Virtual Methodist

This ( I think) is based on the Psalm for this Sunday's lectionary readings... We're not using it in South Belfast Methodist this morning, but if you are going to be with me at the Ulster Hospital we will be using it there as a call to worship: Praise the Lord . Blessed are those who fear the Lord; Those who delight in his commands. Their children will be powerful in the land; the offspring of the righteous will be blessed. Wealth and wellbeing come from his hand, and his righteousness will endure eternally. Even in darkness the righteous walk by the light; Dawn will rise on the gracious and compassionate. Good will return to those who are generous and share freely, Those who conduct their business fairly. Surely the righteous will stand unshaken; Their name will be remembered for ever. They will not fear bad news; Their hearts are without anxiety, trusting in the Lord . Their hearts are free from fear, for they will triumph over their foe...

This is the last in the short series which I called "Songs of Experience" (stealing the title from William Blake via Roy Clements) looking at some of the Psalms that speak into the darker side of human emotion, an area that we often avoid talking about as Christians. I should have published this at the end of June, but where I am currently based things don't get quieter in the summer -  and I am slowly running out of steam... Anyway, in this last one we look at things on the sunnier side of the street. When I first prepared the material on this final Psalm in this short series entitled "Songs of Experience" I called it "Count your blessings" taken from the old gospel standard which tells us to: “ Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” But let me make a confession… while I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of that song, I absolutely detest it… But this modern song with the sam...