Helloooooo!  I'm back!  Lol.  However, I won't be typing up my usual "what-happened-to-me-the-past-2 weeks" type o' blog.  Instead, I'm gonna vent out to you guys.  I feel like I need to get it out of me because it's really bothering me.  Two of my so-called "friends" did me wrong.  So check it:

"Friend" A story:
On our way to MA, for the NE Regional Conf., I was picked up by 3 of my friends at around 9:30 p.m.-for a change I didn't use my car.  However, the deal was that I was to drive the car since Friend B, the owner of the car, wasn't used to long drives, but that was fine with me since I was the only brother anyway.  Once they were all inside my house, all of them, in different times, of course, said, "Hey Nick, do you mind if I sleep on our way to MA because I'm reallyyyyy tired?"  I was like, "What the?!  Who's gonna keep me company and navigate?"  Friend A said, "Fine.  I'll definitely keep you up!  We have lots of catching up to do anyway!"

The moment we left the house, guess who decided to sleep?  Friend A!  So I figured since I'll be the only one awake throughout this whole ride, I might as well get something to keep me up.  After buying my drink, I asked Friend A if she can lead us into prayer since Friend B was gonna navigate and Friend C was gonna keep me company.  So she starts praying, and in the middle of the prayer, she stopped and said, with the most annoying whiny voice, "Guys, can you help me finish the prayer?!"  What the @#*%&?!?!  Who the heck does that?!  In the end, everyone decided to sleep, and so my drink ended up being my friend on our way there.

We get to MA at around 2:45 a.m., but we couldn't really set-up on stage since people were still trying to finish the backdrops.  They finished after an hour, and that's when we decided to set-up.  We asked Steph what time we were suppose to come back, and she said we were to be back by 6 a.m.  So we decided not to sleep since set-up and sound check usually takes about 2-3 hrs.  The conf., itself, was a very humbling experience.

After a very tiring conference, we were housed by a couple who hosted the "after party" for CFC.  I couldn't really sleep early because it would've been rude.  While I was talking to a CFC member, guess who comes up behind him and starts distracting me?  Friend A!!!  I had to end the conversation 'cause she rudely interrupted me.  When I asked what she wanted, she and another sister asked me if I could take T.Cito Lorenzo and his wife to the airport at 7:15 a.m.!  In my head I was like, "Inconsiderate @&*%#!"  So I told 'em straight up, "Friend A, I drove all the way here, and you know I didn't get ANY sleep!  How do you expect me to drive them to the airport early in the morning and drive home?!"  Their excuse was that they're bad with directions and that they were gonna get lost 'cause they don't know their way around Boston.  Mah bad!  I forgot I lived in Boston my whole life!  I told Friend A that I would do it ONLY IF she promised she and Friend B would drive home.  They said yes so I kept my end of the bargain.

The following day, I woke up at 6:15 a.m. since I needed to pick up the Lorenzos at their hotel before taking them to the airport.  After taking them to the airport, I was happy 'cause I could just sleep the entire ride home.  After the day was over, and when we were all inside our cars to leave, a new "Friend" C (the old one went home with others which was smart), got a text saying that he needed to go to a G4G mtg.  I didn't really care 'cause I knew he wasn't going to drive.  All of a sudden, Friend A goes, "Ummm... sorry, but I'm going with him."  That was all she said.  I got so mad that I didn't even look at her.  I ended up having to stay awake to keep her company, and then I ended up replacing her when she got tired.

Wow.  That was a long blog.  Thanks for reading this.  Since this is long, my other "friend's" story would have to wait.  So what do you think I should do?  What would be the just thing to do in this situation?  Let me know.  Thanks.  Peace out!

So it's been quite a long 2 weeks or so for me.  Preparing for the CLP was such a humbling experience for me.  Praise God it was a success.  Congratulations to the new members!  Kudos to the service team.  Everyone did a good job serving at the CLP.  Seeing and serving with them inspired me to be more active here.  Yes, SFC-NJ is such a strong area, but there's nothing better than seeing an area grow in spirit.  What's better is that, though they're growing, you can still see SFC in its purest form, without the politics and everything else that makes it hard for people to stay in the community.  I'm not sure how it starts, but I think there's still hope for us to erase them from the areas that have had them for quite some time now.

