The Words we use

We are accustomed to our daily use of words and language. We don't think about the  grammar, spelling, pronunciation  or how fast or slow we speak. And yet, the mother  tongue is at the heart of everything we think or say. It even shapes the way we grow. Some scientists have said that learning to crawl teaches a child to move the eyes from left to right as she places one hand in front of the other. (However, I must confess, if that's true, I am clueless how Chinese babies learn to read.) Still others have suggested that language is genetic and that one of the differences between humans and other species is that we have this innate ability to create and use words.

We do it so well and so often, we take them for granted. Even the words we use about God. Perhaps it would be wise to occasionally think about how we speak about God, and how maybe the language used in the 16th century might need a little changing.

Let us Pray...

O God, you spoke in words of Hebrew, Greek and Latin to saints of old. You spoke to the disciple struggling to be faithful in a world of change. You spoke in the high mass of the Roman catholic church and you spoke to the first reformers in Geneva. You spoke in the great words of the King James Bible to our parents and grandparents. With all the words spoken in the past help us rediscover the Word you speak to us today.  Amen.

Its Your Birthday

One thing we all have in common is a birthday. There are lots of different traditions we have to celebrate a birthday including a birthday cake with candles, singing Happy Birthday, buying that special present he wants or, if your like me, make a last minute run to the bookstore to get a present for the party.
Today is my sister's birthday. My wife baked a cake, I am going to make a run to the store before the party, and I  imagine we will embarrass her by getting the restaurant staff to sing her a birthday song.
So here is a birthday prayer for her and all the birthday boys and girls. For what can be a greater gift than God's gift of new birth.

Let us Pray

O God who made the oceans swell and the mountains rise, you bring each of us into this world to live, love and laugh. We give thanks for our birthday girl (boy) and rejoice in all the good gifts we see in her. We ask your blessings upon her as she ages with hope and joy. Bless her with health, prosperity and love, especially from us, the ones who love her the most. May her days be filled with joy and her nights find peace and rest. May your Spirit bring wisdom as she ages, and may her years be marked by the ability to overcome the obstacles and challenges that life brings her.

We pray these things as her friends and family. Amen.

A prayer for saying "Good Night"

My wife and I have been talking about how difficult it is to get children to go to sleep. Children, and lots of adults, don't have the knack of turning off all the problems, excitements and memories of the day. A nighttime bath, reading a book and saying a prayer are rituals that help us get ready for sleep.

A prayer is a ritual that a child can experience with the ones she loves.This ritual can include movement by making up body gestures for each line; it can include posture such as a traditional one like kneeling and folded hands; or it can include a sign of love, such as holding the child, or touching the child's forehead while you pray for her. If you choose to end the prayer with a traditional "amen" add something of your own to it that you will repeat every night.

Most important of all, praying for a child in the evening is an intimate time between you and her. Make this time your own by creating your own movements, postures, words and gestures.

Remember, if you want to teach your children to pray, the best way is to show them that your prayer time is important to you. After all, "Monkey see, Monkey do." They will imitate what they see you do.

Replace the words in brackets with the best description of your own child: babe, boy, girl, child, etc.

Now I lay my [babe] to sleep,

Give rest to [her] that's good and deep.

Chase the fears of dark away

And bless [her] now, O Lord I pray.

Till morning brings a brand new day,

Let angels watch [her] where [she] lay.

Love and peace shield you,

Now and forever, my love.

This prayer appeared in my first book, Prayers 2 Pray.

A prayer for Peace in Politics

It's nearly a year and a half until the next election, yet the passion, the name-calling, the accusations and campaigning for the November 2012 elections has already begun. Every election there seems to be a higher level of vitriol that should be reached in order to beat the incumbent, and this year seems to top them all. Perhaps there is something about the American psyche that thrives on superlatives and name calling.
What's even more disturbing is that many of Jesus' followers are involved in this orgy of hate on television. Why is it that people, and even more importantly, disciples of the Prince of Peace are so anxious to sling words that are filled with anger? Are there limits to what can or should be said by politicians?
Maybe that should be the litmus test we Christians should apply to our political leaders. Let us judge them not by whether we agree or disagree with them, or whether they voted up or down on a particular bill, but on the violence in their words.
James 3 says, "the tongue is a fire... It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of her life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."
Is this what we want in our leaders?


Let us pray.
O God of peace, our words can bring healing waters or they can start a fire to burn the world. Give us ears to know the difference and how to speak with peace. Teach us ways to calm our passions that they may be guided with love and hope. Help us to listen to the news and find peace and hope. Lead us away from those who would tempt us into violence or anger. The freedoms we enjoy can not be built on accusations, lies or deceit but on peace and hope. Give wisdom to see behind motives of greed, power and ego so that all your children will find peace and hope. Amen.