Tag Archives: prayer

I’d like to apologize on behalf of Christians everywhere

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in Humanity, Theology

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

That might seem a bit arrogant actually.  I just don’t know how to word it, so I’m going with this.  I hope you can give me some flexibility here.

Some of you who read the title are already making judgements about me – just based on the title.  Here’s another person who is apologizing for everything ever done.  No.  That’s not quite it.  Read on, if you dare.

I’m doing this because frankly I’m sick and tired of arrogant “Christians” who make a mockery of Christianity.  I’m sick and tired of “Christians” who love the label but refuse to live out the calling of what it means.

So here goes.  I’d like to apologize on behalf of Christianity to non-Christians and to other Christians alike who have developed a certain perception about Christians in general. Trust me, a small, arrogant minority doesn’t equal what every Christian is actually like.  Most Christians I have come across are actually quite pleasant and doing their best to live like Christians – sometimes it works out better than other times.  No one is perfect, nor should we be.

But there are some people who make it extremely difficult to have a positive view of Christianity – even for Christians.

I’d like to apologize for Christians who thrive off of picking fights on any number of topics.  Each denomination has these individuals.  They are more concerned with being right than with the well-being of any person.  I’m not sure if they were somehow scarred by the church at some point, but they see no issue with scarring others.  These are people who will find something wrong in any circumstance, just to be right.  I really wish these Christians would read Matthew 7:3-5 before they open their mouths or type words in social media.

I apologize for Christians who apparently spend most of their waking days attempting to destroy denominations who disagree with them and then go beyond that – by being  either Islamophobic or anti-Semitic or anti-something or someone else.

I apologize for Christians who see no separation between what they believe politically with their religious beliefs – and treat anyone who differs with either one like trash. Apparently, loving one’s neighbor doesn’t apply when it comes to religion or politics.  Then again, maybe they missed the part where Jesus says that everyone is our neighbor.

I apologize for Christians who think the Sermon on the Mount has nothing to do with how Jesus calls us to act towards others.

I apologize for Christians who love the name Christian, but refuse to live out what it means to be a Christian.

I apologize for apologizing.

On second thought, maybe there’s a better way to go about this.

Replace apologize with the word “Prayer.”  Now read what is written.  We aren’t called to change others – we can’t.  We can only be honest about what bothers us, explore why it bothers or harms us or others.  And we can pray.

Prayer is about letting go. It’s about letting go of our version of being right.  It’s about eliminating us and them.  It’s about handing it over to God and allowing God to realign us to God’s will.

Prayers don’t have to be perfectly worded.  But prayers ought to be honest.  We can’t hide from God anyway.

I’ll be praying for many people.  I just hope that those who have a problem with me are praying for me as well.  If we can do that, imagine how the world would change.

Noise

16 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in Politics, Theology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

America is a culture of noise.  Noise and anxiety.  So often we pump the noise and anxiety willingly into our lives.  We keep within reach, like a blanket.  I half wonder if we think we would be bored without the noise and anxiety.

We see it in our politics.  There is an issue that “needs” to be addressed right now – an emergency we are told.  The president does something – it gets covered breathlessly and commented on, and criticized.  The president reacts breathlessly to his opponents, goes on Twitter and it gets covered breathlessly. And the cycle continues.

We’re out of breath.  No wonder it feels like we are suffocating.  We are. We don’t seem to realize that we need to breathe.  It’s almost like we are hyperventilating and we don’t know how to stop.

But if we wait for someone else to stop, to be silent, to breathe, we will be waiting forever.

Today I encourage you to stop, to be silent, to breathe.  I encourage you to pray.  If you can’t bring yourself to pray for your enemies and opponents, then I would encourage you to pray for your family, your friends, your religious leaders.  Pray for you coworkers, your boss.  Pray for yourself.

Even better, pray with someone else.  Then live out the prayer.

 

Praying for your enemies

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Theology

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

, , ,

I debated what I would title this post.  Would it read praying for “our” enemies, or “your” enemies.

The “y” makes all the difference, doesn’t it?  If it’s “Our” enemies, that implies this affects many of us.  It can also mean that it gets a bit abstract.  If it is “your” enemies, then I’m pointing the finger right at you – individually.  It’s a lot harder to ignore this, isn’t it?

