tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12436327227864435612024-03-17T16:09:52.936-05:00Deus Misereatur"God be merciful to us & bless us, & cause His face to shine upon us.
That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
Oh, let the nations be glad & sing for joy!"mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.comBlogger1511125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-90826177564033811982024-03-17T07:06:00.006-05:002024-03-17T16:09:20.831-05:00"Let Them Praise the Name of the LORD" - 17 March 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KHHJIdp6hWnVq7AME3_U2DNdFNlSRx9EynUtBMe9DW2pCMn0oC7hko3qgZ9EXQi7IC6ETUlWQnnqIJobTiA3JbOloK03ZAqwbCaXcp0578Gmba7HdgZIcQuRJ1oc46Kp5QekOl-aAHzuB_HhbIeXiwrnHWdkuyirNx6Z-tWqkGf1mExDO2GKzUK3PJc/s1584/19_Psa_148_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KHHJIdp6hWnVq7AME3_U2DNdFNlSRx9EynUtBMe9DW2pCMn0oC7hko3qgZ9EXQi7IC6ETUlWQnnqIJobTiA3JbOloK03ZAqwbCaXcp0578Gmba7HdgZIcQuRJ1oc46Kp5QekOl-aAHzuB_HhbIeXiwrnHWdkuyirNx6Z-tWqkGf1mExDO2GKzUK3PJc/s320/19_Psa_148_005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">(From Psalm 148) <i>Praise
the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise
him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! </i>From the highest to the lowest, from the nearest to the furthest, may
all come and worship you, submitting to you, praying to you, cherishing you as
their greatest good and deepest joy. Therefore, we pray for you to give our
missionaries assets and guide their achievements to this end. And we pray that
you would reclaim and rescue those who are outside of Christ (…).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you
waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he
commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he
gave a decree, and it shall not pass away</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">. We pray for
the earth that its vast resources will be replenished and maintained. Bring us
rains and showers in ways and quantities that are most fitting. Settle the
shaking, shifting fault lines and tectonic plates that cause so much damage.
Restrain destructive floods and wildfires and reverse devastating droughts.
Prosper the scientific and medical studies that are good, right, moral, and
honorable. And for those involved in research that is dehumanizing and
demoralizing, bring them to see that they are not gods, and that “can” does not
mean “should”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Praise the LORD from the
earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all
cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">May our farmlands
produce bountifully, and our cattle be plentiful. Enrich the labors of our
farmers and ranchers, fisheries and those who harvest the seas, as well as
those involved in industry and manufacturing. May their work be safe and
successful and help them to produce in ways that respect the earth and its
resources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Kings of the earth and
all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens
together, old men and children! </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">For our own country
and all peoples of this world, we pray “<u>O God of love, O King of peace, Make
wars throughout the world to cease; The wrath of sinful man restrain; Give
peace, O God, give peace again</u>.” We pray this especially for Ukraine, Haiti, Russia, Israel, Ethiopia, Gaza, and Somalia. Also, guide our nation in ways
right and good, restrain evil and further wholesome morality.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his
majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise
the LORD! </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Help your global Church, including this
congregation, and First India Pentecostal Church of God, First Pentecostal
Church, Greater First Deliverance Church, and Holy Land Temple. Oh, that we
would <u>rightly</u> exalt your name, <u>appropriately</u> make clear your
majesty, <u>fittingly </u>declare and exhibit your Gospel and sound doctrine,
and <u>joyfully</u> make disciples of all nations. And be with those who are
sick, sad, or struggling (…). Restore and refresh them that they would rise up
and praise your exalted name.</span><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And now we join all
of our requests together to pray as we have been taught: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-48468824958138839242024-03-14T09:31:00.005-05:002024-03-14T09:31:59.059-05:00"Resolve: The Church That Endures Onward" Luke H. Davis. A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx21qJvNI6f8WYV6ja51dOew79kT6L6gQXvhzhUIWsOfzJICXu_ga6QkV0D51TXmhv_XepPsjtgHNFws3ptOdVRZEo4uStM2bZjE20g7P6u70IfZW-Z0JJL1Me0sQYDp51ii_9J0BEfiHC5ALjcE0soPQtGUKNodJYwF3Wl_mW316HuGnEKKTsWS6jZU/s1220/61243RBSb5L._SL1220_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx21qJvNI6f8WYV6ja51dOew79kT6L6gQXvhzhUIWsOfzJICXu_ga6QkV0D51TXmhv_XepPsjtgHNFws3ptOdVRZEo4uStM2bZjE20g7P6u70IfZW-Z0JJL1Me0sQYDp51ii_9J0BEfiHC5ALjcE0soPQtGUKNodJYwF3Wl_mW316HuGnEKKTsWS6jZU/s320/61243RBSb5L._SL1220_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">In a season of bad press, fallen leaders, naysayers, and
kooks, how does one convey the positive side of the church’s story? Recently
Luke H. Davis, teacher of ethics and Church history at Westminster Christian
Academy in St. Louis, has given readers a new and final installment in his “Risen
Hope” series that brings his account of the church’s story up to the present. In
this 176-page softback, “Resolve: The Church That Endures Onward,” Davis takes
on more contemporary Christian men and women to show how they dealt with evil
and difficulties in their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. The book is written for
teenagers but will be valuable for older adults as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The author covers a wide array of people from multiple
continents and Christian traditions, to give a solid sampling of fidelity and
endurance. He covers Sammy Morris, J.C. Ryle, Francis Grimke, C.S. Lewis,
Benjamin Kwashi, and many more to give readers a quick tour from the early 19<sup>th</sup>
century to the late 20<sup>th</sup>. Sprinkled throughout are “Fact Files,” which
are side trips into significant subjects such as great preachers, the shadow of
evil, and apologists, where Davis gives details of other important people and
their roles in regard to specific subjects. The final fact file takes on
naysayers forecasting the end of Christianity in the West and beyond. It leaves
the readers with the “enduring onward” theme of the book.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The stories are written in a historical-fiction style. This
is where real people are pictured in mildly fictitious scenes but voicing their
actual words or sentiments. It’s very attention-keeping, informative and responsible.
By the time a reader has finished a story they will have a solid idea of who the
protagonist was, what they faced, and where they headed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you want your kids to glean a healthier view of the
church’s march upward and onward, I recommend the whole 5-Volume set of the “Risen
Hope” series. And if you’re looking for a decent perspective on the church in
the last 130 years, “Resolve” would be a fine place to start. My thanks to the
author and Christian Focus Publications for sending me this volume. They didn’t
ask me to do anything, and so this review is my own idea and in my own steam. I’m
glad I read the book and highly recommend it.</p><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-14895239509408213102024-03-10T07:18:00.001-05:002024-03-10T07:18:04.397-05:00"O LORD, You Made Heaven and Earth..." - 10 March 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdtYDYfV8ZqwIKeP_aBrXE_7Qhscyv-nbuuSttI1Mw3Jc8yU73QCluEkuOxrYfAP4Tix4CyX8V6lTG9Wwq1OxbW-uj8IKJwo8hmPwVTlKT9N5P1ypfwquaNdJqK_mzAgEVgZxQNMXIfqXKoCtI9ZQfbngjGVoZ0ZCln33m8HQIYRpdo8k1FXRG5jU0fs/s1200/245809526_10159382340473632_9216105241087129119_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdtYDYfV8ZqwIKeP_aBrXE_7Qhscyv-nbuuSttI1Mw3Jc8yU73QCluEkuOxrYfAP4Tix4CyX8V6lTG9Wwq1OxbW-uj8IKJwo8hmPwVTlKT9N5P1ypfwquaNdJqK_mzAgEVgZxQNMXIfqXKoCtI9ZQfbngjGVoZ0ZCln33m8HQIYRpdo8k1FXRG5jU0fs/s320/245809526_10159382340473632_9216105241087129119_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">; you keep
truth forever and execute justice for the oppressed. You give food to the
hungry and freedom to the prisoners; you open the eyes of the blind and raise
those who are bowed down; you watch over the strangers and relieve the
fatherless and widow (Psalm 146). It is
to you we come!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, we pray for
your whole Church on earth, including </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Solid Rock Christian Center, Alethia Temple,
Christ Legacy Church, and Community Lighthouse Church<i>.</i> Fill her with all truth, in all truth with
all peace. Where she is corrupt, purify her; where she is in error, direct her;
where in anything she is amiss, reform her. Where she is right, strengthen her;
where she is in need, provide for her; where she is divided, reunite her; for
the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. <i>The LORD shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, grant unto
us, your children, that by your enlightenment our minds may savor and dwell on
what is true and good, and under your merciful protection, may do what is
upright, and be filled with joyfulness, peace, and hope. <i>The LORD shall
reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> <i>O LORD, you made heaven and earth, the sea
and all that is in them,</i> we pray for these (…). We ask you to restore them
body and soul in Jesus Christ, give them your relief and comfort, and grant
them noteworthy reasons to take heart. <i>The LORD shall reign forever, your
God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, we remember
those in the military, fire department, EMSA, sheriff’s department, and the
local police department. Give them protection from their enemies and
life-threatening situations, wisdom in difficult situations, and good leaders. <i>The
LORD shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the
LORD!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, take notice
of the nations of the world. Tyranny, violence, slaughter, hunger, machinations,
and intrigues abound. Give peace, O God, give peace in our time that all may
dwell securely and successfully in their land and your Church be protected. <i>The
LORD shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the
LORD! </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O LORD, you made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, hear us for our own beloved country. Rid
our nation of unbelief and every godless custom; increase the number of those
who are not ashamed to confess Christ with integrity of life and talk, who are
not afraid to follow his way, that brotherly kindness and civility may abound,
and that righteousness would flow from our homes and down our streets like a
mighty river. <i>The LORD shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all
generations. Praise the LORD! </i>We ask all this and more in Jesus’ name. </span><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And now we join all of our requests together to
pray as we have been taught: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-87245303041549992842024-03-06T11:05:00.003-06:002024-03-06T11:05:34.525-06:00Suspicion<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI_znp2FLZpkmyyW4NY65f3eHPNjFKuBWNPpNj27OWWPzPLjETsKJHFHekbtTfqiEGmcqLEldS8_WQsnmxI0V2f82KAWo0FJKIyODkzVrp_kMFirxV7bTfZvHf_yslCVODw8lgY4uiuxSmDs79Bu5Ykfh-P7IllyJCrmnaniX7UwcKivt0ySwCobxdc0/s450/image-SPY_1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI_znp2FLZpkmyyW4NY65f3eHPNjFKuBWNPpNj27OWWPzPLjETsKJHFHekbtTfqiEGmcqLEldS8_WQsnmxI0V2f82KAWo0FJKIyODkzVrp_kMFirxV7bTfZvHf_yslCVODw8lgY4uiuxSmDs79Bu5Ykfh-P7IllyJCrmnaniX7UwcKivt0ySwCobxdc0/s320/image-SPY_1022.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">[From my letter to my congregation sent out today, 6 March 2024]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I find it interesting that Christian people were
suspicious of Paul. In fact, there were individuals suspicious of Paul in the
church at Corinth: “<i>I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to
show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against <u>some who
suspect us of walking according to the flesh</u></i>” (2 Corinthians 10:2). To
recognize that suspiciousness was in the earlier church, and even more, it was
