A Choice of Bread

Are you a bread person - - - fond of bread? Though considered the staff of life, I have friends who are “not into” bread, but my close friends know bread is a personal favorite.

My German grandma made many dishes with flour and water, but never baked bread. My English grandma seemed to be into pies, so how I became such a bread lover is a personal mystery.

Bread with the same name may vary in quality. For example, I like Sourdough and have been known to drive a little farther to get a favorite brand. When pressed for time, I shop closer to home. There I can choose from a variety of brands, but I have not found one that compares to my favorite. 

It would be easy to over-indulge in daily bread, but I have learned to set limits. It is more important to have some bread, rather than no bread. We need to find a balance.

Jesus said it this way: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) The Bible is known as The Word of God. (2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV)

So how much of His word do you take in, or eat, daily? Some people read full chapters, and some a few verses. Some read a devotional or do a Bible study book. Pick up your favorite Bible, or download a *Bible app, and get started.

The choice is yours. The important thing is that you decide when and how to eat and enjoy your spiritual bread each day.

*A couple of Bible apps people seem to enjoy:  Bible Gateway and/or You Version.

The Blame Game

Comedian Flip Wilson could always get a laugh by saying, “The devil made me do it.” It’s a line as old as the Garden of Eden.

When God confronted Adam and Eve for eating what was forbidden, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the Serpent . . . so the blame game began . . . and continues to this day.

Instead of blame, we are cautioned to think for ourselves. Ancient wisdom says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT)

The Apostle James plunges right into straight talk: “We are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires.”

But there’s more! “Our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15 GNT)

One of the best examples of this is King David, in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. When he saw Bathsheba, he was tempted, sent messengers to find out who she was, sent more messengers to bring her to him, and after they slept together, she returned home.

But David got trapped by his wrongful desire. He had slept with another man’s wife; now she was pregnant. One sin led to another . . . next he planned a coverup.

Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was in the military, so David called for his return. Twice he talked with Uriah and told him to go home to his wife. More honorable than David, Uriah slept at the palace with the servants.

David then moved further into sin by giving Uriah a letter ordering Commander Joab to place this soldier on the front lines.  

Sin is selfish. David gave no thought to other men being killed. He wanted Uriah gone! After Bathsheba’s days of mourning, David took her as his wife, but God did not let their baby live.

He sent Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. He told David a parable of a rich man with many flocks who took a poor man’s only ewe lamb. When David’s righteous indignation flared up at the rich man, Nathan said, “You are that man!”

Hearing that, David humbled himself and said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV)

Acknowledging personal responsibility was the end of his blame game. It can also be the end of ours. 

Consider this prayer of David: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NKJV)                                                                                                                          

A Love Worth Having

The Psalms have always been of interest to me. I’ve read them many times over the years and of course, I have a few favorites. But lately, I’ve been drawn to a phrase repeated in many Psalms. In fact, I decided to study it in detail throughout the whole book.

I haven’t completed my study, but I’ve found so many interesting things that I decided to share a few this week.

My favorite phrase contains three basic words. I’ve already filled several journal pages with references to it. It’s like looking for treasure, so exciting when these three words turn up on the page.

So far, my journal has over sixty entries, and I’m only halfway through the Book of Psalms. I’m challenging myself to share five scriptures about GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE, praying you’ll take time to meditate on their personal meaning for you:

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old. (Psa. 25:6)

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. (Psa. 25:10)

 

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love

surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. (Psa. 32:10)

 

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness . . .

the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. (Psa. 33:4-5)

 

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve m. (Psa. 40:11)

 

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this:

That power belongs to God, and that to you, O LORD, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man according to his work. (Psa. 62:11-12)

I’m currently using the English Standard Bible translation (ESV). But rest assured, no matter which translation you use, the inspiration in God’s word will be there.

The Miracle of YOU

Friends know I always enjoy hearing stories about children. To me, their creative acts and cute sayings are part of life’s blessings. I received a couple of those this week in a thrift store journal.

Inside the cover was a picture of mother and son. Then came the title: My Quotable Kid. I know she was a loving, but busy, mom because the journal was empty after the first three pages.

Two entries caught my eye, and I quote:

     1.       (On his third birthday) After opening all his birthday gifts on the living room rug, Max looked                 around and said, “Where’d my birthday go?”

2.       Tired of being reminded to use his manners (i.e., please and thank you) Max declared “I want milk and cereal with no manners.”

I have a photo gallery on the wall of my guest bedroom. It includes photos of children I’ve had the privilege of knowing in their younger years. We were blessed to have friends who included us as an honorary aunt and uncle.

Now that they’re grown, our friendship is naturally on a different level. They have no idea the fun memories I have of them as children, but then I’m reminded some people would say that of me as a child, too.

It’s interesting how life flows from generation to generation. I was visiting with a friend this week who came from a family of ten. I find that amazing since I came from a family of three. But she caught my attention when she said, “We were all born healthy, though one only weighed six pounds.” I said, “I only weighed four pounds ten ounces.”

