陳 宗 俊 教 授
陳教授，沒有想到今天來訪問您。記得我們曾是中學同學，那時是在四川，轉眼已是數十寒暑了！
真的，時間過得真快！那時你我都是「流亡學生」。想到那段國難重重的日子雖苦，是令人懷念的。我如今還不時想起那時我們拿來當肉吃的蒸黃豆，真是津津有味。還記得嗎？一碗陽春麵，一客「玻璃」（白開水）便算是享受了。營養不良！怪不得後來你我都病倒了！
對。您是在四川就病，我倒是到了台灣才病。
是，那時您從台大畢業不久，剛剛信主。我還未信。往事回想起來實在令人感嘆不己。我深深覺得，在我未曾認識神之前，祂已經在冥冥中引導我的路。當初我投考國防醫學院和中央大學醫學院。國防先放榜，我無家可歸，就去報到了，一報到就剃了個光頭，到中央放榜時，，當然已經太遲了。入國防醫學院實在是神為我選擇的路，若沒有進入軍醫學院，就不會隨校遷台，也不會看您的病，您也就沒有機會領我信主了。總之，十分奇妙。
實在是的，當我們在北山公園一起讀書一起遊戲，一起作息的時候，更絕未想到今天我們都在美國成家立業，也沒有想到您的事業如此成功。可否讓我們的讀者知道一點您的學業與工作經歷呢？
我自從在國防醫學院畢業後，就在三軍總院受訓後當醫師，直到神給我開路到美國。來到美國在費城賓州大學醫學院先後
放 射 線 學 專 家
進修四年。最後到北加羅林納州杜克大學醫學院放射線科任教，現在是該科正教授及胸腔診斷部主任。
杜克大學和賓州大學的醫學院都是舉世著名的，這真是出於名門，而又教於名門啦。我知道您被列入「美國名人錄」和「世界名人錄」。請問您最大的貢獻是在那一部門呢？
我想，我的貢獻是心臟愛克司光診斷。教學方面我也盡了很大的努力，所以最欣慰的還是從學生而來的榮譽。
怎麼樣的榮譽？
例如被選入ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA 醫科榮譽學會，被選「模範老師」，以及去年頒給的甘尼教學獎。
那真太好了！外國人在美國教書已經不易，被選為「模範老師」就更難了，真是極其光榮的事。您對學生一定是像對自己的孩子一般，不但教育他們腦筋上的學問，更給他們待人接物上的道理了，使他們成為未來的好醫生。說一句笑話；老同學真要刮目相視了！好啦，請告訴我們一點您在醫學上的成就吧。
我發表了不少醫學文章，大多是心臟血管有關的疾病診斷方面，其次是胸腔肺臟的診斷。在心臟診斷方面，我發現了十來種愛克司光現象。
您如此輕描淡寫地說，似乎要隱藏這些發現與努力，好像是完全不花功夫得來似的。但我知道您是一個苦幹的人，不知花了多少心血在這些研究與發現中，因為我仍記得，當您在賓州醫學院作住院醫生的時候，常常通宵不眠。我問您：「這樣，那您怎麼吃得消呢？」您回答說：「多吃點飯！」
「還要運動！」
對，還要運動，這是一個很好的忠告。好了，且問您身為科學家，為何要信有神呢？
宇宙的奇妙令我不能不承認必定有一位創造萬有，統管萬有的神。人和人的智慧、才幹都是從祂而來。科學家窮一生的努力不過只能發現神在創造之初已經立定的自然律中的一點一滴而已一滄海一粟，真是微不足道！聖經告訴我們：「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端。」我在信神以前，是個無用的糊塗人，沒有正確的人生觀，不知自己從何而來，往那裏去，也不知活是為什麼。我認為我相信的是自己，真是自大的可笑！結果，自然是一敗塗地。自從我悔改歸向基督，接受祂作我個人的救主，神的恩典實在夠我用。他是我的力量、詩歌和拯救。我將一切的榮耀都歸給祂！也謝謝您領我信主。
不客氣！也真是的，在中學時，我們都是失喪的人。感謝主，後來我們都先後在同一教會受洗歸入基督，成了我們人生的轉捩點！您上面的話，叫我們心裏直叫「啊門！」「哈利路亞，感謝主！」現在，可否請您向我們的讀者講一點：您做醫生如何靠主來為人做事？
我們在醫學院任職的醫師，除了教書看病，還要作研究，寫文章，趕預備開會的資料等等。白天時間不夠分配，就用晚上的時間，工作壓力之大難以想像。人事上的紛擾時常難免。在這樣的情況下，神的話、神的安慰，由神而來的喜悅便成了我的力量。每天起來與神交通片刻，提醒自己：「這是耶和華所定的日子，我們在其中要高興歡喜。」每天睡覺以前，總會體會到神的恩典夠用：祂時刻與我同在，叫我在凡事上靠祂得勝有餘，不與人計較，作事像是為神作的，不是為人作的，心裏自然充滿了平安、喜樂與盼望。
您信主後的人生觀，宇宙觀都有了很大的改變，可否和我們分享？
