prayerbookproject

orientation, disorientation and new orientation

As some of you already know, this past April I resigned from my position as the Director of Worship, Music and the Arts at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA so that I could move to Vancouver, BC and work as the Worship and Music Coordinator for Regent College. Up to this point most of my time has revolved around leading worship in chapel, but I have a new job that kicks into high gear on Monday morning: full-time student.

For the past ten+ years I have worked as a worship leader and musician, and I have been quite comfortable doing so. (And by "comfortable" I am referring to both the good and bad connotations that could be derived from such usage.) The idea of hopping back into the shoes of a full-time student, for the first time in over ten years, fills my heart with a fair amount of fear and trepidation. The pinnacle of this anxiety revolves around beginning my studies in Hebrew. But as the Hebrew scriptures tell us, the fear of the LORD, not the fear of learning Hebrew, is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7) And so I enter into this new phase of life both fearful and trying not to be. If that makes any sense at all.

This kind of inbetweenness reached its zenith during this past week when I both led in new student orientation and went through new student orientation as a new student. As someone who has been both leading in worship and studying the psalms, the word "orientation" instantly triggers my love and respect for Walter Bruggemann.

Bruggemann's categorization of the psalms seems to be the most simple, profound and useful one out there:

"Human life consists in satisfied seasons of well-being that evoke gratitude for the constancy of the blessing." ergo psalms of orientation

"Human life consists in anguished seasons of hurt, alienation, suffering, and death. These evoke rage, resentment, self-pity, and hatred." ergo psalms of disorientation

"Human life consists in turns of surprise when we are overwhelmed with the new gifts of God, when joy breaks through the despair." ergo psalms of new orientation

- from Spirituality of the Psalms by Walter Bruggemann

As the new students at Regent College, myself included, worshiped together this past week, I experienced living into all three of these things at the same time. This past year has certainly been one of the most difficult of my life. While I have so much to be thankful for, I cannot deny that I have experienced so much pain as well. Bryan Burton, my pastor, good friend and old boss, wrote well of this tension in his latest blog post. The call to follow Jesus is a call that requires dying to yourself, and this kind of dying to yourself happens on many levels. (One very tangible way this is currently happening for our family is that we are living in a community house with other Regent students. So far it has been great, but it also represents a transition.) And change is never easy. To quote D.H. Lawrence: 

Do you think it is easy to change?
Ah, it is very hard to change and be
     different.

It means passing through the waters of
     oblivion.

In the midst of the oblivion, one does well to remember that...

God is our refuge and strength,
       an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
       and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3, NIV

In an effort to sum up my random feelings on this beautiful day in Vancouver, two days before my 35th birthday, I leave you with the video journey of Christoph Rehage. The longest way is often the best way.

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.

emergent psalter

For all you Psalms Aficionados out there...

Isaac Everett just launched the Emergent Psalter podcast. Listen to the first episode here. There is a book coming out later this year and I am excited to see where this all goes.

Bruce Benedict is working on a Psalms-of-Ascents project with some help from the Calvin Institute of Worship. Stay tuned at www.cardiphonia.com. He is doing some writing with Brian T. Murphy. Good stuff is bound to happen.

the loss of the psalter...

...the loss of Christian devotion?

Dr. Jim Houston asked this question last night during an Evening Public Lecture at Regent College. Houston spoke primarily on three points. 1) We recover the Psalms when we recover the Scriptures for, and within, our own lives. 2) Jesus and the apostles used the Psalms "prophetically" to give us a Christian Psalter. 3) Without the communion of the saints, we remain shallow in our appreciation of the Psalms.

In an effort to expand our appreciation of the effect the communion of saints has had on our understanding of the Psalms, Dr. Houston surveyed the work of Athanasius, Bede, and Calvin (yes, conveniently A, B & C). In Athanasius' letter to Marcellinus (I recently blogged about this letter here) we see the Psalms as a sort of micro-bible. In Bede we see a monk who lived a liturgical life and found great comfort in the "hedgehog spirituality" of Psalm 104:18. (If you are praying the psalms then you are protected.) In John Calvin we were presented with the greatest commentator on the Psalms. (Although I think Augustine may have the edge here...and Augustine didn't even know Hebrew!)

