Deus Misereatur

I was asked to join Joel Harder of Capitol Commission  (in the picture below), and Doug Melton from Southern Hills Baptist Church in a prayer lunch for the Oklahoma legislators who are in a called special meeting (26 September 2017). Here is the part I led: PRAYER FOR ALL LEGISLATORS: DR. MIKE PHILLIBER Let Us Confess Our Sins: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.7, 9). And so, it is very appropriate for us to spend a moment silently confessing our sins. Silence…. We confess to you, O God, that we have sinned against heaven and in your sight; and are not worthy to be called your children. Yet you do not retain your anger forever because you delight in mercy. Therefore have compassion on us, subdue our iniquities, casting all our sins in...

Your righteousness is like the mountains, O God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD (Psalm 36.6); therefore we implore you to give your much needed assistance, provision, direction, comfort, strength and restoration to our brotherhood throughout the world, and where they are in great need or distress. We intercede especially on behalf of those in Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and in the areas hit by Hurricanes and destructive storms . O Lord, hear our prayer. Almighty God, you have taught us not to think of ourselves only, but also for the wants and needs of others. We pray for the many burdened and oppressed we know who have been crushed and had their purposes and dreams overthrown…; for the many who are afflicted by poverty, worn down and worn thin by disease, illness and ailment…; for the many who are weary and heavy laden, in gloom and misery, and those suffering for righteousness’ sake... Help them in the ways that are most fitting and s...

Our Father who art in heaven : you rule over all creation, seen and unseen, visible and invisible. You are compassionate toward all, bringing rain, sun, and wellbeing to the just and the unjust. But you also are Judge of the whole earth who does what is just (Genesis 18.25). We lift up our hearts and hands in praise of you. Hallowed by thy name : since we know and believe that you are the greatest good, then for you to be exalted in the imaginations, dispositions and considerations of humankind is to exalt that which is of greatest good for all. We pray you would come to be honored by all peoples, nations, tribes and language groups; and we pray that your name and person and authority would always be honored in your church throughout the world, this congregation and Southside Assembly of God; Spring Creek Assembly of God; Triumph Family Worship Center; Alameda Baptist Church; and Antioch Institutional Baptist Church . Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in...

Africa Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars by Tokunboh Adeyemo My rating: 5 of 5 stars For years I have read and contemplated Scripture from within a western framework with my readings reinforced by western scholars and commentators. Overall it has been healthy and wholesome. Yet I know, after experiencing two years in Turkey, that to always see with western eyes and hear with western ears can lead to, at the least, stilted views; and at the worst, self-congratulating groupthink and elevating Americanism. So I was delighted to pick up a copy of the 1632 page hardback "Africa Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars." This volume's compilation was led by general editor Tokunboh Adeyemo, who was general secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, but has since died (may he rest in Christ's peace; and rise, body and soul, on Christ's Day!). It has a view toward instructing fellow Chr...

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 live quietly and safely, and your Gospel run swiftly and unhindered. This brings us to pray for those who lead the various nations, to include the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; For the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May; our own President, Donald Trump; and the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez . 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. Lead each to recognize that their office is not theirs but given by you and accountable ...

Plain Theology for Plain People Charles Octavius Boothe Lexham Press 1313 Commercial St. Bellingham, WA 98225, USA https://lexhampress.com/ ISBN: 9781683590347; $14.99; (1890) 2017 G.K. Chesterton once penned, “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about” (“Orthodoxy”). Lexham Press has taken a good stab at this “democracy of the dead” by resuscitating “Plain Theology for Plain People” written in 1890 by an emancipated slave who became a Christian preacher, Charles Octavius Boothe. This small, 151 page re-typeset, reworked paperback was written by Boothe to help fellow emancipated slaves, who had little education and little time to obtain formal instruction, grow deeper in the depths of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is easily accessible for folks from every walk of life. As Boot...

Deaconing and Deacons 2 Corinthians 6.1-10 What in the world is a deacon? What are deacons supposed to be doing? Who should be deacons? Where did the office of deacons arise from? How do deacons benefit our congregation? These are great questions and likely flutter and float in the backs of our minds whenever we have an officer election and installation. I will try to answer these questions and others as I discuss deaconing and deacons. Deaconing : As we begin with our passage, Paul describes his Gospel work, as a diaconal service, using two nouns – one for the work, “ We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry ( ha diakonia 3) and one for his person engaged in the work, “ but as servants of God (theou diakonoi ) we commend ourselves in every way ” (4). Almost never is the word deacon used of an official office, but almost completely used of occupation, not about a label as much as the labor, not concerned with position as wi...