Sola Devotions are daily devotions that begin with a passage of Scripture that relates to a reading from The Book of Concord. That reading, though sometimes only a phrase, is also provided and is followed by an explanation of the Scripture and confession.
The devotions include audio of the Scripture, the Confession, the explanation, a brief prayer, and a blessing.
The author of these new devotions is Mark Ryman who is aiming to teach the Lutheran Confessions in manageable, daily chunks.
To subscribe to these devotions visit http://www.solapublishing.com/devotions/summaries.html
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Top 20 Christmas Carols
Oxford University Press publishes most of the carols the world knows and loves — the one that has just popped into your head is probably one of theirs — with newly-composed Christmas titles added every year.
Their top 20 Christmas Carols according to orders and rights requests are:
1. Shepherd’s pipe carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
2. Hark! the herald-angels sing — Mendelssohn arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
3. The twelve days of Christmas — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
4. Star Carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
5. O come, all ye faithful — David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
6. Once in royal David’s city — Gauntlett arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
7. Angels’ Carol — John Rutter
8. Candlelight Carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 5
9. Jingle bells — Pierpont arr. David Willcocks, from 100 Carols for Choirs
10. O little town of Bethlehem — Vaughan Williams, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
11. A merry Christmas — arr. Arthur Warrell, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
12. Jesus Child — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
13. Nativity carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
14. O Holy Night, Adolphe — arr. John Rutter
15. I saw three ships — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
16. Ding dong! Merrily on high — David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
17. Joy to the world — John Rutter, from 100 Carols for Choirs
18. On Christmas Night – Bob Chilcott
19. What sweeter music — John Rutter
20. The shepherd’s farewell — Hector Berlioz, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs - For more information visit: Oxford University Press
Their top 20 Christmas Carols according to orders and rights requests are:
1. Shepherd’s pipe carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
2. Hark! the herald-angels sing — Mendelssohn arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
3. The twelve days of Christmas — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
4. Star Carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
5. O come, all ye faithful — David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
6. Once in royal David’s city — Gauntlett arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
7. Angels’ Carol — John Rutter
8. Candlelight Carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 5
9. Jingle bells — Pierpont arr. David Willcocks, from 100 Carols for Choirs
10. O little town of Bethlehem — Vaughan Williams, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
11. A merry Christmas — arr. Arthur Warrell, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs
12. Jesus Child — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
13. Nativity carol — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
14. O Holy Night, Adolphe — arr. John Rutter
15. I saw three ships — John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs
16. Ding dong! Merrily on high — David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs
17. Joy to the world — John Rutter, from 100 Carols for Choirs
18. On Christmas Night – Bob Chilcott
19. What sweeter music — John Rutter
20. The shepherd’s farewell — Hector Berlioz, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs - For more information visit: Oxford University Press
Movie: Joyeux Noel
JOYEUX NOEL (Merry Christmas) tells the true-life story of the spontaneous Christmas Eve truce declared by Scottish, French and German troops in the trenches of World War I. Enemies leave their weapons behind for one night as they band together in brotherhood and forget about the brutalities of war. Diane Krüger (Troy), Daniel Brühl (Good Bye Lenin!) and Benno Fürmann (The Princess and the Warrior) head a first-rate international cast in a truly powerful, must-see film.
Download
DVD
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Book: The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus
In the Gospel of the Lord, through a distinctive evangelical and critical approach, Michael Bird explores the historical development of the four canonical Gospels. He shows how the memories and faith of the earliest believers formed the Gospel accounts of Jesus that got written and, in turn, how these accounts further shaped the early church.
Bird's study clarifies the often confusing debates over the origins of the canonical Gospels. Bird navigates recent concerns and research as he builds an informed case for how the early Christ followers wrote and spread the story of Jesus -- the story by which they believed they were called to live. The Gospel of the Lord is ideal for students or anyone who wants to know the story behind the four Gospels.
What others are saying about the book
N. T. Wright -- St. Andrews University
"Studying the Gospels is daunting for the beginner and difficult even for the seasoned scholar. Mike Bird here slices a path through the tangled mess of older hypotheses and offers clear guidelines for the way forward. . . . Everyone will profit enormously from wrestling with the issues presented here in a fresh and compelling manner."
