Happy New Years!

Hey everyone, just dropping by to leave a note. Hope you guys have an awesome New Years, and are ready for Youth Band to start back up :). Check back in the next few days, I hope to have a retrospective of 2008 up on the blog reel here.

Yessir, that would be P.O.T at its finest. Happy New Years!

Song Of The Week - December 26

Hope everyone had a good Christmas, and are now enjoying the day before Boxing Day Sales hahaha! A week has come and gone, and now it's time for another Song Of The Week. We're changing the ante this week with a fairly rockin' song... don't know, you might have heard it already.

Fight Inside - Red, Innocence & Instinct (2/10/09)

"Enemy/familiar friend/My beginning and my end/Knowing truth/Whispering lies/And it hurts again."

Fight Inside is the single from Red's new album, due out in February 2009. And it definitely has a darker edge to it. Fight Inside is a song about the endless inner struggles within ourselves, and how we battle so hard against the evil inside of us. It makes me think how... strange it is, that equal amounts of darkness and light can live inside of us. How one can praise and curse in the same breath... Perhaps this is because of our spiritual selves and our earthly selves, one side representing good, and the other side, the polar opposite.

The instrumentation accents a dark, almost desolate landscape... it's hard to explain, but the combination of orchestral elements, minor key, and atmospheric effects paint a vivid picture of a war waging within someone's heart. The lyrics and music are a tight fit together.

It is a fairly dark song, I won't lie about that. But it is a necessary reminder for us all. We have two sides, each one fighting for control. Which one do you let control you?

Fight Inside - http://www.mediafire.com/?dycboznjzm1

Merry Christmas!

Hey guys! Just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas here. I hope that you're having a great time with your family and/or friends, and that you're all safe and not stuck in a hole somewhere :P.

Paapa and I do awesome things on Christmas Day. Do you?

I have a poem that I'd like to share, it's just coming out of my head now, so bear with me. I would like to entitle this:

When Can We Open The Presents?

A little toddler, no more than four
Can hardly be expected to wait much more
Why must they wake up early, and celebrate late?
When can we open the presents?

Patience was a virtue quickly learned
To survive through unabated anticipation
It was time that was killing their elation
"When can we open the presents?"

Year after year, it continued thus
Children impatient with enduring parents:
"But we must tell the story
Before we can open the presents!"

What story is this?
A story the children heard time after time?
A savior had come, yes, in flesh on this day
But they knew this already, so why the delay?

It was so they never forgot
The evil, the chaos man had wrought
Upon the bride, the mother of all,
And the groom who came to take the fall.

And as the years wore on
The question was not:
"When can we open the presents?"
It became:
"Why do we have presents?"

For the children finally saw
What their parents had wanted.
Christmas wasn't about the gifts to be received
It was about the gift freely given.

When can we open the presents?
I simply do not care
For I have a savior,
And that's the best present out there.


Merry Christmas everyone!

Song Of The Week - December 19

I'm sorry guys, I nearly forgot to publish this week's SOTW :P! I guess I was a bit preoccupied with some things. But now that I've got some time to kill, we'll continue on as planned. This week's song is fairly good, well, exceptional in my opinion for many reasons (sorry Ian). So without further stalls...
The song for this week is:
Faithful - Brooke Fraser, Albertine

"when I can't feel you/I have learned to reach out just the same/When I can't hear you/I know you still hear every word I pray..."

Faithful is, like its predecessors for this award :P, a reflective song. Fraser's lyrics are directed towards our faith, and how we sometimes strain to see God in a stressful, confusing or emotionally trying situation. I see the speaker longing to feel God's presence in their life, but some reason, determined or unknown, they cannot feel that connection.

An intimate connection with God is vital. He fills the hole that cannot be filled by any worldly possessions or desires. He is an ever loyal guide, friend, and savior. Nothing in life is truly complete without knowing the love that God has for you, and letting him take you as one of his own.

The song also provides a resolution of hope. The speaker is proclaiming "Even if I can't feel you, I'll still continue to reach out. I know you hear me, even when I can't hear you. I know you're still there, God." They are waiting on God, and in the process, becoming more faithful in the wait for Him.

This song reminds me so strongly of what Matt preached to us some time last year. He told us that Mother Theresa could not feel God's presence for the majority of her service to Him. But she still continued the reach out, and served God to the best of her ability, providing an example for many others to live by. She could not feel Him, but He still used her, and her service to God did not go in vain. She was faithful to Him. And that made all the difference.