a suspiciousness of Paul, causes me to pause when I find suspiciousness rising
up in my own heart. “Maybe,” I think to myself, “I should be suspicious of my
own suspiciousness.” Yes, I do talk to myself a bunch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And so, I was quite fascinated this morning as I was
reading “Spurgeon’s Lectures to His Students”. These are lectures he gave to
young men who were studying to become Baptist and Independent ministers in the
late 1800s. In Lecture 21, “The Blind Eye and the Deaf Ear,” he is encouraging
these ministers to take what they hear from others with a grain of salt. And
then he pops out with this invaluable advice:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“Learn to
disbelieve those who have no faith in their brethren. Suspect those who would
lead you to suspect others. A resolute unbelief in all scandal-mongers will do
much to repress their mischievous energies” (310).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Spurgeon’s counsel fits well with Proverbs (6:16-19;
11:27; 18:6-8, 17, 21; 26:17-28; and so much more). Maybe, in a day of much scandal-mongering,
we should learn to become more suspicious of our suspiciousness, but especially
suspicious of those promoting suspiciousness.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/596f050006f2db1a/Documents/Church%20Admin/Letter%20to%20Congregation%20-%20Suspicion.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p>
<br clear="ALL" style="mso-ignore: vglayout;" />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pastor
Mike<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/596f050006f2db1a/Documents/Church%20Admin/Letter%20to%20Congregation%20-%20Suspicion.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Just to make sure I’m clear, I am not aware of anyone being of suspicious of
me, so this has nothing to do with defending myself. It simply struck me this
morning as I was reading Spurgeon.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><br /><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-66549752544155283442024-03-03T07:12:00.004-06:002024-03-03T07:12:39.988-06:00"Blessed Be the LORD! For He Has Heard..." (Psalm 28) - 3 March 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin99oUaj1cBWcwVyQpeXsbqdEgHl7o5Cyvtt8Ckq2Hbo-oxn-zmTa_SDm0rHwtNIzZl0QhSEGqrxeuiAo6NZuvsAEpvcjEwaDr2qTzQoPDLVirZnL8nAzvJYWY1VTCfpM79M3FWoeuJnSDbRUEnDw-HPIegMxbgrgOx6fZF60MwwzhELDZJTvz5yt_Iuk/s700/Psalms-28-6-KJV-Blessed-be-the-LORD-because-he-hath-heard-the-I19028006-L01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin99oUaj1cBWcwVyQpeXsbqdEgHl7o5Cyvtt8Ckq2Hbo-oxn-zmTa_SDm0rHwtNIzZl0QhSEGqrxeuiAo6NZuvsAEpvcjEwaDr2qTzQoPDLVirZnL8nAzvJYWY1VTCfpM79M3FWoeuJnSDbRUEnDw-HPIegMxbgrgOx6fZF60MwwzhELDZJTvz5yt_Iuk/s320/Psalms-28-6-KJV-Blessed-be-the-LORD-because-he-hath-heard-the-I19028006-L01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
Lord, we lift up our voices with the Psalmist (Psalm 28) and in the name of
your Son, Jesus our Lord:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">To you, O LORD, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those
who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you
for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. / </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O
Lord God we pray for and with those who are bearing heavy strains from work or
joblessness; from disease and disorder; from cracked up and crumbling
marriages; from rocky and wrecked families; from darkness and depression; from
agitation and anxiousness (…). Hear their plea and hear us as we join with
them. Like the blind man who came to Jesus, the woman with an issue of blood
who snuck up on Jesus, and the Canaanite woman who pleaded with Jesus on behalf
of her daughter; may they hear you say “<i>Great is your faith! Be it done for
you as you desire</i>” and be refreshed and restored!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Do not drag me off with
the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts. Give to them according to their work and
according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of
their hands; render them their due reward. Because they do not regard the works
of the LORD or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up
no more. / </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O rock of refuge and strength of your
people; hear the cries and tears of your people oppressed and overloaded,
harassed and harried. Relieve them of their suffering and sorrows. May the
nations of the world and our own country rally to defend and protect the
blameless and the beleaguered. Give peace, O Lord, in our time! Break the
violent arms and smash the consuming mouths of those who blow up the
defenseless and target the unprotected; that harass and hack down the
vulnerable. See their evil, hear our plea, and act speedily!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Further,
we pray for relief from wildfires – especially in the Texas panhandle. Relief,
Lord, and restoration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed be the LORD! For
he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my
shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my
song I give thanks to him. / </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Come to the aid of
your whole church, including this congregation, and Heartland Community Church,
New Beginning Fellowship, New Community Church, and Northridge Church of Christ.
Rescue us from the harassment of heretics; bolster our resistance to the siren
calls of our alluring world; and may your grace restore and transform our
nature. Add to your church such as are being saved; and bring our evangelistic
exertions to produce delightful results. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his
anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and
carry them forever.</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And now we join all of our requests together to
pray as we have been taught: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-21270287639175220532024-02-25T06:46:00.006-06:002024-02-25T06:46:57.273-06:00"Give Us Life!" - 25 February 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX6atABiJGCvtREMh5dWP2UtEAHhVqPwy6_3V4W7IkWUop4VOp0_FiWI8DIGjdCXNwQFwfbTRMb43GOPaMNEj6T28TnOXj18Kb2sTMMPMzRXyfnaKcgvGjGFvKwpBQfWSpp5eruka7iICrV7vU2hZzPMiTJK8IoQOO3RgWHtDWf8ziBYiNeUUSDnig9c/s900/psa-80-19-ww-mf-9x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX6atABiJGCvtREMh5dWP2UtEAHhVqPwy6_3V4W7IkWUop4VOp0_FiWI8DIGjdCXNwQFwfbTRMb43GOPaMNEj6T28TnOXj18Kb2sTMMPMzRXyfnaKcgvGjGFvKwpBQfWSpp5eruka7iICrV7vU2hZzPMiTJK8IoQOO3RgWHtDWf8ziBYiNeUUSDnig9c/s320/psa-80-19-ww-mf-9x.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O
LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
(Psalm 80:18b-19)!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Turn
again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this
(Psalm 80:14) your Church in all nations, for Heritage, and for Community
Abundant Life Church, Covenant Community, Covenant Life, and Frontline Church.
Turn to us and be gracious to us; give your strength to your servants and save
the sons and daughters of your maidservant. Show us a sign of your favor that
those who hate us may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped us
and comforted us (Psalm 86:16-17). Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your
face shine, that we may be saved!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Consider,
O God, those who do not know you or have broken faith with you (…). Change
their hearts that they may confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts
you raised him from the dead, so that they may come to join with us in
worshiping and serving you; Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face
shine, that we may be saved!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
God, please refresh those who are weary; replenish those who are parched;
restore those who are bowled over; revitalize those who are vitiated; (…). On
their behalf and with them we pray; Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your
face shine, that we may be saved!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
God, we pray for our nation and leaders, including our Oklahoma State
Representatives. May we be directed and guided to protect the defenseless (born
and unborn) and to stand up and stand in for those who are oppressed. Profit
our businesses, grant our schools, colleges, universities, homeschools, private
schools and vocational schools to succeed in educating our students that they
may be well cultivated for the life ahead of them. Provide what is lacking for
this State. Furnish us with what we need to have for bountiful crops and
abundant livestock. We pray for our country; Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
God, please be with all world leaders and their countries. We pray that you
would re-establish order, solid infrastructures, medical establishments,
schools, and families in those places devastated by wars and rebellion. We pray
that you would have mercy on those desiccated by drought or drowning in floods;
those made paltry by famine or by inefficient food production. For the nations
and peoples of the world we pray; Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your
face shine, that we may be saved!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For Christ’s sake, give ear, O Shepherd of
Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim,
shine forth, and restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we
may be saved! And now we join all of
our requests together to pray as we have been taught: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-6870095394601346782024-02-23T11:28:00.001-06:002024-02-23T14:54:25.240-06:00Union with Christ - An Application<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUu8M3gHRKOZMBrRR9-wYujHnVarI66tgKhuXyH8ufKyrHd1x2PjzoPTg7RpepC0p3h1_cZJmor19Q_KpIvJLxoVgtzn4LOXhCffw-Pz47Ky_XYUfFqHkWed1q2WGbi0aksYAytdxcvzRXt10NebA1puKfTY8X-_7b9YVLD6-zFAh83bEdq7YigW7Apc/s1000/image-asset.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1000" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUu8M3gHRKOZMBrRR9-wYujHnVarI66tgKhuXyH8ufKyrHd1x2PjzoPTg7RpepC0p3h1_cZJmor19Q_KpIvJLxoVgtzn4LOXhCffw-Pz47Ky_XYUfFqHkWed1q2WGbi0aksYAytdxcvzRXt10NebA1puKfTY8X-_7b9YVLD6-zFAh83bEdq7YigW7Apc/s320/image-asset.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>(This was my weekly letter to my congregation on Wednesday, 21 February 2024)</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">This morning
in my devotional reading, I was working through 1 Corinthians 8. Though I’ve
read these words a huge number of times over the years, today one verse caused
me to stop and take stock. Paul wrote, “<i>Thus,
sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak,
you sin against Christ</i>” (1 Corinthians 8:12). What struck me is a couple of
things. First, in God’s saving work, we are – by grace alone – united (hitched,
bonded, ingrafted) to Christ so much so, that what happens to us happens to
him, and what is his becomes ours (think of Galatians 2:20, for example). As
Sinclair Ferguson put it, “through union with Christ all that is his by
incarnation becomes ours through faith” (“The Christian Life,” 110). Let that
percolate in your heart for a while. Your fear, anxiety, tears, and so forth,
he feels. And his “<i>Peace, be still</i>” is yours. Second, the way we treat one
another, is how we’re treating Christ. Let that sit in your head a moment or
two.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">As an
example of this last point, Samuel T. Logan, Jr. (an OPC minister and President
Emeritus at Westminster Theological Seminar-PA) makes a specific application of
our union with Christ regarding how we talk about fellow Christians; “Beyond
what we owe our neighbors simply out of charity, when we talk about other
professing Christians we are communicating something about the <i>Savior</i>
whose name we and they together bear…when we say anything about other professed
Christians, the total content of our remarks – both denotation and connotation
– gets applied, whether we intend it or not, to him whose name we share”
(Samuel T. Logan, Jr., “The Good Name: The Power of Words to Hurt or Heal,” 42,
44). Because of our union with Christ, the way we talk about or to one another
– fellow believers – is what we are saying about or to Christ. Yikes! That’s
simply one example.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">So, here is
where my mind went while thinking through that verse. One the one hand, Paul’s
point should set up a caution sign in our hearts when we are about to do
something selfish or sinful against a fellow Christian. “She’s united to Jesus.
