Chapter 4: Again!

“It was for me He cried, for me he died, for me he shed his blood upon the tree...”

it was a beautiful well blended song youhave heard in the conference the messagewas beautiful and convicting and as yousit on your chair you just bow you head aas you contemplate on your heart thewondrous message of the song and tears ofa contrite heart begins to fall but as youraise up your head to look at the singersone last time you saw one of the singers'nostrils (nose holes) stretched out to itsfull extent and then you imagine of howmany bowling ball you could fit in hisnostrils, you then laugh at the thought asyou cover your mouth trying not to laughout loud (lol) and the message of the songwas lost flushed down in the toilet ofhumour, those big nostrils like big blackholes sucked in the message of the songforever (exaggerated).... Now time for themain story....

“Nice Job!!!!! I'm so happy for you Jack! You finally found a girlfriend!” Exclaimed Rei

Anri and Jack blushed at the thought (had a little nose bleed too)

“Its not what you think I... just invited her...” explained Jack while trembling in embarrassment..”

“Haha, just messing with you bro... so how you doing”

“Yeah, I'm doing fine, I’ve been song leading in the church...”

“Say, I thought you have a job at KFC (Kentucky fried Curry) why are you out here?”

“The joint got in trouble with the department of health we tried to sell milk tea but they say milk plus tea equals cyanide and we got suspend for one week.”

“ Hehe... how about you Anri?

“I been studying at the conservatory of music... I still can't believe that you’re here so what have you been up to? Said Anri

“Oh me? I moved to Hope of the gospel Community church I been am a worship leader there... So what do you need from old Rei, com'on buddy don't be shy?”

Jack slams both of his hand into the table and said

“give me tips to improve my song leading!”

“Change the music to CCM...” Said Rei so calmly

“EHHH!!! WE CAN'T DO THAT!!” exclaimed both Anri and Jack at the same time.

“Ha, you two really are meant for each other...alright I'll help you, first of all there are twomediums in this style of corporate singing,first is the song book, next is the power pointprojector, the advantage of song books are youcould do parts but the song book is limited tothe songs it contains however the power pointprojector is not limited to the songs you couldadd those that are not from the common songbooks, you could add songs from The Wilds,but no parts... its deciding what to emphasizeits either the beauty of the song or its messagecause sometimes you gotta admit those oldhymns can be a little... well old.”

“I see your point...”

“another thing that poses a problem is the people... I'm sure you are aware of that...”

“Yes, for my shot experience Inoticed that people are oftendistracted..”

“Yes you are exactly right...”

“So how do we deal with it?” asked Anri

“Paul said 1 Co_14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. The spirit, the essence of man, his

soul in other word his entire being, “mind” the ability of an to comprehend these are the two sides of one coin, this would be your goal for people worship with there spirit and to understand what theyare singing, to stir up the people's spirit is solely the Holy Spirit's joband most of the time sin is the main hindrance why people can't give there all at worship I suggest that you have a short silent prayer time for the people before singing, explain it a preparation for the heart, pray and let the Spirit work, next is understanding, this depends on your congregation, comprehension it could be high or low or mixed ,there are two solutions for this first is pick an easy one next is explain it.The weakness of picking an easy one is if is too simple the spiritual message will be dampen but if you use a hard to understand song and tried to explain it, they would only comprehend part of it, its a different think when you understand it your self.”

So what do you think best?” asked Jack

“I think its best to pick an easy to understand but deep message and relate it to people's lives. And don’t forget when you choose a song relate it to the topic of the event or the preaching... Jack keep this aspects in mind even if you don't know much about music you'll be fine...”

“Wow I never knew that song leading contains so many aspects...”

“Oi Jack... is Steve still at the Church?” said Rei as he seriously stared at Jack

“No what I heard from Pastor is, he backslid”

then Rei look down looking angry and said“Tssk good for him..”

Jack and Anri did not say a word or reacted they just let it be... Rei calm down a bit and said...

“Well that about it, I've tough you every thing I know.”

Jack, Anri and Rei stood up from there table and went out of the shop...

“Thanks man you been a great help” said Jack

“sure no problem! See ya! Jack, Anri...”... Jack and Rei fist bumped as they part ways

Hours later at the conference...

“Oi Ptr. Terry will you able to provide someone to lead the singing tonight?”

