Young Minds and the Power of Words

My oldest son is playing recreation leauge football. He'll be 8 in a couple of weeks. Last night at the practice, the coach told the defensive line to do whatever they had to do in order to stop that football. So...when the quarterback yelled hike, my son took off for this player and when he got right to him jumped up in the air, kicked him in the stomach, grabbed his facemask and threw him to the ground. I've never seen anything like it! In a strange way, I was proud. We corrected him and let him know that he couldn't kick anyone in the stomach to which he replied, "The coach said do whatever to stop the ball." With more experience, my son will be able to stop the ball in the appropriate way.

Could you imagine what the church would be like if all God's children took Him at His Word and did what he said. It's true! We might have people getting kicked in the stomach, but with the experience gained from engaging in the game of life, we could become a mighty force for the Kingdom. SO...Let's get out there and do whatever it takes to stop the devil (minus kicking people, of course)!

Acts of God and Prayer

On your homeowners policy you probably have an exception or stipulation concerning what insurance companies call acts of God. These are things like tornados, hurricanes, floods, etc... There really is no way an insurance company can categorize acts of God as anything other than what they are - Acts of God. Isn't it interesting that in the wake of so many storms that people debate whether or not God is responsible for the devestating effects that lie in the wake. Theologically we could say that the world is fallen and under the curse of sin and these things happen. This is true. We could also say that God sends or allows these things as punishment for sin or in His providential care He knows what is best to reveal his glory and bring people to himself. All of these are true. The question I've always pondered, though, is how to pray when threatened by hurricanes.

Right, wrong or indifferent, this is how I pray when faced with acts of God. I pray that God would be glorified. Regardless of the outcome and the effects of the storm, my prayer is that God receives the glory for it. I pray that God would diminish the storm (not send it to Mexico or Texas) and that its effects would be minimal and the loss of life would be minimal. I pray that God would teach us humility and create within us as a people a dependence upon him. Finally, I pray that God would walk through the storm with the people that even in the midst of calamity, folks might know that God is with them. How 'bout you....How do you pray when faced with acts of God?