Apr
2
Psalm 130 Remixed
Posted by Champ Thornton at 7:00 amFiled Under blogdom, ethics, poetry, theology | Leave a Comment
In July 2008 the musical team at Sovereign Grace Ministries (lead by Bob Kauflin) released an entire CD of psalm settings in a contemporary style.
Revisiting Monday’s post (“Psalmic Imagery”), here are the lyrics and audio of their remix of Psalm 130 (“Out of the Depths”).
Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You
When I [...]
Nov
24
The Cause for Giving Thanks
Posted by Champ Thornton at 9:29 amFiled Under fun stuff, poetry, theology | Leave a Comment
During the month of November
Is the time we most remember
Buckled shoes, the first Thanksgiving
Meal, and white and red man living
Happily near Plymouth township.
But it was through winter’s hardship
Grievous, our pilgrim fathers came—
Sustained and held by that same
Hand which had guided them through throes
Of stormy seas and Saul-like foes
Unscathed. They found the hand of God
In Indian [...]
Apr
27
The text for this week’s sermon was Ecclesiastes 11:1-8. At this point in the book, the Sage is starting to wind down to his conclusion, so he begins to get rather proverbial with a short burst of staccato-like aphorisms. Since one cannot rid life of its inherent enigmas, then one must despair and [...]
Apr
24
little fiends
Posted by Jon Trainer at 8:43 pmFiled Under poetry, theology | 1 Comment
Last Sunday I preached on Ecclesiastes 10. I asked the children in the congregation to keep their ears tuned for at least three little animals (there is a fourth larger animal) in the chapter. The power of these little beasts to wreak havoc is breathtaking, along with the sheer arbitrariness of the whole [...]
Apr
24
king death’s king
Posted by Jon Trainer at 9:37 amFiled Under poetry, theology | Leave a Comment
Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Some say a dolt is one that does not know
The joy of life in time and space on earth,
And yet the man most ignorant below
Is dead, his keen mind buried under turf.
This universal fate befalling man,
Like snaring birds or netting fish with ease,
Compels mad souls to grasp just what they can;
To live, and [...]
Apr
9
serving kings
Posted by Jon Trainer at 4:28 pmFiled Under poetry, theology | 2 Comments
Ecclesiastes 8:2-17; Psalm 73
“All men should bow to serve the throne,” he said.
“Ignore the rank and file that plot and scheme
To shed royal red blood at risk of head,
As with their locks they also lose life’s dream.”
Ancient visage peering down from king’s seat
Cannot see past next tick or tock, cannot
Command the wind east, west, north, [...]
Mar
31
deep, deep
Posted by Jon Trainer at 3:47 pmFiled Under poetry, theology | 16 Comments
I Kings 21; Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1
Behold the king! His en’vous eyes devour
Neighbor’s flowing vineyard till sleep is slain.
Barking queen’s dolts plot doom through dark glower;
Hurl rocks til righteous Naboth feels no pain.
Stumbling headlong into deep upon deep,
Fumbling in a dark cave, I sought to know
Why fate causes good men fals’ly to reap
A hard harvest they [...]
Mar
24
dark road
Posted by Jon Trainer at 3:15 pmFiled Under poetry, theology | Leave a Comment
Luke 24:13-35
Jerusalem behind, dark road before,
With only words to soothe the searing pain.
Imagined reign once craved shall be no more;
This trek a journey back to the mundane.
Wordy women, angel visions, empty
Tomb site, missing body, these signs all fail
To pierce bantered murky verbiage; see–
Sadly downcast eyes, hear–sighing exhale.
But from behind a voice cries out, “Shalom!”
Stern rebuke, [...]
Mar
20
a holy week sonnet
Posted by Jon Trainer at 10:23 amFiled Under poetry, theology | Leave a Comment
Inspired by Carson’s work, I offer this sonnet from last week’s sermon text, Mark 11. Mark carefully folds the story of the cursed fig tree between Christ’s initial survey trip to Jerusalem and the Temple cleansing work wrought the following day. The one a beautiful illustration of the other.
The Fruitless Fig
Passing Bethphage the [...]