I wonder if the reason we have enemies is because we don’t pray for them.  No, not literally.  We have enemies because there is a conflict of some sort – a conflict of values or words, borders, struggles over power or resources, religion, belief, etc.  But maybe the better question is why do we continue to have enemies?  A simple answer is that neither side is willing to budge.

Where does prayer fit into this mix?

Pray for your enemies.  We’ve all heard this before, but have you considered what it actually means.  I’m not talking about prayers that try to control and change “them” to your way of thinking and believing. That’s more like using God as a weapon in your own personal war.  Not that this hasn’t been tried throughout all of human history.

But rather pray a bit differently.  Why not pray for their well being.  That’s not easy.  It’s not comfortable.  If we are honest, we don’t want to pray this prayer.  Don’t pray this so they can get the upper hand and destroy you.  That’s just crazy.  But I wonder, how would it change our interaction with our enemies if we prayed for their well being?

Or how about a prayer of peace.  Not peace in general either, but specifically.  Peace with our enemies.  That peace would come over them and us.  A prayer that peace starts with each one of us, you.  It starts with how you treat your enemy.  Do we treat our enemies with peace, or do we continue the divide?  We don’t trust our enemies – that’s inherent in being an enemy.  But we supposedly trust God.  So why not put our enemies in God’s hands to deal with and to show a path forward – a path of well being and peace for both yourself and them?

I think part of the reason enemies continue to exist is because we don’t pray for them.  It’s really easy to hate someone or a group of people if we never pray for them and push them off in the distance as “those people.”

When we pray, it changes us.  It changes us in weird ways – our will shifts to become in alignment with God’s will.  You can’t honestly pray for someone and then turn around and want to kill them, see them hurt, or devastated.

Our prayers reflect more on who we are, rather than what who we think our enemies are.  We can’t change our enemies, but we can change how we think about them, how we treat them, how we talk with or about them, and more.  And it starts with prayer.  Because only God can change them.  Just like only God can change us.  And with prayer, that’s bound to happen.  Maybe that’s part of the reason we don’t pray for our enemies – we don’t want to change.

Pray for your enemies.  Pray for yourself.

How Facebook can be a bridge and not a river

25 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Humanity, Politics, Society, Theology

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I have an interesting Facebook news feed.  It includes Americans and those who make other nations their home.  I have friends on Facebook who are super patriotic Americans and friends who are citizens of countries that many here would consider to be “enemies” of the US.  I have friends who are Republicans and Democrats.  I have friends who are political activists within liberal/progressive movements as well as within more conservative/libertarian movements.  I get the sense that I am an anomaly.  I often wonder how Facebook decides what shows up in my news feed?  Today when I was scrolling through I saw quite a variety of things.  There is the typical happy stories – a family adopting a dog.  There was the daily pun and jokes I enjoy.  There’s the inspirational quotes that are great.  There is the daily prayer.  There were updates on sick family members, requests for prayers for others.  There were obituaries of both young and old.  And there was politics.

The amazing thing about the political posts on Facebook is that one post was critical of the Woman’s march and the very next one was in support of it.  Then I scrolled a bit further and the very same thing happened.  One post critical and the next was supportive.  This happened over and over again.  I was fascinated by this observation and couldn’t help but wonder about it.  You may also be wondering, how can someone have such a diverse range of friendships.  I can’t imagine how people couldn’t.  Then again, given how divided we are as a nation here in the US, I’m not surprised.  I wonder if our attachment to our political parties and ideologies limits who becomes our friends.  Do people practice political self-segregation?

When it comes to the Women’s march, I’ve heard quite a variety of arguments, one-liners, guilt and shame-inducement statements, and personal stories (from both supporters and opponents).  I’ve heard about abortion and many other “issues.”  Some people are very eloquent and others are, shall we say, a bit rougher in their language.  But this is just the latest installment of my cross-cultural and cross-belief Facebook news feed.   All throughout the 2016 election I watched the election play out in my news feed – those for this candidate and those for that candidate.  And a smaller segment who were for no candidate too.

