Thinking about prayer lists:

Something To Think About Prayer Lists:

A bit of a warning, today's STTA is a bit more Theologically oriented than general.  I hope you'll read it and think about it, but you have been warned.   An old story tells about an un-churched man attending a small church prayer meeting.  As frequently is the case, this meeting involved more talking about what to pray about than it did actual praying.  After the faithful shared lists of prayer requests, and gave reports of answers to prayer, and other reasons for thanks, the newcomer announced, "Sure sounds like gossip to me." Yep.  I've been in that kind of "prayer meeting."  I've probably been the guilty party on more than one occasion. One of the modern concepts about prayer that is taken for absolute truth is the need for specificity in prayer.  "How will I know what to pray for, if you don't tell me?" is a question/rebuke that is often heard from prayer-warriors.  In response, folk who are very aware of the need for prayer--and in this regard there are two kinds of folk:  those who are aware that they need prayer and those who have an equal need but don't think about it--say things like, "Please pray specifically. . . ." It would be great if this started a profitable conversation about prayer.  I know I need to learn a great deal more about prayer.  Even more, I just need to learn to pray more.  And, I'm more aware than I ever have been of my need for prayer to be offered on my behalf.   I'm wondering, for instance, if our insistence on specificity in prayer has more to do with our addiction to instant information than it does with what the Bible teaches about prayer.  I've been reading about, and praying for a missionary friend who is in a dangerous, difficult place.  I was glad to see, this morning, that last night was uneventful.  I prayed accordingly.  As I read accounts from a couple of sources about my friend's situation I was reminded of some accounts of long-ago missionary service.  Some of those missionaries in the islands of the vast stretches of the Pacific would give a letter to a ship captain in hopes that it would eventually reach a church or a loved one.  Letters would contain news of sickness. Often the ailing person was dead and long buried, or miraculously cured, by the time the letter reached its destination.  Wasprayer a viable practice in that time--and historically, that is most of the time--before specific information could be swapped in what amounts to real time? When Jesus taught us to pray, He only implied specificity.  "Give us this day our daily bread." wouldn't pass muster with many prayer list makers (and one of my tasks today is to edit the prayer list for tomorrow's meeting).  "Do you need (want) white, whole-wheat, or rye?  Anybody in your family gluten-intolerant?  How many loaves would you think you need?"  That instruction about asking in prayer for daily bread is an invitation to make our needs known to our heavenly Father.  It is reinforced, by the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 4:6, ". . . let your requests be made known."  Still, based on the prayers in the Bible that I do read, I don't imagine Jesus staying up all night or the Apostle Paul "praying always"  going through long lists that included things like Peter's bunion, or Timothy, weak stomach and all, staying well through the Sunday School picnic at Ephesus. Jesus prayed that His followers be kept in the name of God, that Christ's joy would be made full in them, for protection from the evil one, that they would be made holy by the truth, and that they would be united (see here).  When the Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians at Ephesus, he asked that God, "from his glorious, unlimited resources . . . will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. [that] . . . Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. [that their] roots will grow down into God’s love and [that they be kept] strong. . . . And . . . have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is, [and that they] . . . be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:16–19).  The fact is not only am I ignorant of what you need, and therefore what I ought to pray about, but so are you. I wonder.  In my quest for specific prayer requests am I in danger of specifically missing what the Lord says I ought to request?   It's Something to Think About. Find out about Christ's power to redeem here.

