If you haven't seen the finale yet, don't read any further.
But if you have, how bout that finale, huh?
OH MY GOODNESS!
I've watched that ending about 4 times and each time I am still completely caught off guard by the suddenness of it. It totally blows my mind every single time, even though I'm already expecting it!
May 28, 2005
May 22, 2005
NBA: Semi-finals
Well, I predicted everything including the teams who would win and how many games it would take them to win.
My new predictions for this round are Spurs over Suns in 6, and Pistons over the Heat in 6. I truly believe it will be a cakewalk for the Pistons, however, Wade will put out some memorable moments and help the Heat win a couple of games, just like Kobe did in previous years. The only difference this time around is that Shaq is not as good as he used to be. In fact, if he doesn't play, Pistons should take it in 5.
I'm tired.
My new predictions for this round are Spurs over Suns in 6, and Pistons over the Heat in 6. I truly believe it will be a cakewalk for the Pistons, however, Wade will put out some memorable moments and help the Heat win a couple of games, just like Kobe did in previous years. The only difference this time around is that Shaq is not as good as he used to be. In fact, if he doesn't play, Pistons should take it in 5.
I'm tired.
May 21, 2005
Unite in Worship, Day 3
I think if I got anything out of this conference, it would be that I finally "let go". Let go of my burdens, my inhibitions, my fears.
I have had about a day of downtime today, to reflect on the conference.
Yesterday morning was led by Brian Doerksen. Brian Doerksen has written a lot of songs. YL attended his songwriting workshop and found out he's only 39, has 6 kids, and has been in the worship songwriting business for 20 years. Its unbelievable the number of songs he has written, notable ones like "Refiner's Fire", "Come and Fill Me Up", "Come, Now is the Time to Worship", "Faithful One", "Humble King", and on and on. I could go on for hours.
I was really tired in the morning but after his worship time I was totally refreshed.
I went to the Vicky Beeching "Intimate Worship" workshop. Throughout the conference there were several of these intimate worship settings where the worship leader just sat and worshipped with the attendees. I think it was at this point, that I developed a boyish crush on Vicky. I guess there's just something about a girl and her guitar, who can sing. She's awesome... <3 <3
The worship time was 1 hour, and it featured an acoustic guitar (Vicky) and some dude on a bongo drum. And we just worshipped God, in our own way. Some people stood, others sat. Some even knelt on the floor. All in all it was the best time of worship I experienced in this conference. It was as if no one was there with me, just me and God.
At lunch time I was determined to get a good seat for the evening Hillsong United concert, so I decided to eat a massive (double leg dinner from Swiss Chalet) lunch. Then proceeded to buy a box of granola bars and a Mello Yello. YL thought I was crazy.
After lunch, worship time was led by a group called LMT. They are part of the Empty Heart Series, and new ministry that consists of new (christian) music that is in cd, that also contains an evangelistic tract. There are 5 of such cd's, one of each of the following genres: Jazz, Rhythm N' Blues, Rock, Pop, Classic. I got one of each, it was $5 for 6 cds. LMT was really good. For the afternoon they sang 3 classic songs (classic gospel), and 3 RnB ones. I fell asleep during the RnB, but the classic ones I really really enjoyed. There was one called Fly Away, it was fantastic. I picked up an extra one of these so I can keep on for myself :)
In the afternoon, we had two workshops to go to. The first one I attended was another Intimate Worship, this time with Something Like Silas. They're a fairly new band from San Diego, CA. The lead singer is asian!! The drummer too, I think. The lead Eric Owyoung is so talented, he can do it all - sing, guitar, piano. And he was really deep, the words he spoke during the presentation were very inspiring. YL can also attest, as she attended a workshop led by him called "The Beauty of Non-Religious Encounters". SLS were good, but I felt like their instruments were too loud and I couldn't really hear what they were singing.
The second workshop. I was tempted to go attend Vicky's songwriting workshop. But I stopped myself realizing that I was taking this "crush" thing too seriously. Instead I attended Noel Richard's seminar on "Worship In The Real World". His talk had nothing to do with the topic though. He talked for about 45 minutes and then realized he hadn't covered a single one of his points.
He spoke of churches that truly worship. Over his career he had been invited to many churches to lead worship for various EMs, fundraisers, Sundays, etc. So he described some of the churches he went to, ones that didn't *worship* God, meaning, they were rigid and overlooked God's commandments, such as love your neighbors, helping people to belong on Christ's home.
Noel Richards has a dream, to fill up the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, on Saturday July 15, 2006. He wants all Christians who are able, to travel there from North America, Australia, and all of Europe, for one massive global gathering. Here's the website. In 1996, Noel organized a "Champion of the World" even with 11,500 people worshipping at London's Wembley Arena. Then in 1997, he had another one at Wembley Stadium, with 45,000 people.
I have had about a day of downtime today, to reflect on the conference.
Yesterday morning was led by Brian Doerksen. Brian Doerksen has written a lot of songs. YL attended his songwriting workshop and found out he's only 39, has 6 kids, and has been in the worship songwriting business for 20 years. Its unbelievable the number of songs he has written, notable ones like "Refiner's Fire", "Come and Fill Me Up", "Come, Now is the Time to Worship", "Faithful One", "Humble King", and on and on. I could go on for hours.
I was really tired in the morning but after his worship time I was totally refreshed.
I went to the Vicky Beeching "Intimate Worship" workshop. Throughout the conference there were several of these intimate worship settings where the worship leader just sat and worshipped with the attendees. I think it was at this point, that I developed a boyish crush on Vicky. I guess there's just something about a girl and her guitar, who can sing. She's awesome... <3 <3
The worship time was 1 hour, and it featured an acoustic guitar (Vicky) and some dude on a bongo drum. And we just worshipped God, in our own way. Some people stood, others sat. Some even knelt on the floor. All in all it was the best time of worship I experienced in this conference. It was as if no one was there with me, just me and God.
At lunch time I was determined to get a good seat for the evening Hillsong United concert, so I decided to eat a massive (double leg dinner from Swiss Chalet) lunch. Then proceeded to buy a box of granola bars and a Mello Yello. YL thought I was crazy.
After lunch, worship time was led by a group called LMT. They are part of the Empty Heart Series, and new ministry that consists of new (christian) music that is in cd, that also contains an evangelistic tract. There are 5 of such cd's, one of each of the following genres: Jazz, Rhythm N' Blues, Rock, Pop, Classic. I got one of each, it was $5 for 6 cds. LMT was really good. For the afternoon they sang 3 classic songs (classic gospel), and 3 RnB ones. I fell asleep during the RnB, but the classic ones I really really enjoyed. There was one called Fly Away, it was fantastic. I picked up an extra one of these so I can keep on for myself :)
In the afternoon, we had two workshops to go to. The first one I attended was another Intimate Worship, this time with Something Like Silas. They're a fairly new band from San Diego, CA. The lead singer is asian!! The drummer too, I think. The lead Eric Owyoung is so talented, he can do it all - sing, guitar, piano. And he was really deep, the words he spoke during the presentation were very inspiring. YL can also attest, as she attended a workshop led by him called "The Beauty of Non-Religious Encounters". SLS were good, but I felt like their instruments were too loud and I couldn't really hear what they were singing.
