Saturday, July 08, 2006
hms. don't exactly know what to say. but in order not to let this place die of stuffy cobwebs. here i am. haha. well worship the past 2 weeks in church have been really empowering to me. cause i kept asking God to move among the youths so that we could see Him face to face. i don't know how many of the youths are really hungering for the Lord's prescence. but i am. anyways, great job to joel/ ade/ nana for leading the worships. heh. hopefully the WLs at hand could bring the youths into deeper worship cause some of us really want to see Him [:
Y let me live forever lost in your love all i want is more of you.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Hey guys...! by now u should have gotten the e-mails and seen the posters and everything... just a summary...
20th May 2006 - 2 events.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1000 hrs - 1200 hrs...
'Created to Worship' Workshop in church. Open to anyone...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1800 hrs - whenever..
Ministry BBQ... at Minxian's place... For Youth Music Min, Youth Comm, Youth PA Ministry, Youth Creative Arts Ministry, Greeters Ministry... Anyone who's serving...!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For both events, pls RSVP ShuMay ASAP... even if you cannot go... let her know... For the BBQ... if anyone wants to volunteer to bring food... pls let minxian or myself know... ASAP...! we'll be charging for the BBQ... but don't think it'll be coming up to more than 7 bucks per person.. this we'll settle after the BBQ.... but if more people bring food the cheaper it'll get...!
Hope to see all of you there...!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
helloo everyone.. i think i told chris i would post one last time before i go NS so here i am :)
...
AAAAHHH I'm going in tmr! AAAAAAH AAAAAAH AAAAARGH :( klah uhm actually i think its not so bad, i'm quite looking forward to it actually =P should be quite an interesting experience. I've been really encouraged by the current NS guys like josh, alan etc and the way God's been using them in the army. Anyway.. please pray for all of us yah? think we'll need it alot and thanks alot for all your prayers so far :) don't know how we're going to get through this except by His strength, His grace but i know God is still more AWESOME than i know
anyway let's all keep praying for our YM, i'll confess i for one haven't been praying much lately and vincent's msg last saturday a real reminder for me. let's keep praying for God to take us and the whole YM deeper in worship, not just in song but with our whole lives too, and for all the friends around us who aren't saved yet.
klah, looks like i won't be playing/leading for some time now, but by God's grace i hope to be serving Him where He'll place me in the army too :) sooo for all of us too, wherever we are, whatever we do, in church, in school, at home, let's
Keep praying,
Keep r0ckin' for Jesus :)
Sunday, March 26, 2006
haha. this is for aaron. so be honoured man XD
anyway, i'm sure everyone has been into the worship thing after exponential and all. but have you guys ever considered what will happen like a few months after this thingy has passed? i dunno about you guys but i've realised that it's high during a camp and right after the camp. but after sometime everything goes back the same and we'll be back in square one and we'll wait for another camp/ conference to get us to be fools for christ again. and it'll continue to go around and around the same way. and on sunday morning, while doing kool club i usually see the youths bumming around in church. or maybe they'll go for breakfast or something. why can't we start from this place and start moving? maybe like it's optional for us to have a mini worship session with just a guitar. i'm sure after the pastor's leadership training thingy we'll have more time. and this can help us with developing this passion for worship. i dunno. just suggesting. retardedly weird that this is just the first post:/
on a lighter note, i found my trackshoes! XD this is just crazy.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
hey guys... now that's it's all over... (the camp that is...) can tell u guys how good God has been to all of us in the yoof comm... and to me in particular...
before the whole camp.. i was actually very worried abt the commitment level of all of us... certain events actually led me to wonder as to whether people wanted to serve... were we getting too tired...? too complacent...? too flippant...? too disrespectful of God...? were we serving
only because there was a need...?
well... when i first got the fixed camp schedule.. and knew how many musicians i needed... i sat at my PC doing what i do every camp... send out an e-mail to yoofmusic at yahoogroups... u know... my intention was to send out the generic 'who-wants-to-serve-i'm-just-gonna-roster-and-u-tell-me-if-u-can't' kinda thing... but as i was typing this generic thing i just started typing wat i typed... believe most of u guys saw it... basically... i typed wat i felt about serving without desire... i mean even that was pretty generic... then suddenly i was -heck it all- and then i typed "so for this retreat i won't ask u if you can lead... i won't ask u if u can play or back-up sing... the retreat is frm 16th to 18th of March... we definitely need WLs, musicians, and back-up singers... pls pray abt it... and then decide if u're willing to serve... then come to me... my HP is ********... and my e-mail add is ********@*****.com..."
