A People for His Name

Psalms Reading Update 7.2.12

July 2, 2012

This year, my Bible reading project is to read through the book of Psalms 25 times. After six months, I have made it through the book 10 times.

My tenth time was through the Books of the Bible version, which does not have any verse numbers. Using that version, I was able to read through the book in 2 days. Reading through the book in such a short time was very helpful in letting me see some things about the book that I have not seen before.

I’m planning to read through Psalms at least 3x in July.

In Bible reading

Note Transposition Chart for Guitar Songs Normally Played with a Capo 1

June 29, 2012

Much guitar music comes with capo information designed to make the playing of the song easier. The chords in the original key are much harder to play than in the transposed key.

When more than one guitarist wants to play such songs together, normally all have to use capos to play together in the new key. When someone does not have a capo or when they all want to play in the new key without using a capo, those who want to play the melody or other parts usually have a very difficult time transposing the notes to the new key.

An alternate approach that solves this problem is for guitarists to learn how to transpose mentally the notes so that they can be played in the new key without the use of a capo. My Capo 1 Note Transposition Chart shows how to do so for songs that are marked as “Capo 1”!

Using this chart and practicing such transposing opens up a vast number of additional possibilities of playing guitar songs in various keys.

In Music

Forgiveness of Sin through a Directive both to Repent and to Pray

June 26, 2012

Hearing Philip’s preaching of the gospel, Simon “himself believed also” and was then baptized (Acts 8:13). A close look at the subsequent record of his life (8:18-24) brings out an important point that is often overlooked in current discussions of evangelism.

Upon observing that believers had received the Spirit through the laying on of hands by the apostles, Simon offered them money to obtain the same authority (8:18-19). Peter sternly rebuked him for his ungodly request: “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God” (8:20-21).

Peter then instructed Simon what he needed to do in order be forgiven by God: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (8:22-23). Simon showed that he was unrepentant by refusing to pray (8:24).

This account explicitly records an apostle’s demanding that a sinner do more than just repent (and believe) and thereby trust in the finished work of Christ. Peter demanded that Simon repent and pray to God for the forgiveness of his sin.

This passage does not support the assertions that some have made that Scripture has no evangelistic accounts where someone was directed to pray in order to receive the forgiveness of their sins. Peter’s evangelistic dealing with Simon provides us with explicit biblical basis for directing sinners to repent (and believe) and pray to receive the forgiveness of their sins.

Moreover, in the flow of thought of the passage, Peter’s directive to Simon was not just a demand that he pray generically concerning his sinfulness. Peter specified that Simon repent and pray in order that his wicked thought, which Peter had specifically confronted him about earlier (8:20), might be forgiven.

From Peter, therefore, we learn not only to direct the sinners that we evangelize to pray in addition to their repenting (and believing) but also to direct them to pray specifically for the forgiveness of their sins that God has confronted them with through the previous evangelistic ministry that they have received. The account of Peter’s evangelizing Simon thus provides valuable instruction that needs to be accounted for properly in contemporary discussions about what we should do in evangelizing sinners.

In Evangelism

Are We Overlooking an Important Element in Our Understanding of the Health Problems That Some People Face?

June 22, 2012

Scripture speaks in a number of places of people who suffered severe physical affliction that did not have “natural” causes (e.g. unhealthy lifestyle, accidents, or advanced age):

—Job had no idea that his physical affliction was caused by Satan (Job 2:7).

—Luke provides no indication to us that the woman who had been crippled for 18 years knew that her infirmity was caused by Satan, but he does record that Jesus made known (after He had healed her) that it was (Luke 13:16).

—Herod “was eaten of worms” and died because the angel of the Lord had smitten him (Acts 12:23), but we have no indication that he knew of the supernatural cause of his fatal illness.

Given this data (and other related biblical teaching), it seems to me that we need to consider more often than we probably have been doing that the serious physical afflictions that some people suffer from may be the direct result of supernatural activity that they have been the objects of without their having any knowledge of such activity.

In Health, Interpretation

Helpful Articles on the Christian and His Music

June 20, 2012

This year, I have been studying at length the topic of the Christian and his music. In my research, I found two online articles that were helpful:

Music that Glorifies God – 37-page article by Pastor Mike Harding – www.bcstroy.com/MusicthatGlorifiesGod.pdf

Evaluating Music Biblically – 11-page article by George Stouffer, Bible and ministry instructor – www.stouffermusic.com/newpage/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Evaluating-Music-Biblically1.pdf

In Music

Simple Guitar Chords for "Nothing but the Blood"

June 16, 2012

Nothing in the Blood is a good song for learning to play some basic guitar chords: A, E, and E7. This PDF explains thoroughly how to change from chord to chord in this simplifed version of this hymn.

In Guitar Music

Right Hand Finger Exercises for Playing the Guitar Better

June 14, 2012

Practicing these Right Hand Finger Exercises will help you to play the guitar better by improving the coordination of your right hand.

This chart provides four exercises to practice. Each exercise begins with the right thumb resting on the sixth string and all four fingers of the right hand close to the first string. Start out slowly and build up speed gradually in each exercise.

In Guitar Music

Guitar Music for "Begone, Unbelief"

June 12, 2012

Guitar chords, melody notes (on 4th string), and first stanza in my guitar music format for playing and singing the hymn Begone, Unbelief.

In Guitar Music

Updated Music Page!

June 8, 2012

If you play the guitar, you might find some helpful stuff on my updated Music page, which now features the following resources for guitar players:

—Sheet Music: 5 songs and one chord study

—Guitar Chords, Melody Notes, and First Stanza: 10 songs in an easy to play format

—Other Music: 2 simple ensemble pieces in four parts

—Articles: 6 articles to help you play the guitar better

—Instructional Resources: 5 pages that provide instructions about various guitar topics

—Spanish Ministry Resources: 3 songs and a chord chart formatted for use with Spanish music

—Videos: 2 videos of duets featuring classical guitar, Irish low whistle, tin whistle, and uilleann pipes

In Music

Guitar Music for "I Will Praise Him!"

June 7, 2012

I Will Praise Him! in my guitar music format that provides guitar chords, melody notes, and first stanza of the song.

In Guitar Music

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