About Prayer

Has anyone else noticed the immediate rush of thoughts, feelings, that come immediately with certain words?

Prayer is certainly one of these words to which I am referring. All of us have immediate thoughts, feelings, and past experience with this word prayer.

I was thinking also many of us tend to think of prayer in only one way...Failing to see the many sides of prayer, and possibly sides not even discovered. Prayer could be worship, intercession, thanksgiving, supplication, pleading, begging, yelling, silent, and so much more right? You could pray when you walk, run, when your doing the dishes, etc. You can pray in different positions, lying down, standing up, sitting, bowing, etc. You can certainly pray with different emotions or attitude.

I myself am increasingly frustrated with my lack of freshness in prayer. I tend to do the same old thing all the time. The same old requests, in the same old manner, with the same old attitude. However, I've received the best advice I've ever heard on the secret of prayer...This is it...You learn how to pray.... By praying.

I am a beginner when it comes to prayer. The truth is my prayer life didn't exist till this past year. I'm not saying I never prayed, but it certainly wasn't a major priority. The men/women of God who changed this world and made a difference for the kingdom of God talk about prayer much different than I ever have. I used to think "duty" when I heard prayer. It seems to me the great women and men of God found power in prayer. They found it to be a place where you could meet God. They found it to be like oxygen.

The universal church is becoming more committed to prayer than ever before. There is a great book called The Red Moon Rising by Pete Creig about a prayer movement that began 6 years ago now in London. From this single prayer room and vision received there, we have now 24-7 prayer rooms in more than 100 countries ...Check out www.24-7prayer.com

I believe this movement is very close to the heart of God, because its leading us back to utter reliance on Him. Also, these prayer movements are uniting all kinds of people/denominations to one purpose. Preparing the way for the King.

About Evangelism

I had a conversation the other day with my friend Joe about the complexities of...i guess being a Christian today. Specifically though, we talked about evangelism. Evangelism is tricky word. To me it brings a mix of emotions, and most of mine are of the shuddertothinkofwhatitsdoneand become persuasion.

Evangelism brings to mind men using scripture, passion, and logic to push for a decision to get someone saved or get someone in heaven. I have done this. I was one of those type men. I remember pushing for decisions based on emotion. I remember the feeling of being a salesman of Christ, and not a disciple. We don't need to sell Him...we need to abide in Him, and He sells himself through us.

So based on the past hurt caused by evangelism, I propose that evangelism is causing more harm than good, and I submit that we do away with it, and while were at it we should do away with people gifted in evangelism...

Ok, so obviously that isn't the solution.

As I have dialogued with others, and the more I have surrounded myself with people who don't know who Christ is or what He has done for them, I believe that the best thing we Christians can do is to pray and ask God what to do.

As I have been doing that, I truly feel as if the word is saying Christ's example will help us the most. Christ surrounded himself with the sick and lost. We need to get back to that. Christ lived out His gospel. People were drawn to him. They will be drawn to us too if we are unifed in Him.

People aren't drawn to the church today. I believe this is in part due to the lack of unity in the body of Christ...his church. We are not the biblical community God calls us to be. Most people live Sunday to Sunday I fear. Most are living life the way they want to live it. Its that same attitude that is the reason our country gives a new ring to the words "wicked and peverse" generation. If we want to draw them again, maybe we need to realize that we need to get back to basics. For example, getting to know people, being a friend, being kind, showing the love of Christ.

Poverty

What is the big deal about poverty? I was just thinking that to me I feel very indifferent almost to the poor. "Get a job" ..."Do some work" are the type of thoughts that come into my head. I have people who come to my house constantly asking for money, and its hard to know what to do. I always tell myself I'll do something one day to help with that...Someday soon. Problem is we are all so busy with life...We choose not to think about it really. We are unaffected. But the whole issue of poverty in my city,nation, and the world is a big deal. Its a big deal to Jesus, maybe because there are millions of them all over the world. I feel very strongly that all people should make it a concern of there's to better this world and to help a brother who's in need, and let me tell ya...There's a lot in need.

