Reports reports... and more reports

*NOW PLAYING:*
Song: Majesty (Here I Am)
Artist: Delirious
Album: World Service
Quote: "...and now I've found the greatest love of all is mine since You laid down your life, the greatest sacrifice..."
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Whoa.... haven't posted in about a week and a half...boy time flies. Somewhat uneventful week... been busy scrambling to get these reports done. My classes have definitely picked up big time... especially my Business Communications Skills class, where we must prepare a 5-min presentation and a 5-page report every week. ...on top of that, in my other class, my group leader dropped the class so I'm taking up that role and had to do most of the work on the first report. Grrrrr...

...wonder how busy I'd feel if I were employed... hrm. Grrrr...

At church, our ministry fair is this Sunday... I'll be helping out with the Worship booth, hoping to see some potential pianists for once... hehe. The following week is the conclusion of our church's 40-day PDL campaign, ending with a celebration and bbq in a big tent that's gonna be set up in the church's parking lot. I'm already skeptical after just hearing it... that's gonna be a LOT of work setting up and taking down... not to mention all the Audio/Visual equipment that has to be set up beforehand and needs to be weather-proofed. But meh, not my problem to worry about I guess...unless someone rings me up. Hope it works out well, 'cause they're sinking MAJOR dollars into this one meeting.

Last Sunday, had fun on piano with the worship committee as we led worship. I always have fun contributing on piano and experimenting with stuff... heheh, plus we like to play loud (only at practise, of course), which is always fun. :) hehe. There was a certain topic of discussion that had me pondering though... one of our worship team members was capable of playing a couple of instruments but said nothing about it because he didn't want to be "showy" or anything. Sometimes I wonder how I'm perceived... 'cause I tend to jump around from piano, to guitar, to electric guitar, to lead vocals, etc. I really hope I don't come off as "showy"... 'cause I make an effort to try to blend in with the team and I never think about stuff like that. I've always said to the team leaders I work with, "I'm just a tool in the toolbox, use me where ya need me." I just kinda pick a role that's vacant and try to fill it as best as I can. ...and when I play, yeah, sometimes I really get into the music and try some stuff... but again, I'm always thinking of how it fits in with the team or improves the overall sound and worship experience. I take joy in worship music and offering up praises to Him in song...especially when the whole team is worshipping in unity. So yeah, if I come off as "showy", so sorry, but it's not my intention. I'm just focusing my music and my praise & worship on my Audience of One and trying to have a little fun while doing it. Heheh. :)

Another week...

*NOW PLAYING:*
Song: "Right Here"
Artist: Jeremy Camp
Album: Stay
Quote: "Everywhere I go, I know You're not far away... You're right here."
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Eventful weekend... spending most of it out and about.

Saturday, I witnessed Pastor Shawn and Katrina's wedding. Though I don't know them all that well, they just radiated a certain something that told me they were so meant for each other. Good pairing, God! Heheh. Their mannerisms, their little quirks while standing on the stage, their looks to each other... twas all so cute and you can tell that they connect on different level. So big congrats to the two of 'em and I wish them best of luck in their married life. Hope they have an awesome honeymoon and I look forward to working with both of them at EACO. Weddings always make me contemplate on my own situation, in my early 20's, having been single for quite a while without a potential bride in sight... but I've definitely learned to not worry about it and allow God to take control over my life and spend my time aspiring to become a Christ-like child of God.

Ah yes, which brings me to the topic of surrender that we touched upon this weekend as part of the 40-day campaign at church, discussing how to become more Christ-like. Although that part of my life, I've surrendered, there are still so many things in my life (especially bad habits) that I haven't surrendered completely to God. I hope to keep working at it, checking my list off as I go, until I am completely devoted to Him and in His hands. I am currently so far from where I wanna be in that area...

The Zoo Crew saw Karen the night before she left for Saskatchewan for French courses. Sad to see her gone for a month but I'm really glad for her to be able to get out of the city and out of her house to experience something new and exciting. Hope she has a blast and I pray that she'll return safely.

The 40-day small group on Sunday was fun as always with some beef tacos for lunch. We had more of our members back again, which is always good. After small group, I stopped by Rita's house, where she was having a dinner gathering of sorts. Heheh, seems like everyone is watching The Last Samurai nowadays... which is a great movie but I've encountered it way too much over the last few days. I stayed for a bit 'cause I'd promised I'd show up, but left shortly afterwards since I was kinda sick of the movie and didn't know too many people there (didn't really felt like I belong, heheh).

Pondering dinner, I rang up Kevin and Jerry and met up with 'em for dinner. We decided to go to Local Heroes and had a yummy dinner of chicken wings and ribs. Local Heroes has this platter of 2 pounds of wings and 2 pounds of ribs (4 pounds of food!) that we shared along with potato skins. I can NOT imagine anyone eating that platter by themself...crazy amount of food... Local Heroes also has some beachball nets and sand set up outside the restaurent that I hope to visit sometime during the summer, perhaps with the Zoo Crew.