If I do this to her, I’m doing this to him!” That’s a negative, but important,
recognition. On the other hand, you are so united to Christ that when you are
grieved, or wronged, or slandered, or worried – Jesus feels it himself, and so
identifies with you that he takes that on himself. But he also gives you
himself, his warmth, his peace, his consolation. It’s a heartwarming thought to
recall regularly.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">As
I end, all of the above helps us to see why Sinclair Ferguson says, “The great
temptation most of us face is to believe that very little has happened to us
through grace” (Ibid., 104).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Pastor Mike</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-40627612559632869722024-02-11T07:15:00.001-06:002024-02-11T07:15:09.747-06:00"O Lord, Mercifully Look Upon..." - 11 February 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijLp7-InhI90ZaAL7yftysNl1r89BezFHEJEC1tPx292x-43GwBQN081qsHJpTnfYACFxGOE0Q6gogkV66Ur3HNJDz7rOQnFPzCOTP-xAvWVK-rpTpm45WY-DxGYujR7tkn7ey5UvYCgay51QQTO3J0ok5xmq3ZRcyT8rzOPa6yOtuhFE_vcu3NqOzw/s3840/Acts-6-4-KJV-4k-nature-wallpaper-bible-I44006004-L07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijLp7-InhI90ZaAL7yftysNl1r89BezFHEJEC1tPx292x-43GwBQN081qsHJpTnfYACFxGOE0Q6gogkV66Ur3HNJDz7rOQnFPzCOTP-xAvWVK-rpTpm45WY-DxGYujR7tkn7ey5UvYCgay51QQTO3J0ok5xmq3ZRcyT8rzOPa6yOtuhFE_vcu3NqOzw/s320/Acts-6-4-KJV-4k-nature-wallpaper-bible-I44006004-L07.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving-kindnesses
have been from everlasting. You became man and stooped to endure crucifixion
and death for the salvation of all your people. You rose from the dead for our
justification, ascended into heaven, and sit at the right hand of the Father,
from whence you shall come to judge the living and the dead; and as our great
High Priest you regard the humble prayers of all who call upon you with their
whole heart. Incline your ear and hear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O
Lord mercifully look<i> </i>upon your Holy Universal Church, which you have
purchased with your precious blood, this congregation, and these churches in
the greater OKC area, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bridgeway, Calvary Chapel, Christ’s Covenant Fellowship, and City
Church; and also look upon your
servants who are under persecution for your sake and for the sake of your holy
gospel. Preserve your Church unconquerable by the gates of hell forever. Heal
the factions, quench the fuming of the God-haters, speedily uproot<i> </i>the weeds of heresy and bring those
heresies to nothing by the power of your Holy Spirit. Guide all ministers,
pastors, Bishops and presbyters of your Church. May they build up and
strengthen your people in all places, giving themselves faithfully to prayer
and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
Lord mercifully look<i> </i>upon those who hate us and despitefully use us.
Help us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those
who curse us, and to pray for those who abuse us (Luke 6:27-28). Assist us to
in submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for your sake, whether to the
President, or to governors, judges, or State legislators, as to those who are
sent by you for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do
good, so that by doing good we may silence the ignorance of foolish men (1
Peter 2:13-15). And assist all world rulers and civil authorities, so that
their leadership would advance toward peace and prosperity for all, as well as
safety and security for your people in their lands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
Lord mercifully look<i> </i>upon our parents, our spouses, our brothers and
sisters, our children, our relatives and our friends (…). Grant them your
blessings both here and hereafter; bring renewed healthiness to those relations
that are hurtfully ruptured; bring sanity and sober-mindedness to those who are
acting senselessly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
Lord mercifully look<i> </i>upon the aged, young, needy, orphans, foster kids,
widows, single parents, those in sickness and sorrow, distress and affliction,
oppression and captivity, prison and confinement, and especially these (…).
Remember, visit, strengthen, keep, and comfort them, and make haste to grant
them, by your power, relief, safety, freedom, or deliverance, as they may need. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">O Lord mercifully look<i> </i>upon those who
have never turned from their sins and believed in you, as well as those who
have departed from the true faith, having become dazzled by dissent and
deviation (…). Enlighten them by the
light of your Holy Spirit and bring them into the fold of your Holy Church. And now we join all of our requests together
to pray as we have been taught: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-90728609933696079842024-02-04T07:11:00.007-06:002024-02-04T07:11:44.455-06:00"Our Father, Who art in Heaven..." - 4 February 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90XT5wCZkDKxZWZGVy1uTnPxQdW5HuLdxQWoz3D8bRP1vjgkIS05efzhhuqnMBaMAgn2shu5GQtiWYqe0VVwCIS709_tY-R5r7UwBKHzNb-miIiyNM_6gDklgQUngO5ERQQvA4TmP6u-Psx5BZOVCJnLzWPnGdq-g1SGOZrf12QFzLrH5VDYPIyxWiVA/s400/712942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90XT5wCZkDKxZWZGVy1uTnPxQdW5HuLdxQWoz3D8bRP1vjgkIS05efzhhuqnMBaMAgn2shu5GQtiWYqe0VVwCIS709_tY-R5r7UwBKHzNb-miIiyNM_6gDklgQUngO5ERQQvA4TmP6u-Psx5BZOVCJnLzWPnGdq-g1SGOZrf12QFzLrH5VDYPIyxWiVA/s320/712942.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Drawn from the Heidelberg
Catechism on the Lord’s Prayer</span></i></b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our Father Who art in
heaven</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">: we come to you trusting and rejoicing that
you are our Father through Jesus Christ, and that you will answer us, as
promised, with as much readiness as, and more readiness than, our earthly
parents. And we trust that we may expect from your almighty power all things
necessary for body and soul. Hear us, Father, as we pray. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Hallowed be thy name</i></b>: Enable us rightly to know, reverence,
magnify, and praise you in all your works through which shine forth your power,
wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy, and truth; and likewise to so order our whole
life, in thought, word, and work, that your name may never be blasphemed but
honored and praised on our account. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Thy
kingdom come</i></b>: Preserve and increase your Church, to include this
congregation and these churches in the greater OKC area, </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Trinity UMC, Village, Wesley, and Del City
First Church of the Nazarene.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">
So govern us by your Word and Spirit that we may submit ourselves unto you
always more and more. Destroy the works of the devil; destroy every power that
exalts itself against you; and destroy all wicked devices formed against your
holy Word until the full coming of your kingdom where you shall be all in all. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Thy will be done in earth as it is in
heaven: </i></b>Grant that we and all people – the U.S.A., Oklahoma, the
nations and leaders of the world – may renounce our own will and yield
ourselves, without gainsaying, to your will, which alone is good; that so every
one may fulfill their task and calling as willingly and truly as the angels do
in heaven. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Give us this day our daily
bread:</i></b> Be pleased to provide for all our bodily need, and for those
down with the flu, COVID, stomach bug and respiratory illnesses, those ailing
and aged, those poor and penniless, and all in need, we pray (…). May we know
that you are the only fountain of all good, and so place that trust alone in
you. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>And forgive us our debts as we
forgive our debtors</i></b>: Be pleased, for the sake of Christ, to forgive our
transgressions and evils; and as we find this witness of your grace in us, may
our full purpose be to heartily forgive our neighbor. Lord, hear us as we now
mention those we need to forgive and those we need forgiveness from (…). Forgive
them, forgive us, and give us renewed willingness to forgive and pursue
reconciliation. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil</i></b>: Since we are so weak in ourselves
that we cannot stand even for a moment, while our deadly enemies—the devil, the
world, and our own flesh—assail us without ceasing; be pleased to preserve and
strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may stand firm against
them until we come off at last with complete victory! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">All this we ask of you,
because as our King who has power over all things, you are both willing and
able to give us all good, and thereby we long for your holy name to be
glorified now into eternity:<i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.</b></i><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">And now we join all of our requests together to pray as we have been
taught: </span><b style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></i></b></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-75489817289599327832024-02-03T11:14:00.005-06:002024-02-03T11:14:34.343-06:00"Sensitive Preaching to the Sexually Hurting" by Dr. Sam Serio. A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxDfKlJBOw2lvKRRa78Fwba4gYPnHOmRsOR0DgLUCqwD4bw2O5MssJN9srWTdxAeVbjBtZ_Fllue44BFKKMXTtEgkHTQPuV1BUtqGYKjVJcOtoYxx1pH_MtEDf4kOIuY2cdtJoNM7m3vLw75W2gspEQ9xJSrE18swNe6rptPXmIpavqlHh6MP2cVzzY/s445/41QCSrTivoL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxDfKlJBOw2lvKRRa78Fwba4gYPnHOmRsOR0DgLUCqwD4bw2O5MssJN9srWTdxAeVbjBtZ_Fllue44BFKKMXTtEgkHTQPuV1BUtqGYKjVJcOtoYxx1pH_MtEDf4kOIuY2cdtJoNM7m3vLw75W2gspEQ9xJSrE18swNe6rptPXmIpavqlHh6MP2cVzzY/s320/41QCSrTivoL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Many years back I was working with teenagers from all over a
west Texas city. After giving a Gospel presentation, talking about the Father’s
love for his people, and so forth, I dismissed the kids. But there was one
teenage girl left in the room, and she was weeping. I asked an older couple to
stay in the room at the back while I talked to her. When I sat down to see why
she was crying and maybe how I could help, her situation unfolded before me. My
talk about a Father’s love left her cold and crushed. Her father left her as a
child, and several of the adult males in her family (stepfather, uncle, etc.)
had abused her, both physically and sexually. I was face-to-face with the
outworkings of evil, the lasting damage it causes, and the way it keeps hearts
away from God and his love. With that experience in the back of my mind I was
delighted, and keenly interested, when I received “Sensitive Preaching for the
Sexually Hurting,” a 208-page softback published in 2016. The book is penned by
Dr. Sam Serio, an award-winning author, speaker and Christian minister. It is
straightforward, hard-hitting, and extremely practical.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though it is not a counseling book, but a preaching one, it
still has ramifications for pastoral counseling. Serio has strong words to say
to preachers that made me squirm but were very fitting. The whole aim of the
work unfolds in one direction: “The purpose of this book is to help you
communicate both warmth and wisdom when it comes to any and every topic
relating to sexuality” (17). Part of the author’s approach to equipping
preachers is to show how miserably we have failed in this area. Yet he doesn’t
leave us to wallow in our failure. Instead, once readers have gotten beyond the
initial soreness, he then shows how to address the sexually hurting, and the
hurters, in proper fashion. “You don’t have to say a lot, but you do have to
plan a lot” (44).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Serio works preachers through touchy subjects with skill. He
shows how to address the hurters in our pews. But then also how to offer hope
to the repentant. Then, with decisive care, how to approach the sexually hurting
with the balm of Gilead. “Your job is to make the offender feel bad, not the victim.
