A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 6th

Good Morning, God,

The headlines are about two miracle women in our neighborhood-the two who had heart transplants. A mother and daughter share a rare genetic heart malady, which necessitated heart transplants for them to go on living. The transplant for one was in 2008; for the other, this year. As is often said when new life happens, "mother and daughter are doing fine."

Lord God, as your word so beautifully says in Psalm 139:14, "I praise you, God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; I know that full well."

Indeed we do know this, Lord. We know that we are the "apple of your eye." We know that "not a hair falls from our head" that you don't know about. We know that "all things work together for the good of those who love you and are living according to your purposes." We know that "nothing can separate us from your love."

Lord, thank you for the ability to have our hearts fixed-either through surgery or through your loving touch.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 21st

Good Morning, God,

Okay, God, you made this day to be the longest day of sunshine in this hemisphere. We call it "the first day of summer." Ah, summertime, when most everybody is out of school, mom and dad take vacations with the kids, those kids who aren't on vacation are working, sleeping, eating, and texting.

The days during summertime are hot and humid and the nights rarely cool and dry enough to be comfortable sleeping without an air conditioner… And pity folks who have to drive around without air or who have to work outside without the same.

So today, Lord, we want to pray for a bit cooler summer, but more than this, a summer with cooler heads. Already the heat and people with guns are "acting out"; already there are hot, frustrated people taking out their frustrations on innocents.

Lord, keep us cool, calm and collected, as we enjoy the dog days of summer.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 19th

Good Morning, God,

Lord, do we have to worry about another Cold War between the superpowers of Russia and the United States? It seems that Russia is supplying arms to the Syrian government,. while the United States has decided to supply the rebels battling against the Syrian government.

Lord, the United States firmly believes and has proof that the Syrian government has crossed the "red line" by using chemical weapons against its own people, even if they are rebelling against the government.

Some world leaders are putting pressure on the leader al-Assad to step down. The United Nations Security Council efforts are blocked by Russia and China… And the beat goes on, Lord, with more and more innocents losing their lives.

Heavenly Father, we pray for an end to the bloodshed in Syria. We pray for the safety of all concerned. We pray for the rights of the citizens, but also for the respect of the government. 

May all get what they want and need to live peaceably.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 14th

Good Morning, God,

The headlines out of Indianapolis are that the police are trying to team with the city to fight crime. The idea is for the police to be more available for fighting crime and making arrests, and other groups like churches, women's shelters and community groups that are trained to work with the mentally ill, the poor and teens help to handle cases that art crimes. "We cannot arrest our way out of problems; we need true community partners," said a police spokesperson.

Indeed, Lord, you made us to live together, essentially policing each other. But rather than always looking for the negative and punishing, your idea is that we love each other and build each other up. So today, Lord, help us to see at least one person who could use a good chastisement as a person who could also probably use a gentle complement-and use us to build him or her up. Who knows? We might make a positive permanent difference in that persons life.

Use us, Lord.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 12th

Good Morning, God,

The headlines are about secrets these days, secrets that pit national security against an individual's right to privacy. On the one hand the citizens of our great country can expect to not have their telephone, Internet and in fact, daily movements, monitored. On the other hand, we want our security forces to protect us from other citizens who would do us harm.

Harm may come from many directions, Lord. Some harm is just flat-out evil; this is why we pray to you, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Satan, your greatest adversary, prowls among us, seeking to keep us from you.

But often, Lord, we have met the enemy and the enemy is us-us who have warped and ill minds; us who have misplaced loyalties; us who have an ax to grind; us who feel there is no place else to turn, or no other way out.

Today, Lord, we pray for the right balance between secrets and safety.

In Jesus's name, Amen.

Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 10th

Good Morning, God,

The headlines were about three mystery deaths in the same motel room of a motel. First, it was an older couple, ages 72 and 73. Next, it was an 11-year-old boy who died, while his mother, 49, was ill. Room 225 was getting quite a reputation, Lord. It was beginning to seem like something out of a horror movie or something.

However, God, there has been found a logical explanation to it; the deaths have been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Ah, yes, carbon monoxide-an odorless, colorless, gas with one less atom that is needed for life. Unfortunately, when carbon monoxide is breathed in, it can't get out. It begins to take up the space available, and eventually prohibits good air from getting in and doing its job to keep a person alive.

Lord, how often we are fooled by something or someone that seems good but is short of the real thing. Help us to be aware of when something is not good for us… Or maybe even kill us.

In Jesus's name, Amen.

Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 7th

Good Morning, God,

The headlines are about three of our baseball teams these days. The Indiana Hoosiers are going to the College World Series in Omaha. Our Jasper Wildcats are going to the state finals in Indianapolis. Our dubois County Bombers have starred in a new reality show pilot and play on through July.

Lord, we appreciate the gifts of sports, skill, and the ability to take pleasure from watching and cheering. We thank you for all the emotions we can display: groans when we needed a hit and had a strikeout instead; suspense when a runner takes off from first or second attempting to steal second or third; excitement when a bunt is laid down to advance runners; the thrill like no other when the ball is hit over the fence or a runner is safe at home on a close play.

Yes, Lord, we love our baseball. Thank you for Abner Doubleday and all those who have taken his idea and played with it.

In Jesus's name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 5th

Good Morning, God,

Trains, trains everywhere are trains, messing up our schedules and taking up our time! But the headlines are speaking of the time in the not too distant future that the trains through Huntingburg will be less of a factor to car and truck traffic. The headline speak of an overpass over the railroad so that vehicle traffic will never get stuck again!

The important points are made that emergency traffic-fire, police and medical personnel-will be able to make their runs without worrying about sitting behind a train. It is said that with the overpass, a citizen can easily get from one side of the city to the other in less than 20 min.

Yes, Lord, for the advantages and safety and saved time, the overpass will be wonderful. But, every now and then, it is nice to just sit at the crossing and count the cars. Sometimes it's nice to be forced to slow down and wait.

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 3rd

Good Morning, God,

The headlines asked the question, "Who owns Jolie's genes?" The story is about how actress Angela Jolie has certain genes in her body that are almost certain to cause breast and ovarian cancers. So she is choosing to have these body parts removed.

She discovered she has these genes through expensive testing - an expense that many people couldn't afford, even with insurance. The tests are so expensive because one company did the research, discovered the genes and developed the tests. They filed for and received patents for the processes.

The question before us, Lord, is can someone patent one or more of the genes in our body, even a weird one that causes cancer and charge a lot of money to test for it? The idea has always been that we can't patent something you created, God, even though we discovered it.

Lord, cause us to share information about our bodies without a fee attached - and please endow us with the wisdom of Solomon these times.

In Jesus' name, Amen.