Deus Misereatur

“Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:4-6). We have sung your praises, declared your great deeds, and banqueted on your beneficence. Now we give you thanks for your great favor poured out on us: for food, friends, family, health, homes, hope, vocations, verdure, and vitality. We acknowledge that it is you who upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:14-16). Supreme Sovereign who sits enthroned over all, we call upon you to move the nations of the world in such ways that peace may prevail, war be averted, the Gospel go unhindered,...

I sat my youngest grandson down with this book in hand and asked him, "Have you ever heard of Sherlock Holmes?" He thought for a bit and then shook his head no. I knew, then, that I had failed as a grandfather! So this handy, fully illustrated volume was the perfect gateway into the legacy of Sherlock Holmes for a grandfather to read with his grandson.  The book only includes three of Arthur Conan Doyle's tales of the great detective: "The Red-Headed League" "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" and "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches". Illustrations are on every other page and help young readers to stay with the story line. And Malvina G. Vogel has edited these stories in such a way that it is almost impossible to tell where she has made adaptions and edits. It is large print that old eyes and young readers alike can take in comfortably. Now my grandson has had a taste of Holmes and Watson, and it has been my pleasure to introduce him to the...

Departing In Peace Many years back I was hired on as a part-time hospice chaplain in Midland Texas. Sometimes emotionally exhausting, at other times extremely enriching. It was during that 1 ½ year time I gained a deep appreciation for end-of-life occurrences and comprehension that came in handy as my own father reached the end of his days. And that period as a hospice chaplain has confronted me with my own mortality and brevity of life. That’s what makes “Departing in Peace: Biblical Decision-Making at the End of Life” such a valuable volume. This 328-page paperback, penned by Bill Davis, professor of philosophy at Covenant College, adjunct professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), brings readers to address important questions for themselves and their loved ones when they approach their final season. It may well bring one to tears, but more importantly, it will give a person biblical and practical tools...

This volume, a part of the Library of Christian Classics series, has been out since 1951. It's is not an exhaustive collection of everything that these early church pastors-theologians wrote, but it gives one a good feel. There are large portions of Tertullian's "Prescriptions Against the Heretics" and "On Idolatry".  Also, a significant sampling of Cyprian of Carthage's "Unity of the Catholic Church" and letters on the lapsed and baptism. Then, there are hefty samplings of Ambrose of Milan's letters dealing with the Council of Aquileia, the Altar of Victory, the battle of basilicas, and several others. Finally, Jerome arrives with letters 14, 15, 52, 107, 108, and the important 146.  Each pastor-theologian receives their own introduction. And the editors give the individual works their own introductory backstory. The footnotes which give Scripture quotation references, and historical tidbits, are helpful and valuable. It's a great reso...

O God, Most High, to you all nations are as a drop in a bucket and are counted as the small dust on the scales. Before you all nations are as nothing and are counted as less than nothing and emptiness (Isaiah 40:15-17). Therefore, we beseech you to preside over all the actions, plans and associations in our land, steering leaders and citizens alike to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before you in truth (Micah 6:8). Look compassionately on the families in our country that are striving to make ends meet, stressed over whether they will be able to have long-term viability, and strained in their relationships. Look compassionately on those families that have single parents, on the children who no longer have their parents but are raised by grandparents, or Aunts and Uncles. Look compassionately on those families that have turbulence behind closed doors whether from abuse, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s, or abandonment. O God look compassionately on the families in our country. Smile upon ...

The Beautiful Community We had been in-country for less than a week, but my roommate was already depressed. He was just beginning his 12-month rotation in Turkey, and I was starting my 24-month tour of duty. He couldn’t grasp why these Turks didn’t speak English and understand American ways, since “we’re the world’s superpower!” I was aghast. Even at 20 years of age in 1981 I could see the trouble. So, I pointed out the uncomfortable reality, “Man, if anything, we should be the ones learning Turkish and picking up their ways because we’re the foreigners here.” Clearly, that didn’t go over well, and he spent most of his 12-month assignment sulking in his dorm room and drinking the months away. But getting into another culture for two years gave me a deep appreciation and sensitivity for reaching across cultural hurdles. And in many ways that is what “The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at It’s Best” seeks to foster. This new 176-page softback is compiled by Irwyn...

“ We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because you have taken your great power and reigned ” (Revelation 11:17). Almighty and everlasting God, the source of all life and joy, who, by the jubilant announcement of the Gospel has called us to have part in your Kingdom and glory: please shine powerfully into our hearts the light of your love by your Word and Spirit and draw us with the cords of faith, hope and love that we may heartily chose that good part which shall not be taken away from us. And through us, may the Gospel of your Kingdom and grace reach out to our neighborhoods and networks, that many may belong and believe with us as we thrive in truth, worship and Christian love. We ask you to direct all world leaders and governing bodies; over-rule the atrocious savagery rambling through many nations; countermand the legitimizing of human-trafficking of every sort and drug-running; and may all nations come to the Lord Jesus, and ...