Deus Misereatur

Sunday morning: (Following the format of the Lord’s Prayer and the Westminster Shorter Catechism 100-107): O our Father in heaven, we come near to you with all holy reverence and confidence, as children drawing close to a father who is able and ready to help us. May your name be hallowed by us and all others so that we may glorify you in every way that you make yourself known. Arrange all things – all of our conduct, hardships, desires, marriages or singleness, occupations, as well as all the governmental and civil events of this world and our country – to your own glory. May your kingdom come . We implore you to destroy Satan‘s kingdom, and advance your kingdom of grace, especially through the prayers and works of your world-wide Church, to include the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod; The Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia; The Anglican Church of Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya; and The Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyteria...

Icons Mark 10.17-31 [I presented this to over 600 teenagers at Casady School on 13 October 2015, and the 25 adults at the Capitol Bible Study on 28 October 2015] Most Protestants don’t get into Icons much, for lots and lots of reasons – some of which I think are correct, and some of which are a bit fishy. Icons are about imaging someone or something, putting it before your mind and eyes and hearts. There’s something of a close connection between the Icon and the person being imaged. One of my favorites is an Icon of Michael the Archangel. I don’t burn incense to it, or kiss it. But because of the name connection I do like having it. This set of true stories is very much about image, about iconing. So let’s quickly work our way through each section. False Image (10.17-22): This young, wealthy fellow has an image he is portraying, a self-image. "I’m well-to-do, I’m upright because I’m right-up-there with the affluent and famed." And so he asked Jesus, “What must ...

Sunday Morning: We praise and thank you, O Christ, for the communion we have with you by the bread and wine, and the communion we have with one another because of you. We thank you that you gladly draw near to us, renew us, and graciously fill us. As we have imbibed in the outward and ordinary means of Word, Sacrament and prayer, may our homes and hearts and hopes be full of you, and restocked with your goodness. High King of Heaven, we implore you to save our country from self-inflicted catastrophes and commotions; and rouse the hearts and hands of the people of this land to compassionately and industriously help those who have lost everything in wildfires or wild floods. And we remember that we are not the only nation in need of your help, and so we pray that all the realms of this round earth may be preserved in fairness and fortune. Lord God, Mighty God, Compassionate God; “Pity the nations, O our God, constrain the earth to come; send your victorious Word abroad, a...

Exploring Christology and Atonement: Conversations with John McLeod Campbell, H. R. Mackintosh and T. F. Torrance Andrew Purves IVP Academic PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 www.ivpress.com ISBN: 978-0-8308-4077-9; $30.00; August 2015 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur Atonement in Christian thinking is a subject with a protracted and polychromatic history. From the earliest days to the present there have been proponents of recapitulation in Christ, bait and switch , ransom , moral example , Christus Victor , as well as propitiation and penal substitution , just to name a few. The one theme each has in common is that they are all related to the incarnation. On occasion something just a bit different or unique surfaces and catches one’s eye. Andrew Purves, Jean and Nancy Davis Professor of Historical Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, recounts and refines the atonement thread of three Scottish theologians in hi...

Sunday Morning: As Solomon once declared, there is no God like you in heaven above, or on earth below. You keep covenant with your people and show steadfast love to your servants who strive to walk before you with all their heart (1 Kings 8.23). Because of your great love with which you have loved us, we long to put away the old methods of being human which grow corrupt thru deceitful lusts, to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to walk fully in the new humanity, created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4.22-23). Help us, O our Father!  For your Church world over, for The National Baptist Conventions; The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; The National Primitive Baptist Convention; The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod; The Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and the Free Methodist Church; Sustain our brotherhood in the world; fortifying those who face persecution; supply the needs of those who are lacking; protect those who are facing dangerou...

Sunday Morning: O Father, who sends sun and rain on the just and the unjust, who provides food for the good and the evil, who shows repeated compassionate kindness on all people, give ear to our prayer for friends, family, neighbors, this world and your Church. Please bring us the rain and showers we still need. Our lives, living and livelihoods depend on your kindness and goodness. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom the whole heavens adore; let the whole earth also 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. We pray for your church here and throughout the world; including the Church of the Nazarene, the Orthodox Church in America, the Churches of Christ (in all their varied flavors), and the Evangelical Free Church . Give strength, aid, strong love, sturdy commitment, solid godliness, and sound doctrine. Where your people may have moved away from the cent...

Sunday A.M. Because of Jesus, because of your Holy Spirit, and because of your strongly guaranteed promises, we are bold to pray to you; O Lord God, Mighty God. Bring the unruliness and agitation of all the nations of this world to a place of peace, orderliness, and the rule of just law ( esp. the tumultuous realm Afghanistan, the distressed nations Iraq and Syria, the violence-torn country of Mexico, and the overwhelmed lands of the European Union ), so that peaceful and healthy prosperity might prevail, the unfortunate relieved of their distresses, your church live quietly and safely, and your Gospel go out unhindered. Direct in our country those who speak where many listen, and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the hearts of this people wise, their mind sound, and their wills righteous. Rain down health on the sick and ailing, fortify those receiving treatment for serious diseases, provide sanity for those troubled in mind and heart, and g...