Deus Misereatur

  Luke 1-13: The Year of the Lord’s Favior Dale Ralph Davis Christian Focus Publications Christianfocus.com ISBN: 9781527106383; January 2021; $19.99   I tell you no one is safe when Dale Ralph Davis – pastor, writer, and seminary professor – has gotten loose! And his newest erudite adventure, the 264-page paperback, “Luke 1-13: The Year of the Lord’s Favor” is proof positive! Davis expounds on the first thirteen chapters of Luke in this volume and draws out loads of friends to help him make his point. His sons, wife, Civil War generals, theologians, crows eating roadkill, presidents, father, mother, his own brothers, and many more, are all gathered around, given their place and handed their mission. He even recounts a story I told some twenty years ago and threw me into the fray! No one is safe, I tell you! And it’s all deliciously fun, attention-grabbing, and illustrative of what our Lord did and does, and of what he said and what he signified. Davis is a masterf...

  I was a Church of Christ minister for several years. I would do my duties and accomplish my responsibilities with the Air Force full time, and then when off-duty I would lead my little congregation. It's called "bi-vocational ministry". But while I was a Church of Christ minister, I began to realize aspects about baptism that went against what we taught and held to, everything from it's purpose, to the amount of water, to who is actually to receive the Christian rite. So I was delighted when Sean McGowan, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida, put out his new, little 62-page softback, "Infant Baptism: An Introductory Sprinkling for Parishioners". Easy to read, simple to grasp, and empty of pretense or pugnaciousness. McGowan stays on task. In other words, he doesn't wade out into the flowing waters to cover every topic related to baptism, but swims around in one of the major streams that feeds the subject: Family in God'...

  Though this particular book is targeted to parents who are going through, or have gone through, a divorce/separation with a High Conflict Person (HCP), it has oodles and oodles of application to any relationship with a HCP. Bill Eddy, a lawyer, therapist, mediator, and the co-founder and training director of the High Conflict Institute; Annette Burns, an attorney and a certified Family Law Specialist; and Kevin Chafin,  a mediator and Licensed Professional Counselor, have given parents a wonderful aid in this 223-page paperback, "BIFF for Co-Parent Communication: Your Guide to Difficult Texts, Emails, and Social Media Posts". It includes how to navigate the electronic side of things, but really the book maps out many ways to be Brief, Informative, Friendly and Firm (BIFF) so as not to get swallowed up in angry and reactionary communications with a HCP. The first section develops the traits of a HCP, especially their practice of "blamespeak": (1) their preoccupatio...

  You declared, “ See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand ” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Therefore, we adore you, the only God; we worship you, God over life and death, God over hurt and health! Have mercy, we pray, on all who are beat up, badgered, beleaguered, broke and brittle (…). Grant them the specific aid they need, whether monetary, medical, medicinal or mending, and raise them up to rejoice in your goodness and lift their hearts and voices in thanksgiving. Have mercy, we pray, on all who have turned their backs to you and not their faces (…). Give them to your Son that he may never lose them but raise them up on the last day. Have mercy, we pray, on those women who feel pressured and oppressed to the point that they have contemplated abortion, and those misguided and misled by tricky influencers. Have mercy on those fathers whose children have been removed over ...

  Adventure and coming of age meet together in this fine adventure set in the 1840s on the prairie trail from Missouri to Oregon. Francis, at 14, gets snatched from his wagon train by Pawnees, and finds a whole new world. Many characters cross these pages, from Pawnees, to Crows, to Mr. Grimes, the one-armed, boiler-hat wearing, free-range trapper. From here to the end, Francis - Mr. Tucket - ripens and rises. Ideal for tweens and young teens, it will grip the reader's attention and hold it to the finish. This is the first in a 5-volume series. I felt that Paulsen didn't dishonor native Americans, though others may disagree. It is a fictive work about the middle 19th-Century, but much in the tale is legitimate. I videoed my reading of this work for my grandchildren, and my video-recordings can be found on my YouTube channel (just look for my name and the Mr. Tucket playlist ). I enjoyed reading it, as I have several other of Paulsen's works. He is a delightful author. I hig...

  Savior, your servant Paul once wrote words that are full of hope, wrapped up with thoughts that are hard for us to get our hearts around; “ Through [Christ] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God .” And for that, Lord Jesus, we are ever and always grateful. But then Paul went on: “ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope .” This, Lord, is where we often stumble. Rejoicing in our sufferings? And yet you show us here that our sufferings are part of our flourishing with endurance, character building and hope. O dear Jesus, change our hearts and outlook so that we can rejoice in suffering to these ends. And be with those who are suffering right now (…). May they see themselves growing with endurance, character and hope. Hope! Hope that does not put to shame, because the Father’s love has been pou...

  “ There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God ” (1 Samuel 2:2). We offer up to you our thanksgiving for all your generosity to us (…). We pray for your churches throughout the nations, including these in OKC:   Calvin Presbyterian Church, Chisolm Trail Presbyterian, Covenant Presbyterian, Grace Presbyterian church.   B e pleased to give them all the resources they need to serve you properly and well, and the heart they need to serve you with sincerity. Guide them in the ways of your truth and righteousness that they may show themselves your own people in earnestness and truth. And deliver our brothers and sisters who are being hounded and harmed for the Faith that they may serve you in peace and joy. “ There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. ” Please help us in this congregation, O Lord, that our families may be filled with godliness and holiness. May those who...