Merry Christmas DD leaders!!! Let’s grow old together, serving God and one another together

Here’s the notes to this song: Click HERE to download the chord chart

Verse:

Pre-Chorus:

Chorus:

Bridge:

Outro:

Strumming:

I am trying to clear it – my computer is fine, my files are ok, so I suspect it may be the hosting side… still to be verified. Hang in there! I already have new videos and lessons but have not been able to upload due to the iframes…

and if your computer has a malware attack after visiting my website, I am terribly sorry!

The good news is that this is probably the driest – get through this and the rest is easy!

Simply put, the chromatic scale are your musical alphabets, and an Interval in music describes the distance (or pitch) between 2 notes.

Chromatic Scale

In music, we have a total of 12 notes which when put in a running sequence one after another is called a Chromatic Scale.This is just like your ABCs. Every chord and scale in music can be derived from the Chromatic Scale.

The first note is the “Root” of the Chromatic Scale, just like the first note in the scale is the name of the scale:

C Chromatic Scale: C  C# D  D#  E  F  F#  G  G#  A  A#  B  C

Similarly, if we start from E, we have E Chromatic Scale:

E  F  F#  G  G#  A  A#  B  C  C# D  D#  E

If you look at the notes, there are a total of 12 unique note names.

7 of the notes are called “Natural Notes” and they are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. 5 of the notes are called “Accidentals” and they have the symbols “#” or “b” following them. The natural notes are basically all the white keys you see on the piano, and the accidentals, the black keys.

Which symbol to use depends on whether you are moving up or down in  pitch. They are essentially the same (pitch wise) and are also called “enharmonic“. “#” will be used if you are referencing an accidental with a higher pitch than the previous natural note, and “b” will be used if you are moving lower in pitch. It’s more like “musician lingo”, so don’t be too bothered by it.

Intervals

Intervals describe the distance (or pitch) between 2 notes. There are a few common “intervallic qualities” used to describe them, namely:

Unison (represented by “U“), minor (represented by “m“), major (represented by “M“), perfect (represented by “P“, and Octave (”O“)

Every finger you press on the guitar string within a fret corresponds to one of these notes. For example, pressing 2nd fret 5th string gives you a “B” note. Pressing on the 4th fret of the same string gives you a C# note, and so on.

The pitch between the “C” note and the “D” note is called a “major second”, or “M2″ – this describes the pitch quality, which has a distance on the guitar of 2 frets apart. The pitch between the “C” note and the next “C” note on the same string is called an “Octave”, or “O” – distance of 12 frets apart.

If you are confused now, you’re normal. Otherwise you’re a genius! I was lost when I first learned it! Just know that intervals are like the term to describe the distance between Singapore and Malaysia, Singapore to Thailand or Thailand to USA, etc.

At the end of the day, for the purpose of understanding chord construction, just remember the following 4 things:

1) adjacent notes have a distance of “m2” or  “half step/tone”

2) notes 2 frets apart have a distance of “M2” or “whole step/tone”

3) “m3” is the distance between 2 notes with a distance (or interval) of 3 frets apart. It has a “sad“, “dark” or “dull” feel when played one after another.

4) “M3” is the distance between 2 notes with a distance (or interval) of 4 frets apart. It has a “happy“, “bright” or “cheerful” feel when played one after another.

m3 and M3 are the core building blocks of diatonic chords construction – which is the only reason why I even want to talk about it.

Now we’re ready to go on to talk about diatonic triads, which are the basic G, C, D, etc chords that you see in songs. But before that, let’s touch very briefly on Major Scales..

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The Problem Which Should Never Be

I read with interest today that Tuberculosis (TB) is a dangerous virus that is mutating into a stronger form. Even the modern cities of the world, with all the advanced medical arsenal, are struggling to cope with it’s spread.

It is said that 9 million people are infected with TB every year, of which 500,000 of them are infected with the multi-drug resistant form. I guess we can say that the world is living in a dangerous times. TB is everywhere and it spreads easily! In Singapore, TB cases surged by 15.5% in 2008! That’s revival according to church standards!

