Prayers that Bring Us Home

Psalms 1 and 2 form the doorway of the Psalter: Psalm 1 asks where a life is planted, and Psalm 2 names the raging world that resists the Way of God. Then Psalm 3 begins with trouble. In this brief interlude, John introduces the movement of Psalms 3–6 as a basic rhythm of prayer: Psalm 3 teaches us to lie down when the threat is still real. Psalm 4 teaches us to bring anger, shame, and agitation i...

Beloved Son, hold us in Your shelter. Teach us awe in a raging world. Psalm 2 is the second gate of the Psalter. Psalm 1 gives the Way of the Aligned. Psalm 2 gives the world that resists that Way. Together they open the prayer book with formation and conflict, rootedness and rebellion, Lighted Direction and Messiah. In this episode, we listen for the Messiah’s voice inside a raging world. The Son...

YAHWEH, root me in Your Way. Let me flourish from what You give. Psalm 1 is the first gate of the Psalter. Before the book gives us lament, rescue, abandonment, praise, and kingdom, it asks where a life is planted. What counsel is shaping us? What path is training our desire? What seat is offering apparent belonging but cannot truly hold us? In this episode, we listen for the Messiah’s invitation...

This series grows out of a daily practice of praying the Psalms together in community. The Psalms are not treated as isolated poems or private devotional fragments, but as a prayer book with a formational movement. Prayed in order, they carry us through fear, grief, anger, shame, trust, praise, and longing, helping us bring our whole selves into the presence of God. In each episode, we listen for...

Our Interpretation of Psalm 22: Psalm 22 For the director: Upon the Dawn Deer A Song of the Beloved   My God, my God,  why have You abandoned me?  Far from my Rescue,   Far from the words of my groaning.   My God, I call by day: You do not answer! by night: There is no Stillness for me!   YET, You are Holy,   enthroned upon the praises of Israel.  In You our ancestors found Security;    they trust...

Our Interpretation of Psalm 118: Shine-back-to-YAHWEH, for He is good. His Persistent-Love endures to the Eternity. Let Israel say: His Persistent-Love endures to the Eternity. Let the house of Aaron say: His Persistent-Love endures to the Eternity. Let those who revere YAHWEH say: His Persistent-Love endures to the Eternity. Out of my distress I called to YAHWEH. YAHWEH answered me and set me in...

a contemplative meditation on Psalm 116 in three movements. For prayer, rest, and letting go

a guided meditation on Psalm 18 (for lying down) for receiving the grace of rescue, the promise of protection, and the encouragement of God's delight

Contemplation, breathing prayer, and receiving God's Spirit. Meditating on rowing through the night, against a headwind, and the hardness of our hearts.

A Recording of a Healing Service. 45 minutes of mantra prayer together, after a meditation on the settling necessary to live the "Hallelujah":) John dumps dirt and debris into a glass of water and swirls it around, lid-on tight, light many of us feel when the world, our experiences, and our mistakes are shaking around inside of our beings while we just try to keep it together. Hallelu-YAH means "t...

John sits down again with Paul Loring and Celeste Miller to hear about grief after the Holidays, as we get into the rhythms and hopes of the New Year while cleaning up all the decorative images of hope and connection. John also asks them about "meaning-making" this great task of curiosity at the center of healthy grief.

John sits down with Celeste and Paula, two grief counselors, to talk about the confusing nature of grief, the wall we have to walk through, and tangible ways to integrate our losses into our changing identity. We're recording in the Advent season, balancing expectation and joy with the tug of fear, sadness, and mourning.

The Spiritual Dark Night, when we are so desperate for God's presence but we experience only thirst. It may not be a common topic, but vital and predictable. Every follower of Jesus will experience this Desert time, and probably multiple times in our lives. John and Heather talk with therapists and counselors Paula Loring and Celeste Miller about how to endure this horrific time of deep longing.

Heather Creamer returns to discuss the voices and temptations that interfere with our calling, and the posture that leads the the best sacred listening.

We believe a lot of lies about ourselves... We’ve hear a lot of confusing messagesd We’re lied to, and we lie to ourselves. We mistakenly but easily conflate our worth is what we do. One of our most important beliefs is what we believe about ourselves. We need to believe that we are Called. Heather Creamer and John Garland explore this experience of Calling, this "vocalization of God over us," whi...

We listen to Gilbert Hernandez talk about his experiences receiving healing and transformation, his prayer life, and spiritual lessons from his pet turtle! Gilbert introduces us to the difference between wounds and scars, and the power of directing our own healed hearts into the healing experience of others. Thanks so much to our Episode Sponsors: Psalm 139 and Lettuce

We listen to Celeste Miller talk about her experience with Grief and Lamentation from her experience as a counselor. Celeste reminds us of the difference between doubt and despair, encourages us in loneliness, and offers a beautiful mediation on the resurrection spirit. Thanks so much to our Episode Sponsors: Psalm 22 (reminding us to call out "Why have you forsaken?!" to God) and The Outdoor Chri...

We listen to Mitzi Moore talk about her experience with Lamenting. From her experience of safety and belovedness as a child to her intense experiences of lamentation in community and loneliness, Mitzi introduces us to the power of calling out our laments in a common voice. Thanks so much to our Episode Sponsors: Psalm 6 (reminding us to call out "How Long?!" to God) and The Internet (reminding us...

"God I will not be afraid... I belong to You" Psalm 3 is the first prayer in this ancient prayer book, and it begins in a place of overwhelming desperation then powerful comfort in God's protection.

"God we serve you with reverence. We take refuge in You..." The second part of the ancient "Forward" to the Prayer Book of the Bible, Psalm 2 introduces the Messiah and his sacred relationship with God.

"God, let us be like trees, planted by Your waters..." This introduction to prayer--the rhythms, characters, and vocabulary of the Spirit: Psalm 1 is the first part of the ancient "Forward" to the Prayer Book of the Bible

"Everything that has Breath... HalleluYah" The final prayer and homecoming

"Your Kingdom Come.... HalleluYah"... this is a surprising prayer--just in the middle of this pure praise there is some violent talk about a sword. We discuss what that means and the long tension that resolves.

"All Creation sings your Praises. . . HalleluYah!" This homecoming song about how all creation will join the Jubilee Kingdom

"Make our borders SHALOM.... HALLELUYAH" This magnificent prayer of homecoming in the Kingdom