This month has been filled with “threesome” stories which make my July to be historical. It was "three days" that I could not walk because of arthritis. I had to jump using my right foot when going
to the comfort room. It was "three days" that I could not compose a blog because of "three-days" of brownout in the whole province of Cavite brought by typhoon Glenda. It was "three days" that we needed to fetch water in the neighborhood because the areas in the province which are dependent on a deep well had no water for "three days"considering that these wells are electrically-operated.
Three people were killed by this disastrous typhoon in Cavite: a 22-year
old motorcycle-rider knocked by a post
that fell next to him, an eleven-month old girl hit by a piece of hollow block, and a 60-year
old man died after a tree smashed his home.
Gone are the tail of destructions caused by typhoon Glenda and let’s
shift to the tail of talents prided by three young Filipinos on X-Factor Australia to
make the mood more lighter.
Mary Ann Van Der Horst, Marlisa Punzalan, and Tiny Justin Vasquez are the new Filipino
sensations invading the X Factor
Australia, who earned standing ovations from both the audience and the four
judges.
On Mary Ann's pop-rock performance singing Beyonce’s Halo, Redfoo
says, “That was spectacular”. Coach Danii says, “It was brilliant! I loved
it!” Ronan Keating thought Mary is not serious and cannot sing but he was
wrong. He says, “You owned the song and
that was incredible to watch. That was
amazing!” After receiving a total of four yeses and an unusual standing ovation
from the judges, Mary Ann Van will then go to the next round of the
competition, the boot camp.
Marlisa Punzalan's who won 3 gold medals at the McDonald's Sydney Eisteddfod wowed the crowd and the judges of her rendition of "Yesterday" popularized by the Beatles.
Tiny Justin Vasquez who won the International 2013 DMZZ Global Singing Idol in Manila likewise made it to the competition after he impressed the spectators and judges with his version of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning."
While everyone enjoys music to make the best out of this life, the Scripture
encourages us not only to showcase what we’ve got but to bring His good tidings
through music.
Psalm 105:2 Sing praise, play music; proclaim all his wondrous deeds!
Judith 16:1 "Strike up the instruments, a song to my God with timbrels, chant to
the Lord with cymbals; Sing to him a new song, exalt and acclaim his name.
Psalm 30:5 Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful; give thanks to God's holy name.
Psalm 33:3 Sing to God a new
song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
Psalm 47:7 Sing praise to
God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise.
Psalm 68:5 Sing to God,
praise the divine name; exalt the rider of the clouds. Rejoice before this God
whose name is the LORD.
Psalm 69:35 Let the heavens
and the earth sing praise, the seas and whatever moves in them!"
Psalm 81:2 Sing joyfully to
God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; with the
lyre celebrate our God,
Isaiah 12:5 Sing praise to
the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the
earth.
Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the
LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth: Let the sea and what
fills it resound, the coastlands, and those who dwell in them.
Zechariah 2:14 Sing and
rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Conversely, Jesus
teaches us to be confident with the talent He lends us than to keep it not
because of fame and financial abundance it may bring as primary source of
happiness but as opportunity to proclaim His love through music. Thus, the parable of the talents has this to
say:
Matthew 25:23-30 His master
said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful
in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your
master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and
said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not
plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and
buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in
reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not
plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money
in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now
then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone
who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has
not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into
the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
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