Best Birthday Present

Originally wanted to finish my lunch first before coming to school to receive the "fruits of my labour" - the long awaited GCE 'N' Level results for English Language for the entire 4NA stream. But just as I set off, I received a sms from Ms Evonne Tham. She informed me that 100% of the 4NA pupils pass the English Language 'N' Level exam. I was in high spirits (very happy and proud / jubilant) and praised the Lord instantaneously. Yes, once again, He had helped me and all my pupils to achieve such excellent results. Thank you, dear Lord Jesus! All glory and praises be to God! I then decided to change my mind to bring packed lunch to school and 'savour' (to enjoy sth) my results as I consumed lunch.

Besides being grateful to God's divine blessings, I also need to express my appreciation to each and every 2008 4NA student who has contributed to such glorious results. This is indeed the best present that you can give me before my birthday. I'm truly impressed with the results of the majority of you. Congratulations to those who scored distinction for English Language: Ali, Javin, Kevin, Ridhwan, Kian Wei, Agnes Ong, Hardi, Benny, Danyal, Khalisah, Nadhirah, Kuang Sheng, Christina, Andy and Melvinder. For those who are promoted, remember to work even harder next year as passing 'O' level English Language exam may be considered an uphill (difficult) task to most of you.

For the ten students who are not promoted to Sec 5NA, please do not be disheartened. Failing an examination does not mean that you are of no use. It either indicates that you had not put in enough effort in your studies or you might be more suited to courses of a less academic nature. Moreover, good character precedes (comes before) good results in the development of your future. You can clearly see what will happen to you when you manage to become a prestigious figure of authority but lack integrity, if you have been following the news of the destiny of the corrupt Taiwan former president Chen Shui-bian.

Hence, whether you are promoted or not, regardless of whichever environment you will be in, I pray that God will watch over you and will prevent you from being led astray. May you stand firm in your religious belief and cling on to your moral values always. May God bless you.

First Christmas

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is told by Joseph's donkey, Zeke. This telling of the wondrous birth of Jesus together with the fascinating illustrations will delight children and adults alike and remind us all of the real meaning of Christmas.



(This is my fourth issue of Pauline Catechism section in my new church bulletin called The Apostles.)

主耶稣，祢是活泉

在国华大哥的鼓励下，妈妈和我毅然报名参加为时三天半的“归来吧！我的宝贝”音乐侍奉营。妈妈原本担心很多问题：怕早上不能这样早起来啦、怕不够睡眠，精神不足啦、担心不懂能表演什么啦、更担心遭鄙视。差一点萌起放弃的念头了，却还是踏出第一步出席了第一天的活动。我则是满怀期待与喜悦的心情去参加这个侍奉营。

到了12月8日，所有音乐侍奉营的参加者都到圣体堂报到。我们在那里望弥撒并参与彩排，为晚上“归来吧！我的宝贝”的演出做最后的冲刺。

午餐过后，我们本想去圣体室祈祷，谁知到了那边，里面已经有很多人在祈祷了。没法子，虽然下着雨，我们还是决定撑着一把伞走到大教堂去，很凑巧的，大教堂内正有一台英语弥撒在进行中。妈妈就提议找一个适当的角落去祈祷。我们走着走着，竟找到一座有耶稣神像，又有流水的小石山。妈妈一知道那座神像是耶稣，便雀跃地呼喊着；“主耶稣！主耶稣！”妈妈“飞奔似地投入主的怀里”，跟着便滔滔哭诉着这几天郁积在她心中的委屈、惧怕及焦虑。我在一旁一边听，一边默祷，求主赐给我妈力量及信心，泪水也禁不住地滑落双颊。妈妈逐带领我念三遍的天主经，圣母经及光荣颂。诵念这些经文时，妈妈心中的悲伤更强烈，泪水仍然不停地流着。

念完经文后，妈妈突然问我：“你有想到什么吗？”我为之愕然。的确，在默祷时，听着潺潺的流水声，看着流水沿着小山坡流入锦鲤鱼池中和雨水打落在鱼池中所产生的水花四溅的景象，令我联想到《植在溪畔树下》MTV中的瀑布。我心想那岂不是代表圣神的活水吗？当我说出这个答案后，谁知妈妈说她也想到圣神活水。我们母女俩顿时都被圣神赐予的这份心有灵犀深受感动。妈妈便要求我带领她唱这首歌。我们边唱边流泪。

