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I have a number of unrelated questions on my mind this go-round:
Yet another novel has been published with the theme that a secret document hidden for two-thousand years alleges heretofore unknown information about Jesus, his life, his teachings. A document that could “shake the world!” These DiVinci Code knock-offs obviously have wide audiences. What doubts about the authenticity of the gospel story of Jesus precipitates the publication and interest in these books? To my knowledge, no one has come up with a book alleging secret information about Moses?
You have probably seen where the owners of the property in Iowa that was used for the movie Field of Dreams is for sale. So far, no takers on the price the owners are asking, around five point five million. The movie’s message, “If you build it, they will come,” became part of our contemporary lore. I am wondering if the phrase, “If you list it, they will buy,” will be equally as attractive?
One of America’s most treasured rights is the right to privacy. Why then are so many people willing to go on reality television shows and other programs and tell about their most intimate secrets? Accordingly, why are so many people willing to share every moment of their lives on FaceBook and Twitter? Is privacy valued or over-rated?
In a vaguely related conundrum, I am puzzled why so many people are upset because the recent flooding of Nashville has not been given prominent visibility on the national news. The storm and the accompanying flood have reeked misery to so many in Middle Tennessee. Essentially neighbors, government and leaders have done the right thing. Of what relevance is the national news coverage or lack thereof? It is like, if it isn’t featured on the news, it is not important?
Your comments to the above are appreciated.
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The church I attend takes the notion of prayer very seriously. We call it “prayer treatment” and unlike the Christmas wish list I used to pose to the big guy upstairs, this form of praying involves an alignment of one’s own inner thought patterns and beliefs to a vibration of an outcome that in faith we envision as “already happened”.
In other words, it’s less about begging some entity “out there” to hear you (much less answer). It’s more about cultivating the internal wiring that in the purest faith imaginable, takes you from a state of sheer belief, into a literal state of knowing. In short, it takes Jesus at his word in accepting that “As a man thinketh, so it is.”
But even with this for training, there are times when praying seems futile. Like when floods rush through your world, leaving your town underwater and your neighbors homeless. Like when your innocent puppy goes blind overnight with no warning. Like when the doctor emerges from the operating room and says, “I’m sorry. We did all we could.”
Clearly all of us want the best possible outcome when we pray. We want our loved ones safe. We want our homes in tact. We want our team to win.
So when these things don’t happen, who’s to blame? Us? For not praying fervently enough? Or God, for not granting our wish?
More and more I ponder these things.
And I wonder… Could it be prayer never was about outcome? Could it be that prayer is just spiritual bench training…. designed to strengthen our own spiritual muscle, so that no matter what the outcome “out there” … we’re poised and positioned spiritually “in here” to rally and roll with whatever hand we’re dealt?
Just a theory…
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