u know... i didn't feel especially like God was challenging me or saying in a loud voice from heaven "joel... this is wat i want u to do" but well... after i typed the e-mail out... i read through it... and then i thought to all the stories we had at Alpha last year... and then well.. i said to God... "Jehovah Jireh, You can make this work." And i knew the thoughts in my mind about service wasn't for nothing... so i just went ahead and clicked send...
the minute i did... i was, "JOEL, U BIG FOOL...!!! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM...!! 'Do not test the Lord your God'! Wat do u think you're doing...?!" and well i didn't even discuss it with my comm... i think that was the worse... i put us out there on a limb without them even knowing what was going on... and they've really been good about it but i bet they were thinking, "JOEL, U BIG FOOL...!!! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM...!!" and stuff like that...
anyway... that was on the 1st of march, a wednesday... as i said... jessica sms-ed me almost immediately... my brother next.. then ade e-mailed on the 3rd... i remember posting here abt the power of 'yes'... when people say 'yes' after they've been serving non-stop... i tell you... jessica, in this respect, was really my encouragement that week...
anyway... i can't remember when... but sometime that week... i think it was friday, 3rd march... i sat down with the comm
sansminxian... chris, aaron and ben... and well.. we were talking... and we committed to do a daniel fast for the following week... we ended late and well... i dunno lah.. doubts crept in like anybody's business... i told them that night that if no one stepped up... i would lead / drum / guitar every single worship if i had to... we made a decision... if by the end of that week... saturday, 11th march... we had not enough... we'd go talk to people... as in ask people to play... i was so against it in my heart coz well.. then it went against the whole point which i was trying to emphasize... having the desire to serve... and the honour involved when serving..
anyway... that sunday... melena said she could play... but she was going part-time and was leading Alpha programme... so well... and now i owe a big apology to Sam... coz he said he wanted to play... and i went and forgot... yeah.. but well.. we definitely didn't have enough people...
that whole week was really horrible... we were short of everything... Alpha programme was chasing me for their mucicians.. and till that last day... the day before the camp... i was trying to arrange WLs for morning worship...
anyway... how the camp turned out is not for me to say... maybe u guys have more stories....? i just know The Lord provided for the comm... in spite of my pride.. in spite of my doubt... and these are a few things i want to thank God for...
1) Thank God for Pastor Adrian... he really had a vision before the camp.. i think we talked about it a few times.. and i don't think he knew what he was getting into... but i think God used him this camp... not only for his messages but also just to inject some liveliness, some enthusiasm... esp. during alpha... his is not an easy job... let's pray for him...
2) Thank God for the chiyon's class guys... how amazing that the whole bunch of them (besides TRZ) was having block leave or were not yet in the army... i'm sure we'd all agree that ben, josh, peter and alan were great servants in their own ways while joash, sze wai and darf made the camp more fun generally... when they knew games would be short of people... they changed their plans and came back for the games.. what would we do without them...
3) Thank God for Aaron... he's oft overlooked i think... he did the music logis... and the sound setup for the camp... now that's actually a lot of work... and the area most open to criticism actually... also... most wouldn't know it but there was a problem with the camp file on the night before camp... wed night... instead of the booklet format... they had printed in A4... and we happened to be in church... and aaron redid the whole think into the booklet format u used... he was there doing it till 11... this is the kind of servant i think we should be.. ready and willing to do anything for God's glory without need or desire for recognition...
Personally... i want to thank God for a few more people...
1) Thank God for Jessica for being ready to serve... Jessica volunteering really helped me through the week we were fasting... and she had another camp which ended on the 15th... but she rushed down after her camp to practice her set...
2) Thank God for Josh... he's amazing... he came down on the 17th for a 2-hr Alpha prac... then spent the entire day on the 15th... Alpha prac from 1000 to 1300... then worship nite prac from 1500 to 1800 and 1930 to 2100... with no complaints... he's an example for me... coz i'm whiny and grouchy after 2 hours of prac... yeah...
