Christ had died...

Woke up at 10 today, and had a real good breakfast. For those who don't know, today's Good Friday! The day that Jesus was nailed onto the cross at 9 o'clock in the morning, and was left there to die for our sins (A reason unkown to the Jews, Romans and other people of that time who crucified him) till at 12 p.m., when He finally died and a few miracles took place, like the many earthquakes that shook the area, darkness that fell on the earth for the next 3 hours of Jesus' death, oh and not forgetting the sudden supernatural tearing of the Temple curtain from top to bottom, which, mind you, the curtain was more than a foot thick.

But should we lament over the short death of Jesus? NO, I tell you! NO, NEIN, لا, NON, 不, 아니다, いいえ, NÃO, TIDAK, HINDI, NOnoNOnoNOnoNONO, *gasp*,

no.

Instead, God wants us to be happy that now, through Jesus' death, we are put right with God and God no longer sees us as sinners, but rather as Perfect Sons and Daughters of Christ! And so now, the partying begins! And all you need to do now is just to believe - to have faith - that Jesus took all your punishments for past, present and future sins, and that you've now recieved the gifts that God's laid out for you, all ready for your usage! (If only those in doubt could see how close God is...)

And for those who also don't know, today's Ben's first of two performances for the Eyes of Faith musical his Church is holding! Members of the class promised their presence, and it'll be an honour to be one of them! Hahah! Prayed for Ben, and that the performance(s) be a success!

Oh, by the way, about the songs I'm trading with Shil. I've approved the songs he sent to me, so today I'm going to complete my side of the deal and send him my songs. But he doesn't like to use Messenger sharing folder for some reason so I'm going to lend him the CD physically. An act that will send Computer Geeks to a gasp. (*gasp*) Who said that?

After the FULL inspection, it was just in time for Lunch. and my Sis wanted to watch TMNT, so we all watched as a family while having our meal. Plot's rather childish, I must say. But that's just my opinion. And besides that, I guess the animation's not that bad after all. Oh, well.

The original plan for my trip to the venue of the performance was simple. I just leave the house at around 6.15 and wait at the busstop for a 75 or 184, which would send me straight to Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, the building that contained the performance. Estimated Time of Arrival = Worst Case Scenario, 6.50. But then at around 6, Kirby Msned me and asked if I wanted 'a lift'. Knowing it'll be easier to cluster together when you're already with someone, I agreed and met him and his Dad at the Front Gate of my Condominium.

Well, actually I went to the outside to the condo and stood at the front of the gate, while Kirby and his Dad drove past me and waited at the back of the Front Gate. And we both didn't recognise each other. So we waited for a few minutes before Kirby finally called me up to ask where I was, and after fixing things properly again, we met AT the gate. Not front, not back, but AT the gate. Kirby appologised about not recognising me and said I looked so much different, like 'a green man' ('cause I was wearing green). For once I saw his Dad, and it's rather interesting that although they share some similiar traits on looks, the Dad had a deep voice. And if you know Kirby, you'd know how well and loud and high he can scream. Ah, well.

Once we arrived at the building, I greeted bye to his Dad and went up the steps that led to the enrance of the building with Kirby. And out of the blue, Zheng-Wei pops out of nowhere! And he looks... Different. He looked a whole lot lighter and he seemed less, erm, 'tied up'. But I guess we all are in the first place. This was the second senario you'd see me hate a tie (Senario #2 - 'When at a Casual Outing.') (For those who don't know, Scenario #1 is 'Immediately after Canoeing Training.') Kirby also added in the Front Gate incident and how I looked like 'a 16 year old'. Not the first time I heard that. And definitely not the last.

Anyway, we waited for the others to arrive After a few minutes, we suspected that they could've been upstairs already. So we went inside the building and ran up a series of escalators. The centre's interior looks, to me, like one of those undergrund villages you'd find in Spain. But just that the rock used in the bilding was while, not brown. Once at the 5th Level, we went into the Auditorium and looked around for signs of friends, but to no avail. So we walked out and went down again, this time using the lift. By now, Kirby comented on how this felt so much like playing Snakes and Ladders Deulux. Literally.

Once at the 1st Floor again, we went to the Back Entrance to see if anyone was there, but sadly no one was. Then Kirby requested that one of us stayed at the Entrance, one at the lift lobby and one at the Auditorium, but we took it as a joke and moved on to the Front Entrance to check further. But once we got there, Tim and a friend of his by the name of 'Zek' just arrived at the Back Entrance! We frantically waved at them from where we were, but they didn't notice us, so we quickly made a dash for them when they entered the building. But while we were running towards them inside the building, Shil just arrived at the Front Entrance! So after the whole confusion, we all met up at the Escalator Lobby, which was somewhat in the center of the centre (Hee hee).

We then went back up to the Auditorium and searched for seats, and lo and behold Joel, his brother and John Lim were already there with Zheng-Wei! So we sat around them and started socialising while passing time till the show starts. And now was the momment when I passed over the CDs to Shil. Trading Phrase III - 'Transfer to Shil', Status = Complete. While we were all seated, the otehrs arrived, like Toj, Farraz, Jaira (who started acting squirmish when he saw that John and Shil were present) and another HPPS friend of Ben's.