我相信人生的目的是討神的喜悅，事奉祂、榮耀祂。天地萬物都是神造的，叫人管理並享受。但人在這世界上乃是寄居的，天家才是我們永遠的家鄉。
既談到天家，也請您介紹一下您寄居在地上的家庭好嗎？
我們的家庭很簡單，只有我們夫婦兩個人，我們是一個單元。我最近出版了一本心臟X光科的書，是好幾年勞苦的結果。寫書，正如其他許多事務，我往往不用秘書而用太太幫忙，因為太太不是唯命是從，而是敢批評、建議、編輯。內子喜歡音樂，專長鋼琴、大鍵琴和管風琴；也致力於寫作和翻譯。她的文稿我也過目批評，互相幫忙。我出醫書時她同時也出版了一本遊記『往來一萬三千里』，是我們前往開會各地的感觀。
您還記得您們夫婦結婚之前的一個聖誕前夕，我們邀請您們來我們公寓一起渡聖誕佳節的光景嗎？那時我們住在紐澤西州，您們在費城。現在我們住得遠多了，碰頭也不如以往方便了。記得在費城時，您們有查經班，您們現在如何？
我們現在住的地方也有中國信徒的團契，我們也在其中有事奉。在我們所屬的美國教會中我也擔任過長老的職務。在團契裏的活動要看當時的需要，或領慕道同學的福音班，或領基督徒的造就班；最固定的工作是燒飯，抬桌子擺椅子等，每星期週而復始。
嫂夫人在團契中也一定很吃重吧！記得她完成了賓州大學英國文學博士課程之後，就助編輯「使者」雜誌好幾年。您們是極好的配搭。從那個聖誕日早晨，看您們的車子從冰天雪地的路上駛返費城，那景象仍深深的印在我的心裏，那時候，我就知道您們這一對是神所巧配的！喔！在您的記憶裏，有沒有特殊的生命片斷可以與我們大家分享。
先說我歸主的經歷吧。我在得救的前後，我心靈有很大的重擔、波浪。幾日幾夜，什麼也不能作，只反覆翻讀「荒漠甘泉」一書，讀到耶穌的話：「我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們，我所賜的不像世人所賜的，你們心裏不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。」這幾句恩言打入我的心，如春雨臨乾旱之地，我的重擔脫落，心靈也得到了安慰和甦醒。
還有一次我為一件急事向神祈求，日夜禱告委託
共兩年之久，在人看來，似乎是絕望的情況，但我知道：在人不能的，在神都能。我每天口唱心和的反覆思想一首短歌：「我知救主為我預備道路，我知救主為我預備道路，仰望主懇切祈求，雖黑夜也變白晝，我知救主為我預備道路。」果然，驟然間，烏雲散去，黎明的光越照越明，直到日午。等候了兩年毫無跡象的事，神的時候一到，便在二十一天之內十全十美的為我成就了。
在其他事上，諸如職業上的去留也是往往情況極其複雜，不易決定。在近十多年來，我們科裏換過三次主任，每次人事變動都很大，情況也很不穩定，但主的帶領是奇妙的，祂總是給我一個不變的原則：「無論作什麼，都要從心裏作，像是給主作的，不是給人作的。」我們中國俗語也說：「以不變，應萬變。」聖經上還有一句話對我們日常的生活極有幫助：「你不要為惡所勝，反要以善勝惡。」當然，還有我最愛的詩篇二十三篇，更是我隨時的力量和安慰：「耶和華是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏….祂使我的靈魂甦醒，為自己的名引導我走義路。我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為與我同在。的杖、的竿都安慰我….」
JAMES T. T. CHEN, MD
Professor
Chen, I never dreamed that I would interview you one day. We were classmates in
high school in
Indeed,
how time flies! We were both “refugee students” then. It was wartime. The
country was going through such a tribulation. Was a struggles
for all of us. Nevertheless, I have
many fond memories of that period of our lives. Even now I still often think of
the steamed soybean we ate as meat substitutes: how delicious it seemed to be.
