Deus Misereatur

  Just this morning The Atlantic posted an article that gives signs of hope, “Why Marriage Survives.” It will be printed in their September 2025 issue. The writer, Brad Wilcox, shows there is evidence that traditional one-man-one-woman marriage is making a comeback. In fact, rather “quietly, the post-’60s family revolution appears to have ended. Divorce is down and the share of children in two-parent families is up. Marriage as a social institution is showing new strength…” [1] Besides the encouragement of the article, what caught my attention was “the post-’60s family revolution.” That’s exactly what Nathanael Blake addresses in his newly published, 272-page paperback, “Victims of the Revolution: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us All.” Blake is a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and contributor to several publications. Blake’s contention is that the sexual revolution of the 1960s sold us a bill of goods, and now, three generations into it, the walking wounded are all ...

  (Updated 30 July 2025) Zachary Garris is pastor of Bryce Ave Presbyterian Church (PCA) in White Rock, New Mexico. In 2020 he published the 312-page paperback, "Masculine Christianity" with Reformation Zion Publishing. The following is something of a review. To begin, I appreciate what seems to be Garris’s intent – the desire to confirm that men are to be men (a good thing) and women are to be women (a good thing), and reaffirm men taking leadership in their homes and churches, etc. It’s good for women to be women and men to be men. With this, I deeply appreciate his push against pornography and men seeking to ‘conquer’ women by means of sex (164-5).   Second, our denomination (the Presbyterian Church in America) is complementarian, and complementarianism is a spectrum. On one side is the egalitarian, and if you fly off at that end you’ll be with the egalitarian-ists. The other side is patriarchal, and if you fly off that end you’ll be with the patriarchal-ists. The "is...

In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” O Lord our refuge, the shelter in the midst of the storm, for those who are taunted and teased by their afflictions, ailments, troubles or tears to “flee like a bird to your mountain,” we pray you enfold them in your compassion and fill them with courage that they may rejoice in your goodness. For those being aimed at by the bow of the wicked, shot at in the dark and dimness, we pray you shield them from the fiery darts, and screen them from slander and spite. For those who are rocking and reeling and feeling as if the bottom is falling out, may they find in you their sure foundation and be built up in sturdy strength. The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelid...

(Picture is from Photos with God's Word ) Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. There are places in our world, O Lord, where injustice, immorality, illegality and inhumaneness sit enthroned and empowered, violently and viciously crushing people and seeking to harm even your chosen ones. Lift up the downtrodden and demoralized, show strength with your arm; scatter the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; and bring down the mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:51-52). We especially ask for you to defend, direct, and deliver your Church in all places. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. Eternal God, look upon these United States of America that there may again be great joy at your Word, like the joy of those who have found a priceless treasure. Many who are in office claim to be disciples of Jesus, and fellow believers. Especially for them we beg you to shape their desires, direct their actions, protect their families, and buil...

  When this 160-page paperback came in the mail, “Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love Like Saints,” I quickly snatched it up to check the table of contents. There it was. The very thing I had been looking for through almost 46 years of marriage, and it was in the appendix, “How to Change Your Spouse in Three Easy Steps”. I immediately flipped there and was thrilled with the shrewd depth of wisdom contained in that appendix, and knew I was going to love the book, which I did! Chad Van Dixhoorn, professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC., and his wife, Emily Van Dixhoorn, pulled off a veritable coup d’état against prevailing marital regimes and nuptial schemes in this small volume. Alistair Begg, who penned the foreword, explains the strategy therein clearly, “Instead of denouncing the darkness, which is easy to do, the social climate presents us with an opportunity to shine as lights in the world…viewing marriage in the context of th...

O God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, who has promised us that we have nothing to fear for you are with us, we have no reason to be dismayed for you are our God, who strengthens us, who helps us, who upholds us with your righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10): we pray for your Church throughout the nations, along with Kingsview Freewill Baptist Church, Oak Hills, Shady Nook, and Southern Oaks Freewill Baptist Church. Look upon our necessities and grant all good things essential for us to do what you have called us to. Build us up in the most holy faith, that we may be able to stand strong against all the wiles of the devil. Look on this congregation with your favor and support. In the words of your servant, Micah, help us – in all of our affairs and actions and ambitions – to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before you. Provide us with opportunities and occasions at our Sports Camp VBS to point the kids and their guardians to Jesus, to his work and way. Be pleased, ...

  Richard Phillips, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (Second Presbyterian, Greenville, SC), has given a handy, straightforward, readable 220-page softback on biblical masculinity. It won't resonate with those who are happy touting their victimhood and their need to victimize women in manosphere world. But for those who really desire to grow in godly, biblical manhood, this is a fine work.  The summary statement by Jerry Bridges in the Foreword, gives the overall them and direction of the book, where "the humble man, toiling faithfully at his job, nurturing and shepherding his wife, and seeking to bring up his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, conforms to God's picture of a real man" (xii). That covers the subjects in the book in a nutshell. Though I have a few quibbles with some smaller details, in the end this is a book worth reading and even reading with other men. As Phillips notes, "If we do not seek truth in this matter fr...