Praise and Endorsements for My New Book

Friends, after nearly a decade in the works, my new book is out in the world (available from Amazon and Wipf & Stock). I recently got to see a few of the endorsements that have come in for it, which I thought I'd share here:

"Matthew Burden is a Eugene Peterson for our time: thoughtful, practical, and with a deep love for Christ's church. With The Evangeliad, he provides a new angle on the ancient truths of the Gospels that will seep into our hearts with meter, rhyme, and insightful turns of phrase."

- David Strunk, poet and lead pastor of the Church of the Redeemer, Maryville, Tennessee

"Matthew Burden has created a wholly unique offering within the field of contemporary Gospel studies, though it was not unknown in the Middle Ages! [...] Readers already (overly?) familiar with the texts will now see them with very fresh eyes."

- Dr. Craig L. Blomberg, internationally renowned expert on the Gospels, former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Denver Seminary

"Readers of Burden's rendering of the biblical Gospels have a unique opportunity to grow both in their knowledge of Jesus and in their love of the highest matter in poetic form."

- Dr. Jeremy Larson, expert in Milton studies, associate professor of humanities at Regent University

"Equally ambitious and astute [...], this narrative in verse bids us to 'come and see' for ourselves anew who Jesus was and is."

- Dr. Laurie A. Dashnau, professor of English and writing, Houghton University

"The Evangeliad is a rare and radiant gift to the Church. Matthew Burden has taken the familiar story of Jesus and rendered it in a poetic form that feels both ancient and astonishingly new. These lines move with the cadence of Scripture, the tenderness of devotion, and the sweep of epic storytelling. As one who loves the Gospel and serves the people of God, I commend this work with joy. It invites the reader to slow down, breathe deeply, and behold Christ with renewed wonder. Burden’s craftsmanship honors the biblical text while opening a doorway into contemplation—an invitation to sit in the shade of beauty and let the story of Jesus speak again to the heart."  

- Archbishop Robert Gosselin, Confessing Anglican Church

New Song: "O Come, Ye Weary"

An updated version of a song I wrote a few years ago, set to a new tune. (You can find the older version on my Songs page, as "Hymn for the Weak and Weary".)

Disclosure: The lyrics and the lyric video are entirely my own original work, and I used online music generation tools for the vocals and instrumentation on the audio track. I want to support real artists and musicians, so I've chosen not to monetize or promote generative audio— I will not put it on any streaming platforms, and the YouTube video is unlisted rather than public. It is only accessible here, via my personal blog, as a kind of demo: a sample of what my lyrics might sound like when performed with full instrumentation. It is shared in this limited fashion for my own local parishioners and for devoted readers of my poetry. If you're a musician interested in partnering on a project like this, I'd love to hear from you. (thepeaceandthepassion@gmail.com)

Photography: Zion National Park

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;

Shout, O depths of the earth;

Break forth into singing, O mountains,

O forest, and every tree in it!

For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

And will be glorified in Israel.

- Isaiah 42:23 (ESV)

New Song: "One Day at a Time" (Serenity Prayer)

This is an updated version of a song I wrote years ago, based on the classic "Serenity Prayer," and now set to a new tune. 

Disclosure: The lyrics and the lyric video are entirely my own original work. But since I don't have access to collaborating musicians for production, I've used online music generation tools for the vocals and instrumentation on this audio track. I want to support real artists and musicians, so I've chosen not to monetize or promote AI-assisted audio like this— I will not put it on any streaming platforms, and the YouTube video is unlisted rather than public. It is only accessible here, via my personal blog, as a kind of demo: a sample of what my lyrics might sound like when performed with full instrumentation. It is shared in this limited fashion for my own local parishioners and for devoted readers of my poetry. If you're a musician interested in partnering on a project like this, I'd love to hear from you. (thepeaceandthepassion@gmail.com)

One Day at a Time (Serenity Prayer)

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I can't change; 

And courage to change the things I can 

If it lies in my power today. 

And over both of these virtues, 

Grant the wisdom that I will need 

To know the difference between the two, 

When striving or when I'm at peace. 

[Chorus] 

I'm living my life one day at a time, 

Finding joy in each moment God gives. 

I'm taking this world as Jesus did; 

I'll live as he taught me to live. 

God grant me grace, that I'd accept 

The hard road as a path to peace; 

And though this world is full of sin, 

Let me trust in your sovereignty: 

For you will make all things turn right 

As I surrender to your will; 

To be happy here, and one day soon 

With your endless joy to be filled. 

