Deus Misereatur

I read Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” years ago. His point, back in the 1980s and 1990s, was about the way we have become an entertainment culture, where television and televised news media, have sucked the life out of our ability to have healthy discussions, process news, and reason. I was delighted that Crossway has just recently pulled together a team of thinkers who are not anti-technology, but want to help fellow Christians think through technology – especially in the areas of multiple media venues, AI, cyber-space, etc. “Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age,” is a 256-page softback edited by Brett McCracken, an author and senior editor for the Gospel Coalition, along with Ivan Mesa, editorial director for the Gospel Coalition. This highly readable book is “intended to get you thinking about technology…showing how technology is changing the way we think” (pg. 11). This material is clearly for the digital natives (Millennials and GenZers – th...

  [Image by Shannon Skow] In assurance we lift our hearts to you, O our God. As Jonathan told his armor bearer when heavily outnumbered, “ nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few ” (1 Samuel 14:6). We, too, are assured that there is nothing, there is no one, no condition, no circumstance, no competitor, no cerebral malfunction, no failure of courage, no catastrophe that can hinder you from saving, rescuing, and triumphing! And therefore, there is no created thing out there or in here that can separate us from your love! Truly in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Christ crucified for our transgressions, risen for our justification (Romans 8:37-39, 4:25), and ascended into heaven to hold sway! We pray on behalf of your Church world-over: this congregation, Shawnee PCA, Sharon Baptist, Siloam, Snowhill, and Solomon Temple Baptist Churches. Raise up a defense around your people that the evil one may never get a foothold against them. Raise our hea...

  Some fifteen years ago he sat in my church study. He was the minister of a large charismatic church in town and had come to invite me to join a new reforming “movement,” the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). I had never heard of this movement, but he claimed it had apostles and prophets whom God had raised up to reignite the church and restore America to her Christian roots. Since those days I have heard more and more about the NAR, and began to notice how some prominent church leaders, pastors, and a few politicians, who are   aligned with the NAR and are coming into influence in our civil government. I knew I needed to learn more and was glad to find a very readable 272-page softback that addressed this program. “Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church” was put together by Holly Pivec, blogger and author of several books on the New Apostolic Reformation, who also served as university editor at Biola University fo...

  Blessed are you, O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to your great mercy, you have caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have been born anew to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for us. And by your power we are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-7). Glory to you, O God! O God most high, we acknowledge that you are right and just, even when your wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who often suppress your truth in unrighteousness. We love and pray for this nation you have providentially placed us in, and for our leaders. We confess that we, as a nation, in declaring ourselves wise, too often show ourselves to be fools. O Lord, do not give us up in the lusts of our hearts to impurity, dishonoring our bodies among ourselves. Do not give us up to dishonorable ...

  Years ago, in a situation long ago, in a different space and time continuum, I wrote these prayers. They were for me, as a pastor, in the midst of disappointment and feeling of deep defeat. I have drawn them back up out of the bowels of long unused files to dust them off and re-use them. I'm using them again not in the midst of disappointment and deep defeat, but because I think they are decent prayers, no matter my situation. I share them with you, fellow pastors, so you can use them, and hopefully find your heart lifted and the face of God smiling on you. He loves you, more than anyone else ever could, and he loves your congregation more than you ever can. FOR CONTENTMENT:   O Lord God - help! ·          Help me to flourish and fill out in faith, hope and love, as well as all other Christian virtues  - here . ·          Help me to find satisfaction with where I am, with whom I am with, wit...

    Not many biblical scholars make it the height of their academic work to finally write a commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah. And very few pastors long to do a sermon series on these two books. But there are adventurous souls out there who will take the risk, come what may, and Dr. Dale Ralph Davis has taken that plunge with the 224-page softback, “Ezra & Nehemiah: The Quest for Restoration” published by Christian Focus. This volume is another installment in the “Focus on the Bible Series.” Dr. Davis was Minister in Residence, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to that he was pastor of Woodland Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi and various other churches through the years. He was also Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi.   This readable work is truly a commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah, for their own sakes. Though there are leadership principles to be gleaned, lessons on prayer, and c...

  Strengthener of the weak; fortifier of the faithful, rescuer of the wayward, restorer of the repentant, it is you who does great wonders, and it is you who delivers your people from their enemies, elevating them from their low estate in due time, drawing them from the miry bog and setting their feet on a rock; you are good, for your steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1)! O LORD Most High who is to be feared, for you are the great king over all the earth; we pray for all nations and all leaders. Bring all peoples of every land to clap their hands, to shout to God with loud songs of joy. Bring the princes of the peoples to gather as the people of the God of Abraham, for you reign over the nations, you sit on your holy throne (Psalm 47)! You are good, for your steadfast love endures forever! We pray on behalf of your Church world-over, this congregation, Prospect Baptist Church, Ridgecrest, Rising Star, and St. Jude Baptist Church, along with Dan and Becky Young with MTW in N...