Deus Misereatur

  When my wife and I were new-made Christian converts, stationed at Incirlik AB in Turkey from 1981-1983, we stumbled onto some very rudimentary Bible study guides that gave us space to write answers and reflections as they walked us through a book of the Bible. We learned basic facts and details about each book as we went through them, and grew in our new faith. That experience has a very happy memory in our hearts and we’re always on the lookout for such resources. New Growth Press has teamed up with a missions organization, Serge, to pull together a similar Bible study series, “The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible”. One of their newest installments is “Philippians: Finding Joy When Life Is Hard”. This 128-page paperback was penned by Josiah D. Bancroft IV, a church planter and director of Missions with Serge. The book is set up for group use, and has a section in the back for study leaders. It is easy-to-use, will walk readers through the whole of Philippians in 9 lessons, and ...

  (This was the meditation I sent out in my weekly pastoral letter on Wednesday, 16 August 2023) There was something I didn’t have the time to point out last Sunday, and it’s related to what God will say in 2 Chronicles 7:12-13. Therefore, I want to point it out here so I can be specific and then not need to take the time to deal with it this coming Sunday. It has to do with one of the eight scenarios in Solomon’s prayer (2 Chronicles 6:20-39). It’s a wordplay (in the Hebrew) in 2 Chronicles 6:28-29, and it’s rather surprising. I’ll highlight the words so you can pick up what I’m referring to:   [28] “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague , whatever sickness there is, [29] whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this...

  O LORD, who created the heavens (you are God!), who formed the earth and made it (you established it; you did not create it empty, you formed it to be inhabited!), you have spoken and said: “I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:18-19). It is to you we come to seek your face and call for help. We pray for your church world over, including this congregation, Grace Covenant Church, St. Benedict Orthodox, St. Elijah’s, and St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church. May we all be united together by your Holy Spirit, in your true Truth, centered on your Gospel, reformed around grace alone, in Christ alone, by faith alone. We additionally pray for all of the congregations in our Hills and Plains Presbytery that you would guide us in truly and humbly serving you in order that your name may be glorified before all people. G...