Every time some divisive issue pops up, I can count on hearing both sides of the argument just by watching my Facebook news feed.  I’m guaranteed to be able to read articles and see quotes supporting both liberal and conservative viewpoints from a variety of sources – and I read many of these – not just the ones I know I will agree with.  Because what’s the point of that?  What did I actually learn from that?  Nothing.

I love this and I hate it at the same time.  I love the fact that there is such a diverse range of opinion on any given subject all at my fingertips.  There is creativity with proposed ideas.  There are serious criticisms.  There are great arguments for and against positions.  And of course there are insults – I see the range of responses from rational argument to emotional tantrum.

But I also hate the news feed.  I hate it because I know the people who comment.  I hate it because I know that these people don’t know the other people who comment on the same issue but from an opposing viewpoint.  I hate that these people appear physically close in my news feed, yet don’t even know that the other person exists in reality.

I feel like a bridge over a river that never gets crossed.  I grow richer from a diversity of opinions, ideas, presentations, and arguments, while people on either side of the river are locked in echo chambers only getting feedback from like-minded people.

I hate it because I know in the grand scheme of things, this type of behavior only contributes to the divide we have in our country and in the world.

I hate it because I don’t know how to bridge the two lands separated by a river.  I don’t even know that the two lands want to meet each other – it seems as though they would rather just yell at each other.  It gives each side the ability to feel justified, self-righteous, right, angry, etc.  But it doesn’t bring us closer to truth.  It doesn’t bring us closer to unity.  It doesn’t bring us closer to understanding.  It doesn’t bring us closer to reconciliation.  It doesn’t bring us closer to advancing our nation economically, culturally, spiritually, or in any other way for that matter.

Here’s my challenge to you – make a friend with someone you know you disagree with.  Read all of their Facebook posts, and just listen.  Don’t respond, don’t argue.  You aren’t going to convince someone on Facebook anyway so don’t waste your time or their time.

The point isn’t who is right.  The point is to see that other people come to very different conclusions for what are good reasons when it comes down to it.  They don’t have to make sense to you.  People come to their conclusions and hold their beliefs because of things in their past, their culture, their education, their parents and friends, their religious faith, and things they observe and experience.  Many times people can’t even express why they believe what they believe, but they know what they believe.  Putting words to things that have happened to a person can be difficult sometimes.

Here’s another challenge – ask questions.  Not leading questions.  Not questions that are actually attacks.  But real questions meant to gain understanding.  Approach people who believe differently as an opportunity to learn.  I’m willing to bet that most people, when it comes down to it, want the same ultimate thing that you do.  I’m willing to bet that there is a difference in how to get there.  If we can agree to the ultimate goal, then can we let go of our attachment to the how?  Can we stop confusing the how with the endgame?

In the meantime, I’ll keep reading my Facebook news feed each day.  I’ll keep holding people in prayer.  I’ll keep having conversations with people who I disagree with in respectful ways and seeking understanding.  I won’t always succeed in this.  Sometimes I’ll fail miserably at this.  But there’s always tomorrow to start over.  There are more people to engage with.

There a great deal of cultural change that I feel needs to take place here and in other parts of the world – a foundation of trust to be built between people, forgiveness offered and accepted, mercy shown, peace sought as a way of life and not an end point, respect in interactions from all parties.

And you know what, if I wait for someone else to take the first step, it ain’t gonna happen.  I’ll just see the same news feeds.

I want my news feed to change!   Not through the magic of manipulating it.  No I want a more organic change – a change because the people posting have changed.  I love the diversity, and at the same time, I want to see more interaction, more respect, more trust, more forgiveness, more consideration of opposing viewpoints.

I’m only one person.  I wonder, will you join me?  I’m taking a step, will you step with me?  Or is there just too much at stake for you?  I’ll know your answer by my news feed.  And I’ll still love you and care about you and listen to you and pray for you.  For me it starts with prayer – it’s difficult to rip another person a new one when you pray for them.  Prayer changes how I interact with people.  How are you going to start?

 

End of Semester Hiatus

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Seminary

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

It’s that time of year – the end of the semester.  For me that means I’ve got a crap-load of papers, projects, and sermons to prepare, turn in, deliver, etc. by Dec. 15 and the all important Approval Interview from my candidacy committee.  That doesn’t give me much time.  But it is doable.

