Knowing why...

Just an introduction...

Why should I write songs?
Does the church really need another song-writer? Why does scripture call forth the singing of new songs? I like this qn coz i need to know this since most of my songs aren't doing any good outside of my personal life. And so often the song-writing process becomes a distraction for myself. So yar. there's lots of difficulty for sure. So why should i pursue song-writing?

The singing of songs is so much a part of the bible. It's continually a form of expressing joy and praise to God for what He's done. It's also a common form of conveying messages to others.. Yes, so God calls for it... but does God call it from me? In OT days, the Levites were assigned the ministry of music... am i a "Levite".. Though i've not heard any audible indication of this calling, i believe that God gifts people for the ministry He desires them to have.. He also puts in us a desire to do that work.. So from what i see, God has been continually teaching me better song-writing and there's a passion i have in this. As long as i keep within God's safety boundaries, i believe great things await.

What does song writing mean to me?
The idea of song-writing came pretty suddenly. It was just before i had to leave for my first year of studies overseas back in 2001. I actually don't know/can't remember how it started. But i remember composing a simple (partial) melody on the piano. Come to think of it, it most probably started because i was enjoying playing contemporary piano on my own plus i had lots of time after my O' levels. Thankfully, God has always been a part in my music so even though i never composed lyrics for that tune, i have the believe that i included God still. I think i should point out now that that 'piece' i composed was erm.. quite yux. So let's not go there.. =P

So i left my home, my family and friends, and my piano (along with any thought of song-writing) and headed for a lesser known city in Australia. However, i believe God wasn't through with me on this song-writing thing. It wasn't long before i got to know this particular person in my church that wrote songs for the church.. and yar, that kinda inspired me to begin writing songs, this time inclusive of lyrics of course. One of the triggers was a song of his titled "He's Stolen My Heart" which really touched me. well, God touched me through it.

Ever since then, i've been actively writing songs. In fact, it has become such a part of me that it's always int he back of my head and when i hear any melody or an inspiring word/phrase, i often think how i can put it into a song. So yes, up till now i've been leading up to the answer for the qn. What songs and song-writing means to me? Songs are to me a spiritual journal for me, communication to God and a ministry to others. And keeping in mind that life isn't found in song-writing, but in God.

How do I write songs?
I'm not very technical.. i just record down what i sing.. and work my way from there.. some times it starts from a melody or instrumental 'lic' and other times it starts from some lyrics.. Whenever i hear or think of something that is meaningful, i'll write it down.. when i have a tune in my head i'll record it on my mp3 player. There are times i set aside some time for deliberately writing songs.. there are also spontaneous events which occur at random. So yar.. nothing impressive.. but i'm learning how to form better lyrics and to mean what i sing.

But the most important thing to remember about song-writing is that God desires obedience far over our song offerings.. (psalm 40, Hosea 6:6) it's so easy to become hypocritical when singing songs. Another trap is found in Ezekial 33:32.. becoming a distraction to others. Are the songs that i write bringing glory to myself, or God?