The Heart Of Worship.

Something else occurred to me today, during worship.

For a long time, I've been really been motivated by worship. But I realized, I'm being motivated by the wrong things.

Lyrics, riffs, beats. All these musical aspects aren't what worship is about. That's what many of us get wrong.

Worship, in the simplest terms, is to praise the Lord, in anyway possible. It's just that the most prevalent form is musical, and that's where the lines begin to blur.

We can just be humming, or speaking words. As long as we have the right motive, to praise God, it's still considered worship.

We can have great guitarists, drummers, vocalists, bassists and all that, but if we're just there to sing the songs, and not realize the true meaning of worship, we're no different from an audience at a rock concert.

Bringing ourselves back to the heart of worship. To truly praise God, through anyway available to us, be it song, dance, poems, or even thoughts. To not get emotionally enchanted by the music, and forget the true meaning behind it all.

We always forget that the Devil is always lurking, even in "holy" places such as churches. He manipulates us, making us believe in the song instead of the praise.

We need to have that heart, that willpower to see through everything, and to find the true heart of worship.

Finding a heart to truly, bless His name.

No Leaf Clover

Today was pretty much awesome. Church, soccer, gay talk with buddies,Iron Maiden & Metallica to sing me to sleep.

I reflected on the sermon Zhan Feng shared with us during cell. While I don't agree with the fact that such drastic action is needed to gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, I feel that a lifestyle of repentance is one that every Christian should adopt.

Just like how a leaf will catch flame when put through a fire. It's exactly the same for us. After experiencing the power of Christ in our lives, we have to change, set alight by His Holy Flame.

Another reason to why I don't agree with the sermon. I don't think it's our acts itself that define our place in Heaven. I mean, if we start turning away from sin with the sole purpose of not wanting to be in Hell, isn't that wrong?

Our motives for turning away from sin should be to please God, not to gain entry into His Kingdom. That entry is already guaranteed, after Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of man, and us accepting Him as our Saviour. Turning away from sin should be a natural reaction to that, to shun what God hates, to take ourselves out of our worldly values because this is our purpose, to seek God and to glorify Him through our actions and words.

Surely faith without action is dead. That is key. We can't just live out our lives as carnal Christians, still living in the ways of the world, dwelling in sin.

We have to change ourselves, after being set aflame by His holy flame.

To Tame A Land.

O God of earth and altar,

Bow down and hear our cry,

Our earthly rulers falter,

Our people drift and die;

The walls of gold entomb us,

The swords of scorn divide,

Take not thy thunder from us,

But take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches,

From lies of tongue and pen,

From all the easy speeches

That comfort cruel men,

From sale and profanation

Of honour and the sword,

From sleep and from damnation,

Deliver us, good Lord.

Tie in a living tether

The prince and priest and thrall,

Bind all our lives together,

Smite us and save us all;

In ire and exultation

Aflame with faith, and free,

Lift up a living nation,

A single sword to thee.

Revelations.

Came to me with a serpents kiss

As the eye of the sun rose on her lips

Moonlight catches silver tears that I cry

I'm quite satisfied today, not because I got a lot of stuff done, but because I spent time with people I neglected, but found again.

It's nice to know that after 6 years, even though we've all changed drastically, we're still the same people underneath, all playing our usual roles in this social Venn diagram.

An easy way for the blind to go

A clever path for the fools who know

The secret of the hanged man, the smile on his lips

There's not much time left, I'd better hurry if I'm gonna make it.

Home Port

I think I'm the only mad person to go running at 3.45AM.

Still, the running cleared my mind, gave me a clear path. All thanks to God.

How I Met Your Mother's been pretty awesome lately, although the Mother's gotta be pretty hot to beat Rachel Bilson. I can only think of three women that would qualify.

Said this rather long prayer to God after my run, and I think that's a real sincere prayer. One that doesn't hold any motives behind it, just to thank Him for everything He's done in my life.

Right now, I'm just thankful that He brought me back safely, and for everything He put into my life.

I really need to get some sleep.

4.54AM

One

There's just so much I want to say, but I just can't get my head on order. It's that retarded sensation where you just can't make head or tail of anything in your head, and the only real emotion that you feel is confusion.

I've been moving around quite a bit these few days. So much has happened, in so little time.

I remember the times when my granddad used to take me on long bus rides around Singapore. He'd carry me, sometimes on his shoulders, and take me out to explore the world. Only now, am I appreciating what he's done for me.

He'd hold my hand, carry me onto that bus, to wherever it went, just for the journey, and sometimes destination.

I remember one place I'd always want to go with him. Changi Airport. Little me loved airplanes and air-conditioning, so yeah. He'd always take me to the staff food court for lunch. He'd bring me onto the Skytrain next, place me at the window where I pretended to be a racecar driver. He'd walk with me to the viewing point, where I'd run down the hallway with the airplanes as they were taking off. He'd bring me to a coffeeplace, where he'd drink his cup of coffee slowly, and I'd climb onto the aquariums and try to scare the fishes inside.

These are the times I miss. The innocence of youth. Before the eventual corruption.

On a happier note, rainy night again! :D:D:D 2 nights ago, but who cares.

I originally wanted to dedicate a post to my brother, but I'll do that another time. Not in the right frame of mind to give him a proper ode. This post's for my grandfather instead!

Ah Kong, thank you for bringing me up so lovingly, even when I've been a real pain in the ass to you. Thank you for bringing me to my first movie, for buying me all those toys, for introducing me to music, for teaching me about life's lessons, for starting this love for food, for that love for long bus rides, and for every single thing you've done in my life. I know you probably won't read this, but thank you. You're one of the three people in my life that really changed who I am for the better, and there's so much more I want to dedicate to you.

Imitation's the best form of flattery, or so they say. With that in mind, I'm gonna live a life that flatters my grandpa, one that shows who he truly is, one that gives thanks for all that work that he's done in my life.

I love you, Ah Kong.

That thing that should not be.

Downloaded this album recently. One of the better ones that I've listened to in a long time. I love the way metal and classical music can fuse together, to make such a masterpiece.

I've got a lack of motivation at the moment, and I've got no idea why. This sucks. I need to find something else to take up my time.

Argh, negative emotions again. I need to play some music, listening just isn't good enough.

It's halfway through January and I've got to get myself going, I'm not gonna do achieve anything by sitting here.

Kinda looking forward to the end of the week, meeting up with old friends and all that. Makes me feel nostalgic. Always a good thing.

Been dreaming a lot, & I don't know what to make of these visions I have. There's hardly any meaning behind all those moving pictures and myriad of colors. I pray that I find the meanings and the messages that He wants me to know.

I need to stop being so worked up, learn to relax.