So I’m taking a two week hiatus from blogging and tweeting.  I have a couple of last tweets that are ready to go and if you follow my twitter accounts you’ll see them, but then after that, I’m taking a short break to focus on finishing up the semester.

The only thing I will continue to do during this time is the daily prayer that I post on social media.  That’s just as much for me as it is for anyone else who reads it and prays along with me.  I need that.

Otherwise, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.  Pray for me – I need it.

Praying for our enemies

25 Monday Jul 2016

Posted by in Humanity, Theology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

prayer

More bombings, more terror, more shootings.  We hear candidates for office give speeches that focus on fear of others and how dangerous the world is.  We hear how we need a strong leader who can defend us, protect us, save us.  We are supposed to be united in our fear.  We are supposed to stand behind politicians who would like nothing better than for the masses to rely on them, hand over our freedoms to them, and to tell the public what to do, what to say, and what to think.

We Christians claim to have faith in God, yet we listen so intently and believe with unquestionable faith the words of these would-be “leaders.” Excuse me if I call that what it is – idolatry.

And in covering the horrific events and by sharing posts about what is reported, do we think about what we are actually doing?   Are we assisting in distributing a message of fear – the message of those who commit the violence?  Have we become enablers of their false gospel message – that everyone should fear them.  Do we assist in spreading a message of those who seek attention and want to impose their narrative on the rest of the world?

I wonder what it would look like if we changed how we covered such violence.  What if we spent very little time focused on the perpetrator, on who is responsible, and spending endless hours trying to figure out the motivation.

Why do we give so much attention and publicity to those who spread fear, division, hatred, and commit violence?

What if instead we did something completely different?  What if we focused on the victims of these horrors instead?  What if we showed their faces, talked about the victims, their lives, who they were, what they believed?

What if we started calling the victims what they truly are – martyrs.  Is that a stretch?  They were killed for who they are, what they stand for, what belief system they were associated with.  They are martyrs.

We should be careful how we report the news.  Who do we give credibility to?  Whose narrative are we advancing?  Are we just reporting the facts, or by moving to speculation, are we just giving unneeded attention to those who would commit violence and terror and advance a message of fear?

Today is a day to mourn the martyrs – the martyrs of Kabal, the martyrs of Munich, the Martyrs of Nice, the martyrs of Orlando, the martyrs of San Bernidino, the martyrs of all shootings and attacks to come.  Focus on the martyrs – stop giving perpetrators attention and credibility.  Stop giving them credit and worrying about who takes the credit for spreading fear.  Stop analyzing and spinning.  Stop the madness in the name of being informed – as if we all need to know every single detail and all the theories.  We don’t.  What we need to do is be there for the victims and their families.

Here is something we can all do – focus on the martyrs and pray for those who would commit violence, terror, promote fear and division, and seek blood.

We pray for the victims, but what about the perpetrators?  What about those whose beliefs are so warped?  Can we bring ourselves to pray for those who want to kill us?  Can we be so bold?  Can we be so risky?  Can we test our faith in such a way?

Or would we rather pray a prayer that seeks revenge or, dare I say it, death to our enemies. Only we would call it defeat – that’s much a more sanitary use of language isn’t it?  It covers our real intent.

When we pray for peace, can we really then turn around and speak and post words of revenge, defeat of enemies, and justified violence?  Do we really believe the prayer?  Do we really take in and live out the words we pray when we speak this way?  Do we really believe that God can do this?  Or are we just mouthing the words with empty faith?

When we pray for forgiveness, can we really then turn around and speak and post words of judgement on our enemies, our political opponents, and anyone we disagree with?  Do we really believe the prayer?  Do we live it out?  We we honestly believe that God is capable of such a thing?  Or are we just saying the things we think we are supposed to say?

When we pray for our enemies, what we do pray for?  And do we honestly believe it?

I’m asking you to do something bold right now with me.  I’m asking you to put your faith where you mouth is.  I’m asking you to do something that may feel impossible.  I’m asking you to pray for the martyrs and the perpetrators of violence.  If you want to be really bold and take a risk, then copy the prayer and post it on social media and ask others to pray it with you and to share it.