The second workshop. I was tempted to go attend Vicky's songwriting workshop. But I stopped myself realizing that I was taking this "crush" thing too seriously. Instead I attended Noel Richard's seminar on "Worship In The Real World". His talk had nothing to do with the topic though. He talked for about 45 minutes and then realized he hadn't covered a single one of his points.
He spoke of churches that truly worship. Over his career he had been invited to many churches to lead worship for various EMs, fundraisers, Sundays, etc. So he described some of the churches he went to, ones that didn't *worship* God, meaning, they were rigid and overlooked God's commandments, such as love your neighbors, helping people to belong on Christ's home.
Noel Richards has a dream, to fill up the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, on Saturday July 15, 2006. He wants all Christians who are able, to travel there from North America, Australia, and all of Europe, for one massive global gathering. Here's the website. In 1996, Noel organized a "Champion of the World" even with 11,500 people worshipping at London's Wembley Arena. Then in 1997, he had another one at Wembley Stadium, with 45,000 people.
May 19, 2005
Unite In Worship, day 2
It's Joel Houston!! Spin-out! 
This morning, it was Vicky Beeching leading worship. Hopefully I'll get a picture with her tomorrow during her workshop. Oh, did I mention I bought her cd yesterday which just came out -- you guessed it -- yesterday. I also bought the worshiptogether How-To songbook #1. Now I have all of them :)
In the morning I went to a workshop by Todd Phillips, who spoke about Spiritual CPR. In a nutshell, the workshop focused on the topic evangelism, and why we should do it. Often Christians skip over evangelism, doing it instead out of guilt. The old "bring a friend to church next week" deal. They'll do it, and then that's it. They feel relieved that they don't have to bring a friend every week. I can see what he's talking about, although for different reasons. I wouldn't want to bring a friend to T3C, to be honest. It's just not very seeker friendly.
But I digress. Todd described that we already know the what and the where. The great commission speaks of What we should do Where we should do it. Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But it doesn't cover the Why. Why should we evangelize, why should we do missions?
1 John 1:4 explains that it will make our joy complete. This is why we do it. Because no matter what else we do to fill in the void, like take on massive responsibilities at church, doing worship, sunday school, bible studies, welcoming, choir, pastoring, counselling, ushering, etc etc. We can do all those things, but without evangelism, our joy will never be complete.
One thing that especially hit me was that the act of evangelism is all it takes. It's not the conversion part -- that's God's doing. Once we have done our part, it's God's turn to do the rest. The act of evangelism is what makes our joy complete.
After lunch I lined up for 30 minutes so that I could get a decent seat for Hillsong United, which was leading the after lunch worship. What can I say other than it was.. moving. I was deeply moved. I find that Hillsong music, the words that they use and the instrumentals.. they awaken something inside me. I feel more aware for the Spirit's presence. I thought for sure I would lose my voice, but it turned out alright.
The speaker for the afternoon was Jason Hildebrand. He is an actor/musician, who is starring in a show called "Blue Like Jazz/Live". It's a monologue of sorts. Very interesting and funny. We got it free of course, but it is travelling from coast to coast (the show) so if you get a chance, I highly recommend it.
In the afternoon I went to a workshop led by Joel Houston (the bloke in the pic). Australians say "spin-out" instead of "crazy". Haha.. I really went there for the fun and because there was nothing else that interested me. He spoke about inspirations that came to he and Marty Sampson when writing the songs they did for the various Hillsong United cd's.
Oh by the way, Marty Sampson is not here. I made that mistake yesterday. The person I mistakenly thought was Marty was actually a guy named Jad Gillies. He's another Hillsong guitarist/singer. A very very VERY good singer, and a very very good guitarist. Well, he's a better singer than Joel, but not sure about the guitar. Probably better too.
The night session was led by Brian Doerksen. I don't think I need to introduce him..
This morning, it was Vicky Beeching leading worship. Hopefully I'll get a picture with her tomorrow during her workshop. Oh, did I mention I bought her cd yesterday which just came out -- you guessed it -- yesterday. I also bought the worshiptogether How-To songbook #1. Now I have all of them :)
In the morning I went to a workshop by Todd Phillips, who spoke about Spiritual CPR. In a nutshell, the workshop focused on the topic evangelism, and why we should do it. Often Christians skip over evangelism, doing it instead out of guilt. The old "bring a friend to church next week" deal. They'll do it, and then that's it. They feel relieved that they don't have to bring a friend every week. I can see what he's talking about, although for different reasons. I wouldn't want to bring a friend to T3C, to be honest. It's just not very seeker friendly.
But I digress. Todd described that we already know the what and the where. The great commission speaks of What we should do Where we should do it. Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But it doesn't cover the Why. Why should we evangelize, why should we do missions?
1 John 1:4 explains that it will make our joy complete. This is why we do it. Because no matter what else we do to fill in the void, like take on massive responsibilities at church, doing worship, sunday school, bible studies, welcoming, choir, pastoring, counselling, ushering, etc etc. We can do all those things, but without evangelism, our joy will never be complete.
One thing that especially hit me was that the act of evangelism is all it takes. It's not the conversion part -- that's God's doing. Once we have done our part, it's God's turn to do the rest. The act of evangelism is what makes our joy complete.
After lunch I lined up for 30 minutes so that I could get a decent seat for Hillsong United, which was leading the after lunch worship. What can I say other than it was.. moving. I was deeply moved. I find that Hillsong music, the words that they use and the instrumentals.. they awaken something inside me. I feel more aware for the Spirit's presence. I thought for sure I would lose my voice, but it turned out alright.
The speaker for the afternoon was Jason Hildebrand. He is an actor/musician, who is starring in a show called "Blue Like Jazz/Live". It's a monologue of sorts. Very interesting and funny. We got it free of course, but it is travelling from coast to coast (the show) so if you get a chance, I highly recommend it.
In the afternoon I went to a workshop led by Joel Houston (the bloke in the pic). Australians say "spin-out" instead of "crazy". Haha.. I really went there for the fun and because there was nothing else that interested me. He spoke about inspirations that came to he and Marty Sampson when writing the songs they did for the various Hillsong United cd's.
Oh by the way, Marty Sampson is not here. I made that mistake yesterday. The person I mistakenly thought was Marty was actually a guy named Jad Gillies. He's another Hillsong guitarist/singer. A very very VERY good singer, and a very very good guitarist. Well, he's a better singer than Joel, but not sure about the guitar. Probably better too.