Craig A. Evans -- Acadia Divinity College
"Carefully researched and engagingly written. . . . Michael Bird asks all the right questions about the New Testament Gospels - what they really are, why they even exist, why these four Gospels and not others - and then provides very sensible answers. Bird shows that the Evangelists tell the stories of Jesus' life, teaching, and deeds because Christian faith ultimately is about following Jesus. Scholars and students alike will find new and refreshing ideas in this instructive book."
Robert H. Gundry-- Westmont College
"In The Gospel of the Lord Michael Bird treats with acute perception not only the ways in which the early church wrote the story of Jesus but also the ways in which modern scholars have reconstructed those earlier ways. The treatment is wide-ranging, thoroughly documented, evangelical, and eminently fair in its presentation of opposing points of view. Ideal as a required textbook for seminarians and as a compendium for all others engaged in the academic study of Jesus' life!"
Jonathan T. Pennington -- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Well-researched and well-written, this book is a delightful read from beginning to end. It contains both a state-of-the-art discussion of many complex Gospel issues and several creative suggestions for new ways forward. A great resource for studying the Gospels."
-- Library Journal (STARRED review)
“Bird is one of the younger leading scholars in New Testament studies, and this volume is one of the outstanding literary achievements of the year. With care, clarity, and thorough scholarship, the author discusses possibilities for the origins, the genre, and the goals of the four Gospels. . . . This work is scholarly but remarkably free of academese; it should be a perfect fit for seminary libraries, religious leaders, and scholars.”
Read Amazon Customer Reviews here
Bird's study clarifies the often confusing debates over the origins of the canonical Gospels. Bird navigates recent concerns and research as he builds an informed case for how the early Christ followers wrote and spread the story of Jesus -- the story by which they believed they were called to live. The Gospel of the Lord is ideal for students or anyone who wants to know the story behind the four Gospels.
What others are saying about the book
N. T. Wright -- St. Andrews University
"Studying the Gospels is daunting for the beginner and difficult even for the seasoned scholar. Mike Bird here slices a path through the tangled mess of older hypotheses and offers clear guidelines for the way forward. . . . Everyone will profit enormously from wrestling with the issues presented here in a fresh and compelling manner."
Craig A. Evans -- Acadia Divinity College
"Carefully researched and engagingly written. . . . Michael Bird asks all the right questions about the New Testament Gospels - what they really are, why they even exist, why these four Gospels and not others - and then provides very sensible answers. Bird shows that the Evangelists tell the stories of Jesus' life, teaching, and deeds because Christian faith ultimately is about following Jesus. Scholars and students alike will find new and refreshing ideas in this instructive book."
Robert H. Gundry-- Westmont College
"In The Gospel of the Lord Michael Bird treats with acute perception not only the ways in which the early church wrote the story of Jesus but also the ways in which modern scholars have reconstructed those earlier ways. The treatment is wide-ranging, thoroughly documented, evangelical, and eminently fair in its presentation of opposing points of view. Ideal as a required textbook for seminarians and as a compendium for all others engaged in the academic study of Jesus' life!"
Jonathan T. Pennington -- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Well-researched and well-written, this book is a delightful read from beginning to end. It contains both a state-of-the-art discussion of many complex Gospel issues and several creative suggestions for new ways forward. A great resource for studying the Gospels."
-- Library Journal (STARRED review)
“Bird is one of the younger leading scholars in New Testament studies, and this volume is one of the outstanding literary achievements of the year. With care, clarity, and thorough scholarship, the author discusses possibilities for the origins, the genre, and the goals of the four Gospels. . . . This work is scholarly but remarkably free of academese; it should be a perfect fit for seminary libraries, religious leaders, and scholars.”
Read Amazon Customer Reviews here
Watch an interview with the author regarding the book
Monday, December 15, 2014
Christmas Blessing: May the feet of God walk with you
The Christmas Blessing - May the feet of God walk with you is a popular blessing for many Lutheran congregations in Australia
Sheet music is available from SongSelect or through the song writer Robin Mann by purchasing All together again music edition
if you use this song don't forget to register it on your ccli records
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