阿駿和勝哥 Joe & Anthony
阿駿：
我跟勝哥在10年前經由拓網認識，當時因為勝哥有憂鬱症、教會的服事很重，而我又有嚴重的僵直性脊椎炎、於是他向我提出共組家庭祭壇的建議。我十分贊同，因為：第一，祭壇能夠遮蓋保護我們。第二：祭壇帶下和解。第三：祭壇帶來醫治。
勝哥：
第一個部分，我們談祭壇的遮蓋保護，因為我們每天在教會都形影不離，造成很多教會姊妹的不滿，還有很多的猜測。有一年我們服事聖誕節的戲劇，一位女傳道人，協同牧師要求我們停止演出，他們認為導演跟演員若是有男同性戀會玷污耶穌的聖殿！我們在祭壇中求告主保護我們人身的安全不受破壞，於是這戲劇交由董事會來裁決，最後他們仍然要求如期演出，演出當天受到很大迴響。在這當中很多人因此感動信主，而在一個業績導向的教會中，這位女傳道人跟牧師就不敢再提這件事了，甚至到最後他們必須因這件事引咎辭職。
祭壇第二個好處就是和解，我跟阿駿相差25歲，實在不容易溝通，只有共同順服在一個更高權柄之下、雙方彼此和解才能夠繼續走下去。有一年我們希望參加世貿旅展，但是我們服事的喜樂成長學院，五點多才會結束！阿駿希望我們請假一週，但是我希望不要影響到其他學員，雙方各執一詞。最後在祭壇前我們度過了一個最沈默無言的夜晚。但是第二天天使開路了，突然間所有學員都要提早離開，於是我們多出了一個多小時的時間，此時到世貿時已經五點多了。但神奇的是，我們進去才10分鐘就找到了夢寐以求的行程，並且省下不少錢，當我們六點多離開世貿的時候，心中充滿感激，因為上主他總能讓我們繼續走下去。
阿駿：
在我的小時候爸爸就去中國工作了，對於家裡的關心與問候也基本上是不聞不問，幾乎都是自己處理事情度過，也一直感受到很寂寞，覺得自己的人生總好像少了些什麼，而在這段成長時期也遭受了同儕與鄰居的霸凌，還有陌生人的欺負與搶劫。其實很多時候都想跟自己的母親說這些事情，但一想到媽媽獨自打拼也忍受很大壓力，為了不讓媽媽擔心，所以都忍住不敢說出來。而「父愛」這兩字對我而言一直以來都很陌生，時常羨慕著周遭很多人都能全家開心地一起聊天聚餐，但在我家永遠都沒有實現過…..
直到後來遇到了勝哥，其實我們彼此也都不知道是基督徒，直到見了面認識後，才知道原來我們都是基督徒而且受洗了。不過我在這之前其實是一個游移不定的小羊，離開了上主一陣子，但很奇妙的上主又讓我用這種方式回到祂身邊。
而在我們交往的過程中，也建立了家庭祭壇，每天讀聖經、替別人禱告、也認罪悔改。不過，在建立祭壇也非同想像中的那麼順遂。其實對於當時很年輕的我來說，要好好聽話去築祭壇，說實在也是百般的困難，這就足以讓勝哥很難帶我，雙方之間也發生了多次爭吵，但很奇妙的是上主都會在居中掌權，讓我們度過每段時刻。而其實在這裡也謝謝勝哥耐心的帶領，直到今日直到現在，我們每天都會有固定時間一起築起祭壇讀經禱告認罪與悔改。
其實這麼多年我一直在找尋父愛的定義與答案，但父愛是如影隨形的，因為上主如此的帶領與不離不棄的愛我，其實就是我所需要的父愛。
勝哥：
我們現在談祭壇的第三個好處就是醫治，我在2022年因為注射疫苗而得到末期腎臟病，這病來的又快又急，幾乎奪走我的性命。我們在祭壇前不斷的哭求與求神賜下醫生與貴人，讓我不要被丟到洗腎室去，也感謝主讓我存活至今！
在設立祭壇10年下來，我們盡情的玩樂。但是所有的苦難我們一個也沒有少，就像拿到一片上帝給的苦甜巧克力，當我們品嚐以後才知道那個叫做幸福！
最後，在這邊祝福各位弟兄姊妹找到愛情。若你/妳現在單身也不要放棄，不要輕易妥協，因為我們是神所造的君尊祭司。當我們找到一個愛的人，耶穌他在天堂不知會有多開心，因為他的旨意在地上終於可以成全。
祝福大家一切平安與幸福。
Joe:
I met Anthony 10 years ago via networking and he suggested building a family altar because Anthony was having depression at that time due to his service in many areas at church and I had severe ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine). I agreed readily because firstly, the altar forms a protection over us. Next, the altar brings harmony, and thirdly, it brings healing.