The night session was led by Brian Doerksen. I don't think I need to introduce him..
May 18, 2005
Unite
So there I was, sitting in the 4th row in the Toronto Congress Centre. To the right of me, sat Yee Lee, a worship leader at Toronto Chinese Community Church. In front of me, Phil Dooley, the youth pastor from Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Beside him, his wife and their baby. In front of Phil, was Joel Houston a worship leader with Hillsong United, author of songs like "One Way", "Evermore" and "Everyday". To the right of him was Mia Fieldes (okay, so I had to look that one up) singer and songwriter for Hillsong United (the only female in their group). And then beside her to the right, Marty Sampson, worship leader for Hillsong United, author of songs like "All Day", "God is Great" and "King of Majesty".
Wow. I was totally starstruck and yet, not at all because we were all standing their worshipping God and looking at the legendary Noel Richards, rocking it up on stage and leading a congregation of hundreds in raising the roof in God's name.
The night started with the song above, "Above All Else" by Vicky Beeching. Then Tehillah Toronto played a few songs. They are a pretty crazy band, lots of members and they kind of went nuts. The pianist was rocking so hard that the keyboard almost fell over!
After that, Noel Richards joined the band and rocked hard.
More to follow..
Wow. I was totally starstruck and yet, not at all because we were all standing their worshipping God and looking at the legendary Noel Richards, rocking it up on stage and leading a congregation of hundreds in raising the roof in God's name.
The night started with the song above, "Above All Else" by Vicky Beeching. Then Tehillah Toronto played a few songs. They are a pretty crazy band, lots of members and they kind of went nuts. The pianist was rocking so hard that the keyboard almost fell over!
After that, Noel Richards joined the band and rocked hard.
More to follow..
May 17, 2005
The end
Back in the day, I used to blog about events. Things I did, places I went, people I met. I remember posting pictures with captions. This was all before the whole big "blog movement" began. Digital cameras were still fairly new and I was one of the few who had one, so I posted just about anything we (Lon and I) saw. It was the days when you took a picture of *anything* at all — because you could — because we couldn't get over the concept that nothing was a waste of film. And plus you wanted to justify how much you spent on the darned thing.
Blogging came naturally then. When I did something, I posted about it. I didn't post daily because I wanted people to know what I had done, I did it as a personal journal and I didn't feel like I had to update in order to get people to read, because as far as I knew, I didn't have any readers. People would ask me where I posted yesterday's pictures, and I would point them to my IP address.
I don't have a whole lot to blog about anymore. With the daily grind of work — that and living alone, means nothing really happens. I find I have nothing to post about unless I have recently been with someone. No one wants to hear about my gaming experiences, nor do I really want to post about them. Perhaps, I can take photos of the dishes I cook, but what good would that do? It's not interesting.
For this reason I've decided to discontinue my bnyao.blogspot.com blog site, for the simple reason that I have nothing to say there that I can't say here. And I plan to close this one down shortly after if I find I can't become more active here. Nothing is more "ugh" than constantly checking a website that isn't up-to-date. It's a matter of principle — if I can't keep it up to date, then I won't have it.
Blogging came naturally then. When I did something, I posted about it. I didn't post daily because I wanted people to know what I had done, I did it as a personal journal and I didn't feel like I had to update in order to get people to read, because as far as I knew, I didn't have any readers. People would ask me where I posted yesterday's pictures, and I would point them to my IP address.
I don't have a whole lot to blog about anymore. With the daily grind of work — that and living alone, means nothing really happens. I find I have nothing to post about unless I have recently been with someone. No one wants to hear about my gaming experiences, nor do I really want to post about them. Perhaps, I can take photos of the dishes I cook, but what good would that do? It's not interesting.
For this reason I've decided to discontinue my bnyao.blogspot.com blog site, for the simple reason that I have nothing to say there that I can't say here. And I plan to close this one down shortly after if I find I can't become more active here. Nothing is more "ugh" than constantly checking a website that isn't up-to-date. It's a matter of principle — if I can't keep it up to date, then I won't have it.
May 08, 2005
NBA: Round two
Admittedly this is coming late because the first round has already started. But let's do a quick recap.
Ben Gordon did not win Rookie of the Year.
Ben Gordon won Sixth Man of the Year.
Grant Hill did not win Most Improved Player.
Andrei Kirilenko did not win Best Defensive Player of the Year.
Steve Nash won Most Valuable Player.
Miami swept New Jersey.
Phoenix did not beat Memphis in 5 games. (They swept)
Detroit did not sweep Philadelphia. (Took 5 games)
Washington beat Chicago in 6.
Dallas did not beat Houston in 6. (Took 7 games)
Indiana did not beat Boston in 6. (Took 7 games)
Seattle did not beat Sacramento in 7 (Took 5 games)
San Antonio did not beat Denver in 4 (Took 5 games)
So.. I was wrong on most of the predictions, but at least I got all the teams right. Given some surprising performances, I'd like to revise my next round of predictions:
EAST
Miami over Washington in 4 (no change).
Detroit over Indiana in 6 (I now think that this series could go either way. I realized having watched them play Philly, that Detroit isn't as good as they were last year. Their bench is very thin. Also I think this series will turn out a lot more even than I previously thought, because of these two teams' history.)
WEST
Phoenix over Dallas in 6. (no change)
San Antonio over Seattle in 6. (I didn't know Seattle was as good as they turned out to be. I thought they were all shooting and nothing else, but Jerome James has proven he can put together more than 1 games in a row where he plays really well. I still think they'll lose though.)
The only series worth watching now is Phoenix and Dallas. It'll be quite a matchup, crazy scoring. I suspect every game will total 140 points or more. The Detroit series will be interesting, just to see Reggie Miller's farewell tour.
Ben Gordon did not win Rookie of the Year.
Ben Gordon won Sixth Man of the Year.
Grant Hill did not win Most Improved Player.
Andrei Kirilenko did not win Best Defensive Player of the Year.
Steve Nash won Most Valuable Player.
Miami swept New Jersey.
Phoenix did not beat Memphis in 5 games. (They swept)
Detroit did not sweep Philadelphia. (Took 5 games)
Washington beat Chicago in 6.
Dallas did not beat Houston in 6. (Took 7 games)
Indiana did not beat Boston in 6. (Took 7 games)
Seattle did not beat Sacramento in 7 (Took 5 games)
San Antonio did not beat Denver in 4 (Took 5 games)
So.. I was wrong on most of the predictions, but at least I got all the teams right. Given some surprising performances, I'd like to revise my next round of predictions:
EAST
Miami over Washington in 4 (no change).
