What would it mean to write hymns that speak specifically to the concerns, challenges, and temptations of your church? Not the global church or the church in general, mind you, but your own local church? What themes would be most important to those people? What truths might they have trouble believing and what doctrines might they have trouble applying to their lives? What temptations do they face that may not be addressed even in the wealth of Christian hymns that have stood the test of time and speak their precious truths?

These were the kinds of question that came to my mind as I listened to Hymns in Hard Places, the new collection of hymns by 20schemes Music. These were the kinds of question that came to my mind as I stood and worshipped with two local churches in Edinburgh, Scotland, and sang these songs under the leadership of the people they were written by and in fellowship with the people they were written for—churches situated in Scotland’s schemes (i.e. working-class housing estates or projects).
The album begins with a faithful rendition of Psalm 77, then turns to “Come Weary Souls,” a song that encourages those who have sinned to trust in the promise of God’s forgiveness: “There is no more guilt, / There is no more shame / Come like a child, believe and abide / Find rest in the Saviours name.” The next song, “Flee from Sin / Run to Jesus” brings comfort to those who find themselves struggling with old patterns of sin and addiction. “There’s a refuge from every lustful thought / From old habits enticing me away / When I fear my addictions won’t be overcome / There is hope through Christ’s resurrection day.”
The album continues with “We Long for that Day.” In a church context in which many members have experienced abuse and other forms of injustice, this song brings hope grounded in Christ’s return and the coming of final judgment. “God will judge this world so full of evil / and bring each work of darkness into light / on that day His enemies will tremble / When the King returns in glorious might / Finally oppression will be over / Secret acts of cruelty made known / Nowhere left to hide from the abuser / Every deed laid bare before the throne.” “Take Heart” returns to the theme of enduring suffering and sorrowing, “Praise His Name” promises eternal spiritual riches for those living in temporal poverty, while “Trust and Obey” rewrites the famous hymn for those who so often fail to trust and who so continuously struggle to obey: “Come you failures and see / Hopeless rebels set free / Where the Lamb, full submission, displayed / There He paid for our sin / Now His Spirit within / Is our joy as we trust and obey.”
And so it goes through several more hymns. It finishes with a bonus track which, though not meant to be sung congregationally, helpfully grapples with the reality that once we come to Christ, life often gets more difficult. “Why did life get harder, the minute I believed? / Why do I need armour, when You’ve won the victory? / Why does condemnation still weigh heavy on my heart? / I know that I’m forgiven so why is this path I’m on so dark?”
As twenty-first century English-speaking Christians, we are extremely well-resourced when it comes to hymns and have, quite literally, tens of thousands we can draw upon on any given Sunday. Yet it occurs to me that the great majority are written with the global church in mind rather than a very particular local church. They are written to be sung by millions rather than tens or hundreds and often speak to broad truths rather than specific ones. Speaking personally, I find something moving about the very notion of songs written for and sung by people who admit their particular struggles and who need particular encouragement.
It could be that your church finds something to sing in this collection of hymns, or it could be that it inspires your church to write songs that give a voice to their own concerns and difficulties. Either way, I expect you’ll benefit from Hymns in Hard Places. You can give it a listen on whatever music service you prefer.

The God of love and peace be with you today.

There is a very substantial list of Kindle deals to explore today.
Westminster Books has a sale this week on a four-volume set of the works of Bavinck.
Am I _____ Enough?
This article addresses the kind of question we all have at one time or another: Am I [fill in the blank] enough?
Repeating the Mistakes of the Past
Alan Shlemon explains how, counter to what we keep hearing, it is the pro-gay advocates who are repeating the mistakes of the past.
A Lifelong Sentence Overturned By Faith: Only God Can Do That!
In one of America’s most notorious prisons, a young man sentenced to life without parole miraculously found faith, forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. In 27 Summers, Ronald Olivier shares his dramatic and powerful story and offers proof that God can bring healing and hope to even the darkest circumstances. Order 27 Summers today. (Sponsored Link)
A More Spontaneous and Genuine Evangelism
“It was not Jesus’ intent to say that the individual Christian must change locations in order to evangelize. But it is most certainly the whole church’s responsibility to see to it that we make disciples where we are, now.” Jim Elliff believes we’ve made evangelism too difficult and confusing.
Debunking Myths About Mentoring
Cindy Matson: “Have you been asked to be a mentor? Have you wondered if you should reach out to that younger believer, but you’re just not sure if you’re qualified to be a mentor? Are you looking for a mentor and wondering how old the person should be? Questions swirl around the topic of mentoring, so let’s take a few minutes today to debunk a few common myths.”
The Religion That Reads (but Doesn’t Respect) the Bible
Sam Emadi explains how Mormonism reads (yet doesn’t respect) the Bible.
The Impact of Social Media on Youth (PDF)
RYM has put together a poster/infographic that shares a summary of the 2023 US Surgeon Report on the impact of social media on youth mental health.
Flashback: The More We Drink, The More We Thirst
We will eat, we will drink, we will feast, and our hearts will be at perfect peace. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Lord, give to me a quiet heart that does not ask to understand but confident steps forward in the darkness guided by Thy hand. —Elisabeth Elliot

Happy Family Day to my fellow Canadians (who live in provinces that mark it). Happy Monday to everyone else!

Today’s Kindle deals include some excellent books for teens and young adults.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Power of True Holiness)
The Netflix Dilemma
“The ‘post-liberal’ condition we’re experiencing is, I think, closely tied to the choice dilemma. In other words, when human beings experience maximal self-determining liberty AND a virtually limitless set of options, more often than not the result will be frustration, not happiness.”
Pornography Use Is Becoming an ‘Acceptable’ Sin
“A recent poll shows pornography is affecting relationships between men and women—and reveals how indulging in porn is becoming an acceptable sin.” Joe Carter expresses concern.
The Curious Ways of God
“The other week I came across one of those sayings that sticks in your mind and makes you think: ‘An expert hits a target no-one else can hit; a genius hits a target no-one else can see.’ It struck me that there is a third level we could add: ‘the Lord hits a target no-one else can even imagine.’” I like that…
A Path for Marrying and Burying
“If you let them give me an Islamic funeral, I’ll come back and haunt all of you!” So begins a thought-provoking reflection from Central Asia.
Distinguished by Delight
“We long to be distinguished, to stand apart, to feel above from the crowds. As such, it is not surprising that an honorable way to introduce a famous or elite person is to say, ‘Please welcome the distinguished….’”
The State of a Heart
Melissa writes about the state of her heart (using more than one sense of the term).
Flashback: Something Left Undone
Longfellow’s “Something Left Undone” deals honestly with the reality that some things will always remain undone and that these incomplete tasks eventually become part of the burden we carry through life. I trust you’ll enjoy it as I did.

Your suffering does not define you. His does. —Dane Ortlund