Guest Blog - Praying for a Better Prayer Life

This is a guest post from Kyle Holt of The New Parables and The Bible in Rhyme. From his blog: Each person is called to use the talents God gave us; to be a voice of one calling out in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for Him.”

I fall short in my prayer life. My wife says the same, as do a lot of my friends. Despite the fact that we are called to be in prayer constantly, it is a struggle setting aside time to speak to and listen to God. I feel like a poor example of a good prayer life. But I have a great mentor.

He’s not prideful. He is not vain. He is probably the happiest and most faithful person I know. However, he can be really, really selfish. But that can be excused, as he is only two years old. He is my son, Noah. One of the most beautiful and inspiring things about my son is that he reminds my wife and I to pray. At every mealtime he holds his little hands out to each side and says, “Prayers?” And he wants to make sure we say the right prayer, the one he is familiar with:

“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.”

We had Pastors Andrew and Nicole over for dinner one night, and I began saying a different prayer. Noah was having none of that. He started trying to interrupt me so that we made sure we said his prayer. It was important to him that he participate. And it was wonderful to see that prayer was important to my son so early in life.

At nap time and bedtime, Noah knows that after we read our third story, it’s time for prayers. So he stretches out his hands again, and we say a different prayer. It’s a modification of a prayer my parents taught me as a little boy.

“Dear God, we love You. Protect us. God bless Mommy and Daddy, little Noah, grandmas and grandpas, Uncle Bryce and Aunt Amanda, cousins and friends, and everyone in the whole wide world. And all the puppies. Amen!”

The ‘puppies’ part was imperative to him, and the Amen is always emphatic.

Christ tells us that we must be like little children when we come to him, and in my son I see how true this is. His faith is unwavering, unquestioning, unintentional, unrelenting, unshakable, and undeniable.

If my faith were but a mustard seed, I know I could move mountains. My son’s faith shakes the ground I walk on. If each adult I knew prayed with the fervent intensity that I see in my son, his little friend, or the masses of children I see at church, I guarantee this world would be a better place.

God, I ask that You help me pray like my son. That You forgive me for not giving You the time You deserve. And God, help me not forget those puppies too.

AMEN!

Speedlinking - April 2, 2008

• The Carbon Credit Crunch makes a provocative comparison of carbon credits with a church practice.
• How could existing congregations respond positively to new congregations in their area? Check out - How Would You Respond?
• This is very cool - Brian Dettmer’s insanely creative Book Autopsies.
• An insightful take on politics and religion at Obama gets it: The church is not just its preacher.
• Kem Meyer passes along Google’s design guidelines.
• Robin Russell interviews Adam Hamilton about his new book at Q & A: Finding that place in the middle.
• Joseph Yoo is looking for thoughts on reaching non and nominally religious young adults - What Would You Do?
• Managing Urgencies from Seth Godin - Is this your church?
• Recipe For a Road Trip tells the story of the Resurrection IT team preparing to head out on the road.

Sex, Gender and the Bible

On Sunday night, Nicole and I had the great opportunity to be a part of a small group teaching from the newly released - Prayer: A Small Group Curriculum. I had a great time.

I received a follow up email from Nelson, a member of the group, from a conversation that we had that evening. He had some questions as a follow up from watching a few videos on YouTube. They are:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W81H4scyEc
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATrl2HWUJO0

I listened to several minutes of each video and my sense is that the main topic being raised here is that of intersexuality and the way that gender is addressed in the Bible.

This is a topic around which I do not profess to have expertise, but I will do my best to respond to the topic. I believe that gender in the Bible is identified as male and female. I do not believe that there is any reference to the possibility of intersexuality. This may be partly a result of the scientific worldview at the time - not having any idea about chromosome arrangements.

I believe that God created humans as male and female. What does this mean for those who experience intersexuality or are transgender? God loves each person - no qualifications. As a Christian, I am called to show God’s love to others, to help others on their journey of discipleship and to receive help in my journey. I am called to perfect love of God and neighbor.

I recognize that I did not nearly address this topic comprehensively. This is a subject around which I continue to think, grow and learn. What do you think?

How to Give an Offering Invitation

I had a conversation yesterday evening with Ben about different ways of giving an offering invitation as a part of a worship service. I want to think first about what means to give financially to the church. I have ranked these in order of priority / importance.

Giving financially to a local community of faith is:

1. An act of worship
2. An act of discipleship
3. Participating in God’s mission in and to the world
4. A part of the life of the community (inclusive of the first three on this list)
5. Supporting of the staff and structure of the local church.
6. Supporting of the staff and structure of the denomination.

An invitation to offering should include:

1. A focus on giving as an act of worship, discipleship and mission.
2. No distinction for visitors and non-visitors. The most important reasons for giving are an opportunity for members and non-members, first time visitors or long time attenders.
3. Logistic instructions on how one might be able to give.

How you understand the purpose of the offering will shape how it happens. I have experienced worship in which financial gifts are received in plates that are passed among the congregation, one brings financial gifts forward to give after receiving communion, and there is the opportunity to give in a box in the back of the worship space. There are pros and cons to each of these methods.

At Resurrection, we pass plates to receive the offering during the worship service. At some services, there is a distinction made between visitors and attenders. I think that when I have the opportunity to lead this part of the service in the future I will not make that distinction.

What do you think? What have I left of the lists above? What should be removed or reordered?