Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The thing that matters most about your music ministry in 2016 will not be how well you perform but rather how good and faithful you are.

Keeping Your Promises to God

Keeping Your Promises to God

Psalm 61:8 

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. 

                Biblical scholars differ in their understanding of the Hebrew word shalam (7999).  Opinions include perform, fulfill, render, restore, peace, finish, pay, etc.  The context of each Hebrew thought caused the various exegetes to use the various English words. 

                In the context of verse 8, which is a musical discourse, I believe that it was just to render shalam as perform.  You see that is what Christian musicians do.  They perform music!  Perform is not a word with negative connotations.  How Christians perform is what matters not merely that they perform, fulfill, or render their music unto God.  Any sinner can crank out a religious song.

                David performed his vows unto God by singing praise unto Elohiym (430) the supreme God.  This musician performed his vows unto God every day.  Every day David performed “unto thy name” as he praised the supreme God through musicing unto the plurality of Deity.  God’s creation (music) provided David the means of grace necessary to worship God. 

                Christian musician have you made any vows unto God for this next year?  Have you promised God that you will give Him back all of the musical talent that he has given you to the best of your ability in 2016?  Will you endeavor to keep your promises to God by performing music unto God every opportunity that you are given in 2016?

 

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

“Whether Wesley did or didn't use drinking songs is not really the issue. Rather, the issue is why Wesley did or didn't use them. Wesley found the close association of hymn text and tune (even commonly referred to as a "wedding") to be of such importance that the use of tavern songs was beneath consideration. It was never a possibility.”  http://www.umcdiscipleship.org

What Kind of Music Did Charles and John Wesley Use? Part 2

What Kind of Music Did Charles and John Wesley Use? Part 2

            The Wesleys did use secular music with their hymns on some occasions.  However, there is not a shred of evidence that they used melodies that had been created as concomitants to sensual songs used in the taverns in England.  By the term “secular” I simply mean that this music was not originally composed as a concomitant to a sacred text. I do not mean that the Wesley’s used music that was originally “anti- Christ” in its original enactment.  Surely twenty first century Christian musicians should understand that the Wesleys were very aware of some secular music’s association with bawdy themes and the ribald manner in which they were often used in taverns in England.

            There is absolutely no scholarly basis for the notion that they used such music with the hymns they used in public worship. I would also like to point out at this point in this short discussion that, bases on what is now known about the secular music they used, there was absolutely no contradistinction of style between the secular melodies that the Wesleys used and other melodies that were written especially for use with their hymns.  This certainly could not be said of many of the tunes and the styles of music that was often used in the late twentieth century and now in this century to accompany religious music.

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

“Wesley's aesthetic to "above all sing spiritually" simply would not allow drinking songs to accompany hymn texts.” http://www.umcdiscipleship.org

What Kind of Music Did Charles and John Wesley Use? Part 1

What Kind of Music Did Charles and John Wesley Use? Part 1

            What kind of melodies, rhythms and harmonies did Charles and John Wesley use to accompany their hymns?  A multitude of twentieth century authors who were Christians and others who were non-believers jumped to conclusions about the use of drinking and barroom music by the Wesley’s.  In an article titled Debunking the Wesley Tavern Song Myth Dean McIntyre very succinctly, in six short explanations, puts to rest that silliness that the Wesleys used tavern or saloon song tunes with their hymns. (See:http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/debunking-the-wesley-tavern-song-myth)

            In Mclntyre’s article he also quells another myth about the Wesley’s music.  “The oft-repeated legend results from some poor, misinformed person who confused the medieval literary bar form, also sometimes known as “bar tune”, with songs commonly used in taverns in England.  “Once spoken out of ignorance, the confused version took on a life of its own and seemingly grows with each repetition.” (ibid.)  An explanation of Bar Form is as follows:  Bar “In music, the structural pattern aab as used by the medieval German minnesingers and meistersingers, who were poet-composers of secular monophonic songs (i.e., those having a single line of melody). The modern term Bar form derives from a medieval verse form, the Bar, consisting of three stanzas, each having the form aab. The musical term thus refers to the melody of a single stanza, the a sections (called Stollen) having the same melody, and the b section (Abgesang) having a different melody.”  (http://www.britannica.com/art/Bar-form)

            I am amazed that in this century Christian writers continue to make unfounded assertions such as the erroneous “Bar Tune” notion.  Surely a writer should think twice before jumping to conclusions based on a misguided musician’s notions, if he or she has any desire to be credible.  There is a vast difference between “Bar Form” and “Bar Tune”.  Frankly, this type of musical ignorance is perpetuated most often by church musicians who do not have an understanding of the history of Western music or the history of church music.  In their misguided, misinformed zeal they grasp at false notions and half-truths when they are trying to justify some particular style or styles of music in public worship musicing.  Intellectual honesty in the writings of Christian musicians is an absolute must if a Christian’s music philosophy is going to be credible in this enlightened century.

