Deus Misereatur

  Written in 1998 by prolific author, Simon Winchester, it has been turned into a movie starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. The storyline is just what the subtitle says. But there's much more. Even the murdered laborer, George Merrett gets some extra print in the author's postscript. It's a delightful work, giving background to the genealogy of dictionaries and how the Oxford English Dictionary, 70 years in the making, came about. But the plain details are colored in by the story of "The Professor," James Murray, and "The Madman," Dr. William Chester Minor. There are side trails the author trots down, here and there, that seem a bit tedious at times, but overall, it was an attention-grabbing work.

  Ed Welch needs little introduction for those who have read anything he wrote. Counselor, biblical scholar, and guide, Welch fires on all cylinders. "When People are Big and God is Small" is a prime example. It's an easy-to-read work that takes readers, level by level, to see how they fear others, and thus, hold others in awe; and yet don't fear God. The biblical model has been inverted, and turned inside out and upside down. The book develops seven "steps" to aid readers in walking away from the fear of others, to being in greater and deeper awe of God. Welch works on these seven "steps" in thirteen chapters to give depth to each phase. He deals with our past habits, present reactions, and future directions. He takes on folk religion, popular self-help manuals, internal motivations, social mores, and more. It's written for teenagers and adults, and communicated in straightforward ways. Though Welch is working more at helping people on a perso...

  What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. That, Lord, is our prayer. That nations and countries, tribes and peoples, would race to bring him laude and honor. Toward this end, we ask you to calm the threats and international thrashing. Take up our country and restore goodness and rightness from the Whitehouse to our house. Rebuild communities and turn neighborhoods to neighborliness. All the liberties our forefathers won, may we and all the inhabitants of this land maintain in righteousness and peace. And for the nations of this world, including North Korea, Morocco, Argentina, and Venezuela, bring them to the one who is born Christ the King, and find their fullness in him and in his rule.   Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? ...