Prayer - Just My Imagination

Last week I was writing about my prayer life and how it wasn't flowing very well. It has been a bit better, but not great.

I read this post by Justin Baeder with his struggles on prayer. He talks about how he views prayer and I've been thinking of mine.

Early last year I read a book called, Seeing is Believing by Gregory A. Boyd. It is about prayer and how to turn it from an obligation into something you are passionate about. It turned me around and got me on track. Like I do with Jesus many times, when I'm feeling good (on top of the world) I start to rely more on myself and I left some of those suggestions from the book behind.

How do you imagine your prayers? Not, how do you say them? Not, how do you structure them? How do you imagine them?

Is it your voice in your head just going on to fill up the quiet? Your spiritual laundry list?

God, thank you for this and that and that other thing....

Or do you pray Hebrews 4:16:

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

You say, that isn't really a prayer. I read it and it didn't really feel like a prayer. What has changed?

Stop. Wherever you are in your walk. No matter how bad you think you've messed up.

Close your eyes. (After you read this!) Think of a huge palace. Huge. Ornate. Subjects everywhere dressed to a 't'. Maybe some 'court' music is playing softly. Marble floors inlaid with pure gold and diamonds. At the center of the great room is the most amazing chair you have ever seen or could imagine seeing. It is the throne of grace.

You come in. Wrong clothes. No shoes. Wrong look. Wrong everything. It doesn't matter. Everyone notices and stands aside as you boldly walk up and approach the throne of grace. You know you are in the right place and going the right direction. You know once you make it to the throne, you know mercy and grace will be waiting for you at a time you so desperately need it.

That is the Hebrews 4:16 prayer and that is where I am trying to get back to.

The Brand Gap - Part 2 - No Stock Christians

Roy's response to the last post got me thinking about 'stock Christians.' You know, stock photos of folks, good looking or full of character, used on mail-outs or other material promoting a church they (the stock people) have never been to, let alone heard of.

This is just the humble advice of one guy in Pearland, but, don't do it. Turn away from the dark side.

I'm not saying don't ever use stock photos of people. Just don't try and pass them off as your faithful members.

The other day I was driving here in P-land and I saw a new sign for a church. My first thought was, that looks cool. I didn't know that church was there. Those folks on the billboard look like they would be neat to hang out with. I would like to get to know them. I...oh. They aren't real people. Well, they are real people, but they aren't really at that church. It makes me wonder what else are they trying to pass off.

I attend a big church that does this. They put folks on our bulletin and it drives me crazy. I don't really understand why the bulletin, either. The sad thing is, at first they were all stock photos of white folks. At least they changed that.

Yes, these photos are usually high quality. They look slick. They are people you would like to get to know.

Don't be afraid of your people. They don't have to be real beautiful. Just real.

Of course, pets work too.

The Brand Gap

I get a bit uneasy when I (and others) start talking about marketing church. It doesn't seem right. Just a feeling, because I know I can look at some scriptures that may support, at least, the spirit of marketing.

Paul wrote about becoming all things to all people. That verse in connection with the verse of taking the good news to all the world suggests knowing your audience and doing what is necessary to reach or speak to them.

But how far is too far? What about sending out fliers or CD mailers? Bumper-stickers? Commercials? Or focus groups to determine how to best present the message? What about cirumcision?

What? Circumcision? That's what Paul had Timothy do. That is some request. Not just that, what dedication (if that's the right word) by Timo.

I think I would have passed. That's radical. Who thinks like that anymore? What radical means are used today to bring some to Christ? Who is willing to say, I don't care what others think, I'm going through with it.

I admit, I always thought that was such a bizarre story. That one got ignored a good bit in my Sunday schooling!


The book, The Brand Gap, by Marty Neumeier got me thinking about all of this. I picked it up last night. It's great for those in business, which, let's face it, includes the church.

Neumeier has many great observations. One has been tumbling around in my mush of a brain today. That is, how the emphasis of marketing appeals has shifted over the years.

1900+ - Features - What it Has
1925+ - Benefits - What it Does
1950+ - Experience - What You'll Feel
2000+ - Identification - Who You Are

Even though features and benefits are still important to people, personal identity has become even more important. Nike is proof. As a weekend athlete, my two nagging doubts are that I might actually be congenitally lazy, and that I might have little actual ability. I'm not really worried about my shoes. But when the Nike folks say, "Just do it," they're peering into my soul. I begin to feel that, if they understand me that well, their shoes are probably pretty good. I'm willing to join the tribe of Nike.

So, what is the best way to peer into the souls of others?

How radical can you be?

Previous Engagement

So I've been away for a bit. Not out of the country or anything. Just away. Not from the computer, but from posting on this site. From trying to engage myself and others in whatever this is. The conversation, I guess.

From some blogs I keep up with, others are doing some of the same. It takes energy. It takes effort.

For me anyway, I love challenging things, myself, others, but at times I grow weary.

I've been away from Jesus too. The prayers haven't been flowing so quickly. Some days seems like one constant prayer just picking up at different points during the day. Recently it has been more like, "Oh yeah, I should pray." Next thought, "I wonder what is on TV?"

Maybe it is holidays. Busy time of year. I don't know.

It is good to be in community.

I guess there is a time to withdrawal. The tough part is not staying there too long. I know folks have different personalities. Some need to be around people all the time.

I see the potential in what is set up here. emergentHouston can be a great place for folks to gather. Life can sometimes get weary. We can help each other.

I like to compare it to being in a boat. You may be tired and worn out. Just get in the boat. Let someone else row for a bit. Then when you feel better, when you feel like you can, pick up an oar. Just get in the boat and we will cross over to the other side.

So, consider this an open invitation to get in the boat. I know there are many folks who check in here. If you want to be part of the conversation, feel free. Katie does. She is the youth minister in New Orleans who replied to the last post.

I'm not much of an organizer. It doesn't mean I'm not interested. If anyone wants to pick a time and place to get together for coffee (or whatever) and conversation, throw it out there.

I'm not going to make an grand promises of posting everyday. I'm just going to promise to pray today.

Bart

Images from Darfur

"Looking Over images from Darfur" is an exhibit opening Saturday, January 7th. It is a collection of work from Laura Jennings & Chris Crites. Xnihilo Gallery is hosting the event. (Xnihilo is located at 2115 Taft Street in Houston.)

Darfur is not mentioned in the news very much. There are many diverse faith-based, humanitarian, and human rights organizations attempting to raise public awareness.

The exhibit benefits Homeland International and runs through February 5th.

Happy New Day!

Yesterday was Saturday. It was also the last day of 2005. But it was still Saturday. What has happened that is so magical that today isn't just another Sunday? Forget the calendar. Today is the day after yesterday.

But there are hopes. There are resolutions. A commitment to doing away with bad habits. An attempt to be better, to do better. We see it as a fresh start. The past doesn't matter, this is a new year, right?

Finally today it hits me...with grace, everyday is New Year's Day. We have so much too look for.

Grace. A fresh start. A chance to do better tomorrow. To leave it all behind us. Hope.

Happy New Day!

Thank God for grace!