Freefall; We do ROCK!

Friday, June 1, 2007

1st of all Happy Birthday to our in house Keyboardist Clara!

A few things to recap:

1) Responsibilties:

i) Overall IC: Ben Lam - oversee everything

ii) 2IC (secretary): Timothy - take down minutes and upload to blog (like what I am doing now)

iii) Librarian: Chee Wee - Make sure u have a copy of each person's scores, and also the weekly handouts

iv) Timekeeper: Jin Rong

v) Blog ICs: Justin and Clara - Decorate the blogs and advertise for the event. So that ur frens can get more info and makes your inviting more successful and easier

vi) Treasurer: Charis - We'll start pooling together money to buy the guitar pedal for church.

vii) Worship Scehdule: Samuel - Make sure have substitutes in case the scheduled person can't make it on last minute. Remind them to pray and rehearse beforehand.

viii) Logistics: Gabriel - Make sure we have all the things ready for the event. Tidy up church after prac etc.

2) Next Prac:

I know we settled on June 12 but James can't make it on Tuesdays. Thinking of postponing it but realized 13-15th June is the Youth camp. And June 11 I can't make it. So still set at June 12.

Do u all want to prac at night or prefer morning/afternoon?

Ben Lam can u consolidate and then tell me?

3) Things to do:

i) Daily Quiet time - remember we'll have weekly tests!

ii) Buy your Black files and Music Exercise books. Music theory lessons will start next prac.

iii) Memorize bible verse 1 Cor 10:13

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (NIV)

Those who can't write the verse from memory WILL NOT play music in the next practice.

Ben Lam asked why the verse. The reason: It is linked to our bible study on the temple tax story. That we are often tempted to exercise our own rights instead of focusing on our ministry on Earth - Evangelism.

Choose to spend your endless energy for Jesus and love for others rather than in our selfish activities. Escape from temptation!

Start praying and ask God whose lives is He working in and ask Him to teach you on how to minister to the friend or relative.

iv) Get your Prayer warriors. Ask them to sign on any paper. To be done by next practice.

Refer to the latest handout for your daily prayer items.

Disappointment

i) I am disappointed because I come to learn that you people don't appreciate our efforts. Seems like almost none of you took the handouts home.

e.g. Chee Wee did you photocopy the scores?

ii) The worship led by Ben Lam was horrible. I do not know about you guys but I myself was not edified in the least. Last minute preparations is not the way to go. We need to pray about how God wants to speak to the congregation through us and choose the songs as He leads.

The worship was dull and without energy. That is not the way to worship Jesus!

for e.g. The guitar strumming was almost the same for all 3 songs. There was no opening prayer nor closing prayer. I felt like we were just singing songs. There was no message. Ben's message was unclear and not confident.

The point: Pray and Practice with your musicians beforehand. If not, we might as well not have worship and sing pop songs.

Remember our 3 disciplines?

1) Spiritual
2) Musical
3) Academic

Put your priorities right. Plan your time. Let's be good testimonies for each other to our parents and to the church. Show them that we can play good music but not at the expense of our grades. Then we'll get support from them.

4) Sharing

Matthew 17: 24-27 The Temple Tax

- Jesus chose Youths for his ministry on Earth!

- Jesus would choose our most confident area to test us.

- Jesus avoided unnecessary trouble. He gave up his right to focus on His ministry.

Lift up your hands!
(Psalm 28:2, Psalm 63:4, Psalm 119:48, Psalm 134:2)

- The bible (esp Psalms) is full of scenes of people worshipping God with their hands held high.

- Don't be shy in worshipping God! Worship is between you and God alone.

5) Check out:

i) www.esplanade.com (for free music events. There's one this Sat night. Actually wanted to bring you all out but scared your parents complain I taking too much of your time. Those interested call me at 90298259.)

ii) www.esplanadeyouths.com

iii) http://zaccheustree.blogspot.com/ (my student from Church of Singapore Bt Timah Youth Band blog)

Love from Jesus,
Zong Geng

ps: Can we do a links to:

i) www.elbc.org.sg (our Church's website)

i) www.rbc.org (RBC ministries - for your daily quiet time) aka Daily Bread

ii) www.rzim.org (Ravi Zacharias International Ministry)

iii) www.pwarchive.com (Christian songs' tabs, chords etc)

iv) www.settingcaptivesfree.com (for those struggling against lust and sexual immorality)

and also other well-known Christian sites? Pray that people will be edified though our blog!

(actually I like the zaccheustree blog. The links are clear and people can access past posts and the archive. Can we have our wallpaper white too? The color of Christians!)

Jammed @ 3:16 PM