The greatest challenge, it seems, is not a lack of vaccines or study, but a lack of financial resources. People in the poorer countries, or in countries with a unfunded inadequate healthcare system will not be able to afford the treatment, especially if the strain is the mutated form. This provides a thriving environment for TB to spread and mutate into the resistant strain.

Interesting to know as well, it only takes 6 months and cost US$20 cocktail of antibiotics today to treat TB, but the multi-resistant strain takes 2 years and as much as 200 times the cost to treat normal TB (i.e. $4,000)

In Singapore alone, even as we go through a global economic crisis, people still line up to eat at $50 per pax buffet in 5-star hotels, people queuing to buy LV, buy the latest IT gizmo, the “where got recession??” anthem seems to be so rampant. Students buy the latest digital camera, PSP and Ipod in cold hard cash.

Can we afford to make a difference? Will it cost us an arm and leg? Can we do out part to help the world fight TB to contribute just a mere US$20 per person?

Reaching Out With A Helping Hand

Today, thousands of homes are lost due to forest fires, landslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic activity and tsunami. Many people lost their homes and became orphans. Here in Singapore we lose a parking lot sometimes and all hell break lose and someone have to get their joints reattached!

Can we afford to make a difference? To feed the hungry and needy? Will it cost us an arm and leg? Can we do out part to feed the hungry? Are we already doing enough? How about donating $20SGD a month to feed the hungry? What’s that gonna cost? A mere 1 meal at sakae sushi can feed the hungry in a disaster area for 1 week!

For needy families who lost a single breadwinner parent, the children are as good as orphaned because the other parent have to find jobs and work all day long to support the kids through school and put bread on the table. In 2004 with the collapse of Nicol Highway, I remember a news article feature 2 families who lost the breadwinner. One mother tell their kids “whatever they wish to have, they can only think about”. Another mother was said to have to work in 3 jobs, and not have time to take care of the kids anymore.

Can we afford to make a difference? How about buying a $30,000 term insurance policy for the breadwinner in needy families, so that in the event the breadwinner should pass on due to unfortunate circumstances, the fammily will not be left in a lurch?

It might not be alot, but it could mean a child’s education and a lighter burden. How much is a term policy? It can be as little as $20 a month. I do think that proper education is vital to a child in having a better future, and I a just guessing, that there might be another GREAT man who might emerge because of an act of kindness that sent him to school for a proper education.

Is it really that hard to make a difference?

How are we to fulfil our responsibility in the society in which we live? Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

I don’t know, but after reading the article about TB, my spirit is provoked into doing something because it’s SO EASY. I know that I being one person with my current financial situation, cannot make a significant difference, and I will anyway. But I hope that you will play a part because it is when we band together that we can change the world.

I’m trying to think of something to raise funds, maybe record some guitar lessons, give some talks, and write some articles and books, and maybe through a charitable organisation, we can provide funding to provide TB antibiotics to the badly infected countries, feed the orphans and help the needy. Will you join me?

We Can All Make A Difference – Will You Join Me?

It may not be a significant amount (Bill Gates – in one “ah choo” donated $33million!) but the idea is… we can all make a difference. Stop depending on people like Sun, Bill Gates or some Ah Gong while we take a step back. There’s power in majority. Let’s do something and not just “enjoy the breeze”…

For now, I’m prepared to donate all the proceeds of my WGS Online Guitar Course for this cause. I’m also planning (not sure how it can work out) to donate part of my professional fees/commissions on a regular basis for this cause.

And I will continue to do something to raise money within my means. I hope you can join me. How do Siafu ants kill an elephant? By having many Siafus do it together! I believe we can…

Time to walk the talk. Easter is coming. We reach out to our friends, colleagues and family. Yet there are people out there right now who are wondering why, if there ever was a God, will allow such great pain to befall them. Let’s look outside our world and see how much help is needed, and stretch out our hands to do something for them.

Hope you will join me. Here’s a song I wrote today for this cause.

Making A Difference written by Ronald Wong @ 2009

Keep Walking

It achieves alot in the Master’s hands!!!

