LifeFocus is a “one-week, live-in discipleship program training high school and college students to stand confidently for Christ in a hostile world.” Between 10 and 20 youth give up spring break to attend this intensive training.

Organized by Pastor Brad Johnston and Eric Filson and hosted by the elders of the Topeka RPC, the program is in its 10th year. This year the theme was, “The Sacrifice of Praise: Exploring the Christian Use of the Psalter.” We thought the topic was too good to keep within the walls of that conference, so with the permission of some of the speakers we’ve brought you some of the highlights.

Becoming equipped to live for Christ in a hostile world is of inestimable value, for youth or adults. Psalms hold an important place in that preparation, made as they are for all seasons of life and addressing all sorts of situations and feelings. They give us a window on God’s character and even an avenue for interacting with God in the darkest and brightest times of our lives. Perhaps because the West is casting off what it sees as the fetters of Christian influence and authority, the spiritual battle for Christians in those places has become clearer. That may be the reason for the surge of interest in the Psalms not only in enriching the reader but in enriching the singer. Some of the words that seemed out of touch to some people in a day of a “moral majority” now make perfect sense, even as they have been sensible all along.

We have some nice extras to announce with this theme issue on the Psalms. On RPWitness.org, you can view the first section of a helpful Psalter Catechism written by Pastor Brad Johnston and under development by Crown & Covenant Publications. Like the Westminster Shorter Catechism, this is written simply enough to be understood by many children and yet contains valuable truths for adults, including those who did not grow up singing and using the Psalter. For help with singing the Psalms, the RP web site Psalter.org has been upgraded, now including every tune to four complete psalters published by the RPCNA: The Book of Psalms for Worship, The Book of Psalms for Singing, The Trinity Psalter, and The ARP Psalter.

Rev. Joe Allyn (stated supply, Trinity [Wichita, Kan.] RPC) has founded a blog site about psalm singing that has just gotten underway. PsalmSinging.org is also managed by Crown & Covenant Publications.

Reformed Presbyterians look forward to the concurrent Synods of the RPCNA and the Associate Reformed Presbyter­ian Church next June, where all joint sessions will use a cappella psalm singing only.

Bottom line: The Psalms are eminently valuable in living the Christian life, and it’s great to see that they are being used enthusiastically in so many places, in the RPCNA and far beyond.

—Drew Gordon