Enya >> O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Tips for a Sensitive Christian Christmas

How to be a sensitive Christian during the Christmas season. From The New Yorker.

Could This Be Dylan? Must Be Santa

My Christmas CD Now at Amazon

My new Christmas project, He Come from the Glory: A Walking Barefoot Christmas, is now available at Amazon.com. You can also download the entire album right away in MP3 format. Listen to free audio samples here.

MP3 $8.99 | CD $14.99

Christmas CD >> He Come from the Glory

Our new Christmas CD is now available at Amazon as MP3 download (CD version coming soon). You can sample the tracks and order with the widget below. Click on the "Buy MP3" tab to download the whole album for $8.99 or individual tracks for $0.99 each — such a deal!


We've also made a little PDF booklet to accompany, featuring song lyrics and information. You can download it for FREE here.

November Reading

Here are some of the books currently in my reading pile for November. Now, whether I get to or through them all is another question.

• A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight
• Paul for Everyone ~ Romans: Part One by Tom (N. T.) Wright
• Paul for Everyone ~ Romans: Part Two by Tom (N. T.) Wright
• Lord or Legend? Wrestling with the Jesus Dilemma by Gregory A. Boyd and Paul Rhodes Eddy
• Judas and the Gospel of Jesus: Have We Missed the Truth about Christianity? A World-Renowned Scholar Responds to the Gospel of Judas by N. T. Wright
• Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism
  

The Inklings of Oxford - Tolkien, Lewis and Friends

The Inklings of Oxford: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Their Friends by Harry Lee Poe and James Ray Veneman

He Come from the Glory

We are moving along pretty quickly on our Christmas CD project and planning on having it out in MP3 as well as CD by Thanksgiving (we'll keep you posted). The working title is He Come from the Glory and features these songs:

(We have now finished and you can listen to some audio clips and download the album in MP3 here.)

• He Come from the Glory
• God Rest You Merry, Gentleman
• Patapan
• The Holly and the Ivy
• Mary Walks Amid the Thorn
• The Seven Joys of Mary
• In the Bleak Midwinter
  
• There’s a Song in the Air
• Rise Up Shepherd and Follow
• We Three Kings
• Brightest and Best
• What Child is This?
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• Go Tell It on the Mountain
• Joy to the World

The Oxyrhynchus Hymn

The Oxyrhynchus Hymn (P. Oxy. XV 1786) is the earliest known manuscript of a Christian hymn - dating from the 3rd century AD - to contain both lyrics and musical notation. It is now kept at the Papyrology Rooms of the Sackler Library, Oxford. The text, in Greek, poetically invokes silence so that the Holy Trinity may be praised.

The surviving text is fragmentary, thus there are quite a number of suggested reconstructions and translations on the web. The version which this recording - performed by Gregorio Paniagua and the Atrium Musicae de Madrid, from "Musique de la Grèce antique" - follows is the following:

"(Spoken) [Σε Πάτερ κόσμων, Πάτερ αἰώνων, μέλπωμεν] ὁμοῦ, πᾶσαι τε Θεοῦ λόγιμοι δο[ῦλο]ι. Ὅσα κ[όσμος ἔχει πρὸς ἐπουρανίων ἁγίων σελάων.]
(Sung) [Πρ]υτανήω σιγάτω, μηδ' ἄστρα φαεσφόρα λ[αμπέ]
(Spoken) σθων, [ἀπ]ολει[όντων] ῥ[ιπαὶ πνοιῶν, πηγαὶ]
(Sung) ποταμῶν ῥοθίων πᾶσαι. Υμνούντων δ' ἡμῶν [Π]ατέρα χ' Υἱὸν χ' Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, πᾶσαι δυνάμεις ἐπιφωνούντων· Ἀμήν, Ἀμήν. Κράτος, αἶνος [ἀεὶ καὶ δόξα Θεοὶ δωτῆρι μόνῳ πάντων] ἀγαθῶν· Ἀμήν, Ἀμήν."

