Today is the second anniversary of my brother Andrew’s death. It is also the 49th anniversary of my reading the whole Bible for the first time on 22/8/1971. I have read the Bible daily ever since and now I spend several hours a day on my Bible commentary, making its teaching accessible to ordinary people, dealing with difficult passages and giving relevant illustrations and application from Scripture. There are even sermon outlines for preachers.

So, in memory of Andrew, whose memory prompted this blogpost emerging from my self-imposed blogpost silence during coronavirus, today is as good a day as any to publicize my YouTube channel, which I have developed during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. I have also subscribed to Zoom to create online interaction and to develop the public worship of God, which has taken a down-turn during the pandemic lockdown.

Gathering pace

Donald’s Thoughts began by celebrating the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth on 10th July 2009 and then slowly gathered pace. Similarly, my YouTube channel began slowly on 1st Jan 2011 by celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Authorised King James Version of the English Bible in 1611, and it is now gathering pace.

Donald’s YouTube channel

Donald’s YouTube channel can be found by clicking here, which shows the most recent videos.

I have two series or Playlists running in parallel and plan to develop more.

Psalmody series
The first series promotes a capella singing of the Scottish metrical psalms. I go through the tunes in the 1970 edition of The Scottish Psalmody, each 5-10 minute video being a different tune, sung to a few verses from the Scottish metrical version of the book of Psalms.

I make a few comments on the tune or the psalm or both. I hope to encourage singing of the Word of God, which has many benefits. As a tenor singer, I slip in and out of the tenor part so that those singing alongside in the soprano part can hear the harmony and grow accustomed to it. Occasionally I make comments to help precentors leading the congregation in a capella singing, that is, vocal music without instrumental music. I have promoted it as a Psalmody Class for Precentors and Tenor Singers but anyone can follow and hopefully benefit from it.

To watch my first video in my psalmody series explaining the rationale, click here and the whole playlist here.

Biblical exegesis and theology
The first video in my biblical exegesis series can be viewed here and the whole playlist here.

Keeping up-to-date
If you click on the “Subscribe” button under any video in each series, it will notify you automatically whenever I publish a new video for each series. You do not need to enter passwords – simply click the subscribe button and the bell beside it and the deed is done.

I plan to have other series, which YouTube calls ‘Playlists’, on medical and other tips as they come to mind.

Online worship

Public worship has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic lockdown and the latest advice is that loud singing can spread the virus further than quiet or soft singing. Wearing a mask should ameliorate this but singing together online, each one in their own space, should allow you to sing as heartily as you wish to the praise of God. So I plan to provide such an ‘online service’ via Zoom.

God says: ‘Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.’

Psalm 50:23.

Update:

31 Aug 2020: I began my online Public Worship from the Scottish Highlands playlist.

13 Oct 2020: this shows you how to follow my blog.

Any questions? You can leave a comment below and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and my YouTube channel.