May 27 Service

Hey, I realize that I haven't put up the songs from Wednesday yet, for a couple of reasons. In all honesty, after that night, I was drained emotionally, and was taking the lack of intimate activity from both age groups a little hard. I have been thinking over the past few days about whether or not it was my fault for that, or what I could've done better or shouldn't have done... But I've come to accept that all I can do is give all of myself, and the rest of it may follow, in time. So here you are... The Time Has Come did not work on either occasion, as I clipped the my with my powerful beast shouts :P. G'night.

May 26 Service
Everything Glorious
From The Inside Out

Song Of The Week - May 29

Hey... hehe, so you know that I've held off the SOTW for the past few days. This was for a couple reasons, which will probably become apparent in the next few lines :P. But aside from that, it's also time to welcome June! Finally, everything is so close to wrapping up, and we'll soon be doing things that we actually enjoy... yes, I'm really glad it's that time again. So this week, the SOTW was a personal one for me, not only I was able to perform it tonight, but because I've met the artist, and have been able to witness first hand how close his walk is with God.

You Are Mercy - Jason Gray, All The Lovely Losers

"Heaven help us/Please forgive us/Dear God/Have mercy on us"

I met Jason Gray back in a little growing church on the outskirts of Seattle back in late August of 2006. You could say that he was, and is, one of my inspirations. He is quite a tall man, almost giant haha! But the best thing about him was his down to earth personality and how humble he was about his talent. When Tsema and I first saw him, he was unsigned, but a few months after getting back home, we checked him on the net and were pleasantly surprised to find out he got a record deal. He is quite deserving of it. His music has been a pillar for me these past few years, so it was really an honour to be able to sing one of his songs tonight, especially this one. The thing that is most surprising about him is that he sings perfectly, but he is a stutterer by nature. At the concert, you were lucky if he didn't stutter more than three times during a sentence. I saw God in that. How can a stutterer be a singer? But God intervened and made a plan with him, and it was just another thing that showed me that God can use anyone in any situation for his purposes.

You Are Mercy is a song about the darkness and corruption inside of us, and the desperate cries that we give out to God in our realization of that presence. The lyrics are woven together so beautifully... even the first line, it blows me away: "I'm a liar, you know it's true". The world is so dark and lost without God, as are we. We become susceptible to our greed, our earthly desires, and our selfish ambitions. We speak with one tongue and lash out with another. Simply put, we are nothing without mercy and grace. God's mercy is one of the only things that keeps us going, that makes the hue a little lighter on this darkened landscape. It is through His mercy that joy and the good things of this world flourish. I'm so scared to think where we'd all be without the love of God... The song is almost split into two different parts, the first part explaining our shortfalls and desperation, and the second celebrating good God continues to be to us. If each part were a seperate world that I would have to live in, I know which one I'd choose. Thank God for His mercy... we hardly deserve it, but He gives it freely, and for this, I am thankful.

You Are Mercy - http://www.mediafire.com/?fziejg5d3n5

SOTW Moved To Sunday

Hey guys, I'm moving the SOTW to Sunday this week, not because I don't have one, cause I do :P, but because I want to wait... I think. It will be up on Sunday. As well, I'll try and put some songs up... most of them turned out kind of irreplaceable because my mic clipped whenever I sang... so yeah :O. Cheers.

And Again...

Hey guys, this is an Abekah/Palmer initiative... :P, I was asked to put the sheet for My Soul Sings on the site, so I'll just put it here. See you tonight.

My Soul Sings CD Version

May 26 Practice

Hey all, thanks for the great practice tonight :). I'm actually very happy with you guys, it's a hard spot to try and lead, and you guys helped me out a lot, so thank you for that. I've spliced three of the songs we did tonight, and I'll put the rest of it up as well, hopefully within the next few days.

From The Inside Out
Everything Glorious
The Time Has Come

The Elusive Chord Chart

Hey, Matt wanted me to put this up for practice, but I have a feeling that not everyone has the chord sheets for this as well. I'm putting them up here just in case you guys need it, it wasn't a regular in the binders, but we need them now.

An Introduction/The Time Has Come

Song Of The Week - May 22

We're welcoming the weekend again here at Formed Ability :P, so I'm guessing you all know what that means: Weekly tradition time haha! There's been slightly more activity on the blog this week, and that's because we ourselves have been more active in our ministry, at least performance-wise. It's good to be back in the swing of things, and we've got a lot to do as well, so we'll definitely be busy.