And do you remember? A bowl of noodles with a few leaves of vegetables, and a
cup of “glass” (plain boiled water) were considered to be a treat! No wonder
that malnutrition made us ill.
You’re
right. You fell ill in Szechwan; and I, later, in
Yes,
you had just graduated from
crew cut. When I
received an acceptance
letter from
Yes,
indeed! When we were studying, playing and working together in the park of the
North hill, we never dreamed that one day we would get married and establish
ourselves in
After
graduating from
The
medical schools of both Duke and
I
think my contribution is mainly in the field of cardiac diagnostic
radiology. I also work very hard at
being a good teacher, so recognition from my students really gives me more joy
than any other honors.
What
kind of recognition?
Well,
such as being elected the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society, and being
voted teacher of the year. Last
year, I was given the Thomas D. Kinney Teaching Award.
How
wonderful! It is by no means easy for a foreigner to teach in
Well,
I’ve written many articles on the x-ray diagnosis of various cardiovascular
diseases, and a few on pulmonary problems. I’ve discovered about ten
radiological phenomena for the diagnosis of cardiopulmonary disorders.
You
make it sound as if the whole thing is quite simple. However, I know you’re an extremely
hardworking fellow, you must have done a tremendous
amount of research before you arrived at your discoveries. I remember that when you were in
training at the
Yes,
I exercise a lot.
That’s
good advice. Now, can you tell us, as a scientist, why is it that you believe
in God?
This
wonderful universe makes it impossible for me to deny that there is a God, who
is the creator and supreme ruler of all.
There is no other wisdom, no other talent, but what is given by Him.
Moreover, after spending a lifetime working, doing research, all that a
scientist can ever discover is but a tiny part of the law of nature as it was
set in place by God himself at the time of creation, --- a drop in the ocean indeed,
very insignificant. The Bible tells
us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.” Before I believed in God, I was a
useless and aimless person ---I had no clear philosophy of life. I didn’t know
and what was the purpose of my life. I thought I believed in myself. What a ridiculous arrogance! The result of course was a
disaster. After realizing how
helpless I was, I came to the Lord in repentance, and to receive Him as my
personal savior. Since then, God’s
grace has been sufficient for me.
He is my strength, my song, my salvation. To Him be all
the glory! I must say thanks to you
for leading me to Christ.
Oh,
you’re more than welcome! It’s
really true, we were lost children when we were in
high school. Thanks to God, both of
us eventually became Christians and were baptized in the same church. That was the turning point of our
lives. What you’ve just said filled
me with joy. I found myself
silently saying “Amen! Hallelujah! Thank the Lord!” Now, can you tell our readers how your
faith affects your daily life as a physician?