Detroit over Indiana in 6 (I now think that this series could go either way. I realized having watched them play Philly, that Detroit isn't as good as they were last year. Their bench is very thin. Also I think this series will turn out a lot more even than I previously thought, because of these two teams' history.)
WEST
Phoenix over Dallas in 6. (no change)
San Antonio over Seattle in 6. (I didn't know Seattle was as good as they turned out to be. I thought they were all shooting and nothing else, but Jerome James has proven he can put together more than 1 games in a row where he plays really well. I still think they'll lose though.)
The only series worth watching now is Phoenix and Dallas. It'll be quite a matchup, crazy scoring. I suspect every game will total 140 points or more. The Detroit series will be interesting, just to see Reggie Miller's farewell tour.
Motabo
This is the second movie in a row that I've seen, that ended with a tribal african song. I really like that kind of music..
Went to see "The Interpreter" tonight, with Eric & Nicole and Ina. 9:20pm showing @ Rainbow Theatres, Fairview Mall. I love going there because it's so cheap that even if you see a bad movie there, you don't feel ripped off. Except of course, if you went to see "King Arthur" there like I did. *shudder*
When you see Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, you at least expect a good movie for the simple reason that these two professionals wouldn't pick a bad script. They are both well established and respected in their industry.
The Interpreter was a good movie. It wasn't an 'edge-of-your-seat' thriller but it was definitely very engaging and exciting. You could tell by looking over at Ina who had her hands over her ears for most of the movie, expecting something to happen. (Just a guess, for all I know it could have been because her ears were cold..)
*possible SPOILER*: I was expecting an even bigger twist that didn't happen. Pretty much at some point I clued in that it might be Silvia who would be the assassin. I thought somehow she would be the shooter, and that her flute was a piece of some elaborate make-shift sniper rifle. *end of possible spoiler*
I would say that the actors made an otherwise okay movie into a good movie. Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman gave SUPERB performances. The two of them were brilliant in their roles and in my opinion, carried the film, turning a 7/10 movie into a 9/10.
("Millions" sets the standard for any movie I rate this year. This movie wasn't as good as "Millions", and thus I can only give it a 9/10. With that said though, since "Millions" instantly became my 2nd favorite movie of all time, you might say that 9/10 = 10/10, but you won't hear me say it.)
Went to see "The Interpreter" tonight, with Eric & Nicole and Ina. 9:20pm showing @ Rainbow Theatres, Fairview Mall. I love going there because it's so cheap that even if you see a bad movie there, you don't feel ripped off. Except of course, if you went to see "King Arthur" there like I did. *shudder*
When you see Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, you at least expect a good movie for the simple reason that these two professionals wouldn't pick a bad script. They are both well established and respected in their industry.
The Interpreter was a good movie. It wasn't an 'edge-of-your-seat' thriller but it was definitely very engaging and exciting. You could tell by looking over at Ina who had her hands over her ears for most of the movie, expecting something to happen. (Just a guess, for all I know it could have been because her ears were cold..)
*possible SPOILER*: I was expecting an even bigger twist that didn't happen. Pretty much at some point I clued in that it might be Silvia who would be the assassin. I thought somehow she would be the shooter, and that her flute was a piece of some elaborate make-shift sniper rifle. *end of possible spoiler*
I would say that the actors made an otherwise okay movie into a good movie. Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman gave SUPERB performances. The two of them were brilliant in their roles and in my opinion, carried the film, turning a 7/10 movie into a 9/10.
("Millions" sets the standard for any movie I rate this year. This movie wasn't as good as "Millions", and thus I can only give it a 9/10. With that said though, since "Millions" instantly became my 2nd favorite movie of all time, you might say that 9/10 = 10/10, but you won't hear me say it.)
May 06, 2005
I'm bustin' Jerry, bustin'!
I like to go places when it fits into my plans.
So anyway, yesterday I had to get my picture taken at church for the new church directory and PLUS there was a sale at Mitchell's, so I was really happy.
Eric came along because he had nothing to do. We went to Mitchell's where I finally picked up my own copy of "Seizing Your Divine Moment" by Erwin McManus. And I also bought another CD, Jeremy Camp's "Stay". This purchase was a long time coming since I had been sampling his CDs off his website for at least 6 months.
Then I had my picture taken, and then.. THEN --- we had PHO!!!!!
--
SPRING CELEBRATION FESTIVAL ONTARIO, CANADA
DETAILS:
May 21, 2005, Early Afternoon
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Seating: General Admission
TICKETS:
On Sale: Tickets On Sale Now!
Door Price: $35.09 - $55.42
Advance Price: $29.24 - $49.57
Group Price: $2 off per ticket(before tax) plus 1 free ticket per order
http://www.sonshineconcerts.com/showProfile.asp?id=159
Although it says "Early Afternoon", Ticketmaster says 10:00AM.
So anyway, yesterday I had to get my picture taken at church for the new church directory and PLUS there was a sale at Mitchell's, so I was really happy.
Eric came along because he had nothing to do. We went to Mitchell's where I finally picked up my own copy of "Seizing Your Divine Moment" by Erwin McManus. And I also bought another CD, Jeremy Camp's "Stay". This purchase was a long time coming since I had been sampling his CDs off his website for at least 6 months.
Then I had my picture taken, and then.. THEN --- we had PHO!!!!!
--
SPRING CELEBRATION FESTIVAL ONTARIO, CANADA
DETAILS:
May 21, 2005, Early Afternoon
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Seating: General Admission
TICKETS:
On Sale: Tickets On Sale Now!
Door Price: $35.09 - $55.42
Advance Price: $29.24 - $49.57
Group Price: $2 off per ticket(before tax) plus 1 free ticket per order
http://www.sonshineconcerts.com/showProfile.asp?id=159
Although it says "Early Afternoon", Ticketmaster says 10:00AM.
May 05, 2005
Wow!
I used to blog every day. I used to do a lot of things..
I have had World of Warcraft for 159 days. In that time, I have spent a total of approximately 31 days in the game, in the kingdom of Azeroth. That means I've spent 19.5% of the past 159 days playing WoW. To give you a better perspective, I sleep on average 7 hours per night, which is 29% of the past 159 days. So in the past 159 days, I have spent nearly 50% either sleeping or playing WoW. And that doesn't cover all my video gaming — what about the breaks I took to play Knight of the Old Republic, and countless hours of Bomberman, Smash Brothers Melee, or Halo 2.
31 days. That's 1 month, a long month. An entire month spent playing with Smee, Wahya and Havarti (she's new).
The friends I've made. I didn't really know Duncan that well until we started playing WoW together. Smee and Luffy constantly competed in the race to reach level 60. First it was to see who could reach 40 first, then who would get their mount, then who'd hit 60. It was no contest though, Smee had more time on his hands, plus he isn't engaged and getting married in the fall. Smee also met and played with Luffy's real life friends — people like Jooky, Jeir and Eponine. Without them, Smee would never have met Kiran or Unon.
