Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
I have often said that the music that a Christian listens to and performs is a testimony of what he or she believes about music.

Does your music philosophy have a "hole" in it?-part 2

Does your music philosophy have a "hole" in it?-part 2

            In order for a Christian musician to develop a series of systematic statements i.e. beliefs about the whole of music, he or she must become knowledgeable of the nature and value of music. This musician must retain God's knowledge in his or her philosophical belief system of music and musicing.  (See Romans 1:28). As a student of music philosophy studies the "garden variety" of music philosophies published today, he or she must view them in light of Bible principles of musicing.  The student must be aware of what a particular music philosopher believes, not only about music, but also about God.

            The reason that every Christian musician must have knowledge of what music philosophers consider to be the foundations that govern musical thought is that “… the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)  A Christian musician must never falsely believe that he or she has a corner on musical knowledge or that a Christian cannot or do not need to learn from musicians who are not believers. A Christian musician does not have to believe all of what a music philosopher or an experienced music educator teaches, but on the contrary part of what is taught may be very valuable to the development of a Christocentric music philosophy. 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

2Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  I believe that this Bible command extends to the Christian musician.

 

 

Does your music philosophy have a "hole" in it?-part 1

Does your music philosophy have a "hole" in it?-part 1

            Is the Bible all that a Christian musician needs in the development of a unified, congruent, thorough, useful, and biblical philosophy?  No!  Since I believe that a Christian musician needs a very broad education in music to be an effective minister of music, you may wonder why I keep mentioning Bible principles of music.  Although Bible principles of musicing are not all one needs, they are the foundation on which a Christian must build a music philosophy.  When a musician is developing the who, what, where, when, why and how of our musical foundations, the Scriptures are the looking glass through which he or she must always view the whole of music.

             Why do music philosophers keep talking about the "Whole of music?"  If a music philosophy does not include the “whole" of music it will surely have a "hole" in it!  II Timothy 2:15a admonishes Christians to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." The words spoudazo (4704) translated study means to be earnestly diligent.  The word dokimos (1384) means, according to Jamison-Fausset-Brown, "tested by trial, as opposed to 'reprobate')."  So, study diligently to test your music philosophy.

 

 

Song, Thought, and Prayer for the Day

Song for the Day God Will Take Care of You by Civilla D. Martin

Thought for the Day

It is one thing to believe that God is able to save your children, but it is another thing to believe that He will save them.

Prayer for the Day

Almighty father I am singing today because you care about us and our children and their children.  Thank You for being such a wonderful and forgiving God.  I do not deserve Your goodness and your love, but I have received it time and time again.  Thank You for forgiving my sins and for purifying my heart.  Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!  Amen.

God’s Servants Sing for Joy of Heart-part 2

God’s Servants Sing for Joy of Heart-part 2

             I remember so vividly that the “naysayers” hinted to Sheila and I that we would never have anything in this life if we continued to teach in a Bible college.  Worse yet, they said that our children would be bitter against the Lord in adult life and would not serve Him.  I am “singing for joy of heart” today because God in His loving kindness has made it possible for us to eat, drink, rejoice and sing for joy of heart over our family. 

            I want to go on record this day that Satan and all of his “naysayers” are mistaken.  God has taken care of us and He has also taken care of our children and their wives and our children’s children!  I wat to pause for just a moment to give praise to God for all He has done and for all He is going to do in the future.  Praise God!

            If you are a Christian musician who is truly a servant of Christ, God will take care of you and He will also take care of your children—and your children’s children.  Regardless of what others may hint or actually say to your face, God will take care of you!  So, stay in His work and refuse to listen to the “naysayers”.

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

Try taking part of this day to remind God of the wonderful things that He has done for you personally.  “it’s amazing what praising can do.”

