Songs from Good Friday Musical

African-American spirit in today's Good Friday! :D

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning (3x)

The time is drawing nigh

Children don’t get weary (3x)

Till your work is done

Christian journey soon be over (3x)

The time is drawing nigh

Everytime I feel the spirit                              

Moving in my heart, I will pray                   

Everytime I feel the spirit                              

Moving in my heart, I will pray

On the mountain my Lord spoke

Out his mouth came fire and smoke

Down in the valley on my knees

Asked my Lord have mercy please

Jerdon river, chilly and cold

Chills the body not the soul

All around me looked so fine

Asked my Lord if all was mine

Ain’t but one train on this track

Runs to heaven and right back

St. Peter waitin’ at the gate

Said come on sinner, don’t be late

With my love and my sadness I come before You Lord

My heart’s in a thousand pieces Maybe even more

Yet I trust in this moment You’re with me somehow

And You’ve always been faithful So Lord even now

When all that I can sing Is a broken Hallelujah

When my only offering Is shattered praise

Still a song of adoration Will rise up from this ruin

I will worship You and give You thanks

Even when my only praise Is a broken Hallelujah

Oh Father, You have given Much more than I deserve

And I have felt Your hand of blessing On me at every turn

How could I doubt Your goodness Your wisdom, Your grace

So Lord hear my heart In this painful place

When all that I can sing Is a broken Hallelujah

When my only offering Is shattered praise

Still a song of adoration Will rise up from this ruin

I will worship You and give You thanks

               Even when my only praise Is a broken Hallelujah

In de mornin’ when I rise (3x) Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus (2x) You may have all this worl’ Give me Jesus

Just about de break of day (3x) Give me Jesus

Oh, when I come to die (3x) Give me Jesus

We shall walk through the valley in peace (2x)

For Jesus Himself will be our leader

We shall walk through the valley in peace

We will meet our loved ones there (2x)

For Jesus Himself will be our leader

We shall walk through the valley in peace

There will be no trials there (2x)

For Jesus Himself will be our leader

We shall walk through the valley in peace

We shall walk in peace

Birthday in Holy Week 2013

I think I love my birth date, 28 March, because it usually falls on Holy Week. I did not observe Holy Week until I was studying in TTC. Here, during Holy Week we would have chapel services from Monday to Thursday and we are encouraged to meditate more.

And the past three days (Monday until Wednesday) have been awesome. I feel blessed by the songs we sang in chapel and the sermon preached. I would take note on the sermon, went back to my room, copy my note to computer and take time to reflect. It's deep and profound. The preacher talked about the "Tears of Peter" when Peter disowned Jesus for three times and how it can happen to us who are VERY COMMITTED Christians, but... in the end there is always an opportunity for reconciliation. On Tuesday he preached about the "Anatomy of Bertrayal" of Judas and how Judas' initial enchantment of Jesus as Messiah turned to be gradual disappointment when Judas saw Jesus not being the "liberationist" as he expected. And we all know that Judas' ending was a sad ending. On Wednesday, in a sermon titled "A Thief in Paradise" he preached about the request of the thief, who was crucified next to Jesus.

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

(Luke 23:42)

And today is quite special because it is Maundy Thursday. In Maundy Thursday we usually have foot-washing ceremony and stripping of the altar. Foot-washing ceremony reminds us of Jesus who washed His disciples' feet. Imagine, a teacher who washed his students' feet. What a profound symbol of humility, servanthood, sacrifice, and love! And stripping of the altar symbolizes Jesus that was stripped of his dignity at his crucifixion. Those ceremonies are meaningful and they never fail to touch my heart.

Another thing, today we have Holy Communion. And during Holy Communion the ordained minister, who is also one of my lecturer, after he handed me the wafer he laid his hands on my head and said, "... and blessing on your birthday". Wow, I really did not expect that! I knew that he realised today is my birthday, but I just did not expect that. Very touching. A special blessing by an ordained pastor on my birthday!