Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day Come, Ye Thankful People, Come by Henry Alford

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians to not have to re-tool their thinking in the transition from the month when so many countries have special times of thankfulness for God’s blessings , both material and spiritual, which He has bestowed on them in the past months.  The concept of gratitude is a perfect segue into the joy and expectation of the Advent.

Jesus Came to Earth

Jesus Came to Earth

          Today is the last day of November.  It has been a month of harvest thankfulness.  This year we have the opportunity to share the thanksgiving thankfulness of November with the joy and anticipation of the Advent season.  Yesterday we were thankful got the adoption as God’s sons and daughters.  Today as Galatians 4:6 teaches, all Christians should give thanks for the privilege of son-ship, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

            It is a privilege for me to shout with joy, Lord, You are my Father. Think about the fact and miracle of Christ coming to this Earth.  Also it would be a good thing to spend some time thanking and praising God foe sending His Son to be with us.  Matthew 1:23 say, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”  The Advent season is a time that Christians have set aside to worship God for the Gift of His Son.  A we all know, Emmanuel means “God with us”!  Praise God, He was not only with mankind 2,000 years ago, but He is still with us in our hearts tis Advent season.  We should take this reflective and joyful advent season to think about what it means to us that the God who spoke worlds into existence chose to send his Son to be with us.

Song and thought for the Day

Song for the Day Lamb of Glory by Mrs. Walter Taylor

Thought for the Day

Think about it, “When the fullness of time was come” Christ came to earth.  Every Christian musician must remember that when the fullness of time has been accomplished our loving savior Jesus Christ will come the second time.

The Excitement of Advent

The Excitement of Advent

            Today is Sunday November 29^th and it is the beginning of the Advent season this year.  The term Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus and means “the coming”.  Advent is observed for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Although some Churches do not make much mention or fuss over this season, it has been observed by Christian Churches since the fourth century.

            Galatians 4:4-5 explains that, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  It is no wonder that devout Christians have counted the days of Advent with great Joy for many centuries.  Those who have been adopted as sons and daughters of God have a right and a responsibility to look forward to Christ’s coming with exceeding great joy.  So, today I start looking forward to Christ’s birthday with happiness and anticipation!

Song and thought for the Day

Song for the Day Come Ye Thankful People Come by Henry Alfred

Thought for the Day

Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…” Think of it, these people were alienated from God because of blindness in their hearts.

 

They Were Not Thankful

They Were Not Thankful

Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

            This is a month of harvest and thanksgiving. Today when I read this verse it stood out to me as it never had previously.  These people were said to know God but were a people who were not thankful.  It is possible that in the busyness of our musical ministry we can get grumpy and fail to be thankful for all the many blessing that our heavenly Gather has bestowed upon us.

            Also, I noticed that they “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Some Christian musicians are prone to not only know what is wrong with everyone else, but also to constantly imagine negative things that may or may not be completely true.  What came next?  The Bible says that their foolish hearts were darkened.  I looked up the word darkened (skotizo 4654) and guess what, it means?  It means that that their hearts or imaginations became shadowed or dark.  I do not want to let any negative thought to cause my thoughts to darken or obscure the spiritual light that God has given me.

Song and Scriptures for the Day

Song for the Day Worthy is the Lamb by G.F. Handel

Scriptures for the Day

Revelation 5:12, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”  I want to make sure that my soul is prepared to be there to behold what St John the Revelator saw in his heavenly vision which he recounted in Revelation 5:11, “ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” 

Be Thankful unto God

Be Thankful unto God

Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

            I have written on many occasions about this wonderful verse in the Sepher Tehillim. I know that I have not nearly exhausted the content and import of this Scripture.  Today I want to concentrate on two portions of this verse.  First, I want to discuss “be thankful unto him” and second, “bless his name.”

            Since this is the month when many Christians spend special times of being especially thankful, certainly it is appropriate for Christian musicians to be thankful for so many things that they are too numerous to discuss or even list in this short post.  I believe that musicians, and especially those who are Christians, are especially blessed. I like to think that they are some of God’s special people—although in reality all of God’s people are special. 

