These are the chestnut psalms. Everyone knows at least a little of Psalm 23, and most people have heard or memorized phrases from Psalm 24.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Many of you have probably heard this musical version of the psalm, too, but I hadn’t. Karate Kid shared it with me. It’s by John Foreman of the group Switchfoot.
1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
And here’s a Messianic Jewish version of Psalm 24:
What I Learned: God’s Word is forever the same, and yet it can be interpreted and re-interpreted for a new generation and in many cultural genres. And still in any place and in any time, from everlasting to everlasting, He is the Shepherd, and He is the King of Glory.
In Suite Scarlett, Scarlett’s family not only name their children for actors and movie characters, but they also own a dilapidated hotel in NYC. However, the hotel’s about to go bust, and Scarlett’s brother, Spencer, can’t get a handle on his acting career. Fluffy, sometimes witty, slightly unbelievable.
The good stuff: snappy dialog, believable and endearing sibling relationships, living in an old hotel in NYC, brother who wants to become an actor, an off-beat production of Hamlet, eccentric Auntie Mame-type fairy godmother character.
The not-as-good stuff: uninteresting, stereotypical love interest, plot drag halfway through, obligatory minor gay references (very minor), a few unbelievable incidents and developments. What kind of hotel functions at all with essentially no staff and continues serving food with no one who can cook on the premises?
Scarlett Fever, the sequel, is more of the same. If you liked the first one, you’ll enjoy the follow-up. Scarlett’s family is still endearing. Mrs. Amberson, the eccentric Mame character, becomes Scarlett’s employer in the first book, and Mrs. A and Scarlett get into more trouble in the second. Spencer’s acting career takes off, but as the villain in a popular detective show, Spencer gets a lot of the wrong kind of attention from fans. Scarlett’s older sister Lola must decide what to do about her rich ex-boyfriend and his snooty family. And Scarlett can’t stop thinking about her summer romance even though he’s unreliable and uncommitted.
If you don’t mind a lot of romance for 15 year old Scarlett, dating and chasing boys, these two novels are good, light chicklit for teens. If your teens would rather pursue more lofty goals, or if parents would rather de-emphasize the teen romance, steer them toward something else. I’d let 15 year old Brown Bear Daughter read these if she wanted, after I warned her that Scarlett was a fictional character not a role model. I want Brown Bear Daughter to hold off on the romantic entanglements for a while, if at all possible.
Adult and Young Adult Fiction: Shanghai GIrls by Lisa See. Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted (Chinese) sisters. Semicolon review here.
The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris. Love and loss in war-torn Sierra Leone. Semicolon review here.
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card. Columbus gets a second chance to do right by the native Americans he meets on his historic voyage. Semicolon review here.
Hush by Eishes Chayil. ARC of a YA book that’s due out in September. I’ll have the review posted when the book actually comes out, but suffice it to say that the novel takes a powerful and thought-provoking look at abusive relationships within a closed and secretive religious community. Very well done.
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson. Scarlett’s family not only name their children for actors and movie characters, but they also own a dilapidated hotel in NYC. However, the hotel’s about to go bust, and Scarlett’s brother, Spencer, can’t get a handle on his acting career. Fluffy, sometimes witty, slightly unbelievable.
Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson. More hotel hijinks with Scarlett and family.
Children’s Fiction: Blood on the RIver: Jamestown 1607 by Elisa Carbone. Karate Kid read this one for school, and then he said he wanted to re-read it. I suppose that’s a recommendation on his part. I thought it was adequate, a good portrayal of the Jamestown experiment and of Captain John Smith.
Nonfiction: Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz by Beverly Gherman. Semicolon review here.
Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder. Having survived civil war and genocide, Deo Gratias arrives in the U.S., psychologically traumatized and physically destitute. The book tells Deo’s story: how he made a life for himself in the U.S. and how he returned to Burundi to help his people begin to rebuild.
The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World by Nathaniel Philbrick. Fair and compelling, the book will probably offend both Pilgrim fans and Native American advocates. What more could one ask from a retelling of a highly controversial story?
A “Bird Bolas†is a hunting apparatus used by many tribes of Indians a long time ago. They were used to, as you might expect, catch and kill birds. They accomplished this by twirling the Bolas around their head in a circle, then letting go at the right time to make them fly into a group of birds and knock them to the ground.
In order to make this ancient weapon, you will need five or six stones about the size of large marbles. In addition you will need five or six leather squares with dimensions of 6 inches on each side, as well as five or six four foot lengths of strong nylon string that won’t break easily. There are alternative materials, since leather is sometimes expensive or hard to find. An old t-shirt would work if you cut the squares from it; however with the string there really is no alternative. The string needs to be strong and light. You don’t have to use stones; you can use marbles. Really you can use anything hard that will fit in the fabric you are using. Actually, the Eskimos used Ivory from the tusks of Walruses.
