eniong hilario's space

Watched Southborder live sometime ago. I became a fan.  Galing!  Watching them makes me want to be better at what I do, especially that which I do for the Lord. Thanks mike for taking this video! If you want to see some of the other videos check out soapbox.

Southborder Ikaw Lang

  
Video: Southborder Ikaw Lang

Who would have thought that we could come up with an album?  How in the world did we come up with such songs?  Well, we didn't... God did. God I believed inspired us to pen those songs. It is all God's doing!

All the songs in the album are testimonies, expressions of our longings, our desires, our praises and prayers to God.  Just as the songs were not forcefully written for the sake of composing a song, the album also followed the same route.  We took our time, or should I say, God took his time and when everything was finally ready, He released it. How many times did we have to reset the launching again?!!! I could not remember. I have learned in the process just to trust God, leave everything up to Him and wait for his perfect timing. And I believed last Sunday that it was God's perfect timing.

God's timing was perfect for He made sure Onard did not have a commitment that Sunday. He did not give Onard a commitment that evening to play somewhere else!  (Should I be thanking the Lord that Onard did not have work that night?...Hehehe. Yeah I thank God!).  God's timing was perfect for we never thought that Clang could join us. She was supposed to be in China!

God did more in the events preceding the launch. He provided abundantly (we had no resources to produce an album BUT GOD HAS!!!), made sure that no one got sick (though there were some of us who appeared like they were gonna be sick but hey, God did not let that happen! 

That is why the production and the launching of the album are in itself a work of God. The album itself testifies to God's power, grace, lovingkindness, patience, faithfulness, mercy, holiness, protection and love. So I pray for the Lord to just have His way and continue anointing the album and making himself known through the songs contained therein.

But let me thank a number of people who played key parts in the album.

Onard, you are a blessing, a gift from the Lord. Thanks for your patience, your vision and your commitment to pull this through. You single handedly oversaw the recording and post prod. You were truly dependable and trustworthy. God bless you Onard!

Mike, your songs are great, powerful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing them with me and allowing me to somehow be a part of it. Keep on worshipping and singing for the Lord. Guard your heart always my friend, for it is the wellspring of life... and beautiful songs!  I couldn't wait for more of God's songs birthed from your heart.

Bry, I think I forgot to acknowledge your beautiful cd album cover!  Praise God for your creativity!

The entire worship team, band, singers, tech guys!  YOU ARE ALL A BLESSING AND I LOVE YOU ALL! May God continue to fill us with His Spirit, always living a baptized life. May we be bound by His love, His peace, His lordship and His holiness. May we truly be a worshipping team. God bless us all!

To the Faith Fellowship Church, fellow pastors and members! I love worshipping the Lord with you. I am blessed to be a part of Faith Fellowship.

Listen to our first ever Worship Team album. Watch our album launch on May 4, 5pm at Faith Fellowship- aurora!   

Album Launch teaser

  
Video: Album Launch teaser

A few months back, I already started noticing that my mother was degenerating both physically and mentally. She's 82 and I thought such was understandably so. I thought I knew enough and was prepared enough for what was inevitable.

But I was not.  I was not ready for that first time when she would no longer recognize me as her own son. I was not ready to see her suffer and cry whenever she would try to recall things, persons and events but just could not. I was not ready to see her bedridden all the time in diapers. I was not ready to see her unable to stand up, sit up, eat food by herself, or do the things that she would normally do on her own.

I thought I was ready, but I was not. At first, every moment when I would be reminded of my mom just brought me to tears. It took time before I understood a little about her situation. I downloaded a number of articles in the internet to understand her situation. It took time before I was able to get a hold of my emotions and fears. It took time before I was able to cope a little bit.

I have come to realize that it is quite hard for me to see someone who I have always thought as strong, and had always been a source of strength and inspiration to be on that weak side of the equation. I guess, it is always hard, when the ones we hold dear and close to our hearts go through suffering.

But as God always did, He brought comfort through his Word, and more so through His children. The promises of God that shall never be broken that bring me hope and joy are a great source of encouragement.  The friends who showed compassion with their words, but I appreciated greatly those friends, who actually did not say a thing but were just there, they were a great source of encouragement! Praise God!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2Co 1:3-4)

The Lord has a way to see if we are applying the truth of His word in our lives. When He allows us to experience His word in our lives, that simply means GOD IS SPEAKING!

Well, these past months I have been going through 1 Peter alongside 1 Kings, odd huh? Now one of the things that stood out in 1 Peter is his teaching about suffering..., undeserved but righteous suffering. I am amazed at the way Peter has verses connected to each other (though I don't know how much thought he had put into writing this letter or was it extemporaneous anointed thoughts?). It could only mean, they must be surely from God.

You see, last Sunday after putting my cellphone number at the bulletin for an announcement that I had to make, I received a very scathing anonymous text message that sharply criticized the way I lead worship and the way I sing; the worship team, the way we play, the sounds we produce and so on. In a nutshell, I was being told how bad we all are!

It was a very hurtful text indeed! I received it just before I was to lead worship for the 5pm service. At first, I was at a loss for words as to how I should react to the text. Then slowly, I started having mixed emotions and thoughts. Should I respond? Should I validate the person's comments? I wanted to know who the person is, but after much thought, what for? After wrestling for a few minutes before the service, I just decided to delete the text message. Looking back, I realized it was a very wise decision.

I was affected and I was wondering how I would be leading worship at the 5pm service. But by the grace of God the worship singing seemed to have gone well. I thought to myself, Lord it's all in your hands now. I am going to worship you, and I will do this for you not for anybody else.

Furthermore doing the week, I was checked by the words of 1 Peter. God checked my heart and He wanted to put my heart into order as to how I should respond to the matter. God was kinda matter-of-factly telling me what to do. Here's what God spoke to me through His word.

1Pe 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

1Pe 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1Pe 2:22 “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1Pe 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER...

1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1Pe 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1Pe 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1Pe 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1Pe 3:17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Need I say more?

To anyone who probably feels unjustly treated, look to Jesus!