Deus Misereatur

  (This is from my letter to my congregation today, 18 October 2023. The candidate for Speaker of the House lost a second vote on this day) When there are national troubles, civil strife, crop failures or cataclysmic events and the suchlike, people cry out in alarm and anger or fear. But behind those situations there may well be the divine intent of bringing about national or regional changes; specifically, to bring about a social change of moral direction.   You see this when you delve into the prophet Amos, for example. In Amos 4, especially 6-12, God points out several disastrous situations he brought about on his people. Massive food shortages (6), drought (7-8), crop diseases and failures (9), pandemic (10), and national destruction (11). But at the end of each one of these tragedies God says, “‘ yet you did not return to me,’ declares the LORD .” Each successive calamity was meant as a wake-up call to bring social change, but the people refused to wake up.   ...

  O Lord, who knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, we pray for the besieged and beleaguered peoples in our world, such as those in Afghanistan, or those in Israel and Gaza. Many are suffering. Earthquakes rocking some, military threats and wars are decimating others. Please establish peace, justice, recovery and efficient economies in all lands, for the good of all, so that the Gospel of Jesus may spread unchecked, and that your Church may dwell securely in peace and quietness. Strengthen with you aid Palestinian Christians in Gaza and Jewish Christians in Israel, all of whom are feeling the heat and pressure. Have mercy on them. Further, guide our own leaders in this country to throw off selfish programs, cut-throat tactics, and dastardly devices; and to put on what is truly legitimate and will promote evenhanded integrity. Give ear to our concerns as we pray for those who are in unbelief and for those who have disserted the Christian Faith (…). And we also pray for ou...