My Second Hour

Good Day to my fellow nomads..
It has been awhile..and i do apologise for my recent dissapearing act (is that how ya spell it ..?)but anywayz, i must admit..i have been feeling rather un motivated to do anyting to this blog..and really that is the truth.BUT i do have a 2 hour break at the momment.And this is just going to be a quick catch up session with me and you. So enjoy......................

Coming out of a long weekend is always the best feeling in the world.I have had so much time to think about what to put on this page...but there is currently a block stuck in my head, that has not allowed me to put anything on to paper.Well in this case, keyboard.However, the pass 24 hours have been rather interesting.
HAd a long chat with lil jon man..which is always a blessing, about the pass few months.Managed to sneek in a few minutes with dani and jarga on sunday, plus the usual catch ups with various people....have left me with this sense of fulfillment.Kinda like a Bear Cub when it is being embrassed by its Mother Bear.(I dunno what am really trying to get at...but i guess it makes sense to me).However, if there has been one thing that has been on my mind for the pass two weeks....it would probably be our IGNITE service which is happening this Friday night.We as a team have really been building and moulding our prayer focus on this comming weekend.The First Ignite DOWNSTAIRS...after doing it faithfully UPSTAIRS for almost 3 years now.:)so here is the post and i hope that it makes sense!!!


Postal Service 1:
Been really excited about what this Friday has to offer to our Youth Minstry this comming week, actually make that the next YEAR.I have been thinking about this for awhile now, and i really,beleive that this weekend is really the start of the ONE church and ONE body, we have been trying to acheive for so long.Where with ONE heart and ONE song..we are going to be seeing lives changed..and hearts brokened for the better.

So what do I like about this whole new concept.Well first of all....I think that having a wide age group...will bring the maturity level of some of our younger kids..up to a more mature level.But by saying this, i also think the younger kids have got alot to show to the older XLR8 bunch- they know how to rock and roll better.!!!!So both sides will benefit from this.I think this also brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "Coporate Worship"..:)HOw much of a difference does it make when ya have 700-800..and with Gods Blessing A Thousand kids worshipping and praising his name together, rather then in two seperate sessions.ANd i am pretty sure..alot of you guys and gals would agree with me-UNited we Stand.

So what does this mean for IEN.Well this just means a whole lot more fun on a friday night.A more inspired heart then ever before...a greater vision..and a greater faith in knowing that GOd has answered...and will continue to answer when we call.There really isnt any feeling to describe this common feeling alot of us have.I think we are all really excited.Cos this has been a dream for so long- Well mine anywayz.

So..after all that.
I guess that was just my mind thinking out loud on keyboard.
Ohh btw...there are these twoguys sitting next to mein the computer labs (BTW they are random people) who are arguing about what the actual trademark name for PLANETSHAKERS church looks like...if it has a CAPITAL P or not..what the heck..? for crying out louD...!!!!

OKey enough for 2hours.
I shall leave ya guys with scripture from the book Matthew 28:18-19 -Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing tem in the name of the FAther and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost". This is the verse that i am praying in to the lives of all you guys this week.MAy this really be the reason we do what we do every friday.And will this reflect of everything we do and set our eyes upon.

God Bless.

Heres To Hope

The sun's setting on what was,
setting on what could have been,
in essence, all that lover's have sought.
too slow to cherish what was had,
until you haven't anything.
Your fingers ache to have it once more.

here's to long goodbyes,
and all the songs they bring.
romanticize,
linger on what bliss with which we fly,
and all that's promising.
watch it slide
here's to hope

long for a silver line,
tracing all that's darkening your days
and their silences.
wear your sorrow with a smile,
to wear away the memories of what was near
but never quite here.

so you sing for the silence

Hymns of Faith

So the songs have been flowing out of our hearts....4 down and 2 more to come.Writing these few tracks with the guys have been somewhat of a journey.Kinda like learning all about ourselves once again.The words that we put on to paper really reflect what we have been feeling for a while.Jud has been ever so inspiring...so to brad and the rest of the krew. lil Jon man has been ever so faithful in comming up with new ideas...cool ideas...God inspired ideas.There have been alot that I have learned over these past couple of months...being inspired to write music that could change the heart of a generation.Indeed it is a task realisticaly unacheivable without the help of Our Father.

