Pages

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Spontaneous or Planned Bedtime Prayer?

“Now I lay me down to sleep…”

If you grew up in a Christian home there’s a good chance your childhood bedtime routine included prayer with your parents. Perhaps you routinely prayed something like the words written above or maybe your prayer involved giving thanks for all the good things that happened that day. Some of us prayed at the side of our beds with our parents. Others prayed while in bed, mom or dad sitting on the edge of the bed. It was all part of a very comforting routine, an expectation in any “good” Christian household.

As a parent of teenaged boys I no longer can get away with the old wrote repetition prayers. How do I keep the routine going without it ringing hollow, nothing more than a habit passed along by tradition? Perhaps I should plan what we will say each night, avoiding the memorized prayers in order to bring something of substance before the throne of grace. If not a planned prayer, perhaps bedtime should involve something more spontaneous and less routine. After all, payer is a conversation with God. I do not want my kids asking me the same question over and over again night after night. Why would God want to hear the same non-petition night after night after night?

Of course the old standby routine prayers are good for helping younger children establish the habit of going to God in prayer. Yet, as they get older it seems like there is a need for something else. A little planning and a lot of listening can become an avenue for helping them learn to open their hearts to God. With the opportunity to speak openly with him about the things in life that concern them, perhaps prayer might become more real and meaningful. As a parent, spontaneous prayer might even afford the opportunity to get to know my children a little better by hearing what they lift up to God in prayer.

Moving forward our bedtime prayers are going to be a lot less routine. Some nights I will think ahead of time about concerns the children have expressed or about things that are on my heart concerning them. At other times we will just wing it, saying whatever is on our hearts. Whether planned ahead of time or spontaneous, our prayers will not follow the same wrote pattern of the past. I look forward to seeing how God responds as my children learn to earnestly seek him.

What do you think and what is involved in your family’s bedtime routine?

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Yes, We Should Pray Following Tragedies, And What We Should Do After Prayer

 We have repeated this cycle way too often. This year alone we have had eighteen (based on how certain groups count) or eight (as counted by those who are quick to correct the other groups) school related shootings. And after each, as well as after the other gun related tragedies, we fall into a cycle. That cycle starts with a number of individuals, both famous and unknown, asking for prayer for the comfort of those involved in the tragedies. This is followed by those who declare that the time for prayer is long past and it is time for action. In fact, for people of faith, it is time for both. So in the shadow of our most recent tragedy it is time to pray and to ask what we should do after the “Amen.”

Yes We Should Pray

“Let’s remember to pray,” has publically reached the point where it is no different than saying, “I understand,” when in reality the person saying it does not understand. Saying anything about prayer has become and empty platitude, no more meaningful than asking someone how they are doing when you do not expect (or want) the truth. The impression the world has of our offer of prayer seems to be that we want to look like we are doing something while not really doing anything. Prayer is seen as running away from the problem instead of dealing with reality.

Ironically prayer is the single most powerful thing a believer can do in light of what we see happening in our nation...in our world. The Bible is full of promises of what will happen if God’s people turn to Him. Our God is wise and mighty, having an answer to all our problems if we seek Him wholeheartedly. In the process we are brought into alignment with His will, praying beyond the simple (but important) “Bring comfort to…,” and moving to praying for the very solutions we so need.

What We Should Do After Prayer?

The people who make up the Body of Christ are God’s hands and feet on earth. As a result, part of the answer to our prayers about school shootings involves getting off the pews and responding as God calls. This is the history of the church where believers, moved by convictions of faith, have always been active in helping their neighbors during times of great need. During the plagues, Christians stood in the face of epidemic helping those who had become too weak to help themselves. In the process they risked their own lives while ministering to people suffering with a contagious and deadly illness. Christians like William Wilberforce stood with the abolitionists in fighting the injustice of slavery, risking reputation and status. In both cases believers felt it important to move as God’s hands, even at the risk of life and limb.