Ah, Kiran. He is the closest thing I have to a close "pal" in the World of Warcraft. "Kiran and Smee, we was like peas and carrots." We did everything together — questing, instances, grinding and even ganking. Kiran and I met in the Deadmines, and became nearly inseparable for the next 20 days. What do you expect though, the duo of Hunter and Rogue is nearly unstoppable. And over time we learned eachother's tendancies, and timed everything to the tee. I knew exactly when to Cheapshot and exactly when he was going to send Cuddles in to tank. I always knew which mob to Sap and which Horde to ambush. We got along great and we still do. Probably the only thing we disagree upon is the New England Patriots — I hate them, and he loves em.
I don't know much about the man behind Kiran except that he's also chinese and lives in Southern California. I believe he attends USC and is currently on an internship. He's the reason I say "bleh". Those were some good times. He had even more time than I did, reaching level 60 nearly a week before Smee.
All that is sort of gone now. We both left the guild "The Knights of Unon", and both winded up joining "Brethren". Brethren is a massive guild compared to Unon, and we've gotten lost in the crowd. Luffy has stopped playing, as has Jeir and Eponine. It's sad, although I've made new friends now, like Onyxx, Nephlite, Deviate. But it's not the same.
I guess what got me thinking about all this was reading a few posts from fellow Brethren about quitting the game. It's the realization that a game has taken over your life and become #1 priority. I'm really glad that that hasn't happened for me, although it almost did a couple of months ago. In some ways, I'm lucky that I have such a low attention span.
One guy blew off his sister's surprise birthday party because he had "other plans" — that being, taking part in a guild raid. Another guy admitted to have 58 days of playing time. Ponder this for a moment: 58 days. Out of 159 days. That's over 1/3 of the time playing one single game. It's unbelievable when you think about it. He had played the game more in the past 159 days than I had spent sleeping. Even more unbelievable when you consider it takes on average 20 days to reach level 60. That means he'd spent more time at level 60 than I have played in total. I read about another guy who had to quit because his wife was complaining about not getting enough attention.
O_o
I have had World of Warcraft for 159 days. In that time, I have spent a total of approximately 31 days in the game, in the kingdom of Azeroth. That means I've spent 19.5% of the past 159 days playing WoW. To give you a better perspective, I sleep on average 7 hours per night, which is 29% of the past 159 days. So in the past 159 days, I have spent nearly 50% either sleeping or playing WoW. And that doesn't cover all my video gaming — what about the breaks I took to play Knight of the Old Republic, and countless hours of Bomberman, Smash Brothers Melee, or Halo 2.
31 days. That's 1 month, a long month. An entire month spent playing with Smee, Wahya and Havarti (she's new).
The friends I've made. I didn't really know Duncan that well until we started playing WoW together. Smee and Luffy constantly competed in the race to reach level 60. First it was to see who could reach 40 first, then who would get their mount, then who'd hit 60. It was no contest though, Smee had more time on his hands, plus he isn't engaged and getting married in the fall. Smee also met and played with Luffy's real life friends — people like Jooky, Jeir and Eponine. Without them, Smee would never have met Kiran or Unon.
Ah, Kiran. He is the closest thing I have to a close "pal" in the World of Warcraft. "Kiran and Smee, we was like peas and carrots." We did everything together — questing, instances, grinding and even ganking. Kiran and I met in the Deadmines, and became nearly inseparable for the next 20 days. What do you expect though, the duo of Hunter and Rogue is nearly unstoppable. And over time we learned eachother's tendancies, and timed everything to the tee. I knew exactly when to Cheapshot and exactly when he was going to send Cuddles in to tank. I always knew which mob to Sap and which Horde to ambush. We got along great and we still do. Probably the only thing we disagree upon is the New England Patriots — I hate them, and he loves em.
I don't know much about the man behind Kiran except that he's also chinese and lives in Southern California. I believe he attends USC and is currently on an internship. He's the reason I say "bleh". Those were some good times. He had even more time than I did, reaching level 60 nearly a week before Smee.
All that is sort of gone now. We both left the guild "The Knights of Unon", and both winded up joining "Brethren". Brethren is a massive guild compared to Unon, and we've gotten lost in the crowd. Luffy has stopped playing, as has Jeir and Eponine. It's sad, although I've made new friends now, like Onyxx, Nephlite, Deviate. But it's not the same.
I guess what got me thinking about all this was reading a few posts from fellow Brethren about quitting the game. It's the realization that a game has taken over your life and become #1 priority. I'm really glad that that hasn't happened for me, although it almost did a couple of months ago. In some ways, I'm lucky that I have such a low attention span.
One guy blew off his sister's surprise birthday party because he had "other plans" — that being, taking part in a guild raid. Another guy admitted to have 58 days of playing time. Ponder this for a moment: 58 days. Out of 159 days. That's over 1/3 of the time playing one single game. It's unbelievable when you think about it. He had played the game more in the past 159 days than I had spent sleeping. Even more unbelievable when you consider it takes on average 20 days to reach level 60. That means he'd spent more time at level 60 than I have played in total. I read about another guy who had to quit because his wife was complaining about not getting enough attention.
O_o
April 29, 2005
Best movie ever?
I had a coupon -- a 2-for-1 deal at any Cineplex Odeon theater. The expiry date was last night so I had to use it. So Kenric and I went to see a movie called Millions at the Sheppard Grande.
As with all indie-type films, I didn't expect a great deal of it. Usually films like this hit more often than miss, but you never really know. Kenric and I are both big fans of these types of movies. I guess you could call us "artsy" but I prefer to call it "selective".
There are good movies and then there are great movies. And further, there are special movies. "Millions" fits in the Special Movie category. I wouldn't say it was as good or better than my all-time favorite movie ("Forrest Gump"). But I think it just became my #2 all-time favorite, toppling "Almost Famous".
You can read the synopsis on the website I posted above.
I would recommend it to anyone. 10/10.
As with all indie-type films, I didn't expect a great deal of it. Usually films like this hit more often than miss, but you never really know. Kenric and I are both big fans of these types of movies. I guess you could call us "artsy" but I prefer to call it "selective".
There are good movies and then there are great movies. And further, there are special movies. "Millions" fits in the Special Movie category. I wouldn't say it was as good or better than my all-time favorite movie ("Forrest Gump"). But I think it just became my #2 all-time favorite, toppling "Almost Famous".
You can read the synopsis on the website I posted above.
I would recommend it to anyone. 10/10.
April 27, 2005
April 25, 2005
Most wonderful scent
This morning I put on my jacket and I was overcome by a wonderful aroma. I was almost taken aback, and I immediately disrobed it, exhaled fully, scrunged up my jacket into a ball, and thrusted my face into it. I took the biggest inhale and -- Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
PHO!
