"Songs of Suffering" (Joni Eareckson Tada)

TITLE: Songs of Suffering
AUTHOR: Joni Eareckson Tada
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (200 pages).
 

Colossians 3:16 exhorts us to let the Word of Christ dwell in our hearts richly, that when we have deep gratitude in our hearts, we will be able to respond to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The Book of Psalms is a wonderful collection of amazing spiritual insights and worship. We sing not only when we are happy, we sing even as we lament the struggles of this life. Entitled "Songs of Suffering," this book is an attempt to make sense of some of the most popular and powerful hymns used through the centuries. Written and compiled by one who has known suffering personally, Joni Eareckson Tada who is a quadriplegic, shares with us spiritual insights and learnings from 25 hymns. Not only should these hymns be sung more frequently, the author believes that the lyrics should be memorized as well. Many of the hymn lyrics contain powerful theological truth. Included in this collection are devotional lessons, inspiring events, and strength for the soul. Each chapter begins with a Bible verse to anchor our thoughts on. The author then weaves her own stories and experience into the telling of the story and the relationship to the hymn itself. This is followed by a melody score with words and music for musicians to play and sing along to.This is helpful for those who find the hymns unfamiliar.  She ends the book with a "reprise" which is a musical reflection and some last-minute advice. 

"How Sweet the Sound" (Laura L. Smith)

TITLE: How Sweet the Sound: The Power and Promise of 30 Beloved Hymns
AUTHOR: Laura L. Smith
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Our Daily Bread Publishing, 2020, (256 pages).

Music has a strange power to move us. It helps us remember thoughts and words written way back in the past. It also brings back memories of our experiences of old. It also creates new experiences as the music connects our being with words that reflect how we feel. Hymns are one of the most visible and audible signs of a Christian community. Regardless of the traditional vs contemporary worship wars, most of us would recognize the unique place of hymns. We may not sing them as often in some modern churches, but we do appreciate how they have impacted Christian communities but also society at large. Hymns such as "Amazing Grace," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee" have been used even in secular places and situations such as funerals and weddings. If you want to know the stories behind these popular hymns, how the hymn speaks to people then and to us now, and the reasons why the hymns are considered "beloved," this book answers all of that curiosity. The "Doxology" is a hymn of unity. Praises help us express gratitude. Hymns are infused with Scripture to point us back to God through the Word. Singing hymns enable us to declare our hope and security in Christ. They stir us to action. They give us words and music to express our emotions. They bring us peace and joy; hope and humility; assurance; and many more. 

"A Glad Obedience" (Walter Brueggemann)

TITLE: A Glad Obedience: Why and What We Sing
AUTHOR: Walter Brueggemann
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019, (230 pages).

One of the consequences of sin is rebellion. Constant rebellion. Whether it is squabbling or dissent; reaction or retaliation; in a world of different voices and mindsets, it is easy for relationships to break down quickly even after years of goodwill. How is it that human beings do not get along as well as they ought to? In Christian Theology, sin has essentially cut ourselves loose from desiring to worship God. This in turn has led to a breakdown in human relationships. It is all connected. How do we fix this? Turn our hearts from reluctance to acceptance; from sadness to gladness; from rebellion to obedience. Even believers too must guard against hidden resistance and unbelief. For example, one might not understand why we sing certain songs during Sunday worship. Without an appreciation of the meaning behind the songs or the message behind the hymn, we lose out on the rich history and theological significance of the songs. In this book, Walter Brueggemann helps us bridge the gap from ignorance to understanding. We learn about framing songs around joyful truth of the gospel. We examine Scripture using the music and songs from various angles. We cultivate creative imagination to let the Word of God speak to us from different angles. We learn also to pay attention to context and to let songs stretch our faith.

Inspired by the 2013 hymnal, "Glory to God: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs," the author focuses on two key questions:

1. Why We Sing?
2. What We Sing?

"Were You There" (Luke A. Powery)

TITLE: Were You There?
AUTHOR: Luke A. Powery
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019, (144 pages).

The Christian season of Lent is approaching. On Ash Wednesday, the Christian world would be entering into a period of prayer, meditation, and reflections on the 40-days journey of Jesus right up to Holy Week. It is a significant time for believers to ponder about the way of Jesus who obeyed God the Father all the way to the Cross. God in His pleasure and power raised Him up on the third day and gave us hope that in the same way, all believers will also be resurrected together with Christ. Lent is a time of remembering the pain, the sorrow, and the suffering Christ. Author Luke Powery defines Lent as "a season of penitential reflection and repentance on the path toward the hope of Easter." It's a nice way to introduce the theme of this book, which is essentially to understand the nature and underlying contexts of many negro spirituals.

