The Kingdom Come

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.

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.

Yes, that's right there is a Christian version of Weird Al Yankovic -- the man famous for his parodies & spoofs of popular songs.  But Randy Hyde started out with the intention of making Christian songs for kids that their parents would enjoy since the tune would be familiar.