Are there times when you can't feel God with you? When you don't know if He's there? I hope you take comfort in knowing that He's always there. Continue to stay faithful to Him. He has always stayed true to you.

Faithful - http://www.mediafire.com/?tumbu2gth0z

Services Archive

Nov. 1 - Sunday Morning Worship
How Can I Keep From Singing
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble
Nothing But The Blood
Give Us Clean Hands

October 11 - Shakinah
Holy And Anointed One
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Draw Me Close
Consuming Fire
Nothing But The Blood
My Soul Sings

August 19 - Shakinah
Take All Of Me/Majesty
Prayer/This Is Our God
Great Is The Lord
Let My Words Be Few
Eagles Wings
Ending Prayer

June 8 - SNL June
The Time Has Come
You Are Good
Everything Glorious
Shine
My Soul Sings
From The Inside Out

May 27
H.S./M.S.
Everything Glorious
From The Inside Out

May 20
Sync
The Time Has Come
You Are Good
My Soul Sings

May 17 - Sunday Morning Worship
Tell The World
Here Is Our King
Everything Glorious
Mighty To Save

April 12 - Easter Service 2009
Salvation Is Here
The Lord Reigns
Jesus Paid It All
Revelation Song
Today Is The Day

March 25
High School
You Are Good
Glorious
Forevermore/Awesome God

March 22 - Sunday Morning Worship
FWC 10:30 Worship
What The World Will Never Take
Your Grace Is Enough
Jesus Messiah
Mighty To Save

March 18
High School
Run
Here Is Our King
Everlasting God

March 11
Sync
I Am Free/Tell The World
No One Like You
Everything Glorious
To The Ends Of The Earth
Hosanna

Feb 25
Sync
Your Name High
Every Move I Make
Remedy (First)
Remedy (Second)
All Day (Celebration)

Feb 21 - At The Cross
My Future Decided
Everything Glorious
The Stand
None But Jesus

Feb 18
High School
Undignfied
Hosanna/For All Who Are To Come

Feb 11
Middle School
Take My Life (And Let It Be)
Our Love Is Loud
Your Grace Is Enough
Be My Everything

High School
Take My Life (And Let It Be)
Our Love Is Loud
Your Grace Is Enough

Feb 8 - SNL
What The World Will Never Take
Here Is Our King
Our Love Is Loud
All Day
Lead Me To The Cross
I Am Free
How Great Is Our God
Dancing Generation

Jan 21
Senior High
You Are Good
Glorious
Majesty

Jan 14
Senior High
One Way
Tell The World
Our Love Is Loud

Dec 3
Senior High
Dancing Generation
Your Grace Is Enough
Shine

Nov 5
Senior High
I Am Free - Video/Song
Shine - Video/Song
Desert Song - Video/Song

Finito

Well, with the cancellation of tonight's youth group, that would mean that we're not playing anything until the New Year. So in lament... :P

That means that we're done playing for a group of people this year. It's kind of weird to think about, but all good things must come to an end I guess. I'd like to take this time to reflect on what we've done as a youth band this year. There are so many questions you could ask, and I'd like to hear some of your thoughts. What have we done well? Technically and spiritually? What have we not done so well? What could we improve on?

At this time, I also think the most about when I first joined youth band, because this is around the time when I first joined. 2 year anniversary coming up haha! I do bring it up a lot, but that is simply because of the fact that it's been almost two years since my life started changing for the better. The years I've spent in youth band have been the best years I've ever had.

Can you remember the first time you joined the youth band? What did you think about it when you started? What do you think about it now? Has your opinion changed? Am I sounding a little too much like Tsema right now?

The end of the year always seems to be the best time to reflect. 12 months have come and gone, and it's not far off before we start another one anew. Thanks for the past 12 months, guys.

Matt, I want some First Youth merchandise already!

