Deus Misereatur

Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive by Thom S. Rainer My rating: 4 of 5 stars In so many different ways death is a grievous event to be part of, whether it’s a pet, a parent, a companion or a congregation. But it is even graver when it is a death that might have been avoided. Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, describes the postmortem he performed on fourteen congregational corpses in his 112 page hardback, “Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive”. This little work moves quickly through fifteen concise chapters, keeping a reader engaged and deliberating. The book comes out in two uneven parts, the first eleven chapters cover the autopsy and the final three encompass hope. In the first section of “Autopsy of a Deceased Church,” Rainer takes the reader through the trademarks of decline that he has culled from interviews with previous church members. The pattern becomes speedily obvious: slow, almost imperceptib...

{In this prayer we're being guided by Psalm 4} Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer (Psalm 4.1)! We know, O God, that you are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth (Psalm 145.18); and we have been assured with your strong promises that if we ask in Jesus’ name you will hear us and answer us for his sake (John 14.12-14). Therefore, in your Son’s name, answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him (Psalm 4.2-3).  Holy God, we ask you to give strength, protection, stability and proficiency to your Church in all places, including this congregation; Shield of Faith Missionary Baptist Church; Shields Boulevard Baptist; Siloam Baptist; Southern Hills Bapti...

A Charge to Candidates for the Gospel Ministry: 6 February 2015 “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD” Gentlemen, I am going to give you this charge out of Hosea. We will begin in the middle, go backward and then move forward. Right smack in the middle of Hosea is this welcome from God: “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3). Notice the welcome is for us to know this God, to press on and surge forward to know this God who, like the morning sun scatters the darkness; like the spring rain showers brings refreshment, restoration, rejuvenation. This is the God we are to know! Though this is God’s welcome, earlier there was a warning: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your chi...

Holy Communion: Celebrating God with Us by Kenneth M Loyer My rating: 5 of 5 stars This fine, short, readable, 128 page paperback is just what it says it's about; "Holy Communion: Celebrating God with Us". Kenneth M. Loyer, pastor of Otterbein United Methodist Church of Spry, York, Pennsylvania, explains the Eucharist in non-technical terms through four chapters. Even though the author writes "Holy Communion" from a Methodist perspective, and often refers back to the Methodist Eucharistic liturgy, nevertheless most Christians would benefit from the way he explains the past, present and future aspects of the Lord's Supper. As Loyer explains, "The Lord's Supper is not simply a matter of past and present -- a memorial calling us to remember what Christ has done for us and a means of grace and spiritual sustenance in the present. It also points forward to what is to come. God gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet here and now in the sacred ...

Power Prayers for Your Life by Barbour Publishing My rating: 2 of 5 stars It has been difficult to make it through this book of "power prayers". Though there are loads of Scripture passages printed throughout, they are all out of context. And just as importantly, most of the prayers are shallow, greedy, self-centered and at times, down right demanding. It was also a surprise to see a brash (over)confidence in many of the prayers as the praying person tells God what they will do, accomplish and obey. The prayers are written as personal and conversational. Several of them show that they are written from a woman's perspective, something men could benefit from. The prayers are grouped under topical categories, with each section beginning with an explanatory devotional of sorts. There are two prayers on each page, and plenty of room to pen in thoughts, observations and adaptions to the prayers. The format is very convenient and easy on the eyes. "Power Prayers for Your...

Morning Prayer: Almighty God, though a man’s heart plans his ways, it is you who directs his steps (Proverbs 16.9); therefore we pray for this world and your church. We ask you to alleviate the suffering, angst, fretfulness of those who are in dire need of your healing….restore them 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 these trials and troubles. Please safeguard our U.S. Military people, esp. these….comfort and encourage their families during times of separation, and restore them to their homes unharmed. Please look upon our country; maintain our liberties, and guide us all (personally and politically) along the path of your truth and righteousness. Also, for the nations of our world, O dear God, for the good of Your Church and wellbeing of all, we pray you to reinstate peace and order where there is only war and chaos; and to build strong justice and h...

Half the World by Joe Abercrombie My rating: 3 of 5 stars Left dangling with anticipation in “ Half a King , ” many readers will be delighted that Joe Abercrombie’s soon-to-be-released 384 page hardback, “Half the Word” is about to see the light of day. In this new work the author picks up a few old friends who are drawn into perilous adventures with new oar-mates, forged together by sweat, fear, fighting and savagery, into a family of sorts. Their exploits take them through half the world, creating much needed, but unlooked for, alliances for Gettland, while overcoming obstructions, conflicts, and vows for revenge. “Half the World” revolves around a young teenage girl, Thorn Bathu, who has vowed to one day kill Grom-gil-Gorm, the Breaker of Swords and Maker of Orphans, and the killer of her father. The determination runs deep in her blood, and drives her every waking and sleeping moment. She trains in Master Hunnan’s school with this ambition in mind, only to be set up for failu...