THE SONS OF ASAPH

Asaph was appointed by King David as chief musician in the days before the temple was built in Jerusalem. He was a musical pioneer, a drummer and percussionist and together with Jeduthun and Heman formed the first musical band to accompany the choir in giving thanks to and praising God. (1 Chronicles 25 verse 1)

He wrote some song lyrics which survive today in the book of Psalms. He was outspoken in his lyrics and not afraid to tell things exactly as they are.

The Sons or Descendants of Asaph follow in that same tradition and is a virtual one man band performing in cyberspace dedicated to making music and song unto the Lord and presenting His challenge to the world today through parables in music.

Check out the music on the "DESCENDANTS OF ASAPH" band page link!

Earlier songs from the late 80's and early 90's can be found under the "FROM THE WELL OF SALVATION" band page

Check out my other passion - studying the Word of God!
I've have just started up my blog at
http://thescribblingscribe.wordpress.com/

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT: Yesterday was the first Sunday in the advent calendar. Its a tradition to light a candle each sunday leading up to Christmas and yesterday we were invited to light a small candle from the flame of the large candle beside the altar and at the same time bring our prayer to God.

So i went up and I lit a candle for a friend of mine who does not yet know Christ. The candle surprisingly took a long time to light, it seemed like ages as i stood there alone by the altar because everyones elses candle lit up so easily. But in time the wick of the little candle could not resist any longer and it burst into a healthy flame. I set it down alongside all the other candles and returned to my seat not a ...

The Scribbling Scribe: My other great passion is for the Word of God. I have been studing Classical Hebrew and Hellenistic Greek for a while now and just started a blog with some random thoughts and serious studies on God's Word. Check it out from time to time:

http://thescribblingscribe.wordpress.com/

Random thought for Good Friday: The song "What manner of love" was put together quite quickly by my standards. Having said that of course the lyrics are "out of the box" so to speak coming directly from 1 John 3 verses 1-2 and the music was from an earlier idea i had which just needed a little development to finish off.

Its 'Good Friday' today and i am struck again by the verse cited and the measure and manner of love shown by God in sending His Son Jesus Christ and the obedience of His Son to death on a cross. Oh the depth of His love and passion for mankind, who can fathom it?

"That we should be called sons of God". This is truly amazing. It is only to mankind, the sons of Adam, that this privilige can be bestowe...

Story behind the Song - WHAT MANNER OF LOVE: Heres a song based around the text of the 1 John 3 verses 1 and 2

Its from my latest project -Letter to Israel-

In this letter I would say that I am a Messianic Gentile (and an Irish one at that!) and that I am lavishly nourished by the crumbs that fall from the childrens table so why do the children still refuse to come to feast on His love and forgiveness? The Host Yeshua (Jesus) is waiting patiently for them and longing for them to take their rightful place at the table in His Kingdom.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! The more children there are around the table the more crumbs will fall on the floor to feed the dogs!

Al

Story behind the Song - RUNNING THE GAUNTLET: I wrote this song back in 2001 in commemoration of one young man’s bravery after reading about his story. Here’s the background.

It’s about 3000 years ago and the Israelites are at odds with the Philistines (nothing new there!) and engaged in daily fighting and skirmishes. This particular incident takes place near modern day Mukhmas a few kilometers northeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank.

The King of Israel in those days was Saul and as national leader he should have been setting an example of courage and bravery but instead it’s recorded that “he was sitting under a pomegranate tree” no doubt feeling thoroughly miserable and full of self pity.

However his son Jonathan was of an a...

Story behind the Song - REMEMBER: The lyrics of this song are taken more or less as they are written in the book of Ecclesiastes chap 12. Musically there are two variations of the song and I couldn’t decide which was better so solved the problem by posted both on the music page

The lyrics encourage us to seek God when we are young and have both the energy and interest. The picture painted is a beautiful metaphor of the state of old age when things don’t work anymore as they once did!
I am indebted to Adam Clark’s commentary on the book for the explanations below:

Remember now your creator
In days of your youth
Before the evil years draw in and surround you
And quench desire for the truth
(Remember Him now, you...

Story behind the Song - SEE HOW HIS CROWN SHINES NOW!: It was late in the evening of September 4th 2006. I was on my way home from work when I tripped on the pavement and twisted my ankle. It swelled up like a football and I ended up in bed for a few days with my leg supported on a cardboard box to keep the weight off it. Luckily there was no brain damage so I used the time to catch up with some reading and to start to write a song I had been planning for some time based around the last line of Psalm 132 verse 18 (The Message)

“but I'll make his crown sparkle with splendor”

I had just started earlier in the year to work through a song writing book I had bought at the local bookstore “Successful Lyric Writing” by Davis (Writer’s Digest Book...

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