June 11, 2005. I was at Araneta Coliseum with a bunch of friends, for one of our first experiences of Hillsong — a seminar and worship led by Reuben Morgan. It was also my first time to be a part of the street team thanks to Jomar who recruited me, so I was particularly excited for it because of all the hard work for selling tickets. It was also one of the most memorable moments of my life. I was so amazed at how the people at Araneta worshipped — Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, all worshipping the same God. Amazing.
November 21, 2006. I was at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, for the first Hillsong United in Manila worship. Needless to say, I was awed that night; in that small venue, beyond my hunger and exhaustion, I definitely felt God’s grace and mercy pour into my life, and that night opened up big dreams for me (namely this).
May 26, 2008. Around one and a half years later, I found my way back to Araneta, this time even more overwhelmed at how God has been good to me, to all my new friends in the Street Team and how He has been so faithful in fulfilling my dreams, especially the ones I forgot about already. Amazing.
I’ve had a really, really long week. Stayed late at work almost all week, had meetings, rejoiced over David Cook winning American Idol, had a terribly embarrassing moment, had really painful realizations, and had a despedida dinner for someone at work. If it weren’t for the daily mass, I’d probably be crazy right now. And it’s not over because of some big things happening this weekend, which I want to be excited for, but for some reason, I am not. This is weird, yes, but I’m guessing this is just an oppression…so….
Anyway. Long week it was. Lots of changes, things happening at work and my life that sometimes I just want to ask God to pause all of it for a while, and let me breathe. You know the feeling? This is definitely one of the moments I want a remote control where I could pause life for a while when it’s getting too suffocating with everything that’s happening, ala Click. Or, have a pensieve (sp?) like Albus Dumbledore where I could just dump my thoughts and memories there and go back to them when I’m ready.
I was telling Alvin and Grace earlier while the three of us hung out at Starbucks: if this were a TV show, this is the moment where the flashbacks come in. You know, the episode where everyone recalls what happened to them in the past? That one. We had Grace’s despedida dinner earlier at work, and it hit me more today that Grace is really leaving. I’m happy for her, really, that her dream to go to Japan is now coming true…but there’s the sad feeling of her leaving the company. I know it’s a fact of life, that people come and go into your life, especially at work. It just feels sad that one my closest friends at work is leaving. :( I know we’ll still be friends, but it’s just…different. We didn’t even get to wear funny t-shirts together. Awww.
So earlier, we were talking about our first days in the company and how much fun we used to have as a team…we still have fun, yes, but a lot of things have changed now. I can’t go into detail, but it is very different. A few days ago, I was listening to one of the songs I kept on playing when I was first in the night shift and I remembered how simple everything seemed then. How easy it is to love my job, how easy it is to love my team. I still love my job and my team, but…like I said, things are changing and it’s not really comfortable.
Truth be told, I miss the old days. I miss how it was before.
But…we’ve got to face the music. I’ve got to adjust.
Hay.
So…if you could spare some time for me, friends, please pray for me. The next few days are bound to be physically and emotionally taxing, I’m going to need all the prayers I can get.
In the meantime…enjoy your weekend friends. To those going to the Hillsong United worship on Monday, see you! :) And pray for us too. :D
Steven Curtis Chapman’s Daughter Killed in Accident 5-year-old daughter Maria Sue struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle at home. By Andree Farias, from press reports posted 05/22/08
Maria Sue Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter, died Wednesday evening from injuries sustained when a sports utility vehicle hit her in the driveway of the family’s home near Franklin, Tennessee. She was 5.
The girl was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by one of her teenage brothers around 5:30 p.m., authorities said. The teen’s identity was not released.
Laura McPherson, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, told The Tennessean that the girl was airlifted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, where she was pronounced dead.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,” McPherson said, adding that no charges are expected.
According to the Associated Press, several family members witnessed the accident, but the Tennessean report said only two children saw what happened. McPherson said the entire family was home at the time.
“I’m confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this,” Gospel Music Association President John W. Styll told The Tennessean.
Maria was Steven and wife Mary Beth Chapman’s third adopted daughter and sixth child overall, behind siblings Will Franklin, Caleb, Emily, Shaohannah, and Stevey Joy.
