FAITH 信心，
有一個小男孩來到禱告會請求牧師，希望有人可以為他的妹妹禱告，使她能讀聖經。牧師將他的要求告知大家，可是正當有人開始為這件事禱告時，小男孩就站起來離席了。大家都認為他很沒禮貌，第二天他的牧師罵它。但小男孩說：「先生，我只是想去看看我妹妹第一次讀聖經。」
A little boy came to the preacher and asked him to have the folks in prayer meeting pray that the Lord might cause his sister to read the Bible. The preacher made the request known, but as soon as someone began to pray about it, little Johnny got up and left. Everyone thought him very rude, and the next day the preacher scolded him for it. But Johnny said, “Sir, I wanted to go and see my sister read the Bible for the first time.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 498)
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有個銀行家偶爾來到教堂，從第一次來到教堂以來，每一次來恰好牧師都講信心的道。銀行家對他說：「你為什麼不講信心以外的東西？你為什麼不說一些比較實際一點的事情呢？」幾天後有他的銀行發了一些事，牧師去看看發生了什麼事情。他發現人們驚惶地要擠兌他們的錢，他們都感到震驚和懷疑，銀行家不斷地對這些人喊話，「銀行一切運作都很好，沒事，沒事。」牧師碰他的肩膀，說：「發生了什麼事？」「為什麼這些人要擠兌，」他說，「沒有什麼事，但是這些人已經對銀行失去信心了。」牧師說，「你還記得你告訴我要我講一些比信心更實際的東西嗎？」「哦，是的，」他說，「我記得很清楚，而我嗤之以鼻，無動於衷。但終究，信心卻為商業利益和商業生活的根本。」
A minister tells how in his first parish a banker occasionally came to his church, and every time he came the minister happened to be preaching on faith. The banker said to him, “Why don't you preach on something other than faith? Why don't you preach on something practical?” A few days later there was a run on his bank, and the minister went down to see what was going on. He found the people demanding their money; they were alarmed and suspicious, and the banker was going up and down the line saying to these people, “Everything is all right. There is nothing wrong with the bank.” The minister touched him on the shoulder and said, “What is the matter?” “Why,” he said, “there is nothing wrong, but these people have lost faith in the bank.” The minister replied, “Do you remember when you told me to preach on something more practical than faith?” “Oh, yes,” he said, “I remember it very well, and I take it all back. After all, there is nothing so fundamental to the business interests and commercial life as faith.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 228)
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-----有個循理會的牧師曾經在一個會議上這樣祈禱：「主啊，幫助我們靈裡信靠你。」一如往常許多阿門的聲音熱烈的回應到；他繼續禱告說，「主啊，幫助我們身體相信你。同樣是一個響亮的，阿門！」回應他，接著，他用更溫暖的聲音禱告說，「主阿，並且幫助我們用我們的錢表達對你的信心。整個屋子除了一個貧窮的老姊妹以外，沒有一個，阿門。」
An old Methodist preacher once offered this prayer in a meeting: “Lord, help us to trust Thee with our souls.” Many voices responded with a hearty, old-fashioned “Amen!” “Lord, help us to trust Thee with our bodies,” he continued. Again the response was a vociferous “Amen!” Then with still more warmth he said, “And, Lord, help us to trust Thee with our money.” Not an “amen” was heard in the house, except that of an impoverished old lady. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 230)
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有個虔誠的基督徒母親總是教導她的女兒信心和信任的功課，特別告訴她，任何時候都不要擔心害怕，因為無論何時神總在身旁。
有一年夏天晚上，她讓小女孩上床，為她蓋被，為她祈禱後，熄了燈，走下樓。然後，在雷雨來推出西部生動閃爍的閃電和雷聲轟鳴迴響。突然一個閃電伴隨震耳欲聾的雷聲，當迴聲消失，母親聽到小女孩拼命地喊叫，「媽媽！媽媽！快來抱我。」母親發現小女孩顫抖地哭著。
母親一面安撫她，一面認為這是一個機會教育的好時機，她說：「我的小寶貝，媽媽不是告訴過你很多次嗎？不必擔心害怕，因為神總在你身邊，沒有任何東西可以傷害你的。」小女孩雙臂環住母親的脖子，說：「是的，媽媽。我知道神總是在我身旁，但是在閃電和雷聲如此可怕的時候，我還是希望有人能靠近我，擁抱我。」
There was a devout Christian mother who was always teaching her daughter lessons of faith and trust, especially telling her that she need never be afraid at any time because God was always near. One summer evening she tucked her little girl in bed after her prayers, put out the light, and went downstairs. Then an electrical storm came rolling out of the west with vivid flashes of lightning and a reverberating roar of thunder. Suddenly there was a simultaneous blinding flash and a deafening crash, and when the echoes died away, the mother heard the little girl calling desperately, “Mama! Mama! Come and get me.” The mother found her trembling, little girl in tears. After she had soothed her somewhat, she thought it might be an opportune time to teach a spiritual lesson, and said, “My little girl, has Mother not taught you many times that you need never be afraid, that God is always near, and nothing can harm you?” The little one put her arms around her mother's neck and said, “Yes, Mama. I know that God is always near, but when the lightning and the thunder are so awful, I want someone near me that's got skin on him.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 231)
