Deus Misereatur

  The Apostle Paul says somewhere, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment,..." (Romans 12:3a). And that concept is center stage in Tim Keller's teeny 48-page booklet, "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness ". It is easy to read, simple, and to the point. Keller is working on exactly what is in the title: Freedom. Not patriotic freedom, but liberation from the driving force of our ego. Liberation from a superiority or inferiority complex. Liberation from taking ourselves to court every day to be judged or vindicated. Liberated from building our self-resume. But also liberated to be alive. To be alive before God and with God because of Jesus Christ. As Keller points out, "the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less" (32).  "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness " is j...

  This wee 24-page booklet is of more worth than the teeny amount of cash you will spend on it! Jerry Bridges, writer, conference speaker, and author, passed away in 2016. But his works and words live on, and this small pamphlet is one priceless example.  Not too deep into the book one realizes that Bridges writes from deep personal experiences with "distress...despair...the darkness that fills our souls when we wonder if God truly cares about our plight" (4). He even brings in John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace, when Newton was racked with anxiety and worry as his wife declined with cancer. Newton came to realize "surely the Lord will help me, if I am willing to be helped" (8). And that is where the author spends most of his time. This book is just the thing you need to pick up and pour over. I highly recommend it.

  Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum Temple Grandin, Ph.D. and Debra Moore, Ph.D. W.W. Norton & Co. https://wwnorton.com/ ISBN: 978-0-393-71484-5; September 2021; $16.95   Throughout the years I have interacted and worked with children and adults who find that they have some form of autism. So, I am always looking for material that is helpful and practically useful for parents and professionals on the subject. Therefore, I was elated when the authors notified me that they had just published this 384-page softback, “Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum”. Temple Grandin, best-selling author, prolific speaker, and Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, and Debra Moore, psychologist, and Founder and Director of Fall Creek Counseling Associates in the greater Sacramento Area, have teamed up on this manuscript and handed parents and professionals a well-researched, but easy to read dossier. Rea...

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”” (Matthew 28:18-20) Lord, we long to see others brought into the happy life of Heritage, as together we grow in truth, worship, and Christian love . Grant us opportunities to make disciples, to have “divine appointments” to map out the Gospel to others, and to see many baptized and taught the way of Christ. And, as James puts it, if anyone has wandered from the truth, may we be instrumental in bringing them back from their wandering, and so save their soul from death and cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20). O Lord, hear our prayer. And, Lord, we pray that if anyone is caught in any transgression, that by the leading of your Spirit we would step up and...

  Lord Jesus, you invite us to come and present our requests in your name, “ Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son ” (John 14:13). And so, we come to you and through you. Compassionate Lord who ate with tax collectors and sinners, who came not to call the righteous but sinners; we pray for those who are unbelievers and those who have strayed away – hear us as we silently call out their names to you (…). Save them, change them, cleanse them, make them utterly yours. And help us to be part of that amazing-grace work! We pray, O Lord, that of your great goodness, you would comfort, strengthen, aid, and fortify those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, trial, sorrow, sickness, or any other adversity. We mention those on our minds before you (…). We beg you to rule the hearts and ambitions of all who bear the authority of government in this and every land. May they be led to wise decisions and right actions for the peace and w...