3) Thank God for Minxian... in the days leading up to the camp... she was juggling school... going to see her dad in hospital... and serving in yoof comm and music comm.. God bless her...
4) Thank God for Ben... he was really the rock of this camp i think... i remember the last day when i was talking to benice... and i was jokingly saying, "want to sing a song...? ask ben..! need a guitarist...? ask ben..!" but he stepped up every single time... he makes my job so much easier... i love him..
hmmm... this is a goodishly long post... anyway... the whole point is... thank God for his grace...
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
hello! this is a vain attempt to recharge this place! kickstart it! make it rev rev vroom vroom!
haha i think that an entry on the eve of an exciting youth retreat on worship is in order. as i hear it, the theme is exponential, which is pretty funky heh. let's pray that we'll have an exponential burst of energy within the music ministry, that in terms of number of musicians we'll grow from strength to strength, and that our service to God will scale new heights! (note the attempt at following the theme haha.)
You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You
I'll sing to You Lord a hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You'll never let me go
Through it all
yeah let's wait on God for Him to show us great things at this youth retreat! and to remember that when we sing to God, we sing hymns of love to Him, so we should mean it with our hearts.
okay see everyone at retreat tmr! haha maybe this post will spark off a flurry of activity. *crosses fingers* oh and someone pls answer irene on the tagboard?
Thursday, December 29, 2005
there... i've posted... so Shu May can post...! haha...
Thursday, November 17, 2005
hey everyone! erm let me start the ball rolling!! i'm really glad we're having a worship leaders' workshop during youth camp cos i think it's a great idea, so kudos to the ymm comm for thinking it up :)
anyway, i guess i would like some form of mentoring system to stem from this workshop. like more "senior" worship leaders/musicians mentoring and helping to build up the younger members of ymm. it's very important, esp. if you're a new musician/worship leader, cos it can get a bit scary at times, not knowing how to go abt playing/choosing songs. sidetracking a bit, when i first started leading in sec 3, it was april who helped me a lot! like giving me advice on my songlist and how to plan the music stuff etc. so yeah hopefully some form of mentoring could stem from this workshop.
oh, i would also like to hear testimonies from other worship leaders, eg. occasions when God helped them prepare their songs and more. it'll be encouraging for everyone and it'll also show that even in the midst of all the musical technicalities, God must always remain the focus of every worship.
and yeah, an informal jamming session thing is kinda cool! heh but it might be quite hard to erm let everyone jam at the same time, esp since there's only 1.5hours. so maybe jamming on the sides! like late at night, if we're allowed to haha.
yay i'm so excited abt the workshop!! :D (oh btw this means that there's no more workshop on 26nov right?)
Sunday, November 06, 2005
hello...! i'm here to scold all those who didn't go for the Paradise Band Worship Seminar on thursday morning... after saying they would... you know who you are...! *tsk tsk*... why like dat....?!?!
okok... i'll be nice... and tell all of u guys wat was said there... think it was a really informative time for all who went... he (the worship team leader guy... dunno wat his name is... ) basically talked to us abt as musicians / singers / WLs... we shouldn't be mere fulfillers of rosters... we should all aspire to be MVPs.... essential to the team... i also want everyone to be MVPs.... make my job so much easier man... *mumblemumblegrumblegrumble*but seriously... he said that there were a few qualities his MVPs possess... and since i want the whole YMM to be a great big MVP team... i shall share the secret with everyone... here goes:
1) They have a passion for the house of God (the church).
2) Their passion for God exceeds their passion for musical excellence.
This is a tough one for me... as i was sharing today at yoof prayer... i'm quite a perfectionist... and i really like things to run oh-so-smoothly... but well...
oh.. but i can see people going, "Well then... since i got the passion, then why do i bother practicing my instrument anymore? Because if i got the passion, then that's good enough for God right?"
honestly... if someone said this to me... then i'd ask if he has the right aim in mind.. or if the passion he has is genuine... because if u'd have a passion for God... why would you want to give him something that's not worthy...? u'd want to give him your absolute best right...?