I have shown the reconstructed text not present in the surviving text in brackets and denoted spoken and sung parts (some parts are merely spoken due to the absence of any notation for those areas).

Frances M. Bostick ~ 1909 - 2009 ~

Last week, early Monday morning, my grandmother, Frances M. Bostick, went to be with Jesus. She was 99. My brothers and I traveled to Spartanburg, SC and arranged the funeral. It was a good service, conducted by her Baptist pastor, John Lancaster, and assisted by a Pentecostal preacher who had known Granny for years. It almost broke out into a campmeeting.

For years, Granny and her husband, Garrette H. Bostick, had ministered together, first in the hills of western North Carolina with the Blue Ridge Mountain Bible Mission in the 1940s, then in itinerant and church ministry in the 1950s as Garrette served as pastor of Ansel Street Chapel in Spartanburg. That is where Joe Mosley, the preacher who assisted at Granny’s funeral, first met them and came to know the Lord under Garrette’s ministry.

After Garrette went to be with the Lord in 1965, Granny continued on in ministry in a variety of forms: distributing gospel tracts, teaching “Good News” clubs for children (she really knew how to work a flannelgraph), Jewish evangelism, working with girl’s homes and women in jail and prison ministries, playing piano and singing here and there for churches and other gatherings. She was always looking for an opportunity to encourage others with the word of the gospel. Even in her nineties, if you spoke with her on the phone, you were liable to have her sing you a song.

Up until last year, she was still living on her own in a little apartment she had occupied for 25 years. She had many friends who would help her out with various chores and errands. But the time came when she realized she needed to move into Valley Falls Terrace, an area nursing home where her increasing medicals needs could be met. Though her body was failing her mind was still sharp — something the attendants at the home appreciated — and her evangelistic spirit still strong.

My brothers and I are all in Florida, and it was difficult for us to arrange care for her in South Carolina, so we are grateful for all her friends in Spartanburg who assisted her over the years. Through their care and again at the funeral, we have seen that Granny was well-loved and respected.

On Thursday, we committed Granny’s body to the ground from which it came, where it will await a future day, for we live in sure and certain hope of the resurrection. In the meantime, she is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord with Garrette and my mother. So we are rejoicing, too.

All is well.

August Reading

You can take the "August" in the title of this post as a month or as an adjective. Been working through some more works by N. T. Wright (see my June list for some others). This month I have been reading:

• Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
• Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
• The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God — Getting Beyond the Bible Wars

Sarah Hart >> SaintSong

SaintSong. Songs by folk artist Sarah Hart, based on ancient and medieval prayer texts. Full songs here interspersed with interview clips about each song. Very nice.

On My Reading List

Very exciting! Just got in a shipment of books I ordered from Amazon.

• The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views by Gregory A. Boyd, Joel B. Green, Bruce R. Reichenbach and Thomas R. Schreiner
• What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? by N. T. Wright
• Justification: God's Plan & Paul's Vision by N. T. Wright
• Paul: In Fresh Perspective by N. T. Wright
• New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context by David Bivin

That should keep my busy for a little while. Just have to decide which one to begin with.

Playing for Change Project

Here's a cool cover of "Stand By Me," put together from a variety of street musicians on location around the world. Part of the Playing for Change project.

Funny Lines

Here's some funny lines I just scooped up from my Facebook feed:

Do not follow for I may not lead. Do not lead for I may not follow. Just go sit down somewhere, will you?"

My uncle's dying wish was to have me sitting on his lap. He was in the electric chair.

I want to die quietly in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming in terror like his passengers.

Remember boys, women always have the last word in an argument. Anything a man says after that is simply the beginning of a whole new argument.

Just struck me funny when I read them. Maybe they'll do the same for you.

That's My King!

Blisstronica 2: Geo+Coco

Form Global Celebration, a ministry of joy and healing with Georgian and Winnie Banov. Blisstronica 2: Geo+Coco. I love it.

