John Mark Hicks

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss the two voices of God to which Psalm 19 invites us to hear: The heavens/skies and the Torah. The Psalm offers a sacrifice of praise ripe for meditation. See also this blog.

This communion mediation is based on 1 Corinthians 10:16. It discusses the meaning of “This is my body” through the lens of 1 Corinthians 10:16. What is the meaning of “is”? What is its meaning for the table of the Lord?

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks on Psalm 1 This episode begins a new series led by Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks. This series is dedicated to understanding and practicing the Psalms. Each week they will discuss a particular Psalm. In this first week, they discuss Psalm 1, which introduces the whole Psalter itself. […]

Words. Some are voiceless, some form a narrative, and others offer a response. Psalm 19 is a meditative response to words that make no sound and words that shape the life of Israel. The Psalmist offers a meditation on how God encounters Israel through creation and Torah and how believers respond to such gracious revelation. […]

Shaped in Solitude Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from [being baptized in] the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.    Luke 4:1-2a Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went to an isolated place to pray.    Mark […]

Last Wednesday evening I was reminded by Terry Smith of a wonderful summary of worship from William Temple, Archbishop of Cantebury (1942-1944). It was Temple’s vision of how liturgical community can help spiritually form a person. Terry first heard it from E. H. Ijams who, at the time, was an elder at the Highland Church […]

Last Saturday evening Jennifer and I attended a 5th-8th talent show at the Lipscomb Campus School.  It was almost three hours long, but had several excellent performances.  However, it was long. About thirty minutes into the program, I began to feel uncomfortable.  Something was gnawing at me. My insides were pushing me to run, to […]

It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in flesh.   It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in rulers. Psalm 118:8-9 Middle class Americans are worried about their stock portfolios, retirements, and home mortages. Others are worried about what they will eat today, what they will wear as […]

One last post on spiritual or contemplative reading of Scripture….I think. Afterwards, I will take a weekend break from blogging to enjoy some time with my wife. “Praying the Psalms” has been a intermittent habit of mine. Sometimes I have devoted myself to it and at other times I have laid it aside. As I […]