FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!FOP!

~~~FESTIVAL OF PRAISE 2008~~~

ARGH!!!!!! ITS THE BEST ONE SO FAR!!!!! WHY? first of all! I GOT GOOD Seating. ( this could be because we were there an hour and half earlier). Seatings was at the north entrance, in front of the stage. Honestly, it sounds much better and could see more.

2 bands were playing on every night ( FOP was from 1st to 3rd august ), reuben morgan and his Hillsongs team, and the new parachute band. Hillsongs played only one song which i know at the beginning and then a few others that i am not very sure about. But the next band blew me away.

ENTERING ----> PARACHUTE BAND!



At first the first sight of the lead singer took me aback ( i learned today that the singer name is Omega, cool eh ). He had a overall figure of a mascular hunchback, and has an impression of a koala bear. But his voice was beautiful. I loved it the moment i heard it. I went back home to research further on the band and fell in love with 2 of the songs that they made popular.

FIRST SONG : I BELONG TO YOU



I especially like this song cos not only its catchy and very raw rock feel, but the lyrics simply says that i belong to God. How beautiful is that? We belong to GOD! I really like how they play their bridge, its pretty different from the typical Hillsongs kind of bridge. Makes me wanna have a darn cool keyboardist now!

S3COND SONG : MERCY

This is a slow number, but i really can associate to it. I am a sinner and yet God showed me mercy, and its His mercy that saved me. AMEN!



This video is pretty unique, has a short summary of the life of joseph and how God was in charge of everything.

Then i cam across this vid of a church covering the song. I really liked what they did. Enjoy!



I am definitely going to get their new album, Roadmaps and Revelations. Hopefully i can include their songs into the Youth Worship and increase our vocabulary of praise to God.



And of course i will try to get the new hillsongs album too. though i prefer parachute, but I will always be a hillsongs fan.



Ok, and from FOP, I was rejuvenated by pastor Mark Conner, Man is he hilarious. The whole stadium was practically laughing their socks off. I know i did. He taught on the topic of investing in the things that really matter. First he indicated the things that do not have eternal value.

1st thing : Pleasures of the World

Its not just sexual, but anything that makes you "feel" good. What he learned is that pleasure is quick but temporary fulfillment, But if you serve someone else, Its a pleasure that slowly builds up.

2nd thing : Possessions

Thats right ladies, its your shopping and materialistic madness! ( okok, guys too...)Think about it, We are brought into this world with nothing, And we will leave this world with nothing as well. We cant bring what we have into the other world. Instead think of things that could give you treasures stored in heaven.

3rd Thing : Power

Pride, ego and Authority. Basically we crave for power. Maybe not so far fetched. Maybe we want to be popular. And to do that we do things that are popular to others, and not watch what we say, and not caring about the consequences of our actions.

And After this 3 points he went on to touch on the things that could help us make life more meaningful, and they are great reminders!

1st IMPORTANCE ---------> Know God

Knowing God is the greatest thing we can do. And that means becoming a friend of God, not just a blind arrogant follower. Cos God is not looking at the amount of bible study or head knowledge you have, not the amount of service you have given, but he is gonna look at your heart. How you do things in your life means more than the things you think are important to God.

2nd IMPORTANCE ---------> Love others

Jesus' 2nd greatest commandment. If we love others, we would want to stand as a follower of christ and reach out to them. As he mentions, we are the First Gospels, meaning people see how Christianity sets us apart from others. Next we share the gospel. And there is greater joy in serving others than always serving yourself.

3rd IMPORTANCE ---------> Invest your time, talent and resource

Invest Whatever you can or wanna give to increase the kingdom of God on earth. God blesses us with individual talents which we can use to build the church. Think of ways you can contribute and give your best!

Wow mark conners woke me up. overall in all i am very very very happy to have made it for FOP. I really recommend that everyone goes the next year! ( though i think i will have army... )

SEEYA!