            Second, the thanksgiving season is one of those special times when musicians are able to “bless His name” with sacred music.  There are nine names of God used in the Sepher Tehillim.  They are YHVH, Adonai, Elohim, El, Elyohn, Adon, YAH, Shaddai and Eloah. An excellent way to “bless His name” would be to study all nine names and let their meanings bless your heart and fill it with blessing and honor for who He is and for what He does for his children.

Prayer and Chorus for the Day

Prayer for the Day

My wonderful LORD, I do not know how to go out and come in before You because you are so wonderful that Your blessings are past finding out.  You are a wonderful Lord and Savior to me.  You have blessed me with a wonderful family and a wonderful wife.  You have bestowed so many wonderful blessings upon me that I am not able to even remember all of them at this time.  You are an awesome God and are truly a friend that sticks closer than my wonderful brothers Nathan and David.  Thank you for the material blessings that you have poured out upon me.  I want to thank you that I am setting on a couch in my son-in–law’s and my daughter’s home in Coleraine Northern Ireland as I type this blog post this morning. Wow! I am not worthy of such a blessing.  Therefore, I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.  Amen and Amen.  Glory and Honor, and blessing belong to you this morning.

Chorus for the Day Bless His Holy Name by Andrae Crouch

 

 

Praying with Thanksgiving

Praying with Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

            I must confess that I have never thought much about praying with thanksgiving until I began to study this verse in Philippians.  Eucharistia (2169) which is translated thanksgiving in this verse has several shade of meaning.  Here is a list of meanings according to Strong’s Concordance: gratitude; actively grateful language to God, as an act of worship, thankfulness, giving of thanksgiving.  Probably most of us have come to our heavenly father in an attitude of complaint, fear, contrition, confession, anxiety or even sheer panic than we ever have in a spirit of thanksgiving.

            The Hebrew words in the phrase “careful for nothing” merimnao medeis (3309 3367) connote “not even one anxiety or having no anxiety”.  So, we are admonished to come to our heavenly Father without any fear or anxiety.  Rather, we are taught to pray with thanksgiving.  This concept of prayer attitude is in keeping with Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Coming boldly certainly indicates trust, belief, and also thankfulness.  Take this day and try praying prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude to God.

 

Prayer and Song for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

I want to thank you Lord that You have made it possible for me to stay productive in my retirement years.  My sincere prayer is that You will make it possible for me to “occupy” until You return the second time or until You take me home to be You in heaven.  Help me to use the talents that You have given me to busy myself with the work of Your heavenly kingdom.  Help me to stir and stimulate ministering musician’s minds and hearts until they will not be weary in well doing.  Help me, by your grace and power, to fight our enemy Satan by exposing his musical stratagems.  This I pray in Your Strong and mighty powerful name.

Song for the Day We’ll Work til Jesus Comes by Elizabeth Mills

 

Christ Is Really Going to Return

Christ Is Really Going to Return

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.”

            Jesus said that if He went away He would come again to take us to the place that he was preparing for those who love and serve Him.  It is no wonder that devout Christians get excited during the Advent season.  The angels announced to the saints  in the Book of Acts 1:11, “…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  When Jesus ascended into heaven what was about to become a sad occasion became a blessed one because these saints were given the promise of Christ’s second Advent.

            Now what are we supposed to do as we approach the Advent season?  One thing is for sure, we should not waste our time writing books about the exact date that Christ will return.  The nobleman of the house, just before he went away, told his servants in Luke 19:13, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”            Pragmateuomai (4231) which is translated occupy here in the AV does not mean that we should go to church and occupy a pew but rather it means to busy oneself with the LORDS work.  In the same manner,  inLuke 24 Jesus said, “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”  So, Christian musician, you should begin in the church where you minister and in the community where you live and work—those places are your “Jerusalem.

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

The musical discourse in Ephesians 5:15-19 admonishes Christian musicians to walk circumspectly, be wise, gain musical understanding, be filled with the Spirit, and to only music unto God with non-carnal music.

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 20

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 20

            Before we finish this discussion on musical sounds, we must consider 1Corinthians 14:15-16 “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?”  The word understanding is translated from the Greek word nous (3563) which means with the intellect or mind.  The writer of the first letter to the Corinthian Christens was careful to include pneuma (4151) and nous as essential when musicing unto God.

