Updates on my upcoming album.
So... at first you might think that 'Refined and Learning' means that my style is changing. Crossed Out is completed and I've learned a lot about how to write and record. In a way it does, for my second CD should be way ahead of the first one in musical style. But the real meaning behind Refined and Learning is the heart condition of letting go of all things and letting Christ be the whole. When you are refined and learning... you know you are!

Here on Refined and Learning (ReAL), the main focus is to challenge the listener to change in that manner. To let go of all that's false. All of our sins. Crossed Out's songs each had their own point, but Refined and Learning is entirely devoted to one point. Letting go and letting GOD. Here is a list of songs that might possibly end up on Refined and Learning.

Refined and Learning
It is the founding song for the album, of course, and will definitely be on it. This song is a faster style (think 'Vacancy', Cross Movement's 'Huh, What', etc.) The entire song was written on July 4th week, 2002. The focus of the song is that of the album. It's a challenge to see if you're really following God's will. I am not the judge, though.. you are. The music is not recorded but I know what I want. I will just have to get it there.

Guard Your Heart
Is this song long or what? It has four verses! It is about Satan coming first through your thoughts. Then you began to talk about it. If you still haven't disguarded his ideas, you will begin to 'act' in his likeness. Your actions then beccome habits, then your way of life. The chorus concludes with "as you walk down through the miles, you will find that in the end, you wish you could start again. So guard your heart." Music has been concieved but not recorded.

Hip-Hop Superstar
It's a dedication to most, if not all, secular rappers. It is a calling for them to stop spreading the message of Satan through their songs, for they have many fans and followers. What an excellent thing it would be to see the same amount of people who live the hip-hop culture, to instead praise God in their ways! Music will be bangin', but not planned out yet.

Get Saved
Seven is our lucky number this time! This song is, quite simply, a call to repentance. It was written by someone else, but I added to it. It's mostly his song, but I have a part in it where I argue with what he says, and he corrects me. Very cool. You'll like. No ideas for music yet.

We're Gonna Win, You're Gonna Lose
This is the one that brings down the house. Trust me on this one. I won't tell you too much about it, so as not to water it down. I will tell you this much though. We're gonna WIN - you're gonna LOSE!!! More at 11.

Game Over
This track was written on my own. It's about Satan's craftiness and the Lord's forgiveness. The verses and choruses on this song are wrapped around titles of video games. Video game fans will be sitting beside the speakers counting titles they hear throughout the song. So how many references to video games, you ask.. 20? 25? Think more. =0) Music is mostly thought out, but not recorded.

Fall Short
This another song that was co-written. This song is the tale of creation, the fall, and the cross. What does it tell us? "God - can - will - has - given everything so we could share His love. Man can't - won't - stops - falls short of the Glory of God." No music recorded.

Think Twice
This song was written in September 2002. It is based on a true story of an old man that a few friends and I met while at a picnic. Though total strangers, he told us how badly he lived his life, and how we could learn from his mistakes. His main idea was, "Think twice before you make a move." It could be argued that we should not worry about tomorrow. But this wasn't what he was talking about. He was speaking along the lines of "Before you build a tower, calculate the cost." Music is sitting in my head waiting to be spilled out onto a track.

Jesus Revealed in Me
Short and sweet: based on the hymn; no music.

Hyper Type of Cypha
Cypha sessions decorate the end of every Cross Movement CD. A cypha is not a traditional song with verses and choruses. It is more like a thought-out freestyle session. One rapper after another takes the mic and spits his rhyme. I have an idea for the music, think: Cross Movement's 'Rise Up'. My part is written, and I hope to have others who have written songs for this album to add to it.

More information....
There are other songs that are not finished yet. There are people that I haven't mentioned who are involved on this. There are people I plan on asking to help, but haven't yet. There is even a song planned that only four people in the world know about. Refined and Learning will blow Crossed Out right out of the water. Not that that's a good thing, though, CO had some great points to consider. ReAL will too, but it will a lot more fun to listen to and hear those points.

[Hint 16:] (Look at the first word of the first six paragraphs above.)