The victim should not be placed in the same sentence or category as the
victimizer” (113). The author gives how-to guidance when preaching about sex,
casual sex, abortion, sexual assault and rape, child sexual abuse, pornography,
same-sex attraction, and sexless marriages. It is packed with Scripture, and
how-tos for preaching these passages with the sexually hurting in mind, as well
as the predator. And the thoughtfulness of the writer, the wisdom in how to
approach these subjects and how often, is clear all along the way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sensitive Preaching to the Sexually Hurting” is a book that
should be read by every seminarian and minister under the sun. I’m grateful
that the author sent me a free copy to review. He offered me no brides and made
no demands. This evaluation is freely made and freely given. I highly recommend
the work, and truly do wish every Christian preacher and pastor would take it
up.</p><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-49959373120176983012024-02-03T09:40:00.007-06:002024-02-03T09:40:58.342-06:00"My First ABC Book of Bible Verses" by Jonathan Gibson. A Review.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7MiPQsmFoJFRkFHPHLGuYARN6aMBByNHEPTgy_qQ4mnMg7ubnwc-xJMoJ-r1j-0I5USlLi2bNLc2odQg6Bdf6f15W0Pf1kROqf90NMgEhOW9u90NO4Jg7H1vv6AOkJLiER79p7H3jJMr5cVgwTPPjJG7vmnF-5FBUoaDAp_TcSxc4XiAQIu_2EsxMbo/s640/My-First-ABC-Book-of-Bible-Verses-frontcover__96061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7MiPQsmFoJFRkFHPHLGuYARN6aMBByNHEPTgy_qQ4mnMg7ubnwc-xJMoJ-r1j-0I5USlLi2bNLc2odQg6Bdf6f15W0Pf1kROqf90NMgEhOW9u90NO4Jg7H1vv6AOkJLiER79p7H3jJMr5cVgwTPPjJG7vmnF-5FBUoaDAp_TcSxc4XiAQIu_2EsxMbo/s320/My-First-ABC-Book-of-Bible-Verses-frontcover__96061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Long ago I stumbled on the New England Primer of 1690. As it
goes through the alphabet for young minds, it has a specific letter and then a
short ditty. For example, under “A” it has, “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all.”
Very catchy for both teaching letters and Protestant theology. In a similar
way, Jonathan Gibson, minister in the International Presbyterian Church (UK), Associate
Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and
author, has compiled a snazzy kid’s book, “My First ABC Book of Bible Verses:
Big Truths for Little Minds”. It is brightly illustrated by Mike Mullan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the title indicates, the book follows the twenty-six
letters of the alphabet, one letter per page. But instead of using cute ditties
the letters are attended by a Bible verse at the top of the page. It’s all very
simple. For example, the radiantly displayed letter “A” has Isaiah 53:6
attending it, “<i>All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every
one—to his own way</i>.” The word “All” is highlighted to go with the first
letter of the alphabet. Or for the vibrantly exhibited letter “K” is a verse
about the kingdom (Matthew 19:14), “<i>Jesus said, “Let the little children
come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven</i>.”
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then at the bottom of each letter-page is a devotional thought
for the youthful readers. Taken altogether, these devotional thoughts are
clearly gospel-driven. For example, with the letter “A” it says, “Going our own
way not God’s way is what the Bible calls sin.” Then, with the letter “K” comes
this one, “Jesus loves you and wants you to come to him.” A parent or
grandparent could easily sit down with their wriggly little child – and their
short attention span – and use one letter a night before bedtime for twenty-six
evenings to help the kids get into the rhythm of family worship early on in
their life. And the radiant illustrations will recruit their eyes to stay attached
to what is happening. It would also be fitting – for memorization purposes – to
do one letter each week. Such as the letter “A” and it’s Bible verse every
night for the first week, and so forth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The illustrations are pretty broad. They include country
scenes, rockets, cattle, camping, brown kids, white kids, boys, girls, women,
men, and more. I think one would have to be very nitpicky to find fault with
the artwork. The pictures on each page will also add to the parent-child
interactions about each letter and the verse. For example, the letter “E”
emphasizes eternal life (John 3:16). There is a thorny crown hanging off the “E,”
but also raindrops falling and flowers growing. I could almost envision dad asking
the kids, “What’s that? Oh, it’s a crown of thorns, is it? Well, who wore a
crown of thorns? “Jesus did, yes, that’s right. What does this have to do with
our Bible verse? Oh yes, Jesus, God’s Son given to save us. Great job kids!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My only beef with the book – and it’s teeny - is that I
wished the letter “Q” would have stayed with the more traditional rendering of
Psalm 23:1. For whatever reason the author uses the Christian Standard Bible’s
version, which reads differently from the KJV, ESV, NKJV, etc. If for no other
reason, to help the kids and parents and grandparents use the same language and
cadence. There is a genuine catholicity (universality) in doing so that
transcends generational differences. But enough about that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I must say, this is a delightful-to-see-and-read kids book. “My
First ABC Book of Bible Verses” is one parents, grandparents, church nursery
coordinators, and others ought to get hold of and use. I highly recommend the
book.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My thanks to New Growth Press for asking me if I’d like to
review the book, and for sending me a free electronic copy for this appraisal.
They made no demands on me, other than that I’d give my own evaluation of the
work. Therefore, this review is freely made and freely given.</p><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-11369899252127388942024-01-28T15:08:00.004-06:002024-01-28T15:08:33.822-06:00Prayers for Mothers and Mourners, Bad Men, Overpowered and Oppressors. 28 January 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg569tHguhUIHsfEkS_SNPNCoTenNqjY2Wba5T04SoK5k7CbksBjhI0ISU-n1Pq4tFGY3Egb3oH0TVEKQP4L22uWv0qKbLcgFOTWyz3Bid5c9szj4KkCweAY4poDBEhyfYbLtkBiX0ftJ5LgV3h8eiJZ8HGj3m6JwlLjAWi62UtWq3mDQYoVzHIpVSK2tM/s640/anothermother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg569tHguhUIHsfEkS_SNPNCoTenNqjY2Wba5T04SoK5k7CbksBjhI0ISU-n1Pq4tFGY3Egb3oH0TVEKQP4L22uWv0qKbLcgFOTWyz3Bid5c9szj4KkCweAY4poDBEhyfYbLtkBiX0ftJ5LgV3h8eiJZ8HGj3m6JwlLjAWi62UtWq3mDQYoVzHIpVSK2tM/s320/anothermother.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">LORD God, to whom even the darkness is not dark; the
night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Who formed our
inward parts; knitted us together in our mother's wombs. We praise you, for we
are fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; our soul knows it
very well (Psalm 139:12-14). We remember those of our children and
grandchildren who are still being formed by your skillful hands in their
mother’s wombs (…). Smile on their gestation and may they each come forth
always trusting in you and your goodness. But we also remember before you those
who never saw the light of day, as well as those who quickly passed away (…). Thank
you for the little moment their mamas and daddies had with them. Thank you for
the brief kick or movement in their mother’s womb. We believe your Son when he
said the kingdom of heaven is heavily populated with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">brephas</i>, with pre-born and newborn children. Give soothing
stillness and healthful wholeness to their mothers and fathers. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">O Lord, hear our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sometimes
we recount that you are the LORD who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8), and it barely registers on our
hearts. But here we declare it and give you thanks for it! You are the God of
Noah who once got drunk and was shamed by his son. The God of Abraham who lied
about Sarah, and who tried to give you a hand through Hagar, messing up so
much. The God of Judah, who was self-serving; and Tamar, who once was cunningly
incestuous. You are the God of Rahab who refused to be held back by her sexual
trysts and ethnic lineage and courageously owned you as her God against all
odds. You are the God of Ruth who was a homeless immigrant. You are the God of
David, a man after your own heart who broke your heart in his murderous power
play, but you still loved him and turned him around. The God of Bathsheba who
betrayed her filial loyalty, and yet you made her an honorable woman. The God
who gladly brought your Son into the world, born of this bloodline, to save his
people from their sins! Truly you are the LORD who is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Shower your gracious mercy on
us; and turn around those who think they are just too far gone for you to save
(…). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">O Lord, hear our prayer.</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">O
LORD, a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those
who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken
those who seek you (Psalm 9:9-10). We pray for you to hear the cries of those
children oppressed by adults; those husbands and wives browbeaten by their
spouses; those men, women, girls and boys exploited by the powerful (…). As you
rescued your people from the heavy hand of Pharaoh, hear their cries and bring
them release and relief. And for the tormentors and toughs who try to
physically, emotionally, or verbally beat others into submission, we pray (…).
Bring them to their knees in repentance. And if they will not repent, then: “<i>Arise,
O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted…Break the arm of the
wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none</i>”
(Psalm 10.12, 15). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">O Lord, hear our
prayer.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-14455439100211398152024-01-28T07:20:00.006-06:002024-01-28T07:20:59.690-06:00"You Form Light and Create Darkness" - 28 January 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8lu2an-RnvSmh-mPGAozIA7tY_O_MwuFlAkpCT9qzc2Iy6n3Qefc87GGvdH3oC_n2HPMi7kcNkqcNp0n8xhGWox_iTqe2pR6fk74myZ5jWVDW-eYcF0_ReWkDygq2O41gzL-SkqtBEOiK4Ryq50jKYMHJZypziK51mXKL4r5KekV10hDH6xAQ9cE_e8/s711/Isaiah-45-5-KJV-bible-verse-wallpaper-iphone-I23045005-L03-TH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="400" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8lu2an-RnvSmh-mPGAozIA7tY_O_MwuFlAkpCT9qzc2Iy6n3Qefc87GGvdH3oC_n2HPMi7kcNkqcNp0n8xhGWox_iTqe2pR6fk74myZ5jWVDW-eYcF0_ReWkDygq2O41gzL-SkqtBEOiK4Ryq50jKYMHJZypziK51mXKL4r5KekV10hDH6xAQ9cE_e8/w313-h388/Isaiah-45-5-KJV-bible-verse-wallpaper-iphone-I23045005-L03-TH.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">You declared
through Isaiah that you are the LORD, and there is no other, besides you there
is no God; you equip people, even those who do not know you, so that folks may
know from one horizon to the other that you are the LORD. You form light and
create darkness; you make well-being and create calamity; you are the LORD, who
does all these things (Isaiah 45:5-7). It’s to you we pray:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Back when we
were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures
(Titus 3:3) you saved us according to your own mercy. In like manner, please
save those who trust in their own strength, those who walk in their own
darkness, those who are hostile and alienated from others and hostile and
alienated from you (…). As you have been our healer and helper in days past;
therefore, please restore and raise up those dealing with depression, dementia,
disease, debilitation, and distress (…). You have taken care of our needs and
provided for us in ordinary and extraordinary ways; please sustain those who
have no idea how they’ll make it through today, this month, or the next (…).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">When we were
beginning as a nation you stepped in repeatedly with your providential care,
brought success where there should have only been failure; victory in place of
defeat; good to flourish instead of evil. Therefore, we implore you to be with
our nation now, including all citizens, leaders, judges, legislators, and
executors. In the words of the old patriotic song, we pray: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">America!