Those
of us who work in a
medical school are responsible for not only teaching and patient
care, but also research, writing papers and make presentations for endless
conferences. If there’s not enough
time during the day, we go back again to work at night. The work is never done, and the pressure
is overwhelming and friction among colleagues is frequently unavoidable. Whenever such unpleasantness arises, I
draw comfort, strength and joy from God’s word. I start every morning with a moment of
fellowship with God, reminding myself that “this is the day the Lord has
made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” And every night before I go to bed, I
look back and realize that God’s grace has indeed been sufficient for me. He is with me all day, and with his
help, I’m able to overcome more difficulties. I do everything as for the Lord, and not
for men only, so I don’t feel any need to argue, to demand fairness at every
turn, and heart is filled with peace, joy and hope.
After
you became a Christian, your philosophy of life and your world of view have changed drastically,
will you share something about that with us?
I
believe that the purpose of a man’s life is to please God, serve God and to
glorify God. All things are created by Him for our
enjoyment, and we should be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Nevertheless, on earth we are but
travelers. Our eternal home is in
heaven.
Speaking
of home, can you tell us something about your family?
I’ve
a very simple family. There are
only two of us, my wife and I. We are a team. Last year, I published a textbook on
cardiac roentgenology. It was the culmination of
several years of hard work. In
writing that book, as in many other matters, my wife help
me. Unlike a secretary, my wife
does not give me unquestioned obedience.
She criticizes, makes suggestions, and edits my writing. She help me so
much that I dedicated that book to her!
My
wife is well-rounded, in addition to playing piano, harpsichord, and pipe
organ, she writes and does translation.
When my medical book came out, she published a collection of travel
essays, her impressions on the various places we have been to, attending
meetings and giving lectures. I read her
manuscript, we help each other.
Do
you remember that Christmas eve long time ago before
you two were married, when you spent Christmas with us? We were in
We
also serve in a Chinese Christian Fellowship. We attend an American church, where I
have served as an elder. Our
responsibilities in the fellowship depend largely on current needs. Sometimes I teach a class for
non-Christians, other times, I lead Bible study for believers, all depending on
the need at that time. But our enduring
responsibility throughout the years has been cooking and setting up tables and
chairs for the fellowship super, a weekly affair.
I
suppose Mrs. Chen is also working hard with you to serve in the fellowship. I
remember that after she finished her doctoral studies in English literature at
the
Well,
my conversion is one. It was a time
of great upheaval in my life. I was so miserable that for several days and
nights. I could do nothing but read
the book Streams in the Desert. I came across these word spoken by Jesus:
“ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and so not be afraid.”
These comforting words came like rain in the spring to my parched
soul. I accepted them by faith,
peace entered my heart, and my soul was whole again.
Another
time, I prayed to God for an urgent need.
I pleaded with him day and night for two years. From human point of view, the situation
was hopeless, but I knew that what was impossible with man was possible with
God. Everyday I sang this hymn over
and over in my heart: “ I know the Lord will make a
way for me. If I look to Him and
pray, darkest night will turn to day, I know the Lord will make a way for me.”
Sure enough, one day, at long last, the dark clouds suddenly dispersed. The first gleam of dawn broke out, the
sun appeared, shining brighter and brighter till it
reached the full light of noon.
After two years’ seemingly futile waiting, the Lord answered my prayer
and worked out everything perfectly for me.
It
is the same way with other important decisions in my life, for instance,
whether to take a new job or to stay with my old one, the situation is often
complex, and decision is difficult.
In the last ten years, out department has changed chairmen three
times. Every time it brought on a
big change in personnel and an unavoidable period of instability. But through all these difficult times,
the Lord has guided me. He gave me
an absolute principle to live by : “Whatever you do,
work at it with all your hearts, as working for the Lord, not for men.” We Chinese also have a saying: ”Deal with all changes with unchanging integrity.” Another verse in the Bible I’ve found
extremely useful for my daily living is : “ Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” And of course, my favorite chapter is
the Bible, the 23rd Psalm, is an unfailing source of strength and
comfort: “ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be
want …….He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s
sake. Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me ………”