This weekend we start our sex series and our bands were asked to some pretty sketchy secular songs. And in this first talk in the series, the program is talking about how the Bible is timeless. So we are showing how sex was perceived throughout the decades in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and today. The method we are using to communicate is an “in your face” type message on how the world has messed up so badly, so we are trying to get the attention of students to know and be aware that these songs out there are not okay, that they make people perceive sex incorrectly.

The learning in all this when it comes to parents:

At first I thought it was no big deal about telling our parents that some of our students are singing some crazy songs, but I emailed and called my parents to inform them what we doing. Some were “oh we totally understand what you are trying to do” and a couple of them didn’t agree. However, the parents who didn’t agree were appreciative in informing them of the songs we were doing and really didn’t want for their student to participate in this. I just wish I wouldhave thought about this because 2 of our band students parents asked for them not to participate in these songs. Please know I totally understand their heart in all this, but I think the only thing is, I wished I would have informed my parents BEFORE practice because now I have to re-practice before the weekend.

So NOTE: if you do crazy songs make sure to tell your parents in advance what songs you are doing before practice day.

I know that some of you are wondering what songs they may be, and know we are only doing 1:30 seconds of each of the songs.

50’s Fever (Student)
60’’s Lets Get it on (Staff)
70’s Stay the Night (Student)
80’s Like a Virgin (Staff)
90’s Lets Talk about Sex (me on acoustic and rap)
Today My Humps (Staff)

I am Philipino

Taffy

C.R.U.D.

This past Saturday we were shooting our new Commitments, Requirments, Understandings, and Dress Code  video we call C.R.U.D.

Every student in our HSM/Wildside ministry must go through this hour and half long video before they are allowed to ever step on stage to lead in worship.

We haven’t finished it yet, but here is a sample clip that we will be showing to our students.

If you would like a copy of our C.R.U.D form please email me (note: not the video)

taffy@saddleback.net.  Would love to help out in anyway!!

Taffy

Worship CD’s I am listening to these days:
Hillsong United (With Hearts as One)
Delirious (Kingdom of Comfort)
Kim Walker (Here is my Song)
Brooke Fraser (Albertine)
Future of Forestry (Twilight)
Phil Wickham (Cannons)

Music styles that influence the we arrange and play music:
Paramore
Angels and Airwaves
Muse
Mae

Philipino

Taffy

I want to apologize for my slurring and dizziness on the last podcast.  I showed the podcast to my wife and she said to me that to make sure the next time you shoot a podcast to make sure not to take any of the gout pills.  Here was a picture of an attack on my ankle and explaination of my gout, on my personal blog, if your curious and want a good laugh.

Click Here!!!

I am a Gouted Philipino

Taffy

This one is all about getting ready for summer time.

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A tutorial on how to use the Capo. Good Playing!

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This past weekend, I had the opportunity to lead HSM in worship through music. Do you ever have those days when you feel like your “A” game is off? For me it was obvious. Our church is in the middle of 2 different school districts, and one of the school districts had their spring break this past week. So, that meant no practice for us because we had so many kids out of town. Therefore, we had to come in early on Saturday to practice and rehearse. Our first service on the weekend starts at 4:30 and so our down beat time was 12:30. “Why so early?” you might ask; well we needed to learn 2 new songs this band had never played. Our goal is to always be done an hour before service starts, so we can pray together, eat together, talk about the program, and pray together with the HSM student leadership and staff. Well, 2 of my students were 45 minutes late, which threw me off because it was our bass player and drummer. Anyways, we ran practice all the way up to 30 minutes before service started and had to cut practicing a song because we were running too late. And the worst of it all we had to rush dinner. Then, to top it all off, our first service of leading worship, we came up on stage too late because I thought there was a video. I was fumbling through my words while trying to lead people to the Throne, and I forgot to be on stage for a song. Ya that would be my “D” game right there, I would have given myself an “F” but at least I was on stage. Anyways, everything doesn’t go the way you plan, but that is OKAY, because in the long run, and this is so true, but GOD IS IN CONTROL. Because it was a great message, students came to the Throne, and I know students love Jesus more because His presence was there. All that to say, here are our songs for this past weekend:

HSM

We are the Grateful – Tim Timmons

Song of the Broken – Something Like Silas (now Future of Forestry)

Apologize – One Republic (Special – our service was on mending relationships)

From the Inside Out – Hillsong United

Wildside

We Shine – Steve Fee

Infinite – Something Like Silas (Future of Forestry)

Only You – David Crowder

Center – Charlie Hall

I am Phililpino

Worship Well

Taffy

Here’s a tutorial on how to use the loop and volume pedal. Enjoy.

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Wildside this weekend we had our Wildside Worship Choir singing with the band and lead vocals.  It was awesome!!!  There is something about having our Junior High Worship Choir lead worship.  Anyways, songs for our Wildside this Weekend:

Marvelous Light – Charlie Hall
Blessed Be the Name – Matt Redman

The Grateful – Tim Timmons
Hosanna – Hillsong United

In HSM we started a new series 30 days to live:

Jesus Lead On – Vineyard
Fire Fall Down (Bridge Only) – Hillsong United
Grace – Phil Wickham
Consuming Fire – Tim Hughes
Came to my Rescue (Bridge Only) – Hillsong United
The Time Has Come – Hillsong United

I just ate a whole Pizza

Taffy

This past week we had a meeting with all our High School band students.  Something simple we did in spending time with them was just have them answer these questions privately by themselves somewhere in the office.  This was to get a gage on where they were with their walk and so on.   Also before they could come back to our meeting place I had them memorize our Student Ministries Mission/Purpose statement.

THE QUESTIONS

Name:

1 Where are you in your walk with Christ? Explain Why?

2 Where have you spiritually grown in the past year?

3 Do I know the mission statement of HSM?

4 In a month how many times do I attend an HSM service? ________

5 If you haven’t been attending tell us why?

6 If you have been attending have you been participating by inviting friends, worshiping, engaging in the message, and or serving?

7 Who is my small group leader and how many times do I go in a month?

8 What I have I learn in small group?

9 How is my daily time with God?

10 Have I told anyone about Jesus or invited them to church this month?

11 Do I worship when I am not practicing and not playing or do I only worship when I am playing?

OUR MISSION Statement: Our ministry exits to REACH non-believing students, CONNECT them to other Christians, to help them Grow in there faith, to challenge the growing to DISCOVER their ministry, and HONOR God with their life.

I told our students that we wouldn’t anyone let look at these and that it was for our eyes only.  This was a great way to have conversations with some of students who were struggling or just had questions.  Its a great way also to help them grow, pray for them, and encourage them in certain areas  Because this ministry is more than just music, but its Youth Ministry.

What Kinds of questions do you ask your students?

RICE PHILIPINO

Taffy