Where the lecture got really interesting was when Dr. Houston boldly suggested that Isaac Watts was a major player in the downfall of the use of the Psalter in our time. For this, Houston was leaning on the work of William Romaine:

 "I have no quarrel with Dr. Watts, or any living or dead versifier. I would not wish all their poems burnt. My concern is to see Christian congregations shut out divinely inspired psalms, and take in Dr. Watts' flights of fancy; as if the words of a poet were better than the words of a prophet or as if the wit of a man was to be preferred to the wisdom of God. When the church is met together in one place, the Lord God has made a provision for their songs of praise - a large collection, and great variety - and why should not these be used in the church according to God's express appointment? I speak not of private people, or of private singing; but of the church in its public service. Why should the provision which God has made be so far despised, as to become quite out of use? Why should Dr. Watts, or any hymnmaker not only take the precedence of the Holy Ghost, but also thrust him entirely out of the church? Insomuch that the rhymes of a man are now magnified above the word of God, even to the annihilating of it in many congregations. If this be right, men and brethren, judge ye. Examine with candor the evidence, which has determined my judgment, so far as it is conclusive may it determine yours."
- from An essay on psalmody by Wlliam Romaine. (p. 112-113)

As one who has spent some time versifying the psalter I most definitely took note! It is important here to remember the context of the work of Dr. Watts. He was working at a time when exclusive psalmody was the norm and he was introducing a new form into worship. While Watts' work certainly helped lead the movement away from exclusive psalmody I would not say that he, or his "flights of fancy", led to the downfall of the psalter...

...for that we must point the finger at ourselves.

If we are to reclaim the psalter in Christian worship then we must be committed to doing so. Scriptural songs should never direct us away from Scripture but back to it. They are not a replacement. But that should not stop us from examining "with candor the evidence". For those of us who plan worship we need to be regularly asking ourselves how we incorporate the psalter in our worship.

Dr Houston closed his lecture with the following five points:

1) Embrace the Psalms in your own personal prayer life. (But know that you are never alone when doing so.)

2) Be inspired by the energies of worship within the Psalms.

3) Be aware that the Psalms are replete with the presence of God.

4) The Psalms show us that our conversion as the children of God, is not a once-for-all experience, as we might think, but a daily process.

5) Whatever inner tranquility the psalms give us, they introduce us to hell as well as heaven. (We are troubled by the imprecatory psalms because we don't understand evil.)

A very good lecture. Stayed tuned to Regent Audio for the mp3 version.

sine ullo artificio (or how to pray the psalms artlessly)

Among all the books, the Psalter has certainly a very special grace, a choiceness of quality well worthy to be pondered; for, besides the characteristics which it shares with others, it has this peculiar marvel of its own, that within it are represented and portrayed in all their great variety the movements of the human soul. It is like a picture, in which you see yourself portrayed and, seeing, may understand and consequently form yourself upon the pattern given.

Athanasius wrote these words to his friend Marcellinus on the interpretation of the Psalms. Athanasius reminds us of the power and uniqueness contained within the Psalms. The words of the Psalms not only teach us how to pray, but they also teach us about ourselves.

The marvel of the Psalter is that...the reader takes all its words upon his lips as though they were his own, and each one sings the psalms as though they had been written for his special benefit, and takes them and recites them, not as though someone else were speaking or another person's feelings being described, but as himself speaking of himself, offering the words to God as his own heart's utterance, just as though he himself had made them up.

Here the power of the Psalms is seen in a specific light. It is as if these words of the Psalms have been echoing in our souls since the beginning of time, that somehow the framework of our lives runs in harmony with these scriptural prayers. While I think that this is most certainly true I also know that this is not something that is easily perceived or discovered. It takes a long term "relationship" with these words before we can truly see or pray them as "our own". I know this because many of the Psalms still seem distant or unprayable to me. My emotional reaction is often different or even opposite from the words written. When this happens I try to remind myself that I am not supposed to live out my Christian life in some kind of spiritual vacuum. We are called into community and often times the prayers that seem impossible for us are natural for the person sitting next to us in the pew, or chair, or floor. At the same time, often the reasons for which we can't pray a particular psalm has to do with our own need for repentance and transformation.