           Although musicing under the divine influence of the Holy Spirit was and still is the sine qua non of musicing unto God, musical understanding is also a vital part of sacred music.  Without belaboring the point further, I believe that this musical reference to musical understanding is a Bible principle of musicing unto God.  Why would St. Paul instruct the Corinthian Christians to music with understanding if he knew that it incapable of communicating any meaning whatsoever?

            We should also be reminded that although this part of his letter was a discussion of clear speech in a language; he used a musical reference to explain his point. I see absolutely no reason to believe that his reference was restricted exclusively to singing alone.  I base my belief on his choice of Greek words.  The word used in this verse is psallo (5567) not ode (103).  Psallo means literally to touch the strings of a musical instrument which connotes the production of instrumental musical sounds.  Ado refers to singing.  If he had not intended to refer to singing and instrumental sound he would no doubt have used the word ado. Again I am drawn by this Bible principle of musicing to conclude that St. Paul was saying, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that music communicates meaning which is absolutely essential to having musical understanding.

            So, in conclusion we are brought back to the thought that every Christian musician has the responsibility to “know” what the “joyful sound’ is and to make continuing distinctions between sacred and profane religious music.  Also, every Christian musician must music unto one another and unto God with only non-carnal sounds...  I will bring this discussion to an end with the admonitions found in Ephesians 5:15-19,  "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." 

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

Since music is not a closed system and since it has the capacity to communicate meaning, every musician will have to give an account at the judgment for how he or she influenced people with music.

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 19

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 19

           .Peter Kivy made a statement about strict formalist’s musical believes that is worthy of our consideration in this discussion of musical sounds.  “But isn’t that exactly what the formalists is saying that absolute music is?  Isn’t she saying that the symphonies of Beethoven, the string quartets of Haydn, the organ fugues of Bach are ‘meaningless noise’?  And what greater condemnation could there be of a human enterprise?  You spent your life making meaningless noises.”  Introduction To A Philosophy of Music by Peter Kivy, p.137.  Surely the Christian musician should understand that if religious music is to be considered amoral because it is part of a “closed benign system” that is incapable of communicating meaning, then that Christian musician is spending his or her life producing meaningless noises.

           To me, the “music sounds are amoral” theory just doesn’t make any logical sense philosophically.  Musical sounds do matter because they communicate meaning to everyone who hears them.  Furthermore, I cannot find a shred of evidence either in or out of the Bible that would support the theory that musical sounds are a part of a “closed system”.  If this was true the musician could, contrary to the teaching of the Bible, “live and die to himself” when it comes to the task of producing musical sounds.

 

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

Many times the sounds of a worldly style of music have become addictive and a source of spiritual failure to the sinner. It seems strange to me that a thinking music minister would want to contribute to this sound addiction using the same harmful music.

 

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 18

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 18

            My belief that some musicians will be damaged more because they understand the musical sounds more than others does not put a premium on a Christian’s ignorance of a particular; genre of music; I am merely stating that those who are the most entrenched in worldly styles of music will possibly be the ones who receive the greatest emotional and spiritual damage from performing and listening to it.  This is all the more reason to not pander to the worldly seekers addictions to spiritually harmful styles of music. 

            Christian musicians also must be aware to the sound addictions that some seekers have.  It gives strong impetus to the church to provide the un-churched seeker a diet of “new song” which will be music of a higher renovated character than the music with which they have surrounded themselves.  There is no doubt about it, many sinners will need a renewing of the mind which will not be possible if  church music sounds feed their sinful lusts by that triggering lust and passion.

            At this point in our discussion I find it germane to return to the school of music philosophy called formalism.  When considering the well-known philosophy of strict formalists, it is generally understood that they believe that the meaning of “absolute music” [music without words] is meaningless outside of the music itself.  What that means is that in the real world, the “meaning” of the musical sounds produced from the music written on the score are actually meaningless marks on the  page since they supposedly have no meaning in the extra-musical world and are incapable of communicating anything practical or referential.

 

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

I Corinthians mentions singing with understanding; how can a Christian musician music with understanding if music has no meaning?     

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 17

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 17 

            First, I contend that music does communicate meaning and second, that  the person who will receive the greatest meaning from a particular music will, without doubt, be the person who has the greatest understanding of that musical genre and ipso facto, its meaning, import, understanding, communication, or message.  Third, I will concede that constraints on one’s understanding of a piece of music will affect the amount of meaning its musical sounds will communicate to the performer and the listener. 

