Their views aren't Gospel truth

For years fellow Christians have gone so far as to doubt my salvation because I choose to vote for Democrats.

Now they feel like affluent, conservative, White, Christians are persecuted in our society, especially by the "liberal" media. The poor things.

I'm sorry, but while I don't doubt their salvation or even the sincerity of their belief in Jesus as their savior- I have to say that I it troubles me when fellow believers so ardently defend the likes of Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Ann Coulter and their ilk.

Even if you can't see that they are demagogues, surely you can see that they're not infallible, inerrant or omniscient? Right?

Who is our neighbor?

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be ... Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."

- Deuteronomy 15:7-11

No pain, no gain

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Giver of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we oursleves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Sometimes from our greatest wounds, will come our greatest usefulness to God. Pain produce ministry? Sometimes. Why can we believe Romans 8:28? How can we consider it pure joy when we face trials? (James 1:2-3)

Because everyone goes through hard times, everyone faces trouble, but once you've gone through it, once you've survived with God's help, you can help other people get through it too. You can be there for them, you can love them through it and pray for them because you know what it's like. Not only can you offer sympathy, but you can offer genuine empathy too.

Yeah, God sure works in mysterious ways, but it's no mystery that we're all in this together, so why not lend a hand, or at least a shoulder to lean on?

October Surprise

I think I'm about finally to a point where I don't really miss writing a weekly column. But if YOU still miss reading my weekly column- HERE ARE SOME HALLOWEEN RE-RUNS from years gone by, Halloween, Reformation and Dia de Los Muertes columns, some spooky pictures, and even some surreal Lutheran images!

Have fun but 'don't eat so much candy that you go into a diabetic coma!

Aint in the truth

Only when enough adults practice and teach children love and respect at home, in schools, religious congregations, and in our political and civic life will racial, gender, and religious intolerance and hate crimes subside in America and the world.- Marian Wright Edelman

God tells us to...

"Be Joyful always;"
-1 Thessalonians 5:16

From Sojourner's daily verse & voice

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.

- Luke 6:32-35

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.

- Thomas Merton,
from A Book of Hours

If you really trust God, do you have to advertise to everybody that you do?

Will NBC be surprised??

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation..

NBC is presently taking a poll on "In God We Trust" to stay on our American currency.

Please send this to every Christian you know so they can vote on this important subject.

Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off their web page. Poll is still open so you can vote:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

This is not sent for discussion. If you agree forward it, if you don't, delete it.

By my forwarding it, you know how I feel.
I'll bet this is going to be a surprise to NBC.

Sorry, I can't help it- discussion is going to happen, I'd like to help inform it. I am neither for or against removing this mottos- so don't get assume that I'm arguing one side or the other. I just want to offer food for thought. I'm not here for a fight or a debate, I just want people to know what they're arguing about when they argue with each other (not me) about it.

First of all, a check of Snopes.com says that this is not a hoax, there is such a poll.

Next, if you're interested in the history of the 'In God We Trust' motto and the controversy surrounding it, visit the Wikipedia page about it.

Republican President Teddy Roosevelt (member of the Dutch Reformed Church) opposed putting the motto on money because he thought it was blasphemous to put His name on "Mammon" (money).

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:13-17

The other question is, which god? The dollar bill has a Masonic symbol of an Egyptian pyramid with an all-seeing eye on it. Is that a pre-Judeao/Christian god? An ecumenical/universalist concept of a higher-power? A Mesopotamian or Mediterranean or Egyptian god? Many of the founding fathers were Deists, agnostics, Masons, and even athiests.

If you were really going to honor God, shouldn't it say "In Jesus Christ we trust?" Then what happens to the pluralism and religious tolerance which allowed Evangelical Christianity to flourish in the United States?

If we throw that out and throw out the establishment clause of the First Amendment with it, which Christian Denomination will get to set up the new Christian Theocracy? Catholics might not like it if a bunch of Lutherans or Presbyterians got to do it. As a Lutheran, I shutter to imagine a country where the Baptists or Fundamentalists got to dominate legislation. I'm sure many Methodists and Quakers would find it difficult too. What about groups like the Mormons, Adventists, and Jahovah's Witnesses who think of themselves as Christian but don't cut the doctrinal mustard with most other, more orthodox denominations? The reason the founders separated church and state is because European Christians had been killing EACH OTHER (not just Muslims, Pagans, Jews, Occultists and Atheists) for over a thousand years because Christians couldn't agree and kept trying to control each other.

