Diatribe Of A Mad Bassist

Yup.. I’m back after more than a week.. been down with a sore eye the past 3 days..

And so it begins, SOT or School of Theology for the uninitiated.. I’m not attending a school that will make me got sot (crazy). And no, I’m not intending to be a pastor or what. I just feel that there is a need to be equipped to serve and to be available whenever called into the mission field. Even if not for the above reason, I just want to know more about God and God’s word.

Anyway, I’ve had the honour of being selected by Pastor Zhuang to be a team leader in SOT. Really thank God that he has enough faith in me that I am able to lead a team of 24. Yes 24! That’s twice the size of my cell group when I was a cell leader. But well, more than that, 5 of the CGLs are in my group and I have 4 Japanese international students, one of whom is a youth pastor, with me as well. How intimidating is that? Very. But I guess that I’ll just do my best to lead this team. Don’t think it’s gonna be as stressful as being a CGL. And it’s only gonna be for the next 20 weeks.

And with that, I’m also serving as a bassist for the SOT worship team. Which kinda puts me back into the situation I’ve been in for the last 2 years, Musician and Leader. I guess God is trying to tell me /prepare me for something. I don’t know. But whatever I have, I’ll try to be as faithful as I can be. I think it’s a real priviledge to be able to serve God in two very different ways. And I thank God for that.

Anyway, the first week in SOT was fun. With Wiltian’s group being on duty to do PA, I played for the praise and worship everyday. The long of the short of it, it was truly amazing to see God move as we had DAILY encounters with Him in the morning sessions where Pst Derek will minister to the people. But when I was seeing it all happen from the stage, I truly wanted to be part of the crowd as well, but hey, I’m glad that God could use me to be part of the team that was part of the ministering. Haha.

It’s been a physically draining week, especially if u add that to playing for Chinese and Dialect Services and the practice for  Chinese Songwriting showcase on Sat and Sun. But spiritually I’m feeling really good. Even with a sore eye. Haha..

But really thank God for the chance to serve. I don’t wanna take what I have for granted. Nobody should. God giveth, God taketh away. I’ve seen it happen. It’s scary. And it may be a long time before the chance comes back to you again. So take every chance you have fully. Don’t serve God half-heartedly. God is always moving, so we need to move to catch God, and not God slowing down for you to suit your half-hearted, self-centred, lousy excuse for a servant life. (Sorry, I’m ranting again. Just can’t stand lukewarmness. Or self-centeredness. Or indecisiveness. Or.. well you get the picture.)

Yup. So till the next update.. I’ll intro you guys to my team once I gather everybody for a complete group pic.

WHOO!!! What a weekend.. Rev. Benny Hinn, who in my opinion is the greatest healing evangelist alive today came for a 3 night meeting at the Indoor Stadium.. As expected.. it was packed, packed, packed! The above pic is taken from where I was seated on Friday night. (Din make it for Saturday though.. hai..)

On Sunday though, managed to sit much nearer.. (See pic below)

Actually we were right next to the stage.. which was great.. Got to see what’s going on much clearer.. And seriously,I have to thank God for this..

A few of us who were supposed to play for Chinese Service this week were given a pass so that we can go in on Friday as it would have been the only day we could make it. But the Sunday meeting with Rev. Benny Hinn was shifted to 4pm and Chinese Service was cancelled as a result.. and we could go for the rest of the meetings and yet had the pass to come in from the workers’ entrance. I take it as a blessing.

Anyway over the weekend of the wonderful meetings, besides seeing the many many wonderful healing miracles and the super strong and tangible presence of God, I’ve learnt a few important lessons that I believe will help me be a better Christian.

1. Spiritual Hunger - Today’s meeting saw Rev. Benny Hinn pray for a group of people who had come from Mainland China. These people were so hungry for God that they travelled all the way down just to attend these meetings. And as they were being prayed for, they wailed.. yes wailed.. for revival in China. These people are really hungry for God’s word, God’s presence that isn’t as easily and freely available as compared to what we have here. Makes me think, these people are willing to literally give their lives for the Gospel, what in the world am I doing? I feel I have not done enough as compared to them. We all need to be more hungry for God..I’m committed to pray for China!
2. Flow and Anointing - I was really impressed by the worship team that played for the 3 meetings. They were technically really up there.. but it was the way they were able to just flow and play the very instant Rev. Benny sings.. and he changes songs very quick.. they were very quick to react.. and more imporantly, they had the capacity and aninting to carry the presence of God for the meetings. Really impressed. I told God on Friday night: ” That’s what I want, I want my playing to go up to that level”.