Please pray with me:  Holy God, today we pray for the families of victims of violence and terror – they are modern day martyrs.  They died for who they were, what they stood for, and what they believed.  Many died not knowing why.  We ask that you be with the families and friends – be with them in this time of pain and sorrow.  We know you weep with them.  Help them to feel your presence.

God of peace, we also pray for those who condone violence, are committed to death and fear, and those who perpetuate these things in the world – maybe even in your name.  We ask for a change of heart.  Break down the walls around their hearts and minds.  Soften their hearts Lord.  Help them to see you, to see your face in the face of these martyrs.  Change them and their ways Lord.  Let them experience love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace so that they would start to live these things.

Help us to break the cycle of violence in not seeking revenge or retribution, but in offering peace and forgiveness – even to those who have wronged us and to those who hate us.  That’s a tall order Lord, but we know only you can make that happen in us and in those who are different from us.  We believe that this change can happen Lord – we truly believe it.  Help us to be peacemakers, as costly as it is, being the ones who take the first step.  We pray for the impossible Lord, knowing that you are in the business of making the impossible not just possible, but reality.  We pray this in the name of the one known as the Prince of Peace.  Amen.

Modern Good Samaritan parable

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Politics, Theology

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

good-samaritan

Luke 10:25-37 – A modern interpretation of the Good Samaritan parable.  One you’re  going to hate.  Embrace that feeling because it’s probably how the religious lawyer in the original Gospel lesson felt upon hearing Jesus tell it to him.  Here we go:

Just then a devout US Christian who was also a political party activist stood up to test Jesus.  ‘Teacher’ he said.  ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  Jesus said to him, ‘What is written in the bible? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A candidate was running for office, and fell into the hands of political enemies, who stripped the candidate’s credibility and integrity, berated the candidate verbally, and went away, leaving the candidate dehumanized and the nation divided. Now by chance an activist of the same party was going down that road; and when he saw the candidate, he passed by on the other side because the candidate wasn’t ideologically pure. So likewise an elected official of the same party, when he came to the place and saw the candidate, passed by on the other side, not wanting to be dragged down by the reputation of the candidate. But an activist of the opposition party while traveling came near the candidate; and when he saw the candidate, he was moved with pity. He went to the candidate and bandaged the candidate’s wounds, having asked for forgiveness for his own past dehumanizing statements and offering a prayer of peace. Then he put the candidate on his own prayer list, gave the candidate respect all humans deserve, and took care to ensure that he only spoke respectfully of the candidate even when they disagreed about policy. The next day he wrote two articles, posted them on social media that said, “Take care of this candidate for the candidate may win and we will need to be a country that espouses forgiveness, mercy, peace and love in order to face the challenges that will come.” Jesus asked: “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the candidate who fell into the hands of their enemies?’ 37He said, ‘The one who showed the candidate mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

If you want to really understand the message that Jesus was conveying to the religious lawyer in the original version of the text (and how upsetting it would have been to hear it), then try rewriting the parable into your own context like I did.  If it helps, substitute in specific names.  i.e. in place of “candidate,” put in your presidential choice.  For “activist in the opposition party,” put in Republican or Democrat – whichever you are not aligned with.  I tried doing just that with this modern interpretation.  My reaction was “ouch, that hurts. Boy have I failed here plenty of times.”

We can justify attacking political opponents – “They are wrong, don’t you know?  Don’t be an idiot, can you see how wrong they are?!?”

We can offer “prayers” to God that ask Jesus to empower worldly rulers and politicians to defeat our political enemies and opponents for the sake of country and party unity.  We pray that all people will be enlightened by the purity of our ideological beliefs – how God must get a kick out of some of our prayers!

We can call our political opponents names and give them vicious labels that we believe they so readily deserve for what they have said and what they supposedly stand for.

We can show how our side is right and the other side is wrong.  And not just wrong, but dangerous, possibly even evil because of what we believe they stand for.

We can dehumanize, degrade, and diminish them all in the name of defending our own version of the truth and defending the country.  And we can say that the other side started it – we have to finish it.  We can point out how they and their policies are the reason we are screwed up and so divided.  If only they would see the light and believe our beliefs and do what we think is right.

