Deus Misereatur

  Father, because of your Son Jesus the Messiah; because of your Holy Spirit by whom your love is poured into our hearts; and because of your strongly guaranteed promise, we make bold to pray to you. Bring the unruliness and agitation of all the nations of this world to a place of peace, orderliness, and the rule of just law so that peaceful and healthy prosperity might prevail, your church may live quietly and safely in all places, and your Gospel run swiftly and unhindered. This brings us to pray for those who lead the various nations, to include our own President, Governor, and Mayor. Surround them with those who will boldly and wisely counsel them to do right, defend the right, and lead their people to that which is right. Guide each to recognize that their office is not theirs to dispose of as they chose, but rather is given by you and accountable to you. Bring them to recognize that they – one and all – will stand before you, the Judge of the living and the dead to give an ac...

  I know lots of people like this book, and like this stream of published material. I'm not a Dispensationalist (by conviction) and I am resistant to alarmism - that doom-and-gloomism that says "This is the worst time in all of world history!" or some such. And that is this book from cover-to-cover. I picked the book up to read because a family member had given it to me for a Christmas present and thought I should read it. And I was disappointed. But, in all of my disappointment, I was pleasantly surprised. I was pleasantly surprised because Dr. Jeremiah actually pushes back against a certain mindset that normally walks along with Dispensational alarmism. Jeremiah asks "Will America revive again? Will we reverse our descent and regain respect, strength, and stability? ... those are not the questions we should really be asking. If the survival of America and the stability of the world are the sources of your hope, then your hope is sadly misplaced. The question you mu...

  In just a few short weeks my wife and I will be celebrating 45 years of marriage. I state this, not because we're better and more "with it" than others. It really has been two sinners saved by grace who are bound together. But I say this to point out, in many ways I have never experienced what Marcus Farris - Post Traumatic Growth Director for Mission 22 (an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families) and former Army Engineering officer - experienced. Farris chronicles the inner details of his soul and mind during his painful divorce in this 132-page paperback, "No Less Faithful: How the Scars of Divorce Reveal the Heart of God" published in 2021. As the author asserts, "God never wastes pain" (ix) and his story shows what he means. The book exhibits the inner chaos, the mental storm, the messy soul that comes surfaces in a crisis like an imploding marriage. Everything from the self-inflicted gut-punch (so to speak) to the faith...

  Mighty God, who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, who says “ I dwell in the high and holy place, and also 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 .” [1] O dwell with us and revive us! O Lord, our Lord, we pray for Heritage Presbyterian Church; for these churches around Oklahoma City, Neighborhood Missionary Baptist, New Beginning Family Church, New Covenant MBC, and New Harvest Fellowship; as well as for your church in all places. We all profess our love and adoration for you, and that we are saved by your invasive love. Now, Lord, cause us to become what you have made us: Children of the Living, Holy God, who are no longer wooed by the father of lies, who are no longer caught in the snares of our own lusts and pride, but those who are thoroughly loyal to you. Give us aid and strength to be a healing people, caring for and defending the fatherless, widow, abused, be...

  I've been hearing a bit about moral injury for combat veterans for a while, so I was interested in this book for myself and any others I cross paths with. Marcus Farris, health coach and post-traumatic growth director for Mission 22 and an officer in the Reserves, has compiled a helpful manual for those dealing with forms of PTSD and moral injury. "Return: Life after Moral Injury" is a 264-page hardback that is nicely illustrated by Emily Mills. The illustrations turn from sketchy black-and-white at the beginning to colorful pieces, exhibiting how a reader can be changing and becoming healthier as they work through the book. I loved that quiet little visual nuance.  Much of the work seems to be based on archetype stories that run through ancient classics, such as the Iliad, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and other sources. But also archetypes in more modern renditions such as Marvel's series The Avengers, and more. The book had a Jordan Peterson-esque flavor to m...

Holy Father, our Lord Jesus once proclaimed: “ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust .” [1] Therefore, we praise you who sends sun and rain on the just and the unjust, who provides food for the good and the evil, thank you for your tender mercies enjoyed by so many. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom the whole heavens adore; let the whole earth worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you; and men, women, girls and boys everywhere love you and serve you in peace through Jesus Christ. We ask this especially for families, neighbors, co-workers, and friends we know (…). Almighty God, we pray for your church world-over and in the greater OKC area, especially Maranatha Baptist Church, Mustang Church of the Nazarene, 1st Nazarene Yukon, and Nehemiah Baptist. We pra...

  (The following has two reasons for existence. First, I have been pondering Philippians 1:25-26 for the last year, especially since I am growing older. This is part of my personal reflections for myself. Second, this is also for my congregation as we prepare to ordain/install new deacons and an elder and recognize many other church ministry leaders in our congregation on 8 September 2024. You can listen to this here: " Remain and Continue .")   [24] But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:24-25) Brothers and sisters, life is given to us for the service of others. I know that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, but we’re also made to live in service of others. And that recognition says quite a bit to ...