So many times we would hear something and it never feels rite....well we have not been feeling rite for so many years...but somehow..the music sounds different..our ears flap at the waves that go through it..very different...very different indeed.Maybe it is a season..a season where the puzzle is falling into place.
So i ask myself...why write music ?...whatis all the fuss about individuals comming up with tunes ?..what are we doing this for?...It has been said to be that we are writing our own music...to have our own identity..to have our own sound..to match it with the best...and as nobel as it may seem...Maybe that is why I have not writen the best song that i could.So after a few months of just figuring our myself..and figuring out..what needs to change...here is my conclusion...And I hope you will understand..this is targeted to myself..

I want to write songs that will break the hearts of this generation and to remake it into something new....a song that will create a a new understanding of how amazing our God is..and a song that will unite the hearts of our generation to sing a song..that talks about all these things and more.An Anthem, A Decleration of the ENORMITY of the Goodness of Our God..yet the simpleness of his Love.

Yeah...thats it...so here is the deal....we will try..
And we will keep on trying...untill one day, when all Hands are raised..and in one decleration we here the screams of a thousand voices..singing the hymns of his love..I will not find rest..and i will not find comfort..until i find the Hymn of Love...The Hymn of Praise...
So to everyone who has been trying...anf to everyone who is along for the ride.We wil run...and down right hard we will run..
So 4 down...2 more to go...and we will continue to write until our hands bleed and our eyebrows fade..

There is this saying amongst a few of us that says that " worship is not worship until we start bleeding " but in all honesty...we love what we are doing..and would never wish for it to be any other way.We have learned so much about ourselves...yet we have not learned enough.And the songs can only get better from now on..cos we know the Cause we are writting for.

God Bless.

Summer of Love

So here is the deal.
Every other mate of mind has found love..
who would have tought that the day would come where a brother would find love..and what more, find love in the most unusual of places. Caught me by surprise..well most def.BUt what is more interesting.."The Guys being in Love.?" or the "The Guys being Loved.?" I find myself asking this question..in the quest for good humour most def.BUt I guess I am the last one standing..so who am i to joke about it?!?!.I guess it must be the water.BUt let me assure you,It has been an eye opening experience, let me tell you that.Never would i have imagined the way it has turned out.Not just for one...but for a number of others...the same way..almost the same outcome.Whatever it may be ..This Summer, love was found.

(Before i go on..let me assure you, this posting is not about anyone in particular, I have got more friends that you think i have.)

So anywayz, what has triggered this sudden influx of hopeless romantics and a sudden out pouring of emotions.?Issit the fact that some of us are growing older..and are wondering if we are closing in on our "Use By Dates"?. Have we hit a point of desperation (I doubt it- but we will never know the answer to that one)Oh maybe it is the long walks that we have had by the beach- could it have triggered the emotion of romance as we walked by the beach and watched the sunset fade into the night sky.? or could it be that the invitation list to your birthday party consists of 95% guys and 5% gals- alarm bells go off in your head "I need a girl in my life" Or could this really be love..? Could this be really be the one we have been talking about for so long. Are we boys finally comming to an end of an era of just sitting and waiting.?....And to my fellow girl friends, what is your excuse this time..?has the guy finally swept you off your feet? Has he finally taken notice of the new hair cut or the new Sports Girl top you have put on...Does he enjoy your cooking.? the cookies you baked him last Valentines? The Tshirt you bought him last christmas.? Is He better then your last one.? OR does he just do the things you would like a guy to do for you...or be the guy you want him to be.?

So this is it.....I promise all my readers...my one and only attempt to try and write something based on the Love found this summer.Laugh with me if ya want to...but it has been a summer to remember...
So here is to more long walks by the beach...You holding your love..
Me, holding my gelato...we will meet in between.And Tell stories till the sun rises.
Here is to a Good Life..
Here is to the Life you have always wanted..
Cheers to you...
Till the next blog....

Starting Line

Sunday the 8th of January 2006..it is one week into the new year...and man has things been good so far.I never expected it to start the way it has,but when seeds are planted...and when God speaks.He speaks in full force.There have not been many weeks into the new year, but if every week was like this..It is going to be one heck of an interesting year.

