友情无价。。。我怀念的 -- 友谊食物篇

那博君一笑的文章， 心领了！
的确让我笑得前俯后仰。
周末的刻意上网和电话，在你的部落各中提起我，是让我在异乡不寂寞。

我们学mobeizao 和caishenjiang； 学 阿琼和阿桂；
人家说我们象是小学生的好朋友。
两个人吃KFC四人份的buddy meal; 在东海岸吃得下满桌的菜后还去吃榴莲；
吃waffle ice cream 的速度快到你回家吐；
我们一起吃东西总是要饱到tip over才甘愿。

我们吃麻辣火锅时讲我们所谓的遗憾， 让我们笑到流眼泪。
在喝酒间假装访问你的人生哲理为你庆生； 在我最喜爱的餐厅非得吃那因误会而点的炸香蕉甜品。

这些吃得笑的都让我笑着怀念。

If I were...

If I were in sg, I would order for myself a plate of orh lua plus a cup of teh 'O'...
If I were in sg, Beck and I would shop and have ice-cream at Causeway point on Sunday afternoon while Mao is taking his nap...
If I were in sg, I would take over Church Anniversary project from HL so she can concentrate on growing her baby...
If I were in sg, I would be reliving the past at the Church Anniversary celebration...
If I were in sg, I would watch stage dramas and the movie 'Chi Bi 2'...
If I were in sg, I would set up the Christmas Tree at home...
If I were in sg, I would kiss and hug and smell Mao Mao...
If I were in sg, I would take over Beck's song lead in view of her sore throat and the many weddings to attend...
If I were in sg, I would be rejoicing with JL and XM each at their weddings...
If I were in sg, I would be gorging myself with Hokkien mee, Barbeque Stingray, Char Chao Chao Rou Fan, Lychee flavoured Bubble tea, Bah Chor Mee, Hay Mee, Ban Mian, Rojak, Kway Chap, Bah Kut Teh, etc, etc...

But then again,
If I were still in sg, I would be so tired and drained by work that is forever sucking my blood leaving me passionless...
If I were still in sg, I would be skeptical and tired out by ministries, rendering me ineffective, bitter and guilty that I should feel this way...
If I were still in sg, I would continue to be blur and vague about issues that are important, not knowing or having courage or chance to live life right...
If I were still in sg, I would soon be a lifeless moving body, incapable of feeling due to the numbness to life...

Hence the fact that am here serves a purpose. A very good purpose in fact. It is WORTH IT. (after all that money spent...hahahaha)

我是社会工作者

上星期三，和一位不太熟的朋友谈起我的职业。
每当提起我的职业，我总是略带点骄傲和一点愧疚的说我是一名社会工作者。

朋友问为什么投身吃力不讨好的行业。 我说It's a Calling.
坦白说，我对社会工作还有许多还没理清的理念，还有未克服的心理障碍。
我讨厌肮脏和臭味。我会怀疑贫穷是否是因为各人的懒惰。我不是常常都充满爱心的。
因为我是社工，所以我知道，帮助人是很累的， 是会被骗被骂的，是需要很大智慧的， 而功效常常是很小的。
于是我需要暂时喊停。

但，正如你我看到贫穷人时，心理会下沉会不忍；
我坚信帮助有需要的人，是上帝要祂的子民作的事。而那心中的下沉和不忍，是上帝给我们的感动。
当我说我要学习爱人如己时，我就不能看着原本该有上帝形象的人，活得连狗都不如还无动于衷。
所以身为基督徒的， 对帮助有需要的人，都当是义不容辞的。这份责任，不受年龄，背景，人生阶段， 经济情况影响。

可是现代的基督徒，是不是被个人主义（Individualism）影响多过受圣经教导的影响。
信仰，光是回答我们心中问题， 让我们感觉好，和拥有多一个社交圈子吗？
要影响基督徒和教会，岂不是另一项巨大无比的工程？

今天的崇拜信息， 取自使徒行传4：32-37， 是要沉浸在上帝的恩典中，才能享受施与的态度和行动。
沉浸在上帝的恩典中是窍门。其实也是喜乐生命的窍门。让我们一起学习吧！

发光如星

不经意的在网上接触到在今年二月突然逝世的唱片制作人兼歌手，马兆骏的新闻。留意到他是因为他在“康熙来了”节目上唱了几句他的新作品《起初的爱》。之前并不知道马兆骏是基督徒的我，才听了几句，就马上知道这歌是写给上帝的。
歌词里没有耶稣， 上帝，Hallelujah之类的词句，但是却能让人一听就知道和流行歌曲有所不同。在“康熙来了”这样一个节目里，听到这样的歌让人有点惊讶。于是搜寻了关于他的新闻。

马兆骏作词，作曲，或演唱的歌曲据说有五百多首。其中一些我有印象的有：
马兆骏《我要的不多》，伊能静《爸爸不要说》，《会有那么一天》，张信哲《宽容》，等等。不经意的又发现还有一首我不久前，在开车时听到电台播出，象是基督教但当时不确定的歌曲：范玮琪《心的发现》。

据资料显示，马兆骏很年轻时就成名，但在他32 岁时，因父亲去世深受打击，而意志消沉，甚至酗酒吸毒。他之后接受福音，生命大大的改变。《宽容》是他在信主后写给太太的歌。除了在歌曲里散布基督教思想外，他也常在上节目时坦荡荡的谈论他的信念。

在网上断断续续看到为他办的一场《发光如星- 马兆骏纪念音乐会》。参与的艺人是空前的多，信徒和非信徒的歌手， 还是超大牌的歌手都来支持。 感动的是好多位艺人都见证这位基督徒生命的改变和爱心。

在他的专业领域里散布基督教理念和思想，让上帝的爱渗透进所谓世俗的世界。这正是为主发光如星。但愿你我能效法。

ps: 有人在台湾能帮我买这套《发光如星- 马兆骏纪念音乐会》的DVD吗？我在网上找不到。我真的想买，想支持。

我怀念的。。。 工作编

11th floor CSSD and SYD rendezvous

I miss the first year of working, esp...

...the time when we were running my first ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. Manning the counter with Denise who was perpetually coughing at that time, and I got her warm water to soothe her throat.

...the time when we had did a "oonga boonga" cheer. I still remember part of it that goes..." Oonga boonga, we are good ah, work ah, play ah, all can do ah..." And we dressed ourselves with garbage bags.

... the time when we had a Sports Day, CSSD is green team with our Director Amy as our Mascot.

...the time when we went for a buffet lunch at Marina Mandarins Hotel with Denise, Selena, Grace, Lilian and Jessie( I think) on 31 Dec 2000. We took pic with Grace's Polaroid sticker camera outside the hotel along Orchard Rd.

...the time when I was with Denise and Selena (I think) at Cafe Cartel at Serangoon Gardens, and Denise mistook something for a big raw chicken on top of their oven. And we laughed at her saying, even if she is Mrs Kway, she didn't have to see everything as chicken.

...the time when Selena suddenly challenged us to speak without letting our lips touch each other, and Denise gamely tried giving instructions without letting her lips touch...argh argh argh argh....hilarious!


I never thought office was so fun and never laughed so much in office again...