离开了那座小石山后，妈妈告诉我她刚才听到主耶稣的声音。“别担心，别害怕，回去吧，孩子，我会看顾你，我会赐给你力量。”起初，她还舍不得离开。后来，耶稣的声音再次响起：“孩子，回去吧，别在这边淋雨了。”感谢主！赞美主！祢的确是活生生的主，随时随地给我们依靠，抚慰我们，医治我们。

回到达勉礼堂后，又是另一轮的赞美敬拜。那位领赞美敬拜的姐妹问大家：“主耶稣配得我们赞美吗？”这时，群众答复的声音不是很响亮，可能是因为大家要为了演出而“保留元气”，所以不敢大喊。她再问：“主耶稣配得我们赞美吗？”这次，妈妈和我都毫不保留地从心中呐喊出来：“配！”“主耶稣好不好？”我们再次使劲地喊，“好！”“你们相信主耶稣吗？”我们再三肯定地大喊：“相信！”回想起来，以前在这种场合，我虽然有回应，但却没像这次那么诚恳。那天，我不但口里承认，心里也再一次由衷地相信耶稣是我们的救主。

赞美敬拜开始了。是一首陌生的歌曲《到主跟前来》，但头一行的歌词已深深触动了我。“孩子们，到我跟前来，尽情地欢欣歌唱。”我知道那是仁慈的天主再一次施展祂的大能，通过歌词来抚慰妈妈倍受创伤的心灵。泪水黯然落下。

紧接着就是我们赞美敬拜的预演。我即刻收拾我的心情，登上台阶。当第一首歌《归来吧！我的宝贝》的音乐响起时，我的膝盖居然会随着音乐的节拍自动弯曲。一直到演出当天的早上，当我们在练习赞美敬拜时，组长不断地提醒我膝盖一定要随着音乐的节拍弯下，但我就是办不到。我试着一边唱，一边机械化地弯下双脚，却无可避免地把一些动作给漏了。可是在预演的那一刻，圣神及时赐给了我这个能力，让我既能做出全部的动作，又不用顾虑双脚的摆动。感谢赞美主！阿肋路亚！

演出正式开始了。第一个表演项目就是赞美敬拜。我在台上而妈妈在台下，一起带动观众赞美敬拜。我们以充满感恩的心情，精力充沛地，轻松愉快地歌唱，一边拍掌，一边跳舞，喜乐之河已显然填满我们的心房。

演出快到尾声时，宝琴姐便在台上问有谁愿意接受主耶稣的救恩，愿意接受主耶稣掌管他们的生命，并邀请这些愿意认识主的非教友来到台前，接受神父的降福。有些观众开始移步，走向台前。我不知不觉地踮起脚尖，好像在替天主看有多少人回归祂的羊栈似的。看到有越来越多的非教友走到台前，有年轻的，也有年长的，一阵莫名的感动涌上心头，不禁热泪盈眶，但我知道这次是喜极而泣。我从未有过这样的感觉。以前在弥撒中看到有人领洗，都总是表情冷淡的，不当一回事，内心完全没有一丝喜悦，可是这次的感受却截然不同。我想这也许就是证明我的身体是圣神的宫殿，主活在我心吧！感谢天主让我有这么深刻的体验！也感谢天主拣选我们母女俩参与这次的福传演出！这是我们一生中感到最有意义的赞美敬拜！

终于，整场演出圆满结束。离开圣体堂前，我们母女俩回到下午的栖息地－有主耶稣的小石山。妈妈兴奋地对主耶稣说：“主耶稣，谢谢祢治愈了我，赐我力量与精神。”我也默默地向主道谢。起初，我还迫不及待地要回家了，但妈妈坚持要我照念三遍的天主经，圣母经及光荣颂来感谢天主。于是，我们念了跟下午同样的经文三遍，但不同的是，这次是满心欢喜地诵念经文。所有的泪痕都已消失了，脸上只闪耀着感激的笑容。