I almost did not find a SOTW for this week :O. Hahaha, yes, this is true. For the past week and a half, CDL has been down, and with it, my main source of music. But even the loss of such a great site (hopefully not for too much longer) cannot keep the great tunes from rising up in different places. And this week, we have the return of a crowned champion in Christian Music :). I'm sure we're all familiar with this extremely, extremely talented formation.

Hero - Skillet, Awake

"A hero's not afraid to give his life/A hero's gonna save me just in time"

Say what you want to say about them. They've got girls in their band, they must suck. But the truth is, Skillet has lasted longer than most modern day bands we listen to, and in addition, they completely blow everything out of the water with what they do. Skillet has been an inspiration for me in many ways. While this also includes the music, which is as rocking as it is passionate and God filled, they also inspire me with their down to earth personalities, and how much they've achieved as a band. The band's newest addition would probably be the most inspirational to me right now. She joined the band last year as their new drummer, at the age of 19... I'm still amazed by that fact. To achieve something like that is simply unbelievable to me, but it just shows that with hard work, anything is possible. Skillet is the definition of that for me. In what they do, in how they witness, and in how they continue to show God in their works, both on and off the mics.

Hero is Skillet's new single for the upcoming album Awake. Like Needtobreathe, Skillet is also releasing their album in late summer, and my heart just feels as if it's been shot with a dose of epic whenever I listen to it. One thing that I've noticed about Skillet over the years is that their sound changes in a noticeable way with each release. Alien Youth was more techno, Collide was extremely hard rock oriented, and Comatose had more of a pop feeling to it. The was that this single sounds, it feels as if the album will be more of a progressive rock spin on things. They have definitely refined their craft over the past two years, and with the addition of Jen Ledger on percussion and BGVs, it makes the piece hauntingly beautiful, as haunting as rock song can make itself to be. The song is a representation, a depiction of the state that mankind is in: broken, desperate, and awaiting rescue from the darkness that is all around us. I don't know about you, but when I listen to this song, I just can't help but think about Jesus in a powerful way. We don't have the strength to stand up to everything that life throws at us, and as Cooper sings in the song, we're only human, and that in itself is an indication of our downfall. We need a hero to save us all, and in my mind, I think of Jesus, because he already has. The song says who's gonna stand for what's right, who's gonna help us survive... Jesus stands for all the right that's left in this world, and He gave His life for the sake of us all. That is what a hero does. They are selfless, thinking of others before themselves, and acting for the benefit of many, even if the end result is undesirable for them. In a world where sorrow and corruption are beginning to take hold, we still have a hero looking out for us all. And he will always save us, just in time.

Hero - http://www.mediafire.com/?cm4dwymyzmq

May 20 Service

Hey all... good job tonight guys, it was a great night for me, and hopefully for the rest of you too. Here are the recordings, there were some hiccups but I think the results are still listenable. Remember, my mistakes during the last song were the effects of the Holy Spirit ;). Just kidding, but good job again everyone, I really enjoyed playing.

EDIT: My goodness, it took some time getting these up here! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting, Mediafire was a little trouble ridden over the past few hours.

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

May 19 Practice

Hey all, here's some of the files for tonight's practice. I've made small files of the best takes for now, and what I'm planning to do is either make an extended file of either the whole time we practiced, or split it into three parts - one for each space of time we worked on a song. Give me suggestions on what to do... as we have been talking a bit, well, quite a lot about practicing, I think it would be good for everyone to listen in on what they can and try and take a bit from that. That's all I've got for now. See you tomorrow, folks.

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

May 17 Service

Hey all, I have some recordings! I know we all feel bad about My Soul Sings... but don't let that blind you to the fact that the other four songs were well done. I won't put that recording up... unless any of you guys ask me to. But for the moment, here are the rest of them. Have a good one.

May 17 Service
Tell The World
Here Is Our King
Everything Glorious
Mighty To Save

Song Of The Week - May 15

Wow, I haven't been able to write anything on the blog in a week... that's sort of disappointing for me, because it means that things are starting to get a little bit too busy for me to handle. So much is going on and is about to take place, it just seems that it's speeding up at a time where I need it to slow down. Hopefully I'll be able to get through these last few weeks, there's a lot of change and opportunities to look forward to.

