Free Verse 2: Matthew 6: 5-13

The "Lord's Prayer," the "Our Father," whatever name you want to give it, Jesus provided us with a very simplistic prayer that covers all human neccesity. The Lord's prayer encompasses verses 9-13 of Matthew 6, but we need to look at the verses before it to lay down some foundation. To put these in bullet point form, Jesus simply states this:

• Do not make a show out of your prayer (verse 5)
• Find a quiet secluded place, be as honest as you can, and focus on God (verse 6)
• Avoid supposed forumlas and specific techniques that others claim is the only way God answers prayer (verse 7a)
• Keep it short and sweet. No need for grandiose speak. (verse 7b)
• Do not be like the people who do this (verse 8a)
• Your father knows better than you what you need, before you even ask it(verse 8b)

Laying this groundwork, Jesus proceeds to tell the multitudes "after this manner therefore pray ye:" What follows is a 66 word prayer (KJV version) which can be said in less than a minute and encompasses everything we would ever need and have to acknowledge in our human life.

• Start by addressing Our Father (God) who is in heaven and whose name is sacred, holy, sanctified, and blessed (verse 9)
• His Kingdom will be here, and his will will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven (verse 10)
• Ask God to provide provisions for you daily. (verse 11)
• Ask God for forgiveness, and ask him to forgive those that have sinned against you (verse 12)
• Ask God to keep us from Satan and all his demons (verse 13a)
• God can do anything he wants because everything is, all the power, all the glory , and the whole kingdom (verse 13b)

This prayer acknowledges God's existence, pours out utter reverence and awe, allows supplication to God for our daily needs and specific prayer requests according to his will, asks God for mercy on us and mercy on those you have done us wrong, pleads with God to be our shelter and keep the arrows of the Evil one away, and finishes, quite literally, in a blaze of triumphant glory and worship.

So why do we not pray this prayer daily or in some kind of consistent timeframe? What about those times in the car, or jut before bed when you want to pray, but memory escapes you and specific words and requests fall away? Why not say the Lord's Prayer? Jesus already said, Our Father knows specifically what we need, before we even ask it. I find nothing wrong with being specific with our prayer requests, but we don't always have to be.

Jesus tells us we don't always have to come up with the big adjectives and catchy phrases when we pray, matter of factly, he asks us not to. Just pray what is on your heart. Avoid shallow words done to appease the crowd and make yourself look some kind of prayer-warrior. When not done in "vain repetition" this actual prayer of Jesus covers all the necessary bases.

I wonder what would happen if one time at church, the pastor asked someone to pray and they recited the Lord's Prayer? I have no doubt that my pastor would be 100% ok with it, and may even thank the church member for doing it, but what would the rest of the congregation think? I wonder if I would ever say that prayer out loud in front of the congregation as well?

When we strip away layers and tradition and selfishness, we find that the true command of Jesus is to pray with simplicity. Prayer doesn't have to be some huge production or said at the right time in the right manner. It doesn't always have to be said a loud or in only specific places. God will never be disappointed because you couldn't find the words to truly express your total love, reverence, and admiration for him. Just say it, mean it from the heart, and that is all.

The more I studied this and really looked at this, the more I have just prayed this prayer on an almost daily basis. Down times at work, driving in the car, laying in bed, drinking coffee in the morning looking out the window. I just say it to myself.

I encourage all of you to do the same.

God Bless.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Interesting take by Scot McKnight on "The Sign of the Cross" that Roman Catholics are famous for doing and Protestants are famous for not doing.

http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=624

Rediscover the Qualities of Being a Child

Rick McKinley is the author of 'Jesus in the Margins: Finding God in the Places we Ignore.'

Writeup from webpage:

God landed in the margins. On purpose.
Jesus is our ultimate model for finding identity, acceptance, and
legitimacy from the Father. As we pull back the curtain on His life,
we discover that Jesus knows what it's like to be marginalized.
He understands how it feels to have society shove you to the side,
to not really be accepted, and in the end to be totally rejected.
He can identify with life in the margins because when God came
to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, He landed in the margins.
On purpose. And He chose to land there because it's in the
margins that broken lives get mended, prisoners are set free,
and the poor hear the Good News.


It is a very easy read and I only have 2 chapters to go (about 20-25 pages), and I started it about a week ago. The subject matter can (and maybe should) be heavy but Rick has done a great job not making it so. I think it was done on purpose. The audience is for people who "live in the margins" of life and they really do not need to be put into deep psychoanalysis anymore. Just be told the great and glorious Gospel of Jesus.

But the reading is great for myself as it soldifies the image of Jesus and the fact that he was born to a poor carpenter and hung out with "drunkards and gluttons" and he will meet you right where you are and that you do not "have to have it all together" to meet Christ. And really, the "margins of life" are where all the normal people are.

