Ardent Servanthood

This weekend I am worship leading. 2 of my backup can't make it to the team. 1 of the backup swap with the only drummer left (other than myself). So the situation is I have either have a backup or have a drummer. Of course 1 could have say to the back up can you choose someone else? Or I could have picked my own backup right?

I basically don't really care if I have either or not at all. In fact I don't even mind doing it on my own than to stress myself over the matter. True I used to be really angry if people don't make it. I have changed along the way. The more I looked at the team the more I am truly discouraged. No one seems to belong to the team. We're there just for playing sake. So what we're good individually when no one feels belong in the band.

Solution is work towards it right? I wish it was that simple. The fact is no one wants to move towards it no matter how much we've talked about it. Everyone thinks they are great musicians that's sufficient. Yes if you haven't realized it WE ARE VERY FAR APART!

To go deeper, the only thing uniting us all together is not the worship leader, it is infact HILLSONG. How so? everyone can perfectly play the beats, the chords the superb solo. And if we follow the sequence just right, you'll sound good as a band. This is infact true... Don't believe? try taking apart the song, put some of your own mix, mess it up and see if everyone still sounds good? The only songs that we're good at is HILLSONG... if we play some oldies, passion, Chris Tomlin, we almost instantly sound bad.

Why I do not care about who serves? When I looked at the team, only a handful ones I will ask. I don't like to ask those that are there just because duty roster or worship leader asked so. If one is not passionate about serving it is very unlikely I'll give them a ring to help me up. The other issue is of course availability. Hardly available due to parents issue or traveling issue.

Let's check ourselves again. What are we doing up on stage and where's our passion?

Multi Skills John

Today, A mail came in from WMT director. As usual, there are recruitments, breaks, taking off, Leaving for studies etc.

As I continue to read on, our beloved drummer Chin Hoe is taking a break and "multi skills John" to stand in for him. I find it funny actually. I don't really promote multi skills because it is not advisable.

For the next 2 months, I am moving back to my 1st instrument, The drums. I am not as good as Chin Hoe of Toefl by this kind of stage. But I sure able to stand in as a novice player. Well it is good at least I get to polish up my skills and learn back some stuff I guess. HAHA

They absolutely hate my drumming, and will hate it more from now onwards. HAHA

Peace out

For the Audience

For the audience?

Yes, I admit sometimes I got too carried away with technicality and mine and other's capability in playing music that I forgot which audience we're singing to. It is for the audience of ONE.

Today (saturday) some wind blow, many of the youth appear to have some kind of events and program on. Which I don't know why and what is it for most of them. I happen to worship lead today and looking at the crowd, I admit I wasn't really pumped. But I remind myself, I want to do it for God.

The crowd started pouring in, but I didn't even take a look at who turns out, who came in. I didn't care today. I just worship God. But I can hardly hear the audience today so I just kept singing. What's that sensational feeling of worship? Did we hit the right note? I don't know. I just know that it felt nice. I hope the others feels it too.

Sunday came and it is the 1st time every Joe worship leading on Sunday. Being as fresh as he is, He chose daring songs, kinda reminded how I used to be. I did not stop him from singing those songs on Sunday, because you can't wait for the congregation to sing. But then again. Is it too radical? Sometimes I still ponder whether have leading in main service made me an old man.

But when it comes to Saturday boy my songs were out of control, yet the best of praise is limited to claps. PEOPLE!! let's make a change! we should be impacting the world outside. The world is changing. Oh how long will you still mourn over Elvis Presley's death? How long will you keep wanting us to play you Teressa Teng?

I just hope when we grow up to become like them, we would not condem those young punks trying to make metal rock out of worship or something. It is unimaginable. Just can't imagine how fast music can change.

Always remember. We are playing for the audience of ONE. Amen

The Magic of Hillsong

Once again, Hillsong's down here, It is not Darlene, nor Nigel that's on the band, but hey they have Miriam Webster and Redman Bedham and some guys which I seen before when I was visiting Hillsong over at SYD.

Hillsong IMHO can be considered as father of contemporary worship as they took over the world with storms and selling albums etc etc. Why the other bands influence wasn't great (at least in the asian region) I don't know. But hillsong people would scream and shout about it.

Tonight is one night that I don't really enjoy the hall because it is too pack and sweat smells all around. The stage is small but the passion and worship is huge. WHY? I do respect them for their album and songs, don't get me wrong.

Many years ago when I was probably at Christine's age, I would feel excited and feel enthusiastic about all these kind of things. WOO~ing at any bands that decided to drop by as the years went by that slowly died off. The reason being is both clear and unclear at the same time. My reason was of course, they are humans too... If they can do it why not us? the other reasons like I said, I am not really clear about it either.

As i sat in the hall The passion was intense, it is so great that even if you don't sing you feel the worshipful atmosphere. That's crazy. You see people singing with Miriam and it is huge really huge. All hand raised all voice lifted up. I can't help to wonder always... Hmm what's is it going to be like this Saturday? Empty cold carpets? Or people passionate like how the Hillsong band lead the people into worship. I am not saying our band is not good. You guys are great, If I would to play, I would play with you guys.

I went back today with bittersweet feelings. As I do most of the concerts. It is encouraging when someone great really shows you what is good is call, I learn that alright, I can't help to wonder when will be like them. I see their heart of volunteering to serve and tour around, it makes me jealous. But sometimes we must not lose the youthfulness in us.

I am getting older, sometimes we look too much at the technicality and ignore the the simplest, "HEART" and I got to learn to let go sometimes and go back to the purpose, and the HEART this keyboard uh can't type properly that's it for now