Musicing—Spiritual Things—part 2

Musicing—Spiritual Things—part 2

1Corinthins 2:13, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

              Music often takes preeminence over preaching in many post-modern and post postmodern churches.  When it does, that assembly of believers is following a philosophy based on the wisdom of the matrix of this present world rather than the wisdom which the Holy Spirit teaches.  Postmodern and post postmodern church philosophy considers a longer sermon and a shorter period of singing to be “weak” and therefore unwise.  I Corinthians 1:25 reminds us that, “...the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

            Corporate worship through singing is a valuable means of grace to the believer.  Singing can be a valuable teaching tool.  Singing can be used by the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.  However, verse 18 above states that preaching is “the power of God.”  Music, although it has power and charm is never spoken of in the Bible as the “power of God”.  Verse twenty of chapter one of I Corinthians says, “Where is the wise (sophos 4680) Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer (suzetetes 4804) of this world (aion 165) Hath not God made foolish (moraino 3471) the wisdom (sophia 4678) of this world (kosmos 2889)."

Scripture for the Day

Scripture for the Day

1Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

 

Musicing--to God and People—part 1

Musicing--to God and People—part 1

Ephesians 5:19-20, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

            Although worship music used in church today should be to “one another” and “to yourselves”, it should always function as a musical offering to God and not a musical entertainment for the people.  Since worship music should cause the people to “muse” or think it should never be an amusement.  It should edify (draw the people closer to God) rather than to entertain the congregation.  So, the fact that church music is not the primary communicator of grace does not mean that it is not very important or that it does not matter.  On the contrary, Church Music Matters very much when it comes to the matter of communicating grace.

              Since worship music should cause the people to “muse” or think it should never be an amusement.  It should edify (draw the people closer to God) rather than to entertain the congregation.  So, the fact that church music is not the primary communicator of grace does not mean that it is not very important or that it doesn’t matter.  On the contrary, Church music matters very much when it comes to the matter of communicating grace.

 

Chorus and Thought for the Day

Chorus for the Day Emmanuel by Bob McGee

Thought for the Day

Today is the day after all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Contemplate on the fact that He will be with you today and every day of this year.

 

Christ’s Coming brought us Everlasting Life

Christ’s Coming brought us Everlasting Life

            Today is December 26.  I am thinking about the fact that God the Father sent His Son to suffer and die for all of us because,  as John 3:16 explains, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Wow!  That is a happy thought to begin this day after Christmas.  I want to stress that in Christ Jesus we all can have everlasting life.  Now that does not mean that we will not die someday, but it does mean that if we are born-again we have everlasting spiritual life. 

            So, we should begin this day after Christmas with the joyful thought that when we are in Christ we have everlasting life. God the Father gave us the most wonderful gift that has ever been given to mankind.  He gave His only begotten Son! 1John 4:9 reminds us all that, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”  That is surely a most happy thought.  We who are in Christ Jesus actually have life through Him!

Song and thought for the Day

Song for the Day Joy to the World by Isaac Watts

Thought for the Day

It is not too late to include Christ in Christmas if He has been pushed to the side by legitimate things.  Today is His birthday so you can celebrate His coming.  Start by reading the Christmas story to your family before you open gifts.

 

What Christmas Day Means to Me

What Christmas Day Means to Me

Isaiah 9, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
          Today is December 25^th and it is the very exciting day that many have been looking forward to celebrating.  Today is the day that we celebrate the coming of our savior who is: Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.  I have been contemplating just what all these names of God mean and also what the coming of our Savior on this Christmas day means to me.  Certainly it reminds me of the old, old story of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.  Our children are all grown now and have their own homes and live very busy productive lives.  Our house is normally almost empty on Christmas.  My wife and I normally get up and eat our usual breakfast without any special fanfare. 
            However, Christmas is not about our empty nest on Christmas day.  It is about CHRIST!  I do not know what will happen or not happen today, but I do know what this day means to me.  It means that my Savior Jesus Christ left the portals of Heaven to come to this sin-cursed world.  Christmas means that provision was made for this Kansas farmer to have spiritual life.  I not only have spiritual life but this life in Christ can and is an abundant life!  So, today I am going to think only happy thoughts!

