Deus Misereatur

  I know it's not the subject you normally bring up in decent company. But I have to have one of these about every two years because of a chronic ailment that I was diagnosed with way back in 1993 (I had symptoms long before that, likely in 1985 or earlier, but it kept getting misdiagnosed). Colonoscopy! There, I said it. Which leads me to talk about that most uncomfortable day before the procedure. Thankfully the day of the colonoscopy is more manageable because of the anesthesia. But prep day can feel like a freight train is running down into your gut and slamming - full-steam - into your intestinal tract. It's the one day I despise! But this year, my new GI doctor suggested I try "Happy Colon with Laxatives". I was skeptical. I don't want a prep-failure and thus to be forced to return in two weeks. I want it all to work this time so I don't have to do this blasted thing again for two years. So, yes, I was skeptical. But, I thought it worth it to take a gamb...

  Overall, I was pleased with "Life-giving Leadership" by Karen Hodge, coordinator of the PCA's Women's Ministry, and Susan Hunt, former Coordinator. The book is written from the complementarian perspective (biblically, men and women are equal before God while fulfilling different roles that are fairly sex-specific) in contrast to the egalitarian angle (men and women are equal before God and there are no sex-specific roles in Scripture). Hodge and Hunt seek to present tangible ways women can pursue life-giving leadership in contrast to life-taking leadership. Though the material feels forced in places, nevertheless the authors stay consistent in striving to think biblically and live and lead covenantally in a complementarian context (15, 19). They follow this train of thinking through the nine topics of confidence, calling, clarity, character, submission, compassion, community, discipleship and Scripture. They rightly recognize that leading covenantally is relational ...

  (This congregational prayer is soaked in Psalm 28) O Lord, we lift up our voices with the Psalmist and in the name of Jesus your Son: To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. O Lord God who provides, we pray for those who are bearing heavy strains from work or joblessness (…); from disease and disorder (…); from cracked up and crumbling marriages (…); from rocky and wrecked families (…); from darkness and depression (…); from agitation and anxiousness (…); from sorrowfulness and sadness (…). Hear their plea and hear us as we join with them. Like the blind man who came to Jesus, like the woman with an issue of blood, and like the Canaanite woman on behalf of her demon-oppressed daughter; may they hear you say “Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire” and be refre...