America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from
sea to shinning sea. America! America! <u>God mend thine every flaw, confirm
thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law</u></span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Throughout
world history you have governed and directed all the nations of the earth,
given aid, brought rain on the good and the evil, directed migrations and
margins, feasts and famines, scarcity and surplus; therefore, please wield the
nations and national leaders. Make peace and civility to prevail between
countries and between fellow citizens and may all work for the betterment of
their people. Regarding those countries with mushrooming refugee camps and
migrant populations, we pray for clean drinking water, sanitary conditions,
food, health care, moral and communal stability, and a safe solution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through persecution, plague, prosperity, and
privilege you have exhibited your special providence for your church. Please
continue to be with her in all places, in North America, Oklahoma, this
congregation, along with St. Stephen’s UMC, Southern Hills, Spencer, and
Sunnylane UMC. May your people put away falsehood and speak the truth with each
other, for we are members one of another. When angry, may we not sin, so that
we may not give opportunity to the devil. May there be no corrupting talk
coming out of our mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the
occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. May we put away all
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander, along with all malice. May we be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as you in Christ
forgave us. May we be imitators of you, O God, as beloved children, and walk in
love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to you (Ephesians 4:25-5:2). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">All of these
requests we have mentioned we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our
Saving Lord. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">A</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">nd now we pray as we have been taught, saying, <b><i>Our Father…</i></b></span></p><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-54242424910185432002024-01-21T07:16:00.006-06:002024-01-21T07:16:58.811-06:00Seeking Wisdom Like Silver - 21 January 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlo0WKLzmsPksyAIAbrr-jjskcngPyXJNAosy7Ovy3KMS7p-_ELk77pP_YvfwBmZ_ZnpUaMvQ3fqJx8xTv8bppg2JmpG3JvvS2VN99ZkciyqWIPprF8vtU3srzxBsRZLYIdJ5r_tBtUrXB8U07RXVdxGiKmjvzVeLb_uOxGZfILR4s0J1HFqrBaKt_dQ/s300/proverbs2.6-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlo0WKLzmsPksyAIAbrr-jjskcngPyXJNAosy7Ovy3KMS7p-_ELk77pP_YvfwBmZ_ZnpUaMvQ3fqJx8xTv8bppg2JmpG3JvvS2VN99ZkciyqWIPprF8vtU3srzxBsRZLYIdJ5r_tBtUrXB8U07RXVdxGiKmjvzVeLb_uOxGZfILR4s0J1HFqrBaKt_dQ/s1600/proverbs2.6-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">All-knowing
God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; you have
taught us in Proverbs that if we seek wisdom like silver and search for it as
for hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of the LORD and find the
knowledge of God. For you give wisdom; from your mouth come knowledge and
understanding; you store up sound wisdom for the upright; you are a shield to
those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over
the way of your saints. (Proverbs 2:4-8). In this regard we pray for, and with,
these who are seeking wisdom:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">For those
making career decisions, we pray that you would guide them to places and
circumstances that will be truly good for them, personally, professionally,
parentally and with regard to piety. For those who are retired and moving
deeper into their senior years, we pray that you would show them how their
experiences and abilities may be well used to make disciples, build-up
families, and aid your world rescue operation. For those growing up, we pray
that you would steer them to mature as godly and healthy adults, and to walk in
your wise ways whether at home, college, work, the military, in relationships,
and in your church. For those who are widowed, divorced or have never been
married, we pray that you would fill them with life, hope, heart, joy and peace
as they live each day, and that they would flourish in your family. For those
who are married, we pray that you would help them in their relationships and
marriages; that their marriages would reflect Christ and the Church and be
splashing over with harmony, holiness, happiness and healthiness. For those
fraught with depression or trudging through a dry and weary land where there is
no water, we pray that you would show them the way up and out, raising them
from the gloom and keeping them from sinking into themselves. For those
crumbled down with poor health or encumbered with ongoing issues and treatments,
we pray that you would hold their heads above the water line. For those who are
pregnant and are being pressured to get an abortion, we pray that you would
place wholesome people and voices around them who will help them that they will
not seek life-ending solutions, but settle for the life of their child. For
your people on all seven continents, this congregation, and Quayle UMC, St.
Andrews, St. Mary’s CME, and St. Paul’s UMC, we pray that your Spirit of wisdom
and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the LORD, will
fill them with the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. We pray that your
Spirit will direct them away from all error into all truth; and will raise them
up to testify truly and clearly of Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For our country and all the nations of the
earth, we pray. Since righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to
any people, we pray that you would bring all states and realms to understand
righteousness, justice and equity, along with every good path, to progressively
embrace what is right, renounce what is wrong, and cultivate the good of all
people. All we ask in faith and Jesus’ name.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> A</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">nd
now we pray as we have been taught, saying, <b><i>Our Father…</i></b></span></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-77117558593576299982024-01-14T06:56:00.001-06:002024-01-14T06:56:05.997-06:00"Count It All Joy..." - 14 January 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G7NWGMEwF_-cbBym9T74J7AkwdyWujWSEu71eZybzVWwUS4_9yse94RL0bNQ5wlZQ8EX3XqZi3-mSuwdlj9FYkpGXi6B3mdukGndyDq3T2vRSOMSr4aHKpnqcQPDErbfomIcJ1c7gUY-Yoky4VVBk_8rtoeTb1X4SgVir5j8zlO85BNDHfHR6swvm5w/s400/wp-1461856937219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="400" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G7NWGMEwF_-cbBym9T74J7AkwdyWujWSEu71eZybzVWwUS4_9yse94RL0bNQ5wlZQ8EX3XqZi3-mSuwdlj9FYkpGXi6B3mdukGndyDq3T2vRSOMSr4aHKpnqcQPDErbfomIcJ1c7gUY-Yoky4VVBk_8rtoeTb1X4SgVir5j8zlO85BNDHfHR6swvm5w/s320/wp-1461856937219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Our help is in
the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Lord, please hear us and for Christ’s
sake answer us. O God Most High, who uses our trials and the testing of our
faith to bring about steadfast endurance in us (James 1:2-4), we ask you to
lift up those who are dispirited in body or mind, those who are grieved or
dreadfully disturbed with fear and anxiety, and those who are walking through
troubled times in home and health. We especially ask your care for these (…).
Grant them recovery, refreshment and some substantial sense of restored health.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O Lord of the
Harvest: have regard to the prayers of your servants in this congregation; send
us forth as laborers into your harvest; increase in us the Spirit of power,
love and a sound mind; strengthen us to endure hardships as good soldiers of
Jesus Christ; and grant that your Holy Spirit may prosper our work so that by
our life and doctrine we may show forth your glory and bring forward the
salvation of many. We ask that your hand would be on our Care Groups that they
will be enriching and invigorating; hearts will be mended; hopes will be
fortified; lives will be positively impacted; unbelievers and those who no
longer associate with your church will come, belong and believe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Look upon your
Church throughout the world, and on Nicoma Park UMC, Penn Ave Redemption UMC,
Piedmont First UMC and Putnam City UMC. Give all your comforting,
courage-inspiring aid. Strengthen your people in their longing to serve you
more faithfully, leading them away from the doctrines of demons to that which
is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, and cause them to succeed in
genuine godliness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">O Lord God, the
Almighty, the Most High, we plead with you to turn your face upon these United
States of America. Do not forsake us nor give us over to what we may deserve,
but instead turn us toward you, and spur us on to chastity, sobriety, virtuous
living, generosity and equanimity. Protect us from all enemies, foreign and
domestic, and guide our governmental leaders to remember and return to their
vocation “</span><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.” And guide
our President, Mr. Biden, to be true to his Presidential oath of office, to
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution; that to the best of his ability
he would not neglect his duty, and to the best of his ability he would not go
beyond his duty, by the help of God! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, we implore your kindest care and
compassion on the nations of our world, especially where there is so much that
upsets and alarms. All we ask because you have invited us to pray and promised
to hear. And we ask in faith and in Jesus’ name.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> A</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">nd
now we pray as we have been taught, saying, <b><i>Our Father…</i></b></span></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-68635652354250407862024-01-07T07:02:00.008-06:002024-01-07T07:02:49.691-06:00For the New Year - 7 January 2024<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6XS7NEjAJTHOd1TjAckSMt3O8tRUJXSvkZ_JY_D5nFPKDiNV6DwRZtxoYD8PBt68Iil25IC6mLurgHav5r4KhU2imXf1z8ywahCjCi0kgc5JwUdsD4O5reASyHqPj3QBd1FSVafU5PsC1zUrrXyzxmMiAGuXOBVxxaIZ3Ecor1B11lNbPdfDAFpir4k/s720/proverbs-16-9-english.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="720" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6XS7NEjAJTHOd1TjAckSMt3O8tRUJXSvkZ_JY_D5nFPKDiNV6DwRZtxoYD8PBt68Iil25IC6mLurgHav5r4KhU2imXf1z8ywahCjCi0kgc5JwUdsD4O5reASyHqPj3QBd1FSVafU5PsC1zUrrXyzxmMiAGuXOBVxxaIZ3Ecor1B11lNbPdfDAFpir4k/s320/proverbs-16-9-english.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Almighty
God, <i>though a man’s heart plans his ways, it is you who directs his steps</i>
(Proverbs 16:9). Therefore, we pray for this world, your church, and ourselves
for this new year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lord
God, as we plan our ways and means for this year, guide us step-by-step. May
our confidence in you increase throughout 2024. May we come to know you more
than ever before, love you more deeply than we have in the past, and serve you
with greater enjoyment and enthusiasm. May we have eyes to see you doing great
things, even in the modest and mundane moments. May we have hearts and voices
ready to rejoice in your great goodness, even if the wind gets kicked out of
us. May we be known as a people who enjoy making much of you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We
ask you to alleviate the suffering, anguish and anxiety of those who are in
dire need of your healing or help (…). For all of them we ask you to restore
