The Kingdom Come

Ron Clancy, dedicated researcher and author shares his over 30 years of research into classic Christmas carols.  This fascinating 30 minute podcast reveals the interesting history of some of our best loved Christmas tunes.  Mr. Clancy has authored and compiled 4 collections with fully period art illustrated books and CD box collections perfect for anyone who loves history, Christmas music or art.  After listening to the podcast, take a look at Mr. Clancy's website: christmasclassics.com where you can learn more or purchase these fabulous collections for yourself or a loved one to enjoy.  Also check out the many YouTube videos Mr. Clancy has produced on the history of your favorite Christmas carol.

3 Ways to Listen:

Click on the following link to have it play on your computer's player

http://thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/christmassong_origins.mp3

Right click the following link and SAVEAS to download to your computer or ipod.

http://thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/christmassong_origins.mp3

Listen to it streamed on this website (good for people with slow connections)

http://thekingdomcome.com/content/kingdom_commentaries

This is interesting because it claims:

"Pirate Christian Radio is an online radio station that is free from the scurvy plagues of pop-psychology, goofy fads, self-help, pietism, purpose-drivenism, the prosperity heresy, contemplative mysticism, seeker-sensitivism, liberalism, relevantism, Emergent nonsense, and the sissy girly Oprah-fied religiosity that is being passed off as "Biblical Christianity"

It's also interesting because it has a mailing address of Fishers Indiana, about 25 miles from me.

I'm going to check it out simply for the quote above. Listen to it below.

The following fanciful scenario begins thousands of years ago when man was living in caves and was writing on walls. One day Oreg the cave artist came rushing into his cave and said to Elag his wife, “Oh, no, guess what some Egyptian did, he invented papyrus, a material to write upon, and it’s portable; now no one will come by and see my picture writing!” “Elag, do you know what this means...were finished!”

A thousand years later we see Amenotep the papyrus maker in Egypt complaining to his wife Cleo, “This papyrus makers union strike is going to ruin us. There are people in Europe who have developed a smoother writing material called ‘parchment’...it’s going to put us out of business!”

Every time Christians come together in a church, there is singing but why do we do it?  Is it merely to pump us up for the sermon?  And why do we sing the songs and hymns we sing?  Why do we sing the songs to the tunes we do?

When Christians come together, song is often the result be it in congregational worship of God or in small fellowships.  Christianity has a rich heritage of giving the world inspiring hymns.  Another perhaps almost forgotten Christian heritage is exclusive psalmody, or the singing only of the psalms without musical accompaniment.  Some Christians debate that any other form of worship of God in song is actually unbiblical and disrespectful to God (see references).  Whereas other Christians at least prefer to sing the psalms and without instrumentation because singing only the psalms;

1. There is no possibility of incorrect doctrine as might happen with man-made hymns
2. Without instrumentation, the singer can focus solely on the message/lesson of the psalm
3. It is singing God's Word back to Him, what higher form of glory?
4. Being instructed and learning God's Word while singing
5. Maintains the early Reformed/Calvinistic practice
   

A friend of mine heard that I was an exclusive psalmist and asked if I could point out a place on the Internet where he could listen to psalms in the background as he surfed the net.  I looked high and low and found no place except for one where all the psalms were assembled in one place and sung a cappella.  The one place is genevanpsalter.com, a great site by Michael Owens who does a fantastic job.  But even on the Genevan Psalter, he doesn't have a player to simply automatically play.

Interestingly enough, for hundreds of years psalters were common place in most congregations and was at one time considered the "song book of the Church". (ref)

Well, I have assembled in one place, on an automatic player Mr. Owens' singing along with about 15 other a cappella versions by other singers (for variety) for your enjoyment and edification.  Below (click the 'read more' link) you will find the player which should begin on its own or you can advance to your favorite psalm.  Also you will find a link to an online Bible with several translations of the psalms side-by-side for your studies.

God bless and keep you.

Every once in a while I am asked to review an article, a book, or a CD.  I was honored to receive a request to review a yet to be released Christian music CD.  It is called "Playing in the Water" and features the gentleman who perhaps is better known as the vocalist and musician for the Internet-famous song, "Reformation Polka" -- Jeremy Fowler-Lindemulder aka "Fugli" (see interview).  I have a copy of the master, so my critiques may become moot once final production is met.  I will list the name of the song and my review of it in a few short sentences.

After receiving and email request for more information on Exclusive Psalmody (singing only the psalms in worship, often without musical instruments), I decided to answer with a 10 minute podcast.  It is only a real brief introduction to the subject but includes a little historical background, scriptural background, and some basic objections.  I encourage the reader/listener to study out the topic more on their own by doing a websearch here or take a look at this webpage.

PODCAST downloadable here

Or listen to it streamed on the website here

Dear Lord, I am 41 years old.  I have so far spent my time on this earth, being the husband of one wife, the father of one child.  I have endeavored to live my life by biblical precepts, failing at times as all sinners are apt.  I have employed the biblical ethic of doing all things in an orderly manner.  Even in my battles with heretics, though they may call me a "jerk" or whatever names they like, even there I have tried to conduct myself with ingetrity...because it is not my name which suffers, as I have no name.  It is the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and King.  There is shame when we speak beyond and when we don't speak when needed.