Well, all in all, it was a wonderful experience that I am not about to forget. It’s a different personal experience for me as compared to when he came 2 years ago.. but nevertheless, life changing.

SOT is starting tomorrow.. and I’m being nomniated at a team leader by Pst Zhuang! That came as a surprise since I’m not expecting it as I’ve already stepped down from CG leadership and it’s usuall the CGLs that are the team leaders. Nevertheless, I’m make good use of this opportunity and make it all count for the next 4.5 months!

Annoucing the expansion of MECRUS into MEWCRUS (that’s Mervyn Eigene Wiltian Chris R US) complete with our new tagline.. The 4 of us are mad and we are also all going to SOT this year by the way.. hahah…

This is funny.. haha

Ok.. after half a year of not cutting my hair.. I finally gave in and went to cut it.. now I feel so weird cos it’s the shortest my hair has been since I ORD.. and no more “Nutella” hair.. it’s now reddish..

Nevermind.. watch out for my next “happening” hairdo during Emerge.. muahahaha

Well, thank God for seeing me through this week. It’s been a long, tired and stretching week but yeah.. I’m stretching to the next level.

With us staying back every other night till 2am for practices for the various services this week, it’s inevitable that I went crazy. Haha.. Basically we found some of those mascot costumes in the artist room and I put on the mouse/chipmunk/monkey head and posed for some pictures, little did I know that the drummer, Ricky would join in the craze with the Eagle/NUS Chicken from Emerge POS 06. So here are the crazy pics!

Sidetrack: This message was flashed across the LED screen at 2am on Sat morning.. haha.. apparently that’s the way the chorus board people in the control room on the 4th floor communicate with the ppl in B4 for the lack of walkie-talkies. Funny pic.. I mean like, how often do u see such sentence flashed on the LED. Pure Kodak Moment…

Ok.. the crazy pics..

Ok.. Just heard from Sean that it’s a monkey.. so yeah.. beware the monkey and the eagle that forms the rhythm section of the band.. Yes, I was told that this pic somehow I look like Sidney Mohede.. yes.. haha..

Here’s Ricky the NUS Chicken/Eagle.. haha.. Love the third pic…

OK la..I’m trying to act like a cool monkey ok..

Well, after the Chinese Service was over, Eigene, Yenhao, Mrs. Zhang (Serena aka Ben Zhang’s gf in a landmark first time she’s hanging out with us alone without her Ben Zhang cos he is in Taiwan), Ruyan and I went to watch TMNT. Ruyan din join us for dinner. The rest of us went to Manhattan Fish Market for delicious Seafood.

The 3 of them shared a seafood platter while I had this Manhattan Fish and Chips. Nice…

Well, TMNT is a nice show, kinda liked it. Haha.

All in all, Thank God for this weekend, Thank God for the many souls saved during the various services, And thank God for sustaining me all through this week.

SOT is starting!!!!!!

I’m bloggin right now in Church.. it’s 9.37pm and I’ve been here since 1pm in the afternoon. Played for JAMs and Dialect Easter service and now in the midst of Chinese Church Easter Drama prac. Been practicing till 2am every other day this week and will be here till 2am again today. And tomorrow as well. While waiting for the actors to do their sound check, a few of us are exchanging songs and what have yous with each other on stage.. hahaha.

But after all the hard work and the tiring long hours of prac after prac, to see souls saved is the best thanks that I can get. Many students in JAMs (for the uninitiated, JAMs is our intellectually disabled service) and many many old folks gave their hearts to Jesus today. And it’s only day one of the whole Easter weekend. Believing for more souls to be saved. But for now, need the strength to pull through. I guess it’s good that I can stretch myself over this period. Thank God for a great weekend.

You gotta check this out. I laughed until I almost got an asthma attack. HAHAHAHAA. Credit to Yenhao for telling me about this clip…

Be warned..

Ok.. I’ve just been informed that I don’t have to act in the dialect drama already.. apparently the head of JAMs called the head of dialect church to release me so I can play for JAMs Svc for Easter. WE NEED MORE BASSISTS….