psalms – Page 8 – 300 words a day

From the middle of the congregation.

There was a man in front of me at church on Sunday. The long blond hair on his shoulder wasn’t his wife’s. But I wasn’t worried. It was her wig’s. They have spent the year learning about chemo and radiation. The woman with her hands in the air, singing isn’t with her husband. It’s because […]

by Jon Swanson

5 ways David journaled prayer.

The other day, Megin wondered about journaling prayer. I think it’s a great question. I think that sometimes, David prayed with a pen. The book of Psalms includes some of those prayers. They reflect honesty and vulnerablity. They aren’t pretty or polite. But neither is good conversation. 1. With a loud frustrated voice. I cry […]

by Jon Swanson

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 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 […]