I love pho. It is my favorite food, better than anything that I can think of. I love the very idea of pho -- noodles and beef, lots of beef. And it's cheap too.
It's the total package -- tastes great, filling, cheap. And to top it off, the smell soaks into your clothes and that aroma lasts for days.
It is pretty much the only food that I can still have a craving for even though I just had a hunking bowl of it. You can get me to do anything for you just for a bowl of pho. I'm salivating even as I type this. Sigh.. I better stop, can't concentrate!
PHO!
I love pho. It is my favorite food, better than anything that I can think of. I love the very idea of pho -- noodles and beef, lots of beef. And it's cheap too.
It's the total package -- tastes great, filling, cheap. And to top it off, the smell soaks into your clothes and that aroma lasts for days.
It is pretty much the only food that I can still have a craving for even though I just had a hunking bowl of it. You can get me to do anything for you just for a bowl of pho. I'm salivating even as I type this. Sigh.. I better stop, can't concentrate!
April 22, 2005
NBA Predictions
Awards
MVP: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
There's no question in my mind that Steve Nash should be the MVP for this season. Yes, Shaq has made a difference in Miami -- but it *IS* the Eastern Conference. Miami was already a playoff team last year, whereas Phoenix was a 50-loss team last year.
Rookie of the Year: Ben Gordon
I called this one last year before Gordon was even drafted. It really comes down to him and Okafor. It's hard to argue because Okafor averaged a double-double. Although Gordon beat him in ppg. Bottom line here goes to overall record and how much they affected their team. Ben Gordon is responsible for why the Bulls are in the playoffs. He led the league in scoring in the 4th quarter -- this not just a stat among rookies, he beat *everyone*.
Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle
Rick deserves this because he was devastated by injuries and suspensions, and still managed to lead this team of misfits into the playoffs. He rejuvenated Reggie Miller, lost his best player in Ron Artest and was missing Jermaine O'Neal for half of the year.
Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge
Ainge had a fantastic year, putting together first of all, an amazing draft by getting Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. Then he went and traded for Antoine Walker, and gave Boston something to cheer about as they won their division.
Sixth Man of the Year: Ben Gordon
On top of the accolades I have already mentioned about Gordon, he also led all scorers of players coming off the bench.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Grant Hill
Injured over the past 3-4 years, he finally put together a healthy season, and although not quite the Grant Hill that once made him my favorite player, had a really solid season.
Defensive player of the Year: Andrei Kirilenko
Missed half the year, but those numbers he's got.. he averaged, 3 blocks per game, 2 steals? He's a phenomenal player. Unlike other defensive specialists, he also averaged 16 ppg.
All-NBA Teams
First Team
C: Shaquille O'Neal
F: Dirk Nowitzki
F: Tim Duncan
G: Lebron James
G: Steve Nash
I have seen Lebron listed in some places as a guard, and sometimes as a forward. If he were a forward, I would Tim Duncan down to the Second Team -- that's how good I think Lebron is. And actually, Duncan has been listed as either a Forward or a Center.
Second Team
C: Amare Stoudamire
F: Kevin Garnett
F: Tracy McGrady
G: Allen Iverson
G: Kobe Bryant
Since these lists are based according to how good they are at their position, Kobe makes the list. Otherwise he wouldn't make the Fourth Team! To continue on Lebron's alternate position, McGrady would fall to the 4th team. If Duncan were a Center, he would have fallen to the Third Team. Amare Stoudamire would not be as good as he is without Nash, but with Nash he is a beast.
Third Team
C: Yao Ming
F: Vince Carter
F: Shawn Marion
G: Ray Allen
G: Gilbert Arenas
Yao Ming would not make this team if Duncan was a Center. I hate seeing Vince here but he has had a great year since being traded. He seems to be his old self now. And from what recent articles suggests, I hate Rafer Alston.
Here are my predictions for the 2005 NBA Playoffs:
EAST
Miami over New Jersey in 4.
Washington over Chicago in 6.
Indiana over Boston in 6.
Detroit over Philadelphia in 4.
Miami over Washington in 4.
Detroit over Indiana in 4.
Detroit over Miami in 4.
WEST
Phoenix over Memphis in 5.
Dallas over Houston in 6.
Seattle over Sacramento in 7.
San Antonio over Denver in 4.
Phoenix over Dallas in 6.
San Antonio over Seattle in 4.
San Antonio over Phoenix in 7.
Detroit over San Antonio in 6.
Btw, I will be cheering for Indiana in the East and Phoenix in the West.
MVP: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
There's no question in my mind that Steve Nash should be the MVP for this season. Yes, Shaq has made a difference in Miami -- but it *IS* the Eastern Conference. Miami was already a playoff team last year, whereas Phoenix was a 50-loss team last year.
Rookie of the Year: Ben Gordon
I called this one last year before Gordon was even drafted. It really comes down to him and Okafor. It's hard to argue because Okafor averaged a double-double. Although Gordon beat him in ppg. Bottom line here goes to overall record and how much they affected their team. Ben Gordon is responsible for why the Bulls are in the playoffs. He led the league in scoring in the 4th quarter -- this not just a stat among rookies, he beat *everyone*.
Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle
Rick deserves this because he was devastated by injuries and suspensions, and still managed to lead this team of misfits into the playoffs. He rejuvenated Reggie Miller, lost his best player in Ron Artest and was missing Jermaine O'Neal for half of the year.
Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge
Ainge had a fantastic year, putting together first of all, an amazing draft by getting Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. Then he went and traded for Antoine Walker, and gave Boston something to cheer about as they won their division.
Sixth Man of the Year: Ben Gordon
On top of the accolades I have already mentioned about Gordon, he also led all scorers of players coming off the bench.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Grant Hill
Injured over the past 3-4 years, he finally put together a healthy season, and although not quite the Grant Hill that once made him my favorite player, had a really solid season.
Defensive player of the Year: Andrei Kirilenko
Missed half the year, but those numbers he's got.. he averaged, 3 blocks per game, 2 steals? He's a phenomenal player. Unlike other defensive specialists, he also averaged 16 ppg.
All-NBA Teams
First Team
C: Shaquille O'Neal
F: Dirk Nowitzki
F: Tim Duncan
G: Lebron James
G: Steve Nash
I have seen Lebron listed in some places as a guard, and sometimes as a forward. If he were a forward, I would Tim Duncan down to the Second Team -- that's how good I think Lebron is. And actually, Duncan has been listed as either a Forward or a Center.
Second Team
C: Amare Stoudamire
F: Kevin Garnett
F: Tracy McGrady
G: Allen Iverson
G: Kobe Bryant
Since these lists are based according to how good they are at their position, Kobe makes the list. Otherwise he wouldn't make the Fourth Team! To continue on Lebron's alternate position, McGrady would fall to the 4th team. If Duncan were a Center, he would have fallen to the Third Team. Amare Stoudamire would not be as good as he is without Nash, but with Nash he is a beast.
