It's all good....

Passion Conference KL 2008

Got back from the Passion Conference KL on Mon....it totally exceeded my expectations, and blew me away!!!! I'm still high and glowing from the conference today. God knew I needed it to recharge and refuel, even though I didn't know. :) I will post a full blog entry on it once I'm done sorting through the 500 photos Abi took (300-400 of which were of Chris Tomlin alone. ahha!)....no time to sit down and blog leh.

Today, I went for morning staff devotion in church....and it was Wayne and Libby Huirua leading worship!! Totally enjoyed it....and it kinda reaffirmed what I learnt from the Passion conference. Was sharing with Andrea abt it....how it makes a huge difference to have worship led by passionate worshippers! You can really tell when its just part of their daily worship life...it flows so naturally, they don't really have to try very hard. God's presence is so strong and real, and with that, people are just engaged in worship a lot more easily. Gosh, I really pray we grow in our passion here at our own worship min! :) Oh yes, Wayne and Libby were so loving as a couple too! So sweet lah that they're so expressive about it. Ang mohs! heh!

Was listening to Senior Pastor Vincent speak when I made this little observation....one of the young guys from the video dept, Josh, voluntarily pull up a chair for one of the older ladies from Children's min, Celest, when he saw her standing around. It's a small gesture...but it warmed my heart to see love and unity in action within this this team, this church. It's all about taking care of each other isn't it? And I truly believe it shows in the little things. :)

Had a meeting with Pastor Vincent's wife, Jenny, too after the staff devotion over a report they wanted me to write. It was a work meeting...but I came away from it feeling really recharged and...happy! haha! Although part of me was slightly worried about the report I had to write....I left with this deeper impression. You know how some people are so negative they can just suck the life and joy out of you? But on the other hand, you have people whose presence are just so positively refreshing. :) Well, suffice to say, Jenny falls in the latter category.

So all in all, it's been a crazy busy few days.....but I'm grateful that God has been blessing me with strength to 'run'. And there is joy....down deep within it floweth. :) Yays!

"Away, away, away!" :)

Alritey folks! I'm off for a short trip to KL for the Passion Conference. Just finished packing. I don't understand why I always overpack...seriously I can't help it. Anyway, will be back on Mon afternoon....till then have fun at FOP/Singfest/whatever else you're up to. :) I'm still contactable on my hp if you wanna drop me a msg. :)

I'm gonna leave you guys with this rather amusing, but sweet sms exchange btw me n Dawnie. That girl totally rocks my world lah! :)

Mich: The Parachute Band bassist asked A for her hp number so they can chat over coffee leh! OMG! She's so lucky! haha!
Dawn: Cool down Mich...haha! Ask her to bring you. ha!
Mich: Aiyah, like really extra hor if liddat?
Dawn: haha! Yeah actually!
Mich: Bleah. You not affirming one.
Dawn: Orrr....whether you go meet him or not, you'll always be my Michie babes. haha. Can?
Mich: So cute lah u! Trying to cheer me up. haha! Thanx Lawnie. :)

"Oodles of talent"

This review in today's ST by Yeow Kai Chai on JM's "Where the Light is" CD really cracked me up......

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"Don't you just hate John Mayer? He's got oodles of talent, looks yummy and, well, has the best accessory in town, Jennifer Aniston.

Here's another reason to detest him: a double-disc live set that flaunts his credentials as a heart-breaker and a credible musician. Divided into three segments-an acoustic set, his trio and a full band- it covers all the bases beautifully.

Women would swoon at his croon as it drips caramel over slo-mo guitar riffs in songs as deadly as Gravity, Free Fallin' and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.

Guys, on the other hand, would sing along to the triumphant Waiting On the World To Change, as if Barack Obama is already in the house."

Mentos Extorter

Andrea and I have playing this little game lately where we quiz each other with fun, silly music/tv questions, and if the other person gets the answer right, she is rewarded with a roll of mentos. haha! eg. I asked Andrea to guess which episode a particular "Friends" pic displayed on my blog came from...and she guessed correctly "The One with the Late Thanksgiving", Season 10. She asked me to figure out where this John Mayer line came from "All is not lost"...and I answered correctly "Out of my mind", JM Live dvd. haha!

So just now, I saw Muffin's msn nick as "you are more than enough for me".....and this conversation ensued:

Mich: Your nick is from "Healer"-Hillsong, "This is our God" album right?
Muffin: Yes, haha!
Mich: You owe me a roll of mentos!
Muffin: Huh? Why ah?
Mich: *explains the whole mentos game concept*
Muffin: Nonsense, so not fair! Like that I must find some obscure lyrics.
Mich: Go ahead! I even guessed correctly Pam's ringtone....as in the song title and artist. (she was playing some obscure Kings of Convenience song)
Muffin: You're too pro oredi...can go around extoring people for mentos from now on!

[actually ah...quite a good idea leh. Considering the amount of mentos I consume regularly..this might help me save a lot of $$! haha!]

On my way

So there I was waiting at the bus stop....dressed down in my ridiculous "What Would Scofied Do" t-shirt, cargo pants and comfy (and pretty!) birkenstocks. I was plugged into "Went,"my faithful iPod, and grooving along to Diana Krall's "Just the way you are." :) And I was just standing there, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Yeah, I'll take life's little joys as they come. :)

I actually am very tired...but I feel alive and fulfilled.
I don't claim to have it altogether....cos I'm terribly behind my pile of deadlines,
juggling two different sets of responsibilities.
And part of my mind still longs to be "eternally sunshined,"
But despite the uncertainty of what's around the bend,
the universe seems to be nudging me along with it's secret smile...
So I figure....I'm in a good place right now. :)

Worship & Justice

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
And satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
Then your light shall rise in the darkness,
And your night shall be as the noonday."
- Isaiah 58:10

This has been something that's been weighing heavily on my heart....and I know that it's a burden, a passion that God is stirring in the churches around the world as well- for the church to rise up boldly as a voice of hope and justice. I'm really encouraged to hear more songs on justice written by Hillsong, Delirious?, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman etc. Something is stirring in the spiritual atmosphere. An awakening to our role in God's story.

