Do you "JUST" pray?

After reading THIS you might think about chosing your words more carefully.

A Prayer in song.

Singer/Songwriter, Laura Cohn Adds The Name Allah To Her Spiritual Song “Wakantanka” In Response To Anti-Semitic And Anti-Israel Muslim Politics Full Article Here

"About Laura Cohn:
Laura Cohn is an advocate of new thinking and takes issue when unconscious behavior is being promoted in the news. She particularly seeks to infuse accepted beliefs with new ideas so that people will not automatically buy into what they are being “sold” as necessary in society that does not serve the greater good for all people living on the planet now and in future generations. She is currently performing around LA."

Knowing nothing about this song or songwriter, I am not endorsing her or the song or the prayer. But I thought that the concept is interesting and worthy of thought and consideration.

I am grateful for a class in high school that taught me to look for bias and slant in the news and other media by looking at the words chosen to portray an issue. Too often we are asked to accept a slanted version of something as the whole truth. Too often we are asked to label groups of people as Other, so that we can put them on a step lower than our step. It sure isn't always easy, but I try to remember that all people were made by "my God."

Memorial Day Flower

The Bleeding Heart

I am grateful for all of those who served our country, especially those who put themselves in harms way, to protect us and our liberties. I am grateful to live in a country where I can worship freely and say or write things that might criticize those in positions of authority.

Pray for our men and women serving our country, especially those in harms way. They see things they shouldn't see. Their hearts are bleeding.

Pray for the families of those serving overseas. Pray for those left behind by the death of a loved one killed in the service of our country. Their hearts are bleeding.

Pray especially for those many men and women who return home with injuries. There sacrifice will go on for years. Pray for the men and women who serve our military people with their medical skills. Their hearts are bleeding.

Pray for our leaders, that they will seek peace and the long term good of our people and the people of the whole world. Let them see that hearts are bleeding.

Pray for the leaders of countries that are our allies. Let them see that hearts are bleeding.

Pray for our enemies, as Jesus commanded us. Pray that all leaders will seek the good of all mankind. Let them see that hearts are bleeding. Let hearts not bleed for selfish purposes.

Pray for those who serve others as missionaries and in agencies which want to help get food to starving people, build houses for the homeless, and teach skills for better living. They serve those whose hearts are bleeding.

Pray that citizens have good judgment about which policies of their government are wise and in line with God’s will. Pray that citizens will speak up when their government has policies that harm people or the earth. When hearts bleed, let there be voices speaking God's will.

Pray that none of us gets so callous or self-centered that our hearts don’t bleed when we hear of harm done to others.

Dear Lord: We are thankful for our freedoms. Thank you for those who gave that we might have freedom. Teach us to work for the good of the whole world. And teach us ways to work for freedom in ways that don’t involve war. Please bring forth leaders with new insights and good skills who look to you for strength.Amen.

National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer

 

I guess today is the National Day of Prayer.  This is something I don’t pay much attention to because I don’t like much about public showiness of religion.  I do think it is good that a number of politicians in Washington and elsewhere do get together on a regular basis for sharing their faith and prayer.  However, this annual day gets on the television, which I think is the purpose more than praying is the purpose.

 

I do want to note with sadness something that seems to be common when a public person comments on a heartbreaking event.  Many of these speakers, interviewees, and commentators have said, “We send our prayers out to her.”  Or “Send your prayers in his direction.”

 

Huh? 

 

Don’t prayers go (up) to God?  I don’t know that God is “up,” but that is the common metaphor.  Maybe prayers go out to God or over to God or down to God, but they aren’t meant to go TO the person prayed about. 

 

I haven’t quite figured out if this is a tongue tied expression from someone not used to speaking of faith related issues in public or perhaps it is an attempt by the person to jump on the current band wagon of public faith issues, but that person isn’t literate in churchy talk, and so makes this mistake.

 

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

What do you think?  Am I too cynical?

 

 

Pray for Pastors

Please pray for pastors conducting funerals and memorial services.  Please pray for pastors who have to conduct these services for more than one family member in a short period of time.

 

Please pray for the people attending funerals, especially for those who never go to church except for attending funerals.  They don't associate the joy of the resurrection with a church.