Think Tank

I’ve been to other concerts before and have never experienced this — most of the time, when you watch a concert this is what you do (well at least this is what I do):

1. You would want to carefully see what the vocalist looks like, or if the band members are as handsome as the vocalist.

2. You prepare yourself with the energy that’s about to be unleashed as you sing along with the songs that you’re familiar with.

3. If you don’t know the song, you scream like crazy anyway just because you’re thrilled to be there, watching these artists perform LIVE

4. You usually jump and scream like hell because you’re cheering for the band

5. You gush and tell your companions how good they are and how much you love them.

BUT IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE LAST NIGHT.

I arrived Cubao via MRT, straight from Pampanga. When I went down the stairs connecting Gateway to the dome, I was surprised with how many people were there at the entrance area - and they were all lined up! I finally found my sisters and we went inside Araneta as early as 6pm. We found our seats and while we were waiting inside, videos were being shown. I realized that it wasn’t really a concert, but a worship event. Wow, I said to myself, sing and praise for 2 hours. God will be very happy tonight.

I have never seen the dome packed. All tickets were SOLD OUT — so just imagine how packed Araneta was from Lower box up to General Admission. From where we were sitting, the seats were filled to the brink! I mentioned that God will be very happy - because this sea of people will be praising and praying to him all night!

And it started — I tell you, this is the only concert where I didn’t care who was playing, who the vocalist was (well I looked at him too). You knew it wasn’t about them (the band) because, they show the lyrics of their songs on the screens so everybody can sing. And EVERY SINGLE PERSON was singing at the very first song to the last. It was all about thanking Him for everything, praising Him for being good and for blessing everyone else. I have never sang, prayed and jumped and raised my hands like this, in my whole life.

At some point, you can see that the singers of the band aren’t even singing anymore, they just kept playing while everyone else was singing. Imagine those sea of people, jumping, praying, arms raised to the heavens, singing to the top of their lungs!

Really, it was an experience that me and my sisters will never ever forget. We are grateful that we were there, part of all of this.

The vocalist even read some verses in the Bible in between songs and prayed a whole lot while we sing. He even said something like, “The youth here in the Philippines are incredible! I hope that when we get back, there will be a bigger building to accomodate everyone else.” Cheers and loud praises can be heard all throughout.

The last song I remembered that they played was “One Way” - everyone went wild and happy. I still get goosebumps just remembering it.

Hay, grabe. We went home and my sisters agreed that it was an experience. They too, noticed that it wasn’t really about the band, but the prayers and singing.

Funny, I have a backache now and my legs feel tired. I know why - it was all because of the jumping.

I am still high. I have realized how blessed we all are and that we have a lot to offer to help. And most of the time, I sing this to myself — This is one of my favorite songs by Hillong (they didn’t sing this though):

So blessed, I can’t contain it…
So much, I’ve got to give it away,
Your love taught me to live now…
You are more than enough for me.

Indeed, His love is overwhelming. Indeed, we are blessed. God is good.

I got this from one site because it summarizes everything:

“The night was riveting, as the stadium filled with thousands of voices, eyes raised heavenward, and created an expectancy that welcomed the very presence of God.”

(This picture was copied from a different site — but this was the same scenario at the dome!)

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Postscripts:

I think it was 2 months ago when my sister forwarded me an email that Hillsong will be coming over here to Manila. Having been listening to their songs for awhile now, not really familiar with all of it, I told her that I was interested in going. So, it was decided that we’ll all go (me, with my sisters Wenna and Aileen).

I admit, before I started attended this church, my faith was size of a pea. We were raised to go to church every Sunday and go through the mass. My sister has been consistently asking me to go with her to CCF and I never went with her. One day, I went with her and I was OVERWHELMED.

I have always known that singing is one way of praying. I found this in CCF. I never saw myself listening and learning from a pastor - and I did. Everything that they say, I absorbed like everything else is new to me. I welcomed it. I felt like I was hungry for it. I was. I am.

I’m a work in progress.