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你曾否嘗試一次過拿走所有在生命裏的重擔？要承擔起昨日、今日甚至有時連明天的擔子和誘惑，一天也不容易。
病人遇到一連串的意外後問：「醫生，我要睡在這多久？」
「今日來說只需要一天時間。」病人被教導一個寶貴功課。讓我們忠心於當下的那一天，悠長的歲月自會有其渡過的方法。
Did you ever try to lift all the burdens of life at once? It is hard to bear yesterday's, today's, and sometimes tomorrow's burdens and temptations in one day. A doctor was once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident, “Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?” The answer, “Only a day at a time,” taught the patient a precious lesson. It is the same lesson that you and I need—the day's portion in its day. Let us be faithful for one short day, and the long years will take care of themselves. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 232)
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有位持懷疑論的醫生對他的基督徒病患說，「我也無法了解救贖的信仰。我相信神，我想我相信耶穌基督，我沒有意識到任何的懷疑。我相信耶穌基督是神的兒子，我相信聖經，但我還沒有得救，我感覺不到神在我身邊。我到底是怎麼了？」「哦，」病人說，「一個星期前，我相信你是一個非常熟練的醫師。我相信，如果我把自己交在你手裡，我的病就會好起來。換句話說，我信任你。一星期來，我吃從一個瓶子裡取出的一些神秘的東西。我不知道它是什麼，我雖不明白，但我相信你。
現在，每當一個人轉向主耶穌基督說：『主耶穌，基督教在我看來充滿奧秘。我不明白他們，但我認為你是值得信賴的，我相信祢，我把自己交給你，』這就是信仰。很簡單的信念，不是嗎？」病人的信心並沒有醫治他，只是得醫治的補劑，但由於信，他得了醫治。
A skeptical physician said to his Christian patient, “I could never understand saving faith. I believe in God and I suppose I believe in Jesus Christ—I am not conscious of any doubts. I believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and I believe in the Bible, yet I am not saved, I do not feel God near me. What is the matter with me?” “Well,” said the patient, “a week ago I believed in you as a very skillful physician. I believed that if I put myself in your hands I would recover from my illness. In other words, I trusted you. For a week now I have been taking some mysterious stuff out of a bottle. I don't know what it is; I don't understand it, but I am trusting in you. Now, whenever a person turns to the Lord Jesus Christ and says, 'Lord Jesus, Christianity seems to me to be full of mysteries. I do not understand them, but I believe Thou art trustworthy and I trust Thee; I commit myself to Thee,' that is faith. A very simple thing, isn't it?” The faith of the patient did not heal him; it was the remedy that healed him; but in faith he took the remedy. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 233)
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你見過一個鐵匠鍛造一塊鐵嗎？他把它放在火裡柔軟它，使其具有可塑性。這就是為什麼神會允許，試煉和誘惑去測試考驗你的信心。他要使你變得能忍耐，變得柔韌可塑。因為在亞當的失敗裡，我們失去了神聖的樣式與形象。神要按照他的形象重塑我們，如果你我都不斷地逃出火煉之痛，我們將變得僵硬無用。
Have you ever seen a blacksmith work with a piece of iron? He holds it in the fire to soften it and make it pliable. That is exactly why God permits the testing of your faith by temptations and trials. He wants you to acquire patience, to acquire pliability. If you and I are constantly out of the fire of affliction, we become stiff and useless. God wants to reshape us according to His image, for in the fall of Adam we lost our divine shape, our divine image. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 234)
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看來很可憐一個虔誠的法國人，很煩惱地問他的屬靈導師：「我承認我的信仰，但常常事與願違；我期望過基督徒生活，但常常失敗。神必定不喜悅我在信仰裏無能為力。
那牧者仁慈的回答他：「法國國王在不同區分有兩個城堡，他派一名指揮官到每個城堡。名為「文尼巴尼」(Mantleberry)堡位於遠離任何危險的內陸地方；但名為「拿羅撒尼」(La Rochelle)的城堡則位於海岸，常有被圍城的危機。現在你看那個指揮官會在國王心目中有較高的評價--「文尼巴尼」(Mantleberry)或「拿羅撒尼」(La Rochelle)？
「還需要說，國王當然看那個要承擔困難工作和勇氣面對危險那一位。」
智者回答說：「對了，現在就應用在你身上。」