While "In God we trust" has been on our money since the Civil War, was adopted by Congress as an "official" motto in the 1950's. Why? To truly and humbly honor the God of the Bible, or to puff ourselves up as better than the godless Communists during the height of the cold war? "Hey God! Look at ME! I'm not like THEM! I honor You, You should bless me and smite THEM!"

'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector! Luke 18:9-14

Riding the wave of the red-scare, politicians used God to get votes.

This is a red herring, a straw-man. Between war in Afghanistan, the worst unemployment in 26 years, the worst recession since the Great Depression, staggering health care costs, a continuing housing crisis and a likely H1N1 pandemic we have MUCH more important fish to fry that this highly emotionally charged, pseudo-pious, pseudo-patriotic non-issue.

Why does it matter? It's fine that it's on our money, but no one needs to get bent out of shape is a few people think it shouldn't.

NBC isn't some terrible liberal media force trying to debase our godly heritage, in spite of the fact that MSNBC seems to have become the anti-FOX NEWS in the last year or two. NBC is owned by General Electric- one of the largest military/defense contractors there is, they have every reason to promote right-wing politics. What NBC is is a big commercial interest, a corporation that makes money by selling ads by increasing ratings by drawing attention to or creating controversy. Controversy=Conflict=Drama, just like junior high, but it sells.

MSNBC has developed a left-wing line up in the last year and a half because there was a niche. Keith Oberman was drawing viewers from people who were sick of Bill O'Rielly. It's money, which direction the political wind is blowing, not actual idealogical principles. Back in 2003 MSNBC fired their lone liberal, Phil Donahue, even though he had good ratings, because he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq.

And by the way, if this viral email forward alarmed you- this poll was started back in 2005!

Praying with a full deck

♥♣♦♠

Playing cards may not seem too spiritual. Generally they're associated at best with killing time and at worst with gambling and even fortune telling or divination. But I have a simple way to use cards to help you pray or have an impromptu worship service.

You can play this in a group or as solitaire. Deal just enough cards until you have at least one of each suit. Then begin with the Hearts...

♥ The heart stands for God's heart, aspects of His character that you admire. How do you love Him, why not count the ways? However many points you have in the heart suit, that's how many things you need to try to think of about God that you want to praise him for.

Let's say you have an ace and a duce, that's just 3 things. But if you have an eight, a six and a Queen, that's 24 things you need to think of. Here's a help; Love is patient, kind, does not boast(1 Cor 13) ... Whatever is good, whatever is right, whatever is praiseworthy (Philippians 4:4-8)... Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (Galatians 5)... omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient- although it will mean more if you come up with your own or look through the Bible trying to come up with your own, instead of me giving you answers.

Don't be embarrassed to sing a hymn or contemporary praise song.

♣ The clubs represent our failings and shortcomings, our sins and our mistakes. However many points you have in this suit, that's how many things you should think of to admit to God (and/or your fellow group members- and/or your self). They may be mundane or profound, bog or small. Things your embarrassed by or things you're ashamed of and feel guilty about. If you'd prefer, you can do this silently, privately or on paper that you burn.

The point is not to see who's the worst person or who's got the most shady past. The point is to recognize that we all do/say/or think things that get in the way of our relationships with God and with others (or fail to do/say/or think things that would help those relationships). It doesn't matter who you are, none of us is perfect. Ask God to forgive you and help heal the damages and help all involved to move forward. (Psalm 51, Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 Steps)

Some psalms and a few worship songs work for this too. Don't be afraid to let yourself complain to God about whatever is bothering you or whatever hurts or fears you're going through, but do be careful not to let this degenerate into either a bitch & whine session or (as I eluded to before) a brag session either. Seek God's forgiveness and move on quickly, don't wallow in the negative for too long.

♦ For the diamonds, however many points you have, think of that many things that you have to be thankful for. The diamonds are God's blessings. If you're really scared, sad, hurting, or anxious, maybe you should double that number. The more you remind yourself of all that God has done for you, the more your faith will be strengthened (Phil 4:4-8, if you come to Him with praise and thanksgiving, the peace which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds).

Remember what Bing Crosby said in the movie White Christmas, "when I'm tired but I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep..." What a great way to fall asleep, counting your blessings.

♠ The Spade is a shovel, a tool. I think this is appropriate for this last part NOT because it's like digging for treasure- that's the wrong attitude. I think it's appropriate because intercessory prayer, prophecy and helping and healing are all jobs God wants us to take on for Him, ways He invites us to partner with Him in His ministry. You might say that they're shovel-ready-jobs.

