Night of Worship


I waited anxiously as 7 o' clock drew near. I was at B115, Row A, Seat#21 at Araneta Coliseum waiting what everybody else is waiting. Reuben Morgan and the Sun Project Band will be performing in a few minutes and I could feel the excitement in the air as few minutes till doomsday pass by.

Weeks ago, when I told my friends that I'm going to Reuben Morgan's concert, they ask, "Who is Reuben Morgan?". In secular music, Reuben Morgan is unheard of. Only a few artists such as Jars of Clay, Sixpence None The Richer, Stacie Orrico, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant are known in the secular music world. Most Christians if not all know Reuben Morgan as one of the musicians (he's playing the guitar) in Hillsong P&W Team based in Sydney, Australia. Above all, he's a very great composer. Most of his songs are the ones most Christian churches sing today in their respective churches. By the way, I'm really grateful to Shepherd's Voice who brought RM and his team here. (Bo! You're the man!!!)


My Concert Pics

When RM got on stage, people got on their feet ready to praise and worship God. RM was singing his new songs from his latest solo album. When the 1st part ended, RM introduced us to his band. There are three of them, 2 guitarist and a drummer (the producer, who's a very cool guy - he's got an Aussie-British accent and he tried so hard speaking in American accent) He went along saying that this concert is just one of his series of concert all over Asia. His group just came from Jakarta and Manila is their second stop. Next, they'll be going to Japan and their last stop will be Singapore. The proceeds from this concert will go to the "Sun Project" - a mission group that aims to bring music and hope to poor contries who desperately need the love of Jesus.

When the 2nd part started, people were on their feet again, cheering and screaming. Everybody was clapping, jumping and lifting hands to God as RM sang his hit compositions in the Hillsong album. Songs like "Hosanna (What The Lord Has For Me)", "Eagle's Wings" haven't failed to touch our hearts. I was really excited to sing "Still", RM's composition in the album, "Hope". It is one of my current favorite songs. When it finally came, I feel the Holy Spirit coming over the place like fresh wave of air and all my attention was to God. As I spread my hand, I could feel an amazing communion with Him. It seems as if the world was gone and it's only between me and God alone. God revealed to me during that song that even if everything would be in chaos - your life, the nation you are with, He will be there to lift us up and soar with Him above the storm. With Him we can be still and there will be an inner peace even the world cannot explain. Later, on what seemed like a heavenly experience, I heard a hug choir of what seemed like angels. I realized that RM et al has stopped playing and all I hear were the people's voices. I opened my eyes and saw the people, their eyes closed, lifting their hands to God, singing the song as if it was their own peronal prayer. It was overwhelming! I believe that God really spoke to each heart soul that was there. From the stage to the highest upper box, we sound as one nation worshipping the Lord.

RM's concert ended with a blast as his band played "My Redeemer Lives" and when people called out for more, RM's band went back to stage to play "So Close". It was the night that will be forever etched in my mind. That night, I renewed my commitment to God to serve Him through music. I believe what He has planted in me is so great. So great that no man can uproot. God Bless You all!

Fill Your Night With Song


I just received an email from my sister and I was disappointed with my mother's response to my plans. I know God is working within me, especially during ar times when I'm really bored and stuck with my routinary work at Texas Instruments, during those times when I do cross-section or just a while while doing decapsulation. God has revealed His wondrous plans for me. Though sometimes when your current situation seems to sap away any hope God has planted inside for you, it's easy be sad and get real - like everybody else does, go abroad, earn money ... but I ask. What for? Isn't being with your loved ones more important than going abroad to earn money? Isn't being with those who encourage and love you more important than amassing self-wealth? Isn't serving God with the purpose He has given you the richest kind of life? I hope you'll find the right answers inside of you. Before I end, I'll share this inspiring article from "Desert In The Streams".

"Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night" (Job 35:10).

Do you have sleepless nights, tossing on the hot pillow, and watching for the first glint of dawn? Ask the Divine Spirit to enable you to fix your thoughts on God your Maker, and believe that He can fill those lonely, dreary hours with song.

Is yours the night of bereavement? Is it not often at such a time that God draws near, and assures the mourner that the Lord has need of the departed loved one, and called "the eager, earnest spirit to stand in the bright throng of the invisible, liberated, radiant, active, intent on some high mission"; and as the thought enters, is there not the beginning of a song?

Is yours the night of discouragement and fancied or actual failure? No one understands you, your friends reproach; but your Maker draws nigh, and gives you a song--a song of hope, the song which is harmonious with the strong, deep music of His providence. Be ready to sing the songs that your Maker gives. --Selected

"What then? Shall we sit idly down and say
The night hath come; it is no longer day?
Yet as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible to day."