We can do all of these things and we do so very often.  This week and next are prime examples that jump in our face.  The conventions of these two political parties will shout out the doctrines of pure belief in party and leader. They will preach to us how their anointed one will save the nation and defeat evil incarnate represented by the opposing party and candidate.  They will define who is our neighbor and who is not our neighbor.  They will use the language of religion and use God – claiming that God is on their side and against the enemy.

But we don’t have to be this way.  We are called to something much better.  We Christians are called by Jesus to be a neighbor to all, even, and especially our political opponents.  That might suck because it means we have to be the ones who start treating our opponents and enemies differently – not waiting for them to start.  It would be great to get a last dig in, but that’s not what Jesus calls us to.  No, instead he calls us to a different life – outside of the bickering of left vs. right.  He calls on us to be a neighbor to all, regardless of human labels and divisions, because we are all part of God’s creation and whether we like it or not, we are God’s children.  He calls us to take up our cross and follow him.  He calls us to be a neighbor to all, regardless of what they would do to us or the country.  We don’t get to decide who’s in and who is out – that’s not ours to decide.  In the kingdom of God, there is no us vs. them.  Jesus calls us to be a neighbor, especially to those we are taught are our enemies.  It’s being a peacemaker.  It’s dying to self.  It’s what it means to follow.  It’s not fair, but then again, Jesus and God aren’t interested in what’s fair.  Instead, it is a very real example of the kingdom of God unfolding right before our eyes.

 

Something new and an apology

30 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Blog, Theology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

I’m going to start off with an apology.  I’m not sure I need it yet, but I’ll find out in a few minutes.  Read on and I’ll explain.

So the Daily Prayer experiment is going well.  Well, actually, I’m not sure what it’s doing to be perfectly honest.  My intent was just to offer a prayer on social media because I needed to read a prayer.  Too much on social media is upsetting, angering, divisive and blaming.  My thought was that posting a prayer would be good for me to see.

Apparently several other folks thought so too.

So I decided to streamline things a bit.  I added a Twitter feed and now a blog.  They have the same prayer (actually the twitter feed is connected to the blog).  The idea is that more people can pray along – there seems to be a desire for prayer.  At least I know I’m not alone in that desire.

So here’s the thing with the blog.  I added a widget that allows people to enter their e-mail and they will receive an e-mail whenever I post from the new blog.  The challenge is I’m not sure if you all are getting those e-mails too (if you subscribe to Laced Up Lutheran blog).  The two blogs come from the same account.  So if that is happening, please, please, please let me know.  I’ll remove the option so people aren’t receiving something they don’t want to receive.

Anyway, here’s the information on the blog and twitter feed:

Blog – www.pleasepraywith.me

Twitter – https://twitter.com/dailyprayer16

Blessings to you.

 

It’s just so difficult…

29 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Society, Theology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

It’s so hard, it’s easy.  Or maybe it’s so easy, it’s hard.  It’s so difficult, it’s simple.  Or again, maybe it’s so simple, it’s difficult.

I’m talking about living out one’s faith.  Faith is a tricky thing.  It’s something we claim we believe, but are often challenged by it.  How often do we fail to live into that faith, doing the things that are the exact opposite of what we claim to believe.

Maybe an example would be helpful.  I claim to be a Christian who believes in the power of prayer.  Yet, for such a long time, prayer was absent from my life – only there when I needed something from God.  I said I would pray for someone, but beyond voicing that, it just didn’t happen.  Or I would say a passing prayer and move on.  But I didn’t want to deal with that head on.  Yet, God works in mysterious ways.

I’ve been contemplating prayer for a good long time now – several years actually.  My prayer life has varied in how I would classify it.  Recently, it’s taken on a new form.  And I’ve learned so much from this.  I’ve learned a great deal about prayer, but even more – so much more.

It’s really hard to offer prayers for people and then turn around and criticize others.  It’s really hard to offer peace and then turn around and clamor for revenge, justice, violence or “to get the bad guys.”  It’s really hard to offer forgiveness and then turn around and start judging.  It’s really hard to offer love and then turn around and speak of hate and anger.  It’s really hard to talk about the Kingdom of God and turn around and live according to the kingdoms of the world.  It’s really hard to offer grace and turn around use force.  It’s really hard to talk about God’s action in the world and turn around and only focus on evil and violence and death and torture and terror.  It’s really hard to talk about resurrection and restoration and new life and turn around and accept that the world has to be the way it is and that change is impossible.  It’s really hard to talk about salvation being a gift from God and turn around to a world that continually fails at solving it’s own problems and thinks this is normal.

