Saturday, September 26, 2009

Praying for Peace - Personal & Planetary


My Bible study group at church is working on the Adam Hamilton book "Seeing Gray" about the intersection of politics and religion. It's a difficult space...given the adage that the two subjects don't mix. As an example - in the very first week - our church held a prayer vigil for the International Day of Peace on September 21st. Certainly, that's a worthy endeavor, but I have long held reservations about the less-than-noble organizer - the United Nations. What to do? PRAY!


Father,

Faith and politics collided for me on Monday
At the International Day of Peace,
An event promoted by the United Nations.

Do I ever have misgiving about the UN,
But I came down on the side of faith.
I joined in the prayer vigil at our church.
Peace trumps geo-politics.

The UN web site encouraged praying
for personal and planetary peace.

So, let us pray for peacemakers…

For world leaders and diplomats,
For missionaries,
For aid and relief workers,
For the peacemaker at the office
or in the neighborhood association.


Let us pray for peacekeepers…

For our service men and women,
For their families,
For law enforcement and the judiciary,
For the peacekeeper in our families.


And the web site posed a poignant question:

Where should I declare a cease-fire?
Where can I disarm suspicion,
a quarrel, a pet peeve or a grudge?


I pray for insight about that
And for inspiration from the Prince of Peace,
Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Trinity


Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and Mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

I don't quite understand it. It's a Holy mystery. Still, I offer my limited explanation and resounding affirmation.


God…is GREAT! God is love.

Jesus…connects us with God. He is our path
and shield.

The Spirit…is our Holy conscience
and inspiration.

PRAISE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT!

God is near. With love. With Guidance.
With inspiration.

GOD IS PRESENT!

Amen.

Painting: Rublev (Russian)
Holy, Holy, Holy - UMC Hymnal, No. 64

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

His Hands Stretched Out the Heavens


The way I see it, NASA has incontrovertible evidence of God's existence. Simply examine the NASA photo gallery and the Astronomy Picture of the Day. You will sense deeply the hand of our Creator God. This is a very worthwhile government service!


The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
(Psalm 19:1)

Lord Christ,
You are sovereign over all,
over the heavens, this planet, over me.
Shape and direct my life.

Almighty God,
Who made the earth…
Created mankind…
Whose hands stretched out the heavens…
(from Isiah 45:12)
Forgive my shopping list prayers,
half-hearted service and token offerings.
Transform my missteps into greater faith and obedience.

There is no rock like our God.
…the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s
Upon them he has set the world.
(from 1st Samuel 2)

Creator God,
As you set the stars and planets in place,
set my priorities, set aside my resistance,
and place your purposes first and foremost
in all areas of my life.
Amen.