Deus Misereatur

The Beautiful Community We had been in-country for less than a week, but my roommate was already depressed. He was just beginning his 12-month rotation in Turkey, and I was starting my 24-month tour of duty. He couldn’t grasp why these Turks didn’t speak English and understand American ways, since “we’re the world’s superpower!” I was aghast. Even at 20 years of age in 1981 I could see the trouble. So, I pointed out the uncomfortable reality, “Man, if anything, we should be the ones learning Turkish and picking up their ways because we’re the foreigners here.” Clearly, that didn’t go over well, and he spent most of his 12-month assignment sulking in his dorm room and drinking the months away. But getting into another culture for two years gave me a deep appreciation and sensitivity for reaching across cultural hurdles. And in many ways that is what “The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at It’s Best” seeks to foster. This new 176-page softback is compiled by Irwyn...

“ We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because you have taken your great power and reigned ” (Revelation 11:17). Almighty and everlasting God, the source of all life and joy, who, by the jubilant announcement of the Gospel has called us to have part in your Kingdom and glory: please shine powerfully into our hearts the light of your love by your Word and Spirit and draw us with the cords of faith, hope and love that we may heartily chose that good part which shall not be taken away from us. And through us, may the Gospel of your Kingdom and grace reach out to our neighborhoods and networks, that many may belong and believe with us as we thrive in truth, worship and Christian love. We ask you to direct all world leaders and governing bodies; over-rule the atrocious savagery rambling through many nations; countermand the legitimizing of human-trafficking of every sort and drug-running; and may all nations come to the Lord Jesus, and ...