for 2 SEP 06: PRAY OF THE DAY

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)

This e-mail reached us about an upcoming event, which might be of interest to you:

The P.A.U. Community Prayer will be held on Saturday, September 9th at 8:30 AM at the Bandstand at Lakebottom Park. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our comunity to come together and promote passion for God, awareness of issues facing our city, state and country, and unity in the community. There will be food and fellowship, and also musical selections from local musician. Hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact Ms. Darren Archibald at 706-566-4740

Michele Zack

Citizens for Weaver

I admittedly don't know what the "P.A.U. Community" is. I thought Lakebottom Park was in the St. Elmo neighborhood - but maybe the name is sponsored by some corporation now.

Praying for the community sounds like a good thing to do - but do you notice how the announcement is signed? Will she be praying for unity in District 1, through Nathan Suber dropping out of the election?

Hopefully this group will be careful in how it prays at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Last weekend an evangelist in Fort Payne, Alabama was arrested at a "big tent revival" - because police said he prayed too loudly. This is what happens when the man running audio becomes convicted by the sermon, and leaves his post to walk down the aisle.

The traveling evangelist from Oklahoma who was arrested in Fort Payne says he's now praying for God to send a curse on the officers who arrested him. How strange does this sound - fulfilling the Bible verse which says "evil men.... shall was worse and worse," by asking God to take charge and do it Himself?

I know some people who pan public prayers, such as what the evangelist did under the revival tent or the Lakebottom Park event. They note Jesus advised to pray secretly in a closet. But for some people, this could be difficult - for instance, if your closet is full of expensive Stiletto shoes.

Yet these critics seem to forget that while Jesus did talk about prayer closets, He prayed several times in public. He had to do it, to bless the loaves and fish which fed 5,000 people. I don't read anywhere about the disciples walking around with poles and curtains.

And some of Jesus's most memorable prayers to the Father came as He was crucified. A sizeable crowd was on hand to watch that moment - and while it was cloudy, there's nothing in the Bible about a driving rainstorm working like a waterfall.

My point is that prayer can happen at all kinds of times, in all sorts of ways. But sadly, it can happen with all sorts of attitudes. You can be quiet and humble before God, or you can be angry and furious. And He was hearing complaints about bad customer service long before restaurants came along.

I would suggest you're more likely to win God's favor by coming before Him in prayer with a quiet spirit. After all, God is a law enforcer every it as much as those Fort Payne police officers are....

SCHEDULED SUNDAY: A terrible case of Labor Day timing....

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