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day It Came upon the Midnight Clear  by Edmund H. Sears

Thought for the Day

This is the day before Christmas so celebrate Christ as you go through this busy day.  Meditate on the fact that sometime in the wee hours of this night He became “God with us” in a real way.  Just as wonderful is the fact that He can be with you as he lives in your heart today.

God’s only Son Came to Earth

God’s only Son Came to Earth

Luke 2:6-7, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

            Today in December 24^th and this night will be filled with expectancy of Christ’s birth over 2,000 years ago on this wonderful night.  (The big boys and the big thinkers are not sure when He came.  If you will allow my imagination to  run wild, I would like to think that that Christ was born this night—sometime after midnight in Bethlehem.)

            My firstborn daughter is thousands of miles away from our home in Cincinnati Ohio on this Christmas Eve.  That’s no big deal you see because God’s only Son was far away on that night many, many years ago.  (The big boys say that He wasn’t far away because He is Omni-present.) I do not know about all of that, but I do know that St. John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”(KJV)  I want to thank God and my Savior Jesus Christ, who was obedient to the will of the Father, for Christ coming to this Earth to redeem sinful men like me!  I also want to thank my daughter for being obedient to follow God’s plan for life that took her thousands of miles away to minister to others.

Sonf and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Linda Lee Johnson

Thought for the Day

With only two more days until we celebrate Christ’s birth,  if you haven’t already, it is time to start planning ways to make the 25^th of December a BLESSED DAY.  Think of ways to honor and bless Jesus Christ on that very special day.

 

Only Two More Days

Only Two More Days

Mark 8:38, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

            Today is the 23^rd of December.  Everyone is advertising that there are ONLY two more shopping days until Christmas!    What would happen if we as Christian musicians were that open and showed that same kind of urgency about people knowing our Lord Jesus Christ?  What impact would it have on those around us if we were to tell them that there is ONLY two more days for you to find our precious Lord as your personal Savior if you are going to truly have a personal relationship with Him this Christmas?  It is time for Christians to take Christ with us to the public arena.

            During the Christmas season Christian musicians have a wonderful opportunity to take the good news of the gospel to those who are basically unchurched.  Everyone is out shopping and they are not surprised or offended when they hear singing at public places.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke all instruct Christians to “go ye” St. Matthew specifically states, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”  Every time I go into a shopping mall during the Christmas season I am impressed at the diversity of cultures and nationalities that are represented there. Christian musician you should find some public venue where you can sing and play about the Good News of Christ’s comings to “all nations”.

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day Constantly Abiding by Anne S. Murphy 

Thought for the Day

You may think it a bit strange that I have picked this song to sing throughout this day.  It is very special to me because God brought the words to my attention that morning  in June of 1976 after I was saved the night before—“There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave, A peace that it cannot take away.”  I still have that peace in my heart on the 22^nd of December many years later.

 

A Day Filled With Excitement

St. John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

            Today is December 22^nd and it can be filled with joy and expectancy a you anticipate Christmas day approaching.  Just think of it, Christ’s birthday is coming in three days!  I do not know of any time of the year that is any more exciting than the Advent season.   I would like for you to consider throughout this day Christ’s words in John 10:10b “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

            The greatest choice that have ever made in my life was when I walked up that aisle of the Eastern Kansas Camp and surrendered my life to Jesus.  Where would I be today if I had had not repented of my awful sins and accepted Christ as my personal Savior?  All of this was made possible because Christ Came to this earth, was born of a virgin, and was obedient to the will of the Father.  So, I now have life eternal and the solid hope of heaven because of God’s gift of His Son.  I am excited about Christmas and all that it means to me.  I want to celebrate His birth with joy as I remember God’s gift of eternal life that has been given to me through Jesus Christ my Lord.  I am also excited because he has gone to prepare a place for me in heaven.

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day There’s a Song in the Air by Josiah G. Holland

Thought for the Day

Because the Christian musician is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, he or she has peace and daily access to God’s Grace. There are many mean of grace available to the believer, do take advantage of them during this advent season.