Last night was an interesting one. There was one that caught the attention of my heart, and i think it will stick with me for a long time to come.

"If You have Passion for Something, You will Never ever Burn out doing it"..this stuck in my heart, out of everytihng that we talked about last night.So with this in mind...why did it stick in me and nothing else..? Why did it echo so clear in my ear drum and even louder in my spirit.

The topic of burning out has always been a concern of mine..people tell me that we need to take breaks in every season of our life..so that we wont burn out..To keep our spirit in "Fresh" mode and to make sure that we dont loose the desire and the "Fire"....BUt this is what hit me the hardest...If I am passionate about what I am doing and if I am in love with what I am doing...why would I want to STOP doing it.? Why Would You want to stop doing it..? Do we actually have a hidden agenda...have i really lost a desrie for the things i love the most.?

Interesting.? well most def.!!! it has been a wake up call.The trumpet sounded and I was not there to answer it.
I need thE help of God...to keep me on my feet...not a break.This is where we have gone wrong so many times.God is the one who keeps us sane, who keeps is on the rise, no break or time off will ever get me back on my two feet....Simple...yet Never in my mind.

My prayer..

Thank You for speaking into my life
Give me the strength the power..the love
I am what I am...you make me something else...
You made me..come break me..
Come make me a new being.
Into your Hands

Here We Meet Again.

Into the new year...the date set on the 2nd of January 2006.The new year has started the same as the others, late nights..even later awakenings. I have managed to do a few things that I have not been able to do the pass few months of the old year...for one..I have been able to get together with friends..that I have not been able to catch up for a while..So that is one plus to the new year...Here is to more of that to come.
I think there is alot to look forward to in the year 2006.I for one, am really looking forward to the new Calender Year for our Youth Ministry...let that be in cell leading (where the decision still remains unknown..I am still not sure) or in my Joy of Worship. But I must say..the future looks bright...and the goals look acheivable. Saying that, I am probably gonna look back at this blog in 12 months time and wonder what the heck I was trying to get across to my audience...but hey we will try and get there first.

So Then, what do I we have installed for us in the the BIG 2006.?
Well...apart form all the concerts that I am sure we are all looking forward to.(eg. u2- My Miracle Drug, Coldplay- I will Fix You and also the Strokes- Beattle Juice) I think I am having a greater interest towards the people who I am gonna meet this year...The friends who I will be reUnited with again after such a long time- Stel, I can't wait for you to hit our streets...we will run and we will jump on them as we used to..jon and gene..I am sure we will meet sometime next year, and if not..msn and hotmail will still be our time together , the people i am going to meet..share a chinotto or two..and break the ice over some lame jokes.That makes me happy!!!

And then there is the other simple pleasures in life that will always keep me going...late night fishing with the boys, watching the goals hit the roof of the net with Tim( however I am sure as the year goes on..it wont just be with Tim anymore- here is to a good year for you two people!! ) unGodly hours of eating at Rock-oN or Tung Wo with Shawn, Grand Prix and A1 racing with Cheese the Man, Movie nights are Dazzas own private V-Max,Rock And Roll sessions with lil Jon Man...shopping sprees with the gals..let keep it at an equilibrium...with feelings of Love and Honesty.These are the things that really keep me going...To more of them..I am sure.

So as the Fireworks fade away into the night sky...I will gladly welcome this year with alot to look forward to...
Welcome to the show that never finishes, and you are part of it.
Kindly take your seats....sit back...and lets all enjoy the Ride.

Sounds of 2005

So as the year 2005 slowly slips past our fingertips... and as we countdown the minutes to whats has been a rather fulfilling year in my terms...here are the top CD's that I feel have inspired and allowed me to journey through key charts and octaves...and reach a place where in its momment..makes me happy.And so...i give you the Sounds of 2005

And so The List Begins......

John Legend:- man this album is dope....looking back at the year 2005, I must say...his songs and his music have given me some really good hours...some really good memories, driving back and forth on a long and lonely road to uni, would have been alot different if it was not for this album set on repeat..from track one till the end....Great album.Do check this album out..it will blow you away.This album makes me wanna be black just for a few hours.

