Sonstroke16 gets a Son tan

SONTAN camp hosted by WAC (We Amplify Christ). Dates: 12, 13 and 14, September 2008. Venue: Scripture Union Camp site, Mahabalipuram, Chennai.

Shades on my face, Sleep on Lloyd’s and 104 degrees on Anant’s, we left Bangalore on 12th morning for the SONTAN camp. Yeah…Lloyd didn’t sleep well, Anant had high fever and I can’t stand the Chennai heat without shades. I urged my friends to pray for Anant and the band. The 6 hrs journey began at 8.35 AM and ended at 3 PM at Chennai Central. Anant’s fever had completely vanished by God’s grace. Amazing!

So…we were all set to enjoy the camp to the core and get a Son tan…and we did.
The WAC team headed by Colin was filled with fun… it’s in their blood. C’mon after 10 pm the games began…from shaving the balloon to filling the balloons with water and run around to splash it on someone… other activities like sand sculpture, chariot of fire, limbo and so on were organized to keep the excitement going through out the camp. I was happy to meet Praveen my senior from Madras University. He was part of the WAC crew.

But this camp was not all about fun. There was an equal balance of fun and the message. Pr. Shaun from Word of life took the sessions on Purpose of life and the ways to get a SON Tan. The WACKY band lead good worship sessions. The song SON SHINY DAY was the theme song which was modified version a an old hit ‘sun shiny day’. Steeve Vatz also lead worship in one of the sessions. He and Pr. Thomson from Good Samaritan Fellowship shared a brief and powerful word. The WAC team stuck to their vision of ‘reaching the youth’ coz the topics were all relevant to the young generation.

We had such an awesome time getting to know the people and participating with them in all the activities. In just 3 days we made a lot of new friends. They really kept us going as we played on Saturday night at the concert. We could feel their excitement and were overwhelmed with their response and feedbacks. A2J also played that night.

We also remembered the situation in Orissa, thanks to a believer who just returned from Orissa. He shared the stories and the photos. Everyone prayed for him and the people facing persecution. We performed IN HIS NAME for the first time which was written during the communal riots in Bangalore last year. We modified it a little bit in the memory of Orissa persecutions that took place in the last few days.

Getting a Sonstroke (born again experience) is not just enough. Getting a Son tan, i.e carrying God’s love and shinning Jesus on us all the time completes the faith and our purpose of life in this world. This camp really motivated us to continue to do what we are called to do. We are all charged up now.

- Gladvin Gaius

King of Fools

I am the king of excuses,

the author of procrastination.

I so easily divide my dues for everyday.

I am a joy ride gone bad,

the ball in a roulette game,

never knowing where to stop.

I am the keeper of one's conscience,

the key to a fool's castle,

stuck in the middle of everyday.

But I'm no Ordinary Fool.

-Lloydoftherings

Powerhouse Band Fest

We played LIVE at the Powerhouse Band Fest that took place on August 14-16, 2008. YMCA, Yelagiri... Battalion, Godcore, Blood Covenant, 1Remedy, Double Edge, Cross Legacy were some of the other bands that rocked the event with their skills, techniques and passion for God... and music artists like Timothy Madukar, Steve Vatz, Zippora, Kavitha, Naveen, Mike and Mark Williams graced the event. They were simply awesome and insparational. The youth of the Powerhouse church were so cool, jovial and supportive. It meant a lot for us. What a blast we had.

Our lead guitarist Vedha Charles couldn't make it for the band fest... so we switched bass and lead guitars between myself and Anant and managed to put up a decent show over all (we guess).

The harvest is plenty...come on lets reap 'em all... glad to see powerhouse church launching this band fest project and promising to have it every year. This provides a platform for budding and professional artists to reach people with the gospel with all their God given talents. Hats off Powerhouse!!!

