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Many struggle to see Moses’ answer in Psalm 90. Often, the solution of this psalm is presented rather moralistically, as if the imperative of verse 12 is the singular answer: “So teach us to number our days so that we gain a . . . Continue reading →
In the previous articles, we have considered the immensity of darkness. First, we saw the importance of prayer in the Psalm 88’s opening. No matter what darkness we face, we can always call upon our Lord. Then, we focused on the intensity . . . Continue reading →
To my friends, no I am not, as far as I know, in imminent danger of death. My enemies shall have to wait a bit longer. My reflections this morning are inspired by a series of posts at TGC including “The Song Scott . . . Continue reading →
In the last article, we considered the fog of darkness. One helpful way to clear the fog is by acknowledging who is ultimately in control of the darkness we face. When we face difficult times, when we feel like we have unanswered . . . Continue reading →
Fog is such a perplexing form of weather. When miniscule droplets of water become suspended in the air, they suddenly surround us like blinding clouds of smoke. A thick fog can quickly cause panic when we drive on the road. When a . . . Continue reading →
In 2008, Mike Horton called attention to the phenomenon of a radically subjective turn in American evangelicalism, in Christless Christianity. Unfortunately, a single book diagnosing the deep sickness of American evangelical Christianity was not enough to turn the tide. In that volume, Mike . . . Continue reading →
In the English Standard Version, Acts 16:25 says “[a]bout midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…”. Several other translations (e.g., NASB, NIV, TEV, ASV, RSV, NLT, NKJV, HCSB) follow this or a . . . Continue reading →
In the next three articles considering Psalm 88, we will focus on three different ways that the Psalmist reacts to the darkness. In this article, we will consider how darkness descends both physically and spiritually upon us. In part four, we will focus more . . . Continue reading →
We heard many stories about Queen Elizabeth II after her passing, but I do not know how many of you will know the story I am about to tell. Did you know that we have Queen Elizabeth II to thank for the . . . Continue reading →
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The point is that God has told us to worship him, giving us his Word to direct all our faith and practice. Everything we need is in the Word, including our songs. One fundamental reason—which should delight our hearts and practically grow . . . Continue reading →
In C. S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, there is a moment when the ship is approaching the Dark Island and all aboard find themselves in fear and despair. As the darkness enfolds them, we are told that Lucy whispers, . . . Continue reading →
We live in an age of emotions or feelings. Many questions in life are centered around our emotions. How does your job make you feel? How do you feel about family time? What makes you feel happy? How can you stop having . . . Continue reading →
O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Psalm 88:1 In Medio Tenebras Lux On June 5, 2022, terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Nigeria. Dozens of worshippers were killed, and the priest himself was kidnapped. . . . Continue reading →
Book Review
In an age of TikTok and Christian pop music, the Psalms can seem like a dusty relic in a poorly visited part of a museum. Sure, many modern choruses are snippets of Psalms or rough paraphrases of them, but their tunes and . . . Continue reading →
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The metrical psalm was the perfect vehicle for turning the Protestant message into a mass movement capable of embracing the illiterate alongside the literate. What better than the very words of the Bible as sung by the hero-King David? The psalms were . . . Continue reading →
It was only a matter of time. There is a story on CNN about the 2019 publication of a LGBTQ hymnal, Songs For The Holy Other: Hymns Affirming the LGBTQIA2S+ Community. This collection is published by the Hymn Society, which is a . . . Continue reading →
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When you compare the poetic and religious quality of the hymnal with our Psalter, the former looks like a child’s play. Gilded tin and real gold have nothing in common. And yet the inferior hymnal was quickly given such prominence by persons . . . Continue reading →
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Within wider Christianity, Presbyterians are often labeled—and sometimes dismissed—as traditionalists. This label may seem to explain some aspects of Presbyterian piety, but not all. When Christians outside of Reformed circles learn about the Presbyterian passion for singing Psalms, keeping Sabbath, and rejecting . . . Continue reading →
Tish Harrison Warren, who writes for Christianity Today, who is a priest—a topic for another essay— in the Anglican Church in North America, has published an editorial in CT calling for Christians to pray imprecatory prayers against Vladimir Putin. She begins with . . . Continue reading →
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Last summer, my daughter walked into the Apple Store in our local mall, and came out the proud owner of a new iPhone 12 Pro. In those first hours of set-up, one of her first priorities – as any teen will tell . . . Continue reading →