The Lord's Prayer, Preacher Boys, & Old Cabinet Makers:

Something To Think About, The Lord's Prayer, Preacher Boys, & Old Cabinet Makers:

It used to be common in my part of church-world to refer to young men in Bible college as "preacher boys."  I can remember some sweet blue-haired ladies referring to me that way.  It was a good thing.  If they referred to you as "My preacher boy,"  you could figure some homemade cookies were on the way.  I was privileged to spend about five hours with a group of preacher boys, lecturing on the art of preaching, and some basic survival skills for pastors.  If any of you preacher boys are reading this please don't be insulted.  I was really impressed with how much they don't know.  That's why I was invited to share with them.  If you pay even a moderate amount of attention to something that you do all your life you learn something about it. Yesterday I was privileged to preach from Luke 11, The Lord's Prayer.  (You can watch a video or download an mp3 here.)  As I worked through this thirty-seven word prayer I was impressed with how much I don't know.  I don't mean about my attempt to preach this message, though that is abundantly true.  The ignorance I am talking about is at the core of the overall teaching of the Bible on prayer.  This sample prayer from our Lord is in the mainstream of that doctrine.  It is abundantly clear that prayer is not about me getting what I want, but God getting what He deserves.  That makes sense, even on a self-serving level, because I'm too ignorant to know what I need. The prayer opens with the word "Father."  While we may begin our prayers in a similar way, if we are honest, we'll admit our initial thought is not about God, Who He is, and what His plans are for this world, rather we begin with thoughts of ME, what I want, and my plans to mold this world into a place that will give me the most fun.  If we think of God at all, it is along the lines C. S. Lewis expressed, We want Him to be not a Heavenly Father, but a Heavenly Grandfather--somebody less interested in making us endure something that is good for us, and more willing to indulge us by allowing us to get what we declare as good--as in FUN.  Fathers make us eat vegetables.  Grandfathers take us out for ice cream.  Several times I told my young preacher friends that they needed to know they don't know.  They would be wise to listen to someone who knows more than them--at this point I was referring to their real teacher and the author of a book they were assigned to read.   One of the problems with being ignorant is we are ignorant of our ignorance.  As my late father-in-law told me about a master cabinet maker he was privileged to work for, the old craftsman said, "You forget what you know, and let me teach you." The Lord's prayer in Luke 11 begins with two requests that have to do with God.        "Father, may your name be honored;      may your kingdom come.” (Luke 11:2, NET)   "But," I hear myself saying, "there is all this stuff I want, even things that I need.  People treat me badly.  I brought my list."  As I preached yesterday I heard a voice.  It sounded a lot like what I told the preacher boys, or the counsel the old master shared with my Father-in-law, "Child, trust me, you don't know how to do this.  This is how you start."   Seeing my impatience my Father looks at me with loving eyes.  "Trust me.  This is really what is most important." I won't preach the message again.  I'll just leave you with this. Do you really think that you know better than the God of the Universe what ought to be happen in this world? It's STTA. You can read the Lord's lesson on prayer here.  The Lord's Prayer as recorded in Matthew is found here.

Young guys and old guys praying together:

Something To Think About, 4 Generations of Pray-ers:

“Is it OK if I come to Prayer Meeting?” I’ve been a pastor all of my adult life, and off the top of my head I don’t recall ever hearing that question asked, before.  The question came from a grade-school aged boy.  He has come to our mid-week prayer and Bible study time in the past, but on those occasions he has attended with his dad.  His dad couldn't come on this particular night, thus the inquiry.  I assured the youngster that we would be glad to have him be a part of our meeting.  At this time of year our Prayer Meeting runs parallel with a ladies’ Bible study so, though our gathering is open to women, it tends to be a guys thing.  We aren’t a big group.  Last night there were four generations of males—a couple sixty-somethings, an assortment of forties & fifties, a mid-twenty, and my young friend.  We explored worship from Psalm 33—the how and the why.  Praising the Lord is what God’s people ought to do.  It is fitting.  We worship because of Who God is, His word, and His works.  Praising God is not an option it is a command.  We prayed.   We are a needy people.  The list of prayer requests that come our way always makes that clear.  We live in a world of breakdown—physically, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, nationally, every-which-way-ly.  Your name may not have been on our list, but we prayed for you.  My young prayer-partner had a picture of the family of a friend of his.  I’ve never met the folk, but I prayed for them last night.  I’m praying again as I type this.  It’s what men of God do.  “Is it OK if I come to Prayer Meeting?”  Big time, Yes, Absolutely! Why should a youngster come to what most would regard as a totally boring, absolutely irrelevant meeting, something that is completely over his head? To learn to be a man, a Christian man, a male of a breed that is perilously close to extinction—species Prayerasaurus:  one who is convinced that the command for “men in every place to pray” (1 Timothy 2:8) hasn’t exceeded its shelf-life--that, and to greatly encourage a gray-haired preacher. It's STTA.