-Gladvin Gaius

Way to Live (lyrics)

Fear and tears on a billion faces here
Power in our hands but all we give is confusion
A murder in daylight justified with one’s faith
Meant to live together but we can’t stand each other

Oh Lord, Will Your mercy
Fall on us tonight
Oh Lord, let Your love
Show us the way to live

Blinded by riches we don’t see what we need
Materials lend a hand and we reject the hand of God
We’re caught in a tech-race still millions need a home
Selfish satisfactions lead us to kill a life unborn

Intelligence overflows then why do we keep messing up?
Millionaires rise then why do we still hear the children cry?
Disputes to resolve, guns and riots ain’t solving it
There’s so much to achieve, but not time for love

And this is where we are the only hope is in You Jesus
This land is getting dark let Your love shine tonight

Oh Lord, Will Your mercy
Fall on us tonight
Oh Lord, let Your love
Show us the way to live

Why?

Since someone asked I yesterday, Why do I believe?
I was stumped by the timing of the question.
So, it made I wonder…
Hence, giving it some thought,
I decided to write it this way and let you know.

For what I know,
Your love is unconditional.
What we do and don't,
What we did and didn't, You'd still love us.

From what I've seen,
You're omnipotent.
Where we care or not,
Believe or not, You'd still watch over us.

What I've experienced,
Through the good and harsh times
You put me there only to realize
the greater good in life.

Many may not know,
Of Your Love or of what You’re capable of
But giving them another day to believe,
is the most generous act of kindness.

Many friends we have,
But such comfort comes only come from You.
I could be the sickest person known,
But You’d still wipe my slate clean.

Greatest is Your care,
You sent Your Son down, in the form of man,
to go through all pains and temptations.
Just to let us know that You know how it feels.

Mighty are Your deeds,
For even before we were born,
You knew all our faults
And still shed innocent blood for us.

How easily You break life down for me,
I'd never see it by myself.
Your simplicity has thought me deeper meaning
Through the acts of random kindness.

And, for all that I am mocked at,
Only You will understand me truly,
'Cause no matter what anyone says,
You're still the staff I grip onto.

May this time of mine be full-filling to You,
and may I be blessed by Your Guidance.
Until I close my eyes, shall I speak of
Your Mighty hand that worked upon me.

- Lloyd Fletcher

Jesus needed! Everyday, every second? PART II

Heavy dose of scripture on Sunday morning and regular doses of Christian music keeps our hero going. Let’s not forget the daily bible reading, he does that too. Charged up at that moment, he makes resolutions and decisions. “Lord I give you my heart…I live for you alone”, that Hillsong chorus is the soundtrack for that moment. Oh that moment…it’s the best feeling, the feeling that makes him believe he’s walking on water with Jesus. Well actually he does, in that fantasy realm. Remember? Today, he walks out into the world like everyday with that ‘multiple re-birth’ experience.

Chaos awaits this prince.

Thousands die in a hurricane. Hundreds die in Africa. Doubts and anger (on God?) crawl in. Bringelina poses topless for Playboy magazine. Distraction begins. The sexiest girl on the block winks at him. Distraction swells. The soundtrack is still playing but sounds like a dying whale now. Beats and beer pulls him in. You know where. And guess what… he finds the winker there. Distraction? Naah… Hotel or house? …is the question. The soundtrack? “Ahh…not now”.

As he sits there planning his next move, the moron, his long lost and forgiven enemy, walks in and buys the winker a drink. “What the hell are you doing here, she’s mine?” yells our hero.

“What the hell are you doing here?” whispers Jesus. Our man refuses to hear Him.

Water splashes. The stink of old booze pierces through his nose. He wakes up in prison.

Alarm! Alarm! Jesus needed. Everyday, every second.

Run to the One (lyrics)

Love is all you seek
Heartbreaks are what you meet
To home is where you run
Crossroads are what you hit

A Smile on your face
Rain of tears in your heart
Lonely are you now
Lonely are you in the midst of all
This world could give

Heartbreaks are what you meet

Won't you run to the One
Whose love shines when everything fails
Won't you run to the One
Whose love was revealed on a cross for you

Shattered are your dreams
Disturbed is your mind
Broken is your heart
Lonely are you in the midst of all
This world could give

And crossroads are what you hit

Won't you run to the One
Whose love shines when everything fails
Won't you run to the One
Whose love was revealed on a cross for you

Loved are you in the midst of all heartbreaks
Peace you find in the midst of all storms

My peace I leave with you (Jesus said)