Good Morning, God,
On some of our church calendars, God, this week has been designated as "Christian Education Week." Of course, because of the doctrine of the separation of Church and State, we won't be doing anything special with this week in our public schools. And, we really doubt that our churches will be doing much daily, either, except maybe, beginning their mid-week, Wednesday afternoon and evening programs.
Some of us do remember the days when church and school had a more coordinated effort. Children were taught in Sunday School to respect their school teachers, because this is what Jesus would do. And, in school, children would begin the day, not just with the flag salute, but with a devotion and prayer. The Golden Rule Bible verse would be on the wall, along with the Ten Commandments.
Now, we are always trying to figure our how to instill these same principles through some sort of "values education." Interpreting Biblical values for secular society and education has always been he role of the church and Christian Education, hasn't it, God?
May it be easier in our time; may it be easier.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120907
A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, September 7th
Good Morning, God,
We can truly begin our prayers today with the call, "They're off!" The political conventions of both parties are completed, the platforms are built, the candidates are named, and now the "horse race" can begins in earnest. Who will be the big winners?
You know, don't you, God? Because you place, or allow to be placed, all those who serve in the offices that govern us, you already know who will win the elections. But because of your permissive will that uses our choices, we may elect those who wouldn't be your first choices for us.
So, Lord, it may be a very wise choice for us, first of all, to seek the candidates of your will through prayerful conversations with you. To this end, then:
God, be in our heads, and in our understanding.
God, be in our eyes, and in our looking.
God, be in our mouths, and in our speaking.
God, be in our hearts, and in our thinking.
God, be in our choices, and in our voting.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
We can truly begin our prayers today with the call, "They're off!" The political conventions of both parties are completed, the platforms are built, the candidates are named, and now the "horse race" can begins in earnest. Who will be the big winners?
You know, don't you, God? Because you place, or allow to be placed, all those who serve in the offices that govern us, you already know who will win the elections. But because of your permissive will that uses our choices, we may elect those who wouldn't be your first choices for us.
So, Lord, it may be a very wise choice for us, first of all, to seek the candidates of your will through prayerful conversations with you. To this end, then:
God, be in our heads, and in our understanding.
God, be in our eyes, and in our looking.
God, be in our mouths, and in our speaking.
God, be in our hearts, and in our thinking.
God, be in our choices, and in our voting.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120905
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, September 5th
Good Morning, God,
Some of the Indiana headlines are speaking of our school systems, the school voucher system, and the State running some of the districts. Of course, God, these are big concerns of ours because the education of our children is of the utmost importance.
God, you have given minds to meditate on the lessons, eyes to see the things to learn, ears to listen to the teachers and the teachers to the students, a heart to love learning, and a lifetime to put into practice what is learned through the power of the mind.
But, sometimes, our living situations get in the way and make learning difficult. So, for each school day, give our teachers an extra measure of patience, imagination and love as they try to shape the minds of our children. Give parents the utmost respect for the efforts our teachers are making and instill this respect in their children.
And, God, help our children to learn, to persevere through language barriers, bullying, belligerence, and boredom all the way to learning their 3 R's, and how to use what they have learned each day in the game of life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Some of the Indiana headlines are speaking of our school systems, the school voucher system, and the State running some of the districts. Of course, God, these are big concerns of ours because the education of our children is of the utmost importance.
God, you have given minds to meditate on the lessons, eyes to see the things to learn, ears to listen to the teachers and the teachers to the students, a heart to love learning, and a lifetime to put into practice what is learned through the power of the mind.
But, sometimes, our living situations get in the way and make learning difficult. So, for each school day, give our teachers an extra measure of patience, imagination and love as they try to shape the minds of our children. Give parents the utmost respect for the efforts our teachers are making and instill this respect in their children.
And, God, help our children to learn, to persevere through language barriers, bullying, belligerence, and boredom all the way to learning their 3 R's, and how to use what they have learned each day in the game of life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120903
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, September 3rd
Good Morning, God
A great majority of us are off of work today, God. We are off of work celebrating what we call “Labor Day”. Sounds sort of oxymoronish, doesn’t it God! But here we are with most of government, business and school shut down for a day especially designated to honor the ability we have to labor: to imagine, to design, to construct, to produce and to maintain products and services that we need in order to live each day on this planet. It is our labor that keeps us alive, Lord God, and we give you thanks for the innumerable ways that we can work.
Some of us work with our heads, some with our hands. Some of us entertain others of us: some of us work helping others of us cope with what life throws at us. Some of us are working today to keep things going and our corner of the world safe. Yet some of us are crying for work, so this day is bitter sweet.
Gracious God, who gave us minds to think and hands to do and hearts to care, may all we do help others, give gory to you and demonstrate our love toward others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
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