part 4!!!

so i got up.

my head throbbed. blood trickled slowly down my forehead. i brought my hand to my head and touched it nervously, anticipating the pain. it didn't hurt.

oh it's just sweat.

i realized i was sitting on the hard ground, surrounded by forest. most of the trees were large-leafed with tall, thin trunks, but they grew so close together that it made it look larger than it really was. there was no sign of the boy. i tried to find any motion in the trees, thinking maybe he could have gone that way.

oh look there's a path in that corner. there was no choice but to follow the path, or risk getting lost in.. a place i don't even know what. i got up, feeling better already, and followed the path. it was relatively clear, but the trees on the side cascaded down from the top, low enough to touch my head. i ran through. there didn't seem to be an end to the path, and i saw no light at the far end.

i reached an area where there were no trees, and the sky could be seen above. the sky wasn't blue, but a sombre dark purple. the sun was a dim orange shade, hanging low in the purple. it gave me a chilling feeling, so i carried on. the path continued, and the trees hid the sky again. still no end to the path?

i started to run, dodging the leaves whenever it got into my face. i thought i saw some light now, so i squinted to look. There was a faint light. Phew! i carried on to run through to the end of this "forest". As i approached close to the end, maybe about 30 metres away, i saw what was making this light.

skyscrapers. buildings, buildings, buildings. they stood tall, maybe 50, 60, 100 floors, i would never know. i finally exited the forest, and i noticed that there was an expanse that separated the foresty area and "civilization". there were roads too, and people, hustling and bustling. wait are they people? the "cars" (moving things i've never seen before) zipped here and there along the roads.

no one seemed to notice me, so i tried to look for the boy, while still being amazed as to what in the world (if it was in this world) this all was.

suddenly i felt my arms being lurched back back behind. it hurt me, but not greatly, so i didn't scream. i couldn't turn around, but i saw two men dressed in black hold onto me. "you're coming with us. He is expecting you." one said in a low voice.

expecting me?

(uh oh.. looks like our hero is in trouble.. who can possibly expect him in this world where he's never been? what of the little boy?)

the struggles of musical worship

recently i've joined the scbc sunday service worship, and it is definitely a good experience so far. though i've been asked a few times whether i didn't do this earlier, i do have my reasons.

one of my main concerns was whether my "worship" was really worshipping God. ppl can easily get caught up in how their playing sounds, or how their singing sounds (especially the singing for me). this has been a major struggle for me.. it could be becuz i've been trained in music for almost all my life, or it could be that i just like to sound good, my focus during worship may often divert to myself rather than my God, and the words that i am singing.

one question though.. becuz playing guitar or piano or even singing involves some skill, sometimes u'd really havta concentrate to make sure ur doing everything properly! then ur focus, going into ur instrument playing or whatever, would be justified, no? so where does that leave room for.. focus on God? or do we say.. u gotta do both at the same; multitask? cuz for those of u that have led worship before, u probably know that multitasking isn't easy.. especially if u gotta play guitar, sing and lead at the same time (decided not to play guitar this time). sooo what do u think ppl?

victro