Deus Misereatur

  Young ones and little ones can be traumatized too! I know someone very close to me who, when she was a little child, saw a step-father do things to her mother that still trouble this close relative of mine, half a century later. So I was delighted when New Growth Press asked to me to read and review this children's book, "Something Scary Happened (Comfort for Children in Hard Times)". Darby Strickland is a Christian counselor who has dealt with many abused and traumatized clients. She brings her experience and background to tell a story of a little lamb who experiences something rotten. This 32-page glossy kids hardback is perfect for moms, dads, grandparents or Sunday School teachers, to sit down with the little lamb wriggling at their feet, and read out loud to them. And the bright and lively illustrations by the Italian artist/illustrator, Carlotta Notaro, will keep everyone's attention. The little lamb, Miles, is full of energy and fun and exploration. Most kids...

  (I sent this out to my congregation in my weekly letter today, 9 November 2023) There are many practices that have intruded themselves into the life of local congregations in 2023. Some of those practices have, in some way, eclipsed part of the role of the sacraments. Coffee and doughnuts, for example, have become the place where fellowship and conversation happen more often than not. So, I was delighted to pick up and read a copy of “The Lord’s Supper is a Meal” by Jim Elliff, president and founder of Christian Communicators Worldwide. This teeny 95-page softback is straightforward, moves along easily, and gets to the point quickly.   Elliff and I would disagree on a few things, such as the Lord’s Supper really being a means of grace, the role of Gospel ministers being necessary for administering the sacrament, and such. But the author does such a masterful job in drawing out important details about the supper that I found the book rich and useful.   Most of Elliff’s t...

  I really don't know what else to call it. It just happened outside my church office in the parking lot today (6 November), around 12.45 PM. But "a quietening moment" sounds right. Here's a little backstory, and then the moment itself. We give limited help to those who come by the church and ask for some financial aid. It's not much. Gift cards to the local Braum's or OnCue for gas or groceries. We're pretty certain that most of these people use them to barter for drugs or drink or worse. But every so often someone comes and it just feels legit. This may be one of those moments.  You see, Marilyn is now 93 years old (I have a copy of her driver's license with her birth date). She, and her daughter (probably in her 60s), have come by here several times over the years asking for us to help them. Both are African-American descent. The first few times they came I was skeptical, but gave help. And when we give out the gift cards we always offer to pray wit...

  Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful (Psalm 111:1-4). For these reasons we make bold to adore you and to call on you. For your holy, apostolic church, with all of her elders, bishops, pastors, deacons, teachers and parishioners, including Resurrection Lutheran, Cristo Rey, Faith Lutheran, and Messiah Lutheran Church, we pray. May their faith be growing abundantly, and their love for one another increase. May their steadfastness and faith shine brightly, even in the face of persecutions and affliction (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4). We make bold to ask because the LORD is gracious and merciful. For this congregation; our elders and deacons; our Sunday School teachers and Wo...

  (The following is from my letter to the congregation today, 25 October 2023) In 1971, Francis Schaeffer published “The Church at the End of the 20 th Century” where he gave several far-sighted warnings of what was coming down the pike, and what we should do. His primary emphasis for the future was on two major needs for the church as it weathers the storms ahead: orthodoxy of doctrine, and orthodoxy of community. Regarding the orthodoxy of community, he placed love and unity as the centerpiece: “Our Christian organizations must be communities in which others see what God has revealed in the teaching of His word. They should see…that it is possible to have something beautiful and unusual in this world in our communication and in communities at this point of history. We may preach truth. We may preach orthodoxy. We may even stand against the practice of untruth strongly. But if others cannot see something beautiful in our human relationships, if they do not see that upon the bas...

  Lord, your servant John concluded his letter with these words: “ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols ” (1 John 5:20-21). For these reasons we make bold to call on you, to call on you in truth (Psalm 145:18). For your church on every continent, including this congregation, First Lutheran, Immanuel, St. Paul’s and Ascension Lutheran Church, we pray. Help us to keep ourselves from idols, whether they’re the handmade kind or heart-made! Bring us to grow in understanding you, your purposes, your Word, and your ways for us. Deepen our perception and knowledge of Jesus who is true and is the true God and eternal life. And draw us together in him. Bless and enrich the upcoming Oklahoma Conference on Reformed Theology in November. Give Jim Elliff your gracious guidance and presence...

  (This is from my letter to my congregation today, 18 October 2023. The candidate for Speaker of the House lost a second vote on this day) When there are national troubles, civil strife, crop failures or cataclysmic events and the suchlike, people cry out in alarm and anger or fear. But behind those situations there may well be the divine intent of bringing about national or regional changes; specifically, to bring about a social change of moral direction.   You see this when you delve into the prophet Amos, for example. In Amos 4, especially 6-12, God points out several disastrous situations he brought about on his people. Massive food shortages (6), drought (7-8), crop diseases and failures (9), pandemic (10), and national destruction (11). But at the end of each one of these tragedies God says, “‘ yet you did not return to me,’ declares the LORD .” Each successive calamity was meant as a wake-up call to bring social change, but the people refused to wake up.   ...