Lazarus @ Conspiracy Bar

Band Members:
Lead Vocals / Guitar - Gunns
Lead Guitar - Rico
Bass - Alex
Percussion - Digi

Our band was named after the Biblical character Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus showed the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death. Many believed that Jesus was the Son of God and they put their faith in him after seeing this miracle. It is absolutely essential to our faith as Christians that we believe in the resurrection from the dead. In the story of Lazarus, Jesus speaks one of the most powerful messages ever: "Whoever believes in me, Jesus Christ, receives spiritual life that even physical death can never take away."

We were invited by DJ Jordan of NU 107 to play at Conspiracy Bar in Visayas Avenue. We played five songs, including three originals. Rico didn't make it that night because of work so we asked our good friend Kenneth to play the guitar. Our next gig would be on July 4, Friday at Full Cup Intramuros Manila.

Transformer Youth Camp 2008

I'm glad I was given the chance to minister to thousands of youth through helping in the music team of Transformer Youth Camp. He uses ordinary people to do extraordinary tasks. The ministry has become a huge success. This video is also for the volunteers and ministry workers who gave their time to help in this year's camp. You are a blessing. May you continue serving the Lord faithfully. To all campers, see you next year!

Thank You Video of Transformer Camp 2008

Praise the Lord! Final Transformer Camp Stats:
Campers - 57,017
Total Saved - 24,006
Total Baptized - 5,570
BBCA New Student Applicants - 1,706

GOD IS DOING A GREAT WORK AMONG US! LET'S CHANGE THE WORLD!

How Much Music Can You Make?

Imagine this. A concert violinist is performing a difficult piece in front of a large audience. Suddenly there is a loud snap that reverberates throughout the auditorium. The audience immediately knows that a string has broken and fully expects the concert to be suspended until another string, or instrument, is brought to the musician.

But instead, the violinist composes herself, closes her eyes and then signals the conductor to begin again. The orchestra resumes where they had left off and now the musician plays the music on three strings. In her mind she works out new fingering to compensate for the missing string. A work that few people can play well on four strings, the violinist with the broken string plays on three.

When she finishes, an awesome silence hangs in the room. And then as one, the crowd rises to their feet and cheers wildly. The violinist smiles and wipes perspiration from her brow. When silence returns to the great room, she explains why she continued to play in spite of a broken string. "You know," she says, still breathless, "sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."

We know what she means, don't we? Maybe we've lived most of our lives and we have only a little time left. Can we still make music?

Maybe disease has robbed us of our capacity to work. Can we still make music?

Perhaps a financial loss has left us impoverished. Can we still make music?

Or maybe a meaningful relationship has ended and we feel alone in the world. Can we still make music?

There will come a time when we all experience loss. Like the violinist, will we find the courage to discover just how much music we can still make with what we have left? How much good we can still do? How much joy we can still share? For I'm convinced that the world, more than ever, needs the music only you can make.

And if it takes extra courage to make the music, many will applaud your effort. For some people have lost more than others, and these brave souls inspire the rest of us to greater heights.

Just how much music can you make with what you have left?

~ Steve Goodier ~

Worship : More Than Music

A worship leader's perspective.

By Paul Baloche

My role as a worship leader carries a tough responsibility, one that requires my heart to be in a place of worship before Sunday morning. Yet just like everyone else, I deal with allergies, taxes, bills, the emotional needs of my family.

I have tried to cultivate worship in my family over the years by examining my own walk with God and asking myself if I am modeling authentic worship to my children. I am keenly aware that many times the next generation looks at the preceding one and points to the obvious spiritual contradictions.

Day to day, I look for opportunities to point out the hand of God, either in a glorious sunset, a striking cloud formation or an animal in the backyard. I encourage my family to appreciate the beauty in the moment and connect that moment to the Creator behind it.

At times we break out the guitar or sit around the piano and sing together. Sometimes we sing worship choruses and sometimes we sing songs from the radio. When we worship God with music, we are simply using a tool to help us connect to a living God. The Psalms provide all kinds of ways in which we can demonstrate or express our worship, such as singing, clapping, kneeling, dancing and playing musical instruments.

Yet worship is much more than 20 minutes of singing at a church service. What I try to model for my family and my church is that worship has more to do with relationship than it does with music. It is impossible to worship a living God — sacrificing our bodies, emotions, minds and hearts — and not have it affect all our relationships.

Of course, I go through seasons when life is hard and relationships are difficult. On occasional Sundays, I stand before my church and just go through the motions. But I can’t do that for long.

We can’t separate worship from relationship any more than we can separate intimacy from a healthy marriage. Just as intimacy wells up from the mutual respect and love within a marriage, worship springs from a surrendered and grateful heart.

I have little patience for ungratefulness. I remind my family daily how blessed and fortunate we are. Psalm 103:2 says it best: “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Remembering God’s blessings is the key to a worshiping heart — a heart that desires to live a life of worship through singing, serving, loving and obeying.

We can decide to do these things and let the overflow affect others. Our example will remind those around us that there is a God worth knowing and that we were created for His pleasure and purposes. In that sense, we can all be worship leaders by practicing gratitude and walking in fellowship with God.