Watchnite Service

Well, most of us would, routinely, be doing the common good-morning-Lord and only-before-bed prayers each day. From time to time, I do find short frequent specific prayers throughout the day could sustain us better as we go through our everyday life, be it at home or at workplace.
 
Ok, the more I think about this, the more I feel it is necessary to keep God close to us, and yeap, we to God, every moment of the day.
 
Let’s consider this way – the world is in fact in a mess and we are all bombarded with tonnes of information every single second. Hence, we are also required to make decisions throughout the day. And well, this really puts the narrow gate that Jesus talks about as in Matthew 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen-”
 
Well, only by His mercy and grace that we are able to walk in His will. The answer we could find in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
 
In conclusion, God is (should be) the every-minute CEO in our life, and well, we need, of course, to be accountable to Him in every step all along our way.
 
Now, let’s think about those times when we find ourselves bored and idling.  It is true that an idle mind is the devil’s playground. But it is also true that it is an opportunity to establish a conversation heavenward. So why not, chat up with God today?
 

It just came to my mind one day…. What if (yeap, what if) I were to secure a job with a traveling nature that requires me to travel almost around the world throughout the whole year? Wouldn’t it be simply fantabulous? Fancy having myself retreat to fine dining and luxurious shopping spree after a hard day at work! Wow, certainly, I would be able to travel in Business Class (or perhaps Economy Class for short distance flights), enjoying all the fine dining and being chauffeured to and fro from the airports in Jaguars or even in Mercs.
 
Ok, perhaps I was trying to show off my so-called wild thoughts and telling you how spoilt I could be. But mainly, I was just trying to illustrate that it is undeniably, tremendously easy to get attached to luxury.
 
Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
 
Well, the treasures of this world shall pass away, but our treasures in Heaven will last forever. Therefore, we should consistently ask the Lord to help guard our heart and to keep His Kingdom in perspective.
 
Speaking about keeping His Kingdom in perspective, here’s an exceptional illustration from a book, entitled “Money, Possessions and Eternity” written by Randy Alcorn.
 
 
Imagine for a moment that you are alive at the end of the Civil War. You are living in the South, but your home is really in the North. While the South you have accumulated a good amount of Confederate currency. Suppose you know that the North is going to win the war soon. What will you do with your Confederate currency?

If you were smart, there is only one answer to the question. You would cash in your Confederate currency for US currency – the only money that will have value once the war is over. You would keep only enough Confederate currency to meet your basic needs for that short period until the war is over.
The currency of this world will be worthless at our death or at Christ’s return, both of which are imminent. For us to accumulate vast earthly treasures in the face of the inevitable future is the equivalent to stockpiling Confederate money.

The only currency of value in heave is our present service and generous giving to God’s Kingdom. Jim Elliot, the martyred missionary, said it this way, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
 
 
Well, today, I challenge… all of you readers, yeap, in your own style, uh huh, in pleasing before God, and sowing more into the Kingdom of God with your gifted talents and generous givings. (OK, I’m actually challenging myself too when I’m saying this….)
 
 

Christmas!!

GTPJ’s original musical, Windows, begins with Lisa’s voice over of Matthew 6:22-23: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.”
And with that, the familiar refrain of Little Lisa’s first song cuts through the lightning and thunder of the first scene:

“I met a friend and her name is Amy…”

So Windows, the musical begins, and with only one month of rehearsal under our belts and countless script changes, last minute musical addition, we started the first chords and the ensemble came bursting out for the opening number “Itsy Bitsy”.

Was the musical successful? I leave it for those of you who attended to decide. 8 salvations on the first day and 6 on the second day certainly was a measure of ’success’ on the musical. For those who missed it, here’s a pictorial walkthrough of the musical, many thanks to Nick Tay for the pics. More pictures here!

Hope you enjoyed Windows as I have being part of it! The promotion blogs by Michael and Amy will be categorised under ‘GTPJ’ in ThreeDs.

Little Lisa begins the opening tune of the first song “More Itsy Bitsy” amidst thunder and lightning

The entire ensemble in the opening song “More Itsy Bitsy” at the school gate with Lisa

Lisa is saved from the bullies and she and Amy meet Michael for the first time

To the present: Amy, Lisa and Michael the night before the eye operation, filled with expectations of a new world to come, singing “We Will See”

Michael in the hospital, singing the love song “I Wish You Knew” to the sleeping Lisa

The ensemble singing the uplifting theme song “I Can See The World“, as Lisa’s eyes are opened!

A year later, while their friendship was still intact, Lisa and Amy display their frustration at Michael’s incapability of expressing his affection to the former

The terrifying ‘Boss’, introduces his heir in “My Darling Son”

James, introduces himself to Stacey, Lucy and Barbara

Candle lit dinner as James asks Lisa out amidst “Girl from Ipanema” in the background

In the reprise of “More Itsy Bitsy” Michael decides it is time to tell Lisa he loves her

In the mall, just as Michael approaches Lisa, James proposes and she accepts in the song “My Beautiful Wife”

The friendship breaks and Michael leaves back to his hometown, berating Lisa for her money mindedness, and berated in return for his lack of ambition in the song “Lisa Lisa”

The anguish of Michael in the duet with Lisa, “Does Anybody Know Me”

Lisa is made to choose between her new life and Amy, her best friend

Lisa makes the decision to let Amy leave, just as Michael did

Lisa, remembering all that is dear to her, are now gone

Amy returns, unable to desert her friend and offers a tissue of peace

The acceptance of Jesus by Lisa in the song “Come to the Father”

In “James oh James“, James ensures Lisa loses her job and her future as she calls off the wedding

Lisa, in the haunting “I Might As Well Be Blind“, goes blind again

The reunion of Amy and blind Lisa as they sing “Amazing Grace”

Michael returns after hearing about Lisa’s blindness and offers his support to her and her marriage only to find that it has been called off

And the long awaited moment

In the reprise of “More Itsy Bitsy” the ensemble gathers for the wedding finale

GTPJ’s first ever original musical concludes with Liang and the ensemble reprising the theme “I Can See The World”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Of course, it’s a little strange that I’d be posting this, but after all, despite of everything, I must admit James played a big part in our little story. Do I see him as a competitor? Well, in a way, yeah, but do I feel intimidated by this guy? NO! So what if he drives an Audi TT? So what if he has a 10K Rolex and splashes out money like paper? So what if he owns a nice bachelor pad in Bangsar? Well, ok, actually he has a lot of things I wish I had, but he doesn’t have a 16 year friendship with Lisa, and thats gotta count for something!