them by filling them with your unsurpassable peace to guard their hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus and give them rock-hard reasons to have hope in you through
all their trials and troubles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Please
look upon our country and its leadership. Maintain our liberties and guide us
all (Magistrates and the masses) along the path of your truth and
righteousness. Also, for the nations of our world and the leaders of the
nations, we pray. O dear God, for the glory of your Name, for the good of your
Church and for the wellbeing of all, we plead with you to reinstate peace and
order where there is only war and chaos; and to build strong justice and hope
in the more stable countries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">O
Lord, we pray for your Church in all places, for this congregation, and for </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mustang
UMC, New Covenant, New Life, and Nichols Hills UMC.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
You have promised that those whom you love you reprove and discipline
(Revelation 3:19). Please do help us all, by your love, and by your reproof and
discipline, that we may truly be a people saturated and flourishing in your
graciousness. That we would love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we would eschew
evil and error. Bring us to be a special people who are zealous for good works.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Finally,
we plead for the salvation, transformation and rescue of those who have never
believed in your Son and have never turned away from their sins. And we pray
for the restoration of those who have strayed away from you (…). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All of these requests we have mentioned, and
those that have remained silently in our hearts, we ask in the name of, and by
the authority of, Jesus Christ, your Son and our saving Lord.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> A</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">nd we pray as we have been taught, saying, <b><i>Our
Father…</i></b></span></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-16522391957938932672024-01-06T18:49:00.006-06:002024-01-06T18:49:56.797-06:00“Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for the Life of Friendship” by Justin Whitmel Earley. A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PCTdG390wWEGfMwKNvMVs8dXj0ynElwITZr02I24LUJAWfWd6KH1zAbRpyhl2UtyDTBrDXh_naDyuHMRiaN0jOlNFapG19CcHXy7AR81g2uaAVYVwrYtLz0FocyDyZBc1sAydUd5heBorWiI9SrO2LOlTN5heDa_EQ51n68WJ_VlfAjIvpsDNDLCVw4/s522/IMG_0369.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PCTdG390wWEGfMwKNvMVs8dXj0ynElwITZr02I24LUJAWfWd6KH1zAbRpyhl2UtyDTBrDXh_naDyuHMRiaN0jOlNFapG19CcHXy7AR81g2uaAVYVwrYtLz0FocyDyZBc1sAydUd5heBorWiI9SrO2LOlTN5heDa_EQ51n68WJ_VlfAjIvpsDNDLCVw4/s320/IMG_0369.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p><p>Recently, I wrote in a <a href="http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2024/01/countercultural-pushing-back-against.html" target="_blank">weekly letter to my congregation</a> how we are in moment in American history that divides and isolates. Several news sources are picking up on this reality, and so are plenty of smart, accredited people. Unfortunately, the divide and isolate pressure has been with us since the Fall (Genesis 3) and Cain murdering his brother, Abel (Genesis 4). But thankfully, Jesus comes as the remedy to divide and isolate (Ephesians 2:11-22). Therefore, by the grace of God, we have been empowered to push back hard against a divisive, isolating culture that is pushing hard against us. And I would say that Justin Whitmel Earley’s 256-page softback, “Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship,” is a big help in pushing back. It’s a straightforward read, easy to digest, and practical as can be.</p><p>Earley gets right to his point in the opening pages, “chronic loneliness is more dangerous to your health than smoking fifteen cigarettes a day…it’s not the body that’s killing us, it’s the lonely soul that’s killing the body” (10). From there, the author moves through Scripture, keeping God’s story as the main guidepost, and takes the readers through ten pieces that are for the “art and habit of friendship.” He describes vulnerability, honesty, covenant, forgiveness, invitation, geography, time, communication, memory and worship are all integral parts to building healthy, lasting, soul-enriching friendships.</p><p>Almost the whole way I kept thinking, “Yeah, I know that. I do that. I know that’s right.” In other words, most of what Earley will write is not a “Eureka!” kind of material. It’s actually very intuitive, much of which you learned on the playground in Kindergarten. But there are places when the author broaches into areas that will likely cause you to pause and think, and think hard. For example, when talking about geography as important to keeping friendships, he lays out seven habits of proximity (149-153). Instead of allowing your job to dictate where you live, his list of seven habits will likely guide you into a healthier decision. There’s more, here-and-there, so you won’t be bored.</p><p>As I was reading “Made for People” it jogged my memory, and I began to think about a dear friend of mine who lives in West Virginia (I live in Oklahoma). I hadn’t heard from him in a while, and I know he’s going through a very rough patch presently. So I put down the book and texted my friend, “Hey, we’re friends. Friends chat. Let’s set up a time to talk next week.” Happily, he responded back and we’ll connect in the next couple of days. That’s the kind of valuable thing this book does. You need to snag a copy and pour over it immediately. In fact, grab copies for you and a few friends, read it together, and talk it over. Your friendships will be better for it, and you’ll be pushing back hard against a divisive, isolating culture that is pushing hard against us. As the author notes, “Friendship will save the world because that is what God, the redeemer of all things, is doing in the world. He is making us friends and sending us out to call the world into that friendship” (232). I highly recommend the book.</p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-1086452162280557072024-01-03T13:25:00.009-06:002024-01-05T10:10:48.759-06:00Countercultural - Pushing Back against Divide and Isolate.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSS2KYf_X5ilzqRmxNsAblZFlVMAdJ5PrbR6VMe2BjPvYcMnHkdCzaADkdYaAA4e7-BqKRxF4Xny9ASMRaqx_ivACI7GYB0msUHhSfDtKYfkCgdsl3F6VKAKAM4cOj2QPoTg-3omoM4MLPFodvNyRlm0zVPSl_U8qaIxm3lhj_9uVntvOMxigCjZghrc/s1500/Multi-generational+Friendships.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSS2KYf_X5ilzqRmxNsAblZFlVMAdJ5PrbR6VMe2BjPvYcMnHkdCzaADkdYaAA4e7-BqKRxF4Xny9ASMRaqx_ivACI7GYB0msUHhSfDtKYfkCgdsl3F6VKAKAM4cOj2QPoTg-3omoM4MLPFodvNyRlm0zVPSl_U8qaIxm3lhj_9uVntvOMxigCjZghrc/s320/Multi-generational+Friendships.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(This is from my letter to my congregation today, 3 January 2024)</div> <div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">You may recall that late last year I made available an article I ran across from <i>The Atlantic</i> titled “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/11/friendship-different-generations-ages/676105/" target="_blank">Your Friends Don’t All Have to Be the Same Age</a>”. It caught my attention because of trends that I have been seeing in the larger church, and even in our own denomination. It’s that we’re circling the wagons, limiting our relationships to those who are within our age group. “Most Americans don’t seem to have much age diversity in their friendships. A 2023 study found that, for a group of young adults ages 21 to 30, more than 80 percent of the people in their social circles, not counting relatives, were born within five years of them. Even looking at a broader age range, nearly 63 percent of adults don’t have any close friends who are at least 15 years older or younger than them…” One of the results is a growing social segregation and an ever-increasing isolation.<br /><br />Then, on 20 December 2023, I was listening to <i>The Economist</i> as they summarized the news of the day. There was a piece called “2023 in Review: the Rise of the Hermit Consumer”. My interest was piqued. As I listened to this short article, the final statement deeply concerned me, “covid may have made people genuinely more hermit-like: people are spending less on social activities and more on solitary pursuits. Covid’s biggest legacy, it seems, has been to pull people apart.” (You can find a longer report from which the "Review" was taken by looking at "<a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/10/22/welcome-to-the-age-of-the-hermit-consumer" target="_blank">Welcome to the Age of the Hermit Consumer</a>" at <i>The Economist.)</i><br /><br />Both of these articles point out indications that something is amiss in our society. There is a growing trend toward separation, and also isolation. And I have been talking about this trend for most of 2023 and beyond. Clearly, this is not a surprise. One of the immediate consequences of the Fall (Genesis 3) is just this: division and loneliness (Genesis 4). And when you fast-forward to the New Testament you find it is a major problem that the Gospel of Jesus breaks into and brings a remedy to. When Paul was writing to the Ephesians church, he mentions the seclusion and polarization of the day, how Jews and Gentiles were ripped apart and stood opposed to each other (sometimes violently). Then comes the Gospel, where “<i>in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father</i>” (Ephesians 2:13-18).<br /><br />Our Lord Jesus comes and reverses Genesis 3 AND 4 in himself. And this has consequences for us, it has remedial consequences, life-giving consequences, communal consequences. Where the trend of worldliness is to divide and isolate, Jesus draws us to himself together. He puts us on God’s good side (justification) together. He cleans us up and builds us up together. <br /><br />Some of the grace-empowered results of what our Lord has done is to help us push hard against a divisive, isolating culture that is pushing hard against us. This means we, by God’s grace, want to be together. We want to enjoy brothers and sisters who are different from us, younger or older than us. We want to get out of our natural groupings to be the people Christ saved us to be. We want to get out of our isolation – reinforced and reified as it is by suburbia and social media – and be involved and engaged with each other in person. So, part of being countercultural, we should be taking real, tangible steps to work out the effects of the Gospel:<br /></span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Take active steps to make friends with people in our church who are not in your age group.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Nurture real friendships within our congregation.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Play board games together, or go hiking together, or simply invite folks over to your house and share a fireplace together.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t sit around waiting for the others to take the first step but take the risk (all healthy relationships are a risk) and initiative.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite someone beyond your normal group of associates out to coffee, tea, lunch. And simply get to know them. Ask them, “What can I pray about for you?” And then set up a follow-up time to see how things are going.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Consider who it is in our congregation that you don’t know and jump in there and get to know them.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">The worldly trend is to divide and isolate. By the grace of God poured out on you in the Gospel of God, push hard (together) against the divisive, isolating culture that is pushing hard against you.<br /> <br /><br />Pastor Mike</span><p></p></div>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-69664413737620959322023-12-31T08:02:00.003-06:002023-12-31T08:02:51.525-06:00"The Lord God Almighty, Who Was and Is and Is to Come" - 31 December 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxd2rGvIeybKIPA3cYTMnhNl0EJJAFGifdFjMzpoNaOc03npQbG76ajwAyShF_2uwAWTBIbwBiquC36vTTLu5NDWM-pKzZmaDCfmlzHIWMMR5MA_w1zF9Yho5ijdTWqNdGGcD5Vpct7yYijCpbg2y9EsH8clin9RORbLpiki66au9JGkfV0pKBqzgH8g/s225/images%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxd2rGvIeybKIPA3cYTMnhNl0EJJAFGifdFjMzpoNaOc03npQbG76ajwAyShF_2uwAWTBIbwBiquC36vTTLu5NDWM-pKzZmaDCfmlzHIWMMR5MA_w1zF9Yho5ijdTWqNdGGcD5Vpct7yYijCpbg2y9EsH8clin9RORbLpiki66au9JGkfV0pKBqzgH8g/s1600/images%20(1).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We
