BoringYetGraceful

Seedlings

There was a time in my life that I don't have any interest in playing the guitar. During my freshman year in highschool, I bought my father's guitar because friend D ask for it for a school subject performance, I think it wasn't for MAPEH. That's the only time I bought the guitar which I don't have anything to do with it. Stephen Speaks still resonates in my ears.

A Christ follower must be transparent in their life because the life of Christ is so transparent. That during His first tenure here on earth, the darkness of this world cannot take it, and they nailed Him into the cross. To the Christian reading this post, does your heart still beats for this world or just a passerby whose chief end is to glorify God forever?

Growing up in a household where both married couple professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior doesn't mean Christian na din agad yung anak. Faith in Christ is personal, but it is something worthwhile when the legacy of faith is passed down at home. The parents are only the tool, but it's the work of the Spirit that works inside the child. Growing up inside the church is different from growing up in faith. Christ followers have different paths and they knew where they came from and they knew their chief end. Nothing compares sa mga material blessing here on earth to the blessing of glorifying God forever.

Heart of Worship

I don't know if some people still remember. During my sophomore year in highschool. It was intramurals, I was with my classmates and we visited the annexed school, I forgot why I'm with them. Then we decided to go to a nearby woods, I can't say it's forest basta kakahuyan. It's a long walk, then we have company from other school tailing us, hinayaan lang namin. Once we are in the river, and the cute na falls, the fun started, while the they watched us.

I don't know how to swim but I took off my t-shirt but still wearing my pants, and jump off the cliff, I was hyped by D and A. In short, I got drowned, thankfully both saved me. There's a little commotion but still ends up in laughter. Sira ulo daw ako. Then a few minutes passed. Our company from the other school moves trying to surround us, one of our classmates observed them and they carry a knife blade, and they're after one of us. This was the time uso yung mapagtripan kayo sa ibang school at kargado pa ata sila, and the best, walang ibang tao.

We quickly put our uniforms and move, na kunwari hindi namin alam, we end up walking the other way which there's a path papuntang bayan, and they continue to tail us but they end up not pursuing us. It was a thrilling moment still alive in my memory. What if we stay there? I don't know what's next, maybe your not reading this post.

As I said before, porke lumaki ka sa church, magulang mo Christian, doesn't mean Christian ka na din. One Sunday, around between Aug-Sept of 2003, I'm 13 years old, the song was Heart of Worship, I was at the back. God struck my heart for the first time. That was the time I put my faith and trust in Him, Lord and Savior. Yes, I did encounter Him multiple times before it, from random verse kung saang lumalop sa bahay noon, to coffee cups na nakalagay 'When I grow up, I just want to be like you, Jesus” not knowing to be like Him, is more than life.

Gujangjang Begins...

Fast forward, another random day that year, almost kasunod lang. There was an eagerness in me to learn to play the guitar. The guitar was a long time tambay sa bahay since I'm small. Father and bigbro plays guitar. My interest that time wasn't to be like Yngwie Malmsteen, I just want to play the guitar. Gratefully, bigbro brought home that songhits filled with Christian songs with minus-one na CD. Sa pagkaalala ko, I learned the basic chords within 3 months, I didn't learned any song but practiced to play the chords cleanly. Within the first 6 months if I remember correctly, I learned to play In Your Hands, As The Dear, and Numb by Linkin Park. And pushed myself to sing In Your Hands while playing. Fast forward again, that same year or 2004, I started playing sa church dahil kulang musician. My first instrument to play was the drums, naaalala ko pa yung mga unang salang ko.

Church musicians have different stories but it's their faith in God matters most. You can sweep-pick, tump, do gospel-chops, slap & pop, etc. yet the heart is not aligned, then you're like a clanging cymbals, a noisy gong. Wala na ko maisip. This is the genesis of my journey how I end up being a church musician, not because I Iove music but I love God whom loved me first before the foundation of the world. Soli Deo Gloria.

We love, because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19

Previous post consists of my favorite Christian music albums. As for this post, it will be a short talk about albums outside Christian music.

Todo Combo – Moonstar 88 (2008)

Third studio album of the band coming out with their new vocalist that time. Though its not a big issue for me, same way what happened with Mojofly. I have the first 2 album in CD back in the day (thanks kay ate doon sa may dry goods sa palengke noong nasa may MNHS pa sila). The sound of the album is fresh and distinct compared from the previous two. The well known song for this 18-track album is Migraine which kung M88 fan ka you can still relate with Ang Pagibig Kong Ito and Torete, the M88 sawi song series didn't stop. The fillers are funny and a good pause along the whole album. It also contain other well known song they cover: Senti by Yano and Panalangin by APO Hiking Society, which also a hit from this release. Sakin lang walang tapon lahat ng kanta dito sa album na 'to. Among the tracks na LSS ako is: Late Ka Na Naman, Dot Song, Friendster, Di Kita, Di Kasi, the last track, Damang-dama.

Brand New Eyes – Paramore (2009)

Third studio album of the famous pop-punk group Paramore. I'm updated and listened to all of their studio release except This Is Why. The first two album is edgy and screaming, after BNE there is a change in sound yet still carry the maturity coming from BNE held by Hayley. BNE for me have all elements of Paramore sound, the previous edgy screaming sound are softened like they found the gold their digging. It's just sad that after this album, umalis yung gitarista which for me malaking influence sa instrumental sound of the band though the vocalist carry the torch and continue the journey buti na lang bumalik yung drummer.

Cafe Bossa – Sitti (2006)

One of the best selling OPM album, and its on the class of its own. That time I'm trying to learn bossa nova and ended giving up. I listened to the OG bossa nova by Joao Gilberto specially that Getz/Gilberto album, and some other albums then I discovered Sitti sa nagbebenta ng burned CD per album noong liberation day celebration Mariveles (in short sa bargain). The album is mind blowing lol, she covered some well known song and arranged it in bossa nova (I think many artists already do that but this is 2006). It contains her hit song Para Sa'akin that touch that bossa feels. The whole album is gold.

Grow – Chon (2014)

A silent homies I am, even they already disband, sad. Grow literally a growth album of this math rock instrumental quartet from California. I listened to this album on repeat during my pre-Spotify days using Power Amp music player in my Android phone. I listened a lot of instrumental guitar in rock and metal, so this one was not new, then I found out this was called math-rock, I don't care about the sub-genre, what matters it's a guitar instrumental. The album is technically cheesy, no scalar shred runs but filled with licks here and there. The drums and bass doesn't just fill the rhythm section, they also harmonize with the guitars. It's a refreshing sound though I still return listening to Jeff Loomis debut album.

Define The Great Line – Underoath (2006)

This one is memorable since college days . I was in a computer shop, paper and pen on hand, writing the songs of the album. Reference once I set on sail the seven seas or if I have some fund to burn a CD. Then someone poke in my back then I turn my head, its the father of a friend which is a pastor. Nakalimutan ko na nangyari, ewan ko lang kung nakita nya yung ginagawa ko, lol. This is a metalcore album, if you read the previous post, the vocalist there is the drummer here and also the backup or clean vocals. The album is not a typical metalcore as it also leaning in a mathcore. What I like in this album is overall raw sound lalo na yung sa guitars even there's no solo, everything is pure riffage that gives off that Underoath sound.