Chord Sheets 2009/2010

Youth Musicbook 3.0: http://www.mediafire.com/?tm2zdmnzmz2

The Antiques

1. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble
   
2. I Am Free
3. Dancing Generation
4. Undignified -----> Alternate
5. Tell The World
6. Everything Glorious -----> Alternate
7. Holy And Anointed One
   
8. Here Is Our King -----> Alternate
9. All Day -----> Alternate
10. Our Love Is Loud
11. Forevermore/Awesome God
12. All I Need Is You
13. You Are My Strength
14. Majesty -----> Alternate
    
15. Draw Me Close -----> Alternate
    

The Novelties

1. This Is Our God
2. You Won't Relent
3. Mystery
4. Ancient Skies
5. Sing (Your Love)
6. Sing, Sing, Sing
7. Neverending -----> Alternate
8. We Won't Be Quiet -----> Alternate
9. Salvation -----> Alternate
10. Run -----> Alternate

Youth Music 09/10: Audio Files

Youth Music 09/10

The Antiques
1. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble
2. I Am Free
3. Dancing Generation
4. Undignified
5. Tell The World
6. Everything Glorious
7. Holy And Anointed One
8. Here Is Our King
9. All Day
10. Our Love Is Loud
11. Forevermore/Awesome God
12. All I Need Is You
13. You Are My Strength
14. Majesty
15. Draw Me Close

The Antiques - 129MB
Antiques pt. 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?2ikzownyimy
Antiques pt. 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?ymudmgzkn1z

The Novelties
1. This Is Our God
2. You Won't Relent
3. Mystery
4. Ancient Skies
5. Sing (Your Love)
6. Sing, Sing, Sing
7. Neverending
8. We Won't Be Quiet
9. Salvation ---> Intro
10. Run

The Novelties - 107MB
Novelties pt. 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?wjyuzkjfitx
Novelties pt. 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?0nziczmtz1g

*DISCLAIMER: the majority of these files are ripped at either MP3 VBR V0 or 320kbps (extreme high quality). The file sizes are around 7 (smallest/shortest) to 15+MB (biggest/longest). They are simply what I download and rip for myself. If you wish to download a smaller file, you'll have to find it somewhere else.*

Song Idea? Acoustic Worship on Wed.

Hey all, I've shown a few of you my idea for a song to do on Wednesday, and I'll post it up here for the rest of you. Matt also said that this Wednesday is going to be acoustic driven, so we'll have to see what direction that's going in.

Speak To Me Gently/O Holy Night - http://www.mediafire.com/?3mngnmc2yty

The singing sucks, I warned you :P.

A New Look

This morning I was home alone, So I do what I always do...Crank The Music.... and the song that first came up was David Crowders Wholly Yours - B Variant.

In this song it sounds to me that they wanted to focus on the lyerics more than they did on the
A Collision album. So for me it made me want to focus on the lyerics of the songs we do instead of spending that time on getting that better guitar tone. So I think you guys should listen to the B Collison version of the song and hopfully you guys will get a new look for the song as I did.

So to put this idea to action, I think we should try to do this to one of the songs we do at youth. which would mean turn down the music and turn up the vocals. Take a listen to both versions and I think you guys will know what I mean.

LAt.

Practices Archive

May 19
The Time Has Come
You Are Good
My Soul Sings

March 10
I Am Free
Tell The World (IAF Ending)
No One Like You
Everything Glorious
To The Ends Of The Earth
I Am Free/Tell The World: Rock Out

Feb. 10
Your Grace Is Enough (Second Time)
Our Love Is Loud (First Time)
Be My Everything (First Time)
Take My Life

Feb 3.
SNL Practice - save How Great Is Our God
Feb. 3 Practice

January 27
Includes: Forevermore, Your Name High, Here Is Our King
January 27 Practice

Jan. 20
Glorious
Majesty

Dec. 6 (SNL Practice)
What The World Will Never Take/Here Is Our King
Our Love Is Loud
Lead Me To The Cross
I Am Free
All Day
How Great Is Our God

Dec. 2
Shine

Nov. 25
What The World Will Never Take

Nov. 11
Your Name High
Dancing Generation

Archiving

I'm taking a leaf out of guitarpraise's book, and will try to make archives of:

Song Of The Week
Musings/Thinkings
Songs/Practices

And any more that come up. They will come up as posts on the blog, but when they're sumbmerged by other posts, we'll still have that link.

Stay tuned :)

Song Of The Week - December 12

We will be having a new segment on the blog, entitled Song Of The Week (!). I have thought a bit about how I'm going to try and go about this, and have come up with a few rules/guidelines:

1. It has to be good.
Sorry, the Song Of The Week has to be able to hold a tune in a bucket.

2. It must have a message.
I think this should be the most important rule. It doesn't necessarily have to be the best tune on the street, but it should have a meaning (examples that don't have much meaning: Country, Rap :P)

3. It must be accessible.
The Song Of The Week should be something that everyone can enjoy. Well, at least tolerate.

And there we go! With that, let's get on to the Song Of The Week!