            The strong belief that musical sounds are a “mirror of life” or an “imitation of reality” is as ancient as Plato and Aristotle—and so are the various arguments against such a philosophical thesis. Thus, it is not far-fetched for me to contend that musical sounds do have the potential to affect the whole life of all who hear and perform them.  

            My belief, therefore, leads me to the conclusion that those who have a thorough understanding of music that arouses physical passions, such as rock music with its incessant driving forward propelling directionality, will possibly receive more harm because they have the greatest understanding of this music’s content and intent communicated through sounds.  This is not to say that music sounds will not also have a negative influence on all who hear it. Because sounds penetrate the mind and the emotions, this music will exert influence on all who hear it.

Scripture for the Day-

Scripture for the Day-

1Cointhians 14:15 “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

 

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 16

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 16  

             If musical sound was incapable of communicating understanding, then the music part of music would not have any value as a ministering tool.  However, there is entirely too much evidence that music has the power to communicate “knowing” to the performer and the auditor for me to ever be convinced that musical sound is impotent and incapable of having any positive or negative influence.

            Perhaps Roger Scruton’s statement should be considered at this point in our discussion of musical “knowing’ and “meaning”.  He stated, “If music has meaning, then that meaning must be understood by the one who understands the music.  Hence the concept of musical understanding displaces that of musical meaning: we have no idea what musical meaning might be, until we have some grasp of the distinction between the one who hears with understanding and the one who merely hears.” Understanding Music by Roger Scruton, p.34.  He prefaced this statement by explaining, “The meaning of a sentence is what we understand when we understand it.  Constraints on understanding are therefore constraints on meaning.” Ibid. p.34 It is a very dangerous thing to take one or two isolated statements of a music philosopher’s writings and suggest exactly what is meant by these statements.  So, I will not attempt to lock down exactly all that he meant, but merely use these famous quotes as a springboard for discussion.

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 15

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 15 

            I have often mentioned in my philosophical writings the importance of Colossians 1:16 which states, “For by him are all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things are created by him and for him.”  There are two words in this Scripture that are of great importance to our discussion. They are visible (horatos 3707) and invisible (aoratos 517).  

            When it comes to God’s creating music there is the portion that one is able to see (horatos) and the portion that one cannot see (aoratos).  The musical score is a part of music that one can see and musical sound is a part that one cannot see.  Although the written part may communicate meaning to the trained musician who is capable of audiating it [i.e. the ability to see pitch, rhythm and harmony on the musical score and hear them in one’s mind], it is the sounds that are what really matters to the rest of the people who are incapable of audiating it in their minds.  Music that is still on the page of the score, if it doesn’t have words, may very well be considered to be to be neutral to the non-musician.  However, when sounds are produced from that score they take on life and communicate meaning to everyone who hears them 

 

            In Colossians 1:16 there is a list of things that were created by the exceeding God (Theos 2316).  Among this list is the word exousia (1849) which, among other things, means delegated influences.  I believe that the invisible part of music belongs to this category.  Colossians 1:16 explains that all these categories of creation were made by the exceeding God for the exceeding God.  I believe that God, in his creative power, gave music the delegated authority to influence mankind with musical sound.  The composers, arrangers, performers, and conductors have been given the delegated authority to influence all those who hear them produce sound.  Because God always gives mankind a choice, all those who compose, arrange, perform, and conduct music may influence others for good or evil with the musical sounds that they produce. So, ipso facto musicians are able to influence others with the message that a particular sound communicates to the auditor.

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

I have found over the years that the greatest problems in church music are not caused by exactly where a minister of music draws the line musically, but rather by music ministers who no longer draw any lines musically.

 

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 14

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 14  

              Although the use of the musical reference in the fourteenth chapter of I Corinthians is in the middle of another discussion, it is still a musical reference.  Verse six explains that distinct speaking brings about clear communication.  Likewise, verse seven explains that clear production of musical sounds brings about a clear musical message or meaning.  Therefore, one may safely conclude that music is at least a meta-language in that it communicates meaning in an analogous manner to language.  Musicians are cautioned by this verse that clear production of musical tones will insure a clear message much like clear language communicates an understandable message.

