【Why Not ? (為什麼不？)】 Joe Sung (宋邦光)
- 詳細內容
- 上層分類：見證恩典
- 點擊數：1623
原刊於《新店信仰大道--新店基督長老教會設教140周年紀念》
A number of years ago my parents-in-law (許憲宗牧師夫婦) were visiting us at our home in Houston, Texas for a period of time. One afternoon, I received a phone call from a member of my church elder/deacon nominating committee asking me to serve as a deacon. I was surprised by the phone call and did not know what to response right away. I said that I would think about it and call her back. My mother-in-law was sitting next to me at that time when the call came. I told her about the phone call and asked her what she thought. She did not hesitate at all and said: “Why not”. As you may know, my mother had Parkinson disease for some time and had some difficulty in her physical movements. She was a pastor's wife and a very loving person. Deep in her mind she wished she could do a lot of things that were just not possible for her to do because of the Parkinson disease. This simple “Why not” response from her just engraved in my heart at that moment and became a constant reminder from then on in my life. I picked up the phone right away to call the committee member back and agreed to serve.
Later on, every time someone from church asked me to do something, I have never hesitated to accept. At my church in Houston, I served a second term deacon, one term of elder, participated in an adult mission trip to Taiwan, taught Bible study classes, led adult mission teams to Taiwan twice and participated in many volunteering activities for the community. All of these were because of the simple “Why not” from my mother-in-law.
When we came back to Taiwan for a long stay, we worshiped at Sintiam Presbyterian Church. When Pastor Huang (youth group leader) left for a new call, one elder asked me and Ann to lead the youth group. Even though we are so much older than the youths but the “Why not” inside me urged me to accept it. It was full of fun and meaningful activities: weekly meetings, Bible study, invited speakers, annual mission trips in June, BBQ and hiking to Lion's head mountain, in New Year's eve to see the 101 fireworks, etc. When we were off the youth group leadership, I thought I could take it easy for some time, but Deacon Lin asked me the very next day to teach one adult Sunday school class(基要真理). Again, I was humbled but accepted the challenge without hesitation. I prepared the class with weekly Powerpoint slide shows that took some time to collect information but made it easy and interesting for the students to understand. I really enjoyed preparing and teaching this class.
Most recently, when 秀美姐asked me to write an article for 《新店信仰大道》見證集 to celebrate 新店教會設教140週年, Although the “Why not” inside me said so, but I hesitate a little bit because my Chinese writing is very rusted and I am not good in using the computer to write Chinese. However, 秀美姐agreed to translate this article into Chinese for me, then I accepted the invitation and feel honored to do so. I am very grateful for her encouragement and translation by 吳婉鈴姐妹.
I give you the“Why not”challenge. When Jesus called on his disciples to follow him, they did not hesitate. I am sure in their mid, they said,“Why not”. Let's all go out to do God's work without question whenever someone needs you!
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.(Matthew 4:19-20)
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive."( Acts 20:35)
為什麼不？ 宋邦光
幾年前，我的岳父岳母（許憲宗牧師夫婦）來美國德州休士頓的家中小住一段時間。有天下午，我接到我們教會長執指任委員的電話，詢問我是否有意願擔任執事。對於這通來電我感到相當驚訝，所以不知道當下該回應什麼。我說我會考慮看看再回覆他。接這通電話時，丈母娘當時坐在我旁邊。我告訴她電話中所談論的事並詢問她的意見。她毫不猶豫地說：「為什麼不試試看？」。也許你知道，媽媽罹患巴金森氏症有一段時間，在肢體活動上有些困難。她是一位牧師的妻子和一個非常有愛心的人。在她的心裡深處，她希望可以做很多事情，只是因為巴金森氏症，讓她無法行動。她的這句簡單的“為什麼不？”在我的心上刻下深深的印象，也從那一刻起，這句話成了我生命中經常出現提醒我的一句話。我拿起電話馬上撥打給委員，說我願意。
後來，每當教會有人要求我做什麼，我都毫不猶豫接受。在休士頓的教會裡，我擔任兩任執事，一任長老，也帶領成人短宣隊來台灣，帶領獄中少年查經班。期間，我也帶領成人短宣隊來台兩次，並參加了許多教會辦的社區志願服務活動。所有這一切都是因為岳母口中一句簡單的“為什麼不？”。
當我們從工作崗位上退休回到台灣長住時，我們在新店長老教會做禮拜。當時青少契輔導黃傳道離開教會前往他的新職事，許承基長老邀請我和錫安姐（內人）帶領青少年團契。儘管我們比這些年輕人老得多，但，我心裡這句“為什麼不”鼓勵我接受它。在帶領的過程當中充滿了樂趣和有意義的活動：每週例會，聖經研讀，演講，短宣，到獅頭山烤肉、遠足和除夕夜看101煙火等。在結束了青少年團契輔導的事工後，原以為可以輕鬆一段時間，但隨即被邀請在成人主日學開授「基要真理」班。同樣，我謙卑但毫不猶豫地接下這個任務。花了些時間來收集資料、準備PowerPoint，上課時盡量輕鬆和有趣，好讓學生能理解。我很喜歡準備和教導這門課，因為在準備中我學了很多，也深入認識了幾位新朋友。
每一次我做上帝的工時，聽到很多見證，學了很多新知識，認識了很多新朋友。雖然我付出時間和心神，但是我得到的比付出的多好幾倍。
今年，秀美姐要我為《新店信仰大道》見證集寫一篇文章，為慶祝新店教會設教140週年。雖然心裡依然說著：“為什麼不？”，但其實猶豫了一下，因為我對中文書寫已經非常不熟練，而且不太會用電腦打中文。然而，秀美姐同意幫忙把文章翻譯成中文，所以我接受了邀請，並感到榮幸能做這件事。我很感謝她的鼓勵和吳婉鈴姐妹的翻譯。
在這裡我要給你“為什麼不”的挑戰。當耶穌叫他的門徒跟隨他，他們一點也沒有猶豫就跟隨他。我相信在他們心裡的回答是“為什麼不”。讓我們都出去做上帝的工作，不管是誰邀請你或是你心裡有所感動，你的回答應該是“為什麼不”，然後就認真去做。保證你得到的會比你付出的多出好幾倍。上帝永遠不會虧待祂的僕人。文末謹以如下兩節經文與兄姐們共勉：
「耶穌對他們說：『來跟從我，我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。』他們就立刻捨了網，跟從了他 。」（馬太福音4:19-20）
「我凡事給你們作榜樣，叫你們知道應當這樣勞苦，扶助軟弱的人，又當記念主耶穌的話，說：施比受更為有福。」（使徒行傳 20:35）
註記：今年8月12日是我岳母逝世10週年紀念日。我借此文來記念她。