However many points you have in the suit of spades, that's how many supplications you should bring to Him. Supplication is a fancy word for requests, but before you start praying for things you want on your Christmas list- try praying for other people first.

You could try using your hand as a reminder;

• pinky=those who are weak or meek,
• ring finger=those you love, spouse/family/friends,
• middle finger=those with importance, prominence or power,
• index finger=those who lead/teach/preach or mentor
• and at the thumb, finally you get to pray for yourself.

Another way you could go is that if you have the king of spades, you pray for leaders and government officials, if you have the queen you pray for women in your life, if you have the jack then you pray for young people you know.

This can be tough. It might mean that if you only have 4 points, you never get to pray for yourself, or if you have thirty points you may have to think of a lot of other people to pray for.

Once you've played this card game, whether it takes you just a few minutes or hours, you will have essentially completed a simple worship service. You will have also prayed through the age-old prayer outline; ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication).

Hopefully just doing it once will be enough to stick with you, so that you'll remember the ACTS prayer formula every time you see a deck of playing cards. It may just deepen your prayer life and your relationship with God, if you let it.

♥♣♦♠

---

Here's a more complicated, but meaningful way to use a deck of cards as a devotional aid. This is dedicated to all the service men and women, especially those either in or headed for Iraq and Afghanistan.

During the North African Campaign (part of WWII), a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike.

They arrived in a little town called Casino.
The next morning being Sunday, several of the boys went to church.
A sergeant commanded the boys in church.

After the Chaplain read the prayer, the text was taken up next.
Those of the boys that had a prayer book took them out.
One boy had only a deck of cards, and he spread them out.
The sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards."
After the service was over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshall.

The Marshall said, "Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?"
"For playing cards in church, Sir," was the response.
The Marshall asked the soldier, "And what have you to say for yourself, son?"
"Much, Sir," replied the soldier.
The Marshall stated, "I hope so, for if not I will punish you more than any man was ever punished."
The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on the march for about six months.
I have neither bible nor a prayer book, but I hope to satisfy you, sir, with the purity of my intentions."
And with that, the boy started his story ...

"You see, sir, when I look at the Ace, it reminds me that there is but one God.
And the deuce reminds me that the bible is divided into two parts: the Old and the New Testaments.
When I see the trey, I think of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel: there was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps;
there were ten of them: five were wise and were saved, five were foolish and were shut out.
When I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this heaven and earth.
And when I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from his great work.
And when I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons that
God saved when he destroyed the earth: there was Noah, his wife, their sons and their wives.
And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our saviour cleansed, and that nine of the ten didn't even thank him.
When I see the ten, I think of the ten commandments that God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone.
When I see the King, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty.
And when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed Virgin Mary who is the Queen of Heaven.
And the Jack or Knave is the Devil.

When I count the number of spots in a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year.
There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year.
There are four suits, the number of weeks in a month.
There are twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year.
There are thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.

So you see, Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a bible, an almanac and a prayer book."

- This version was written in 1948 by Country-Western singer, T. Texas Tyler.
It's origins can be traced back to 1865 in America, and back as far as the late 18th Century in Belgium (1778) and France (1809). It has also been known as "Cards Spiritualised" and "The Soldier's Almanac, Bible And Prayer Book"

Went to a party Mom

I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
so I had a sprite instead.

I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
that I didn't drink and drive,
though some friends said I should.

I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right.
The party finally ended,
and the kids drove out of sight...

I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece .
I never knew what was coming, Mom,
something I expected least.

Now I'm lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
the kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mom, his voice seems far away.

My own blood's all around me,
As I try hard not to cry...
I can hear the paramedic say,
this girl is going to die.

I'm sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high.
Because he chose to drink and drive,
now I would have to die.

So why do people do it, Mom
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
like a hundred stabbing knives.

Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom
Tell daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven,
put ' Mommy's Girl' on my grave.

Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter,
Mom I'm getting really scared
These are my final moments,
and I'm so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me Mom,
As I lie here and die..
I wish that I could say, 'I love you, Mom!'
So I love you and good-bye.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers)
P..O. Box 54168 8
Dallas , TX 75354-1688
1-800-GET -MADD (1-800-438-6233)

like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house

For readers of the 'Prophet, Priest and Pirate' blog and for facebook friends; this is the first weekly installment of this Fall's high school Bible Study at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa. We meet every Sunday at 9 AM in room 101 of the church office annex. Anyone from 9th grade through college is welcome to attend. It's free and you're welcome to bring your own coffee or juice for breakfast. Church is at 10 and you're welcome for worship, but you're not obligated.

