Deus Misereatur

When reading Scripture as part of times for prayer, thoughts jump out at me, sometimes energetically, and other times subtly. That slow, simmering thing happened this morning, and I share it with you. I was reading Jeremiah 23 and the whole chapter gave me pause, but especially v.3-4: " Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD " (Jeremiah 23:3-4). In the Hebrew Scriptures, the concept of shepherds is normally a title given to civil leaders - judges, magistrates and priests. It might include prophets as well. The idea is that the leaders of God's people often guide their charges in ways that are similar to shepherds herding and caring for their sheep. Therefore, it's fitting for us to thin...

Fearless: The Heroic Story of One Navy SEAL's Sacrifice in the Hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the Unwavering Devotion of the Woman Who Loved Him by Eric Blehm My rating: 5 of 5 stars I'm wiping the tears from my eyes right now. I've just finished "Fearless" by Eric Blehm, and cried through the last part. I cried for Adam, for Kelley and the kids, for his parents and family, for his teammates who died a few moths after his own death, and I cried for their families. I sorrow for them, but the book also brings me to give thanks for such who serve, and serve well; and I give thanks that I served my country for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. "Fearless" is a story of wasted potential, loss, fall, shame, and darkness. But it is also a story of reclamation, redemption, resilience, radiance, rightness and camaraderie. The author follows Adam's life from childhood, through the muck and misery of his meth addiction, to his messy conversion, and on into his Na...