I Have Access to God’s Grace

I Have Access to God’s Grace

            Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” 

            Today is the 21^st of December.  Think of what Mary and Joseph thought when he realized that “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18”) and that… “he shall save his people from their sins.” (vs.21)  I am sure that Joseph’s mind was in a whirl as he contemplated Christ’s birth. I am glad that both Mary and Joseph were both willing to obey God. 

            Because of their obedience they were able to be used in The Father’s great plan of salvation.  I am so thankful for a perfect covenant that made it possible for my sins to be forgiven.  Why wouldn’t I be happy during this Christmas season?  “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)  So, I will be rejoicing in the “the glory of God” because of the fact that by faith I have access to God’s saving grace. 

Song and Thought Foe the Day

Song for the Day The First Noel –Traditional English Carol

Thought for the Day

If a musician wishes for his or her musicing, during the Christmas season, to be efficacious, he or she should spend more time with Him.  Those who know God are able to music much more effectively for him than those who merely know a lot about God.

The Angels Praised God

The Angels Praised God

Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

            The Greek word lego (3004) is translated “saying” in the AV.  I like to think that the angels sang the glad tidings that evening.  I do not have any proof for my notion but I still like the idea anyway.  I do not look to have peace on the earth during advent this year, but I will have peace in my heart and that is what matters. 

            There is another part of this Scripture we should follow this Christmas season.  Verse fourteen says “good will toward men.”  Christian musicians need to check up on their attitudes during advent this year.  Ask yourself, “do I have good will toward all men?”  Advent has historically been a time of preparation for Christ’s second coming as well as a time of looking forward to Christmas.  Certainly, I do not want to go through the advent with a lack of good will toward others.

 

Song and Scripture for the Day

Song for the Day O Come, O Come Emmanuel --Latin Hymn

Scripture Thought for the Day

Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  As has been said before in these Advent posts, this season should be about both Christ’s first and second coming.

 

It Wasn’t Just Any Baby

It Wasn’t Just Any Baby

Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

            I was looking at the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel and this verse stood out to me.  I wonder what went through these shepherd’s minds when the angel proclaimed, “You shall find THE baby.”  The angel wasn’t talking about just any baby.  This baby was the Son of God.  These men were keeping the night watch over their sheep so that wild animals would not kill them.  I have often wondered why God sent one of His angels to these humble hard working men. 

            Although I have no evidence to prove my theory, these men must have been very knowledgeable of the prophecies concerning Christ’s birth.  Lu 2:11 simply tells us that the angel announced to these men, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”  They had no doubt been looking for the Messiah to come, but it is somewhat unlikely that they were thinking that He would be born at that time.  My thoughts are that during this Advent season Christian musicians believe that Jesus will return, but many busy musicians aren’t looking for him to come today or tomorrow

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

A Christian musician should not be squeezed into the world’s mold when it comes to how one views the Advent season.  Christ is not even thought about by many people who are caught in the hustle and bustle of the busy days before Christmas.  Making Christ the reason for the season is a choice that will make all the difference in the Advent season.

 

 

 

The Historical Position Concerning Advent

The Historical Position Concerning Advent

Hebrews 9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

            Advent is historically a season of looking forward, waiting, and preparing the Christian musician’s heart for both the annual celebration of the event of Christ's birth, and for the second coming of Christ. Christian musicians need to be looking for Christ’s return with waiting expectation even unto the end.  During my lifetime Advent has been almost completely about looking forward to Christmas with little or no emphasis on preparing our hearts and lives for His second coming.

            Historically, Advent has been a season of heart preparation much like the season of Lent.  Although both Advent and Lent should be filled with inner joy, they should both be a time of positive introspection.  Christmas is a time of remembering God’s gift of His only Son who was born in a manger, live among men and die on a cruel cross on Calvary.  Lent is a time of remembering that God’s Son Jesus Christ the righteous came to this earth be God with us, suffer and die for the sins of the whole world.  So, we as Christian musicians should make the Advent season a joyful time of heart preparation.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

It is one thing for parents to bring a baby to an altar in a Church and dedicate that infant to the Lord, but it is another thing to still be willing for the Lord to have His way in that person’s life when he or she is getting on an airplane to fly thousands of miles away to serve the Lord.

In the Will of God at Christmas

In the Will of God at Christmas

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

       Today is my firstborn daughter Deanna’s birthday.  At the time I am writing this devotional, she is thousands of miles away from us today.  She is a pastor’s wife in northern Ireland.  Before she was born God knew who she was and what He wanted her to be doing right now.  He sanctified or “set her apart’ and ordained her to be a minister’s wife who would minister to the nations.