Still unemployed.... [sigh]... I can see why places don't wanna hire students for only 3-4 months... but still, I want a job! I was hoping for a sales job (preferably in portable electronics or something similar), but they usually require sales experience. Question, where do people get this initial sales experience that places are looking for?! Sent out several resumes, planning to send out more... itching for a call-back or e-mail. Blah... least I have school to keep me busy.

Ah... summer...

*NOW PLAYING:*
Song: "Audience of One"
Artist: Sanctus Real
Album: Say it Loud
Quote: "...I sing tonight for an audience of one..."
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Ah... summer has finally arrived... and it's great to finally be able to enjoy the non-academic side of life. Though I'm anticipating much heavier workload from my two courses after next week, I'm enjoying life much more recently and trying to take full advantage of this little time of calm. Still gotta find a job... been sending out resumes but no responses yet.

Racked in a whopping $2.50 at poker night with da boys the other night and also got a chance to play streetball again with 'em. I'm getting somewhat back in shape... I'm definitely quicker on defense than I was last time and able to get a few blocked shots again. My offensive game is definitely still lacking, so I'll hafta work on that. Caught the Friends and Survivor finales. Can't believe there aren't any more Friends episodes!... ah well. The reruns are still plenty o fun. Survivor was very heated... though I'm sure deserved. Can't believe the couple gets the whole shabang: $ million, runner-up money, and two cars to boot! Ongoing debate about whether the game of Survivor should be just that, a game, or should life and friendship come into play. My feeling is that it's a game and everyone signed up to play the game, knowing what's in store. If those people wanted to build friendships, they shoulda just signed up for a cruise in the Bahamas or something.

My church 40-Day PDL small group was a little small on Sunday, but we still had fun even though the discussion aspect was a little lacking. There should be a bigger turnout this weekend, so tis all good. This week's topic was about Fellowship, which is another of those terms that are often used but less understood. I truly hope our university fellowship group at church can practise true fellowship. There's so much potential in these people and in our group...

And it begins again...

*NOW PLAYING:*
Song: "Fairest Lord Jesus"
Artist: Passion
Album: Hymns: Ancient & Modern
Quote: "...you are fairer still today, you are fairer still today. Precious Jesus Lord, you are adored as we worship, as we worship..."
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Ah.... so this is what it's like to actually have some form of social life... heheh. Ever since my final exams were finished last Friday, it's been nothing but activities day and night... tis good to feel alive and conversing with fellow humans rather than textbooks. Heheh. Although my two summer courses begin tonight, I'm hoping to have a little fun this summer to balance it out.

With Sam back, I was able to do several things that I've wanted to do all schoolyear... namely jam, play poker, and play ball! So thanks man for reviving those activities in me... haha. Jamming with Karen, Candace, and Sam was fun as always.... but watching the Friends episode with Joey trying to speak french (and trying to drink a gallon of milk in 10 seconds) was painfully funny. Heheh. Poker night with da boys was also fun, poker's one of those games that I enjoy whether I win or lose. B-ball, I'm trying to get back in shape for... went to the court near my house a couple of days ago just doing drills and such. Gotta get back into shape after hibernating all winter.

On Sunday, I had my 40-Day PDL small group again, good time and good discussion as always... and we always know how to eat. Heheh. We discussed a topic that may be hard to grasp for many people, christian or otherwise. We discussed the concept of worship. When most people think of worship, they think of worship music (least I do)... the songs we sing in church every Sunday morning before the sermon... but this is a common misconception. Worship encompasses your entire lifestyle... it's anything and everything you do that pleases God and gives glory to God. It's still hard for me to grasp that every action I do can glorify God... from work, to school, to the way I relate to other people... As a 'worship leader', I almost don't want to be called that title... 'cause although I think I can lead worship music on a stage for people, I'm not sure I'd be the token lead worshipper (ie. giving glory to God in everything I do)... But I guess this challenges me to think about a life of worship every day and in everything I do. Music is just an expression of worship, but no doubt, a powerful one. But often, when singing worship songs or even jamming, when am I worshipping and when am I just singing along? If I'm not putting my heart into offering the songs up to God, then I'm just singing karaoke, which does not please God. It makes me think about the quality of my worship whenever I pick up an instrument or step up to the microphone. God wants all of me, not just a small piece of me that likes the tune of a song. My goal has always been, as a worship leader, to help others to worship. In a music setting, how often do we say "man, I think the congregation was dead today"?... but should we really look at the congregation to blame for a 'dead' worship environment? ...or should we ask ourselves if we're worshipping fully (or artificially)... offering up our praises to our Audience of One? And with this new definition of worship, shouldn't we also consider the worship LIVES of the congregation and be concerned about how they worship God in their lives? 'Cause if they grasp the real meaning of worship, as God meant for it to be, and live worshipful lives... wouldn't that filter into their worship in music form? Just a few points to ponder... heheh.