As summer knocks on our doors, it's time to welcome some of the will-be blockbusters of 2009. The summer of 2007 was an amazing year for Christian releases, producing a good portion of the music that I listen to today. Last year was a disappointment in comparison, but still relatively solid. But this year... this year is set to be the best of the all, with some of the biggest artists and formations releasing their new work. As a avid searcher of new music to listen to and enjoy, I'm especially excited about this band's effort, and would like to talk about them this week.

Lay 'Em Down - Needtobreathe, The Outsiders

"If you're lost and lonely/you're broken down/bring all of your trouble/come lay 'em down"

Ah... I never thought one compound word could bring me so many memories of happiness. But alas, there is one, and the word is Needtobreathe. For the past 3 years, I have had the immense pleasure of listening to them and opening my mind to a new sound, as well as a new message, by the songs that they have composed. Their first release was an album by the name of Daylight, and was just like any typical debut. Except for the fact that it was astounding for a band's first release. It hooked me right in with both personal songs and good rockers. Their next album, The Heat, released in August of 2007... and we've had quite a bit of fun with that one, haven't we? The way that Needtobreathe relates with the listener is truly astonishing. They take common themes and turn it into something emotionally and intellectually complex, even though at the surface, the lyrics are quite simple. That is what I love the most about Needtobreathe... their penmanship is easily equal to the musicianship.

Lay Em Down is the single for Needtobreathe's upcoming album, The Outsiders, due out at the end of August. If you liked their previous album, get ready to fall in love again: they seem to be set on producing southern influenced music, which in their case, is extremely good for fans such as myself :P. I consider this song to be almost an anthem, a more engaging version of Washed By The Water, as they are extremely alike. The message of the song is very simple, but very sound. The singer is inviting us to "lay our burdens down", to leave our troubles and join together, wherever we are. It's a footstomping song, but what it reminds me the most of is God assurance that we can always go to Him, and He is looking to carry our burdens, and help us through the greatest of trials... It's extremely important to keep this truth with you, because if you allow your troubles and burdens to weigh you down, it will eventually affect everything that you do. This has been one of my struggles these past few years, and I'm now just beginning to let go of that, thank God. I truly believe that He is the lifter of my head. I am greatly anticipating this summer, and the return of that familiar southern flair, one that speaks with great eloquence.

Lay 'Em Down - http://www.mediafire.com/?ozzmtmkikza

Song Of The Week - May 8

Busy week it's been, hasn't it? We've finally truly started on working towards SNL, so that should be keeping us quite occupied for the next little while haha! In all honesty, we have an awesome list of songs that are also very difficult to pull off... at least with doing the songs justice. But I believe that if we work hard at it, as well as focus on the main reason that we're playing, we can provide our peers with a night of worship that will be hard to forget. I think that this month we should all remember to work hard (yes, at home too :P), and keep our focus on what we're trying to accomplish. I know that everything will work out, when it comes to it.

This week we welcome back an old face for some of you, giving us some new material to ponder, analyze, and enjoy. I have waited some time for some new music from them, and they haven't dissapointed me.

Close Your Eyes - Future Of Forestry, Travel EP

"Trust will be the light tonight/So close your eyes this time..."

It has been too long since I have heard anything new from Future Of Forestry. Yes, they did release an EP this past December, but there is a great difference between new material and new arrangements for older Christmas songs. When I first heard FOF's first album Twilight, it took me a while to get used to it. But after awhile, they quickly turned into one of my favorite bands. The lead singer and composer, Eric Owyoung, uses the little that he has in terms of instruments and sounds, and forms it into something beautiful. It absolutely astounds me how much he can stir the emotions with as little as a guitar and his voice. His musicianship, and his heart for Christ, just proves to us that nothing has to be overly extravagant to be considered great.

Close Your Eyes is the Travel EP's one true ballad, and my... does it ever speak a lot. Not just in the lyrics, but in the arrangement in which Owyoung chose to present it to his listeners. It is simply an acoustic guitar, backed up with violins swirling around, providing intricate harmonies. But I can honestly say, this is one of the most intimate songs, if not the most intimate, song I have heard yet this year. The chorus is the kicker for me... It causes my mind to explode with interpretations and symbolical images.

