This is my second cousin Bernard (Left) and Sophia (Bottom). They're 2 years and 1 month old respectively. They're really really cute. Last time I saw Bernard, I was trying to teach him how to give props. (Oh, his identity as Batman must remain a secret)

This past weekend, I caught up with a few friends from my Panama trip. I also was playing some b-ball with my brother at the MCAC gym. I was owning him in the post (I'm 3 inches taller than my brother and 20 lbs heavier)...mwahahaha....and then I rolled my ankle for all my efforts.

The weekend is already starting to pack up, Ricky is leaving for HK so saturday might be the last time in a few years that I see the guy. I've almost gotten used to the idea of friends coming and going. It doesn't make it any easier though. The Panama crew is putting together a video about our thoughts and memories of Ricky. That is going to be tough...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Shane Barnard - Prodigal Me

I love this song and Shane barnard is an amazing guitar player. The lyrics are beautiful and the way they do have the double guitars going. Incredible! Someday I'll be able to play like him...Someday.

What have I done to get me here?
Unraveled and undone, I need my father
What have I done? I've followed my feet to nowhere
Now I'm here! An I ran, I can run no more
Prodigal me

The mountains to the west, I know they laugh at me
They know I'm scared to cross and leave this life I lead
Oh my pride! I give you up a barter for my freedom
What will they think as I come stumbling down to join their lives?

I need to cross this mountain and find my way home
I seek no greater fortune, rescue me
Oh unmerciful divide be merciful tonight
Show me the other side
Prodigal me

The mountains to the east, they've swallowed my beloved
This house completely incomplete, where is my mortar?
Where did he go? He followed his feet to nowhere
Please come home! You've done me no wrong

Each evening I look down that road
I hope and I wait for you
And my servants they look down that road
We watch and we pray for you

Master, master, who's that man stumbling down that road?
Could it be the one? Could it be? Could it be?
Master, master, it's Your son
Coming home to join our lives?

I'm looking down this mountain, I see my way home
There is no greater fortune, I believe!
Oh unmerciful divide you laugh at me no more
Oh I've reached the other side!
Prodigal me

Could I be the one? Could I be? Could I be?
Father, Father we're Your sons
Coming home to join Your life

We've finally crossed this mountain, and found our way home
There is no greater fortunre than Jesus
Oh how merciful is our God who gave His only Son!
Oh we worship You tonight!

Thoughts on Worship

I've felt compelled to share my thoughts on what worship means to mean.

I don't know where to begin with it. It is an essential core of who I am and who God is in me. It is majestic, it is beautiful, it is awesome. When I play, it is the truth that the music represents to touchs my soul. That the music is real, that it tells a story and that it reminds of God's faithfulness to us.

I remember first hearing worship in KCCF and immediately feeling my soul awaken to the music with the crowd singing in unison. Something spectacularly deep was there which was able to bring everyone together. This wasn't just a band playing coffeehouse or a social gathering, this was fellowship.

I remember playing my first worship song. I think it was a Chris Tomlin song. It was at the same retreat that showed me the meaning of God's love. At the time I didn't really understand what the words meant, but there was a certain sense of peace and joy that came from it. I don't know what it is, but I love it. The simplicity of it, anyone can quickly learn it and immediately connect.

I remember being on my first worship team. Apparently you're supposed to be baptized and become a member of the church before you play. Well, I got baptized eventually that year. Quite funny, if it wasn't for the opportunity to play in KCAC, I don't know if I'd be baptized. I knew I just wanted to play and that this would be my last chance to do it here in Kingston. Public declaration of Christ? What am I waiting for. :D This was when I was less than a year into my walk, which seems like eternity ago. When I signed up for worship team and played, God taught me one lesson that has always stuck with me. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Christian for, only that you're willing to try.

Fast forwards and now I play biweekly for my fellowship back home. I absolutely love the place God's brought me to and the people he's surrounded me with. It's a struggle to try and take what God has blessed me with and infuse it back home. It's tough when the worship you're accustomed to is completely foreign to everyone else. You learn very quickly that it isn't what you feel the fellowship should hear that sounds good, but rather what direction and tone God wishes to set for the night. You also learn that the more you serve and the more you refine the talent God gives you, the more he demands.

I'm about to start worship for the english congregation soon. I'm hoping to bring the same infusion of energy that I try to bring to Emmanuel. I'm excited even though I know there'll be frustrating moments. More than ever am I leaning on God to guide me on this next big step. With the greater expectations I put on myself, I find it's challenging to keep the focus of worship on God and not on playing perfectly. I think God is trying to teach me about a high level of commitment and sacrifice. I'm excited and am trying to mentally prepare myself for serving him on a different level. It amazed me how quickly one's mentality of worship can evolve. I wonder what's next.

So... a couple of random points..

It really annoying when you have people telling you where to place furniture when you are already in the process of placing it there in the first place. I had to help move furniture for the renovators to come in and sand our place. So my friday night was shot.

