Deus Misereatur

Who Lynched Willie Earle?: Preaching to Confront Racism by William H. Willimon My rating: 5 of 5 stars Given the present environment of racial tensions in the U.S.A. there are a rising number of volumes from diverse authors rolling out of publishing houses across the country. Will Willimon, retired Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church and Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke University Divinity School, has recently added his voice with his tiny 137 page paperback “Who Lynched Willie Earle: Preaching to Confront Racism”. Though the manuscript is popularly written and small in size, it is deep in thought and significant in intention. The first four chapters of the book deals with the story of the lynching Willie Earle on February 17, 1947, and the critical analysis of the only local sermon preached by a white pastor the following Sunday (Hawley Lynn). The remainder of the material covers the place and problem of racism as well as pre...

The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle My rating: 4 of 5 stars Quite a fun fictive piece. It runs in the same stream of progressive positivism that prevailed at the turn into the 20th century. It follows much of a similar trajectory as Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," but instead of going into the earth, it rises to the center of South America. "The Lost World" also plays out the fallacious mindset that fed much of the early Darwinian evolution of the day; especially its racial superiority. This appears to be the culture milieu that many imbibed in at the time, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Sir Julian Huxley, to name a few. But all of that said, it was a fun fictive piece written in the style one comes to enjoy in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story line holds all of the way through the tale, and ties together in a tidy piece. I happily recommend the book, especially if you're looking for an entertaining read. View all my reviews

“ Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed ” (Revelation 15.3-4).  O Eternal God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties over two centuries ago; grant, please, that we and all the inhabitants of this land may have grace to maintain those liberties in righteousness and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. We ask you to over-rule the brutal savagery raging in many nations, as well as the legitimization of slavery, prostitution and the harassment of your Church. We affirm with Scripture that the hearts of national leaders, to include President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan; King Felipe VI of Spain; and President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka , are streams of water in your hand, O LORD, and that you turn them wherever...