The strength of the vessel can be demonstrated only by the hurricane, and the power of the Gospel can be fully shown only when the Christian is subjected to some fiery trial. If God would make manifest the fact that "He giveth songs in the night," He must first make it night. --William Taylor

How Music Changed My Life


I was reading Dennie Jernigan's testimony about how he came to writing music. His song, "My All in All" is one of my favorite songs - any broken person can claim that we need God to lift us when we fall and to fill us up when we are empty. Here is an excerpt from his website about his first intimate encounter with God through music. I remembered the time when I was in Cebu. It was just an ordinary Sunday and we were in the afternoon service at LWCM with my then classmates, Ryan, Honnie and Cherry. When the praise and worship service came, God spoke to me - in a way I have never experienced before. It was personal, very intimate and I found myself crying in His presence. Read this experience from D. Jernigan.

Upon my graduation from OBU in 1981, God began to move in supernatural ways that even I couldn't see! One of these instances was a simple music concert. A group called The Second Chapter of Acts was going to be in concert in Norman, Oklahoma, and I knew that I was supposed to go. By that time in my life I was looking for anybody who was real - someone who had a real walk with the Lord. And among Christian musicians, I was looking for more than entertainers. So, I went to their concert. I knew by the words they said and the music they sang that these people were genuine, and the message was born out of times of desperation in their own lives. I needed hope. As I listened to Annie Herring speak and sing, I was overwhelmed by the love she spoke of. This was the love I had dreamed of but still couldn't believe was available to me! So I listened very intently with great expectation - until she came to the song "MansionBuilder."* This song caught my deepest attention because of the simple phrase, "Why should I worry? Why should I fret? I've got a MansionBuilder Who ain't through with me yet!" All of a sudden she just stopped in the middle of the song and said, "There are those of you here who are dealing with things that you have never told anyone and you are carrying those burdens and that's wrong-that's sin and you need to let those hurts go and give them to the Lord. We are going to sing the song again and I want you to lift your hands to the Lord-and all of those burdens that you are carrying, I want you to place them in your hands and lift your hurts to Him." This was all new to me-worship and praise. I had always thought before that this was just an emotional response that didn't really mean anything. But you know what it did for me? As I lifted my hands, God became more real to me than I had ever imagined! The lifting of my hands was more than a physical action. My hands were an extension of my heart! I realized that Jesus had lifted His hands for me - upon the cross. I realized that He truly was with me and He truly was beside me and that He was willing to walk with me and carry me and just be honest with me. And I could be honest with Him! At that moment, I cried out to God and lifted those burdens to the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, I can't change me or the mess I've gotten myself into - but You can!" And you know what? He did change me!

From that day on, I made a promise to God that I will serve Him through music. But how? Serious doubts came to me - I don't know how to play any musical instrument. I don't know how to compose songs or I'm not even sure that I could read notes - even singing experience came out very late. While most singers start when they were young, I just started singing when I was in college. I always thought I had a bad voice but it did came out good when I was college. Anyway, with everything that has been happening to me, I still trust in God's time. Even though it seems that learning music is so far away and when everyone expects that I get a job abroad in the semiconductor industry, still I just delight in God with what I have.

Love, Life & Other Mysteries


Every afternoon is what I don't like nowadays in Baguio. Well, it's rainy season here and rains don't come in just small pelts but large ones. Even if you have an umbrella, you'll still get wet. However, I have never experienced before in a place where everywhere is surrounded by clouds - not only fog but real, rainclouds. Last Thursday, while I was going home from Texas Instruments, I passed by SM and was amazed with what I've seen. The whole building, as well the Session Rd. below was wreathed with clouds. Wow! I felt lost in a mist only illuminated by faint glitters of street lights.


Kung macho papa ang hanap mo ...


Anyway, my friend's dad passed away and I can feel the sorrow she's feeling right now. While we texted, instantly I realized how life quickly takes away the ones we love. In God's perfect time, he gives and takes away our loved ones and because of this I realized that each of us is placed in a specific time and place with specific persons for a purpose. I felt grateful and thankful at the same time that inspite of being small in a wide macrocosmic consciousness, I do have a purpose.

Last morning, I went to TI to hit the gym and went home to sleep. Traffic is worst here in Baguio! And when I get back to TI for our scheduled pBGA Equipment training, I was late and I was almost drenched with rain. Worst is the trainor is not around, so we played our PC and made our reports. Right now, I'm feeling feverish... I'll have a good night sleep later.

Reuben Morgan in Manila!!!




RM is the composer of P&W hits such as:
Jesus' Generation
One Day
Eagle's Wings
You Are Near
You Said
Hossana
My Redeemer Lives
Your Love is Beautiful
This is How We Overcome
I Give You My Heart
Touching Heaven, Changing Earth

4-6 pm worship seminar
7-9 pm worship

Ticket Prizes: 1500*, 800*, 400 and 150
* seminar w/ worship
rest are worship only
-- Araneta surrcharge not yet included --

Reserve tickets at http://reubenmorgan.blogspot.com
or you can call (02)4167809/(02)7269918
or fax 7275615
or email ultradust@gmail.com

Tickets are available @ SM Ticketnet starting May 11, 2005.