“Hmm I don't know but please do find me someone to do the songs if my song leader does not arrive.” replied Ptr. Terry as he scratches his chin

“Hmm after that farce, there no way Jack's gonna come back,... but I’ll give him another chance since I'm the one who put him there... with five minutes left It might be two late”Ptr Terry said in his mind.

“Yo Pastor!”

Pastor Terry turned back to see whose talking to him and as he turned, it was Jack in full formal attire wearing a red long sleeve anda black tie.

“EEH! Jack!!! y-your here!”

“He he, can I still song lead?”

“Sure get ready my boy..”

Jack came to the guy who's` in charged with the power point and asked him to open a certain power point file...

Then as Anri started to play the prelude as the congregation gets settled and as the congregation get settled down Jack looked around to analyze the crowd.

“there quite a few young people here but they are still out numbered by the adults and the elderly only numbered 3 or 4, old people have atendency to like the old song they are used to however if I explain the songs and manage to get there attention I could reach them with the song. Alright! There’s no need to change the song!” Jack said to himself.

But as Jack continue looking around he saw Archie was standing in a corner staring at him as him he was looking down on him...

Jack began to be stiff as his hand began toshake uncontrollably..

“Don't tell me I'm gonna face that again!”Jack said to himself as he tremble's at the thought.

The prelude ended, Anri went down to Jack as his hands were shaking uncontrollably, Anri held Jack's hand and whispered in his ear a single word.

“pray”

Jack began to realized something and stopped the shaking he pauses for a while to pray and went up the pulpit as Anri went back to the piano.

“Good evening everyone! To start off the

first session of the conference lets pause for awhile to pray, I'm gonna ask every one to confess any sin you have right now, we need the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts tonight and sin is a big hindrance, so let's take this seriously as we pray...”

“Anri was right... the Holy Spirit has a big part in this, song leading is not merely having great music, it's the heart that's important a heart that truly worships God...” Jack said to himself

the prayer ended then Jack spoke again to the crowed with a bright and cheerful face, he is unlike the last time he seems more confident but confidence does not come from himself but to Someone much bigger than him.

Alright everybody we have a special song tonight, but before that I would like to ask you, have you ever been passionate with anything in your life? It could be a hobby, music, cooking or probably taking care of your kids, I could relate to this cause I'm an Otaku and it literally means being obsessive with something... and when your passionate about something it's like you want to do it all the time youwork hard for it. I propose something tonight hows about being Passionate for your God, like you strive to know him better to serve him better just everything under his control our song for tonight is a prayer, a prayer to be more passionate for God and as we sing this song would you pray this prayer

A Passion for theeSet my heart O dear Father to thee and thee onlyGive me a thirst for Thy Presence divineLord, Keep my focuses on loving you onlypurge me form earth set my heart after thine!

Refrain:

A Passion for thee O Lord set a fire in my soul and a thirst for my GodHere Thou my Pra'er Lord The Power impartNot just to serve but to love Thee with all of my heart.

The Song started Jack sung the song in a loud but not annoying manner we was in tune although his voice was not that good he tried his best singing in and as he sung it carried the congregation as they sing there was an overflow of emotion in the congregation. Althoughhis hand signature was still bad and off tempo...

“Alright! Its a good thing I practised my singing if I sung loud enough, I could bring the crowed to sing with more energy and emotion” Jack thought to himself...

As the congregation sung there there was a certain bearded guy observing Jack and as he was observing him he did a little smirk...

“I sense something from him, something I have not sense in the other song leader... Passion... this guy is taking it seriously...” said the Bearded guy to himself

...After the first session...

“Wow Jack you moved the crowed tonight you really stepped up..” said Anri in amazement.

“hehe, Anri I didn’t move the crowd I just stood there, It wasn't me itwas all Him” said jack with a smile as he snap his fingers then pointed upwards

“Excuse me, are you Jack Brando”

said a large bearded guy was behind them, Jack and Anri was startled

“Y-yes unfortunately that's me” said Jack while shivering

“My name is Nori... Nori Alcala Dela Cruz. I'm a representative of BJMBC...”

“EEH your part of that amazing special number!!” exclaimed Anri“EHH your the guy with the big nose holes!!” Exclaimed Jack the same time as Anri...

...To Be Continued...