This week's Song Of The Week is actually Song(s) Of The Week. They are:

Ancient Skies - Michael Gungor, Ancient Skies
Prodigal - Michael Gungor, Ancient Skies

"And you ride/The ancient skies/You're amazing!"

"I've tasted your glory/And I left it there/You poured out your spirit/And I didn't care/Still you loved me..."

I found it hard to find a good candidate to start this off. So we ended up with two.

Ancient Skies is the title track of the Michael Gungor Band's new album. I chose this song because of how it presents God: An amazing, unchanging savior whose love and mercy will always remain for us. The song has this... soaring feeling to it, and makes you reflect on God's grandeur and the expansiveness of what he's created. It is uplifting and a delight to listen to. And it definitely can hold a tune in a bucket! Probably could hold one in a pool, if it wanted to.

The end of Ancient Skies strikes out a repeated A note, which leads right into the next song, Prodigal (for those who have iTunes or a gapless media player). I don't think I've ever heard a song more beautiful in my life that talks about the frailty of our beings. How God can love us, die for us, and still, we turn away and corrupt everything in our sight. The song presents an eerie contemplativeness, making us think about the weight of it all. The chorus is simple, but true and heart felt:

"Nothing compares/To what you've done for me"

Nothing does. And if this song doesn't at least make you think about God's saving grace, something is wrong. The ending leaves us thinking about our brokeness, then it rises, bursting into one of the most dramatic worship endings I've ever heard. Prodigal makes me think about all the prodigals of the world, and how God takes us back into His loving arms.

I definitely consider these worthy candidates for the Song Of The Week. They capture so much in the time they witness to you. I hope you can listen to them and find as much... joy and hope in them as I do.

Ancient Skies - http://www.mediafire.com/?mtdykme2gwm
Prodigal - http://www.mediafire.com/?mdmltmnwjtt

Share the Love

Well, here I am. My first post.

I was looking at a girls bookbag in my engilsh class today, she had a pin on it that said "who are you running for." It made me think of my purpose in life, being a chirsten. I guess I thought of my life being a running race, and what is the long term goal I have to keep in mind. I feel like these past few months that I have not been sharing God's love with others. Or I have just not had any easy opportunites to share my realationship with others.

I guess what i am trying to say is that I think God is trying to get me to move to another level, Which to be honset I am not going to be a fan of right now, which is really sad but it is the truth.
SO. in saying that I want to put out a challange.

Go up to somone who does not know you are a christen and try to bring up Christ in the convo. Don't try to convert them or anything like that. just try to let them know that you are a christen.

Anyway just letting you guys know what is on part of my mind these days.

have a good one

LAt.

New (Old) Recordings/Video Footage

Brock finally got me a copy of the footage he taped of the Nov. 5 service! I have compressed the videos and spliced them into audio only files as well.

I Am Free - Video|Song
Shine - Video|Song
Desert Song - Video|Song

*note that video has been compressed, so I wouldn't suggest watching them in fullscreen unless you like pixels. Well, more pixels than there already is in small screen haha!

Addicted

I have a confession to make. I have an addiction to Tropicana Twister. Not just a passing urge to have one, but a physical dependence. I want the taste of it in my mouth. It needs to be part of my day, every day, forever :P. I have tried to quit. I really have. But I can't get my hands off the stuff. It's just so... good, and I can't get enough of it.
*Not addicted to this particular Tropicana flavor*

This made me think about something more. We're all addicted to something, like chocolate bars, or cookies, Toffifee, sports, music, the like. And like me, these people can't get enough of their respective... tendencies towards their passion :). But thinking about that, I was also thinking, how "addicted" are we to the things that really matter?

We are called to serve God, and love him with everything that we have. Unforunately, this is not always the case. After someone pointed out that I drink Tropicana a lot, I was beginning to think, "I'm addicted to a drink, but am I addicted to God?" Do I want him to be part of my day, every day, forever? Do I have the unquenchable thirst for the living water, or am I good at breaking the habit continuously? I know I need to delve further into God's Word, and seek him more than I seek anything else. I should crave Him till I become dependant. I should love Him like a fat kid loves cake. He should be my "addiction".

Power of The Written Word

Ever since I've been a part of the youth band, I've held a few verses close to my heart to help me through my comings and goings. I want to share a few with you guys, and encourage you to share your own, even if they don't exactly fit the topic.