3) They know the power of "Yes".Trust me on this one... it gives me great encouragement as a leader when this guy is going through all sorts of tough times... and he's been playing for weeks... and then on the week he's not scheduled to play... i ask him if he can fill in again for the millionth time... and without the slightest murmur... he says, "Yes." i can't do it myself... if cherie asks me to sub her... i'll go... eh... why again... i very tired can... why like that... sub you so many times already... well... something to chew on...
4) They are positive.This doesn't mean that you ignore the bad, but that u choose to see the good everywhere.... i think when everyone joins the YMM... we should make everyone promise not to criticize... but only to encourage...
5) They don't see problems, but see potential / possibilities.6) They have realistic expectations and understanding about their gift.
7) They are consistent.Consistent in terms of their playing.... consistent in terms of their musical ability.... consistent emotionally... but most important of all... consistent in their relationship with God...
yepyep... that's the notes i took from the main seminar... if u want to know more specifically... ask sandra, gideon, aunty bel, and myself....
oh yah... to start a new line of discussion... nuts or no nuts in chocs...? macadamia....!!!!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
hmm... oh well just wanted to say thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday today and for the presents too... really appreciate it... hmm just feeling like talking nonsense now... so ya anyway, first 5 ppl (in order) were... (ivan), clara, ben, xue ting and adelyn! ivan is in ( ) cos he actually did it an hour plus too early, but anyway, that qualifies him to be the last person to wish me from last year! heh... 364 days late. oh well. and most number of times goes to... xue ting! with a grand total of 4! heh.
thank you also to (in alphabetical order this time...) adelyn, ben, chwis, clara, darren low, joel, xue ting and yu huat (just wanted to put alan last... heh :P) for the slippers and wallet. and yup, special thanks to clara and all those who helped her (or got cut in the process...) for the cookies. oh yes not to forget... a special thank you to like... half the ym (or at least thats what i thought) who came in black today. heh. caoz you guys are lucky la actually i wanted to come in white to surprise everyone, but too lazy la. quite a surprise... didn't know so many ppl would co-ordinate... heh. thank you thank you thank you!
hmm ok i feel so inspired that i decided to come up with a nice poem...
happy birthday to me
happy birthday to me
happy birthday to me
happy birthday to me
heh. at least all the lines rhyme... unlike someone... *cough cough*...
oh man i just realised that this is my first post too... what a great way to start eh? oh well cya guys around... and i apologise for such a nonsensical post.
i'm here to put up the lyrics to one of my favourite songs, "
Take my hand" by
The Kry. it's really meaningful and it helped me through this week. :)
Verse
I know there are times
your dreams turn to dust
you wonder as you cry
why it has to hurt so much
give Me all your sadness
someday you will know the reason why
with a child-like heart
simply put your trust in Me
Chorus
Take My hand and walk where I lead
keep your eyes on Me alone
don't you say why were the old days better
just because you're scared of the unknown
take My hand and walk
Verse
Don't live in the past
cause yesterday's gone
wishing memories would last
you're afraid to carry on
you don't know what's comin'
but you know the one who holds tomorrow
I will be your guide
take you through the night
if you keep your eyes on Me
Chorus
Take My hand and walk where I lead
Keep your eyes on Me alone
don't you say why were the old days better
just because you're scared of the unknown
take My hand and walk where I lead
you will never be alone
faith is to be sure of what you hope for
and the evidence of things unseen
so take My hand and walk
Bridge
Just like a child
holding daddy's hand
don't let go of Mine
you know you can't stand on your own
Chorus
Take My hand and walk where I lead
Keep your eyes on Me alone
don't you say why were the old days better
just because you're scared of the unknown
take My hand and walk where I lead
you will never be alone
faith is to be sure of what you hope for
and the evidence of things unseen
so take My hand and walk
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Goodness... my last post was nearly a month back...! ok... i'm just too lazy... but anyway... i'm here now to be gloomy again...! haha...
well... a couple of weeks back.. i went to FMC for their Youth Service with Aaron & MX... and well... i thought that if we look at their worship technically, they are not really light-years ahead... i mean that in the nicest possible way... wat i mean is that... ok... their drummer is slightly better then our drummer.. their guitarists is slightly better than our guitarist... their pianist.. ermz.. as with all pianists... i cannot hear actually wat u guys play... haha... but mx assured me the pianist is good... oh well... but also... as a band... they made a few "speed" mistakes...
but we're not here to talk abt other churches' deficiencies... when i came back after that... i told a few of you... the only main difference was that "their WL was very confident"... like an idiot... i set myself up... in the end... someone innocuously asked me, "How do you become more confident?"
urps...
