The Kingdom Come

Our weekly study group did a study on what might be considered freewill vs "determinism". I want our group to consider if and how much God is in control. Here is an 11 slide powerpoint presentation you can view.

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.

You can now show a little widget or reference panel on your website of the latest TKC material.  Simply copy & paste the following code into your website:

FOR HTML:

I graciously just received a copy of the DVD, The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise Of Dispensationalism released March 2009.  I would like to give a bit of a review of the 2 hour video put together by Nicenecouncil.com.

Obviously, the title of the DVD is a play upon the famous 1970 dispensational book by Hal Lindsey The Late Great Planet Earth.

My first impression was simply with the quality of the DVD.  Many Christian DVDs seem to be low-grade, typically by the poor lighting & single angle camera shots.  This DVD makes good use of lighting & transition between scenes.

As the video began, it accurately presented the Dispensational view & it makes the typical claims against it.

On a liberal "Christian" blog, I recently saw the following video posted.  The liberal "Christian" said: The sooner this crap goes by the wayside, the better", yet after watching the video you will notice there isn't ANYTHING in it that isn't part of the Christian message -- well, unless Christians no longer think premarital sex, rape, drugs, abortion & homosexuality is wrong.

Apparently the group of liberal "Christians" where this was originally posted either think it is wrong to call anything sinful or they think it isn't our place to call anything a sin.

What do you think?...that's a question for Christians, not pretenders.

Kingdom Commentaries Podcast was a monthly feature of thekingdomcome.com for over 2 years but this is the first one produced for 2009.  TKC Update 2009 is a summary of some projects I have going.  Listen to this 9 minute audio either via the Kingdom Commentaries podcast page or if you want to download it to your computer, ipod or mp3 device simply right click the following link and select SAVEAS.

thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/sites/all/tkcupdate2009_mixed.mp3

SHOW NOTES:

Topics mentioned

1. Review of When Shall These Things Be?
2. PreteristBlog.com
3. Theology Today
4. Review of The Shape of Sola Scriptura
5. YouTube Videos produced by TKC
6. Radical Corruption video
7. Christian HipHop Forum (site not disclosed)
8. Multi-contributor Bible Commentary Project (in progress)
9. Commemortating John Calvin's 500th birthday

I was interviewed on the topic of hyperpreterismⁱ by Brian Simmons. Listen to the interview on the player below or other interviews from Simmons by going to http://worldofprophecy.wordpress.com

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.

As the time approaches that I'll be buying my daughter a laptop computer for school, I've been trying to stay ahead of the curve so that whatever I buy her won't be outdated the day after I purchase it (yeah right).

GeekySpeaky: Submit Your Site!

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Roderick will be a guest on the "Iron Sharpens Iron" Radio show out of New York.  Join Roderick & the host Chris Arnzen on December 12, 2008 as Roderick discusses the history of Hyperpreterismⁱ.

This show is more of a follow-up to an excellent 2 part series on the subject, done with Steve Atkerson.

The show is from 3pm-4pm ET. You can call in LIVE to 631-321-9694.

Audio available here:

http://thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/20081212ISI.mp3

I thought it went well & am thankful for the opportunity.

The Reformation is known for its transformative theology, wherefrom society, government, & not the least the Church was brought in line with the principles of the Bible.  But the Reformers also greatly impacted the arts.  Join us as we discuss music from the Reformation & Renaissance era with Jeremy Fowler-Lindemulder aka "Fugli".  Fugli is a musician that specializes in music of the Renaissance period, often playing on instruments from the time.  He is perhaps best known to readers of this website as the man who recorded the song, "Reformation Polka", lyrics originally written by Robert Gebel.

This 30 minute discussion is very informative both in enlightening the listener to how the Reformation & Renaissance affected music & how Christians to the present day commemorate Reformation Sunday.  Stay tuned after the discussion for two songs by Fugli:

• Bethlehem Tonight
  
• One Sheep

Click the link below to listen or right click the link & SAVEAS to save to your computer

(if you have problems listening directly, please use the alternate links below)

Alternate places to listen -- STREAMING AUDIO

• Kingdom Commentaries Page
• Feed Burner

Fugli has several albums you may be interested in purchasing.  Please visit his website at:

http://povera.com/

(music page: http://povera.topcities.com/music/index.html)

To view the "Reformation Polka" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0f_qJLkLg

Explanation of the "Reformation Polka": http://thekingdomcome.com/explaining_refpolka

Reformation Polka Tab (by Fugli): http://thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/1_refpolka_tab.txt

Link to various Ren Fests: http://www.faires.com/location.php

* Intro music, excerpt from Fugli's Dance of the Woodland Faeries

These are both funny & educational --