It’s easy for me to get on a soap box about the miracle of life. How is it that one tiny sperm and one tiny egg can get together to create a human being that weighs only a few pounds at birth . . . who then grows up to be six foot four and weigh 200 pounds, like my brother?”

Even the ancients were awed by the miracle inside the womb: Psalm 139:13-16 says, “You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something” (The Message).

Have you ever stopped to thank God for the intricacies of your body? For example: 1) I think about my eyes when I’m checked for new glasses, 2) I’m amazed my body survived breast cancer treatments of chemo, surgery, and radiation, and 3) my echocardiogram allowed me to hear the swoosh-swoosh of blood pumping through my heart, though it does that day after day without me hearing a thing.

Because we are so intricate, there are many medical specialties. Psalm 100:3-4 remind us that it is God who has made us and not we ourselves. We are advised to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

If you can’t think of anything else, just thank Him for the miracle of YOU! 

Spring Break

Spring is always encouraging, but more so this year since we have had an exceptionally hard winter. However, according to the news for the past three months, we have not been the only ones.

It’s nice to see the lakes in our area filled up now. It gets a little concerning when you can see weeds and tree roots sticking up in swampy marshes which were once covered with water.

Students of all ages, and on different schedules, always enjoy spring break. I’m taking a cue from them and giving myself a break.  

I’ll write another blog on April 16, the third Sunday of April. Check back with me then, but for now enjoy whatever plans you have to celebrate Resurrection Sunday and Easter Week.

Relish the fact that you are following a tradition of worship that is centuries old. The Amplified Bible shares it clearly in Luke 24:50-53:

Then He (Jesus) led them (the disciples) out as far as Bethany, 

and lifted up His hands, and blessed them.

While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven.

And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy

(fully understanding that He lives and that He is the Son of God);

And they were continually in the temple blessing and praising God.

The world is still reeling from devastating weather patterns, Covid's lingering effects, wars, and political unrest, but we must keep our faith and hope in God.

If you want to be encouraged by beautiful music and picturesque Italian countryside, go see THE JOURNEY with Andrea Bocelli in select theaters this week. Tickets must be purchased online, either through FathomEvents.com or Fandango.com. I am so excited to see this!

 As Pope John Paul II said, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair.

We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

I can hear Andrea Bocelli singing it now! 

How to Improve Your Life This Year

Even without formal resolutions, most people hope their life in the new year will be different. If you could see their thoughts, they might hope for different and better.

We can’t help but notice differences in people. You may have heard descriptions like this, or even said them yourself:  1) They’ve got a good handle on life, or 2) They seem to fly off the handle when faced with a challenge.

Over the years, I chose a few mentors. In sharing their approach to life with me, more than one mentioned reading the Book of Proverbs regularly.

One person I admired said his daily Bible reading always included one chapter of Proverbs, no matter what. I followed his example on and off over the years. With thirty-one chapters, it’s easy to match one chapter a day to your calendar.

Wisdom is available in God’s Word. My husband gifted me with Dr. David Jeremiah’s Study Bible* when it first came out. It is filled with a variety of help, including valuable information in the introduction to each book.

I like his contrast between wisdom and foolishness:

       Wisdom is described as the positive outcome (when) knowledge, discernment, and understanding are combined**

·      Foolishness is the result of ignorance, lack of discernment, and limited insight in favor of one’s personal preference or opinion**

The Book of Proverbs promises a payoff if you desire to be wise. The first seven verses of the opening chapter provide reasons to read it. 

Instruction for prudent behavior is mentioned, along with the acquisition of knowledge and discretion, guidance, and a healthy fear, or respect, for the Lord which is deemed the beginning of knowledge.

I want to be wise. How about you? I'm back on my one chapter of Proverbs a day. Feel free to join me.

*The Jeremiah Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah, Worthy Publishing, 2013, available where books are sold.

**Proverbs, Introduction, p. 807, P4. 

We Live in an Awesome World

Reading is a hobby of mine. When my brother brings me magazines, one of my favorites is a bimonthly publication by The Archaeological Institute of America. I generally read articles as I enjoy my lunch.

This week I was fascinated by explanations and photos of a *3,500-year-old ritual pool found in northern Italy.

Just imagine a pool roughly 40 feet long, 23 feet wide, and at least 16 feet deep. Now can you picture it constructed of wooden poles and interlocking boards?

“The Noceto pool is unique in Italy---it’s unique in the world,” says Zerboni.** “Building such a structure implies very careful planning, coordinating the work of many people, and a very clear architectural plan. We don’t expect to find such majestic structures from prehistory.”

Archeology is just one of many types of study which add color and knowledge to our world. Mankind has learned about his world, creatively made adjustments necessary to live in it more comfortably, and passed on knowledge from generation to generation.

I’m learning to Google my questions, so I typed in a scientific study name list and was rewarded with about 25 main categories and way too many sub-categories to count. The site simply said, “from sources across the web.”

I was familiar with major classes of study such as Biology, Physics, Zoology, Geology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Psychology, and Anatomy. People have earned degrees and spent a lifetime of study and research in many of these.

Lesser known to me, but important in their own right, were Physics, Chemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Bacteriology, Biotechnology, and Embryology.