            I want to make it clear that I am not saying that clearly spoken language and clearly produced musical tones function exactly alike.  As I said before they function similarly.  Therefore, I conclude that music functions only as a meta-language.  The import of the use of this musical reference in I Corinthians 14:7 is that clearly produced music can and does communicate meaning to the performer and the auditor.  Therefore, the music part of music does matter because it communicates real understandable meaning.  A careful look at verse seven reveals that the inspired Word of God teaches that music that gives a clear distinction in its sounds has the potential to cause the performer and the auditor to “know” i.e. gain information and meaning from the musical sounds.

 

            If music was totally benign, knowledgably mute, sealed in a “bubble”, and therefore helpless to communicate any meaning, the writer of this first letter to the Corinthian Christians would not have used the Greek word ginosko (1097) which means “to perceive” or “to understand”.  As I said earlier in this discussion, music alone (music without text) is not capable of communicating clearly like a spoken known language, but it does have the power and ability to communicate meaning—thus the term meta-language is applied here to music being able to “say something” or communicate meaning.

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

Just  because God gives a Christian musician a choice concerning how he or she musics unto Him, that musician is not relieved from the responsibility of using music in a way that will represent His moral nature and thereby bring honor to His name.

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 13

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 13 

            As can be expected, Satan is always present in this dark world to assist men and women in messing up God’s wonderful creation called music.  Any philosophical belief about music that denies that God intends music for our good and that Satan intends to pervert it to aid in our spiritual failure is simply a naive and over simplistic misguided belief system.  In the Book of Genesis, it is stated very clearly that ALL of God’s creation, which without doubt had to include music, was created in a very good (maod towb 3966, 2896) condition [see Genesis 1:31].  However, God always gives man a choice.  If man had not listened to Satan he would not have fallen from that wonderful state where he walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden [see Genesis chapter three].  However, he did listen to Satan, fell spiritually when he disobeyed God, and took on Satan’s sinful rebellious nature.  Since man has a choice today, he can compose and arrange musical sounds that honor God or that feed the lust of sinful men and women. 

            I Corinthians 14:7 states, “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped.”  This Scripture has been subjected over the centuries to a plethora of confusion of opinions concerning its meaning.  We know that the Greek words translated giving sound (didomi phone-1325, 5456) mean something that yields sound.  The words “give a distinction in the sounds” (didomi diastole phthoggos 1325, 1293, 5353) mean to yield a distinction of musical notes in the process of utterance of musical sounds.

 

 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

Although it is possible for a Christian can make it to heaven without enjoying music on this earth, that person will surely miss out on a great part of God’s wonderful provision for his children.

 

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 12

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 12 

            The Bible is so very clear that there is a war going on between the flesh and the spirit, and this war is caused by our enemy Satan.  The Bible is also very clear that a Christian must control his or passions by being sure that the flesh is kept in subjection.  This has to include the kinds of passions that are capable of being aroused through musical sounds.  (Because there are so many excellent published writings on the dangers of rock and contemporary music, I will not discuss arousal theory and its relationship to religious music in the context of this discussion.)  I will say that Christian musicians, who trifle with the “arousal theory” in the form of sexual arousal in religious music, are playing with fire.  I want to say further that those who present sacred things with sexual meaning transmitted through music (sexual innuendos), are sadly misguided and they are doing the work of God deceitfully—a practice that the Bible directly condemns (see Jeremiah 48:10).

            I have contended for years that the belief that music is a closed system is a spurious philosophy because that would make it an autonomous system.  There is no aspect of a Christian’s philosophy that is autonomous simply because we are accountable to God in every area of our life.  Therefore, I cannot believe that God, who in the beginning created music, created it philosophically as a closed system. I believe God created the mathematical ratios that produce sound so that we could worship Him with these sounds.  I also believe that He created these ratios that produce pitches so that these sounds could become a part of the abundant life that the Christian should enjoy.  This “abundant life” or perissos (4012) which is spoken of in St. John 10:10 means that God has created music in superabundance or exceedingly and abundantly above the necessity of mere existence. 