We were at a Hillsong United meeting yesterday when Erik gave Pastor Ogie the news, and then eventually us. We were all struck, not wanting to believe it, until I called Grace and asked her to look for the news. And it’s true. :(
I had the opportunity to help organize one of Steven Curtis Chapman’s visits to Manila and to meet the family (at least the boys) during their second visit. I admire their family life and one can definitely feel the love that they all share. I can’t even imagine the pain that they are feeling right now.
Maria is one of Steven’s adopted daughters from China, and they have been an advocate of adoption ever since they accepted Shaohannah, their first adopted daughter. He had always mentioned it in his concerts, and they put up a foundation that supports the cause. It’s hard to fathom why this kind of tragedy could happen to such a loving family…but
I know they probably wouldn’t be able to read this, and I know I’m not as close to them as my other friends who actually got to be with them for a longer time..but my prayers and thoughts are with the family. Even I can’t understand why this happen, and I know I probably wouldn’t until I finally meet God, but I know He’s got everything under His control, and I take comfort in that.
I’ve been spending long hours at work lately because of all the…er, work, I have to do. For some reason, things have been piling up, both the real work and the extra curricular stuff. It feels like school all over again, with all the projects and extra curricular stuff that I used to be involved in. Couple that with the rainy season we seem to be experiencing lately, and I feel like Eastwood is my new Taft campus. Did that make sense?
In one of my meetings this past week, I was definitely feeling the stress (but that’s also because there was some kind of issue with the team before then, hence the more stress), but while I was at the meeting, I was feeling a bit…calm. My project teammates told me I look and act even more hyper when I have so much stuff to do. Eh, really? I didn’t notice.
But…maybe they’re right. Looking back, it’s not that I like having so many things to do, but my energy level doesn’t seem to die down, even if I was up to my ears with things to do. I’d like to believe I’m more focused than before and I finish everything on time, but that’s quite ambitious of me. :P I have learned, however, not to complain about the things I’ve committed to do. It’s pointless, see, when you accept some kind of responsibility and then end up complaining while you’re doing it. If the responsibility was forced on me, maybe I would complain, but I still had the choice to accept it or not. And once I’ve accepted a task, I always tell myself to follow through and to not utter any complaint when it gets hard…because it’s part of it. It’s like…buying prescription weight loss pills and then drinking them and then complaining of the possible side effects when it’s clearly written outside. Somekindalikethat. ;) Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, right? :)
Of course, I know I still complain every now and then…but I try as much as possible not to. So maybe that’s where my positive and hyper attitude is coming from despite of all the stress.
But…now it’s the weekend! Yes, and I think I’m done with all the things I need to do today. Which means, I can go home! FINALLY! And as of this writing, all my teammates have left. The night shift people aren’t in yet…so it’s only me in the team left in our area.
To all those on a trip this weekend, have a safe one and enjoy! To all those staying home (like me…sort of), enjoy your weekend too! :D
Like I said, I’m not much of an American Idol fan, and after David Cook’s Always Be My Baby, I hardly listened to any of the other songs anymore (I’m selective that way). But then I read from LandofBrokenHearts.org that David would be singing Dare You to Move…well, I just fell in love with him even more:
And of course, there’s the AMAZINGI Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing, which almost made me hyperventilate while listening:
Now, I’m no music know-it-all, and I am not saying he’s the best among the two other contestants (haven’t heard any song from the other two yet), but I love love love him. I love his rocker voice. And I love that he sang a Switchfoot song. ♥
Imagine this: David Cook and Switchfoot singing Dare You to Move together. Ahhh! Can I faint now?
David Cook FTW? I want to! But even if he doesn’t become American Idol, I’m sure he has a bright career ahead. :)
I'm a 22 year old web content developer who is on my personal Great Adventure. I'm a geek, bookworm, Warrior Chick, striving writer, a control freak trying to lose control on my life because a wise person once told me that life is a constant surrender to Him. I am a work in progress, a sinner in need of grace, happily loved by a great God. :) Hi, I'm Tina. You are? :)
Refine Me is an attempt to capture my moments of "refining": from the normal, everyday mundane life, to bursts of geekness, talk on love and a lot on the always-needs-refining faith walk. Click here to know more.
