Broken Pilgrim

Pray-As-You-Go

Hey everyone!

This past weekend, my good friend Mark Vulcano showed me this and I pass it on to you.

I can't recommend Pray-As-You-Go enough!

Click on the link or banner and you'll find a beautiful resource for meditative prayer using music and Scripture. You can download *.mp3's or *.wma's or get a podcast or even download an entire week's worth of prayer. It's provided by the Jesuits in Britain and lives into an Ignatian form of Spirituality.

Each file (one for each day of the work week) is about 10-13 minutes long. It begins with bells as a call to prayer and then moves to an appropriate piece of music to begin to focus on God. After a time a Scripture is read followed (with space) by questions for meditation. The Scripture is read a second time followed by further questions. Finally, after more space the prayer concludes with the Gloria Patri.

I'm planning on making this a piece of my journey. Join me.

Whose Monument?

On my first day in London, I walked around all day outside, taking in many of the city's iconic sights. (I did this in order to deal with jet lag and it worked!) Eventually I landed at Westminster Abbey and went inside to see this magnificent place of worship.

And it was glorious! Magnificent gothic vaulted ceilings. Stunning stained glass. Intricate woodwork in the Quire. Many monuments, statues and plaques celebrating the achievements of all those who were buried in the abbey.

Say what?

I'll admit that while the abbey was fascinating, I was really put off by what I found inside. This building, ostensibly built to the glory of God, was in fact a monument to mankind, particularly those with political and royal connections. The aisles and ambulatory and crypt were crowded and overwhelmed with all the commemorations given over to various famous people.

For example, an entire area is given over to "Poet's Corner" where famous British poets, playwrights and writers are buried and honored. You can't tell me that all these authors were followers of Jesus Christ. I've read their stuff!

Of course, the question for us is who do we commemorate in our places of worship? After all, everything preaches. We must ask, "Does it preach to the glory of God?" Alas, I found much, much, much at Westminster Abbey that preached to the glory of man.

The end of my time in the Abbey was redeemed, though. I attended the first of several Choral Evensongs during my time in London. I was able (along with most of the attendees) to sit in the Quire near to the singers and readers. (not my picture … no photography allowed inside the Abbey)

It was a magnificent Evensong with the musical setting coming from Thomas Tallis. Here, at last, I found my heart soaring in the magnificent space and turning to the far more magnificent glory of God.

It probably helped that the beautiful woodwork of the Quire blocked my views of the monuments and commemorations of man throughout the abbey.

Glory Be to God

This morning in worship we sang what has come to be my favorite congregational Christmas song during this season, Glory Be to God (words and music by Bob Kauflin, recorded on Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man). I especially enjoyed it today with the choir adding awesome sounds on the Hosanna section. And what can I say about the saxman, Mikey D.? Awesome, bro!

Glory be to God on high
Let peace on earth descend
God comes down before our eyes
To Bethlehem
God invisible appears
Endless ages wrapped in years
He has come who cannot change
And Jesus is His name

Emptied of His majesty
He comes in human form
Being’s source begins to be
And God is born
All our griefs He’ll gladly share
All our sins He’ll fully bear
He will cover our disgrace
And suffer in our place

Let the joyful news ring out
The Prince of Peace proclaim
Lift your heart and voice to shout
Immanuel’s name
God has kept His promises
What a work of grace this is
Son of Mary, chosen One
The Lamb of God has come

Hosanna, hosanna
The Lamb of God has come
Hosanna, hosanna
He is the promised One

Glory be to God on high
Let peace on earth descend
God comes down before our eyes
To Bethlehem

Great joy. Great joy. Great joy.

Although … I've started to unconsciously add this little bounce when we sing that is, shall we say, very "white boy". Can't help it. Great joy!

All My Senses Rise

I'll admit it. I was a big fan of New Wave music back in the 80's. Flock of Seagulls. Men Without Hats. Pat Benatar. Missing Persons. The Cars. Blondie. I discovered most of these bands on MTV, back when it actually stood for MUSIC Television.