Thought for the Day-

Thought for the Day-

Rock and pop composers have published an enormous amount of literature on musical sound in which they purport that sound arouses sexual passion.  I often wonder why Christian musician’s purport that if one adds words to this music it neutralizes the music’s power to arouse passion.

 

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 11

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 11 

            We are now continuing our discussions of music’s meaning.  So far we have discussed discernment concerning musics meaning; The bible terminology “joyful sound”; gaining musical understanding; the hypothesis that the formal properties of music affect its meaning; the formal properties of the music Moses and Joshua heard disturbed them; in the N.T, both singing and instrumental music had meaning; the meaning of carnal and spiritual musicing; music as a closed system; and the context of musicing unto God.

            I call the philosophical pursuit that “anything goes in church music” a “praxis” because it is an “on purpose” way of musicing regardless of whether or not it is thought out or written.   With this on purpose denial of the existence of transmittable musical meaning, a musician is allowed or is free to music without any restraint.  This praxis allows any music genre to be used in music worship because those who follow this philosophical pursuit falsely believe all music styles are appropriate to represent the “joyful sound”.  With the acceptance of this false belief, the musician is free to become autonomous in philosophy and practice.  

            The discussion of musical sound sooner or later brings up the heated debate over whether music is or is not capable of arousing passion. Secular music philosophers have batted this philosophical ball around rather unsuccessfully for at least a half century.  Those who disagree with arousal theory are the hard core absolutists, many of whom uncategorically deny that music has any meaning outside of itself i.e. the “music is in a bubble” [music is a closed system] philosophers.  It is amazing to me that any Christian musician could honestly climb on the absolute formalism band wagon and deny that music has the power to arouse passion in the performer and the auditor.

Thought and Song for the Day

Thought for the Day

God made music.  He made it to bring honor and glory to His Name.  He made it as a mean of grace for the believer. I think He is disappointed when Christians to not take advantage of corporate music worship.

Song for the Day--Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above by Johann J. Shutz

 

God!--Part 4

God!--Part 4

         I believe that God’s establishment of divine-human communion is of great import to our worship of the Trinity.  Elohim, God in plurality, desired and desires to communicate with both men and women in this life.  Worship communication, both public and private, corporate and individual, is a God thing.  Although we marvel that Adam and Eve transgressed and broke off that wonderful communication of the Garden of Eden, many people repeat history and transgress Gods law and precepts and therefore break off that wonderful communion between god and mankind.

         Many Christians who remain mute when the body of Christ is musicing, are refusing to commune with God.  Although these Christians do not mean there silence as a form of rebellion against a God established communion, their silence is without a refusal to commune with God.  Since the Bible is fraught with references to the necessity of communing with god through music, it is the responsibility of every music minister to catechize the congregation on the significance and importance of musicing together unto God.

 

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day—O Master Let Me Walk with Thee by Washington Gladden

Thought for the Day

God has not changed,  He still desires to walk and talk with men and women who desire to have a relationship with Him.

 

God!--Part 3

God!--Part 3

         God’s relationship with mankind has been relational from the time God created humans on this earth.  Musicians who believe the Genesis record have a great assurance when they music about the only true God who was not only relational then, but also seeks to have relationship with us today!

         Early in the Genesis record God communed with his human creation.  He communicated with both man (Adam) and woman (Eve).  God communicated with his human creation not because He had to walk and talk with them in the garden, but because He desired to have fellowship with them.  It seems to me that they did not even slightly realize the significance or importance of this divine-human connection established by God himself.  In the garden God could have sent one of His angles to communicate God’s message to them. It is a wonderful thought that God desired to walk and talk with Adam in the Garden.

 

Song-Prayer and thought for the Day

Song-Prayer for the Day 

Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,

And lighten with celestial fire.

Thou the anointing Spirit art,

Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above

is comfort, life, and fire of love.

Enable with perpetual light

the dullness of our blighted sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face

with the abundance of thy grace.

Keep far our foes, give peace at home:

Where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the father, Son,

And thee, of both, to be but one,

That through the ages all along,

This may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit,

Father, son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thought for the Day

How would you feel if someone was in your presence and yet refused to communicate with you?