A poor but devout Frenchman came to his spiritual advisor and said with a sorrowing heart: “I profess faith in God, but at times, against my will, I'm overwhelmed with doubts as I try to live a Christian life in this world. Surely, God must be displeased with me as I struggle to overcome them.” The clergyman answered with much kindness, “The King of France has two castles in different areas and sends a commander to each of them. The castle of Mantleberry stands in a place remote from danger, far inland; but the castle of La Rochelle is on the coast, where it is liable to continued sieges. Now which of the two commanders, do you think, stands highest in the estimate of the King—the commander of La Rochelle, or he of Mantleberry?” “Doubtless,” said the poor man, “the King values him the most who has the hardest task, and braves the greatest dangers.” “You are right,” replied his advisor, “And now apply this matter to your case and mine.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 236)
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美國德州大學社會人口統計學家羅拔堪瑪(Robert Hummer)在1992年開始，為了一個題目跟蹤某個數目的群體，得著一個難以否認的結果。與最近8年每星期參與宗教服務比較，那些從不參與的有雙倍死亡的風險。完全沒有與每週有穩定教會生活同樣在死亡率上有很大分別。
英國國教牧師丹尼河和匹茲堡大學醫療中心外科醫生做了類似的分析，發現出席教會的人壽命，比較上多二年或三年。他同時肯定發覺，做運動加增三至五年；與「施德丁(一種抗血脂藥物，成分包括羅瓦施德丁)」治療加增二年半至三年半。還有，加入一個群體，長時間一起生活會出現有彼此聯繫的作用。
Social demographer Robert Hummer of the University of Texas has been following a population of subjects since 1992, and his results are hard to argue with. Those who never attend religious services have twice the risk of dying over the next eight years as people who attend once a week. People who fall somewhere between no churchgoing and weekly churchgoing also fall somewhere between in terms of mortality.
A similar analysis by Daniel Hall, an Episcopal priest and a surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, found that church attendance accounts for two to three additional years of life. To be sure, he also found that exercise accounts for three to five extra years and statin therapy for 2.5 to 3.5. Still, joining a flock and living longer do appear to be linked. ("The Biology of Belief," Time, Feb. 12, 2009) http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879016-1,00.html
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Neal Krause, a sociologist and public-health expert at the University of Michigan, has tried to quantify some of those more amorphous variables in a longitudinal study of 1,500 people that he has been conducting since 1997. He has focused particularly on how regular churchgoers weather economic downturns as well as the stresses and health woes that go along with them. Not surprisingly, he has found that parishioners benefit when they receive social support from their church. But he has also found that those people who give help fare even better than those who receive it — a pillar of religious belief if ever there was one. He has also found that people who maintain a sense of gratitude for what’s going right in their lives have a reduced incidence of depression, which is itself a predictor of health. And in another study he conducted that was just accepted for publication, he found that people who believe their lives have meaning live longer than people who don’t. “That’s one of the purported reasons for religion,” Krause says. “The sign on the door says, ‘Come in here and you’ll find meaning.’” (“The Biology of Belief,” Time, Feb. 12, 2009) http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879016-1,00.html
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一位牧師對他的信衆講解信心和現實的區別。他說：「你們在教會裏坐在我面前，是事實。我站在這裏的講壇上，是事實。但是若我相信這裏的每一位都能聽進我講道，才是信心。」
A pastor was speaking to his people on the relationship between fact and faith. He said, “That you are sitting before me in this church is fact.
That I am standing here, speaking from this pulpit is fact.
That I believe anyone is listening to me is faith!”
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Quotes引證 :
Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it.
信心不是：我認爲某事對我好，所以神必須把它給我；而是：神把某東西給我，我信它一定是對我好的。
Faith says not, “I see that it is good for me, so God must have sent it,” but, “God sent it, and so it must be good for me.”