One of the groups that caught my attention was The Call fronted by Michael Been (a rare bass guitar playing lead singer). They had one of the first videos on MTV with their song, The Walls Came Down. Picked up their first album and discovered that the song had the biblical story of Jericho as its starting point (before moving on to then current political commentary). Turns out that Michael Been writes and sings from the perspective of a Christian. Turns out that would become even more clear with the release of their third album, Reconciled.

Everywhere I Go is the opening track of Reconciled. It is a cry for the presence of God, the need for God, the desperation to be totally and completely connected to God. I have returned to this song time and again over the years, first on vinyl, then on cassette and now on CD (and on my iPod).

I love the last line of the third verse, "My mind reels, all my senses rise". When the numinous presence of God touches us how can we not reel in our thoughts and rise in our senses? Words fail but we know, we know it for what it is.

(click twice to play)

Everywhere I Go
by The Call

Raise me up
Keep that promise that you made
Wake me up
Keep that promise that you made

I think of you everywhere I go
I think of you everywhere I go
I look for you everywhere I go
I need you everywhere I, everywhere I go

Straight paths curve
Smiles, eyes, powers to confound me
I lose my nerve
Your voice, it echoes all around me

I think of you everywhere I go
I think of you everywhere I go
I look for you everywhere I go
I must have you everywhere I,
  everywhere I,
  everywhere I go

Ease me down
Keep that promise that you made to me
Take my hand
My mind reels, all my senses rise

I think of you everywhere I go
Lord, I think of you everywhere I go
I look for you everywhere I go
I need you everywhere I go
Lord, I need you everywhere I go
I look for you everywhere I go
I need you everywhere I go
I must have you everywhere I,
  everywhere I,
  everywhere I,
  everywhere I,
  everywhere I go

White Horse

James D. rightly "challenged me" on my New Christmas Music post on Adventures in the Mundane. Where was Snow Angels by Over the Rhine?

He's right of course. Snow Angels is a beautiful Christmas recording. In fact it has one of my all time favorite OTR songs (Christmas or not) of all time. And it's particularly appropriate during this Advent season. I hope that you have the chance to hear this song … but until you do, here are the lyrics. Note the movement from us, in the here and now, enjoying the season moving to a lovely remembrance of the reason behind it all in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and then culminating in remembering our future, the coming white horse in the sky. And so we long. So we wait. Maranatha, Lord Jesus.

White Horse
(Words and Music: Detweiler)

Bring me a white horse for Christmas
We’ll ride him through the town
Out into the snowy woods
Where we will both lie down

Underneath white birches
Our faces toward the sky
We will make snow angels
With our white horse standing by

Hush now baby
One day we’re gonna ride
Hush now baby
Our white horse through the sky

Bring me a white horse for Christmas
We’ll ride him through the snow
All the way to Bethlehem
2000 years ago

I wanna speak with the angel
Who said do not be afraid
I wanna kneel where the oxen knelt
Where the little child was laid

Hush now baby
One day you’re gonna ride
Hush now baby
Your white horse through the sky

No bridle will he be wearing
His unshod hoofs they will fly
Keep a watch out this Christmas
For that white horse in the sky

Hush now baby
One day we’re gonna ride
Hush now baby
Our white horse through the sky

Hush now baby
Let every angel sing
Hush now baby
One day we’ll ride again

Ultimate Song of Hope

[Eleventh post in Sonship Week Journey, 2007 (SWJ) series]
[First post: SWJ 01: Sonship Week]

And then came Saturday. After a good night's sleep, I began to live forward into the hope that the cross promises, the hope of the ongoing and everlasting presence of Jesus.