I don't know..!!!
but this is the kind of question that i'm supposed to know... so well... i thought about it very hard... and i've got a few observations... if i'm wrong... pls pls pls correct me... always keep in mind that i'm not a WL and that there's good reasons for that... besides the obvious one that i constantly sing off-key... ok... stop babbling joel, and get on with it... i'll come to it in 2 aspects..
firstly, the practical aspect...
number one rule...
be prepared... how can u be confident if you are not prepared...? if u have to keep wondering how to sing that part of the song... how can u be confident...? if u've not chosen the right chord to sing in... how can u be confident...? all these things need to be worked out before sunday...
pray... i say this is practical because it slows / calms u down... ok... it's definitely spiritual as well but i think having a time of prayer on sunday morning soothes you.... it reminds you that the worship is not abt u / your own abilities / the congregation / anything other than the omnipresent and omniscient God... it also gives u the only period of time on sunday morning where u don't have to worry / focus on the worship...
secondly, and much much more importantly, the spiritual side... Worship Leading has never been abt choosing a few nice-sounding songs and singing them... i mean... ur songs better be nice-sounding and all that but at the end of the day... don't lose sight of what you're meant to be worshipping... anyway... moving on...
know that
you have been chosen by God... this is super important... again... it takes the focus off u.... i'm sure all of u (not only WLs) can agree with me that it's God's will that you are where you are today, serving where you serve... i've heard a few impressive stories of how some people came to be serving... and guess how i started in the yoof music min...? jon leong asked me can help him do roster at sec 3 and then... *blink* 6-years-plus already (yes, it's been that long... i
am old... got a problem..? *hummph*) yes...
John 15:16 (Jesus said) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
you have, then, been annointed by God... if we've established that we've been chosen... then don't u think he provides...? the God of "how much more" remember...? How many other people have felt unfit for their calling...? Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6), Gideon (Judges 6:15), so many others... and the Lord always says.... Do not be afraid... I am with You... Do u think He withholds that promise from you...?
Jeremiah 1: 6 - 10 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant."
ok... last thing i want to say... always come before the Lord in humility.. the verse speaks for itself...
2 Cor 3: 4 - 5 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
ok.... so does this help...? anyone, anything... pls add or correct... going off for a Mc Donalds breakfast...! Hotcakes...! i think Macs still has the best breakfast around... besides the absolutely sad coffee that is... ciaoz...
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
just a question: what exactly is this blog for?
(okay blogger's "compose" settings are just too strange for words).
anyway my friend visited pph last sunday and she liked it a lot :) but she is now convinced that she still likes her church (church of our saviour) best. i think church-visiting is quite eye-opening and interesting and so i shall commence that after my promos.
(actually this post was just to take up space, because maybe after one week pple could be bored of re-reading "i miss my pencil box" 128031708097503 times?)
:)
Friday, September 16, 2005
haha okay this is a horribly boring title, but there's a reason for it. i totally agree with sandra's post, and i think it's something that we all need to keep in mind, esp. since getting addicted to "spiritual highs" can be a real problem sometimes. i've realised that over the months the best times of my spiritual life was when i was just "coasting along" and feeling all warm and joyful inside even though outside i may be having problems at school. it may seem like a misnomer, but it IS possible to experience joy in times of sorrow, cos when it's joy overflowing from a life obedient to God it isn't dependent on events; it's a joy that is stable and overwhelming and empowering.
anyway, to have some link to my title, i've been reading a book recently called "Basic Christianity" by John Stott. it's a great book because it explains the basics of Christianity in a simple way, yet manages to crystallise several profound truths very beautifully. case in point: "Jesus was sinless because he was selfless. Such selflessness is love. And God is love." something as difficult to explain as love is simplified, but not dumbed-down, into three plain sentences! i was really blown away. my dad once told me that this period (adolescence/adulthood for the
older ones heh) is the best time to read books on Christianity, because we have the luxury of time to digest these books properly. i'm really challenged by these books because they deconstruct Christianity and remind me of the basics, and anyway i read them purely so i can defend my faith when my friends and i have brain-twisting lunch conversations on religion, philosophy, God, etc etc. several of my friends are self-declared agnostics and our conversations are always intellectually stimulating, and basically i read such books because i don't want to be accused of having "blind faith". i want to be able to back up my points! thus, reading is good.