Third Team
C: Yao Ming
F: Vince Carter
F: Shawn Marion
G: Ray Allen
G: Gilbert Arenas
Yao Ming would not make this team if Duncan was a Center. I hate seeing Vince here but he has had a great year since being traded. He seems to be his old self now. And from what recent articles suggests, I hate Rafer Alston.
Here are my predictions for the 2005 NBA Playoffs:
EAST
Miami over New Jersey in 4.
Washington over Chicago in 6.
Indiana over Boston in 6.
Detroit over Philadelphia in 4.
Miami over Washington in 4.
Detroit over Indiana in 4.
Detroit over Miami in 4.
WEST
Phoenix over Memphis in 5.
Dallas over Houston in 6.
Seattle over Sacramento in 7.
San Antonio over Denver in 4.
Phoenix over Dallas in 6.
San Antonio over Seattle in 4.
San Antonio over Phoenix in 7.
Detroit over San Antonio in 6.
Btw, I will be cheering for Indiana in the East and Phoenix in the West.
I Thirst!
I have been ultra thirsty the last few days. I think on average I've had about 1L per day for the past 3-4 days. (Yes, I know that we're supposed to be drinking a lot more than that, but realize that I used to drink maybe one cup of *fluids* per day).
As a result my bladder has been going haywire. I could barely survive the subway ride home, and then while I was getting my haircut I had to go so badly.
Ooh, at the haircutting place, they had some magazines. I read one that was talking about Shrek, and they said that there are two more on the way -- Shrek 3 and Shrek 4! w00t! The next one will be about Shrek meeting King Arthur and the knights of the round table, and then the one after that will be a prequel about why Shrek lived in the swamp.
Also, they said that Chris Farley was originally supposed to do Shrek, not Mike Myers. That's pretty amazing, considering how Myers' career has pretty much taken off as a result of this "gig". It could have been all Farley.. if he hadn't OD'd. And let's face it.. his career pretty much sucked. What a shame.
My haircut -- I'm completely bald. There is more hair in my eyebrows than on my scalp. After they cut it, I asked them to shave it with a razor. It's pretty nifty but my head feels really cold all the time now. I might have to wear a toque to work tomorrow.
By the way, work is better now. I am enjoying it again. That March thing was a killer for me, February and March dragged so much that I was thinking about quitting, but it's passed now. I'm really enjoying it.. I feel like I'm making a strong contribution each day and sometimes it really tests me which makes it that much more enjoyable.
Also, I talked to my boss about my planned vacations and he seemed okay with it when I mentioned possibly 3 weeks in June or July. I mean, if he's okay with 3 weeks, then when I tell him it'll be 4 weeks, he won't flip out.. at least I hope not. The City operates minimally in the summer, because everyone is on vacation. That's probably the only reason I could get away with doing something like this. (Taking an entire month off). I'm not bald btw. It's way too cold right now for that. Maybe in the summer.
As a result my bladder has been going haywire. I could barely survive the subway ride home, and then while I was getting my haircut I had to go so badly.
Ooh, at the haircutting place, they had some magazines. I read one that was talking about Shrek, and they said that there are two more on the way -- Shrek 3 and Shrek 4! w00t! The next one will be about Shrek meeting King Arthur and the knights of the round table, and then the one after that will be a prequel about why Shrek lived in the swamp.
Also, they said that Chris Farley was originally supposed to do Shrek, not Mike Myers. That's pretty amazing, considering how Myers' career has pretty much taken off as a result of this "gig". It could have been all Farley.. if he hadn't OD'd. And let's face it.. his career pretty much sucked. What a shame.
My haircut -- I'm completely bald. There is more hair in my eyebrows than on my scalp. After they cut it, I asked them to shave it with a razor. It's pretty nifty but my head feels really cold all the time now. I might have to wear a toque to work tomorrow.
By the way, work is better now. I am enjoying it again. That March thing was a killer for me, February and March dragged so much that I was thinking about quitting, but it's passed now. I'm really enjoying it.. I feel like I'm making a strong contribution each day and sometimes it really tests me which makes it that much more enjoyable.
Also, I talked to my boss about my planned vacations and he seemed okay with it when I mentioned possibly 3 weeks in June or July. I mean, if he's okay with 3 weeks, then when I tell him it'll be 4 weeks, he won't flip out.. at least I hope not. The City operates minimally in the summer, because everyone is on vacation. That's probably the only reason I could get away with doing something like this. (Taking an entire month off). I'm not bald btw. It's way too cold right now for that. Maybe in the summer.
April 18, 2005
Happy Birthday, Bell
Tonight was Bell's 125th birthday. 125 years is a really long time if you think about it. That's over a century of business.
Anyway, to celebrate, the employees of Bell within the Toronto were treated with a live concert of the Barenaked Ladies -- free I might add -- and I was there to celebrate with them. Thanks to Ben, who's friend at work didn't want to go so he had a pair of extra tickets for Kenric and me.
What can I say other than BNL can really flat out entertain. They are a hilarious bunch of guys just having a great time and helping everyone else have a great time.
Anyway, to celebrate, the employees of Bell within the Toronto were treated with a live concert of the Barenaked Ladies -- free I might add -- and I was there to celebrate with them. Thanks to Ben, who's friend at work didn't want to go so he had a pair of extra tickets for Kenric and me.
What can I say other than BNL can really flat out entertain. They are a hilarious bunch of guys just having a great time and helping everyone else have a great time.
April 16, 2005
Spring is finally here!
I *love* having hardwood floor. I've been rollerblading all over my condo for the past 2 hours and having fun doing it. I cook while blading, play guitar, watch tv, etc. It's great.
Check out this hilarious video I found.
Check out this hilarious video I found.
April 13, 2005
Always one step ahead
Do you ever feel like God is always one step ahead of you? I mean yea, He's God, why wouldn't He right? But still, sometimes I find it so frustrating. Every time I make a haste decision, or stick with a certain viewpoint, it seems like God puts me back in my place. And He always gives me time to reflect on it, almost like He's waiting for it. And then, BOOM! It dawns on me and I curse at myself for not seeing it. Another life lesson.
He's like a parent that every teenager dreams of having, the kid who says: "Dad, why can't you just let me learn from my own mistakes?". That's God.
This week's chapter in Seizing Your Divine Moment is called Advance. We *should* have done this chapter last week but we did a bible study on Prayer instead. Not that Prayer isn't a worthy topic either, it's just that the timing seems off for me.
The next day I went to MissionFest and got absolutely nothing out of it and came away disappointed that I didn't receive some kind of a sign. I had prayed basically that if God wanted me to go, that I would be presented with an opportunity, or that something would jump out at me and I go for it. But I got nothing out of the Fest, and went home somewhat dejected.
