Deus Misereatur

  In many circles, it feels like science and religion are in a sweaty jiujitsu match. Tossing, tumbling, vying for dominance. Recently John Van Sloten, a Calgary-based writer, teacher, and pastor, has published a 208-page softback, working with both science and faith. Overall, it is an interesting book with good intentions. Science and faith are not at odds, at their heart. They are the two books of God's revelation, showing us God's attributes in different ways. The author does a nice job working this out, drawing in the help of scientists who believe in God's work, who would claim to be Christians. It is written on a popular level and not with theoretical abstractions. Throughout the work science is understood as unpacking "God's creation words" (12). And Scripture, like a pair of good glasses, sharpens our vision. "When viewed through the lens of the Scriptures, creation becomes a theater of God's glory" (11). This is the theme throughout the ...

  O LORD you are a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:9-10). It is to you we come to voice our praises and focus our prayers. That the needy shall not be forgotten and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever, we give you our praise (Psalm 9:18)! That you have heard us as we cried out to you on behalf of others, and granted them help and hope in the midst of their trials and trouble, we give you praise! That you have watched over our country in the good times and bad; have seen to the affairs of our State; and have looked after the needs and worries of our communities and families, we give you praise! We implore you to maintain your church in all places, including this congregation, Capitol Hill Full Gospel Church, Liberty Gospel Tabernacle, Living Waters Lighthouse, and Living Word Church. Bring unity where there is division; order w...

  Mighty God, strong to save, you have willingly accommodated yourself to us by not only speaking the Holy Scriptures, but in sending your Son to us, for us. We pray for your Church and the World. For this congregation we pray. Set the captives free, open the blind eyes, release the prisoners, turn our sorrows to gladness, and make our homes places of light, love, harmony and health. We ask your watchful care to be bestowed on your Church throughout the world, including Westmoore Community Covenant Church, Lighthouse Foursquare, Resurrection Free Methodist, and Edmond Free Methodist Church, and especially your people who are being hounded and harmed by predators and persecutors. Forgive us for trying to earn your unearnable love; stir up in us a greater trust and confidence in your Son Jesus Christ and help us to toss away all false doctrine and false living which tarnish your generous kindness and your glorious majesty. For all those who are being doubled over with pain; strug...

  So much of our social encounters feel off these days: marriages, sex roles, parental responsibilities, educational tasks, and more. Even Christianity in North America seems off kilter with allegations of patriarchal heavy-handedness, charges of abuse, and stories of deconversion. Into this odd time steps Joshua D. Chatraw, the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism and Cultural Engagement at Beeson Divinity School, and Jack Carson, the executive director of the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement and as an instructor at Liberty University. These two have teamed up to publish a new 192-page hardback, “ Surprised by Doubt: How Disillusionment Can Invite Us into a Deeper Faith ”. The book is about the credibility of the Christian faith. But it reaches deeper into the questions, misgivings, and suspicions of those who have felt burned by their Christian experiences. And it’s readable, friendly, serious without any of the highbrow paternalism of some apologetic approaches. ...

  (This is from my letter to my congregation I sent out today, 30 August 2023) As one of my elders was leading us through Carl Trueman’s Strange New World in our adult class , I appreciated Trueman’s emphasis on community. And our discussions, especially the last two Sundays, were very fruitful as we thought out loud together about this subject. Therefore, I thought I would share something from David Brooks, an Op-ed columnist that leans into this discussion.   Brooks published a book in 2019 titled, “The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life”. In that work he was taking a gentle punch at destructive trends he has been seeing, and giving some helpful correctives. And so, he notes that “Individualism, taken too far, leads to tribalism” (34). He then shows how the loneliness and spiritual emptiness of individualism taken too far have become more prevalent in our time and the ways that they lead to very dark social consequences. These darker social consequences foster t...

  Lord God our Father, we long to see your power, justice and majesty flow into every nook and cranny of creation. Therefore, we pray for your Church and your World. For this congregation we pray. Hold us by your hand so that our feet may never slip. Turn our worries, fears, frettings and woes all into faith in you. Be pleased to continue to add to this your flock such as are being saved. And in all we do, retired guys coffee, women’s Bible study, and Sunday School classes, etc. help us to glorify and enjoy you better. Be with your Church all over the earth, including St. James Episcopal, St. Michael’s, St. Paul’s and St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, as well as our brothers and sisters who seem to be drowning in persecution, famine, economic collapse and warfare. Strengthen what is pleasing to you, remove what is foul and festering, heal what is hurting, and provide all that is lacking. We ask your healthful care and sustaining mercy for all who feel the walls closing in on them...

  O God our Father, we entreat you to make us a holy, joy-filled people in our homes, work, and our various networks of friends. May those who are married be free of strife, pettiness, and fear; may those who are single be chaste and holy, enjoying you in their God-ward singleness; may the children grow stronger in grace and wisdom, loving you all their days while obeying and honoring their parents; and may the elderly flourish in God-given strength, patience, and sound-mindedness. Please form us as a church that is instrumental in drawing the straying back to Christ and his church and bringing unbelievers to be born again by trusting in your Son Jesus Christ. We pray for your church in all realms and regions, along with these churches in the greater OKC area, All Souls Episcopal, Church of the Redeemer, Church of the Resurrection, and St. Augustine Episcopal Church. Grant them to find and live out the righteousness, peace and joy which are in the Holy Spirit. Grant them to be grip...