My last sermon of 2025 was titled Why Did God Write Poetry? I attempted answering that question because most of us today treat poetry as unnecessary and purely intellectual, ornamental rather than essential. Yet roughly one-third of Scripture is written in poetry. Thus, if we lack a proper appreciation for poetry, we will also struggle …
Continue reading Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems | Leland Ryken
For most of history, poetry held a primary place in people's lives. In largely pre-literate cultures, bards functioned as the great entertainers and keepers of knowledge and story. Their performances at feasts were something like the first blockbusters, as they performed epic poems about heroic deeds that captured the history and identity of their people. …
Seed of woman, long foretold,Babe of heaven, come behold.Mighty God, in manger’s restShepherd King, both did bless.Son of laughter, sacrificed.Spotless Lamb, our ransom’s price.Lord of lords, confess Him now.Prince of peace, before Him bow.Life everlasting, proclaim to all!Jesus Christ, upon Him fall.
A ship that sails awayFrom sullen harbor gray,Through fluid crystal, swaysFor shores beyond malaise. The unkempt grass that humsA hymn composed by wind,A tune of praise that drums For opened eyes, once blind. The sun, which warms and burns All vanity below,Calls, too, beyond shadow Above the earth’s slight churns.
The Creator became a creature. The Potter, a jar of clay. The Infinite, an infant. The Author entered His story. The King left His glory. The Light walked in darkness. Rejoice, for the King has come! Stand firm, for the King will come again!
The King has come.Not to slay the traitor, the rebel,but to take their judgment,making them His kingdom The King is coming.Not to spare the wicked, the sinner,but to execute His justice,consummating His kingdom Come now, O King,to reign as my Lord, my Godand to send forth Your servant,bringing here Your kingdom
It wasn’t supposed to be Cold, you see. The tea that once was hot Now, abandoned, is not. Grasping plans so rigidly, I often fail to see The true tea Served to me by the Almighty
A man stands on the street corner, proclaiming despite the murmur, "come and drink the living water that the Most Holy Potter blessedly offers to sinners bound for the slaughter!" His message is one of good news, of redemption if we so choose to forsake all else for the Savior's cause, but often i fear …
Continue reading Blessings & Curses (a meditation on Deuteronomy 29)
24 hours. 1,440 minutes. 86,400 seconds. the same for everyone no more, no less each a singular event never repeated a new sky with its nebulous arrangements, a new length and shade of grass, a fresh combination of temperature and humidity, a slightly different frame of mind, an shifted temperament, every cell a day older, …
Lift up mine eyes... How? They are so easily drawn to the things near by. Created shapes and forms scream and cry for my attention, for my affection. Zion is too distant to be real, so I wrestle desperately to maintain zeal …
B. C. Newton 