State of the (Un)Union:

Something To Think About, The State of the Union:

Like many of you, I watched President Obama deliver the State of the Union speech last night. At the end of the address, the President appealed for a "better politics."  The variety of opinion on the plea is a clear indication that our Union is not unified.  Some applaud the President's extension of an "olive branch," hoping that the obstructionist Republican congress will be willing to respond in kind.  Other's cite President Obama's threats of vetoes and view his request to play ball with suspicion. Such is politics.  Beyond the applause for the heroic sacrifice of our armed forces and the patriotic pride about our Kennedy-esque, renewed space-program, there were few elements of the speech that rang everyone's bell--"Liberty" or otherwise. Here is my appeal to God's people for political unity:    “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, NASB95)   It's STTA.

Praying and Praising

Something To Think About, Praying and Praising:

My co-pastor and I have been working through a series on prayer recently.  In part we have been dealing with some of the idiocy that is taught about the subject.  The view some folk have of prayer would cause it to end up being like one of those face-offs of wizards or witches that sometimes occur in fantasy movies.  The bearded ones, pointy hats in place face off and hurl lightning bolts at one another to see which one really has the most power.  Many folk think the power of prayer is me learning the proper power-techniques so that I can get God to do what I want.  So we've got prayer warrior A naming-and-claiming, rebuking the forces of foul weather, and praying through for sunshine for the Sunday School picnic.  Meanwhile right next door prayer-master B has grabbed hold of the horns of the altar and won't turn loose until God sends rain for the corn. Do we really want to live in a world where God suspends His omniscience, in order to use Hisomnipotence to do the bidding of creatures who are inherently selfish and who are horribly limited in what they can see in terms of both space and time? In the model prayer Jesus says that we should pray, "Thy will be done." Surrender. Prayer is not my manipulation of God.  It is my submission to Him. The great wonder and mystery is that God chooses to use our prayers to accomplish His will, and when His plan unfolds we are in a unique position to praise God for what He has done.             For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction . . . but [God] . . .delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.  (2 Corinthians 1:8–11)  The end result of the kind of prayer taught in the Bible is not me talking God into what I want, it is me entering into what God is doing, and praising Him for it. It's Something To Think About.

Prayer

Something To Think About Prayer, 9/22

I had the privilege of leading a Bible study at the local jail, today.  I'm thankful to the jail administration for making it possible for the inmates to have input from God's word. As we were starting I told the guys that we would pray together.  I asked them if anybody had any important hearings coming up, or any other matters they would like for me to pray about.  Nobody had any upcoming court appearances.  Several mentioned family on the outside.  Then one guy said, "How about praying that we'll get out?" I think the little gathering was kind of shocked when I said I wasn't going to pray that.  Instead, I said, "I'll pray that what is right would be done."  I went on to explain that I want to live in a world where people who do wrong things are held accountable.  Looking at one guy who had asked that I pray for his grandkids, I mentioned that only in a world where people are accountable for their actions could little children be safe.  Before I was finished most nodded in appreciation, if not agreement with my reply. We are beginning a series on prayer at Covington Bible Church.  Prayer is a spiritual discipline that we don't understand very well, and that many of us don't practice nearly enough. In the prayer that Jesus offered as a model for praying He said, Thy (God the Father) will be done."  My friend at the jail wasn't thinking about God's will, and often I'm not either.  I want what I want, and right now would be just fine. As I tried to explain to my little congregation this morning.  A world where any old preacher or prisoner could order God around would be a messed up world.  I'd rather live in a world where people seek God's will. It's Something to Think About.