[edit: here's a list of authors that my "mentor" from syfc recommended! Francis Sheaffer, Frankie Sheaffer, Ulrich Sheaffer, John Stott, C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packard, John Milton, Thomas Akempis, Dietrich Bon Hoffer (The Cost of Discipleship). think that most of them should be found quite easily haha.]for those who are currently in the midst of manic exam preparation, i've sth interesting to share. at my class prayer meeting today (in sch), my friend shared of how we must not push God aside even while we're busy studying, because in the end it would be
pointless to have straight As and let your walk with God slip during this period. it is just not a good testimony to others.
hope that everyone will be filled with joy this week! :)
anw... i was just wondering what u guys feel about how our ym is doing spiritually right now... because somehow i just feel its not the same as it was during the awa and the weeks leading up to it. It's strange because there was so much talk of a revival in our ym then and one thing that i remember was said (and even i was saying this also) was "the true indication of whether revival has taken place will come after awa itself, whether there's a difference after that" and honestly, to me things seem so... back to normal now. what do u guys think?
The above was quoted from Ben's post about a week ago. This issue never left my mind.Exactly WHAT does it take, for the people of God to be spiritually strong, consistently, regardless of circumstances?The Lord showed me a few revelations. Want to post it here to share and discern together as a family of God.1. We need to BUILD DEEP. I just told Joel and Samuel earlier today at CG to imagine the image of a construction site, whereby there are those huge machines just pushing huge 'pillars' into the ground.... Deep into the ground. Or you may liken it to a tree with deep roots.And spiritually that's what we need. When we're deep in the Solid Rock, NO AMOUNT of trial, tribulation, dryness, sianness (even if it's the WHOLE youth min) can get to us. Look at Psalm 1 carefully - the tree with deep roots bears fruit in every season.2. Thing is, we need to be INTENTIONAL. It's not like we observe the cycle of 'revival highs', look upon it with disdain, and then just sit there and let things happen. Hello, we can do something about it! If we mean it when we say we want to be consistent and break the curse of revival highs once and for all, we have to start from ourselves by being RESPONSIBLE for our own growth and INTENTIONALLY committing to the disciplines of an obedient disciple, namely, the disciplines of 1. surrender [or prayer]2. study [reading scripture]3. solitude [intimacy] and 4. service [working the muscles]And in order to attain such a consistency, we must sacrifice something. Are we willing to sacrifice whatever the Lord instructs us to? 3. Lastly, we need to LEARN TO FEED OURSELVES. Whether we are mentored or not, we must realize that our eternal Mentor is the Holy Spirit. And He mentors us through the bible, excellent books, sermons, CDs, DVDs... a host of ways! Are you hungry enough to seek the food and to feed yourself, or are you going to sit there and wait for someone to feed you? May the Lord stir up in our hearts not just a PASSION for His Name, but also a spirit of daring to take INITIATIVE without shame!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Went to FOP?
Can't get enough of Pastor Colin's teaching?
Get them all here, for free.
All you who are hungry, go on and eat your fill. :)
http://www.kt.org/?p=series_list
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Hey everybody! this really encouraged me so i'd just like to share it with u all!
Some time ago... i was just thinking about worship leading in the ym, and to be honest looking back my thoughts were getting pretty filled with pride. i was thinking things like, 'how can -i- get people to see worship the same way as i see it? how can -i- change this situation where nobody seems to be really worshipping from their hearts during prelims? maybe -I- am the only one that can change the situation!'
Ok that sounded pretty horrible to me just typing it out :( and what it resulted in was basically just me feeling worse and worse about myself, as i felt powerless and just unable to do anything to change the situation. I also ended up comparing myself with other worship leaders, thinking about technical details and all that. Pointless stuff really... all a result of my silly pride
Just yesterday during qt, God showed me something beautiful as i was thinking about serving Him. I imagined a guitar shop :D where there were lots of amazing amazing guitars on display. I was one of those guitars - just a lousy old cheap guitar and absolutely nothing compared to the rest of those on display. Then Jesus walked into the guitar shop, and for some reason which i will never understand, he picked me up, held me in his arms and started to play... music that was more beautiful than anything i'd ever thought could have come from me. It was so amazing, everybody else in the shop turned around and said things like 'wow that sounds really amazing'... but as i watched on Jesus smiled and He said, 'it's even more beautiful to me'. And then... what happened was i realised He was also playing every other guitar in the shop as well at the same time - everything sounded perfect and every part was important.
