"Here is where we cut our teeth in praying, as we take upon our lips the prayers of others. As we make our way through the psalms - praying, singing, weeping - we will become more and more aware of the God who inspired them in the first place. They will bring us both an intimacy with, and a deep, holy respect for, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Alan Hoare encourages us to slow down and take time to chew on God's word in this 24-day devotional study of the first Psalm. We learn than an authentic life of worship and prayer must start with a love of, and a deep reception of, the Scriptures.
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Alan Hoare is a pastor's pastor: a shepherd's shepherd. As long as I've known him, now nearly forty years, he has devoted himself to biblical reflection, meditation and, like the mystics of long ago, to a yearning after a spirituality that is rooted in 'unchangeable truth'. He is a man of the Word. I am not surprised that he has been drawn to the Psalms. He is a music lover: one who finds peace and rest for the soul in melody and meaning. He has a 'heart after God'. I commend the man. I commend the reading of this devotional pilgrimage.
Rev. Canon Chris Bowater OSL
Chris is considered by many to be a father of the modern worship movement. Coming to prominence in the Charismatic renewal of the late 1970s and early 1980s, his songs have been translated into many languages and used in churches all over the world.
Alan Hoare is one of the most devoted students of Scripture I've been blessed to know, not just for his learning's sake but for his passionate belief in its power to effect godly change in our lives. As a long-time friend and colleague, few men that I've known have so consistently put aside time to 'mine' Scripture for all its worth. The result is a disciple of Christ who can unpeel Scripture in layers, revealing God's imminent presence through His Spirit-breathed Word.
Johnny Markin
Johnny is Emeritus Pastor of Worship Ministries at Northview Community Church, Abbottsford BC, overseeing the development of worship leaders and team training, and leading worship at various venues. He is also seconded to Trinity Western University, where he is an adjunct Instructor in the Worship Arts Department, developing leaders and instructing in worship theology.
My own spiritual journey benefited enormously from Alan's enthusiastic passion for explaining the Scriptures to me as a friend. I wholeheartedly recommend his daily devotional: bite-sized nuggets of easy-to-understand yet challenging and life-changing theology.
Great stuff!
Andy Piercy
After his conversion, Andy spent three years with Ishmael as a musical duo working as full-time evangelists around the UK. He then spent many years touring and recording as lead singer and songwriter with a professional rock band, 'After The Fire'. Afterwards, he became part of the worship leading team at Holy Trinity Brompton in London from 1993 to 2006. As well as writing and recording many of the songs used on Alpha and at HTB he has also produced records for Delirious, Matt Redman, Soul Survivor and Graham Kendrick. He is now a worship consultant, sharing his deep wisdom with worship teams both here in the UK and in the USA.
Alan and I have a long history together. We went to school together, played music together, and even went to Bible College together. This being the case, I think I know my old friend pretty well! Alan was always the studious one of the two of us. Whilst I would be reading music magazines, he would be reading Thomas à Kempis. Whilst I would be writing songs, he would be...