Just as in a mirror, the movements of our own souls are reflected in [the Psalms] and the words are indeed our very own, given us to serve both as a reminder of our changes of condition and as a pattern and model for the amendment of our lives.

Orientation. Disorientation. New Orientation. This is how Walter Bruggemann categorizes the Psalms. If you are truly praying the Psalms you will not stay the same. You will be reminded of who you are. You will learn quickly what or who you are not. And lastly and perhaps most important, you will see who you are becoming.

 There is, however, one word of warning needed. No one must allow himself to be persuaded, by any arguments whatever, to decorate the Psalms with extraneous matter or make alterations in their order or change the words themselves. They must be sung and chanted with entire simplicity, just as they are written, so that the holy men who gave them to us, recognizing their own words, may pray with us, yes and even more that the Spirit, Who spoke by the saints, recognizing the selfsame words that He inspired, may join us in them too.

And this is perhaps where the wheels come off the bus for you. For starters, I think we can read Revelation 22:18-19 and see a similar theme, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If any one of you adds anything to them, God will add to you the plagues described in this scroll. And if any one of you takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from you your share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." While this is consistent with what Athanasius is saying, he does go further by saying we are to pray, sing, and say the psalms with entire simplicity. These words had previously been translated from the Greek into the Latin as sine ullo artificio. This phrase can be translated into one English word = artlessly.

The collograph above is from Psalm 19 by Sandra Bowden and is entitled, "The Heavens declare the glory of God". I do not believe Athanasius is saying that a work like this should never have been painted. What is more, I do not believe that by writing a new song inspired by the Psalms I am doing a disservice to them. However, the warning from Athanasius is worth pondering. Our worship should be stripped bare of anything that would keep us distracted from encountering the true and living God. Often times this means that a simple approach will trump a complex one when it comes to worship. But to say that any "imagining" or "retelling" or "versifying" of the Psalms is wrong is similar to saying that any commentary on the Psalms (or a letter to a friend about how to pray the Psalms) is unnecessary because the Psalms speak for themselves.

It is good for us to be reminded that when we open up the word of God we are indeed playing with fire. We cannot read Scripture on our own. Unless the Holy Spirit makes the words come alive in us we will never be able to truly pray the Psalms.

And so you too, Marcellinus, pondering the Psalms and reading them intelligently, with the Spirit as your guide, will be able to grasp the meaning of each one, even as you desire. And you will strive also to imitate the lives of those God-bearing saints who spoke them at the first.

praying the psalms of thanksgiving

As we reflect on all we have to be thankful for many of us are left speechless. While this speechlessness could be a reflection of a lack of gratitude in our lives it could also be that we are overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of the good gifts of God. Even in the midst of the worst tragedies we hold onto a real and tangible hope. But we cannot remain silent. In fact, we are commanded to come before the LORD with singing and thanksgiving.

In Ben Patterson's new book, God's Prayer Book, we are encouraged to return to the ancient well of the Psalms so that we might learn how to pray. In Patterson's reflection on Psalm 100 he writes, "If gratitude and joy are spontaneous, why are they commanded? Shouldn't they just spring up in people who are awake to the goodness of God? The truth is, gratitude and joy are often what wake us up. They are choices...Do you see no reason to be joyful and grateful? Rejoice and give thanks so you will!"

It is my hope that we will all be able to wake up to the goodness of God and respond with singing and thanksgiving to God. And not only that, but to be transformed by living lives born out of and into gratitude for the greatest gift given in Jesus Christ.

Harvest by Vincent Van Gogh

PSALM 100

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
    Worship the LORD with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

lincoln and the psalms

I have been spending an inordinate amount of time working on a research paper for an American Church History class I'm taking through Fuller Seminary. And now it's done!!! Yeah! The paper is on Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (only 703 words and definitely worth reading again since, for most of us, the last time we read it was in 5th grade). I suppose that it is strange that my first seminary research paper is on Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln never confessed to being a Christian and was never a member of a church yet he knew more about scripture and theology than most of the pastors of his day.

