NeoPsalms explores this generation's conversations with God. Learn more about NeoPsalms, the process and the concept behind it. If you're still wanting more information, contact me or visit one of my other projects - Sixteen 14.
What is NeoPsalms?
NeoPsalms is one of my first attempts to explore the conversations and stories that people publicly post on the internet.
Psalms, the 19th book of the Bible, is filled of conversations with God. Through reading the words, we can empathize with the writer who may be suffering through hard times or enjoying plentiful times. It is my belief that a new Psalms is being created every day online. As people chronicle their lives in their blogs and journals, conversations with God are taking place. Individuals write down their interactions with God; their hopes, feelings, prayers, praises, complaints, outcries and grievances. By capturing these conversations, I see a new Psalms: NeoPsalms.
The paradox of public anonymity
It's interesting. A majority of blogs have fewer than 2 readers - if any! Since 2002, Technorati has indexed 133 million blog records. Oh snap, that's a lot. The top blogs grab most of the readership leaving most of the little blogs without any readers. Thus, these reader-less blogs are akin to the traditional private journal.
Yet they're public! Every post on NeoPsalms is publicly available. The author is still somewhat anonymous because of the vast amount of information there is to wade through. This state of public anonymity is created allowing authors to pour out their innermost (and authentic) feelings.
Why are there hateful entries?
Many times people assume all the Psalms in the Bible were of a superflous, elegant and praising manner. To be fair, most are. Scanning through NeoPsalms, there are a lot of praise entries. However, there are several Psalms that question God and his tactics (a few examples). Likewise, there are several people every day that question God. It is not unbiblical or sacriligeous to question God, we just have to be ready for his answer (see Job).
Scanning through NeoPsalms will reveal some entries which are downright hateful. Through my studies I have not come across a Psalm which is hateful towards God. Many in the world today feel they have reason to hate God. While I disagree with the content of these conversations, they are conversations nonetheless. God hears the prayers of everyone, even those who don't necessarily like Him.
I realize this may be a sensitive topic. If you would like to pray and talk about it, feel free to send me an email.
What's the process?
Pretty simple really. First, using Google Blog Search, I search for blog entries which have full text phrase matches to my set of phrases, i.e. "I yelled at God." Then, I grab the RSS feeds for each one* of these searches and aggregate them into one master feed (I used xFruits). Now bring that master feed into Yahoo Pipes for some cutting and sorting, finally exporting this all into one JSON feed.
*Side note: apparently Google doesn't play nice with Yahoo Pipes, hence why I needed to go through xFruits. Does anyone know a better way to do this? End side note...
In the final document, the JSON feed is now read and an entry is displayed. I make full use of Jquery and several plugins. Check out the code if you're curious.
Snap, that seems like a lot... too much really.
I realize there is probably an easier way
I don't really consider myself a programmer or javascript genius. So, if you happen to be going through my code and see ways of making it simpler and more efficient, I'm always open to learning more. Shoot me an email and let me know how I can better my work. Thanks and gig 'em.
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Who's the contact?
If you would like to contact someone about NeoPsalms, feel free to shoot me an email.
About That Guy
Hi! My name is John. If you want to know more about me please check out my website, my life-story or my work. Ok, yeah.
And what else?
I mentioned some examples from Psalms
There are many Psalms in the Bible that are questioning of God. Here are a few examples.
Psalm 13:1 - "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"
Psalm 44:23-24 - "Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?"
Please don't let me give the wrong impression. Psalms is filled with countless verses of praise and wonder. Some writers questioned God in their writings, but many closed out their psalm with thoughts similar to this: "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." (Psalm 13:6)
It's ok to question God
You bet it is, but you better be ready for his answer. Job experienced this first hand; see Job 38-42:6
Sixteen 14?
Sixteen 14 is a project designed to search blogs and postings for stories about Love. The news is flooded with stories of murder, war and rumors of war — in short, nothing too encourgaing. Sixteen 14 aims to be a lighting rod of encouragement, an example of a glass half-full.
The title "Sixteen 14" is taken from the short but powerful scripture 1st Corinthians 16:14 - "Do everything in Love." It is my hope that readers will begin to share their own stories of love so that others may be encouraged as well. Please share your story if you feel inclined to do so.