       You may have loved ones who are ministering far, far from home today.  You and I need to constantly be reminded that God is awake.  Nothing slips up on Him.  There is no luck, happenstance and nothing startles God, because, in His awesome wisdom, He always knows what is best.

       I would rather have my children thousands of miles away from me serving God than to have them all around my table but out of the will of God for their lives.  With that in mind, we will celebrate the birth of God’s son Jesus Christ with joy and full confidence that He is working out his purpose in our lives.  My heavenly Father sent His only Son to Die.  I only sent my daughter to serve Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord I want to thank You for giving me an older brother that loved me enough to give me what was at that time an unwanted gift.  I want to also thank You for giving your son to pay the awful penalty for my sins.  I also want to thank You for sending the Holy Spirit  to convict me of the awfulness of my sinful life.  Because of two unwanted gifts, I am Your adopted son today.  Thank You for caring for my soul.  Amen.

Song for the Day Love Lifted Me by James Rowe

Thought for the Day

As the Christmas season is now here and you will be giving gifts to others, try to give gifts to your unsaved friends and family members that will, cause them to think about their lost spiritual condition.

 

 

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord I want to thank You for giving me an older brother that loved me enough to give me what was at that time an unwanted gift.  I want to also thank You for giving your son to pay the awful penalty for my sins.  I also want to thank You for sending the Holy Spirit  to convict me of the awfulness of my sinful life.  Because of two unwanted gifts, I am Your adopted son today.  Thank You for caring for my soul.  Amen.

 

Song for the Day Love Lifted Me by James Rowe

Thought for the Day

As the Christmas season is now here and you will be giving gifts to others, try to give gifts to your unsaved friends and family members that will, cause them to think about their lost spiritual condition.

 

 

The Unwanted Gift

The Unwanted Gift

Proverbs 17:7, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  Romans 1:11, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.”

            Today is December 16th  and it is my oldest brother Dr. David Wolf’s birthday.  Thinking about his birthday has caused me to remember a gift that he gave me many years ago.  We all like to receive gifts but this gift was different. It was a beautiful and expensive gift but that did not matter to me because I did not want to receive it.  It is what I call the unwanted gift.  I cannot remember when he gave it to me but I will never forget the fact that he brought it with him when he came home from the US Navy.  The unwanted gift was a Bible.

            The reason that I did not want it was because I was not a Christian at that time and had no intension of trading it.  David has given me many fine gifts over the years but this was the greatest gift that he has ever given to me.  That is saying  lot because he once gave me a car!  It was  great gift because it brought me face to face with my lost condition.  It made me think about the fact that I was very sinful and needed to confess my sins and give my heart to God. 

            There was an even greater gift that was given to sinful men and women—that gift was God’s giving of his only son Jesus Christ to come to this sinful world to live, suffer, and give His life on a cruel cross at Calvary.  Many sinful men and women have not yet received that wonderful gift, but thanks be to God, He gave His only begotten Son to die for them.  My brother gave a gift to me because he loved me.  God gave His only son for sinful men and women because he loved us all with a wonderful unfathomable love.  Make sure that you tell someone about this wonderful gift this Advent season.

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day Children of the Heavenly Father by Caroline Sandell-Berg 

Thought for the Day

In Mark 10:14, Jesus said, “…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”  Christ was very interested in children.  Take time this Advent season to include children in your pre-Christmas plans.  If you do, Jesus will be pleased.

 

Involving Children in the Advent Season

Involving Children in the Advent Season

Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

            A good way to involve children in this season is to make an Advent calendar.  As far as I can tell, Advent calendars can be traced back to the 19th.century.  I think that the first calendars came from the protestant Christians. These calendars provided a space for each day in December through Christmas Eve. Parents should make spiritual things a major part of the events which are marked in this Calendar.  Remember, the Bible teaches that children learn precept by precept.

            The Christmas season is an excellent opportunity for children to learn about Jesus’ coming and to “make happy memories” at the same time.  Children should remember this season as a joyful time.  So, make the real thing that matters during the month of December Christ’s coming to this earth.  I remember several years ago when our family went to the Cincinnati zoo to see the Christmas lights.  It was a wonderful night and the lights were exquisite in their brilliance, color, and beauty.  However, the thing I remember the most was our family riding the train.  I remember so vividly that as we rounded the corner on the bridge over the pond our grandson Caiden (who was at that time just a tiny boy) burst into a portion of a song he had learned, “Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down.  Here I am to say that You’re my God. Altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me.”  Needless to say there were many tears of joy as he serenaded us in that public arena that night.

