Theology of Recorded Prayers

Am I the only one who finds recorded prayer to be little bit awkward?

Imagine that you and five friends are watching a three-year-old video recording of a pastor delivering a message. As the sermon comes to an end, the pastor closes with a prayer. You look around the room and see that three of your friends are praying with their heads down while you exchange unsure glances with the other two.

What do you do in this situation? Do you pray along with the pastor? What if you don't? Is that wrong?

Of course, the Lord will hear my prayers if I pray along with the pastor, but what about the pastor's recorded prayer? Does the Lord hear it? Does He answer it? If the Lord does hear and answers the prayer, then my next question is this: Can I "pray without ceasing" by looping an audio recording of myself praying?

Is it sad that I have spent a significant amount of time pondering this issue?

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On Making Scripture Relevant

"My church is great...the pastor makes Scripture so relevant!"

How many times have you heard someone utter this phrase? How many times have you said it yourself? I'm certain that I have said it on more than one occasion. I am not convinced, however, that "making Scripture relevant" is a good thing. Here are some thoughts and questions (many of which are admittedly loaded) that came to my mind as I considered this issue:

• How does one go about making Scripture "relevant?" 
• If one has the ability to "make Scripture relevant," does this imply that it is not relevant on its own?
• Is Scripture missing something?
• Is Scripture out-of-date?
• Making Scripture relevant...why didn't God think of that?
• Does one's culture affect the relevancy of Scripture?
• What is revealed about me and my heart if I believe Scripture to be less-than-relevant?
• Perhaps we could use "relevant" and "man-centered" interchangeably?
• What's in it for ME? How does this affect ME? How can this help ME? ME, ME ME!
• The Gospel is always relevant...always.
• A pastor wearing flip-flop sandals does not a relevant sermon make.
• Any pastor capable of improving upon Scripture and making the inspired Word of God "relevant," deserves a raise.
• A dangerous question: "What does this passage of Scripture mean to you?"
• One should not study Scripture with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
• Emergent Church anyone?
• In order that a passage of Scripture be relevant, is it necessary that I am able to "apply it to my life?"
• I have a problem...would you mind pointing me to a verse that will solve that problem?
• Some important questions, answered by Scripture, that aren't particularly "relevant": Who is God? What is the nature of God? Who is Jesus? Who am I in Christ?
• What could be more "relevant" than my Maker, my God, my Savior, my Lord, my Redeemer, my King, revealing himself to me?

Agree? Disagree? Tell me what you think. Am I being too critical? Was this blog post relevant enough for you? :-)

Belief Doesn't Change Truth

What you believe doesn't matter. Nope, not even a little bit. Take some time and allow that to soak in.

Why do we struggle so much with this concept in the United States? One's belief, strong and devout as it may be, doesn't have the ability to change or influence truth. I may believe that I am a millionaire, but each month as the bank statements and bills roll in, a very different truth is revealed.

When I told you about Jesus Christ, that he died on a cross and rose again three days later in order that you and I might be saved from God's just judgement, you gave me a funny response. You said, "What you believe is good for you and what I believe is good for me." No it isn't! What does that even mean? How can that be? What if that which I believe is wrong - is it good for me then? It certainly isn't good for you if what I believe is true.

You see, our beliefs can't change the truth. Have you convinced yourself that you have the ability to create your own truth? My belief in God, for example, does not cause God to exist, nor does your belief that God does not exist cause God's existence to cease. The truth of God's existence rests outside of our beliefs. One of us, I fear, is wrong.

What you believe is good for you and what I believe is good for me. Wouldn't it be great if this were true!? I could believe anything I wanted without being wrong. In fact, I wouldn't have to believe in anything at all! Each of us could worship our own 'god' (or lack thereof) in absolute truth.

Unfortunately, it just isn't that easy. Perhaps you should put a bit more thought into what you believe.

The Olympic Games: 10 Thoughts

A few of my observations, thoughts and insights after the first few days of the Olympic Games:

1. Opening Ceremony = Incredible
2. After 11 gold medals, Michael Phelps' mother still cries when he assumes his position atop the medal stand. I love my mom.
3. USA Gymnastics - Different identities: The men accepted the bronze medal with shouts of joy while the women accepted the silver medal in disappointment. Do I live out of my true identity in Christ? Do I understand the importance of doing so?
   
4. It's good to see the Redeem Team taking care of business, but the United States needs the kind of redemption that cannot be delivered by NBA stars.
5. I can't help but feel happy for the Chinese...this is such a proud moment in their history. At the same time, I can't help but feel sad and broken for the Chinese...the nation needs Jesus.
6. The joy of receiving a gold medal pales in comparison to the joy of knowing Jesus. Do I truly believe that? Do I live it?
7. Shawn Johnson is representing the Midwest well.
8. As I hear about the great sacrifices Olympic athletes make as they train to be named among the best athletes in the world, I am given valuable insight into Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Do I run in such a way that I might win the race? Do I strive not to receive a perishable wreath, but an imperishable wreath?
9. One must be careful not to covet another's God-given talents and gifts.
10. Is it just me, or does watching the Olympics make me feel like I need to work out more?

My Path to Christ - The Bridge

I ran across this piece of notebook paper a couple of weeks ago as I was sorting through boxes of 'stuff' left untouched since college. On it you will see the Navigator Bridge Gospel illustration that was presented to me by a fraternity brother of mine early in my college career. I can still remember sitting in the Student Union as he explained the Good News of the Gospel to me.

So much clicked that day...

Praise the Lord!