Right from Ash Wednesday, the first spiritual "Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?" gives us a clear path of where the author is going. In a powerful reflection about the need for deliverance, Powery deals honesty with the issues of pain and suffering. He points out the hope that one day, we will all be delivered. The spiritual "Many Thousand Gone" gives us a troubling insight into actual slavery situations. The spiritual "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep, Don't You Mourn" is a way for negro slaves to connect their plight with the story of Christ's suffering. "Kum Ba yah" is a hymn of personal need and plea for God to come. However, not all spirituals are sad and somber. The song "Do Lord, do Lord, Lord, remember me" is an upbeat prayer of asking God to remember us. This is especially poignant in a world full of short memories. Other songs include "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," "My Father, How Long," "Steal Away," "We Shall Overcome," and many others. Of course, the one that bears the same name as this book title is also included. Of particular interest are the songs selected for Holy Week. Powery carefully matches the day with a particular theme that expresses the mood and meaning of the road to Calvary. Maundy Thursday is a short meditation on Calvary. Good Friday challenges us to see Jesus at the Cross. After so many weeks asking God to help us, we are left pondering if we would do the same for Jesus. Silent Saturday looks at the atmosphere of silence surrounding the death of Christ. Just like the way the book of Malachi ends, followed by 400 years of silence, Saturday compresses the world's hopes into silent prayer and anticipation. We all know what happens on the third day, but that would need another book.

"The Christian Book of Mystical Verse" (A.W. Tozer)

TITLE: The Christian Book of Mystical Verse: A Collection of Poems, Hymns, and Prayers for Devotional Reading
AUTHOR: Collected by A.W. Tozer
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016, (176 pages).

The late A.W. Tozer is well known for many of his insightful and challenging books about Christian living and faith. Some of his most popular books are the Pursuit of God; The Knowledge of the Holy; Man the Dwelling Place of God; The Root of the Righteous; and many more. In fact, so powerful are his writings that books have been written based on compilation of the best of his insights. Not as many people know that the former Chicago pastor is also a deep reader. According to the publisher, Tozer has intentionally put together poems, hymns, prayers, and spiritual writings from across the spectrum of Christian writers and evangelicals through the ages. Meant more for the worshiper rather than a student, this book arranges the works in theological themes.

• Adoration of the Godhead (God and Trinity)
• Devotional Meditations on the Cross of Christ (Atonement)
• Penitential Reflections on Our Sins (Compunction)
• Rejoicing in Forgiveness and Justification (Repentance)
• Yearning for Purity of Heart (Sanctification)
• Aspirations After God (Spirituality)
• Delighting in God's Presence (God's Omnipresence)
• The Raptures of Divine Love
• The Rest of Faith 
• Spiritual Warfare
• Victory Through Praise
• The Prayer of Quiet
• The Bliss of Communion
• Joyous Anticipation of Christ's Return
• Immortality and the World to Come

"Acceptable Words" (Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, eds)

TITLE: Acceptable Words: Prayers for the Writer
AUTHOR: Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, eds.
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2012, (206 pages).

This is a fine literary gem. Gems I must say. Filled with psalms, hymns, and spiritual writings, the editors Gary Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney have brought together some of the best prayers and poems to nourish the writer's soul, and to re-invigorate a desire for God in prayer. The quotes throughout the book gives readers many moments to ponder about life, about faith, about creativity, and God. There are at least seven ways to use this book.

Firstly, it can be used as a tool to sharpen our writings, to be aware of our awareness, and to focus our attention on the big idea. Too many times, writers meander in many other directions in the drive to overcome the writer's block.

Secondly, it reminds me that writers are readers too, and there are so many good pieces to read here! In fact, good writers are also good readers. This book compiles some of the best writings, from theologians like Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis, and William Barclay; hymn writers like Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, and Isaac Watts; philosophers like Soren Kierkergaard and G.K. Chesterton; preachers like Henry Ward Beecher, Peter Marshall, and D.L. Moody; classic writings from John Donne, T.S Eliot, Robert Frost, as well as contemporary writers like Madeline L'Engle, Henri Nouwen, Luci Shaw, and many more.

Thirdly, it is a good reference book to spur creativity. The book is structured in seven perspectives, each addressing a specific area important to the writer. Like a camera, one can use the book as like a zoom in lens to observe the world around, to study it, and to ponder on it. One can also zoom out from the details, and to start the creativity process to expand the vision, to let the Word inform our thinking, to discover joy in our writings, to pray, and to offer our work back to God. It allows the writer-reader to plunge into the book straightaway without having to read from cover to cover before gaining any benefit.

Fourthly, it is a book of prayers. There are biblical passages to direct our attention back to God. There are many wonderful moments in which readers can share in the spiritual moments of the reflections and writings of the individual contributors. One can even use this book as part of a personal spiritual retreat. Some of the poems and writings can appear simple but hold immense depth. Simple words can hide deep insights.

Fifthly, this book can be a teaching device for educators. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a short introduction that describes the theory and many literary tips for the avid writer. It blends in many things. From art to prose, from prayer to praise, there is something for nearly everything.

Sixth, it is a wonderful book to appreciate life in general. In our technological and scientific world, too many of us approach life with a problem solving paradigm, seeing everything as a problem that needs to be solved. Unfortunately, life is not about solving problems. Life is about living. Appreciating art, music, dance, and literary works remain one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate our humanity. In fact, we can reflect the Creator God in our creativity.

Seventh, it encourages readers to write, and writers to read. In other words, it enables both reading and writing to inform each other. When I read a touching passage or a poem, I cannot wait to put down the book to write something. When I write something, and in my moments of pausing, I cannot wait to pick up the book to read something.

As a writer, I must say that this book is one of the best books for the writer's soul. The editors Schmidt and Stickney have given us writers a powerful gift, an early Christmas present. If you are a writer, this book is a must have. If you know someone who loves to write, give that person this book. They will probably give you a big warm hug, and if not, a prompt electronic kiss.


Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.