Atonement all men, women, and children are unconditionally redeemed from physical death, and all will be redeemed from their own sins on the condition of accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ (see D&C 20:17–25; 76:40–42, 50–53; Moses 6:62).

Therefore, enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life’s difficult circumstances or “hanging in there.” Ours is an active religion, helping God’s children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God.

Enduring to the end implies “patient continuance in well doing” (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness (see D&C 59:23). It requires sacrifice and hard work. To endure to the end, we need to trust our Father in Heaven and make wise choices, including paying our tithes and offerings, honoring our temple covenants, and serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities. It means strength of character, selflessness, and humility; it means integrity and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen.
By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. We will learn to “do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]” (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus Christ Wants You to Succeed
My dear brothers and sisters, there will be days and nights when you feel overwhelmed, when your hearts are heavy and your heads hang down. Then, please remember, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, is the Head of this Church. It is His gospel. He wants you to succeed. He gave His life for just this purpose. He is the Son of the living God. "
“For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee” (3 Nephi 22:10). “I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” (3 Nephi 22:8).
My dear friends, the Savior heals the broken heart and binds up your wounds (see Psalm 147:3).

Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship
Gordon B. Hinckley
“The work demands courage, it demands effort, it demands dedication, it demands the humility to get on one’s knees and ask the Lord for help and direction. You will come to know that without His help you are indeed weak and simple, but that with His help you can accomplish miracles.”
Gospel Library > Magazines > Ensign > November 1995
Claim the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises
Elder Spencer J. Condie
Of the Seventy
"The Lord makes generous promises, and He certifies that He will not vary from these promises.
The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith in Christ includes the knowledge that following His Crucifixion, He arose from the tomb, and His Resurrection made it possible for all mankind to live again (see 1 Corinthians 15:21–23). Faith in Christ is the assurance that He and His Heavenly Father appeared to a young man, Joseph Smith, paving the way for the Restoration of all things in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, which bears His holy name.
The Lord makes generous promises, and He certifies that He will not vary from these promises, for, said He, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10)
The Lord also promised that “whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:20). We are promised that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion when we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly” (see D&C 121:45–46). We can claim the spiritually liberating promise of fasting, which will “loose the bands of wickedness,” undo our “heavy burdens,” and “break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6).
Those who are sealed in holy temples and who faithfully keep their covenants will receive God’s glory, which “shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever” (D&C 132:19).
Sometimes, in our earthly impatience, we may lose sight of the Lord’s precious promises and disconnect our obedience from the fulfillment of these promises."
林前15:19 我們若靠基督,只在今生有指望,就算比眾人更可憐。
提後4:7 那美好的仗我已經打過了,當跑的路我已經跑盡了,所信的道我已經守住了。
彼後3:14 親愛的弟兄啊,你們既盼望這些事,就當殷勤,使自己沒有玷污,無可指摘,安然見主

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