One specific chapter was on being like a child as Jesus commands us in Matthew 18. Rick recaps this with 4 specific choices we must make each day that will have has live like a child of God:

1. Walk in the wonder of worship
2. Trust Jesus with childlike faith
3. Live unashamed before Jesus
4. Walk in innonence

This captures childhood about as best as anything I have read. The older we get and the more "mature" we become we gain skepticism and realism and lose wonder, trust, and innonence that defines childhood.

If we could make our daily choices using those 4 guidelines, I wonder how much easier life would be? I wonder where my stress level would be at? I wonder how I would spend my time throughout the day? I wonder what amazing truths I would realize by taking away the "life filter" that I apply to everything? I wonder what things I would do for other people without even thinking of the consequences (for the better, obviously)?

What about any of you?

Disney Executive a Church Planter? ABSOLUTELY

Encouraging news to know not all is lost out there in corporate America, especially at a uber-company like Disney, which has come under attack in recent years.

You just have to wonder how long before the national media gets wind of this and people start to demand changes and a possible dismissal of Mr. Weiss.

Until such time, continue to pray......

Link takes you to Steve McCoy's Blog entitled 'Reformissionary' (which I link too on this blog and periodically check in on and read.)

"Disney Executive Planting Churches"

Free Verse 1 - Ephesians 4:1

The post to follow is hopefully one of many "short and sweet" walks through a Bible verse or Bible story that I would like to call 'Free Verse'. Peel layers off these stories and break them down. Get you thinking on a different subject. Get away from the "3 bullet points" method and look at the poetry, free verse as it is written. Break down specific verses word by word, comma, by comma. Disect expressions. I really have no intention to get into ancient translations or "when translated from Aramic into Engligh, it means...." discussions. Just what my experiences have been. Either on my own study and thought or through readings and messages I have heard. These have all been blessings to me and helped me through my life. I feel the desire to pass this onto you. In cases where it is due, after each post I will give the source that sparked the thought. Finally, I honestly look foward to hearing from many of you and learning even more from all of you. God Bless.

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"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV)

This verse is often used by us to state the fact that God has called us out of this world. Using in conjunction with Romans 12:1-2 we are called to God to not be conformed and to present ourselves a "holy, acceptable" sacrifice of our bodies to God. There is a way for all of us, as believers and Christians to go about our daily lives and do the things we do. To be an example and model of Jesus. To be truly Christian, which is "a little Christ."

But what if we have missed the mark on this verse? Afterall, how do we pump gas in 10 degree temperatures and let the whole world around us know we are a Christian? What can we do at the ATM machine that would let the person in the car behind us waiting know we are "little Christ's?" Wear t-shirts and put bumper stickers on our cars? How effective is that really? It seems that everyone has a bumper sticker telling something on their car. Many people (like myself, seems self-centered, I know, but I know there are others) cannot stand the loud, obnoxious t-shirts people seem to wear.

So, if we have missed the point, what is it? Peel a layer or two back and look at the whole verse. Look at how Paul starts this verse: "I, therefore, a prisoner..." He has been dubbed a prisoner by the world. But Paul puts the little qualifier at the end of the expression by saying, "of the Lord," So when we read the whole expression he says: "I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord..." Paul has been called a prisoner by the world.

He states, a prisoner of the Lord!

Throughout all the Pauline epistles, letters, disseratations, and essays Paul stresses the fact that we are all free under Christ, no matter where or what we are in the world. Even if they call you a prisoner. Paul stated this freedom many times while being in prison himself. He wasn't tied down or held down by the world's chains, and cuffs, and qualifiers and monikers they can lay on you. So while he is a prisoner of this world by being a prisoner of the Lord he is actually, truly FREE.

Think of some of the other things the world can call you. The word list is endless. Expressions and concepts as well. Brutal, nasty statements. But these do not define us or make us who we are. Paul knew this first hand and more than anyone who may have ever lived outside of Jesus himself. So Paul, stating that he is a

(called by the world) prisoner

(called of God) of the Lord

beseechs us to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called. Paul sets us up by showing the paradox of the world's definition and God's definition. Shows us he understands it and then beseeches us to walk worthy of God's definition.

So, to me, it seem natual that after you realize that Christ has called you and defined you specifically that you have to walk worthy of this calling. Make it legit. Not to say it isn't already because once God said it, it was so. But to "walk the walk." You see it is easy to gloss over the fact that God has called us. But step back and re-read that.

"...the calling to which you were called."

God has called each and everyone of us. This calling is specific to all of us. It is a specific label he gives to you and it is a specific name he gives to me. I have mine and you have yours and they are spoken into our hearts by God. When you truly grasp this, truly meditate and open up your heart to this calling, God will speak it to you. When this happens, when your heart is laid open before God's throne and he speaks into it HIS calling, you will walk worthy of this calling. Walk worthy of the fact that God has directly spoken into you and given you a name that no one or no thing can take from you. This is your label. This is the real you.

Paul had been called something by God, and that defined him! God has called all of us something and that defines us. As such, we have to walk worthy of that calling. Honestly, how can you not walk worthy of the Almighy God's calling of your name into the core of your heart.

It can be mind boggling and earth shattering.