As I spoke to a friend about it, about how I tend base my decisions on emotion; so my contention was that since nothing happened, that perhaps God was telling me that my mission field is where I am. "Just stay home."
The first line in this chapter says "go unless you get a no". What bugs me is that I also read a bible study, while prepping for last Friday, that had a quote:
"God does not respond to our prayers. God responds to us: to our whole life. What we say to Him cannot be separated from what we think, feel, will and do. Prayer is communication from whole persons to the Wholeness, which is the living God. Prayer is misunderstood until we see it this way."
It's just sad that I didn't see this or remember it until today when I was reading the book. McManus writes: "many times when we claim we are waiting on God, He is waiting on us.". And therein lies the answers I've been searching for. It was just that kind of awakening where I thought to myself "Damnit Bri.. why did we read this last week?"
He's like a parent that every teenager dreams of having, the kid who says: "Dad, why can't you just let me learn from my own mistakes?". That's God.
This week's chapter in Seizing Your Divine Moment is called Advance. We *should* have done this chapter last week but we did a bible study on Prayer instead. Not that Prayer isn't a worthy topic either, it's just that the timing seems off for me.
The next day I went to MissionFest and got absolutely nothing out of it and came away disappointed that I didn't receive some kind of a sign. I had prayed basically that if God wanted me to go, that I would be presented with an opportunity, or that something would jump out at me and I go for it. But I got nothing out of the Fest, and went home somewhat dejected.
As I spoke to a friend about it, about how I tend base my decisions on emotion; so my contention was that since nothing happened, that perhaps God was telling me that my mission field is where I am. "Just stay home."
The first line in this chapter says "go unless you get a no". What bugs me is that I also read a bible study, while prepping for last Friday, that had a quote:
"God does not respond to our prayers. God responds to us: to our whole life. What we say to Him cannot be separated from what we think, feel, will and do. Prayer is communication from whole persons to the Wholeness, which is the living God. Prayer is misunderstood until we see it this way."
It's just sad that I didn't see this or remember it until today when I was reading the book. McManus writes: "many times when we claim we are waiting on God, He is waiting on us.". And therein lies the answers I've been searching for. It was just that kind of awakening where I thought to myself "Damnit Bri.. why did we read this last week?"
April 12, 2005
Track 4
All I Need Is You - Hillsong United
Left my fear by the side of the road
Hear You speak won't let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray
I got every reason to be here again
Father's love that draws me in
All my eyes wanna see is glimpse of You
CHORUS
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
One more day and it's not the same
Your Spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Savior once again
Where would my soul be without Your Son
Who gave His life to save earth
Rest in the thought that You're watching over me
Mini Bridge:
All I need is You
All I need is You
All I need is You
All I need is You
Bridge:
You hold the universe
You hold everyone on earth
You hold the universe
You hold You hold
Left my fear by the side of the road
Hear You speak won't let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray
I got every reason to be here again
Father's love that draws me in
All my eyes wanna see is glimpse of You
CHORUS
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
One more day and it's not the same
Your Spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Savior once again
Where would my soul be without Your Son
Who gave His life to save earth
Rest in the thought that You're watching over me
Mini Bridge:
All I need is You
All I need is You
All I need is You
All I need is You
Bridge:
You hold the universe
You hold everyone on earth
You hold the universe
You hold You hold
April 11, 2005
Get better
It turns out that Hillsong United has 6 CDs. I have 4. For the first 3 albums, they went under the name "United Live" and then the last three as Hillsong United. The first 3 each have a header of "Hillsong Music Australia". I guess they wanted to make sure people knew they were Hillsong.
Anyway, what struck me most about the six albums is that they progressively get better and better. It's not just that the style of music goes from modern worship to praise rock. At first, that's exactly what I thought they were doing -- just changing their music to cater more and more to the young people; reinventing themselves.
I suppose it is a little bit of both. The first CD "Everyday" is mellow, almost like a more recently done Hillsong album. Compare that to the reaction of our english congregation to the youth leading worship with songs like One Way or All Day from Hillsong's 5th album "More Than Life". It's like shell-shock.
But I guess what I'm trying to get at is that they get better. Musically, the guitarists, and the singers, get better.
Maybe this seems obvious to you, but to me it's a big surprise. I'm really curious about it, did they take lessons to get better? Or did it just take practice? Or maybe they listened to other music and tried to figure out how to do it themselves?
air filter guy
Every 6 months, a guy goes through the building replacing air filters for every unit. I remember this guy because last year when he came in he saw my electric guitar and told me about how he had started to take guitar lessons after going on a retreat with some of his buddies and one guy was just a wizard on the guitar.
Anyway, a follow-up, he was making his rounds again this weekend so I talked to him again about it. He'd made large strides since we last spoke. He now owned two electric guitars and was planning to buy an electric acoustic -- but his wife wouldn't let him. He was taking lessons still and was getting pretty good. For a minute there I dreamt that we'd just start jamming right there and then.
This guy had no musical background and had picked up basic guitar theory. That really impressed me. Also, he was at least 40 with two kids, and still found the time to persue his dream of guitar playing!
I guess next time I see him, I'll try to catch his name :P
Anyway, what struck me most about the six albums is that they progressively get better and better. It's not just that the style of music goes from modern worship to praise rock. At first, that's exactly what I thought they were doing -- just changing their music to cater more and more to the young people; reinventing themselves.
I suppose it is a little bit of both. The first CD "Everyday" is mellow, almost like a more recently done Hillsong album. Compare that to the reaction of our english congregation to the youth leading worship with songs like One Way or All Day from Hillsong's 5th album "More Than Life". It's like shell-shock.
But I guess what I'm trying to get at is that they get better. Musically, the guitarists, and the singers, get better.
Maybe this seems obvious to you, but to me it's a big surprise. I'm really curious about it, did they take lessons to get better? Or did it just take practice? Or maybe they listened to other music and tried to figure out how to do it themselves?
air filter guy
Every 6 months, a guy goes through the building replacing air filters for every unit. I remember this guy because last year when he came in he saw my electric guitar and told me about how he had started to take guitar lessons after going on a retreat with some of his buddies and one guy was just a wizard on the guitar.
Anyway, a follow-up, he was making his rounds again this weekend so I talked to him again about it. He'd made large strides since we last spoke. He now owned two electric guitars and was planning to buy an electric acoustic -- but his wife wouldn't let him. He was taking lessons still and was getting pretty good. For a minute there I dreamt that we'd just start jamming right there and then.
This guy had no musical background and had picked up basic guitar theory. That really impressed me. Also, he was at least 40 with two kids, and still found the time to persue his dream of guitar playing!
I guess next time I see him, I'll try to catch his name :P
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