Head-dibs

"He who seeks to burn out for God will have to go deeper than sentence prayers and occasional wishful thinking."--Vance Havner As I post this blog, my mind is filled with inadequate illustrations that have bubbled to the surface--I can't seem to find the way to say what is on my mind and heart. The irony of this is this very experience begins to describe what I want to express here--just add in the concept of the "contempt of familiarity" and you have it! I know, you must think I've lost it, so read on . . . or don't. It's my blog and I can cogitate if I want to. It has been suggested that Isaiah's response to God (" Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts ." Is 6:5) is a model of reverence when face-to-face with God. I have to disagree. I think Isaiah's response is much closer to watching a person come within a...

"The Lord takes our prayers not by number, but by weight."--John Preston (1587 - 1628). One major difference between the animist (or pagan) and the Christian is seen in the practice of prayer. The one prays out of fear, because of imbalances of impersonal powers, impurities or weaknesses, seeking that someone else (a "professional" of sorts) intercede on his behalf. The other prays out of delight, because of weakness, dependency and because the way is open to the other person (God) who is hearing. "You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;" (Ps 91:5) David wrote, "To You who hears prayer, all flesh comes." (Ps. 65:2) and "The LORD is near all those who call on Him, all those who call on Him in truth." (Ps. 145:18). Remember that one scene in "Bruce Almighty" when Jim Carrey realizes there is more to being "God" than simply having "powers?" Suddenly his mind and ears...

Ro 8:26-27 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”[1] I've spent the last few days meditating on what this verse says about prayer and I am discovering the more I think about it, the more I appreciate what it says. Understanding this verse follows the fact that Jesus understands what life is like, therefore the Holy Spirit understands and because He understands what life is like, the Spirit knows exactly how to pray. Knowing the Holy Spirit is sent alongside to help (John 14:16) gives great comfort knowing that He is not operating out of omniscient divinity alone, but as one who was fully man-He knows how to help our infirmities! This makes the Lord's Prayer of John 17 much more meaningful-He was doing for ...

Luke 11:5-10 and 18:1-8 Jesus uses these two parables to teach about persistence in prayer. What stands out is how Jesus creates his pictures using descriptions of people very much unlike God! First, the friend who disturbs the midnight slumber of another for a loaf of bread--and he gets it because of persistence, not because of the friendship. Second, the unrighteous (!) judge who grants the requests of a lady because she would wear him out with asking. If relunctant friends or unrighteous judges honor persistence, why would God not? This seems to suggest that we are heard for the cry of our hearts much more than for our words. What technique or mantra did the friend use for the midnight bread? Parenting brings out further insights concerning persistence in prayer. One child of mine has the habit of asking simply to receive--and the asking is persistent. But, just because one asks to points far exceeding irritation does not mean that one will get what is asked for. Motive is enough--i...

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph 6:18) No kind of prayer is disallowed. Generally speaking, conversation with God in every form is acceptable; that is, talking with God requires no one posture, circumstance, place or time. What is disqualified however is mindless, meaningless prayer. Though the Spirit intercedes with groaning does not mean we just mystically "open up" in something we call "prayer" and let the Spirit do the rest. We don't close our eyes and go for the warm fuzzy. God would no more pay attention to this rude interruption of true prayerfulness than you or I would pay attention to someone who steps uninvited into a dialogue only to deliver blank stares. Prayer is not a thoughtful contemplative sigh that "only God understands". Prayer is not just breating in and out thinking that something spiritual is taking...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” When I first heard this verse, I understood this to mean exactly what it says—never stop praying. Someone once said that "prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give but an occasional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might." To borrow from an earlier illustration, I once understood that to "pray without ceasing" meant, in effect, “exhale always.” This only leads to at least one of two results: 1) God could not get a word in edgewise as one would never listen; and 2) one will reach a point where he will pass out. Here is what other people understand what this verse means: Fausset and Jamison hold to my former postion: “The Greek is, “Pray without intermission”; without allowing prayerless gaps to intervene between the ...

Reading through the gospels, one gets a glimpse into the life of Christ as well as a glance into the lives of those who came into contact with Him. What strikes me immediately is that historically, the Jews had a history of “remnants”; that is, God spoke to the fathers and the prophets in many portions and in many ways and had a rather small following of obedience. Historically, we have little or no evidence that the nation ever carried out the moral, civil or ceremonial laws God established. While speaking to people on a grand scale through so many means, a handful of people ever followed through on what He said and expected. The same is true when God became flesh and dwelt among us—of the multitudes that followed, there was a small core that He called to Himself and stayed closest to Him. Thinking of the disciples, they had so many “issues”. Jesus had to take them by the hand so many times, sat them down and explained quietly things He did and said. Of all He said and did, the practi...

If you've not read the previous two blogs, please do so now (they are not long, but will help makes sense of this post). I confessed it. I am a practical humanist. I told God He is insufficient by supplanting Him with me. I told God that all He has done for me is not enough by relying on my own strength and methods. I draw my resources from the prosperity of America and not from provisions of my Father, who knows how to give His children all good things. I satisfy myself with the glories of the physical realm and have no regard for the heavenly. I presume on the grace of God instead of depending on the grace of God. I confuse earthly successes with heavenly blessings. I live as if God was not necessary. Here are 10 steps to becoming a practical humanist: 1) Swap out God for another, cheaper, more economic one; 2) Model your new god after anything that works for you—you will worship it when you are alone, mostly; 3) Wear the name of God proudly, but don’t associate yourself or your ...

Is prayer a simple matter as "inhale" (suck it in!) and "exale" (blow it out!), as simple as talking and listening? Perhaps this is too simple. Well, let's see: must I talk? Must I listen? Put it another way: must I inhale? Must I exhale? If breathing is not optional to my survival, why do I think prayer is? (Maybe it is not so simple) Breathing is an atmospheric response: outside pressure is exerted against the lungs and we are forced to draw air. Holding our breath is holding out against pressure--we must take a breath, or one will be taken for us (unless we pass out or die from asphyxiation). I actually tend to hold my breath, going as long as I can on what is on my lungs. I do this without knowing until suddenly I find myself gasping for air. I can be working at my desk, driving, or working outside and suddenly I realize what has happened and I must take a moment to catch up. I tend to do this in my Christian practice as well. So if you find me lying down sp...

Sorry for not posting for a while. I have been so busy that blogging has fallen by the wayside. All things related to work, teaching Sunday School, Introduction to Christian Ethics, running our Harvest Hope agency and all other family matters in between have been keeping me busy. I am reading a book on prayer (among so many others) called "Alone with God" by Dr. John MacArthur. I intend to post my thoughts stemming from my Bible reading and supplimental reading from the book. Here is the first installment: ************ Free time and the ways it disappears was the subject about which I was going to write. Stepping back to consider the matter, I suddenly realize that "free time" is illusionary. What I mean is that "free time" should not exist--the concept is a cultural phenomenon. Theologically speaking, time and its stewardship should be theocentric (God-centered) and each moment should be filled with God-ward thoughts. This is one principle of the Sabbath....