信心並非與知識對立，乃是與肉眼所見的對立。恩典並非與努力對立，乃是與賺取對立。
Faith is not opposed to knowledge; it is opposed to sight. And grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning. Dallas Willard, In Search of Guidance, 209
盼望是對未來的暢想曲。
Hope is the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it. Robert Alves
信心是相信所未見的，對信心的獎賞是能看見所信的。
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. Augustine
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FAITHFULNESS 忠信
漢斯是一個住在德國的牧羊小男孩。當他為主人牧羊時，一個獵人從森林騎馬走向他。獵人問他:「到最近的村莊有多遠，我的男孩？」漢斯回答：「六哩，先生。」
「但是那只是一條羊走的路徑，你可能容易迷路。」獵人從馬上俯身說：「我的男孩，若你肯帶我的路，我會附你一個好的價錢。」漢斯搖頭：「先生，我不能離開羊。」他說：「它們可能會在森林裡迷失，而且狼可能吃了它們。」獵人說：「若羊被吃或被偷，我會賠償你，我會給你超過一年所賺的錢。」漢斯說：「羊是我主人的，若它們丟掉了，該責怪的人是我。」獵人繼續說：「如果你不能帶我去那村莊，可否幫我找個響導？當你去找時，我會幫你照顧你的羊。」漢斯再一次搖頭。他說：「我不能這樣做，羊不認得你的聲音，並且不知道你會不會照顧它們。」獵人問他：「你不能信任我嗎？」漢斯說：「不是，先生。你試著要讓我不遵守我和我主人的約定;我怎知道你是否會向我守約？」這獵人笑了說：「你對了，我希望我能信任我的僕人，如同你的主人信任你一樣。」
正當這時森林中有許多人出來，看見這獵人，他們把馬頭轉向獵人騎過來。他們很歡喜的呼喊:「先生﹗我們以為你丟了。」這時漢斯才驚訝的知道這獵人是這個王國的王子。他怕這偉大的人會懲罰他，但是王子只是微笑，並且感謝他，然後他們就離開了。幾天後王子的僕人來把漢斯帶到王宮 王子說：「漢斯，我要你離開你的羊來服事我。我知到你是一個我可以信任的男孩。」漢斯對於他的好運非常興奮，但是他回答：「如果我的主人能找到替代我的人，我會回來且服事你。」所以漢斯回去管理羊群直到主人找到另外的男孩。他後來服事王子許多年。William J Bennett, Moral Compass, 260-61
Hans was a little shepherd boy who lived in Germany. One day, when he was keeping his master’s sheep, a hunter rode up to him out of the forest. ‘How far is it to the nearest village, my boy?’ asked the hunter, ‘It is six miles, sir,’ replied Hans. ‘But the road is only a sheep track. You might easily miss your way.’ ‘My boy,’ said the hunter, leaning down from his horse, ‘if you will take me there I will pay you well.’ Hans shook his head. ‘I cannot leave the sheep, sir,’ he said. ‘They would stray in the forest and the wolves might eat them.’ ‘But if one or two sheep are lost or eaten,’ said the hunter, ‘I will pay you well for them. I will give you more than you can earn in a year.’ ‘No, sir,’ said Hans. ‘The sheep belong to my master. If they are lost, I should be to blame.’ ‘If you cannot take me to the village,’ the hunter went on, ‘will you get me a guide? I will take care of your sheep while you are gone.’ Again Hans shook his head. ‘I cannot do that,’ he said. ‘The sheep do not know your voice and I do not know if you would take good care of them. ‘Can’t you trust me?’ asked the hunter. ‘No sir,’ said Hans. ‘You have tried to make me break my promise to my master; how do I know that you will keep your promise to me?’ The hunter laughed. ‘You are right,’ he said. ‘I wish I could trust my servants as your master can trust you.’