It is incredibly awkward walking into a chinese restuarant and pick up a dimsum order with the amount of fluent cantonese that I know. (Which is little to none)

Instead of one of my brothers coming out to play basketball at the church gym, both my brothers came out. I'm hoping it can be a stepping stone.

I am definitely not the greatest and keeping in touch with friends.

I recieved my friend's wedding invitation in the mail today. They're getting married December 30th. One of the guys is one of my close friends from Queen's. They've got a wedding website. Check it out!

http://www.lisaandshawn.ca/

Fun with Photobooth

I got to see my Panama crew again on Saturday. Who knew hot pot could be so good and cheap? Who also knew that playing with Photobooth could provide hours of entertainment?

Right to Left: Jackie, Melody, Ricky, Me, Greg, James, Gladys
Don't cross us. We'll mess you up.
Kidding!
I see ghosts.
I don't know what Jackie is doing...
What's on the other side of the vortex?
Infernal Affairs meets Sopranos pose. Ricky's the mole.
X-ray shot. It's a bit creepy. I'm told I look like the hulk in this one.
Coneheads!
Fobs!

Thank you Panama crew for an fantastic evening. I missed all of you.

Panama!!!!!

I was too lazy to figure out how the flickr thing that Geoff uses on his blog works. So....here's a couple of pictures from my Panama trip way back in May! Those who haven't seen the DVD must see it! Enjoy!

Royal DeCameron Resort

It's a peacock!


Roommates Ricky, James and myself.

Panama has so much fresh fruit. Yay pinapples (boloh) and Papaya!

Chess rocks!
The guys (Kevin, Ricky, James, Myself, Jackie, Greg)

We all had nicknames on the trip based on funny things that happened: Kevin - Full Moon, Ricky - Hansel, James - Kitty/Five Star, Myself - Tourist Pat, Jackie - Treaure Trail/Mr. Bean, Greg - Cabana Boy


The Girls (Benissa - Yaaooo, Melody - Mother Goose, Gladys - Summer Fling/Fan Club)

Posing or surfing??
I'm actually surfing!! (It's bloody hard)

Chillin'
Melody gets picked up by the lifeguard.
Kayaking
I really like this pick.
Human Pyramid!

There's a lot more pictures out there, but I thought I'd give these for starters. More to come.

Changes

It amazes me when you look back on previous posts and be able to recapture the mood you felt at the time you were writing. The exact cumulation of moments that lead to the epiphany that is the blog entry. I look back on the struggles in the beginning of my walk and the revelations along the way. I'm blown away by what God has revealed and transformed inside of me.

While the surface there are a million things that need work, I know the core of who I am continues to solidify itself in Christ. I look back at the person who was always serious and driven to know more about God and this walk with Christ. Somethings never change.

When I started this blog, I wanted to remember the thoughts that crossed my mind when I was still in the early stages of my walk. (I think it had been 4 months at that time since my acceptance of Christ). I remember picking the name unboundedpotential because it exactly described the walk I had ahead of me at that time. That meaning still rings true today. It also represents the scary, yet thrilling feeling I had during the early moments of my walk where I would go into a fellowship, church, group setting not knowing anyone but not caring too much about the awkwardness because I was so driven to learn about God.

This blog and its entries represents the serious, contemplative introverted side of my personality that dominated who I was at the time. Some things don't change. The core of me is still serious and contemplative and introverted, only with a goofier exterior. While the thought provoking and inspiring blogs are still a mainstay of this blog, I feel a change is necessary to share a bit more about other aspects of life I've experienced. I think it symbolic of the work God has done in my life. The personality is still the same, God just continues to add an different dimension to it that makes it work for his purpose.

I had a chance to see a bunch of friends from my CCF. It's was great to see all of them. I really do miss my old university friends and all the familiar faces. It's these times that make me realize how special Queen's really was. It's hard too keep in touch. It's hard to say good bye, or see you soon. It's hard to make the effort when the path God directs us is differs.

If there is I regret during my university times is never putting enough time into my friendships, especially to my Christian family. Always stressed about school and extra-curriculars and loading up my personal development. And while I admit the sacrifice has definitely given me a lot, I can help but wonder if I sacrificed the right things.

I can see the same story repeating itself entering my career. I'm trying to put so much time into work and developing my mix bag of spiritual skills that I start to wonder if I'm neglecting or not even trying to develop the relationships with those around me. As if everyone is going one way and I'm going another. I've learned a long time ago that friendships come and go. That you're lucky if you have three people you can call true friends.

I suppose its how we respond to this situation that reflects our real character. If knowing that this stage of my life and the people I'm surrounded with are only to be around for so long, how do I react? Do I work as if I'm building towards friendships that will last eternally, or do I think from a worldly point of view and see it as people coming and going?

It's the quality of the relationships over the quantity that God cares about, with his relationship being centre. I can't help but feel that everything I've to deepen my relationship with God and with my friends has been on a superficial level. The ironic thing is, that the amount of I make myself available to others is exactly how often I make myself available to God. That in my attempts to constantly be something more, that I've missed the entire point. It's not about me, it's about God and he can't change me, if I don't put in the time to let him.