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Psalms of Delight.......

Most of the Bible's Psalms give thanks to God on one or more levels. Commanded to do so, Christians aught to make the time to praise God for His glorious nature, creative genius and many gifts to mankind. Psalms of Delight are written in concert with Psalms in the Night. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in scripture.

Funny How It Is Summary

Creation is full of irony. While we may or may not be fans we're all participants, and as such it would be ironic indeed if we failed to make it a matter of prayer from time to time. Modern Psalms often uses the work of today's entertainment industry to point out the obvious and less so. Video, or in this case music, can capture our thoughts and feelings in unique and interesting ways. These help express our human condition in an unending variety of cries from the heart.

Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens passing, fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this
And evening comes, and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that war song is playing, "Why can't we be friends"
Someone is screaming crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
Somebody's going hungry, someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken, it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on a breeze, or water to a fish
The bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small, compared to how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Watch the sky, the jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there Someone up there looking down on me
Boy chase a bird, so close but every time
He'll never catch her, but he can't stop trying

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody's broken heart become your favorite song
Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small, compared to how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Forgive me for saying but irony's a lot cuter in a song than in real life. And it's everywhere, not just in the physical world but the spiritual. On the one hand You know I'm really grateful for and impressed with the Bible. After three decades of intense study I'm convinced it's the authentic Word of God. We're so blessed to have scripture speak to us in dozens of different forms and translations. It wonderful to have the ability to google the Bible anytime, day or night, along with thousands if not tens of thousands of commentaries! Yet even this can never replace You. Humanity's desperate for the power of Your presence, provision and protection. And let's be honest, we've got far less of You than we need. Truth is billions deal daily with the fallout and consequences of Your silence of distant.

Not that funny when I think about it.

And what of blessings? The modern world seems to have inherited answers to the prayers of all past generations, enjoying the capabilities of mythological gods yet constantly take for granted our blessings to the point of denying Your very existence. All the while scrambling for more even in the face of some of the greatest humanitarian needs the world has ever seen.

I doubt such irony is lost on You.

And what about salvation? It's fantastic that scripture clearly states: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.. It's totally awesome that mankind's Creator and Savior's Holy Number is All! Yet equally distressing is the fact that given modern levels of sin, rebellion and disbelief, when it comes to repentance and salvation, the reverse may be more accurate!

Not funny at all when You think about it.

Lord, by definition You're clearly not to blame. Yet "who else do we have in heaven but You?" It's You who command us to "come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy." It's You who counsel, "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force." You're the One who encourage, "fear not little children, it's the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Lord I admit again today that we stand utterly condemned, particularly my generation and the next in First World Nation and beyond. That we are utterly without excuse for our sin. Yet remember Oh God that even our behavior is not without explanation. For it is written that the very Evil One who accuses and condemns us is the same who first tempted and deceived us, and angels right out of heaven.

You placed 1,260 promises in the Bible. And while we haven't merited them, we are told Your mercies are new every morning! I plead with You to perform Your word, even if we are far from living up to it. I know it's asking a lot, maybe even too much, but I fear it's the only way we ever will...




Wanted: Guest Psalmists What do you think? Do we need Modern Psalms to address the questions and issues of modern life? If you'd like to submit a psalm for consideration please contact Rob Pennington at Rob@GodBlog.net.



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