Deus Misereatur

  They were giving free copies away at my denomination’s General Assembly in June 2022. So, as soon as I found out, I scampered over to the Covenant College exhibit to snag one. I picked up one of the last copies they had, and I’m glad I did. “You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News” is a 272-page hardback composed in 2021 by Kelly M. Kapic, professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The book is precisely aimed at the subtitle. As the writer states, the book “aims to help us discover the theological and pastoral significance of embracing the gift of being limited: it is just part of being human” (15). Yes, you read that correctly – God’s gift of our human limitedness.   The chapters move through an array of topics, all circling the main thesis. The subjects include our finitude, our union with Christ, the goodness of our bodies and how our physical limitations are not bad, a look into the “sel...

(This is what I sent out in my letter to the congregation today)   Last Sunday morning, during my report on the 49 th General Assembly (in our Adult Class), we had some great discussions. Toward the end someone mentioned a specific issue that got me thinking. The following are a few of those thoughts.   The Presbyterian Church in America is fairly unique from other denominations of Christ’s church. Unique, at least, at it’s constitutional  level. What I mean is, we are one of the few denominations who have the Ten Commandments, with explanations and definitions, as specifically part of our constitution. Most other denominations only have articles of religion and  statements of belief as their charter, without listing and expounding the Decalogue. Our Larger and Shorter Catechisms are part of our denomination’s “law of the land”. Below is a sample of what our constitution  says on one of the Commandments, specifically the 7 th , “ You shall not commit adultery...

  “ 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; shine powerfully into our hearts by your Word and Spirit and draw us with the constraining, compelling cords of faith, hope and love that we may heartily chose that good part which shall not be taken away from us. We ask you to direct all world leaders. Over-rule the atrocious savagery running rampant in many nations (Eastern Europe, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and others); countermand the legitimizing of slavery, prostitution and drug-running; and may all nations come to bow the knee to the Lord Jesus, and peace and prosperity prevail in all places. Also, we have celebrated our nation’s independence this past week. Now Lord, hear our prayers for the present and ...