This image really really encouraged and humbled me at the same time.. that i was so unworthy of everything but God still chose to make something beautiful out of my life! and what's also amazing is that after all that today my mum passed me a thank u card from Susan, who said God encouraged her using my sharing when i led worship that day... :) It's so amazing! that God would use even someone who coulc think all those horrible things i typed up there just now.
Hope this encourages u all as much as it encouraged me... even this broken old guitar can
ROCK 4 JESUS :)
well, well... stopping all the postings already...? lol... ok lah... i shall be fair... am pretty free... but since my MC ends today and work calls tomorrow, i won't be posting here for some time also... probably till next week at least...
but anyway.... at FOP, i was having a conversation abt the *drumroll* Meaning Of Worship...
ok... not so drama-fied... but yah... we had an interesting talk that night... ended up with no real conclusions... in the end i said worship means different things to different people... but i think sometimes God can be very clear... well... draw from these versus what u may...
Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. John 4:21-24 - Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."but well... it is obvious to me that xt (or henry seeley) was right when she said "like the water cycle, in order for God to
rain down on us, we have to first
give up."
As WLs, musicians, singers, but mainly as Leaders... how much are we willing to give up...? how much are we willing to sacrifice in our lives...? how many things are we willing to push below God in our priority list...? And also, as the 2nd verse says... are we truthful (with God and with ourselves) abt what we say we are willing to give...?
hmm... before this turns into a bashing & finger-pointing session, i'd just like to say that i feel i've been turning into a Jew... ok... a bit of an exaggeration... how abt i'm in danger of becoming a Jew... where i know... yet sometimes i don't worship in spirit and in truth... or i desire to offer my body as a living sacrifice... but i know it isn't pleasing and holy to God... and those not pleasing or holy i want to 'keep for myself'... and i tell myself, no lah.... that's not important, that's not a big thing, as long as my life in general is ok...
God is asking for totality and honesty in our worship... is that why the yoof is, as ben says, "so... back to normal now"...?
during Alpha, i believe many offered, but not in totality, not in honesty... what do u think...?
Sunday, September 11, 2005
mymy how totally exciting that ymm has a blog!!! i think it definitely brings pple closer and gives us more opportunity to talk nonsense also. and to think that my blog is linked too!! hahaha super happy now my blog counter will hopefully jump faster.okay anyway loved today's youth worship, esp. King of kings (Majesty). :) haha it was such a "sticky" song that my class babes kept singing fragments during class and joanna and beatrice were, erm, bemused, to say the least. but i don't understand the phrase "I can but bow", shouldn't it be "i can't but bow"?? the latter somehow seems to make more sense to me. as for "In royal robes, i don't deserve", erm i've no idea why we are in royal robes, cos i thought God/Jesus is King and we are worshippers (in heaven and on earth) so why will be in royal robes??? the only thing i can think of is cos we are children of God. hmmi think it's sad that sometimes you've catchy tunes with bad lyrics, which is bad cos you can't mean what you sing. case in point, "rain down" by delirious. it's such a super song, like all jumpy and exciting and cool!, but some of the stuff i don't really understand. anyway last day of hols hope pple are feeling all charged up for sch heh. (i'm not, really.) but yes on a trivial side note, i think youth at 9 is a terribly good thing indeed.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Hello all.
Ben. Do you know that you got me so inspired and God used u to convict me so much that I deleted all my ripped songs from friends and decided to buy my own CDs. :) Feels so good to be clean before God and not have any stains of stealing!! :)
And you guys, believe it or not... I was looking forward to getting my hands on the darlin' silver Yamaha Motif ALL WEEK LONG and just yearning so much to try on all the super ultra cool sounds like Silverlake, Analog, Atmosphere, Pan Sphere, Warm Pad, Bowed Pad.... AHHHHH!!!!!!! AND I'M SO PRIVILEGED TO PLAY UP THERE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *SUPER DUPER EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Sorry but i really really am excited.
