The Kingdom Come

By psychosis I don't mean to imply Christians are crazy per se, after all I am a Christian and I hope I'm not crazy -- however as a humorous aside, how would a crazy person really know they are crazy?  Anyhow, by psychosis I do mean that many people who claim to be Christian do seem...well a bit odd.  I know, I know.  Define odd.  But I think most people know what I mean. 

Many Christians behave in an unstable or socially untenable manner. For example, many Christians while supposed to be well grounded in source-able biblical precepts are instead champions of vagaries.  Did I just prove my own point? 

2010 promises to be an interesting year around TKC.  First, please allow me to recap 2009 so as to show how and why 2010 will be different and interesting.  Actually, it has been a  2 year span from 2008-2009 that I was defined as the "ex-hyperpreteristⁱ" (see definition).  I would consider those transition years, a time when I was "recovering" from the effects of my 15-year long stint within the heresy.  To that end, I want to thank Dee Dee Warren of the website PreteristBlog.  She allowed me to write on the subject for 2 years at that site, keeping my own site relatively clear of...well that entire sordid mess.  However, Dee Dee has since kind of thrown me under the bus, and sure it hurts a bit, but as a believer in God's sovereignty, even these things shall work for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

So, while I have been a little upset to see what has transpired in the 'Cause' against hyperpreterism, with all the political pandering and apparently unethical gratuities, I know there is a purpose even in this.  I know for one thing, it confuses the hyperpreterist battle plan.  You see, it used to be easy for them to just paint me as the reason people didn't like them and their beliefs. "If we could just silence that Roderick Edwards..."  Well, so now God has moved me on to other things yet the opposition that remains is completely disconnected from me, so the the hyperpreterists no longer have that angle.  The irony that the people with whom I once stood shoulder to shoulder with against hyperpreterism have thrown me under bus (the thing the hyperpreterists longed for), are now going to be the ones that hyperpreterists must engage daily.

One more thing and I shall leave the topic of hyperpreterism behind.  I do want to apologize to my readers that have been following this topic for the last few years.  Although Dee Dee was very generous, I now regret ever joining up with such a person. I was reluctant at first anyhow but she kept urging me.  What has happened is, I got involved in the daily drama that is Dee Dee Warren.  I tried to ignore it but once the drama became personal life posting on a supposed "apologist" website, I saw that I had stepped into a mess. With Dee Dee, something more was going on than just using the website to counter hyperpreterism.  I also apologize to my readers for sometimes responding to the hyperpreterists and their supporters when I probably should have just remained silent.  And more, I should not have become entangled in other people's agendas.

2010

Being freed from other people's agendas, will allow me to get back to doing what I love to do.  In 2010, I will resume:

1. The Bible Commentary Project - verse-by-verse
2. Do more Podcasts (interviews)
3. Do more book/video reviews
4. Make more video presentations
5. Work on my 'Evidences' series
6. Begin the 'History of the Great Commission' project

So, I hope you the readers will forgive me for the sidetrack of 2008-2009 and continue to participate as God moves you in 2010.

God bless and keep you, in Christ Jesus our Lord and King,

thanks,
Roderick Edwards

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

The late 2009 big buzz in movies is a scifi action film called AVATAR.  The plot is the classic big guy against the little guy, underdog theme.  It is reminiscent of how Native Americans are portrayed as being victims of European expansionism.  An "avatar" is a character controlled by another person, much like any video game you might play -- the character you control is an avatar.  It follows your commands, but when you stop telling it what to do, it does nothing.  In the movie, scientists are controlling hybrid human-alien avatars in an attempt to gain the trust of the indigenous population of a planet called Pandora (alluding to Greek mythology of Pandora, the first woman, and the tale of a box that once opened let's out events that cannot be contained).  But there is also a military and corporate element that is attempting to mine resources from the planet, ironically from the main home site of the indigenous population.

Once you get past the not so nuanced play against the capitalistic mindset, the movie is really a remarkable feat.

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.

"We must never sell old friends to buy new enemies." -- Abraham Lincoln

"You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends." -- Joseph Conrad

"The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes." -- Aesop

“False friends are worst than bitter enemies.” -- Scottish Proverb

“A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines” -- Benjamin Franklin

"Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed." -- Is 33:1

Every Christmas season, Americans and people in other countries have become accustomed to seeing the bells and pots of the charitable group, The Salvation Army.  But do we Christians ever stop to think about the background and beliefs of the Salvation Army?  I mean, many Christians hunger so much for the manifestation of moral principles that we have been willing to support Mormons for president of the USA (see Mitt Romney). Is the Salvation Army a, "Christian" organization?

The history of the Salvation Army starts in England during the late 1800s. William Booth, a Methodist preacher started the Salvation Army, originally under the name, The Christian Mission.  Perhaps the best way to understand the principles of the Salvation Army is by reading the book by Booth, called "In The Darkest England and the Way Out". (1890)

When we hear the phrase, "essentials of the faith", we think of beliefs that we might consider essential for salvation but that is not what is actually meant by essentials of the faith.  The concept of "The Faith" is perhaps best encapsulated in Jude 1:3 wherein we read:

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." -- NKJV

In the Internet generation, anyone can start a blog and put forth their views on any given topic (well except perhaps in places like China where Facebook and Youtube are often blocked. -- source#1 and source#2).  This ability has had positive and negative effects.  While this allows for the possibility of otherwise stifled views to get out, (which could be positive or negative) it has also allowed for such a deluge of information that it is often difficult to sift through credible and non-credible information.  This is one reason I have a practice of source linking as much as I can when I write.  This way the reader can follow up on the sources of the information.

However, there is also an element of...well...can we call them snobbish elitists who think that just about everything is best left to the "professionals".