TEENWEEK

For most of my 64 years I have been involved in TEENWEEK.  TEENWEEK is a several days long activity for--as the name would imply--teens.  They do all kinds of fun things like, play games, hang out with friends, slide on water-slides, get into a mud-pit, etc. etc.  Here are a couple of videos that shows some of what is going on at this week's TEENWEEK:  here and here. TEENWEEK is the largest assembly of young people between school terms here in our little Mountain community. I feel a bit like a parent watching a grown-up child succeed.  I didn't really startTEENWEEK.  What I did was shamelessly copy TEENWEEKs that others held in other places.  My brother-in-law, a youth pastor, ran a very effective program.  My boys profited greatly from attending it.  They would come home and tell me about stuff Uncle Van was doing, and I'd incorporate it into our program.  I am very pleased that this hyped-up Vacation Bible School for teens is still an effective ministry. Several years ago I got out of the TEENWEEK business.  A group of energetic adults from the sponsoring churches took over and have taken the program beyond what it ever could have been with me running it. One really, really, exiting feature of this week's TEENWEEK actually began last week.  A young man, a TEENWEEK graduate, and his wife decided it would be a great idea to get a group of high-schoolers together for Bible study and prayer in anticipation of this week's big event.  I was privileged to meet with them one evening. Wow! One of the things they decided to do is to meet early every evening, at the venue where that night's TEENWEEK activities will take place, and pray.  These are like my TEENWEEK great grandkids.  The young man I mentioned, his dad came to know the Lord as a result of TEENWEEK.  You know how we grandparents are when it comes to bragging about their grandkids and great-grandchildren.  Let me simply say, "Lead on, kids."  Here are some young people who have come to realize the truth articulated to, and through, the Old Testament prophet:  "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."  (Zechariah 4:6) Kewl! It's STTA:

In The Fullness of Time:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT Galatians 4:4 says when the time was full Christ came.  He didn't come before, because it was not yet, "the fullness of time."  To delay was impossible because the time was right for God the Son to take on human flesh.  God does not rush, and He is never late.  He acts when the time is right.   Out of all the things that we do at Covington Bible Church, the one event that comes nearest to involving everyone in our congregation--the nail drivers, recruiters, goat wranglers, cookie bakers, costume sewers, advertisers, organizers, cd labelers, scene setter-uppers, "go-fers," wire and light stringers, greeters, teachers, actors, hosts, and (breathe deep) many more--is the Live Nativity.  Most of the work to make the Live Nativity happen has already taken place.  Now we are waiting on the weather.  We are scheduled to have three nights of visitors at our event.  I can't remember the last time I have seen a "100% chance of rain" prediction.  That's the forecast I just saw fortomorrow night.   When does God send rain, and when does He bless little churches with totally gorgeous weather like we had for last year's Live Nativity?  I think those things happen at the same time as Christ came, in the fullness of time.   I'm not nearly arrogant or foolish enough to try to explain why God does things, when He does.  Reading the end of Romans 11 will kind of humble you that way  I do know that several conversations that I have had, including a couple with myself, have already revealed that working on the Live Nativity has been a great blessing.  We have been motivated to pray.  We have been able to offer a love-gift to our Lord.  I continue to pray that God will grant us the opportunity to share the message of the incarnation with our community.  There is absolutely a 100% chance that God will remain in control over the next seventy-two hours.  I confess, some of the conversations I have had with myself have been about trying to treat God like a Divine pop-machine--deposit my change in prayer, and demand the result I want.  The problem is, this Live Nativity is all about the coming of the One Who said "Pray like this: . . . Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  He followed that example when He prayed, ". . . nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."   Lord, I'll be honest with you.  I don't want it to rain.  I want us to be able to take guests through our Live Nativity event.  But, Lord, thank You for helping me to be honest with me.  You do things in the fullness of time.  I'm 100% sure that whatever the time is full for You to do will be best.  So even more than I want good weather, I want a good heart--a heart good enough to yield to You. Amen With a wish for the best of Christmases, it's Something To Think About from the Covington Bible Church.