During Asia Conference 2008, I had the chance to fellowship with some delegates whom I met and chatted while queuing up to enter the halls (what else can you do when you’re stuck in the queue?), having meals, during electives, etc.

Many of them were excited, but for some of them, beneath that cloak of excitment was a body of uncertainty, fear and doubt – lack of workers, lack of resources, lack of money, etc… problems problems problems…

I was reminded of life itself – people who are discouraged by the recession, downcast by retrenchment, outsourcing and pay freeze, fearful of the uncertain future… even I myself was going through financial turmoil that God knows only His Hand can deliver!

Yet I believe 2009 is gonna be the best year yet!

I just thought of this song which I wrote in 2006, inspired by Pastor Kong’s message on Shamgar during Emerge conference in 2006.

These 2 verses are the inspirations to the song. Hope it encourages you!

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.” Judges 3:31 (NKJV)

“In the time of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the time of Jael, Public roads were abandoned, travelers went by backroads. Warriors became fat and sloppy, no fight left in them. ” Judges 5:6 (The Message)

Need For Someone To Stand Up

There was a need – for someone bold enough to rise up and make a difference! Why? Philistines were opressing the children of Israel. The roads were unsafe. Someone could just get shot walking on it! Imagine terrorism today!

The Israelites were afraid. Israelites often perceived themselves to be “grasshoppers”. The Philistines were giants – Goliath was an example of one of them. And he struck so much fear in Israel’s camp, until no warrior dare to step up to challenge him.

A small shepard boy called David – stood up and slain Goliath with a smooth stone and the giant’s own sword.

Shamgar stood up and killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. How about you?

One man stood up to make a difference. With what? An oxgoad – a farming equipment. With the oxgoad, he killed 600 Philistines single handedly, and delivered Israel.

What do you see yourself today? A grasshopper? Poor? Young? Inexperienced? Small?

The PISS Stood Up

City Harvest Church was started with only 20 young people. They were the PISS (sorry) of the Singapore Christian Circle – Poor, Inexperienced, Students, Small.

BUT they had the passion of David and the courage of Shamgar. Today we have over 23000 members and still growing! We just hosted the Asia Conference 2008 with 25,000 delegates from over 72 countries.

What could have happened if for one moment the founders – Pastor Kong and Sun did not have the courage to step out? To Crossover? To reach out to people beyond the four walls of the Church? To walk the talk and commit themselves to humanitarian acts? To make a difference in other’s lives? To live out the Cultural Mandate and the Great Commission?

You won’t be reading this article then because there won’t be that inspiration. I’ll still be that street punk who did not know Christ 15 years ago.

What You Have Is Treasure In The Master’s Hands

Friends, God can use you beyond your perceived limitations!

What do you have in your hand?

A congregation with 100 people but not enough workers?

A business stuck deep in debt and recession?

Retrenched with only $10 in the bank and a family to feed?

Whatever you have, make a covenant with God today – and He will bless and multiply it! Have faith in God! Make a covenant with God based on what you have, not what you wish you had. God takes FAITH in the NOW, not “if only’s”!

Your failed business can be your oxgoad that will buy bigger Companies. Your $10 can be your oxgoad that will bring in that net breaking boat sinking return – when you put it in God’s hands!

So, what do you have in your hand?

A 9-5 job? $100? A guitar and passion? God can use them!

A little boy’s lunchbox of 5 loaves and 2 fishes fed 5000 men

A tired, discouraged fisherman net in boat sinking, net breaking catch

A widow ready to die gave her last morsel of food to the prophet and found abundance to last a long, long time.

What do you have on your hands? Why don’t you place in your Master’s hands? I hope that through this song, the Holy Spirit will do a life changing work in your spirit and life, put flesh and breathe life to the dry bones and resurrect the dead!

The song goes like this:

Just Like Shamgar © 2006 Written by Ronald Wong

Don’t Give Up – Be A Mighty Man of Valour!

I hope this song will encourage you to always look to your vision and dreams, and the God who breathed them.