add our voices to the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders who worship you,
saying: “<i>Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is
to come! … “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and
power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were
created</i>” (Revelation 4:8b, 11). Glory to you, Lord God, Most High!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lord
Jesus, who loves your church, and cherishes each local, particular
congregation; we pray for your church in all places, including this fellowship,
and all of our sister churches in Oklahoma: Redeemer-Edmond, City Pres., King’s
Cross, Christ the King, 1<sup>st</sup> Reformed in Minco, Grace in Stillwater,
Shawnee Pres., Christ Presbyterian in Tulsa and Claremore, Grace and Peace,
Three Rivers, RiverOaks, and Trinity-Owasso. Bring us ever closer to you, draw
us ever upward that we may always reach outward. Through us bring to light what
is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in you who created all things; and
may your manifold wisdom be made known to the rulers and authorities in the
heavenly places. And may we be a display of your eternal purpose that is
realized in Christ Jesus our Lord; in whom we have boldness and access with
confidence through our faith in him. (Ephesians 3:9-12). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lord,
who resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6); we recall your
wholesome words that retell to us that “<i>When pride comes, then comes
disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom</i>” (Proverbs 11:2); that “<i>Pride
goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall</i>” (Proverbs
16:18); and that you “<i>dwell … with him who is of a contrite and lowly
spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the
contrite</i>” (Isaiah 57:15). Therefore, may we all be known as your humble people,
gentle and lowly in heart like our Lord Jesus (Matthew 11:29). And may our
politicians and policymakers be humble rather than haughty and hoity-toity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Father,
we ask your preserving care to be over all of our folks and our family who are
travelling now to get back to their homes. And, Father, there are some who are
sick; some recovering from surgery; and others quietly dealing with growing
physical limitations (…). In each of these conditions you remind us that we are
mortal, and not gods or supermen. Thank you, Father, for the reminder. In every
discomfort and displeasure that comes we know that in some way they are good
reminders from you, our loving Father.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In
every nation throughout our world, please set up good governments that will
seek to be fair, where the leaders will care more for the welfare of their
people than lining their own pockets or securing their own power. And in those lands where your people are being
hounded and harassed, we pray that you would show your people a sign of your
favor, that those who hate them may see and be put to shame because you, LORD,
have helped your people and comforted them (Psalm 86:17). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, we call to mind family, friends, neighbors, co-workers,
enemies, and acquaintances who have not confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and
continue to walk in darkness; as well as those who have turned away from the
Christian Faith (…). Save them, O Lord, in your great mercy! And now we join hearts and voices together to pray as he
taught us, saying, </span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-47684873070098056772023-12-28T09:57:00.003-06:002023-12-28T09:57:37.860-06:00"Daniel: God's Kingdom Will Endure" by Wendy Widder. A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1I1ap3CYAmUUFZnNVyp-rvNNGNKiBBH3fK7pYIRPZsKnW4TiATkQ5Eb7drdd2Mstgb9PW-w2F7cJzB98IezE10DMtql_PxFwVxTy-IYbHVP5LiXOBrGc_fx6FGK9ZmKvXmCZKlVGQgWLvziGwzBbol57tolPimAwaSVNTiJKIJ004GN-RiU33cwTBvo/s441/41umOsik53L._SX342_SY445_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1I1ap3CYAmUUFZnNVyp-rvNNGNKiBBH3fK7pYIRPZsKnW4TiATkQ5Eb7drdd2Mstgb9PW-w2F7cJzB98IezE10DMtql_PxFwVxTy-IYbHVP5LiXOBrGc_fx6FGK9ZmKvXmCZKlVGQgWLvziGwzBbol57tolPimAwaSVNTiJKIJ004GN-RiU33cwTBvo/s320/41umOsik53L._SX342_SY445_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It has been said that John Calvin preached and taught through
every book of the Bible except one. He avoided <i>The Apocalypse</i> because of
how much heat and conflict it generated. I’ve felt that way for years regarding
Daniel. But then I found Wendy Widder’s 608-page commentary on Daniel, and
jumped in. Widder, an author, teacher, and scholar, has compiled a detailed
study of this ‘Major’ prophet called “Daniel: God’s Kingdom Will Endure” which
is part of Zondervan’s <i>Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament: A
Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible</i> (ZECOT). Because of her style,
attention to language details and intertextual flavors, she has pulled together
a valuable, readable tome that is friendly to preachers, Bible teachers, and
the person who simply wants to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The format is fairly standard for the ZECOT series. Each chapter
gives the main idea of the passage, takes in the literary context, presents a
translation and outline, shows the structure, explains the passage, and then
concludes with an application section. That standard format helps to keep the
reading flow moving along, while allowing readers to stay “in the game.” It’s
easy to pick up at any place in the volume, figure out quickly where you are,
and get right into the middle of things. And with large margins, one can jot down
plenty of personal notes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Widder is a gentle writer. She makes her position clear but
doesn’t sass those who might disagree. Rather, she invites the reader into her work
to see how her perspective is not what matters most, but that this biblical
prophet is God’s word to his people, especially when they walk through dire
times. For example, after she states that Daniel records real events that
happened to a real Daniel, she makes her case why this book might have been
compiled long after Daniel had passed from the scene, even including <i>vaticinium
ex eventu</i> prophecies (spoken of after the event). Then she states that she
does not “consider these issues critical to understanding the meaning and
significance of the book” (31). True to her stated conclusion, rarely does her after-the-fact
outlook intrude into the comments. For Widder, however Daniel came together, it
is God’s word to God’s people. And of that the author is certain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Though I might disagree with some of her conclusions here and
over there, nevertheless she eased my apprehensions and drew me into this
biblical book. And my time there, with Widder, was deeply profitable. I came
away firmly reminded that no matter who is governing, no matter how egotistical
and arrogant they might be, no matter how much they may claim the throne of God
for themselves, no matter how much adversity may assault the people of God, no
matter what happens on the world scene with all of its raging and storming,
God’s kingdom will endure. “We are part of a greater story that God is writing
as he brings history to its consummation under the earthly rule of his Anointed
One” (540), and “God cares about and is in control of every detail of history”
(541). While reading her commentary, I decided that it was time for me to overcome
my reticence and preach a sermon series at my church on Daniel. And the author
helped me to see that 2024 was the time, and I have a good source to use as I
take on this high adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Daniel: God’s Kingdom Will Endure” from the ZECOT series, is
just the right book! Perfect for that preacher you wished would teach or preach
through Daniel, and not get lost in all the fanciful interpretations that
include Apache Helicopters and the Trilateral Commission. It is also a useful
resource for seminary and Christian academic libraries. And this coming year is
the ideal season to pick it up and prayerfully work through it, because no
matter who is governing, no matter how egotistical and arrogant they might be, no
matter how much they may claim the throne of God for themselves, no matter how
much adversity may assault the people of God, no matter what happens on the
world scene with all of its raging and storming, God’s kingdom will endure. I
highly recommend the commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My thanks to Zondervan for sending me a free copy of the
commentary for this review. They made no demands on me. They offered me no
bribes. No one was held hostage, and no animals were harmed. Therefore, this evaluation
is all mine, freely written and freely given.</span></p><p></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-47558435826549777502023-12-24T07:34:00.003-06:002023-12-24T07:34:39.766-06:00"Glory Be to God on High" - 24 December 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11ZNQRwUmHujY_duu67iFemKwnqyEqM97hyphenhyphenW-QkjSqHSYzmzRBcPvk-xuK2_sL504dh1Ie8CiDDlpNMzixdbI12wXak7xS4ghoq5B6myt36mC8D_-fUqdi4uH2zBQI-vuTgiDoqtqnNFWAfiy6t0iqdpnkyUBdHz60zq6b7kCqugnfl7G4c1tsfOqcwk/s1600/Christmas-Eve-2010-0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11ZNQRwUmHujY_duu67iFemKwnqyEqM97hyphenhyphenW-QkjSqHSYzmzRBcPvk-xuK2_sL504dh1Ie8CiDDlpNMzixdbI12wXak7xS4ghoq5B6myt36mC8D_-fUqdi4uH2zBQI-vuTgiDoqtqnNFWAfiy6t0iqdpnkyUBdHz60zq6b7kCqugnfl7G4c1tsfOqcwk/s320/Christmas-Eve-2010-0481.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Glory
be to God on high: and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise you, we
bless you, we worship you: we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great
glory!<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Great
King and Sovereign look upon our country and the peoples of this world; watch
over the plans and intentions of our Oklahoma State Senators and representatives,
our national legislators, and every world leader. May all come to know your
peace on earth by becoming men and women of goodwill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
God of armies send forth your angels to preserve and protect our greater
Oklahoma City area firefighters, police officers, Sheriffs, deputies, and
Troopers, and our military members, particularly those who are close to danger,
at home or abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Yahweh
Rapha, Lord our healer, sustain and direct our doctors, PAs, nurses, First
Responders, and specialists – especially those who are on call or working through
Christmas. Thank you for their help and availability and may they know they are
appreciated and that their work is good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
LORD who hears our prayers, sees our tears, and is the One who heals us (1
Kings 20:5); there are many who are arrested by tragedy, unbearable conditions,
physical and mental anguish, and privations; and there are several who are
carrying around the scars of deep sadness and grief, and we pray for them (…).
