Christmas Music & Church Music Discernment

Christmas Music

Charlotte Ryerson has an album out that includes a few songs for Christmas (along with a narration by Jack Ryerson).  It's called Friends of The Christ.  I found it worth a listen, and I've listened to the music again since the first time!

You can listen HERE.

Music Churches Should Avoid

In October, a couple of pastors talked with each other on a podcast about what kinds of music should be sung in church (and what music it would be best to avoid).  I recommend this podcast.

Music & The Lord's Day Worship (Nathaniel Jolly & Ekkie Tepsupornchai)

An Old Hymn

I have shared some music by Darby Hughes in the past, and I just found that he has done some new recordings including a couple of Christmas songs.  The following is one of them.  If you like it, you can go to the site to see more.

"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"

Evangelism & Discernment - Conference Highlights

I'm back on here again to share about some some messages and music that I heard when streaming the Truth & Life Conference the other week.

The first message was by John MacArthur on evangelism and was one of the two I thought was especially good.  I wish that I had taken notes!  

Update: Watch it HERE!

Costi did the second session.  I believe that one was also on evangelism.

You can watch it HERE.

The third session was also Costi Hinn (who turned away from the lifestyle and beliefs of his uncle Benny), and he gave a good warning about false teaching (deceptions).  Getting the Gospel almost right is all wrong.

"If you want to please God, don't mess with His message." - Costi Hinn

Costi also warned about the dangers of churches using music from heretics at the conference saying, "Why borrow from Beelzebub?"

I saw one person commenting about how that message was one of the best they'd heard.

Certainly, people do need to hear messages on discernment.

Watch it HERE.

Sam Horn spoke the second day finishing off the conference.

The most memorable song (for me) that Shane & Shane led was sung as a prayer.

The only thing that I avoid when singing this song is the part they added about us crowning Jesus.

I know there are a lot of hymns that say "Crown Him," but I struggle with the concept of in what way do we as humans really crown the God of the universe?  

Well, that's me.  I'm sure people mean it in a figurative sense.  

I still liked the song.

Chosen by God, Mob Mentality, & Perfect Wisdom

A pastor in CA gave a series "Chosen by God" quite a number of years ago at Foothill Bible Church in Upland, and I remember that it was really good over all.
I am sharing it with any of you who would really like to hear what the Bible teaches on the subject in the book of Romans.

Here is the first message.
Chosen by God Part 1 - taught by David Forsyth
There was only one message I think I remember disagreeing with something of.

You can find the whole series by typing the title in the search box HERE.

An Article Worth Reading
Today I read an article which reflects well what I've been thinking about the mob mentality and guilty until proven innocent thinking that seems to be permeating our society and seems to have infiltrated even into the thinking of believers that you would not have expected it to.
Ghana & Kavanaugh by Samuel Sey


Song of the Day
The following is a cover of a song which is in the Hymns of Grace book.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing • My Music Video

A friend online shared one of the verses of a favorite hymn of mine, and I was surprised to find that I hadn't recorded that one.
I wish that I could have added the fourth verse, but I have a feeling that one is not in the public domain.
I've heard variations of the lyrics for this, so mine has some slight differences from what you may have heard before!
I have just an average voice, so you can sing and drown me out if you don't like my singing!

Culture of Death, Messengers of Hope, Lyrics Languages

Culture of Death
I grew up listening to Christian music quite a bit, and there are some songs that have messages that transcend the time they were written.
The following song discusses the culture of death that still reigns today.



Messengers of Hope
Last Sunday night during the Grace Community Church live-stream, I heard a particular hymn for the first time that is found in the Hymns of Grace book.
(The hymn books have sold out, & are going to be put out by Moody Press in the future.)
 Near the end of the song I heard last Sunday, it talked about the call to be messengers of hope & to bid the nations to sing the praises of the Lord.
Some people are able to go in person, and that's great!
With my limitations, I'm thankful to be able to still use the internet. Maybe one day I won't be able to, but God still has His purposes.

 

Lyrics Languages
Sovereign Grace Music is now making some of their song lyrics available in multiple languages!
They have Chinese, French, Russian, Korean, Spanish, & Welsh.
The downloadable lyrics of one of the songs that I like are found on the left side of the following page (scroll down a little ways on it):
Behold Our God

This Is My Father's World Personal Music Video

If you have ever watched "The Lord of the Rings" (not the animated version), one of our favorite things about it is the music. 
The movie also makes one think of the struggles between good & evil in the world and the temptations we deal with in our own lives.  
The series is very violent, so I often turn my head or close my eyes.

Have you ever noticed that the main theme music of the first movie in the series sounds like an old hymn?
It would appear that they used the same tune that "This Is My Father's World" was based on.

I was listening to the Piano Guys rendition covering the theme music, and I thought of doing a video with pictures of nature.  It took some effort to figure out a video program that wasn't quite the same as I was used to, but with some pain & effort it is completed.

May God be glorified in it!

Let Your Kingdom Come Worship Song

A particular Sovereign Grace Music worship song has been brought up a number of times at home in recent weeks.  They have been singing it at the church the rest of my family here are going to.  Yes, I'm attending a different church and miss some of the music.  There are trade-offs though. 
This song is very catchy!  You can download it free at the link found below the video!



You can get this song free.  Click here.