Psalm 1 - Father, oh to be the blessed and fulfilled man of this Psalm. May this portrait of a life of wisdom be the compelling desire of all of our hearts. Free us from conducting our lives and making our decisions based upon the advice of those who are hostile to you. May we … Continue reading Praying Psalm 1 and 2
Psalms
When You Walk through Times of Spiritual Darkness
In today's contemporary church, we speak little about the subject of spiritual darkness, but in the older tradition it was very different. It was recognized that at times God can sovereignly bring upon us episodes of spiritual darkness, in which what is sensed is his absence rather than his presence, his displeasure rather than an … Continue reading When You Walk through Times of Spiritual Darkness
9/11 and the Imprecatory Psalms: Two Opinions
Here's a list of the Lament Psalms known as Imprecatory (Psalm 7, 35, 52, 54, 55, 58, 59, 79, 83, 94, 129, 137, and 140). Claus Westermann claims that these imprecatory Psalms “have once and for all been taken away from Christ’s congregation.”[1] Some of them[2] appear rather bloodthirsty, pre-Christian and inappropriate for believers to … Continue reading 9/11 and the Imprecatory Psalms: Two Opinions
Praying an Imprecatory Psalm as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 Approaches
Psalm 137 is a notable imprecatory psalm. It reads like this: 1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. 3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, … Continue reading Praying an Imprecatory Psalm as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 Approaches
When the Darkness Will Not Lift – The Causes of Spiritual Depression
This morning at Panera Bread restaurant, I begin a men's group focused on the Psalms of Ascent with additional insights gleaned from Euguene Peterson's book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society.If you're not in a men's group at Trinity, let me encourage to come be a part of ours. … Continue reading When the Darkness Will Not Lift – The Causes of Spiritual Depression
A Few Nuggets on Praising God from C.S. Lewis
"It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men. It is not of course the only way. But for many people at many times the 'fair beauty of the LORD' is revealed chiefly or only while they worship Him together. Even in Judaism, the essence of the sacrifice was … Continue reading A Few Nuggets on Praising God from C.S. Lewis
2Cherish2Commend 