When one minister asked Lincoln if he was concerned about who God was siding with in the Civil War, he responded “that it gave him no concern whether the Lord was on our side or not.” He added, “I know the Lord is always on the side of right…But God is my witness that it is my constant anxiety and prayer that both myself and this nation should be on the Lord's side.”

Lincoln loved the Psalms and he quoted Psalm 19:9 in the address. He had memorized many of the psalms and during a conversation with a family nurse had told her of his appreciation of the Psalms,; “Yes, they are the best, for I find in them something for every day in the week.” 

I love that...something for every day of the week.

praying with elizabeth

I have been back in Seattle now for a couple of days and am still processing my time at the Urbana conference in St Louis. It was so good to be in worship with so many from so far. At the same time it was also difficult hearing so many stories of pain and suffering from throughout our broken world. More often than not, I found myself angry at the injustice and frustrated with our God. But in the process of bringing it all before God I found myself entering into worship in ways I had never experienced before. In the midst of the darkness I knew peace. (One paragraph here will hardly do justice to all of that was running through my soul.)

The story that has stayed with me the most was told by Sharon Cohn, a lawyer with International Justice Mission. She shared the story of *Elizabeth. Elizabeth was misled by the offer of a job that would help her take care of her family. In the process of seeking out the employment she was trapped and sold into sexual slavery. When other women that were trapped with her heard her praying to God they made fun of her saying things like, "God cannot hear you in here." After being beaten, raped, and tortured many times she was finally rescued by a team from International Justice Mission working with local authorities. Her rescuers discovered the following words written on the wall of the room she was confined to...

The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.   Psalm 27:1-3

When Sharon Cohn had the opportunity to later meet Elizabeth, she asked her if she would read these words from Psalm 27 to her. Elizabeth said, "No. Those were the words I prayed when I was in the brothel. But I will read you these words from Psalm 34...

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.   Psalm 34:1-4

I cried when I heard this story. What a transformation. What faith. Could I hold on to hope in such dire circumstances? And what a powerful expression of the Psalms being lived out before us. When we pray the prayers of the Psalms we are praying with martyrs, saints and cynics from throughout all ages and today. When we pray the psalms we are praying with Elizabeth.

Click HERE to listen to Sharon Cohn's presentation at Urbana.

Click HERE to find out more about the important work of International Justice Mission.

calvin and the psalms

This past Sunday was Reformation Sunday and I was again reminded of the profound impact the reformation has had on the worship music of the Church. As Martin Luther wrote, "The Devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God." For an interesting background into how the singing of the Psalms came into greater prominence after the Reformation read Calvin's Preface to the Psalms.

What is there now to do? It is to have songs not only honest, but also holy, which will be like spurs to incite us to pray to and praise God, and to meditate upon his works in order to love, fear, honor and glorify him. Moreover, that which St. Augustine has said is true, that no one is able to sing things worthy of God except that which he has received from him. Therefore, when we have looked thoroughly, and searched here and there, we shall not find better songs nor more fitting for the purpose, than the Psalms of David, which the Holy Spirit spoke and made through him. And moreover, when we sing them, we are certain that God puts in our mouths these, as if he himself were singing in us to exalt his glory.

- John Calvin

reflecting on the psalms

Anna Aven Howard has shared some of her reflections on the psalms here. The prayers of the prayerbook really come to life when we live our own stories into them. We ultimately find and learn along the way that our stories are connected to the Author of them all. If any of you have reflected on the psalms via songs, term papers, whatever...I'd love for you to share your thoughts here.

michael card and the lost language of lament

Earlier this month, our church hosted a spiritual renewal conference with Ben Patterson and Michael Card. Michael spoke on Saturday afternoon on "A Sacred Sorrow: The Lost Language of Lament". I have included an mp3 of the session here and encourage you to take a listen. He approaches lament from the words of Job, Jeremiah, David, and Jesus.

Listen to A Sacred Sorrow: The Lost Language of Lament

Michael Card has a weekly radio show and the focus this week and next is on the Psalms/Lament. For more info go HERE. Either way, you can listen to the old shows via podcast or his website and look for program #208 from 03/25/06. Mike speaks on the Psalms with Harold Best and others and there is some good theology happening here.