Deus Misereatur

When my wife and I traveled to Oregon last year, we went old school (sort of). We pulled out an actual paper map, examined the roadway from Oklahoma City to our destination, Detroit Lake State Park. We looked over topography, river-ways, elevations, city locations, etc. It was very helpful, both for the big picture, but also to give us way-points, and to allow us to "adapt-and-overcome" as unplanned things happened. But the map couldn't prepare us for all we experienced, the explosion of stark terrain differences, and so forth. It was a guide that put us on the right trail, but could not prepare us for the exigencies, nor smooth them out. Luke H. Davis, teacher of ethics and church history at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis, and author of young adult fiction, has taken in hand to map out the good life and Christian ethics in his brand new 240-page softback "Tough Issues, True Hope: A Concise Journey through Christian Ethics". This handy little manuscr...

Most people I know have learned to pray from listening to others, in one way or the other. That's the value of a new 240-page hardback "Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans" edited by the prolific author, Robert Elmer. It is handy and pleasing to the eyes, and the print is easy to look at. This breviary is a worthy investment for one's own times of prayer, and suppliants will learn at the feet of some devotional doyens. "Piercing Heaven" draws from Puritan authors arising out of the 16th to 18th centuries. Anglican priests, nonconformists, congregationalists and others are gathered into these pages to lead the way to the throne of grace, where we may find grace to help in time of need. Many of the names will be known to most, with a few surprises here and there. The editor has taken matured prayers, modernized them, and formatted them in such a way that they breathe a quiet repose. Though a particular petition may fill a page or two, Elmer has broken it ...

A delightful adventure! The return of Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy to Narnia, long generations after they had left. Filled with surprises. But the tale is also thick with purpose and meaning. Such as following Aslan, even when others won't; loyalty; commitment, even against all odds. But it is also dripping with good theology in artful ways. One of my favorite lines comes at the end. Caspian finds that he comes from ancestors who were pirates. After voicing his disappointment, Aslan states, "You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve, and that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor in earth. Be content" (211-2). I highly recommend the book. If you are looking for a grandfatherly reading of the book, you can go here to my YouTube Channel and pull up the videos of me reading each chapter - funny voices and all.

Saving God, who has promised that you would be with your people to the end of the world, we pray on behalf of your Church globally, this congregation, as well as Selecman, Skyline-Urban, Southern Hills, and Sunny Lane UMC. Since we are those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, then may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to us. Give us the wherewithal to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, since certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for condemnation; ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. And, by your gracious aid may we build ourselves up in our most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep ourselves in the love of God, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life, have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even ...