Thrice:-This album is tittled Vheissu, Probably one of the best albums i have bought this year...without a doubt the best cover i have bought this year (NOTE: it is not demonic signs on the cover..it is actually the growth cycle of an octopus, fascinating..I know) Thrice have taken their mucis to a whole new and different level.Compare this album to their previous album, The Artist In The Ambulance...do not fear, nothing has changed, Thrice are still rocking it out hard and heavy.However, with lyrics like "Daylight, they tell me taht it's just a myth, They try to betray me with a kiss, Daylight, they tell me that is cant exist, They may never know just what they missed" and Choruses like "We are not alone, we feel an unseen love, We are sons and heirs of grace, We are children of a light that never dims, A love that never dies, Keep your chin up child..and wipe them tears from your eye"...this album has made me wonder if the boys from Thrice have caught on to a message that I hold true and dear to myself....I know I am a "son and heir of grace"

Coldplay:- X&Y was probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year 2005...next to U2's (How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) and def. that i have grown in love with every new time i put it into the cd player.With Anthemic songs like "Fix You" and "Speed Of Sound"..coldplay have not changed much..but still have managed to captivate their audience with music that paints a good picture of what Chris Martin and the boys of coldplay want to tell their listeners. This album, makes for some good conversations...esp. as to what the heck does X&Y mean...but arguments a side, this album is medicine to the ears.

David Crowder ( A Collision is Comming): This is the one I have been waitintg for this whole year...and tim and a few others can probably say the same thing.David Crowder is probably one of my favourite worship leaders...and probably one of my favourite songwrites aswell....heck he is my favourite everything, esp. when it comes to music.But Yes, I think I can Honestly say that this album is probably one of the top two or three albums of the year for me. The David Crowder band have absolutely taken music writing and worship music to a whole new level and probably dimension with this album.I seriously fell in love with this cd since day one....this cd is inspiring to say the least...and the human being behind this music has inspired me , but not as much as the master behind the men who he has written this music for.I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who needs a new dose of good music injected into their CD collection...Kids...go buy this album..if you cant afford it..ask your Mum or Dad to buy it for you.!!!

Bloc Party:- This album is seriously way cool...a black man with dreds for a lead singer...a chinese drummer..tight jeans...size 14 girl t-shirts on guys, what is there not to like about this band. I think Bloc Party has probably been my number one party music for the year 2005...they are like the Strokes meets Prince Charles on a bright english spring day.I like them heaps..and eventhough i get bagged for liking them....they have still made it onto this list.Cheers to Bloc Party...thanks for the good times.!!!

United Live (Look To You): Guess who has made it unto this list.... yes yes, i dont think anyone can doubt the impact this album has been on our youth ministry.I think this album was probably the most anticipated album for youth ministries all over the world...and i think the wait was well worth it.What can I say, the guys at United Live could make the boogie look cool again. I guess thats the coolest thing about this album...it was rock and roll, but rocking and rolling for Jesus is always better.

MAE:- Mae is deffinately for lovers...this album could make me fall in love with a chair.Guys ..if ya wanna impress any girl, this is the album to get.From start to finish, this album takes you on a journey and paints you a story that would put you in dream land as soon as you hit PLAY. All i can say about this album is that it is Truely for Lovers...

Copeland:-With their 2003 album, Beneath Medicine Tree rocking the music world by storm, this years follow up album to that, In Motion was a real treat to the ears (well to mine at least). I ahve always found a great liking to the music of bands like Copeland, Death Cab, Appleseed Cast etc...and In Motion was no dissapointment. However if you are not into the bands that i mentioned above..you would probably find this album a lil boring...so the choice is really yours.

So anywayz..there it is....if I had more time, i could probably name you another 10- 20 albums that i have enjoyed this year..but these 8 really stuck out for me this year.Let it be the influence that it has played in my life this year or just the pure beauty of the album.Do go check them out..and let me know what ya think of them. These albums are all really different in style and should only be played under various circumstances.
So yeah..li hope one of these albums will bring you some sort of joy in the near future...i know they have done me some good..
Here is to more good music and more inspiring song writing for the year 2006.