Our “Climbing to Higher Ground” series continues this week.  We open the dog eared songbook of the Psalms known as the “Songs of Ascent” (Psalms 120-134).  These were ancient songs known by heart by the travelers and pilgrims going up to Jerusalem and it is fitting that we continue turning to these pilgrim songs as we look at what it means to climb to higher ground of service and discipleship individually and as a church community. This Sunday’s psalm is Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” It is an ancient song about the stewardship of work and one’s legacy that our modern ears need to ear in our 24/7 world of work and busyness.  

Eugene Peterson, a pastor and scholar who translated the Bible into a modern version called The Message Bible, said these songs of ascent “are songs of transition that provide courage, support, and inner direction for getting us to where God is leading us” and “ground us in the long journey of faith, in a culture obsessed with cheap, short-cut-destinations.” Eugene Peterson struck up a close friendship with U2 frontman Bono who is known to reference some of Peterson’s translations of the psalms during their concerts. That has led Nate to include in Sunday’s music an arrangement of U2’s iconic “Where the Streets Have No Name” which is influenced by Psalm 116. He has invited guest vocalist Liam Searcy to join him for this song along with  “Unless the Lord.” Come support the choir as they sing for the last time before they take a summer break as they sing "Praise the God of Our Salvation."

On this Wednesday night I write this post, just back from the mountains of North Carolina where I have spent the last two days putting in a retaining wall on a steep hillside of a dear friend’s house  which has given me a concrete example of the line “Unless the Lord builds the house…” and the importance of strong foundations. I will be in Chicago tomorrow for a conference on the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and will be back in time to join you on Sunday morning to share what I have been thinking about when it comes to our stewardship of time and work and the exciting opportunities before us in the days ahead. I hope to see you this Sunday!

Scripture passage:  Psalm 127; John 17:20-26

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Spending time on a steep North Carolina mountainside helping his long-time
friend David put in a retaining wall on his mountain cabin has brought a
concrete perspective to John on this week's Psalm: "Unless the Lord builds
the house, those who build it labor in vain."