[Chorus] 

God's grace for every day, 

Amen, let it be. 

God's grace in all my ways, 

Amen, let it be. 

[Chorus x2] 

New Book Release: The Evangeliad

I'm pleased to announce a new publication! It's been nearly a decade in coming, but my new book, The Evangeliad, was just released today. Most readers of my blog will already be familiar with it to some extent (in fact, y'all get an appreciative nod in the book's acknowledgments), but in case you're not: It's an epic poem that takes the entire contents of the biblical Gospels and sets them (in a single narrative) in the stirring cadence of English heroic meter. There's really nothing else quite like it out there right now, so please check it out if you're interested! It can be found at the following links (a bit cheaper on the publisher website, unless Amazon shipping works in your favor). There's also an affordable Kindle e-book option. For local folks, I'm hoping to have a few copies on hand for sale within a couple weeks.

Please feel free to recommend to anyone you think might be interested! My other recent books were aimed at fairly specific niches (historical missiology) and so there wasn't a lot of extra publicity I could drum up for them, but this one might prove better able to get the gospel in front of new eyes, if we can just get the momentum going for it.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HC45P6H8/

Publisher website: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385264520/the-evangeliad/

The Evangeliad: Acts 1:1-5

Now to my reader, the Lover of God,

Who, by the Lord's grace, has earnestly sought

The truth about Jesus' words and his deeds:

Still more yet remains to hear and to see.

In my first book, then, as you have perceived,

I told of all Jesus started to teach,

The wonders he did, the healings and signs,

Witnessed by those he had called to his side.

He chose his disciples, then sent them out

As apostles of the message about

The Kingdom of God, the gospel of Christ,

Which he had declared before their own eyes.

By the Holy Spirit he gave his commands,

All in accordance with the Father's plan;

And thus did I write you, as I have said,

All Jesus did up until his ascent.

Now that day's story must be told again,

For it frames all else that flows from my pen:

The promised Spirit, the calling to serve,

And the gospel sent to the ends of the earth.

After he rose, Christ remained forty days,

Showing himself to his followers' gaze,

Giving many proofs that he was alive

Even after he had suffered and died.

And during that time, he told them still more

Of the reign of God, and what lay in store:

Commanding them to remain where they were

Once they, to the city, all had returned--

They were not to depart Jerusalem,

But should wait for what the Father would send,

In fulfillment of a promise once made

At the outset of Christ's ministry days:

As water was to John the Baptizer,

So there would be a baptism of fire,

Sent forth from the reigning Christ, enthroned,

As he poured the Spirit onto his own.

And so Christ said to his followers there,

"Keep watch in the city and stay in prayer.

You all, in the Spirit, will be baptized

In just a few days; the promise is nigh!"

Another Original Song: "Hosanna to Our King"

 

This is a reworked version a Palm Sunday song I wrote a few years ago. Enjoy!

Hosanna to Our King

Lift up your heads, O gates!

Be lifted up, O doors!

The King of Glory shall come in, 

So hail your mighty Lord!

[Chorus] 

Sing hosanna amen, hosanna amen, 

Let the praises ring! 

Bless the name of the One who reigns,

Hosanna to our King!

So sound out endless praise,

For the Son of David reigns!

All honor, strength, and majesty

Be unto his great name! 

[Chorus]

[Bridge] 

Let the mountains rejoice 

And the rocks cry out;

Let the trees clap their hands 

And the people shout:

For the King is coming! 

The King is coming! 

The King is coming to reign! 

So let hosannas ring!

All praise to Christ our Lord! 

May he be always, everywhere, 

By everyone adored. 

[Chorus]

Disclosure: The lyrics and the lyric video are entirely my own original work. But since I don't have access to collaborating musicians for production, I've used online music generation tools for the vocals and instrumentation on this audio track. I want to support real artists and musicians, so I've chosen not to monetize or promote AI-assisted audio like this— I will not put it on any streaming platforms, and the YouTube video is unlisted rather than public. It is only accessible here, via my personal blog, as a kind of demo: a sample of what my lyrics might sound like when performed with full instrumentation. It is shared in this limited fashion for my own local parishioners and for devoted readers of my poetry. If you're a musician interested in partnering on a project like this, I'd love to hear from you. (thepeaceandthepassion@gmail.com)