Deus Misereatur

At Home: The Incredible Story of The Welcome Mission by Holly Rench My rating: 5 of 5 stars It's a memoir, a series of journal entries telling a very human set of stories in a very friendly, personable way. It's not fully polished, but it's real, sometimes raw, and always forthright and frank! Holly Rench, Executive Director and co-founder of The Welcome Mission, has penned a touching series of real-life exploits, escapades, agonies and adversities of the women she has been involved with for over twelve years in this 231 page softback "At Home: The Incredible Story of The Welcome Mission". Rench unravels the tangled lives of several of her and Marcus's "adopted" adult children describing their destructive pasts and how many of them, through love and hospitality, have moved further up and further on. But the tales are also filled with pitfalls and potholes that will jar the reader's suspension system's and rattle any self-righteous lug-n...

(This morning's congregational prayer is coddled in the arms of Psalm 131) “ O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. ” O Mighty God, high and exalted, you are the greatest good, you are the utmost in integrity, and you are supreme over life and death: we acknowledge that humility is a waning virtue; thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, we think ourselves mighty, magnificent and marvelous in our modern technologies, scientific advancements, social sensibilities, medical feats, and military competencies. All of this egoism surfaces in our national and international politics, foreign policies, and business ventures. Help us in our communities and in our country to remember that we are but human, and therefore “ surely all mankind is a mere breath ” (Psalm 39.5, 11)! That “ not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God w...

Hearers and Doers: A Pastor's Guide to Growing Disciples Through Scripture and Doctrine by Kevin J. Vanhoozer My rating: 5 of 5 stars At 58, I still love physical fitness. I run 4 miles three times a week, lift weights, and keep up with my Tae Kwon Do. Though it doesn't come easy, it did come early, and it came with loads of guidance and instruction. In my Junior High and High School years I received instruction and coaching on various aspects of running and lifting. I also received years of training from three martial arts instructors patiently guiding me through routines, sparring and weapons drills. These experiences and my present pleasure in physical conditioning has attuned my ears to the analogies in Scripture that picture discipleship as something of an aerobic fitness program. Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, picks up this work out theme in his new 296 page hardback, "Hearers and Doers: A Pastor...

Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church by Bethany McKinney Fox My rating: 5 of 5 stars I picked it up because it is addressing an important subject: how we should look at healing; better ways to approach people who have disabilities or disease; and what wholeness really means. Bethany McKinney Fox, director of student success and adjunct professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary, has compiled an interesting approach to the subject in her new paperback, "Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church". This intriguing volume is readable, moves fairly quickly through its material, and helpfully addresses "a framework for Christian communities to be places of healing in the way of Jesus, with particular attention to members with disabilities," which the author believes is found in our Lord's own life and ministry (4). Fox begins with a chapter that examines models tha...

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. LORD, you are the One who builds the house, and watches over the city. We plant and water, but you are the one who gives the growth! Bless our congregation with fitting and fair growth; that we would grow roots downward and bear fruit upward; that you would add to our number such as are being saved. And, Mighty God, we pray for your Church all around this marvelous globe, as well as New Day Church of the Nazarene, The Fellowship at Western Oaks, Southpointe Church, and 8 th St. Church of the Nazarene; and we pray for our General Assembly that meets at the end of this month. Preserve and protect your Church from scandal and suffering; repair her breaches and breaks with the healing glue of the Holy Spirit; with th...

(This congregational prayer is dressed up in Psalm 29) Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Royal and regal God, who sits above all that claims our allegiances; who is enthroned even over all who are deified and idolized. We pray that you would bring all self-made divas and divinities (like youthfulness, money, health, musicians, movie stars, politicians; and whatever else we are prone to fawn over and grovel before) to see that there is no authority or acclaim outside of you and your control. Raise up the humble and cast the wicked to the ground.  The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. We beseech you that your voice would go far and wide; your word would run free and unshackled so that all may hear the Gos...

[This congregational prayer is flowing from Psalm 2] Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” O God see how the peoples and nations of this world conspire and rage against your Son and his Lordship: through adjudication, legislation, execution of orders, shaming on the air waves, taunting and demonizing through social media and music, and in some places by downright brutality and cruelty. See, O Lord! Take note and come to the aid of your chosen ones. We long to see our own nation flourish as a just and lawful land. We long to see our neighborhoods, cities and State to show themselves to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his ...