myopic pilgrim

We’re studying the Psalms in my small group. Last Tuesday we were in Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses that touches on themes of God’s eternality, humanity’s sinfulness, and the brevity of life.

The study book we’re using is by Eugene Peterson. In light of Psalm 90:7 (”we have been consumed by Your anger”) it asked why might God be angry with you. Most folks couldn’t think of why God might be angry with them for anything other than unconfessed sin. And I don’t think anyone noticed that we took the word “we” to mean a group of individuals in contrast to a collective group. Read the rest of this entry »

The greatness of God is not served perfectly by superlatives. He’s the best, the most beauitful, loveliest, holiest, strongest, wisest, and so on and so forth. It shows that God is the epitome, the end all be all, but I wonder if comparatives are underused to describe him. He is better, stronger, greater, more… Better than who, you ask. Stronger than what? What have you got?

Forgive me, Lord. I still live as if obeying you means to not sin.

After an “ingathering song” (read: familiar upbeat song), announcements, pastoral prayer and offering, we launched into the beginning of a set of music focusing on the three persons of the Trinity. The first three songs were done in the same key (E) to facilitate easy transitions. Consuming Fire (in the key of G) moved naturally into a sparse arrangement of Breathe on Me, Breath of God (also in G). The last song is normally pretty upbeat. We eased into this song; it was a slow burn to its peak.
Read the rest of this entry »

I cry out to God with a feeble cry
With words incomprehensible, squeezed out in desperation
I don’t try to form statements or petitions
I don’t even know what to ask for
I just cry out, God!
Jesus, help me!
Spirit, groan on my behalf!

I want to run to righteousness
But my feet are filled with lead
Deadweight that I can’t blame on anyone
I don’t have the courage to face the man I see in the mirror everyday
To call him out, to rebuke his slothfulness
To exhort him, to give him marching orders and command him to go
To console him, to point his eyes to your grace and mercy

God, great in power, famous for your deeds
Confront the man I see
Let him die
Re-create him in the form and likeness of the Son