Don’t give up. Be strong and courageous! Your ministry and dreams will flourish like durians in the fields!

All things are possible through Christ who lives in you!

Attend the “Shamgar Conference” – it’s just started – right here, right now, in your room or wherever you are.

Stop what you are doing now, and pray. Commit what you have to God once again. Trust Him to turn your little into much!

2009 is gonna be the best year yet!

Keep walking!

Now, I have to say that I am not a trained or pro-songwriter. No training classes, no mentors although I did send some of the songs to KC for comments over Myspace and he gave some valuable tips. “Songwriting for Dummies” from the National Library was the only book I read.

For most of the parts, I wrote tunes with my limited vocabulary of rhymes, progressions that I learnt from playing songs in Church/Pop/Jazz music. And the lyrics came mainly from parts and fragments of my life.

Somehow, from each song, I can recall a season of my life which I encountered. This I learnt from the psalmist David. This song, however is one that I remember differently. 2 friends came to my mind. Veron and Mark. Both committed suicide at different points in my christian walk.

I was just wondering… if I had caught up with them regularly, and known what was going through in their life, would it have made a difference?

This song depicts a person on the brink of suicide due to life’s troubles – economy meltdown, financial turmoil, relationship breakup, or even disappointed with people. Could be a Christian. Could even be my friend or your friend right now.

This song is written to remember my 2 friends who committed suicide, and a handful of my friends I have known in my 15 years in church who is no longer in church today – beautiful people who turned into angry, disappointed, bitter people because of our imperfections. That they have a REAL friend who cares. It could be me or it could be you, or it could even be the Holy Spirit. Whatever happens, he is never gonna be alone.

May this song be a reminder to all – that life is precious. And we have only 1 life to live, and many lives to build. Live well! Be a REAL friend to someone!

You’ve Got A Friend Music and Lyrics by Ronald Wong © 2006

Keep walking!

I owe alot to this great Church, Pastor Kong and it’s leadership. If not for them, I will not have been who I am today. 15 years ago, I came to CHC, hoping to find a girlfriend. Haha… guess what… I found God instead and a good wife many years later. And here I am today

In 1995, I have serious thoughts about quitting my polytechnic studies to earn some good money selling pirated VCDs (I was very poor then and wanted to make more money!). If not for Pastor Kong challenging us to do our best, to do well, I would certainly have left school and my life would be a totally different ball game now – no studies, won’t have joined the RSAF, won’t have the chance to travel to Arizona, won’t have the chance to further my studies and do well in life. Changed my life.

20 years as a Church… it’s a great Church! We went through so much… people come, people go, we had battles after battles… yet we are still here!

One thing never change all these while – that is our fervency in prayer. As a church, we changed and changed, but prayer is one thing we have never. And prayer changes lives!

Happy 20th anniversary City Harvest

We Will Pray (CHC 20th Anniversary) Written by Ronald Wong

Keep Walking!!

I will suppose suddenly all things will become possible! I mean, walking down Orchard Road – see a blind man busking in the underground tunnel. TOUCH and he sees! Walk further down the tunnel, a crippled man was selling tissue paper. TOUCH and he walks! Walk past Mount Elizabeth Hospital. An ambulance was turning into the A&E. Out on a stretcher came an unconscious old man, badly burnt by fire with blood all around. I shouted “BE HEALED!!” and up he comes and his skin all restored, jumping with joy!

And the list of possibilities. I can imagine I can even walk on water like Peter and never sink!

This was what I thought about suddenly one day. I was feeling very bored. Life seems so mundane. Sleep, wake up, go to work, go home, watch TV, sleep and the cycle repeats. Life is so predictable! I wanted something more, I want to see things through the eyes of Jesus!

His vision, being and actions are all possibilities. Nothing He sees is impossible to be done. And He said we can all have it in His words:

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

“everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

“all things are possible for God” Mark 10:27

Start to dream again what you cast off as impossible in the past. Put on the eyes of Jesus and SEE the world ful of possibilities!

Here’s a song I wrote:

Through Your Eyes Lyrics and Music by Ronald Wong

Keep Walking!!