Practicing with the band for the regional conference in MA this weekend has been a blast.  Worshipping last night with them reminded me of the worships we've had during conferences.  It was a full-band worship with only 3 songs, yet it was just as powerful as the praisefests we've played for.  "Lord, may we not play for You but, instead, worship You with our instruments."  Awesome night.  Simply awesome.

Well, I'll keep this as is to give you a break from reading my looooooooong blogs.  Lol.  I hope you're doing well!  Peace out for now!

The past 2 weeks have been great.  I was asked to serve at a CLP in PA sometime in October, and I was asked to do the baptism ceremony.  Preparing for it has been enlightening.  I have learned a lot and am still learning, and so this is what I've learned so far:

WOW!  It's been quite a while since I last blogged on this, huh?  Well, a lot has happened, both the good and the bad, but I'm still alive and kickin'.  I guess that's a good sign, huh?  It seems like I had a summer break from Xanga.  Lol.  Well, I guess I'll just mention what's worthy mentioning, huh?  Lol.

Families in Worship was intense!  I think a lot more people should've attended, but oh well.  It's our first time having it.  A lot of people said that it's what we've been missing, and they were saying how we should have this annually, and we probably will.  I know other areas from our region are asking for the outlines of the talks and breakout sessions.  They want to do an echo of it in their own respective areas.  For those of you that didn't go, you missed it.  Music ministry or not, you guys really did miss out on a lot.  As I said from my previous entry, 600 people came to worship and understood the true meaning of worship.

We had the SFC Sportsfest this summer, and that was arrite.  Last year's was good since NJ won most of the competitions, and we were able to take the trophy home.  This year, well... at least we won men's and women's tennis, and we won dodgeball.  What about the rest of the competitions you ask?  Ummm... let's just say SFC-NY took home the trophy, but I'm predicting that NJ will represent again next year.  Y'all can count on that.

SWR2 was good.  It was long overdue for me.  I remember Mr. Alfie Tuason serving my SWR1.  So if you know who he is, well then, you pretty much know how long I've been in SFC.  Lol.  Great fun.  Great group.  Great topics.  I felt like a senior in highschool since others were having their SWR1 in the same building.  Lol.  What a bunch o' rookies.  I mean... great fun, faith, friendship, and fellowship!  Anyway, I learned a whole lot about forgiveness and how to treat our sisters even better than ever!

Our chapter's CLP went well too!  We have 5 new members in our chapter so kudos to the service team.  One of them even attended the SFC conference this year so that was awesome.  I was happy that all 5 of them are very much active, and feel really comfortable.  Please continue to pray for them and their walk with God.

Now as far as the SFC conference goes... that was probably the highlight for me for this summer.  It felt good not playing for conference for once, yet I kinda wished we did play.  That would've been nice.  I miss having to go to the conference host area for about a week before to practice with the band.  It's arrite.  I have to give others a chance, right?  Anyway, not playing was good and relaxing.  I didn't need to worry about being at the venue first and leaving the venue last.  One thing, however, bothered me (uh-oh, here comes Negative Nick!).  From my impression, the conference band thought they had a clean-up crew after the weekend was over.  Well, for those of you who are in the music ministry, please do clean-up after yourselves.  And when you do clean-up, make sure you help out with EVERYTHING.  Don't just pack up your instruments or wrap up the mic wire that you used.  You didn't just use that one thing.  You also used the speakers, amps, mixers, and all of the wires that connected everything!  So please help out the sound tech next time.

And to end it nicely, thank you to the Natividads, Surinos, and the Basilios for takin' us out!  They were awesome hosts!  I loved our tour guides!  Woohooo!  Good times.  Definitely good times.  It was awesome seeing everyone at Ivar's and at the park.  I also loved the Victory Party at the park.  Shout-outs to some of last year's CFC-Y conference band: Phil, Bridgette, Rod, A.C., Ray, and John!  It was also nice seeing the 200 club back together that weekend.  Too bad we weren't able to chill for long though.  That would've been good times too.  Lol.  It seriously was nice seeing a lot of you there, even those that are from NJ, and I wish to see you in Dallas next year!  I'd name all of you, but this has been a pretty dang long entry.  For those that missed this year's conference, I better see y'all there!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, summarized my summer.  For a shorter version... well, there is no shorter version.  That's as short as it could be.  Oh well.  Actually, if you want a shorter version, here it goes:  How's my summer?  Good.  The end.  G'nite y'all!  God bless.