Afflicted in Body, Mind, and Soul

 

James, the fifth chapter: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Lord, there are many afflicted here, in body, mind, and soul. You command them to pray, and so we come before your throne with our petitions. Those hurt in body are the easiest to spot and the easiest to remember before You. We pray for Whitney Maier and Karen Christiansen, as they deal with bodies under our weary curse. We pray for those dealing with long-suffering, such as the Berglunds and Snells,

Daniels and Stutzmans, Vanderploegs and many others. Raise up all the sick and save them from their sins and temptations.

We pray for those wounded in mind, and those who faithfully care for them morning and night. It is an often thankless and fearful task, but you see all. Give them your comfort, and help us to give them ours.

And we pray for those with wounded souls, an invisible crowd without number. Be with those who desire to be married; they walk a lonely path. Be with Pastor Wilson and the brothers in Brazil as they minister to the hungry there, and grant them your protection. Be with the presidents and headmasters of all the schools in our area, as they mold—knowingly or unknowingly—immortal souls and their desires. We particularly ask for your wisdom for President Merkle as he decides how to deal with our petty city officials. And we pray that the Christ Church Hall would be finished soon, so that our community may grow and take root and flourish and testify. For he who converts a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins. So we ask all this and more, most boldly.

Amen

Petitions, King's Cross, Sept. 22, A.D. 2024

Book of the Month August 2024: An Experiment in Criticism

 

“This laborious sort of misreading is perhaps especially prevalent in our own age. One sad result of making English literature a ‘subject’ at schools and universities is that the reading of great authors is, from early years, stamped upon the minds of conscientious and submissive young people as something meritorious. When the young person in question is an agnostic whose ancestors were Puritans, you get a very regrettable state of mind. The Puritan conscience works on without the Puritan theology—like millstones grinding nothing; like digestive juices working on an empty stomach and producing ulcers. The unhappy youth applies to literature all the scruples, the rigorism, the self-examination, the distrust of pleasure, which his forbears applied to the spiritual life; and perhaps soon all the intolerance and self-righteousness.” 

 I have been reading books for literal decades at this point of my life. Compared to many others, I read easily, well, and very fast. So it is always a really fun moment when I discover someone who can tell me some new things about how to read, and how to think about reading. This book is one of those. 

Get it. Read it.