Just then several men rode out of the forest and seeing the hunter they spurred their horses towards him. ‘Sire!’ they shouted joyfully. ‘We thought you were lost!’ Then Hans learned to his great surprise that the hunter was a prince of the kingdom. He was afraid that the great man would punish him. But the prince only smiled and spoke in praise of him and then they all rode away. Some days later a servant came from the prince and took Hans to the palace. ‘Hans,’ said the prince, ‘I want you to leave your sheep and to come and serve me. I know that you are a boy whom I can trust.’ Hans was very happy over his good fortune but he replied, ‘If my master can find another boy to take my place, then I will come and serve you.’ So Hans went back and looked after the sheep until his master found another boy. After that he served the prince for many years. William J Bennett, Moral Compass, 260-61
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有一個守衛負責管理一座沿著危險海岸線的燈塔，他被給了足夠一整個月用的油，並被告知需要每晚使這燈燃燒。有一天一個婦人來要油想使她的孩子們暖活。接下來一個農夫來，他的兒子需要油點燈才能讀書。這守衛覺得給他們是很值得的，於是就給了他們。到了月底時油燈的油沒了，那晚海岸是暗的，三艘船撞毀在岩石上，失去了一百多條性命。照顧燈塔的人解釋為何發生這樣的事。但是判決的人說：「給你的任務只有一個：使這燈維持燃燒，其它的事都是次要的，你沒有任何的藉口」。Fr. Ernest Munachi Ezeogu
A guard in charge of a lighthouse along a dangerous coast was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night. One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm. Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for a lamp so he could read. Another needed some for an engine. The guard saw each as a worthy request and gave some oil to satisfy all. By the end of the month, the tank in the lighthouse was dry.
That night the beacon was dark and three ships crashed on the rocks. More than one hundred lives were lost. The lighthouse attendant explained what he had done and why. But the prosecutor replied, “You were given only one task: to keep the light burning. Every other thing was secondary. You have no excuse.”
Fr. Ernest Munachi Ezeogu
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1960年有一個佈道團往非洲領佈道會，這一佈道團的飛機路過西非的達卡，一個法國的傳教士在機場迎接他們，並且一起飲用咖啡。同工中有一人聽說他在回教徒中已經工作十年，就問他說，「在那十年中有多少回教徒悔改信主耶穌？」『哦』他很遲疑不決的回答說，『一個、兩個共三個！』『十年中共三個，為何你不他徙呢？』『為何我尚在這裡？』他對於此問覺得很奇怪，面色呈現詫異說，『我尚在此是因基督如此的命令！』
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有一次林中鳥聯合起來和山中的獸交戰。蝙蝠自以為聰明不表示加入那一邊，雖然雙方都爭取牠，但牠心裹都有數。這場戰爭打得很猛烈，血肉橫飛，聲震山嶽。起初獸快要戰勝，蝙蝠便加入獸的陣營，對獸王： 「我不是鳥，鳥沒有牙齒，我有兩排牙齒，不是獸是甚麼呢?。」後來鳥得到鷹來助戰，立刻扭轉戰局。蝙蝠便馬上投降鳥，對鳥王說： 「獸是沒有翅膀，不會飛，你看，我有翅膀會飛，我和你們都屬同類的。」因為戰爭難分勝負，鳥獸只好講和。那時鳥獸雙方都不承認蝙蝠，到如今蝙蝠總是白天躲藏不敢露面，等到大地黑暗，鳥歸林，獸歸山，方敢出來。（楊信德，《新約聖經一般故事講道集》）
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FORGIVENESS 赦免
兩個男孩在某個下午一起玩耍，較大的因欺負另一個，遊戲終止。年幼的佐治很神氣的埋怨，與對方保持距離，勇敢地眨著眼晴流淚坐在一旁。一段時間後，較大的男孩厭倦獨個兒玩，於是開口：「講些話，佐治，回來吧！對不起！」佐治被剛才負面經歷嚇怕，沒有即時回應他的邀請，小心回答：「好的，我接受你的道歉，但是那種？是否不再做多一次剛才的行為呢？」
Two little boys were playing together one afternoon. They had not been playing long when the larger boy took advantage of his weaker playmate. Georgie, the smaller one, too proud to complain, withdrew some distance and sat by himself, manfully winking back the ready tears. After a short time, the larger boy grew tired of his solitary play and called, “Say, Georgie, come back. I’m sorry.” Georgie, warned by previous experience, did not respond to the invitation at once. “Yes,” he replied cautiously, “but what kind of sorry? The kind so you won’t do it again?” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 604)
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這是發生在約翰衛斯理和約瑟夫布福之間的事。他們已有一段很長時間是旅遊伙伴，而約瑟夫布福願意為對方犧牲健康甚至生命，但絕不向他屈服。一天，約翰衛斯理向約瑟夫說：「把這些信件送往郵局。」約瑟夫回答：「我會在你講完道之後，長官。」約翰衛斯理再說：「現在就去，約瑟夫。」
約瑟夫轉向衛斯理說：「我希望聽到你的講道，之後還有有足夠時間到郵局。」衛斯理很不喜悅說：「我堅持你現在去，約瑟夫。」
約瑟夫更忿怒地回答：「我不會現在就去。」
「你肯定不去。」
