Psalm 137 and Indemnify

It's a rainy morning again, felt like hiding under my thick blanket for the rest of the day but couldn't. Have to drag myself off to work. A sister in Christ sent me a SMS of a verse that she thought was very applicable to my ministry in Forerunner. So i went on and read it.

Psalm 137:5-6
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill upon the harp.
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don't make Jerusalem my highest joy.

This verse was familiar to me as i recalled Chuck Hong(founder of stream of praise) once wrote a song about China. China has been a place where God burdened his heart in, and as a musician himself, he sang that: "if one day he may forget China, let his right hand forget all the techniques and skills of playing. Oh God, give me the heart for China" I wasn't able to relate to him back then when i just heard the song 2 years ago. For me then, music was everything. Awake or in sleep, music and guitars dominated my whole life and praying to forget my techniques, No WAY!!!

Thanks God for this sister who reminded me this verse again. When i looked at it now, i began to understand where the psalmist was coming from...where Chuck Hong was coming from. In my previous blogs, i mentioned that music is only the mean to the end and not the end. Being able to use music to minister and bless others, this makes doing music purposeful.

I confessed that in the past, my passion for music is much more than the passion that i have for God's pple and works. Even up till now too. But i dare to say that the passion i have for God's works, is increasing gradually. Praise God.

I had a chance to talk to Manson when we were soaking up the sun in Sentosa yesterday. We agreed upon the fact that we dun want our band to be a "ra-ra" band....Making a din in the music scene and then die off....We want the band and our music to bless others; we want our concerts and our lives to impact and change lives, directing them to God.

Very funny, just nice when we were toking, some ah beng full-body with tatoos walked past us. What was funny was that, his tatooes were pictures of beheaded samurai heads. In samurai's war culture, the head of a fallen enemy samurai was the prize of the battle. The Samurai warrior could claim rewards with these heads. Anyway, my point is....If every concert i did is considered a battle, then the prize i want is the souls that are saved by God. These are my ultimate prizes.
No samurai would be silly enough to fight a battle without prizes. hee.

Recalling the previous concerts i did:
1) Override in Thailand - 388 souls saved
2) Void in Government Schools - 7 souls saved, working on 1 more.
Total 395 soul saved.

It's right to say that i should not look into figures, but this figures serve as a reminder for me on what's the purpose of me doing concerts and gigs. Yeah!!! If my music and my life can impact 1 life, it's more rewarding then selling millions of album. If my concerts be used to save 1 single souls, it's more rewarding then to hold a concerts to 100,000 strong crowd. Yeah!!! I know that Alvin who is my biggest blog fan ( i think) will agree with this after reading my blog....rite Alvin?

Indemnify
Oh yeah, last night Sara msned me and told me that she like the song:"Indemnify" written by me and alvin. She asked if it was original. Yes!!! it is.... I wrote the melody and the arrangement while Alvin, doing what he is best in, came out with the lyrics while Daniel just simply smoothen out the melody to bring out his vocal strength. Yeah!!!

I wrote this song while i was playing with A (1 5 1) and a(1 5 7) power chords on a higher string voicing. Then i went on with the progression of A, E, D...making it an A major song which is Daniel's comfortable key. Then for the bridge, creating tension is a norm....so i use a 2,4 progression (2,4 are the most unresloved chords of the key) to link it to the chorus.

For the chorus, i hit it really high, with a 5,4,1 progression, hoping that Daniel can hit it...And indeed, He pull it off well....Wow!!! Tailoring the song to suit the vocalist, is something that Tony of 7days taught me....I am glad to have such a music teacher!!!

Actually the band did a punk rock version of the song which was originally Acoustic(and sounded like Coldplay). And i like both versions. For the punk rock version, i did some chords substitutions at the chorus and it works....it sounded like Incubus....hee

Anyway, we are doing a studio recording of the songs soon....Be patient ok, will like u guys to listen to it too.. :>