Hi Readers,
A quick housekeeping note that today will be our last edition of the Sunday Stretch before I take my traditional August break. The past two years I haven’t exactly taken a real break for August, because of Disciples of White Jesus coming out and also my previous column work at the Minnesota Star Tribune. So this year - as summer has been quite a whirlwind thus far - I’m hoping to take a real break. There will be a full post coming for Aug. 1 to share more.
For the month of August, I would urge you to step out of your ordinary routines and create space for God’s voice to speak in the midst of silence and contemplation. Just take a few days to see what your body and mind and soul need in this moment. Maybe it’s quiet prayer. Maybe it’s music. Maybe it’s dwelling deeply in a portion of the word.
Whatever it is - please know how much I love and value every single one of you and the time we spend together in this space. September is going to be a busy month full of speaking travel and visits (maybe to your neck of the woods?) and I look forward to being back full steam ahead on Sunday, Sept. 13, following Labor Day. (I will also be in Madison, Wisc., that day, for a long-awaited visit to Covenant Presbyterian there. Looking forward to it!)
In this interim time, you’re all in my prayers. Now - let’s get the Psalm!
If you’re looking for a study of all today’s other Lectionary readings, you can find that here: (it’s a good one!)
Quick note: I removed the paywall from all posts during the season of Lent so that people could freely engage with this content during that time. Starting in the first week of the Easter season, we returned to the original pattern of the Sunday and twice-monthly Friday News posts being for paid subscribers only, with a free preview available. Thank you to all of you for supporting this newsletter however you can, and please do remember I will provide anyone a complimentary paid subscription anytime. The Tuesday once-monthly posts and other special occasion posts will remain free to all readers!
Psalm 119:129-136
Psa. 119:129 Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 With open mouth I pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your custom toward those who love your name.
133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears
because your law is not kept.
For our study of the Psalms (and other songs of Scripture), I’m going to make a suggestion. Psalms - like poetry - require deep contemplation and study. Each word is weighted and heavy. So even though my typical tendency is to read quickly, I’m going to force myself to slow down. To read each word again. Aloud.
OK, I just did that. How about you?
As I read verse 30 (The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.)
I can’t help but think of a 100+ year-old saying from former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who presided during an era of muckrake journalism and cracking down on corporate and political corruption:
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