The Our Daily Bread for today focused on a scripture that I found to be great for preparing our hearts for worship. It is also one that encourages true fellowship among our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Category Archives: Journal
2 Chronicles 5:13-14; Acts 2:1-2 – Present And In One Accord
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Chronicles 5:13-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 And when the trumpeters and singers were joined in unison, making one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments for song and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud,14 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
Acts 2:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 1 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, 2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
No, not the Honda Accord! These two scriptures, one from the old testament and the other from the new testament, can provide some insight to us regarding the purpose of praise and worship, being in one accord, and, perhaps more importantly, WHO should show up.
Continue reading 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; Acts 2:1-2 – Present And In One Accord
To Be a Minstrel by Darren E. Butler Sr.
Get the book on Amazon.com
The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 3: The Ministry/Entertainment Axis
In 
the last discussion, I focused on the Godly axis and how it relates to the appropriateness of a particular song. Now, we turn to the other axis. Considering that the Godly axis is primarily dealing with the content, I’d almost like to call this “the Effectiveness Axis.” Continue reading The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 3: The Ministry/Entertainment Axis
1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 9:33;15:16 – Free to Work
1 Chronicles, Amplified Bible (AMP)
6:31 These David put over the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark of the covenant rested there [after being taken by the Philistines and later placed in the house of Abinadab, where it remained for nearly 100 years during the rest of Samuel’s judgeship and Saul’s entire reign and into David’s reign].32 They ministered before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting with singing until Solomon had built the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, performing their service in due order.
9:33 These are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, dwelling in the temple chambers, free from other service because they were on duty day and night.
15:16 David told the chief Levites to appoint their brethren the singers with instruments of music—harps, lyres, and cymbals—to play loudly and lift up their voices with joy.
These old testament verses reveal something interesting. Although there are several differences between ‘the children of Israel’ back then and Christianity as we now know it, we can learn a lot from the Levites when it comes to serving as minstrels today. Continue reading 1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 9:33;15:16 – Free to Work
Happy 31st Birthday! Thanking God for ALL the Years!
An idea hit me the morning of my 31st birthday to reflect and be thankful for each of the years of my life and put it to music.
Happy Birthday
It’s my birthday and already I’m being reminded through yesterdays sermon (thanks Pastor Quiller) and my morning devotional to be thankful. I’m a long way from family and friends, even my wife is away today. However, like Paul, I’ve learned to be content in my current state and thankful for what God has already done.
1 Thess 5:11-13, Know Each Other
1 Thessalonians 5:11-13, Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
12 Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.
13 And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Huh?! There’s not one mention of “praise” or “worship” in this scripture. However, I believe that it touches on a very important yet often under-emphasized concept of Christian living and, specifically, a having a successful praise team.
The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 2: The Godly Axis
In the first part of this series, I summarized some of the issues: Gospel vs Secular, Good vs Bad, & more importantly appropriate vs inappropriate. However, the accompanying graphic doesn’t use ANY of those words. Yes, there is a rhyme and reason to the words shown and NOT shown, and what IS the deal with the slant?
Firstly, lets look at “The Godly Axis” Continue reading The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 2: The Godly Axis
Psalms 34:1-3, Leaders, LEAD in Praise Worship
Psalm 34:1-3, Amplified Bible (AMP)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
This is another excellent scripture not only for congregations but for praise and worship leaders who are passionate about setting an atmosphere of unified praise to God in church services. Continue reading Psalms 34:1-3, Leaders, LEAD in Praise Worship
Psalm 100, How to Lead Praise & Worship
Psalm 100, Amplified Bible (AMP)
A Psalm of thanksgiving and for the thank offering.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
3 Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.
The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 1
Romans 12:2 NKJV
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
If you are serious about music ministry and you’ve been to church, bought a Gospel or Christian CD, or turned on the Christian radio station, you already know what I’m about to say. You hear a song, and suddenly you are somewhere in-between nodding your head (up and down) and shaking it (left and right) with probably a twisted smile because something about it – just – isn’t – right. Continue reading The Gospel Music Continuum – Part 1
Status update
I have been busy this week making launching a slew of custom music track services. Pretty soon you will be able to hear samples of what I have done and what I’m working on now.
So excited. When passion meets purpose, the push is a pleasure!
Support the NJ Music School Project
Plans are underway for something HUGE for music education in New Jersey. For more information see this page.