Divine Mercies

For his birthday, my dad got the book Valley of Vision, which is a collection of Puritan prayers. This is one of the prayers from the book that he shared on his blog that I thought was well-worth posting here also.

Thou Eternal God,

Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable goodness, super-abundant grace;
I can as soon count the sands of ocean’s ‘lip’ as number thy favors towards me;
I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise.

I thank thee for personal mercies, a measure of health, preservation of body, comforts of house and home, sufficiency of food and clothing, continuance of mental powers, my family, their mutual help and support, the delights of domestic harmony and peace, the seats now filled that might have been vacant, my country, church, Bible, Faith.

But, O, how I morn my sin, ingratitude, vileness, the days that add to my guilt, the scenes that witness my offending tongue; All things in heaven earth, around, within, without, condemn me – the sun which sees my misdeeds, the darkness which is light to thee, the cruel accuser who justly charges me, the good angels who have been provoked to leave me, thy countenance which scans my secret sins, thy righteous law, thy holy Word, my sin-soiled conscience, my private and public life, my neighbors, myself – all write dark things against me.

I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess, ‘Father, I have sinned’; Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms; Thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near, thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead, thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin, for he leveled all, and his beauty covers my deformities.

O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross, hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side.

- The Valley of Vision – Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Clinton-Obama Debate in Cleveland - Entire Debate from MSNBC

Valentine's Day 2008

Jill, Jeremy, Bill, and Christy celebrate Valentine's Day 2008

Bill and Christy - Valentine's Day 2008

We are too easily seduced

As promised here are some more reflections from Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (see post on 1/31/08). At the end of the chapter "The Great King Above All Gods," Johnson makes an observation that is particularly timely give this season of primaries and political speculation. He writes:

"We [Christians] are too easily seduced by the manipulation of religious affections in the service of political agendas, too easily tempted to promote the kingdom of God through alliance with the power brokers of our culture. God calls us, of course, to be good citizens and good neighbors, not withdrawn from society and its problems, but rather engaged in the pursuit of mercy and justice. But Luke's portrait of the gospel's confrontation with 'institutional religion' in the Greco-Roman world reminds us that our combat weapons are not the feeble weapons of the flesh."

"Selfish Desires are Not from God"

Another great insight from Schlatter--

Today he reflected on Jesus' rejection by his hometown record in Luke 4:14-28:

"What the Nazarenes desired, Jesus called an impossibility. The selfish exploitation of God's gift separates the one who attempts it from his grace. To be sure, it extends to the one whom it chooses and enables, freely extending to him in order that he may live in power and greatness. The Father glorifies his Son, but precisely this ties him to God and puts to death any form of selfishness" (Schlatter, Do We Know Jesus, 96).

Did Rowan Williams Really Say . . .?

Rowen Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury ("the first among equals" of the 38 Anglican Archbishops worldwide), recently made remarks concerning the role Muslim sharia law may play in Great Britian in the future. His comments have been roundly criticized and in some cases blown out of proportion both in the British media and in the Church of England--some are even calling for the Archbishop's resignation. However, what did Rowan Williams really say, and does it really merit the response that it has received? The Economist.com offers a helpful summary and critique of what the Archbishop actually said and the response that it has received thus far. Go here. For background to the controversy see "Sharia row persists for Williams" from the BBC NEWS.

"God's Word is heard by all his creatures."

This year I have been exploring Adolf Schlatter's devotional book Do We Know Jesus? In today's entry Schlatter reflects on Jesus' casting out of an unclean spirit from a man in Mark 1:23-26. His observations on Jesus' absolute authority over creation both natural and supernatural were particularly insightful. He writes:

"Through an encounter with those who were compelled by a hostile spirit to speak and act, Jesus was asked if he was able to issue also to them the liberating Word in the name of God. Did the spirits possess the power to resist the rule of God? Or were they, too, subject to God's creative power, and the demon-oppressed subject to his grace? God's Word is heard by all his creatures. Even natural forces obey him; supernatural spirits are likewise subject to him. Here as well, Jesus did not waver. 'Be quiet and come out of him,' he told the spirit" (Schlatter, Do we Know Jesus, 93).

"Mitt Romney throws in the towel"

The article "Mitt Romney throws in the towel"at the Economist.com offers (as regular readers of the Economist have come to expect) a concise, thoughtful, and informative analysis of Romney's withdraw from the GOP race and its implications for John McCain and the challenges McCain now faces as the Republican front runner. Check it out here.