Had a good worship rehearsal Saturday morning preparing for Sunday and then had to work down in my office for the rest of the day. One of the things I did was track down a song that we sang at Sonship Week, Revelation Song. This is a song of hope and I ended up playing it all afternoon. (I even threw it in the worship service at the last minute on Sunday morning … something I never do! Lord, have mercy, it must be a new day!)

The final destination of seeing our sin in light of the gospel is always worship … and our actual final destination in eternity is worship around the throne. And so I'm living with this song today looking at the hope of my future.

You can find this song by Jennie Riddle on Glorious from Christ for the Nations Institute. Here's the lyrics:

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing,
  "Praise to the King of Kings!"
You are my everything, and I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows of living color,
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
  glory and power be
To You the only wise King

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing,
  "Praise to the King of Kings!"
You are my everything, and I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus, Your name is Power,
  Breath and Living Water
Such a Marvelous mystery

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing,
  "Praise to the King of Kings!"
You are my everything, and I will adore You

[Previous post: SWJ 10: Song of Hope No. 3]
[Next post: SWJ 12: God Destroyed My Phone]

Be Thou My Vision

[Fourth post in Sonship Week Journey, 2007 (SWJ) series]
[First post: SWJ 01: Sonship Week]

Sonship Week continues to be very powerful as I examine my life in light of the gospel. Yesterday we sang one of my favorite hymns, Be Thou My Vision. I have loved the music and the words, offering up the song as a prayer that God might do those things described throughout all the verses.

But yesterday was different. I found myself realizing that I, all too often, try to do those things myself. So not only do I need God to do them, but I need Him to do them in my place. Even to stop me from trying to do them.

BE THOU MY VISION

Be Thou my vision; O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance all of my days;
Thou and Thou only first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

I want to be lord of my heart, the only one of value to me. I'm my best thought. I look to my own wisdom and I'm completely sufficient in and of myself. I'm first in my heart and my own treasure. I'll win my own victories (thank you very much) and am quite happy to be the fullness of my vision.

I need to be dethroned.

So as I sang tears rolled off my face … for I need God to answer this prayer in song.

I need a right vision.

Kyrie eleison.

[Previous post: SWJ 03: Alone Again Naturally]
[Next post: SWJ 05: Hard Truths]

Psalm 119:54

When a Scripture verse or passage captures me, I like to use multiple translations to gather in a fuller and deeper meaning to the text. Not too long ago while praying in the Divine Hours, I found myself meditating on Psalm 119:54 from the BCP Psalter:

Your statutes have been like songs to me wherever I have lived like a stranger.

So here's the NIV, ESV and NLT:

Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.

Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage.

When I stack these verses I get this:

So putting all of these together in order to get a full taste of this verse:

Oh, that this would be true.

Sufjan Stevens Spirituality

This past week I had a chance to see Sufjan Stevens at sold out concerts on Saturday in Indianapolis and Monday in Milwaukee. I love his songs and music making.

But it's his unusual lyrics that make listening to him a spiritual experience. Sufjan is a Christian and while he's not a so-called "Christian artist", several of his songs feature his unique view on the spiritual life. When I hear them, I invariably see my faith anew. Ears to eyes to heart.

The first encore song at both concerts was To Be Alone with You from Seven Swans (perhaps his most spiritual album to date). The 2nd half of the song (which of course is most powerful with lyrics and music combined) struck me afresh last night. Here's just the lyrics:

You gave your body to the lonely
They took your clothes
You gave up a wife and a family
You gave your goals

To be alone with me
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

To be alone with me you went up on the tree

What cost to Jesus.

What love for me.

Gospel.

Confession

I think it's important to be honest and open in life in order to maintain authenticity and integrity. It's to that end that I must confess something to you.

Yes. It's true. I love Abba. Toe tappin', face grinnin' guilty pleasure.

So last night I finally did it … I ordered the 2 CD set, Abba: The Definitive Collection.

And the journey continues.

Now your turn. Admit it. When no one else is around, you love them, too.

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