For 5 years now I have been involved in a ministry that takes students to the government housing facilities in downtown Lynchburg. It hasn't taken long to become frustrated with this ministry. On the surface, doing a lot of good things and beyond the surface as well. Many children will remember our kindness and love for years to come. However, their situation and their families hasn't changed at all. These kids don't have fathers...So their mom works all day...Because their mom works all day...She doesn't discipline her kids...Nor does she show them love...So the kids....Do anything for love and acceptance...And lack discipline in school...Years down the road...The lack of discipline leads to fights, alcohol, and drugs...Which lead to getting kicked out of school...Which leads to no career....Which leads to .....It goes on.

How can we really help these families? I feel somewhat helpless as what exactly to do. Yeah, you can do clothes drives, can food drives, etc. What does that really do? Its giving a man a fish, not teaching him to fish. Yeah, we can do nice things in the name of Christ, however, is that it? I don't want the poor to be people who are taken care of...Always, but to become people who will start taking care of others one day...Not just receivers.

My idea is that you all have an idea about this...How can we spark change in our communities? How can we invest in the future? Is it kids? Is it families? Maybe its that we all need to adopt a family? Maybe life on life is the only way? Maybe its communities of people who need to, bands of people who would care enough about one family to invest in them and give as they had need? Is it teaching money management classes? How can we get colleges involved? Is a faith-based initiative something that could serve this purpose to look into? How can we stop this cycle of poverty in our cities? How do we get people to care? How do we get churches to care? Does anyone have any........Ideas?

Friends

I was wondering the other day about my friends. According to my Facebook profile, I have 232 friends and counting. As far as people who truly know me, and who I truly know, the list is much shorter. In fact, I was sitting around with a group of friends the other night and as I looked at them I began to wonder how on earth we became such good friends. That's when it hit me....All my good friends are friends because of encounter.

The encounter I refer to is hard to analyze. In fact, it was different as I began to think with each friend. For example, I am good friends with my friend Lindsay because of a summer when she and I had a conversation in which I fully exposed my hurting and wounded heart to her. She had been gentle and kind with my exposure, and shared with me some of the things that had hurt and wounded her as well. Another e.g., my freshman year I was at a concert with some guys from my hall. They decided they wanted to leave and go off-campus. In the next few minutes an act of kindness and sincerity led me to my friends Jeff and Brent.

As I began to think more and more of these encounters I began to feel more and more encouraged. All of my good friends are friends because we approached each other with a realness, a sincerity of the heart. I have heard it before that if you want friends, go out and be a friend. Well, yes and no, I think if you want true friends, be real, honest, sincere. Listen to people when they talk to you...And be ready for it....Its sneaky and happens very little throughout the day...But then you'll heart it occasionally...Its a delicate moment...sometimes its the first genuine "How was your day" and sometimes its simply listening to someone as they shares to you how they have been hurt. Be careful with those moments....its those moments that have true friend potential.

Rebellion

My soul longs for redemption to occur in my lifetime. Redemption in friendships, families, the body of believers, and in all nations. It's time for the Third Great Awakening or maybe its time for a new thing ...Perhaps The Great Rebellion. I am thinking...Yes and Amen to that, because the rebellion has already begun....

My generations rebellion is different. Our rebellion is grass-roots. Our army is not like any other. Our army is made up of the dead. For we no longer live, but He lives through us. Our rebellion is birthed out of prayer. Our rebellion is against American morals. Our rebellion is against the American Dream. Our rebellion is against the strongholds of the mind. Our rebellion is against legalism. Our rebellion's outcry is that the Lamb be worshipped in all languages, and among all people. We declare that we want to see the Kingdom of God cover the earth like water covers the sea! Our rebellion cares nothing for our own desires.

Our rebellion will not be a revolt against the authorities. Our rebellion isn't against our Master. Our rebellion is in service to the King. Our rebellion requires us to devote ourselves, all of ourselves in service to the King. For his sake we must rid ourselves of all idols. We will give Him our all, for his All.

Our rebellion will take care of the poor, father the fatherless, bind up broken hearts,and feed the hungry. Our rebellion will Shine like the Dawn! Our King will be our rear guard, his righteousness will have our back, and it will go ahead of us, and it will be in us! If only we stand firm, than the Sword of His Spirit will destroy the enemy and their strongholds. He will renew his great deeds in our day, and in our time make them known! He will pour out His Spirit among this valley of dry bones. Our rebellion has dreams. Our rebellion has visions.
Our rebellion will not rest till the remant are called , the battle is won, the harvest is over, and the commission fulfilled.