Saying we believe something, but living a different way is meant to be hard.  It’s a message to us that we are out of alignment.  We’re called to something different.  Where our words and our beliefs and our actions align with one another.  It makes life so much more enjoyable and in an odd way – easier.  Not easier in the sense that everything goes well all the time, but easier in a different sense – it’s easier to live with yourself.  And with the world.

Daily Prayer

23 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Humanity, Theology

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

It started last week.  I decided that I was tired of complaining, or really reading about so many complaints. I was tired of the memes and the rhetoric around politics mostly.  They really don’t convince anyone of anything.   So I decided to do the only thing I could – pray.  I wrote a prayer and posted it on my facebook account.  I asked people to pray with me.  It was a simple prayer.

And people prayed.  They went beyond that – some shared the prayer.  I wasn’t expecting that.  Since I started last week, I’ve posted a prayer just about every day except for the weekend.  And people kept praying with me and sharing the prayer.

And then yesterday I saw someone I didn’t know post the prayer.  Let’s just say that in this short period since this has been going on, I’ve learned a few things.

First, people want to pray.  I think there is a desire for prayer.  I think most people believe they don’t have the words though.  Guess what – you do.  Even when you fumble through a prayer.  God’s not looking for perfection.  Just open the Bible and you’ll see a whole bunch of imperfect people that God employs to carry out God’s will.

You want to know how to pray and what to say – here’s the directions.  1. Take a moment and be still and listen.  2. Start talking to God about whatever comes to you mind – even if it starts off like this – “I don’t know what to say God.”  Guess what, you’ll go from there.  starting is the key.  3. When you’re done, say Amen, or talk with you later.  That works too.

Second, prayer is powerful.  But not in an earthly power way.  It’s powerful because it can change things.  No, the situations I have been praying about haven’t changed.   But that’s not the point.  Situations are made up of people.  And what I’m finding is that people changed through prayer.  Here’s what I mean by this.

I’ve been changed by these prayers.  That’s a big part of the reason I started – to change me.  I felt God nudging me to more prayer.  To be more in alignment with God.  Here’s the amazing thing about prayer – especially public prayer.  You can’t pray for someone and then turn around and seek vengeance or spew heated rhetoric on a person.  You can’t pray for calm and peace and then turn around and start shouting.  Prayer forces you to change.  Prayer forces you to act with integrity and consistency.  Prayer changes you.

I think there is this false idea about prayer out there in pop culture that prayer is nothing more than just asking God for something.  And people get disappointed when they don’t get what they prayed for.  That’s not prayer – that’s Amazon.com.

Prayer does involve petitioning God, but it’s different.  It’s hard to explain too.  Prayer starts with the notion that it’s not about me.  Prayer is listening just as much as it is talking to or with God.  Prayer is acknowledging our fears and limitations and that we just don’t know all that much.  Prayer is voicing what we think is best for us and being honest about it, but realizing that what we think is best for us, may not actually be (and usually isn’t).  Prayer is about being open to God’s will for our lives – and let me tell you – sometimes that really sucks.

But I wouldn’t change that for anything.

So I’m going to continue this daily prayer thing.  I encourage you to offer your own prayers.  I’d love to pray with you.  I don’t have a monopoly on prayer here.  Actually, the more people that pray, the better, as far as I’m concerned.  To me that means more lives will be changed.  And if enough lives change, situations change.

I set up a Twitter account where I post the daily prayer also.  I figured that for the prayer to truly be public, it should go beyond just the people I’m connected to on facebook.  If you care to join in prayer through Twitter, I can found at @dailyprayer16.

But more importantly, pray with me – please.  Don’t just read the words – pray them.  Share your own prayer and share it with me.  I want to pray with you.  People need prayer.  I need prayer.  People need to hear prayers.  People want to be changed.  Don’t underestimate how God can change people.  Let’s pray.