I might have been a little hard on my assessment on James initially. I always thought he was an arrogant brat hanging on Daddy’s coattails to have a free ride through life. Of course, the silver spoon in his mouth does help a lot, but I’ve been hearing a lot about James both from the news and as well as from others in the consulting industry, and these are good things. Of course, he’s always photographed with a model by his side, but work wise, I will grudgingly admit he seems to be cut out to take over his father’s reins in Jukt Consultants. So here’s a little of James, my nemesis!

Catch the musical tonight and tomorrow in GTPJ church at 8 pm!

Date: Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd of Decemnber, 2006
Time: 8 pm
Venue: Glad Tidings Petaling Jaya, No 6 Jalan Bersatu 13/4, 46200 Petaling Jaya

Map can be found here! Have a blessed christmas all!

Christmas Musical 2006: Windows

22/12/2006 to 23/12/2006

As my dear Amy reminded all of us: today is the opening for Windows, an original GTPJ play written, directed, produced, composed and acted entirely in house. I know the team has put a lot into this, it’s by no means anything to the scope of Miss Saigon or the Phantom or that Les Miserables (what kinda name IS THAT? Maybe it’s meant to say, Lets be Miserable?) … and even more locally, the recent play from SIB KL; but its a down to earth production, honest story telling, and I can see the people involved having a whole lot of fun even practising and working out their parts. It’s simple, yet has a powerful message of the gospel and the security it brings, that we should depend on HIM, and even when our eyes sometimes fail us, He will never fail us. And I know Lisa will go AMEN to that!
Speaking of having fun, I managed to get two musical bloopers from the team’s last practice! Quite funny!

Here’s the first audio clip…this is sung mainly by me, Amy and Lisa and a few others. But we certainly got lost a little at the end after our harmony…the little laugh at the end belongs to Amy, totally lost at what’s going on…as usual!

The second clip is the original song written by Liang (he’s the award winning artiste that gets loads of airplay for his songs in the local radio stations). He’s also testing out lots of stuff! He actually got his music students to sing for this, the finale for the Musical. Funny!

I am like so impressed and embarassed (spelling?) at the same time!! I mean, it so sweet of nick to put this up but u know, u never get used to seeing yourself or hearing yourself speak and you wonder, wow, am i like that? do i look better with that angle, oh, that angle is bad, and so on and so on. michael tells me i look fine, but i remember he tells me i look fine regardless of how i actually look…like duh?! sorry, but i am a bit the vain as well…unlike lisa who always have guys going after her, blind or not blind (I mean her, not the guys of course kekeke), i’ll need all my angles to look right..who knows? Mr Right around the corner, correct?

anyways, today is the first day of the GTPJ original musical “WINDOWS”!! It will be on both nights 22nd and 23rd, so I am praying it wont rain, and there wont be any jam for KL people coming back! Merry Christmas weekend, everyone and a blessed blessed new year!

O, nearly forgot to post the trailer: so weird still to see me myself…

Lisa’s a tough gal, Michael, so dont go up against her!! I remember too when she chose those 3 girls to hang out instead of me, Lucy, Stacey and Barbara…aaaah, cannot tahan them…always so into their own little world and shopping and stuff, not too mention so conceited and snooty…they make me almost able to tolerate James..because he’s only one guy, whereas those 3 are alwaaayss together, and they do really really know how to make you feel so small…but i dont care, but if lisa was hanging out with them, then of course i do becuz i care about lisa and all, you know? Ooooh, also, guess wat, I managed to get a hold of some lyrics and original tracks for the musical this weekend. It’s TOMORROW!!! so excited, cannot breathe properrrllyyy….

WE WILL SEE

Lisa: I have always been living in the dark

Learning things like hopscotch was so hard

What people take for granted

Like pouring a cup of coffee

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll see

I have always wondered what red is like

What people see when they stop at traffic lights

I want to see blue skies, yellow sunrise, over the green sea

Well tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll see

I will finally catch an episode of Desperate Housewives

Who could be more desperate than me

I can finally tell someone, I see you eye to eye

Yes tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll see

Lisa: I have always wondered what you look like

Amy: He’s Gable, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise rolled in one

Michael: Gable’s gone with the wind, Brad and Tom, well maybe

Together: Tomorrow, tomorrow, we’ll see

Amy: We will see a bed of roses

Michael: A Mercedes Benz

Amy: Tell the time! Read a book!

Lisa: Rows of presents beneath a Christmas tree

Amy: We will see Prada and Gucci

Michael: X Men Comics!

Lisa: Catch a movie at GSC

Together: Well tomorrow, tomorrow, we’ll see

Amy: We will see shooting stars in starry nights

Michael: Liverpool beating Chelsea

Lisa: Ride a bike and not crash into a tree

Amy: You will paint your nails

Michael: See a pimple!

Lisa: Climb a mountain, dive a sea

Together: Tomorrow, tomorrow

Tomorrow, tomorrow,

Tomorrow, tomorrow, we will see!