Deus Misereatur

Preparing for the Coming of Christ-2 Zephaniah 2.1-15 { Audio File } God of might, majesty and impartiality, who is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus; come and help us as we wrestle with your Word in Zephaniah, and assist us to prepare for the coming of Christ. Amen Christmas can be a two-edged sword for many. Even in our annual family festivities we know this; sometimes joy mixed with anxiety; sometimes good memories are jumbled up with bad ones; sometimes celebration is clasped hand in hand with sadness. But more than our own personal struggles, the initial coming of Christ (the story that lurks behind Christmas) was also a two-edged sword: good news for some, grievous news for others (Just think of Matthew 2 Herod/Magi). For at the first coming of Christ the Lord the day of the Lord began, Christ came and as he came (like a thief in the night) he will again come, and we need to prepare for the coming of Christ [ BTW, I appreciated our Choir’s ...

Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament by Eric  Larson My rating: 5 of 5 stars For the novice and knowledgeable, fathoming the flow of Holy Scripture can be a bit of a daunting task. Especially in a day when ministers, media and mentors are often spooning out a "sound-byte theology" and folks normally get snippets of verses. Here is where the beauty of "Frameworks," by Eric Larson, a Bible teacher at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California, comes out in full blossom. This textbook sized, 372 page glossy paperback, is succinct, informative and visually appealing. The first section of "Frameworks" gives a brief, bird's-eye view of the life of Jesus with simple maps and creative handles a reader can latch on to. The material in this segment is meant to help the reader know the general narrative landscape of Jesus' life so when they delve into one of the Gospel accounts they have a sense of where they are and where they're headed....

Tai Chi Chin Na: The Seizing Art of Tai Chi Chuan 2nd edition Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming YMAA Publication Center, Inc. PO Box 480 Wolfeboro, NH 03894 ISBN: 9781594393075; $26.95; (1995) October 2014 5 Stars of 5 Stars Grappling with Chin Na A martial arts practitioner can quickly get stuck in a rut. Doing the same kata week after week for months on end, learning to kick with precision and strike with exactness, going through the motions to learn various one-step training forms, and sweating through self-defense moves over and over, can rapidly bring one to think they’re learning all there is to a particular martial style. But a moment’s plunge into the 2 nd edition of “Tai Chi Chin Na: The Seizing Art of Tai Chi Chuan” will expose the shallowness of such a perception. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong, has reworked this 432 page paperback. He carefully explains the methods and metaphysics of tai chi chin na, and sh...

Morning Prayer: Abba, our affectionate Father, who has given us the Spirit of Christ, who intercedes in us and through us, we pray for your World and your Church. We pray for you to set straight all that is crooked and shattered among the nations (Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Kenya, North-Central-South America, Russia, Ukraine), that people everywhere may have decent opportunities to live in peace, and your Church throughout all lands may be able to serve you in quiet joy. Almighty God, look upon our country. We pray for the hearts and minds of the administration to be swayed toward what is most just and evenhanded. Give ear to our concerns, qualms and uncertainties about the economic, political and legislative future, and grant what is best for the good of the citizens of this land and the peace of Your Church. And Lord, may we not forget the tragic event, 73 years ago, that took the lives of so many and propelled us into the Second World War. Thank you for the many valia...