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy - Psalm 33:3

This is probably one of my favorite verses. To me, it means never settle for the same kind of worship or songs, but try to progress to higher levels, praise him with a joyful heart, and most of all, play skillfully for him. This verse is one of my driving forces. I can never be perfect, but I can do my best, and push myself to do better for the One who deserves it. I make it my mission to learn new things, and improve myself for Him, so others can see that my talent is simply not of my own doing.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth - Ecclesiastes 12:1

What an awesome verse! This verse is on the front cover of Hillsong United's 'To The Ends Of The Earth' Album. I actually wanted, and still want this to be the youth group's... verse of identity, we could say. To me, it means to remember God in your youth, just like the passage says. Remember what he has done for you, what he is doing for you, and what he will continue to do for you as you go on through life, and give him thanks for all the blessings that he gives you, the visible and invisible ones.

I encourage you guys to share your own verses of strength, comfort, or assurance. These two are just small examples of the awesome things you can find in the Word.

Snow Days

Do I like snow? Personally, I could do without it for many reasons: the mess, the cold, the shovelling, the accidents, and everything in between. There are some benefits to it though, like sliding, snow days, hockey, and the like for those who are able to tolerate the white atrocity!

Yesterday was a dissapointment for many of us. We were all set up to play, even with our uncertainties. Unfortunately, we had a late snow day, and all that practice we had was in vain.

Or was it?

When I got home, I thought a little more about it. Yes, it was dissapointing that we couldn't play at that time. Yes, it was dissapointing that we wasted 40 bucks renting a keyboard. But I think we have to look past that and see a bigger picture. We got to practice. A lot. and I don't know about you guys, but I think this is a chance for us to get even better before we play in January or February. I'm just going to trust that God has a plan in that. Maybe he wants us to do better than we think we could ever do, and is giving us the time for it. Maybe we won't play at all. But we have to remember that it isn't about the event, it's about the worship, and the time we get to spend leading our peers into God's presence.

Do I like snow? Not really. But it does allow me to stop and think about things for a bit. It does look pretty sweet when the storm's over. And when it's cleared up and you're decked out in your winter attire, it can be moderately fun :P

Have a good one.

Dec. 6th

I only want to put two recordings up right now, because I messed the first half of recording. They all sound pretty good though.

*We've got a bit of static in the recordings... My bass is too loud :P, I'll turn it down for next time.

I Am Free - http://www.mediafire.com/?2tm4yjjymww
How Great Is Our God - http://www.mediafire.com/?cydzhdnywi1

Edit: Here are the last couple songs from practice.
Our Love Is Loud - http://www.mediafire.com/?mvcez3mnrnm
What The World Will Never Take/Here Is Our King - http://www.mediafire.com/?aetm4tk00c0
Lead Me To The Cross - http://www.mediafire.com/?ezimnyn2ymi
All Day - http://www.mediafire.com/?omm2dnihynl

Recordings... :)

Well, this evening gave us some much better recordings. Hope y'all enjoy.

Dec. 3: Senior High
Dancing Generation - http://www.mediafire.com/?omm2dnihynl
Your Grace Is Enough - http://www.mediafire.com/?nznonzt2zmy
Shine - http://www.mediafire.com/?lmw2txju3mt

Recordings... :(

Yesterday I bought a Zoom H2 Recorder for recording our practices in better quality sound. Unforunately, it seems that I don't know how to work it. The sound quality is quite a bit higher, but the volume is a low one... I'll try and fix that by recording something tonight, perhaps by not using low mic gain when the recorder's that far away. Stay tuned, I'll try and get some adequate ones up.

Oh, and if you guys could keep your eyes open for my tuner/accessories bag, I'd really appreciate it. Knowing my luck, it's probably in my house, but I haven't found it here yet and I'm starting to worry. I'm praying that I can find them before long.

EDIT: Here's one of the songs that turned out alright, before I turned it to low gain recording. Hope it satisfies you guys for the moment ;)

Dec. 2
Shine - http://www.mediafire.com/?lmw2txju3mt

Birth of A Movement

Welcome to Formed Ability everyone! This is the blog for First Wesleyan Church's youth band. I hope you enjoy what will be put up here.

I have been recording some of our practices over the past few weeks, and will continue to for the weeks to come. This is to get a vision on where we can improve musically. Up for grabs now is:

Nov. 11
Your Name High - http://www.mediafire.com/?g5znob0j2zz
Dancing Generation - http://www.mediafire.com/?nwjey2ekded

Nov. 25
What The World Will Never Take - http://www.mediafire.com/?ttdmcgqyf5w

Stay tuned for more in the coming days and months.