Deus Misereatur

Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer and Life in Christ by J. Todd Billings My rating: 5 of 5 stars C.S. Lewis once stated, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones – bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas” (“Mere Christianity,” 128). But for many people theology is simply dusty, drab, dispassionate, desiccated drivel. And then into the mix life happens, or death, bringing tragedy and theology to meet and clash in the sparring ring. It’s right here, in all of the sweat, the grit and the grappling, that J. Todd Billings, research professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America, presents his own, very personal , tussle with life-threatening cancer and life-enriching theology . His soon to be published 224 page paperback, “Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer & Life in Chri...

Our Father, who has cheerfully adopted us through Jesus Christ, we come and hand over our burdened hearts to you for this world and your church. We find that we are restless and uneasy about the things going on in our own lives, amongst our friends, families, and in our world. Sickness, sorrow, trouble at home, problems at work, uncertainty about the future. We remember these who are wrestling with specific misfortunes…grant them and us courage, faith, graciousness, comfort and relief.  O Lord, hear our prayer. Please uphold our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen; strengthen them as they serve to be courageous in the face of adversities, and to be dutiful during drudgeries. Also, please calm and hearten their families during deployments, bringing them back to their families unharmed. O Lord, hear our prayer. We call upon you to take care of our country and all who are in authority. Promote our national well-being, defend us from malicious elements that wo...