「不會的，長官。」
衛斯理說：「那樣我們唯有各行各路了。」「很好呀！」約瑟夫很快就回應說。這兩個好人隨後上床睡覺，他們都是早起的人。
他們於早上4時起來，衛斯理再次向約瑟夫說：「你是否考慮清楚我所講的—就是要各行各路。」
「是的，長官。」就是回覆。「我們是否一定要分開？」「請求你，長官。」
然後衛斯理說：「請問你可否講多次，約瑟夫。」
「不會的，長官。」約瑟夫很快的回答。
「你不會？」
「不會，長官。」約瑟夫再說。
This incident occurred between John Wesley and Joseph Bradford. Bradford was for some years the traveling companion of Mr. Wesley for whom he would have sacrificed health and even life, but to whom his will would never bend. “Joseph,” said Mr. Wesley one day, “take these letters to the post office.” Bradford replied, “I will take them after your preaching, sir.” Wesley again said, “Take them now, Joseph.” Bradford turned to Mr. Wesley and said, “I wish to hear you preach, sir; and there will be sufficient time for the post office after the service.” Wesley was not at all pleased and said, “I insist upon your going now, Joseph.” Bradford rather angrily replied, “I will not go at present.” “You will not!” “No, sir.”
“Then you and I must part,” said Wesley. “Very well, sir,” was Mr. Bradford's quick response. The good men slept over it. Both were early risers. At four o'clock the next morning, Wesley said to Bradford, “Joseph, have you considered what I said—that we must part?” “Yes, sir,” was the reply. “And must we part?” “Please yourself, sir,” Then Wesley said, “Will you ask my pardon, Joseph?” “No, sir,” came the quick reply from Bradford. “You will not?” “No, sir,” Bradford said again. “Then,” answered Wesley, “I will ask yours, Joseph.” That is what a Christian should do—be willing to ask forgiveness instead of expecting others to ask forgiveness of him. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 254)
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Anthony Brady, the industrialist, tells of the time when, many years ago, he was tormented by bedbugs at a hotel which was considered to be far above such nasty inhabitants. Upon returning home, he wrote an indignant letter to the manager of the hotel, complaining about the matter.
Brady’s friends- even his own family- cautioned him about the futility of letters of complaint, so his satisfaction was understandably great when, in due course, he received an apologetic letter assuring him that such a thing would never happen again. But his elation was quashed a moment later, however, when he discovered an interoffice memo that had inadvertently been inserted with the letter, and which said tersely: “Send this guy the bug letter!”
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安東尼.博萊帝，一位企業家，說出有關於多年前，住在一家旅館，飽受床上蟲子的苦，這家旅館是不應該有這種蟲的。回家以後他寫了一封信給旅館的經理抱怨這事。博萊帝的朋友，甚至他的家人提醒他，抱怨信是沒有用的。因此可想而知當他收到一封從旅館寄來的抱歉信，保證這事不會再發生時他非常的滿意。但他的喜悅之情持續不久，當他發現一張辦公室內部用的紙條夾在裏面，上面說：「寄給那個人這一封蟲的信。」
一個農夫有一個兒子名叫約翰，他對於別人叫他做的事欠思考也不太在乎。有一天他的父親對他說：「約翰，你非常的不小心而且健忘，我將釘一個釘子進入那個柱子，提醒你是何等的頑皮，每一次你若做對了，我會拔一根出來。」他的父親真的照他所說的做，每天有時是一根，有時很多根被釘入，但是很少被拔出的。最後約翰看到柱子釘滿了釘子，但是很少有被拔出的，他開始對他自己有這麼多的錯事十分的羞愧。他開始決定成為一個好男孩，隔天因為他很乖，許多釘子被拔出。接下來一樣的事情發生並持續一段時間，直到只剩下一根釘子。然後他的父親把他叫過來對他說：「約翰，這是最後一根釘子，現在我要把他拔出來，你有沒有很高興。約翰哭泣著說：「有，釘子不見了，但是傷痕還在那裏。」
Nails in the Post, by M. F. Cowdery, in The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life’s Journey p. 24, edited by William J. Bennett, Simon & Schuster
There was once a farmer who had a son named John, a boy very apt to be thoughtless, and careless about doing what he was told to do.
One day his father said to him, “John, you are so careless and forgetful, that every time you do wrong, I shall drive a nail into that post, to remind you how often you are naughty. And every time you do right I will draw one out.” His father did as he said he would, and every day he had one and sometimes a great many nails to drive in, but very seldom one to draw out.