God!--Part 2

God!--Part 2
         Depending on how a Christian musician perceives God, he or she will either music the name of God with authority or timidity and some doubt.  In the Book of Isaiah in chapter one verse one Isaiah recorded, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”  Isaiah received much from God because he had a correct concept of who God is and what He is capable of doing.

          God ordained that the Bible would begin with who God is, i.e. his nature, and His relationship with those whom He so carefully, and wonderfully created.  Think of it, God was transcendent from the time of man’s creation.  We know that He walked and talked to Adam and eve in the Garden of Eden because Genesis 3:8 states, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

 

Prayer, Chorus, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

“Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy church, being gathered together in unity by thy holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name;  through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the same Spirit, one God world without end.  Amen.” The Book of Common Prayer, 1953, pg. 185   

Chorus for the Day       Great Is the Lord by Michael W. Smith    

Thought for the Day 

Since God has proven Himself to be an awesome God to generation after generation, why should we not trust him to be god in the twenty first century?

 

 

 

God!--Part 1

God!--Part 1

          Genesis 1:1 states without apology or without reservation or hesitation “In the beginning God…”  We mention his name with great comfort, respect and with great expectation.  We worship God because of His worth-ship.  Christianity is different than other world religions in that we do not worship statues of a great person who was but rather, we worship the only true God who not only was but is.

          In Exodus 3:14 God was communing with Moses, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  We are under the authority, guidance and protection of the same God who is at this very instant.  Christians who music the name of God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit are calling on the same currently alive God as Moses communed with thousands of years ago.

 

          Genesis 1:1 states without apology or without reservation or hesitation “In the beginning God…”  We mention his name with great comfort, respect and with great expectation.  We worship God because of His worth-ship.  Christianity is different than other world religions in that we do not worship statues of a great person who was but rather, we worship the only true God who not only was but is.

          In Exodus 3:14 God was communing with Moses, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  We are under the authority, guidance and protection of the same God who is at this very instant.  Christians who music the name of God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit are calling on the same currently alive God as Moses communed with thousands of years ago.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Our heavenly Father I am asking You to help me to saturate my mind with songs of everlasting joy.  Help me to lead others in experiences of musical worship that will bring everlasting joy upon their heads.  Help me to continually recognize how powerful songs of joy can be in bringing everlasting joy and gladness to your people.  These petitions I bring in your strong name.  Amen.

Song for the Day—Therefore the redeemed of the Lord by Ruth Lake

 Thought for the Day

Only the redeemed shall have songs of everlasting joy because only the redeemed will have everlasting joy.

Songs and Everlasting Joy

Songs and Everlasting Joy  

            Isaiah 35:10, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:  they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."  Did you ever stop to think that Christ’s peaceable kingdom will include music?  Music is one of the things we have in this life and will have in the life to come.  There aren’t very many things that we have in this life that can be taken to heaven with us.  A few of those things are those whom we have helped to win to the Lord, other “treasures” (not money) that the Bible teaches us that can be laid up in heaven.  St. Matthew recorded that Jesus said, “Lay not up to yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 2:20-23) 

            Only the ransomed of the LORD will be able to take music with them to the life hereafter.  The Bible states that those who reign with Christ will have music and everlasting joy upon their heads.  I believe that one of the ways that God will allow saints to obtain everlasting joy and gladness will be through music. 

            In heaven sorrow and sighing will have to flee in the presence of Gods bestowed gladness and joy.  I believe that this continuous gladness and joy upon the heads of the saints will be expressed through musicing unto God eternally.  So, Christian musician be sure to prepare yourself and those to whom you minister musically to store up good music because I believe that it can be taken to heaven. Catechize every Christian under your influence to music unto God in this life as a preparation for the life to come. 

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

I want to be sure that I, as a Christian musician, place more value or moral value than musical value.

Song for the Day O to Be Like Thee by Thomas O. Chrisholm

Prayer for the Day

My dear Precious LORD and Savior I am crying out to You, “O to be like Thee! Lord now I am coming, Now to receive Thy anointing divine”.  Please help me to keep the main thing the main thing.  Lord, I want You to be first in my life.  I am asking You to “Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love”.  Please “Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling: fit me for life and heaven above.”  My heart is crying out to You, “O to be like Thee, blessed redeemer, pure as Thou art.”  These things I am earnestly asking.in Your wonderful holy Name.  Amen