Download MP3 album, just $8.99

The Story of Christian Theology

Working my way through this large volume — I'm up to about the 4th century now. Christians theology has been in development for 20 centuries, with a lot of interesting twists and turns along the way. Roger Olsen's style makes this subject very accessible.

The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform by Roger E. Olson

History is made up of stories — narratives that recount the events, movements, ideas and lives that have shaped religions and nations. Theologian Roger Olson believes that the history of Christian theology should be told as such a story, one replete with thick plots, exciting twists, interesting people and fascinating ideas.In this panoramic work of historical theology Olson vividly recounts the deeds and words of the cultists and apostolic fathers of the second century, the clash between the theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch, the epochal division between East and West, the revolutionary advent of the Reformation and much more, right on up to the dazzling, sometimes dismaying fallout that has continued to shake Christians through the twentieth century. Through it all Olson detects and traces a common thread: a concern for salvation — God's redemptive activity in forgiving and transforming sinful human beings.Evenhanded, refreshingly readable, impressive in its breadth and depth, The Story of Christian Theology is poised to become a standard historical theology text.

• This book is fascinating and well written, and it shows evidence of serious scholarship. Highly recommended. — Choice, July/August 2000
  
• Winner of the 2000 Christianity Today Book of the Year Award for Theology/Ethics. — Christianity Today, April 24, 2000
  
• Winner of the 2000 ECPA Gold Medallion Award in Theology/Doctrine. — Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, July 2000

Godfrey Birtill >> Very God

Good introduction to a great worship leader. My favorites songs include "When I Look at the Blood" and "Balsam Trees."


Great deal on this. A double album MP3 download for just $7.99

Garrison Doles >> Interview on Acoustic Spotlight

Here is an interview with my brother Gary on Acoustic Spotlight, along with a few of his songs.

Garrison Doles >> Whenever I'm With You

Download the whole album in MP3 for just $8.99

Garrison Doles >> Draw Us Closer

Download the whole album in MP3 for just $8.99

Rich Church, Poor Church

I'm currently reading this book. Saw this at Barnes and Noble and did something I don't usually do — paid full price because I wanted to start reading it right away. Some people wonder why the wicked prosper. Often it is because so many Christians are afraid of prosperity. This book lays the Biblical foundation to show that godly prosperity is not about greed but about the kingdom of God.

Rich Church Poor Church:
Unlock the Secrets of Creating Wealth and Harness the Power of Money to Influence Everything
by John Louis Muratori

What happens when you combine modern economics, business principles and solid Biblical insight? You get Rich Church, Poor Church!

We live in a time when instruction on business, personal finance and corporate economics is absent from most churches. Rich Church, Poor Church combines modern economics, business principles and solid Biblical insight, and details the God-given inheritance that makes it possible for the Church to prosper and thrive in all environments. You no longer have to choose between spirituality and prosperity

John Muratori, internationally renowned speaker and one of our nations leading wealth strategists, demystifies spirituality and prosperity so that you can be wealthy, Gods way.

In this book, John blends decades of business experience, intensive research and proven leadership to present you with the specific laws that govern the entire spectrum of wealth generation. The 12 Biblical Laws of Wealth Creation are the most universal set of directives on prosperity. Not bound by economic limitations, these laws are transcultural and transgenerational. Regardless of your age, environment or financial situation, the 12 laws will stop the lack and shape your financial destiny!

John Muratori identifies seven gates of cultural influence that he refers to as the Mind Molders. He details the crucial role wealth plays in controlling the gates that shape the lifestyles of our society and mold the minds of your children.

John chronicles the history of the Jewish people and their miraculous ability to create wealth. Though they were a people without a country for over three thousand years, they prospered and flourished wherever they sojourned. They possess a promise from God for success, influence, wealth and riches. Within this history, John pinpoints the birth of modern capitalism and reveals that the Scriptures provided its framework.