At last John saw that the post was quite covered with nails, and he began to be ashamed of having so many faults. He resolved to be a better boy, and the next day he was so good and industrious that several nails came out. The day after it was the same thing, and so on for a long time, till only one nail remained. His father then called him, and said, “Look, John here is the very last nail, and now I’m going to draw it out. Are you not glad?”
“Yes”, sobbed John, “the nails are gone, but the scars are still there.”
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有個人去請教猶太教師，問道：「夫子啊！我做錯了事，因為我毀謗了我的朋友，散佈了關於他的謠言，實在懊悔極了。我已經去找我的朋友向他坦承我所做的事並祈求他的原諒，結果他好心地原諒了我的過犯。現在我來求神的赦免，因我觸犯了祂的誡命。所以，夫子！我來找你，看看要怎要做，才能在毀謗和中傷朋友的這件事上得到赦免？」那位猶太教師想了一想之後，問他：「你看到我床上的那個鵝毛枕頭沒有？你拿著那個枕頭到市中心的廣場上，將枕頭劃開，讓裡頭的羽毛飛出來，這就是對你說壞話、做壞事的懲罰了」。那個人雖然感到納悶，但還是照著做了。他在市中心的廣場劃開枕頭，並看著裡頭的羽毛飛出來，隨即消失在空中。於是他回去見那個教師，告訴他：「我已拿著枕頭到了市中心的廣場，劃開枕頭並讓裡頭的羽毛飛走。現在我該已經從毀謗、中傷我的朋友這件事上獲得赦免了吧？」「不！」，他說：「你的功課還沒做完，你才剛做了一半。很好！羽毛是都飛走了，但現在我耍你將它們都找回來」。
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老王習慣早上起來就到老張的早餐店，叫份燒餅油條和豆漿，來填飽肚子。貪小便宜的老王總是在豆漿喝到一半的時候，向老張抱怨豆漿太甜了，要求加點豆漿沖淡，又喝了一點，又抱怨豆漿不夠甜，要求再加點糖，如此往返，倒佔了不少便宜。
有天，老王和老張不約而同參加附近教會的佈道會，台上講員鼓勵聽眾要學習尋求別人的饒恕，也要饒恕得罪你的人。老王深受感動，就走到老張面前請求老張原諒他，因為他常在吃早餐時，佔他的便宜，此時，老張就說：「我原諒你但請你也原諒我。」老王不解地問：「為什麼？」老張不好意思地說，「當你每次要求我加豆漿或加糖時，我常生氣地在豆漿裡面吐了點口水再端給你喝。」老王一聽見這話 不勝其怒，給了老張一個巴掌，生氣地說：「你怎麼可以這樣？」
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畫家達文西( Leonardo da Vinci)在創作「最後的晚餐」時，他所遇到最大挑戰就是如何去畫耶穌和十二使徒的臉。他先畫十二使徒，帶著輕鬆喜悅又敬畏的心情，其實達文西並沒有遇到太大的挑戰，但當他畫到賣主的猶大時，一股怨恨、不情願、惡毒的情緒湧上心頭。他苦思良久，想著要怎樣去畫猶大的臉，最後他想到了一個他討厭的人，一個到現在他仍憎恨又憤怒的人。達文西一想到此就覺得是報仇的機會，因此欣喜、毫不猶豫、沾沾自喜地決定用這個仇人的臉當猶大的臉。但當他要畫耶穌的臉時，他遇到極大的困難，他來來回回嘗試了幾次都不滿意，最後他不得不以那個他用來畫猶大的敵人的臉作為素材，據此畫出耶穌的臉；結果令他很滿意，因此一幅傳世經典之作就這樣完成了。
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Quotes引證 :
悔改是把傷害我們的事轉為一個可以醫治我們的人。
Repentance is turning from something that’s hurting us to someone who can heal us. Ted Roberts
饒恕不是一個聖潔的遺忘把過去抹去。它是一個醫治的經歷，把毒素從傷口引流出來。
Forgiveness is not a case of ‘holy amnesia’ that wipes out the past. Instead, it is the experience of healing that drains the poison from the wound.
饒恕比報復好。如果你想要報復，就去挖兩個墳墓。約翰.米頓John Milton
Forgiveness is better than revenge. If you want revenge, then dig two graves. John Milton
饒恕比報復好，饒恕是柔和本性的象徵，但是報復象徵著兇惡的本質。
Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature.
