Deus Misereatur

Fill the Earth by Matthew Newkirk My rating: 5 of 5 stars Why in the world do Christians and churches support and get involved in missions? There are a handful of answers to that question, mostly revolving around saving humans or hastening the return of Jesus. But a few thinkers have pointed out that there are God-centered reasons for proclaiming the Gospel. Those God-centered motives include drawing peoples of every tribe and tongue into the worship of God; and proclaiming the reign of God over the cosmos. Matthew Newkirk, author, President of Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan, and professor of Old Testament, has compiled a well-reasoned dossier on how the entire Bible “provides compelling rationale for the work of missions” (2) in his newly published 348-page softback, “Fill the Earth: The Creation Mandate and the Church’s call to Mission”. In this detailed manuscript the author hammers home the theocentric purpose of missions. As he states early on, “ God’s mission in the w...

Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury: 4 Complete Stories in 1 Volume! by Arnold Lobel My rating: 5 of 5 stars Who would have thought? Here we are in the middle of a pandemic and quarantine, with all of the "shelter-in-place" directives, and I decide to read children's stories via live video on Facebook for the kids in my church, and my grandchildren in another state. I land on "Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury," written in 1976, to launch this endeavor. Lo-and-behold, it's a hit! Kids are watching me read the stories before bedtime, parents are grateful for the relief after an exhausting day working from home, etc., and even adults are tuning in. The stories are readable, and quite fun, and the illustrations (drawn by the author) are just right. These are tales of two friends who enjoy sharing various aspects of life together as friends. Each story stands alone on its own. They relate the friendship of two amphibians with personalities that complement each...

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses (Psalm 135:13, 5-7). We rejoice in your might and goodness and ask you to attend to our prayers as we seek your face and intercede on behalf of your Church and world. We lift up our hands, hearts and heads to you, Mighty God, for hearing and answering our prayers, for sustaining us day-in-and-day-out, and for the gift of a new day. Glory to you, Mighty Lord! Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. We pray for this congregation, for these churches: Edmond Connect UMC; Epworth UMC; Grace UMC; and Hillcrest UMC; and we pray for your Church world over. As a Master Gar...