Our nation needs Christians to stand for our children today. True some may be called only to prayer. Some will be called to become active in schools, another adult to stand with the staff. Others will be called to contact local politicians, speaking up so that the voice of the church is not limited to those who try to elbow everyone else out of the public square. God will call some to do a combination of things or to do something not listed here. The fact is that prayer helps bring us in line with God where we will hear His call to do on His behalf.

So yes it is time for prayer. Just make sure you earnestly seek God with a heart that is open to acting as He calls. With a loving and obedient heart you will become the answer by which God moves prayer from a knee jerk reaction to a movement for change that will have a long lasting impact on our communities. Pray earnestly for results. Then follow your convictions with action as God leads.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Second Time Around, Enjoying the Eagles' Win

I was called a front-runner as I searched for someone with whom I could celebrate the Super Bowl win. I grew up watching the Bears, having suffered a number of ups and downs. I still remember the season where the head coach kept changing quarterbacks like a baseball manager making changes on the mound. Then there was the season where so many Bears' QB's got injured that legendary running back Walter Payton had to run the offense out of the shotgun. After years of frustration the Bears won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately at the start of that season I moved to Atlanta to go to school.

There were very few Bears' fans in Atlanta in 1986 so I was alone in celebrating that win. I missed the parades and the interviews with crying and excited fans. I missed the build up during the '85 season, the excitement and the doubts as a defense that struggled early in the season became one of the best ever. I missed all the fun and excitement in Chicago as the Lombardi trophy took its place in Halas Hall. It hurt to miss out. I felt like I was not a part of things: a fan with no real connection. Having a (jealous) classmate call me a front-runner only added to the pain.

I still have an allegiance to the Bears but having lived in Philadelphia for 30 years I have grown quite fond of midnight green (kelly green as well). No, 30 years is not as long a time as some of the Eagles' fans in the area have suffered, but after not celebrating a win for 32 years I am ready for the festivities. I look forward to being in town for my second time around celebrating a Super Bowl win. This time I get to celebrate with millions of fans. I won't be alone and I don't expect to be called a front-runner. This time around I am going to drink it all in, truly enjoying the celebration.

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!

Friday, February 2, 2018

Super Bowl LII

I will get to my Super Bowl pick in a minute but first I have to get a few things off my chest.

I have heard it all season long. After every game I heard it said, “The Eagles have not played anyone.” It was as if Eagles’ fans are not supposed to enjoy the 2017 season because of the schedule crafted by the NFL. How is it that the Eagles’ wins did not count. Now, after defeating the defending NFC champions and team with the best defense in the league, the Eagles are one of only two teams remaining. What do they have to do for the naysayers to admit this is a good team? Is being in Super Bowl LII enough or do they have to win? Is a win enough or does it have to be a blowout?

Then there are the comments about Eagles’ fans. Yes, fans were quite naughty in throwing snowballs at Santa...back in 1968! Yes, there is a group of fans whose conduct can only be described as embarrassing. But that 1% does not speak for the other 99% who are excited about the game but disciplined. That 1% is a minor story at best, especially in light of accusations that the Patriots have in the past used some rather...unique…tactics to win championships. The focus on the fans is nothing more than a distraction. The game will be won or lost on the field.

On the field I expect to see a great game. The Eagles’ defense ranks among the best. Their offense scored rather handily against this year’s best defense. On the other sideline are the Patriots who we all know will be ready. The Pats know how to win and even with a sore hand, Brady is the best. But football is normally won at the line of scrimmage where I think the Eagles are better on both sides of the ball. That being said, will the Eagles play a full four quarters?

This season has been full of very slow starts by the Eagles, with many situations where the Eagles tried (and sometimes succeeded) in beating themselves. The Patriots will not make many mistakes nor will they take any part of this game off. If the Eagles play four quarters and cut down on their own mistakes, this is a winnable game. I think they pull it off.

Eagles 24 Patriots 21