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FRIENDS 朋友
A Friend is . . . . .
Accepts you as you are 接受原本的你
Believes in "you" 相信你這個人
Calls you just to say "Hi" 打電話給你就是想說聲 " 嗨 "
Doesn't give up on you 從不放棄對你的信心
Envisions the whole of you 預期你總是盡全力
Forgives your mistakes 原諒你的過錯
Gives unconditionally 無條件地過錯
Helps you 幫助你
Invites you over 邀請你
Just "be" with you 靜靜地在你的身旁
Keeps you close at heart 靠近你的心
Loves you for who you are 因你原來的樣子而愛你
Makes a difference in your life 使你的生活與以往不同
Never judges 不間斷
Offers support 支持你
Picks you up 扶你一把
Quiets your fears 止息你的懼怕
Raises your spirits 鼓舞你的心靈
Says nice things about you 跟別人述說你好的那一面
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it 當需要時會告訴你實情
Understands you 懂你
Values you 看重你
Walks beside you 與你同行
X-plain things you don't understand 解你的疑惑
Yells when you won't listen and 在你聽不下時會大吼一下
Zaps you back to reality 把你拉回現實
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What Are Friends For?
Published: New York Times, April 20, 2009
Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.
In 2006, a study of nearly 3,000 nurses with breast cancer found that women without close friends were four times as likely to die from the disease as women with 10 or more friends. And notably, proximity and the amount of contact with a friend wasn’t associated with survival. Just having friends was protective.
Bella DePaulo, a visiting psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose work focuses on single people and friendships, notes that in many studies, friendship has an even greater effect on health than a spouse or family member. In the study of nurses with breast cancer, having a spouse wasn’t associated with survival.
While many friendship studies focus on the intense relationships of women, some research shows that men can benefit, too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-age Swedish men, attachment to a single person didn’t appear to affect the risk of heart attack and fatal coronary heart disease, but having friendships did. Only smoking was as important a risk factor as lack of social support.
Last year, researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone.
The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/21well.html?_r=2&em
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1992年12期《Psychology Today》就朋友間最重要和很重要的品質進行調查，結果如下：
保持信任 89%
忠誠 88%
熱誠/友情 82%
支持 76%
坦率 75%
幽默感 74%
願化時間相處62%
Psychology Today (12/92) surveys respondents on what qualities are “most important” or “very important” in a friend:
Keeps confidences - 89%
Loyalty - 88%
Warmth, affection - 82%
Supportiveness - 76%
Frankness - 75%
Sense of humor - 74%
Willingness to make time for me – 62%
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有一次，倫敦一家報紙舉辦猜猜看的有獎徵答，題目是：「到倫敦最短的捷徑是什麼？」，可想而知，信件如雪花一般紛至，各種不同的理論百家爭鳴，而讀者也緊緊盯著這些理論，直到報社公佈他們的得獎答案。得獎的答案是：「到倫敦最短的捷徑是路上有一個好的伴侶同行」，因為不論路途有多遠，只要有一個知心的伴侶同行，就算千山萬水也像近在眼前」。
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Quotes引證 :
He removes the greatest ornament of friendship who takes away from it respect. Cicero.
So long as we love we serve;
So long as we are loved by others
I would almost say that we are indispensable;
And no man is useless while he has a friend.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
最好的朋友就是他把最好的給我。
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Henry Ford
在向朋友借錢之前，先想清楚你更需要什麼。
Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need more.
朋友在你生活中好比柱廊上的支柱。有時他們支撐你，有時他們仰賴你。
Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you. Elizabeth Foley
印地安人說：二人間的友誼靠一方的忍耐維系。
Friendship between two persons depends upon the patience of one. Indian saying
客僅三日新，魚僅三日腥。
Fish and visitors smell in three days. Benjamin Franklin
讓那些不會孤獨的人了解什麽是團體，讓那些不在團體中的人了解什麽是個人獨處。
Let him who cannot be alone beware of community . . . . Let him who is not in community beware of being alone . Dietrich Bonhoeffer
每位個體都有難以自拔的陷阱和危險。尋求沒有孤獨的夥伴關系的人，就會陷入空虛的言語和感情，那些尋求沒有同伴的孤獨的人，就會在空虛、愚蠢和絕望的深淵中敗壞腐朽。
Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self infatuation, and despair. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
如果你想四處逢源，必須使瞎子也喜歡你。
If you want to be popular, live so that a blind person would like you.
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