To begin construction of the Bird Bolas, take one of the stones and place it in the center of one of the squares of leather. Take up the corners of the square and pull them together above the stone. Now start to twist the corners together as to keep to rock from falling out. While still holding the corners, tie one end of one of the strings around the corners a couple times. This is our first bola! To test it, give it a few hard swings around your head. Then check to see if the knot has loosened or if the rock has come out. Do the same with the other five stones, and you are almost done!
To finish up, you are going to take the untied ends of the strings and tie them all together with a strong square knot. If you wish to make this an Indian Bolas, you can attach feathers. Now when you throw this into a flock of birds, the stones will either wrap around one of the birds or knock it right out of the air. If you have good aim you are almost guaranteed 3 or four birds. Now, obviously you are not going to be able to just go out and kill birds. You will need to find a place where it is legal and where there are not many people.
I would like to give you some more information about this Bolas. The Indians were not the only ones who used these; the Chinese used them, as did the Eskimos! In fact, not only humans use these weapons! There is a type of spider called a Bolas Spider. It uses this weapon made from sticky web to catch their prey. This small spider was smart enough that, from its creation, it was using this weapon, which probably took us years to conceive.
As we read this psalm together this morning, I thought, “Ah, I know this one. I’ve sung it and read it and written notes in my Bible about it. How comfortingly familiar!”
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
And yet, there is always more to be gleaned from God’s Word. First of all, we are without excuse before the glory and righteousness of the Lord. The fool says in his heart: “There is no God.” “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
Second, I should love God’s commandments, His standards, because they revive me, make me wise, give joy and light, give warning of danger, bring rewards to those who keep them. I need to remember and remind my children that keeping God’s law is meant to give us joy and to bring Him glory. His burden is light because His commands are altogether righteous.
Finally, I can try to please God, but always realizing that I can’t even see most of the ways in which I fail to meet His standard. I am poor and blind and full of self. God is my Rock and my Redeemer, and the only way I can begin to live a life of joy and obedience is for the Holy Spirit to be my Teacher and my Revealer of Truth.
What I learned: God is Creator, Law-Giver, and Heart-Changer.
At least three book titles of books that I have read and enjoyed come from this psalm: Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle, The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare, and Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.
Many Waters is a retelling of the story of Noah from the Bible. Ms. L’Engle takes quite a few liberties with the Biblical text, weaving it into her own story of time travel and a young girl’s coming of age in a time of cataclysmic change. Although the book quotes Song of Solomon several times in reference to the theme of the story, I think Psalm 18:16 is applicable, too.
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man were to give all his wealth for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song of Solomon 8:7.
“He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.” Psalm 18:16.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare won the Newbery Award in 1962. The story takes place in first century Palestine in the time of Christ. Her title comes from verse 34 of Psalm 18, and the young people in the novel use the Bronze Bow as a symbol and sign for their friendship and their united hatred for the Romans who occupy the land.
God is my strong refuge, and has made my way safe.
He made my feet like hinds’ feet, and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:32-34.
“It couldn’t really be bronze,” said Daniel, puzzled. “THe Strongest man could not bend a bow of bronze.”
“Perhaps just the tips were metal,” Joel suggested.
“No,” Thacia spoke. “I think it was really bronze. I think David meant a bow that a man couldn’t bend–that when God strengthns us we can do something that seems impossible.”
Later, in the book Daniel is called upon to give up his soul-killing bitterness against the Romans and accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Daniel finds this task just about as impossible as bending a bronze bow. He wonders, “Was it possible that only love could bend the bow of bronze?”
Hind’s Feet on High Places is a more allegorical story, in the style of Pilgrim’s Progress, of a girl, Much-Afraid, who goes on a journey to reach the high places of the Shepherd. Sorrow and Suffering are her guides, and at the end of the book Much-Afraid receives a new name, Grace-and-Glory.
“The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:19
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Psalm 18:33.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:9-19
Then, there’s this song which uses two verses from Psalm 18:
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalm 18:3.
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:46.
What I learned: God is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield, my salvation, my stronghold. He pulls me out of the deep waters, delivers me from my enemies, enlightens me in my darkness, rewards me, strengthens me, arms me, makes my way perfect, lifts me up, shows mercy to me. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Verse 2 in particular, but also the entire psalm, remind me of my life verses: Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69
I’ve thought some times of chucking the whole Christianity thing, usually when I was hormonal or disillusioned with someone who claims the name of Christ. (“Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable.” – C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity) But I never thought about it for long. Who else has the “words of life”? Where else can anyone take refuge? Where else in this world apart from in Christ is there any lasting good thing? What other philosophy or religious dogma is so gloriously improbable (impossible) and at the same so sensible and satisfying?