Song for the Day Lord We praise You by Otis Skillings

Payer of Praise

I want to praise You Lord and I want to magnify Your name before this present generation.  I want to lift up Your wonderful name.  I want my like to be a positive witness of your everlasting faithfulness. I ant to praise God from whom all blessing abundantly flow.  Surely You are a God of all wisdom and power and might and glorious kindness.  Praise God, You are truly an awesome father.  Thank You Lord that You have sent the Holy Spirit to be my comforter.  These praises I bring before Your Throne.  Amen.

 

God’s Servants Sing for Joy of Heart-part 1

God’s Servants Sing for Joy of Heart-part 1

            Portions of Isaiah 65:13-14 include the following promises to God’s servants: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat…behold, my servants shall drink…behold, my servants shall rejoice…Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, …Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart…”  At this time in the history of ancient Israel many had apostatized and has provoked the LORD God [Adonai YHVH 136 3069] i.e. the Lord and master who is the sovereign ruler of the universe and is also the self-existent, eternal, independent God.  However, a remnant had listened and obeyed God’s commandments.  Because they had served the LORD God He continued to pour out His blessings on them.

            I believe that since God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 1:8). He will still pour out His blessings on those who obey and serve Him in the twenty-first century.  His love and mercy extends to all Christian musicians who are doing His will.  So, you have a right to sing for joy of heart.

 

Prayer for this Blog in July

Prayer for this Blog in July

            I want to thank you heavenly Father for helping me to write each daily post during the month of June.  It is my sincere and earnest prayer let this blog will go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Lord, thank You that You are answering my prayer by guiding people from one hundred and one countries to find and read my blog posts. Help me as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  Only you know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional thoughts will help these busy pastors and musicians.  Lord, you know that I am not sure which aspects of music education and music ministry to write about that will stimulate and encourage the blog family.  Please anoint the blog, the blogger, and the bog readers. If it is your will I am asking that the number of page views will increase during this month. These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name.  Amen.

 

Thank you for a Great Month of June

Thank you for a Great Month of June

            Last month was the 30th month of my blog which contained devotional and philosophical thoughts for Christian musicians.  I have been praying that my posts in 2015 would stimulate new blog members and that the regular viewers would also be blessed by their content. It is my continued prayer that each new post will bring honor to our heavenly Father.  My posts in the month of June were a mixture of philosophical and devotional topics. Some of them were expanded discussions of previously discussed material.        Since we began on January 2 of 2013 we have received a total of over 53,000 page views with over 1,800 views in June which is about the amount of views in May of 2015.  Since I started this blog the page views have come from 105 different countries. 

            These views have come from Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Argentina, Armenia,  Aruba, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo [DRC], Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong,  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland (Republic of),  Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,  Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands (Antilles) New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru. Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Porto Rico, Qatar, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, and the USA. We would like to welcome American Samoa, that had its first page views this month, to our blog family.

             The ten countries with the most page views in June were: USA, Greece, France, Portugal, Germany, Taiwan, Poland, Canada, American Samoa, and Belarus.

          If you are from a country that has had page views in the past 30 months and has been omitted from the 105 countries listed above, please email me your country’s name.  Please continue to pray with me that God will allow this Music Philosophy Blog to continue to go places where I will never have the opportunity to minister musically in person. Please pray for me, as I have mentioned before, I am in the process of writing a general music philosophy book and a devotional book for musicians. My philosophy book is now in the hands of the content editor.  So, please pray for her as she works on it. Please pray that the proof reader and organizer of the devotional book will have time to also work on this project.

        I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to view my music philosophy blog during the month of June and a special thanks is in order to those countries that faithfully view this blog month after month.  Please continue to pray that God will guide each post and allow it to reach those who need encouragement to keep ministering for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The main reason that I started this Music Philosophy blog is that, although there is much music philosophy information on the net, not very much of it is from a biblical perspective.  Please share the blog address with your friends.   If you have an area of music or fine arts philosophy that troubles you, please feel free to let me know and I will include it in our discussions.  My email address is Garenlwolf@gmail.com.