Prosperity: Good News for God's People

Last week and this, I have been enjoying the Believer's Voice of Victory broadcast. Kenneth Copeland has been discussing what the Bible has to say about prosperity with Fred Price, pastor of the Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, CA. It is a much needed word for many who are going through difficult economic times.

Prosperity: Good News for God's People by Frederick K. C. Price

The earth and all the riches in it are God's. But how do believers obtain it? Should Christians even be wealthy? Price reveals that purpose is the key to prosperity for Christians. We're called to understand God's plan and work to accomplish it by feeding the sheep and furthering God's kingdom.

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2).

God intends for you to prosper and be financially secure for life!
Author and pastor Frederick K. C. Price shows you God's plan for you to

• Gain wealth —God's way
• Be blessed and walk in financial security — all the days of your life
• Walk in the authority of God's Word — your key blueprint to success in life

This is not just a "name it and claim it" book, but rather a book contating essential sound biblical principles that will bless your life and completely transform it financially!

CHAPTERS

Part 1: God and Wealth

1 Is God Poor?
2 God's Plan for Prosperity
3 The Law of Tithes and Offerings
4 A New and Better Covenant
5 The World's Prosperity System

Part 2: God, Man and Prosperity

6 The Prosperity Pipeline
7 The Purpose of Prosperity

To Everyone an Answer

I am currently brushing up on Christian apologetics, working through To Everyone an Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview. It is a festschrift, a collection of essays in honor of Norman L. Geisler, who has been a champion in this field for several decades.

In a society fascinated by spirituality but committed to religious pluralism, the Christian worldview faces sophisticated and aggressive opposition. What is needed in this syncretistic era is an authoritative, comprehensive Christian response. Point by point, argument by argument, the Christian faith must be effectively presented and defended. This book offers such a response.

Editors Francis J. Beckwith, William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland have gathered together in this book essays covering all major aspects of apologetics, including:

• Faith and reason
• Arguments for God's existence
• The case for Jesus
• The problem of evil
• Postmodernism
• Religious pluralism and Christian exclusivism

Preeminent in their respective fields, the contributors to this volume offer a solid case for the Christian worldview and a coherent defense of the Christian faith.

You can sample it with Amazon's "Look Inside" feature.

Visions: The Soul's Path to the Sacred

I've been reading this book by Eddie Ensley, Visions: The Soul's Path to the Sacred. It is about the divine and human interactions involved in visions, from the trance-like vision we normally think of when we here this this, to the flashes of insight we receive from time to time, to the seemingly mundane ways God speaks to us through what we see, hear or even smell. He also talks about the vision of what others see in us. Ensley pursues this topic from his contemplative point of view as a convert to the Catholic church. His conviction is that visions bring healing for us. Visions has helped me  explore more of how God has spoken to me in the past and understand more of what He wants to say to me today.

The sub-subtitle describes the book pretty well: How the rediscovery of a lost dimension of spirituality is healing the hurting, changing the church, and bringing heaven on earth.

Everyone has visions, though we may not recognize them or may be embarrassed to talk about them. Visions are not magical, supernatural intrusions into everyday life; rather they are an innate human response to the sacred. -- Eddie Ensley

Ensley, a Roman Catholic contemplative of Native American descent, explores the role of visions in the human experience, specifically the Christian experience. His study of visions in Christian history (e.g., the writings of saints such as Anselm and Thomas Aquinas, and church authorities' interviews with believers who have experienced visions and healings), his own people's traditions, and stories he has heard at retreats have led Ensley to believe that most people have visions. Indeed, he hypothesizes that the human brain is "hard-wired" for transcendence. He attributes modern theology's relative silence on the topic to the Enlightenment, which reduced knowledge to what was rationally comprehensible. Ensley demonstrates that into the 16th century, Christians considered visions an important part of their faith life, while Christians since the rise of rationalism have continued to have visions, but are reluctant to discuss them and lack training in how to interpret them. Ensley gives readers a broad perspective on their own experiences, providing meditations, prayers and writing exercises to equip readers to become receptive and responsive to their visions. -- Publishers Weekly