June 2010 – Page 4 – 300 words a day

on anger.

(This is the fourth of a few posts on Psalm 4, written as a followup to Oscar Hammerstein and reading the Bible) But what do I do? That’s a huge question in a life of faith. We may believe in God, but what does that look like behaviorally (other than going to church on Sunday […]

by Jon Swanson

Punishing or poignant

(This is the third of a few posts on Psalm 4, written as a followup to Oscar Hammerstein and reading the Bible) I don’t know how to help readers “hear” tone of voice. And yet tone of voice is so helpful in understanding what sentences mean. For example, read these two sentences out loud. As […]

by Paul Merrill

Prayer. Again.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday) I constantly seem to forget how important and real prayer is. A few months back, I wrote about a friend who was facing foreclosure because he had not received a paycheck in over a year. I prayed with him for several months. God brought a job! Another friend […]

by Jon Swanson

Are you talking to me?

(This is the second of a few posts on Psalm 4, written as a followup to Oscar Hammerstein and reading the Bible) 1. Some people think that because Psalm 4 follows Psalm 3, it was written at the same time. If so, then David is a king in a coup, kicked out of the capital […]

by Jon Swanson

A conversational reading of the song known as Psalm 4

(This is the first of a few posts on Psalm 4, written as a followup to Oscar Hammerstein and reading the Bible) Let’s look at Psalm 4. The header tells us that it is attributed to David, that it’s dedicated to some director of music, that it is written to be accompanied by stringed instruments. […]