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. I like the boundary lines in my life in Christ, and I’m set to inherit eternal life filled with joy in His presence. Where else can I find anything or anyone that promises life in the presence of my Creator and mercy in the presence of my Judge?
Puddleglum in The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis: “Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things–trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.”
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” –C.S. Lewis, Is Theology Poetry?
Ms. Gherman has a head start in the game of selling her latest biography for children. I couldn’t find many other juvenile biographies of Mr. Schulz, nothing as design-friendly as this biography, and Schulz certainly is an engaging subject. As the book lay on my bed for a day, three of my children picked it up and started browsing through it and asking questions: “Is this a good book?” “Would I like it?” “Does it tell where he got the ideas for Charlie Brown and Snoopy?”
Yes, it’s a good book, and yes, most children who are interested in cartooning and art and Peanuts in particular would like it. The book has lots of pictures, and it’s written on an elementary level. Some aspects of Schulz’s life that can be found in a cursory internet search are left out in consideration of the child audience: depression, adultery, loss of faith. The result is not so much sanitized as distilled to focus on the aspects of Schulz’s life that matter to kids: his growing up years, his family, and especially his work and career as a cartoonist. Ms. Gherman does write about Mr. Schulz’s messy divorce and about his childhood insecurities that followed him into adult life, but these negative events and traits come across as endearing elements that made Charles Schulz a deeper, more insightful artist and writer.
Sparky works for an adult audience, too, at least this adult audience of one. The book itself is beautiful and, as indicated by my children’s interest, inviting. Kudos to the designer(s). I don’t really know if Ms. Gherman herself designed and placed the artwork inside the book and the cover and dust cover, but whoever did it was something of an artist herself. The book is quite colorful with text that jumps out at the reader from multi-colored pages and yet never becomes overwhelming and intimidating to the young reader. And still with the text consistently broken up by pictures and cartoons that illustrate the story, there’s lots of information to reward the reader and hold his interest.
Altogether Sparky is a great tribute to a talented man. Charlie Brown’s football-kicking, kite-flying, baseball-pitching, cloud-watching, little red-haired girl watching, adventures have captured the imaginations of several generations of Americans and given us ways to talk about the insecurities and the hopes and desires that we carry inside. And Snoopy the World War I Flying Ace is my hero! It’s fascinating to get a glimpse of the man behind the cartoon characters and to understand a little more of the creative process in his life’s story.
I have so many fascinations that I’m either a Renaissance woman or a complete dilettante. One of my areas of reading interest is fiction and nonfiction set in Africa. All of Africa. I’ve been collecting a booklist of books set in or about Africa for sometime, categorized by country. I look through the Saturday Review each Saturday for books that I might want to read, especially for books set in Africa. (I also look for lots of other kinds of books: Texas-related, Christianity, YA with depth, historical fiction about certain eras and places, anything related to the Inklings, etc.)
I don’t even know why I’m so interested in Africa. I’m not African American. I’ve never been to Africa, and actually I’d rather visit Europe than Africa. But I like to read about the clash of cultures in Africa. I like to read about a continent in which Christianity and Islam and animist religious beliefs compete for the allegiance of the people. There’s something mysterious and yet often inspiring about Africa’s transition into the modern technological era while retaining old cultural modes and ideas.
This week I found one book set in Africa in the list from the Saturday Review of Books: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. It was reviewed and recommended by Heather at Capricious Reader. I had already seen this book at the bookstore and planned to read it. Heather says it’s about an inquisitive young man who essentially taught himself science, engineering, and technology and used that knowledge to improve his own life and that of his village. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
Right now I’m reading another book partially set in Africa: Tracy Kidder’s Strength in What Remains. The protagonist of this book, also nonfiction, is from war-torn Burundi. So, do you have any favorite books set in Africa or written by African authors or related to Africa? Steer me in the right direction in the comments, and I’ll add your favorites to my list of African books by country, a list I plan to add to the blog eventually.
I did the poetry survey last spring, and then started with great gusto to post one poem per weekday in chronological order of the most popular 100 poems in the survey. At some point I lost momentum, got lazy, and neglected my and your poetic education. Now I’m back with a more humble goal of posting one poem from the survey per week for Poetry Friday.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Wordsworth has never been my favorite poet, and the idea of “dances with the daffodils” makes me smirk. Does that make me a bad person?
I don’t know where my sense of appreciation for this poem got lost, but the poem itself tied for second place in number of votes in the survey. So here’s to all the Daffodil Dancers! May your tribe increase!
