Glory: the Psalms of Dr. Rev. Richard Gantz: Compiled and edited by Joel Howard

Richard Gantz, my grandfather, showed me his writing every time I visited his home. Growing up my grandpa lived in West Virginia or Florida, and later in life, in Kentucky, where he passed in 2016. Without exception, he would sit me down, and show me what I now know to be his collection of "Psalms".

I was always inspired by his creativity and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Sitting at his chair, reading his Bible (which I now have by my end stand), he would often shout, "Glory!" as he would silently hear the Lord's whisper to his heart, or as he would share a nugget of truth he was learning.

When grandpa went to be with the Lord, I had the opportunity to sing at and attend his funeral. While there, grandma invited me into grandpa's office and showed me what you now have in front of you in this book. On grandpa's computer were digital files of over two hundred "Psalms of God."

As I sat and poured over his words I knew I had to save his work. With grandma's permission, I uploaded them to my email account with the intent of one day passing them on to my own children. Over the years, I knew that if I published them, I would entitle the book, "Glory!" because of grandpa's common shout of praise.

This book includes the first half of Richard Gantz's work as it is a good representation of his earlier writing. After "Psalm" 125, some of the files were incomplete or missing, so I decided to only publish what you now have in front of you. I will never forget the vulnerability and passion of some of his later "Psalms" and I can share them with you if you reach out to me.

Dr. Rev. Richard Gantz was passionate about worshipping and beholding the Lord, Jesus Christ. I know it would be his desire to share these "Psalms" with you. Why? Because he shared them with me and so many others - and anyone who took the time to step into his world. He was a generous and joyful man, but deeper than I will ever know was his love for God.

Grandpa told me, in his last years and months on earth, that he was proud of me, and that I had a gift for poetry. 400 songs and nearly 1,400 poems later, I can say that Dr. Rev. Richard Gantz was a central inspiring force in my own spiritual walk and creative work. I remember, during a very low point in my life, my grandpa kneeling by my bed with me in my home, closing the door and lifting up a cry in prayer for several minutes, on my behalf.

I know his heart lives in me, through his prayers and I know his "Pslams" live on in my own as they were a direct outpouring of his life with God in prayer, as mine are in my own work. Grandpa was a man who wrote. It is just what he did.

May his words and discoveries take root and sprout forth in your own life as you read his collected works here. And may you inspire others to run hard after God as a result.

All proceeds from profit of this book will be donated to the work of the Christian & Missionary Alliance around the world, as I am sure that is what Richard would want. To find out more, visit cmalliance.org/give.

(from the introduction to Glory: the Psalms of Dr. Rev. Richard Gantz)

Joel Howard (editor) lives with his wife and three children in southern New Jersey, USA, where he works as a teacher in the public schools. Joel has led worship alongside his wife, Sophia, for many years and enjoys teaching his children to love and follow God.

The author of 6 books of poetry, Joel has been writings songs, poetry and making art for over 25 years. His passion is to help others find the hope of Jesus through creative means.