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This message was preached by my pastor on Sunday 12/04/05. I do it no justice here with my drastic paraphrasing. I honestly heard God speak into my heart at the end of this message. I heard his calling and know what he has called me. The experience shook me to my core and I broke down in church. Not in the sadness that typically accompanies a "Baptist altar call." but in rejoicing and solidification of my relationship with God. I stayed in my pew, next to my wife and just wept. I couldn't even make it through the first verse of "How Great Thou Art." (the same song that means so much to my wife and I that we had the whole congregation sing this specific song at our wedding, I am sure the timeliness of all this was providential, I never give notion to coincidence). I am at a point right now where I cannot share the specific calling right now. The experience is too precious to me. I cannot even bring myself to tell Michele. But I truly believe if we open our hearts to God and ask him to speak into it, he will. He probably already has, we've just never tuned in.

Read Epehsians 4:1 again and reread it until it sinks in. Tune into God and he will speak to you.

God Bless

"While I sat still and drank beer with Philiip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow." - Martin Luther

Thank God for Martin Luther. The founder of the Reformation (although he was not looking to break from the Roman Catholic church, but rather "reform" the church. Unfortunately, they didn't listen). Whew, thank goodness he opened his Bible and pondered and compared what the Bible said to what the dominant religion of that time was saying. All these "rules" and "interpretations" that all had to follow. All he had heard his whole life were indulgences, purgatory, papal supremacy, etc. It is easy for us, because we see the difference and heresy that were handed down from the church of that day. We have so many references and manuals and interpretations to get our hands on. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin language translations with the "true" meaning of what the written word says.

However, amongst the protestants, we still have disagreements on exactly what those translations even are (think alcohol, baptism, communion, tongues, etc.). Pastors and evangelists preach these topics from the pulpit. They also write books and publish essays on these subjects. Many people sit in the pew and listen, or grab a latte and sit in their local Starbucks and ponder and discuss, or lounge at home on the couch reading these published essays and reports. The "educated" people read or study both sides of the argument and come to a conclusion on how they see things.

Martin simply used the Bible. That simple. Well, actually it isn't. What I mean by it wasn't easy is that Martin was human. Me and you are human. Many humans have a tendency to doubt themselves. Think of the times you heard something from the pulpit, did some studying in the Bible, and found what you heard to be incorrect. How easy is it for you to walk up to that pastor or evangelist and tell them what your argument is? Even though you are very confident and maybe even now know you are 100% correct. Still you feel a sense of hesitation. What if I am wrong? What if I missed an angle? What if I am trying to make something right that really is wrong? Afterall, they are an ordained minister and went to school for this. Maybe I'll just keep this to myself. Why ruffle feathers or shuffle the deck?

Maybe this only happens to me. I doubt it though. I believe it happens to almost everyone if not everyone. Just some can hide it better. Luther didn't have all the resources available to him like we have now. Yet, he found 95 individual errors of what the church was teaching at that time. He then took those, wrote them down on paper, walked down to the church and nailed them to the door. Sure, there was some early work done by other "reformers" for Martin to go on, but his ultimate authority was the Bible. Thank God Martin put Hebrews 4:12 into action. I cannot imagine it was an easy thing to do. I am sure he had self doubt and hesitation. He poured over Scripture and talked and dialogued with trusted companions through speech and letter. Yet "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" convicted and compelled him to change all of history.

I sometimes wonder what Luther did while he traveled down the cobblestone walkway. Did he walk with his head down and at a quick pace so no one would see him? Did he "pump himself up" by talking to himself? Did he turn around and head home once? twice? Three times? When he got to the door, were his hands shaking so bad that he fumbled with the hammer or nail and dropped it? Did the thud resonante in the night like a gunshot would now outside our window? Did he hesitate one last time before driving that nail into the door? Did he stop to reread the letter to check for spelling mistakes? After he nailed it to the door, did he think of pulling it off the door?

I could go on and on. Feel free to add your own possibilities and think of what you would do. Think about Luther on his way home. How did he sleep that night? What did he dream?

How hard is it for us to go through with something as minor as our thought on alcohol? Luther went about to reorganize and restructure the entire church! The worse that happens to us is the preacher argues better and quotes Bible verses better and we feel a sense of humiliation. Luther faced excommunication and possible death (he was dubbed an outlaw by the church at his trial, as such, anyone could kill him and face no punishment). Luther didn't worry about his reputation or possibility of facing humiliation. He wasn't selfish, he realized he wasn't the center of the universe. The Bible said that we are, "saved by grace through faith...it is the gift of God...not of works..." Everyone needed to know this, the whole church and all people. He did what he had to to make sure this happen. He even put the Word of God in everyone's hand by being the first to translate the New Testament into German.

When I add all this up, it is truly amazing that Luther went through with all this.

Then again, maybe he walked to the church, nailed the letter to the door, walked home, enjoyed a late night brew with Philiip and Amsdorf and retired for the evening and got a full 8 hours of sleep.