Song and Giding Principle for Advent

Song for the Advent

 Others by Charles D. Meigs

Lord, help me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayer shall be for—Others.

Refrain

Others, Lord, yes others,

Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others,

That I may live like Thee

   Help me in all the work I do

To ever be sincere and true

And know that all I’d do for You

Must needs be done for—Others

   Let “Self” be crucified and slain

And buried deep: and all in vain

May efforts be to rise again,

Unless to live for—Others

   And when my work on earth is done,

And my new work in Heav’n’s begun,

May I forget the crown I’ve won,

While thinking still of—Others.

A Guiding Principle Advent

            We are now in the heart of Advent. Yesterday we discussed very briefly God’s love for us and His desire that live our lives for others.  I got the bright idea of making the refrain of this song a theme for this Advent

Others, Lord, yes others,

Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others,

That I may live like Thee.

            It makes sense that we should spend at least part of our time during the Christmas season “thinking” and “doing” with others in mind.  “Help me in all the work I do to ever be sincere and true and know that all I’d do for You must needs be done for—Others.”  In order for this to be accomplished Christian musicians must pray, Let “Self” be crucified and slain and buried deep: and all in vain may efforts be to rise again, unless to live for—Others.”

 

God’s Love for Us

God’s Love for Us

1John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

            God sent His only begotten Son to this earth as a baby in a manger rather than as a ruler and conqueror who dominated the world with great fear and power.  This gift to mankind was a great demonstration of the Father’s love for sinful men and women.  1John 4:9 attests to this fact when it states, ”In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

            As we celebrate Christs coming to this earth, we should emphasize, through our musicing and our actions, that Jesus suffered and died so that we “might live through him.”  The life that our first birth affords to us is very ephemeral.  Christian musicians are well aware of St. John 3:16 but we are often not as familiar with 1John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  As we celebrate Advent we should remember that a Christian’s life, if it is going to follow the will of Christ, is not about self but rather about others.

 

A Ruler Who Would “Feed” His People

A Ruler Who Would “Feed” His People

Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

            We are told that the name Ephratah (672) was the ancient name for Bethlehem. It means “fruitful” which is significant because it was a very small city but it was chosen because it was the place where Joseph would have to be to register for the Roman census of Caesar Augustus at the time Christ was born.

            Beyth Lechem (1035) i.e. Bethlehem means “the house of bread”. Matthew 2:6 explains, “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”  This Governor was promised to be different than the Quirinius who was the Governor of Syria. Christ was to rule poimaino (4165), but this word connotes one who “feeds”.  So God promised that, from the “fruitful” “house of bread”, one would come who would “feed”. Today  is Sunday--it is the day that we go to church to worship God and to receive strength and sustenance from God--we should rejoice n the knowledge that Our God is a ruler who feeds.

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day He Shall Feed his Flock from Messiah by G. F.. Handel

Thought for the Day

Christ’s first coming fulfilled the ancient promise that Christ would be a shepherd who would take care of His people.  Christ’s second coming will be the fulfillment that He will take care of those who love and serve him—forever.

Thought and Song for the Day

Scripture Thought for the Day

Malachi 3:2, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap…”  

Song for the Day Refiner’s Fire by Brian Doerksen

Sounding Brass and Clanging Symbols

Sounding Brass and Clanging Symbols  

1Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

            Those of you who have read my Book Music of the Bible know where I’m heading with this devotional today.  The words “sounding brass or a tinkling symbol” are derived from the Greek words echeo chalkos (2278 4575) and alalazo kumbalon (214 2950). Marcus Vitruvius Pollio the Roman architect and acoustician believed that these words refer to the sounding vases in the outdoor theaters. According to him these vases were tuned chromatically and therefore amplified the human voice, but the sound was somewhat hollow. The musicing of those who do so without charity, i.e. agape love (26), is something like the sound of those actors and singers whose voices were amplified by the sounding vases.  This musician’s sound, to the ears of God, is hollow and without effectuality.

            During the Advent season every musician who musics in the name of God must be sure that his or her heart is right with God.  Effectual musicing is not about talent but rather it is about relationship.  In the Old Testament spiritual economy, Mal 3:3 explains, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”  If these old Testament Levite musicians were required to have their hearts purged, refined and purified in order unto the LORD a righteous offering, surely in this century musicians need to have a pure heart.