Guys. Ever since Raymond introduced me to gospel music (specifically Israel and New Breed. and if you gave a loud "HUH???" don't worry, i did too) and I couldn't get my mind off it ever. I'd be PUH-LEEEEEEASED to lend anybody my Israel CDs...
If you promise before me and Jesus that you won't rip it, of course! :)
Keep bloggin' of Jesus' wonders, warriors.
Sandy Bandy Dandy
Friday, September 09, 2005
wow!! thanks everybody for letting me post here too! actually i don't even have my own blog, but i think this is more fun :D
anw... i was just wondering what u guys feel about how our ym is doing spiritually right now... because somehow i just feel its not the same as it was during the awa and the weeks leading up to it. It's strange because there was so much talk of a revival in our ym then and one thing that i remember was said (and even i was saying this also) was "the true indication of whether revival has taken place will come after awa itself, whether there's a difference after that" and honestly, to me things seem so... back to normal now. what do u guys think? I think that God still really wants to see us living with an ever-increasing passion for Him!! Let's pray that God will let revival start in us again - a passion that's not dependent on our circumstances, or any event but just simply because He's such an AMAZING God :)
Ok on a brighter note (see this is a ymm blog so all must talk music) (don't stone me), i think this blog is such a cool idea! come on more ppl join so i won't be so extra i'm currently the only one not in the ymm comm... we can talk about stuff here and learn from each other and i think God can use this to bring our whole ymm more together :) and together we will
ROCK FOR JESUS :)
ok... chris sms-ed me and was like...
"heh... how's the sore non-tooth? i saw your one-liner on squishedlimes.. post smthg longer la since you're free..."
I JUST WENT THROUGH AN OP LAST NIGHT, WOMAN...! free does NOT mean can post k....
plus i already posted on my own so...
okok... but since i can post now... i'll do a sightly longer one.... have u ever wondered abt that delirious? song, Rain Down...? for those who need reference... the lyrics can be found at http://www.delirious.org.uk/lyrics/songs/raindown.html...
reason i'm typing this is... does anyone know the meaning of the lyrics...?!?! wat on earth is raining down...?! living water...?! wat's that...?! or holy fire...?! or... is it just... ermz... rain...?? can hear some people going... well, joel... it's a nice song... why u wanna bash it like that...? ok... i know it's a great tune.... very good drumming... as musicality goes.. whoa...! but does anyone know what it means anyway...? wat is raining down...? haiz... maybe i'm turning into an old, grumpy, codger... like..
*hack cough hack* back in our days.... *wind whistling past...* we had GOOD songs... songs with meaning... *hackity hack* not like these new-fangled songs nowadays..... *koffity koff* OUR songs had meaning... had simple words like love... grace... *eyes glazing....* those good ole days...
NOTE: this is just my very own parody.... as far as i know, no one goes koffity koff... and most old, grump, codgers don't know how to say new-fangled anyway.... if you're an old, grumpy, codger... sincere apologies... and who taught u how to use the internet anyway...? well done you..!
ok.. after that very questionable aside... (and also taking note that when u really REALLY get down to it... love and grace isn't very simple anyway...) back to my point.... believe that songs don't worship God... and all the smart alecks cut in together with, "No joel, PEOPLE worship God..." why thank you all you SAs... what i meant to say was that a song's just a song unless the WORDS mean something to u... aiding YOU in YOUR worship of God... well... that's why i feel very worshipful listening to MercyMe's The Love Of God (http://vagalume.uol.com.br/letra/m/mercy-me/the-love-of-god.html)... but not the delirious? song...
before the brickbats come out... let me just say that this is nothing abt delirious?... it's I who don't understand the lyrics to that song... maybe if someone sat me down and went, "hey thickhead... this is wat it means" and proceeds to hammer it in with a sledge-hammer... when i go ooooooh! that's wat it means... then maybe i'll feel worshipful when i hear it... but for now...
my point is... its words that maketh the song into a worship aid...
at least... this is what i think... care to comment...?
wat on earth...?! sound of lime juice...?! think we've hit a new low in lack of originality guys...