For St. John Lutheran Youth Fellowship (LYF) members, I'll be posting what we cover each week on my blog http://malloryprayer.blogspot.com/search/label/HSBS. That way if you miss a Sunday, you don't have to miss out on a heaping helping of God's Word.

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." -1 Peter 2:2

For the next 16 weeks (give or take) our Bible study theme here is going to be based on 1 Peter 2:5," like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house." I encourage you to read all of 1 Peter, Chapter 2 and consider how God wants to use you to build His body up, to make you part of His church. You are special because He created you for this very purpose.

In Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus and His disciples stopped at Caesarea Philippi (see a google map), (now a resort town) on the Southern tip of the Sea of Galilee . This was where Peter confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. Many Roman Catholics believe this is when Peter was set up to be the first Pope, but we Lutherans don't think that Jesus meant Peter as the foundation for His church, but rather Peter's confession- the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, is the foundation for all other Christian teachings. Although, Peter, the name Jesus gave to his disciple (previously known as Simon) or "Petra," does mean "the Rock."

Unfortunately, lots of people seem to think that after Confirmation, they aren't going to bother going to Sunday school anymore- some even don;' want to bother going to church anymore- and lots of times, parents figure that once you've been confirmed you're either old enough to make your own choices or too old to be held accountable anymore.

That's really too bad. I think that's a little like laying a slab of concrete down, but then changing your mind about building a house on it. The slab may be fine for a while, but eventually it will be exposed to the elements and deteriorate to the point where it will no longer be fit to build on anymore.

Read Hebrews 6:1-3, you can think of Sunday School and Confirmation as a great foundation of knowledge. If you remember and somewhat understand God's Word- that's great. But I'd like to help you learn how to apply it, analyze it, use it to evaluate other knowledge and philosophies, and especially to use it to base major decisions and life choices on and build a life with. Teachers call these critical-thinking skills, in the church, we call it "equipping the saints," you being the saints.

In other words, you're very lucky because it was important to your parents and our congregation that you start life out with God's Word in your head- but now, I want to challenge you, I DARE you, to let Him take what's in your head and put it in your heart. Lets move on from "the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity."

I'm challenging you to become active, committed members of God's household, to become the body of Christ like Paul talks about in Ephesians 2:19-22. If you remember your confirmation vows and took them seriously, you promised to do this anyway. Prove it, come to Bible study on Sundays. Be God's people, let Him build you into His temple. Ever since you started Sunday School, we have been teaching you that you are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), now it's time to let yourself be His workmanship, since that's what He created you for (Eph 2:10). Read all of Ephesians 2 to see how 8-10 and 19-22 fit together.

I promise that most weeks my HS Bible Study posts won't be this long- I'm just trying to lay a foundation here (notice a theme here yet?). Bear with me, we're almost done for the week. Over the Fall and Winter I hope to show you some things for building your own character, friendships, work and team relationships, and hopefully success in high school, college and life- but all of them won't be worth more than hollow "self-help" advice unless they're all grounded in Christ. Therefore, this first Bible study is one of the most important.

This week we studied Jesus parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-29. One thing that most people miss when they learn this about building on the rock instead of on sand is that this isn't just a separate story, this is the culmination of Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount" found in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6.

Here's some questions from the "Serendipity Bible" to help you think through this parable:

• What is the rock? (Remember Matthew 16:13-20, but keep in mind, it's not a person, unless you use the typical Sunday School answer- "Jesus")
  
• What is the sand?
• Why would someone build on the sand?
• What does Jesus promise those who live by His words?
• What kind of storms claim the most victims" Doubt, Moral failures, Relationship conflicts, personal crises, apathy?
• What's the short term forecast for the weather in your life look like?
• To be a "wise builder" at this point in your life, do you think you need to learn more, or just practice what you already know?
• What does the foundation depend on?
• How would you describe your Spiritual foundation so far?

Be sure to come next week when we'll talk about the good old fashioned Iowa work-ethic, and the Holy Spirit and how we'll need both of them to start building on God's foundation.
See you next week, come hungry!

Remember, YOU are the church!

Where to focus our energies

"It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil. If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men, the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui."
~Helen Keller