Anthony:
Firstly, let’s discuss the protective properties of the altar. We are constantly together at the church and this caused many sisters in the church to be upset, and there was much suspicion. Once we were serving in the Christmas production and a female preacher who was assisting the pastor wanted us to stop acting in the production because they felt that if the director and actor are gay, it would defile the temple of Jesus. We prayed at the altar that God would protect us and keep us safe, hence the production was given to the board to decide on. In the end, they decided that the play would continue as planned. There were many good reviews on the day of the production, and because of that, many were touched and decided to believe in Jesus. This preacher and pastor didn’t dare to continue talking about this matter as the church focused on the positive outcome of the production. In fact, the preacher and pastor resigned later on.
The second benefit of the altar is harmony. Joe and I have an age difference of 25 years and it can be difficult to communicate. Only when we submit to a greater authority can we compromise and continue journeying together. Once, we wanted to go to a travel fair, but the serving at the Center for Joy and Growth ends at 5pm! Joe hopes that we can take the day off but I didn’t want to affect the other students, and each of us has his own point. Finally, we spent a silent night at the altar. However, on the second day, angels opened a way for us. Unexpectedly, all of the students wanted to leave early and we had an extra hour. When we reached the exhibition hall, it was already after 5pm, but miraculously, we found our dream vacation only 10 minutes after entering, and we got a huge discount. When we left after 6pm, we were filled with gratefulness, because God allowed us to continue journeying together.
Joe:
When I was little, my dad went to China to work and he did not care or ask about what goes on in the family. I handled almost everything by myself and always felt lonely. It was as if something was missing in my life. I was bullied by my peers and neighbors, and was even bullied and robbed by strangers. I often thought of telling my mother about these things but when I thought that my mother was working really hard and feeling a lot of pressure, I did not dare to tell her because I did not want her to worry. Fatherly love was foreign to me, and I was often envious of others around me who could eat and chat with their families but I never experienced that.
We didn’t know that the other person was a Christian until we met and confirmed that we were also baptized. However, before we met I was a wandering sheep who has left God for a while. God brought me back in a wonderous way.
As we are dating, we built a family altar by reading the Bible every day, praying, confessing and repentance. However, creating an altar was not as smooth as imagined, and it was challenging for Anthony to lead me. We argued many times, but God was able to be in control and we were able to journey through all of that. I really need to thank Anthony for leading me through all this and even up to today, we would daily find time to build the altar by reading the bible, praying, confessing and repenting.
In all these years I was trying to find the meaning of a father’s love, but it has been so fleeting, because God’s love is in His leading and His love is always with me. This is exactly the father’s love that I needed.
Anthony:
Let us discuss the third benefit of the altar, which is healing. In 2022 because of vaccination, I had late stage kidney disease. It came very quickly and suddenly and almost took my life. We kept praying and crying out to God to heal and have people help us. So that I don’t have to be left in the dialysis center. Thank God that I am still alive today!
In the 10 years of building the altar, we enjoyed ourselves the best that we could. Even though we had suffering, as if we received a bittersweet chocolate from God, we only knew what bliss was after tasting of it!
Finally, we would hope that our brothers and sisters will find love. If you are single, do not give up and do not compromise, because we are the royal priests created by God. When we find someone we love, Jesus in heaven will be overjoyed, because His plan on earth is complete.
Wishing everyone peace and bliss.
