My Prayer for America

This Easter helped me put some things I’ve been thinking about into perspective.

I realize that we’re up against some seriously evil powers intent on destroying everything decent in our nation, with good people and institutions all that stands in their way. However, we can’t defeat those who wish us harm all by ourselves, and must turn to God if we expect to win this fight for the soul of America.

So here is my heartfelt prayer for this country of ours:

Digging Deeper for Lent, Week 1: “World Magazine”

This past Sunday on this blog, I was musing over all the words, words, words we take in without doing–or even expecting to do–anything about them. Shouldn’t Christians be seeking out words which will in-FORM us: our opinions, our character, our beliefs?

So as a different sort of Lenten mid-week post, I’ve decided to feature one book, periodical, website or author each week. We’ll profile writers or publications whose words inspire, challenge and “inform”, as a way to encourage us to choose to read more deeply (rather than widely) for the next 40 days.

Alternative lifestyle leads to Olympic gold

Who knew? I’m ALSO living an “Alternative Lifestyle”.

Welcome to the new-and-improved United States of America, where traditional maturity and responsible decision-making are now considered to be “counter-cultural”…

The Thread of Faith

“May I feel the thread?” asked Curdie.

“Here it is,” said Irene, guiding his fingers to where she was holding the thin, shimmering strand.

“I feel nothing!” he exclaimed.

Irene looked at him, sad and solemn. “And so you still do not believe me. But I do feel it. And aren’t you glad? I found you in that cave, and brought you out, and I couldn’t have done it without the thread.”

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Scene from all for One’s production (2/6/14)

Sometime later, Irene led Curdie to see her great-great grandmother. But Curdie could neither see nor hear her. Sure that Irene was mocking, he stormed off home. “I’m obliged to you for getting me out of that hole, Princess. But I wish you hadn’t made a fool of me afterwards!”

“What does it all mean, Grandmother?” sobbed Irene.

“It means, my love, that Curdie is not yet able to see some things…in the meantime, you must be content to be misunderstood for awhile. We are all of us very anxious to be understood. But there is one thing much more necessary:  to understand other people.”

(Retold from The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald)

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Each time I heard the above lines spoken onstage, it was well-nigh impossible not to think of that famous prayer:

A Brief Celebration of Marriage

Since this is Valentine’s Weekend, and last Sunday was Worldwide Marriage Day, it seems appropriate to celebrate one of the greatest gifts that God ever gave to us: marriage. 

I stumbled across a brief sermonette by Jonathan Bartlett of Bartlett Publishing, which was given at his brother-in-law’s wedding. It hits on themes which are, sadly, too rarely heard in our society nowadays:

Hearing His Voice

“Do you have a second? I’ve talked to several other friends, and a bunch of family members. Heck, I even talked to a stranger about it. No one was any help so far. 

So, I wanted to get YOUR opinion.”

These were the opening words from a friend of mine recently. He was visibly bothered by something, and I wanted to help him. Although…I admit that I chuckled more than just a little at also realizing I was, apparently, his absolute LAST RESORT.

(Before I continue, I should probably note here that my friend has just opened his heart to Jesus, and is still very young in the Faith.)

“What do YOU think about your choices?” I asked. And without going into the whole conversation, over the next 10 minutes I watched and listened as the voices of Reason, Conscience, Fear and Pride influenced my friend’s thoughts and words.

He concluded with, “See?  This is why I am SO confused!”

Society and the “Halfway Decent” Samaritan

What’s happened to us?

Recently, a report concerning a man being shot at a convenience store gained headlines. No, not (sadly) because being shot in front of a convenience store in-and-of-itself was unusual, but rather due to the behavior of the customers who subsequently WALKED OVER his body, in the doorway:

 

I thought this must be some sort of unthinkably sick prank, until I read the following account. It seems that this actually occurred back in 2012, and we’re only seeing the video now because the shooter is on trial:

(via The UK Daily Mail) – “…Shocking surveillance footage shows the moment that a man who had been shot was stepped over by customers at a convenience store. Jheryl Wright, 31, was fatally shot in September 2012 as he left a shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Deliver Us…

“He’s his own worst enemy…”, I mumbled to myself.

And it does seem to be true: he’s a slave to his own desires, no matter how destructive; blind to the warning signs posted on the road he travels; deaf to the wise counsel offered by family and friends.

Who was I talking about? It doesn’t matter, really, because my next thought was: Aren’t we all our own worst enemy? After all, what the apostle preached surely applies to each of us: