On sticking to your goals

"What is your fitness goal?"

This was the question the gym lady asked me when I finally decided to sign up for gym membership. I disliked gym. I thought it was boring having to lose weight using cold-blooded (as if they had blood) machines. I thought badminton was enough. Apparently, it isn't. So I parted with my hard earned money as I signed the 6-month membership contract. I told myself, "Mamahalin ko 'tong gym na 'to. Dahil ang mahal nang binayad ko." What a motivation (hint of sarcasm).

Thus, my official Day 1 at the gym. The trainor handed me my chart, showed me my work out program, made a demo of how to use the machines and then left me so I could work on my own (and that was, the most boring part). As the trainor left, I stared at my chart and my work out program, tailor made for me.

I liked that phrase-- tailor made. Of course, the program has a condition. I can only achieve results if I stick with the program and follow it to the letter. The gym had done its part-- it's now time to do mine.

As I was working out, I began to notice other people in the gym. Some were running the treadmill, an older man was lifting weights, another woman was working on her obliques. And then I thought: All of us here have our own fitness goals. And if we want to achieve them, we'll stick to our programs.

And then I thought of the Bible. The Bible is like that work-out program. It is tailor-made for me, and for you. Like the scenario at the gym, each of us has his own goals in life. The great news is that the Bible has a program that is fit for all of us, whatever age or circumstance we are in, and with guaranteed results. On one condition of course-- that we learn to obey everything that is written in it. Remember Joshua 1:8? "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth. But thou shalt meditate in it day and night, that thou mayest be careful to do and observe everything that is written in it. Then thou shalt make thy way prosperous. Then thou shalt have good success." Psalms 37:4- "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." The Bible is replete with verses on good life, good health, protection and blessings. And if we obey God's Word with all our heart, God can't do anything but bless us, because that is His character.

As I finished the last set of my cool down workout and headed to the shower, I just got reminded of a greater goal. Stick to obeying God's Word. And, as I took a last glance at the treadmill, I made a mental note to stick to my work out program, too. With that insight, going to the gym may not be that boring after all. :)

Worship Experience with Tim Hughes and Al Gore

Last April 5, I and the musicians of our music team attended the Worship Seminar at The Tent. It was a whole day affair with Tim Hughes and Al Gore as the lead worshippers and speakers.

That worship seminar was a refreshing experience for me. As a musician, it is wonderful to be able to rest from playing the keyboards once in a while and just stand among the crowd and listen and sing and shout and worship the Lord . Surely, my fellow musicians felt the same. It was an odd sight, haha. There we were, without our guitars, drum set, keyboards and microphones, jumping and shouting at the top of our lungs, declaring the praises of our awesome God. It was so, so refreshing.

I was also thankful that what was taught in that seminar was nothing new or surprising to us. That worship leading is more than song writing, that public worship requires private worship... these are not strange things to us. While listening to the speaker, I uttered a thanksgiving prayer for the life of our pastors, who unswervingly and untiringly give their lives in pursuit of the ministry and sharing the Word of God to us. Surely we are on the right track!

Another wonderful thing is the bonding that the team has experienced. It is really wonderful that more than music, it is Jesus who keeps us tight and together as a team. Koloks, Aiee, Erwin, Kezi, Ada, and the rest of the Music Team, may we continue to glorify God individually and corporately through our music!