About 2 weeks ago, I was watching a video clip of Joel Houston's sermon on worship & social justice at the Hillsong Conference 2008 (watch the video titled "Part 2"), and within the first few secs, I was reduced to a mess of tears. And Glenn is amazed that it all happened within 5 secs of Joel's preaching. He is afraid to imagine the state I would be in, should I have been at the conference, listening to Joel live, like him. I think he's right. I would have been a royal mess. But you know what....in all seriousness, I think Joel delivered the best sermon I've ever heard all my life. It was short, but he totally nailed it. The reason why we sing, why we live. It was real, it was heartfelt, it was passionate.

We need to rise up for such a time as this.

Here are some excerpts of Joel's powerful message which was based on Isaiah 58:10....but I do recommend that you watch the 10 min video for a better taste of it.
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"If what we do is just about coming together and singing praise and worship songs to God, singing lyrics and melody and having all the bang and going crazy, and its having no effect on the streets we travel down to get there..then what's the point?

God has called you, He's given you life, given you breath, created you for a purpose. He's given you life for this moment in history, for such a time as this. He's planted you wherever it is you are, put people around you, and put things in your hand...that you would become His hands and feet on this earth at this time.

If we just really understood the part we all have to play in God's masterpiece...we stop trying to compare ourselves to others, stop trying to chase value in ourselves, stop trying to build our ministry, or write our songs, or hope the senior pastor sees your gift and what you have to offer....but if we just go about being the church, not a denomination, not an organization, , not a politcal persuasion, a moral police force...but the body of Christ, His bride, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, God's plan for the salvation of this planet. It's you. Every single one of us.....

He's called us to be love, without any agenda, without any applause, not for any accolades, there is no personal agenda, other than God's agenda, and that is love....It's not about us anymore.

Together God's glory will be revealed, and the church will be what the church is called to be. Amen."

Beyond Measure

I know I haven't been blogging at length or even in depth lately about what's really going on in my life and all. But the days have been really packed for me, so by the time I come home...I'm so tired I can barely muster enough energy to write about the frivalous stuff. :p If you wanna know the personal stuff, we can meet up n chat over a cuppa yeah? Blogs are just too public. :)

I've been singing in church the past 2 weeks...yeah, back to back. While it can be challenging waking up at 5.30am (I can only sleep properly if I take flu medication. haha!), it's been a joy and loads of fun to serve. I realize that it's only been about 6 months since I joined the worship & music ministry, integrated into cell....and joined the church as staff! Honestly, it seems so much longer than that. But anyway, my point is....I feel so blessed to have this community, truly blessed beyond measure. The fellowship rocks! And as Andrea said, with musos...there's always that connection. :) It's just great to be on the stage with an awesome team of musicians who've "got your back," (haha! JM reference), then to look into the congregation and recognise loads more familiar faces, all with their own life stories and testimonies. And we're all in this together.....serving God, loving His people....running towards His heart.

Hmm, even as I write this...I think God is renewing the excitement in my heart, for the power of the church. :)

I'm bound for KL this coming weekend for the Passion Conference (with Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio), and Wayne & Libby Huirua (who used to front Parachute Band) will be in our church the N'day weekend to spend some precious time with the worship min. I'm really looking forward to it! I think it's gonna be real inspiring to hear from the hearts of such lavish worshippers. :)

Silence of My Mind

"When it gets too crazy and I can't be found
I may be hiding in the silence of my mind
If you're looking for me but I can't be found
I may be hiding in the silence of my mind
Silence of my mind."
- 'Silence of my mind' by Incognito

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After months of waiting, I finally got hold of the new Incognito CD, "Tales from the beach."
(Thanks Romey!)
It's a strange wave of relief that sweeps over me....when I'm lost in the groove again.
That sweet, soul music is a balm to the soul.
So don't mind me if I don't hear u talking to me. :)
This new album is a bit too 'dance-y' for me...but the strong, thumping basslines make up for it.
Ha! I remember what Incognito said to their audience in their "Live in Tokyo" album....
"we're all one nation, under the groove!"
So trippy, but so true! haha!

All this talk about funk and soul music is making me excited about Chijazz 2008 (The annual Chijmes Jazz Festival)!! Not sure what the exact date is...but it should be a Sun evening in Oct. Yeah...am looking forward to chilling out on the lawn, under the stars in the company of gd fwens....bring along your wine/beer/picnic baskets etc. So nice! :)

I got my Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten concert tix today! Good thing we got it in time...they were selling super fast. If I miss 3 legendary bassists on one stage, I'll kill myself.

I now have John Mayer's Live DVD in my iPod video.....yeah, thanks to my cool cell leader, Morris. Woohoo! I can watch it on the go!! We had a short JM dvd viewing after cell today. Coolness!

You'll Come

"As surely as the sun will rise
You’ll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears

You’ll come
Let Your glory fall as You respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You’ll come
You’ll come"
- by Brooke Fraser

Invade

I can't believe it.
They invited themselves to my house for a John Mayer DVD viewing party.
Abi & Erica that is. haha!
They're willing to travel all the way from the west to Sengkang!
Wow, my fwens.

[Abi: if you can recognize which Friends Episode this pic is from, I buy u mentos! haha! Clue, its from season 10.]