Do you remember this one game, where one person closed their eyes, and the other gave them instructions on where to go to get to a point safely? It was cool, and oftentimes funny. But whether you know it or not, the game was trying to teach you about trust. To close one's eyes is to let go of some sort of certainty. We all know it. We tend to trust and believe what our eyes can see, and it gives us comfort to be able to discern the different shapes and sizes of this world. But to let go of that, to close one's eyes... be it in a physical or symbolic sense, we begin to fear, and certainty begins to wane. That's because as humans, we need to have control, or we begin to fall apart. When you close your eyes, you have to trust, you have to have faith that whoever is giving you instructions will be able to get you there safely. Do you find that this is often what happens with God? It's so hard to trust something when you can't see what's coming in front of you. Life is full of unforseen circumstances, and it's in our nature to want to have control of it all. Sooner or later though, we are going to have to realize that we can't, that we have to trust, and have faith that things will work out. In this sense, you have to remember that God has a plan for you... and you're going to have to trust in Him, and let Him be the light that shines upon your path. We can't do it all alone, so let Him take some of the burden for you. It's a hard to let go... but trust in Him. He'll be your light.

Close Your Eyes - http://www.mediafire.com/?tznw3rl5mia

A Touch Of Finality (The Hiatus, Pt. 4)

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel...

Well guys, I suppose this is it. The hiatus, our break from doing any youth related music over the past few weeks will come to an end tomorrow night, and I am glad for it. I've missed playing with everyone, and while we've all played in different forms over the past month, there's something about the youth band that isn't present with other formations...

There are many things of importance to look forward to right now, and I'm sure we all know what they are by now. But it would be unwise for us to not look back, and learn from our previous experiences. Not only will they help us grow, but they will also give us greater wisdom in the days to come. What have you learned this past month? What has God shown you, and what will you take from this experience? There are a lot of things I've learned for myself this month, both joyful and painful... but I am grateful for them all the same. We have just a little over a month left... let's make it worth it.

Always remember who we stand for.

SNL June 2009
An Introduction/The Time Has Come
You Are Good
Everything Glorious
Shine
From The Inside Out
My Soul Sings
Tell The World

Song Of The Week - May 1

Wow... May's already here! Time never seems to move slow enough... it's passing us by like crazy. We've got a lot of things to look forward to these last few months, just make sure to not forget the lessons of the past month as well. I've realized that the past few SOTWs have been what you can classify as... "emotional". But God's goodness and grace doesn't just make us mute with adoration and reverence, it can make us come alive like a raging fire, set our feet to dancing, and fill ourselves with absolute joy. So without further ado, I present to you the SOTW for May 1st...

Everywhere That I Go - Israel Houghton, The Power Of One

"Goodness and mercy will follow me/Surrounding me/Where I go/Everywhere that I go..."

You may, or may not, have heard of Israel Houghton, but the fact is, you all should :). I have not heard many Christian artists bring on the Gospel Funk better than this person right here, and with good reason. Israel Houghton has worked with, and has helped several different artists over the years, including his band, New Breed, and new up and coming artists such as Michael Gungor. He also was the man behind the creation of You Are Good... and if you can gather by that one song, his songs are energetic, lively and infinitely complex!

Everywhere That I Go is from Houghton's solo effort, The Power Of One, which released a few months ago if I'm not mistaken. The song, right from the beginning, is an upbeat, modern Gospel rocker. I am pointing this out because this very fact is awesome :P. But a little more seriously, not many people (teens) listen to Gospel music, or if they do, it certainly wouldn't be their first choice of music to listen to... I'd associate that to a stereotype that people have about Gospel Music. They may think that it's boring, or too traditional for their tastes... But that depends on where you're looking, because nowadays, that couldn't be further from the truth.

The song is an amazing reminder that God isn't just about heartfelt outpourings of emotion through intimate worship times, but He also is the bringer of joy, dancing and jubilation! I think it's very important to give Him praise with our hearts stilled and focused on Him, but I also think it's just as important to be able to celebrate His goodness with a grateful heart that can hardly contain the excitement that this truth brings. That is what I get from this song... every time I hear it, some part of me needs to groove to the beat, and open my heart to the truth of the message. I hope that you all will find a nice, solitary spot in which to listen to this, so you don't embarass yourself when you start grooving uncontrollably ;). Have a good one everybody.

Everywhere I Go - http://www.mediafire.com/?mzvnzmya1ma