Please raise them up, delivering and restoring them, hip and thigh, body and
soul, inside and out, that by your sympathy they may find good cheer in your Son
and happily and freely serve you through the rest of their days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O
LORD, who invites all to seek you while you may be found; to call upon you
while you are near; who invites the wicked to forsake his way, and the
unrighteous his thoughts; who beckons all to return to you, so that you may
have compassion on them and abundantly pardon them (Isaiah 55:6-7): by your
Spirit’s enlivening, turn around the hearts and lives of those who have
consistently rejected you that they would embrace Christ Jesus freely offered
to us in the Gospel. And may the visual and verbal reminders of this season, like
Christmas carols and Yuletide ornaments that clearly announce the coming of
your Son, have a happy part in arousing their hearts and attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">O
our God, our rock, in whom we take refuge, our shield, and the horn of our
salvation, our stronghold and our refuge, our Savior who saves us from violence
(2 Samuel 22:3); help your Church in this world, this congregation, and Lakeside
UMC, Lambuth, Mary Lee and Mayfair Heights UMC: </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>O come, thou
Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that
leads on high, And close the path to misery.</i>” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Hear our Prayer, O LORD; and let our cry come
to you, because of your Son, Jesus. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And now we join
hearts and voices together to pray as he taught us, saying, </span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-83599087460589660062023-12-18T12:52:00.001-06:002023-12-18T12:52:32.666-06:00Jay Sklar on "Beyond Outrage"<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHTrc_s6MV6LtS51bV7FesuLipVzw44R6-bebYh7gJXp7LjO9rbKjUI9HHwFwrRer6BYX5UmVy3JBX5ee7Z08s8ag607-ilOWuYlJkzZpc8u_KlbpmTAZIsEyqnoktuPWaLXj0rPLB7J2z1s43Ag8fntuxaXHhOQCd48hST7FJVibPSg1OhIR6dMq6FI/s466/61PoYy8hhbL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHTrc_s6MV6LtS51bV7FesuLipVzw44R6-bebYh7gJXp7LjO9rbKjUI9HHwFwrRer6BYX5UmVy3JBX5ee7Z08s8ag607-ilOWuYlJkzZpc8u_KlbpmTAZIsEyqnoktuPWaLXj0rPLB7J2z1s43Ag8fntuxaXHhOQCd48hST7FJVibPSg1OhIR6dMq6FI/s320/61PoYy8hhbL._SY466_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><br /><br />Recently, Jay Sklar, Old Testament prof. at Covenant Theological Seminary, read and reviewed "<a href="https://a.co/d/h014ih7" target="_blank">Beyond Outrage</a>". Here's what he wrote:<br /><br />"I remember once saying to a physical therapist, “I’ve been trying this new exercise. It requires me to lie on my back and raise my leg in an awkward way. The problem is that every time I do it, I feel tis funny pain in my back. What should I do to avoid the pain?” The physical therapist looked at me and said, “Stop doing the exercise.”<p></p><p><br />I share tis story to illustrate that simple common sense can help us avoid much pain and aggravation. Michael Philliber's book, Beyond Outrage, is full of such advice.</p><p><br />Philliber’s target is the outrage that so often plays out in our lives in response to media, whether social or more traditional forms. While noting that certain things should lead to outrage, he also shows how much of the outrage today we experience is unnecessary and could be avoided if we remember a few simple principles. These include: “accusation does not mean guilt,” “don’t ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence,” and several more.</p><p><br />The book is well-researched but short, reads easily, and is full of helpful stories, examples, and illustrations. This would be a great book for a book club or church education class to go through, and of course for anyone who finds that media often leads them to a place of anger. Philliber gives the reader the necessary tools, not simply to get beyond outrage, but to avoid it in the first place."</p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-18757210516159253212023-12-18T12:45:00.006-06:002023-12-18T12:45:59.156-06:00Jay Sklar on "Our Heads On Straight"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPgWwHJXViNnQpHKgS-BRuw00eCoypE6dircQ_tg5TxAMgk8XdPiORG9cpuXmsSwG1HtPjHAtsUETC0eiGid1rPcLguFxftUpH_obxQlEVyUCOK5ke8y8zy46AMT-mAW-Bs03-JpuUq47g8DxYyqGyOQQHRhVh1VXOnl9zBvtikGSEv9MD_aybJmitHo/s445/51BjFYBhWcL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPgWwHJXViNnQpHKgS-BRuw00eCoypE6dircQ_tg5TxAMgk8XdPiORG9cpuXmsSwG1HtPjHAtsUETC0eiGid1rPcLguFxftUpH_obxQlEVyUCOK5ke8y8zy46AMT-mAW-Bs03-JpuUq47g8DxYyqGyOQQHRhVh1VXOnl9zBvtikGSEv9MD_aybJmitHo/s320/51BjFYBhWcL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><span data-offset-key="erct-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what Jay Sklar, Old Testament professor at Covenant Theological Seminary, said about "<a href="https://a.co/d/5mh99iW" target="_blank">Our Heads on Straight</a>": </span></span><p></p><p><span data-offset-key="erct-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">"The New Testament commands and commends “sober-mindedness” for Christians—far more often than I ever realized. What does that mean? What should it look like? Philliber provides a helpful, pastoral answer to those questions, defining sober-mindedness as “having your head on straight” and showing what that should look like in the Christian life today. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-offset-key="erct-1-0" style="font-family: inherit;">The</span></span><span data-offset-key="erct-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"> chapters are short and each focused on one aspect of sober-mindedness. In a few places, the connection to the book’s overall theme does not seem overly tight, but the book as a whole is a series of wonderful meditations on this important (but often overlooked) theme. (I would also note that he applies this theme in a subsequent book, Beyond Outrage, to the topic of how we interact with media—social or traditional—today. It is an excellent read!)"</span></span></p><p><span data-offset-key="erct-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm so very grateful for his kind words!</span></span></p><p><span data-offset-key="erct-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">Mike</span></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-61466070072528686722023-12-17T07:02:00.003-06:002023-12-17T07:02:23.613-06:00"Blessed Are You, O Sovereign Lord...." - 17 December 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQPZ2fABCcWou24roap4UngyKyHhJ3jeVP1cW4taC0vE2gE-X940QYtV7yeL8IwIjAtF2IO3J8eNPe9IiSErqr5UEr70-0s3ltBUDdmtDXxUPIBtyAQp5Jz_Ohzk8o9SbZEQ0SFB7TWWTGP82duefmKiYsSnAXZQU4OVx-F7x3vrVfmk7C6WKPSx1Sek/s585/advent-wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="585" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQPZ2fABCcWou24roap4UngyKyHhJ3jeVP1cW4taC0vE2gE-X940QYtV7yeL8IwIjAtF2IO3J8eNPe9IiSErqr5UEr70-0s3ltBUDdmtDXxUPIBtyAQp5Jz_Ohzk8o9SbZEQ0SFB7TWWTGP82duefmKiYsSnAXZQU4OVx-F7x3vrVfmk7C6WKPSx1Sek/s320/advent-wreath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Blessed are you, O
Sovereign Lord, God of our ancestors: to you be praise and glory forever. You
called the patriarchs and matriarchs to live by faith and to journey in the
hope that you are the God of your word. May we, similarly, be obedient to your call,
be ready and watchful to receive your Son and live forward in hope-filled trust
and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Thank you that in the
fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, born under the law, born
into a low condition, who underwent the miseries of this life. Therefore, we
implore you to look in on those who find this time of year a grief and hardship
due to painful memories, sorrowful losses, adversarial family relations, broken
promises, and impending privations. May the Gospel-hope ricocheting around the
walls and halls in the Christmas carols, lift their hearts and faces to look up
to you and rejoice in Spirit-birthed confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As your Son was born in a
time of great conflict, of oppression, of “might-makes-right,” of faith and
religion used as a moralizing machete, of frustrated national ambitions, of
revolt and rebellion, and he came as the beginning of a new way of being human;
we entreat you to hear the weeping of those who are in despair; see the
blood-splattered walls and streets; take notice of the horrors in our world;
and guide the directions, decisions and dealings of earth’s leaders. In the
words of Jeremiah, may they do “<i>justice and righteousness, and deliver from
the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence
to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood</i>”
(Jeremiah 22:3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We are grateful that the
Word, who was with God and was God, became flesh and dwelt among us, and that
even from his infancy grace and truth came through him. We pray for your Church
in all places, we pray for this congregation, as well as Christ UMC, 1<sup>st</sup>
UMC in OKC and Yukon, Goodrich, and Korean 1<sup>st</sup> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">UMC<b>. </b></span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Preside over</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> your Church with your
protection and direction; </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">prevail within</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> your Church to remove
all heresies and schisms, to build up holy unity, and to foster wholesome compassion;
and </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">project
from</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> your Church the
hope of that first Christmas, all wrapped in swaddling cloths, laid in a manger
and announced in angelic splendor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">And, Father, your Son was
born at the end of tiring travels and journeys. It reminds us to pray for those
travelling and soon to be travelling. Keep them safe and sound going and
coming. And finally, please turn our family gatherings into times of pleasure
and peace. May that crabby Uncle, ornery Auntie, sour parent, angry adult
child, or offended sibling be overcome by the Prince of Peace. And where we
should, help us to be effective peacemakers.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Please hear our prayers, which we present to you in the name of Jesus
our Lord. And now we join hearts and voices together
to pray as he taught us, saying, </span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243632722786443561.post-40348184070900286502023-12-10T07:14:00.003-06:002023-12-10T07:14:23.901-06:00"Who Is Like You, O LORD?" - 10 December 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNCcXlH6Hou9QpFRAFHF-5v04QCT8BwcnqqahcvOucRdS3gpXA6OHiGUexuHtfclJKlBE-qUDzZFmVdj0xV3OqpKfq7qWNJ1b1M4qRlPvbJpIHBg5qF6n7GCVAP8l9rXLOGHsUhwGdcar7hYkBsgNsyc062UnuojM1zDCH92cxvvfTxMFuHOeFyIkFvA/s1280/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNCcXlH6Hou9QpFRAFHF-5v04QCT8BwcnqqahcvOucRdS3gpXA6OHiGUexuHtfclJKlBE-qUDzZFmVdj0xV3OqpKfq7qWNJ1b1M4qRlPvbJpIHBg5qF6n7GCVAP8l9rXLOGHsUhwGdcar7hYkBsgNsyc062UnuojM1zDCH92cxvvfTxMFuHOeFyIkFvA/s320/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Moses sang, “</span><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Who is
like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises, doing wonders?</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">” (Exodus 15:11) and so we draw near to you
through Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord, with a true heart in the full
assurance of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O faithful
Lord, we pray for your Church in all nations, for this congregation and for Asbury
UMC, Bethel, Broadway, and Chapel Hill UMC. Lead and guide your people in sound
doctrine, establish the preeminence of the Gospel of Jesus, strengthen and
fortify your little lambs in utmost loyalty, grant repentance, and supply all
our needs richly in Christ Jesus, so that we may learn to devote ourselves to
good works to help in cases of urgent need and not be unfruitful (Titus 3:14). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">God of
steadfast love, please call and convert those who have never submitted to your
Son, and please collect those who have “</span><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many pangs</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">” (1 Timothy 6:10).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We implore
you, merciful Father, to look compassionately on the sick and sorrowful,
beleaguered and besieged, heartbroken and harried (…). We ask you to restore
and bless them body and soul in Jesus Christ and grant them to have joy in you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">O LORD, you
who are a man of war (Exodus 15:3), we beseech you on behalf of our soldiers,
sailors, airmen and marines. Grant them your strengthening presence to guide
them, protect them and keep them strong in their duty; and for any who have
been in combat and are riddled with horrible memories, fierce dreams,
shame-filled regrets and intense anger; bring them the sustaining,
health-restoring aid they need and grant them your unshakeable peace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">God, mighty
over the nations, we ask for the countries of the world that you would please
turn the violence, saber-rattling, and tyranny on its head. Direct the leaders,
along with the citizens of each country, toward greater and greater justice,
peace, and civility that all the peoples of the nations may flourish in health
and hope, your Church would be safe from harm, and your Gospel make unhindered
progress. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">God of our
fathers, look on and guide these United States of America, our leaders –
including our judges – our citizens, and all residents from sea to shining sea.
Preserve us from all enemies and from all falsehood; move us to a more substantial
moral integrity; restrain us from accepting and indulging ungodly, destructive
lifestyles, habits and addictions; and arouse us to become exporters of
goodness and virtue rather than vice and villainy. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All we ask here, Lord, we ask in faith and in the name of Jesus Christ
your Son and our Lord. And now we join hearts and voices together to pray as he
taught us, saying, </span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Father…</span></b></span></p>mphilliberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05199089265196120556noreply@blogger.com0