What do you know? Goats really can climb trees!

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I continue to be amazed, and when I think about the fact that I'm amazed, I'm amazed again.   Let me explain. In yesterday's STTA, I mentioned going out on a limb--a metaphor for making a prediction for which I really don't have sufficient data, or authority.   I did a quick web search to look for a picture that illustrated the point, and found this shot of a goat on a tree branch. Don't ask. I have no idea! It looks so impossible--the branch is so small, and who ever heard of a goat climbing a tree--that I figured it was a really skillful photoshop job.  It illustrated my point, though, so, with the disclaimer caption, I included it. Dave Barry used to talk about "Alert readers."  I have them too.  One of those alert readers, wrote back and let me know that my picture of a goat in a tree--and again I quote D.B., "I'm not making this up."--really is a picture of a goat in a tree. 16 Goats In A Tree Here is a video of these marvelous creatures doing their limb walking and hopping.  And both the websitewhere the video is found, and another one here show not only their acrobatics, but tell about their place in the economy and ecology of Morocco.   Why should I be surprised at a tree-climbing goat?  God's world is full of wonders.  Why should I think that because I haven't seen or experienced it, it is therefore unusual?  God and His creation are certainly bigger than me, or my thinking, or even my imagination.   Last weekend Covington Bible Church was privileged to host a three day event for our community--the live Nativity.  I began the weekend with a box of expectations and limitations.  Some of the key people who have been involved in supporting and staffing the event in the past have made choices that prevented them from being involved this year. There is almost always at least one night that is too cold, too wet, too windy, too something for the event. I had watched the event for years.  I had calculated that X number of people was absolute capacity.   My box lies flat.  All four sides splayed out on the ground; the lid lying in splinters from crashing onto my hard head.  Again I ask, "Why am I surprised?  Is God limited by the limits of my expectations?" We asked for suitable weather.  God chose to give us three perfect evenings.  We needed adequate personnel.  The CBC family rose to the occasion.  We ended up handling more than 50% more people than I thought possible, and did so well. I wonder why God makes goats that climb trees, or why He chooses to bless the modest efforts of a group of people so abundantly?  My tentative conclusion is that He does such things, at least in part, to show His surpassing greatness.  For more on that hypothesis, see here, here, and here   Anyhow, It's Something to Think About--knowing you won't figure it out.

The Most Important Thing I'll Do On Election Day:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I have no doubt, that right now, some enterprising business people are gearing up the machinery for a new batch of "Don't blame me" stuff.  You know, bumper-stickers, T-shirts, etc. that say "DON'T BLAME ME.  I VOTED FOR  xxxxx.  Over the past months we have seen incredible examples of blame dodging.  If one is going to be a successful candidate in our modern political world she or he needs to suit up in Teflon.  Every accusation needs to be dodged or parried with "Not my fault," or a "There is the blame!" I just read a prayer by an incredibly Godly, very effective government operative.  What a contrast! If ever one could claim, "It's not my fault!" it was Daniel.  He was just a kid when a conquering force took him and made him a servant to the victorious king.  Everything we read about him indicates that he was a man of sterling character, yet when he prayed (Daniel 9): He confessed the sin of his people.  He saw that the state they were in was because they had not heeded God's warnings. Rather than whine, he acknowledged that what had happened and was happening to his people was just and right. His conclusion was that God keeping His word was much more important than the difficulties in which his people found themselves. (Pretty much the whole prayer) After his confession, Daniel went on to humbly ask the Lord for relief.  He stepped up and did the most effective thing he could do--he prayed.  There was no "You owe me!"  Rather Daniel made this plea:  " . . incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion." (Daniel 9:18) I've heard a number of campaigners and talking news-heads tell me that voting is the most important thing I can do today.  Well, I do plan to vote, but that is far from the most important activity I'll be involved in.  Daniel and I are going to pray.  I encourage you to join us. It's STTA. Find lot's of information about how God stepped into our world to meet needs we cannot meet on our own here.