After a few more minutes, a middle-aged man (whom I assunmed was the Pastor) went up on the stage and warmed up the audience with a few questions and comments about Good Friday (Which involved Joel's brother answering one of the Pastor's questions). Then after a short introduction on the four main characters involved in the musical (Simeon, Judas, Peter and Mary Magdalene), he began the show.

The play had very good music (My mind is still 'Preparing the Way' and acknoledging 'My Redeemer Lives') and attracting dancing steps (G'd job, Ben!), but with all due respect I found the acting a little bit too, well, videoish. The actors/actresses had little diction, and they only appeared either on the screen or stationed firmly at Frontstage Left. But it still worships God, and that counts really well! And neverhteless, it was enjoyable watching, and it was enjoyable watching Ben enjoying his performance!

I mean, he was running around the floor, taking his positions and doing a few steps before moving on to the next place waving about props like leaves or flags whenever necesary! And there was also the part where he acted as Jesus! Well, the dead Jesus actually, as they carried him (rapped in cloth) around, and later out of, the Auditorium.

And he was one of the only performers smiling! I watched in amazement as he played around with glee, remembering the good ol' days when I had the chance of acting in a Church play (A Christmas one, and I played Joseph), which was, like, 8 years ago? And it also came to me that the chance to enjoy the same passion would come a long time from now, as right now I'm not joining any Youth Cell Group like the other Christians, and so I'm somewhat unknown to the Church altogether. [I know I'm missing out on a lot. I'm aware of that. Having no one of the same age group to share the Love of Christ with is rather sad. :( ]

So I quietly told God, "Hey there. You gave Ben the chance to enjoy performing on stage for Your glory. I know how nice it feels already, so can I ask; when's my turn?"

"You're already in a performance yorself," was the Response I got back.

"Huh?" I asked. Then I realised that the word 'perform' doesn't always refer to the context of acting, singing, dancing or the sort. It could also refer to my performance in life, the different actions I do and so on. 'My performance in Life', I thought to myself. 'I'm already acting in it, now aren't I?' The many things I do and get involved in in my life, from schoolwork and academics, to relationships with family and friends. From paddling my hearts up in Canoeing, to slacking my hearts down at home. The every actions I do in life, and they all share something in common: They're dedicated to God.

I'm basically 'performing' in life (instead of a stage), there's an audience alright, it's all being performed for the Lord's Glory, and more coincidentally, I'm enjoying it!

Maybe I don't always smile on the outside, and that I stone from time to time, but I'm still smiling in the inside, and God always sees that. "Don'cha just love my scripts?" asked God, and I agreed. And furthermore, I have faith that the plot gets better and better, no matter what happens in the climaxes! I was satisfied with the answer and continued watching Ben bounce around and finally land on another two people's shoulders, forming a small human pyramid and ending that particular item! Bravo! Thanks, Lord! Thanks, Ben!

After a few more songs, films, dances, a short mesage from the Pastor, an encore of 'My Redeemer Lives' and watching Jai laughing hysterically at the conductor, who was bouncing around the back of the Auditorium with his glowing wand like as if, erm, 'Reuben was infront of him', the group of us quickly made our way to the stage as fast as we could to catch up with Ben, but unfortunately he was called into Backstage and was gone by the time we arrived there. Acording to Jai, Ben looked rather sad when he found out he had to report Backstage before he could meet us. Not surprized, but was still dissapointed that we couldn't chat with the stars.

So we made our way through the croud and out of the Auditorium, soon finding Ben's Dad near-by, when he saw that we wanted to meet Ben, he went back into the Auditorium to call for Ben, and in minutes he was out of the place, still in the make-up but in normal clothes. We then chatted with him and also saw 'the Black Box's process of interigating for information' (In other words, watched Toj chase Ben around the place and 'hassling' around with him.). But soon, Ben's Church friends called him back to the Church, so we said goodbye and split up into the different groups that were heading to the different directions home.

Joel and ZWei went MIA, and Jai and the HPPS guy went off first. Then Shil and Toj broke off at the MacDonald's at Beauty World, while the rest of us (Me, Kirby, Tim, 'Zek' and Faraaz) headed for MacDonald's at King Albert Park. Most of them were new to the place, and as such I had to lead them through the streets to KAP. My navigation never fails me at this area. Yet.

Once at KAP, we bought our meals (I had the ussual Cheeseburger with Apple Pie and Vanila Milkshake), ate along (This time I didn't steal Tim's fries, hee hee!), witnessed a little bit of blackmailing/prank-calling here and there and had a rather interesting 'drunk' conversation with Zek, the contents of the talk I wish and promised to keep to a minimum. Let's just say that the later part of it was so ridiculous, I fell off my chair in front of the public laughing tears and praying to God for control (Germany, Japan and dogs are so gon'na get him for that talk...).

But once we were done, we splitted off (Tim and Zek at bus stop KAP side, Faraaz at bus stop opposite KAP side, Kirby and me at the Petrol Station.) and headed home, while recieving more drunk SMSes from Zek during my journey back.

Oh, and about the prankcalls, remember the part where 'you' made Kirby promise that he ("I") wouldn't prankcall the number Zek gave him, or give it to Faraaz so he could do it on his accord? Well, let's just say 'you' missed out one more character from the table...