We live in an awesome world. Can you imagine where we’d be without this information? God even put mankind in charge of the sea, land, and air, so it's no wonder we have pursued knowledge (Genesis Chapter One, Verses 26-28 NIV).

Creation information can be found in Job---Chapters 38 and 39. God begins a conversation by saying, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”

What follows are colorful explanations of the sea, sky, wild animals, horses and, birds. Interesting reading. Check it out sometime soon.

*Italian Master Builders, Daniel Weiss, ARCHAEOLOGY, A Publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, November/December 2021, pp. 38-41.

**Quote by Andrea Zerboni, a geoarchaeologist at the University of Milan, p. 38.    

Word Power

Do you always say what you mean? Are your words always understood? How many times have you said something you wished you could take back?

Famous American Poet, Emily Dickinson, put it this way:

A word is dead when it is said, some say.

I say it just begins to live that day.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gave words a picturesque twist: A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11 NIV). 

That’s encouraging. I may not be a creative genius, but with my everyday words, I can create something beautiful.

I love the treatise on words by James. His is a short five-chapter book in the New Testament. But in chapter three, you’ll find a nice section about words. 

The Message Bible (MSG) states his premises quite clearly. We'll share a few:

1. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

2. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can be like a spark that sets off a forest fire.

3. You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue---it's never been done.

4. Curses and blessings come out of the same mouth. This can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it?

1.    You are a person with great power. Don’t sell yourself short.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” says Proverbs 18:21 (NIV). Words can heal or destroy. In your lifetime, I’m sure you’ve been on the receiving end of both. 

Knowing how words have affected you, stop right now and give yourself a pep talk:

My words make me a powerful person,

Therefore, I need to think before I speak.

No one controls my tongue but me.

Reminder to self:

Don't just blurt---be alert!

Name Value

How long has it been since you bought a box of salt? I cut back on salt some time ago, so I was surprised to see a box of Morton’s Salt in my pantry.

The colorful container was marked “100^th Birthday . . . She’s Still the One.” I was curious, so I checked online for the centennial date.

I couldn’t believe the year---2014! I usually toss outdated items, but this box was so colorful I decided to keep it. I have a feeling I had that same self-talk years earlier and that’s why it’s still around.

Companies work hard to build names we can trust. They make sure their product is consistent in quality. Food products also have to be consistent in taste. When you think of the amount produced for any one item, the challenge is enormous.

A good name is a valuable commodity. It’s true of people, as well as companies. In fact, Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Most people are not born into wealth; they have to work for it. Riches in any great measure usually require time and honest effort.

Shortcuts like the one Bernie Madoff thought he had perfected, resulted in many negative consequences for himself, his family, and the people who had trusted him with their money.

Rich name value can be gained through positive character traits. Things like doing what you say you will do . . . making good choices . . . having concern for others . . . and speaking the truth.

Isn’t it a relief to deal with someone who can be trusted? You know their word is their bond. Their name has value---it’s their brand.

If nothing else, remember this about your name: Its value is not in the letters . . . it’s in the living.

 

  

Mileage and Maintenance

 

I finally did it . . . took my new car in for maintenance. I received regular emails from the dealership saying I should make an appointment for service.

My car is only 9 months old and I’m a low-mileage driver. Everything I need is close by. Even in a few years, my car should fit the joke category of “low mileage . . . driven by a little old lady from Pasadena.”  

Those unwanted emails were a reminder that maintenance depended on me. Making the appointment was easy, and after I followed through it was done; I felt at peace.

Now I even have a sticker on the window. No more email notices for me!  I’m free to be---on my own!

On my drive back home, I thought spiritual maintenance also requires effort. The Apostle Paul advised believers to test themselves to be sure they were in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV).

When I take my car to a certified mechanic, he runs tests on sophisticated equipment. It gives him confidence that repairs will be correct. No need to guess what’s wrong.

Eugene Peterson explains spiritual testing like this: Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another---showing us the truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way. Through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV; The MSG, page 2172, paragraph 2).

We all require Godly maintenance. Whether we’ve been a believer for years or days, we all have spiritual mileage. On-going maintenance is important.

If you don’t already have a plan, check in with God's Service Department by reading a chapter a day in Proverbs. It’s a good way to start.

 

 

It's a Matter of Time

 

Time is a funny thing. As a child, it seems to take forever to reach a destination or wait for Christmas to arrive. But as you get older you hear people say, “Time is sure flying by!”

So, which is it? Slow or fast? Neither. It’s all based on perception.

Sometimes it seems under our control. For example, on our job, we have work to do and deadlines to meet. We get out a calendar and start making plans, then we follow through. Deadline met . . . job well done!

Unfortunately, we are sometimes faced with problems that can’t be solved by planning on our part.

Health issues, for example, seem to make time drag by. We’d like to be well already! It’s hard to wait while others work to solve our problems or advise us on further care.

“It will all work out.” How many times did Dad say that in my lifetime? In a gift shop, I once saw a magnet with that saying. It’s on my refrigerator now, a reminder that answers to prayer take time.

King Solomon wrote about "time" in Ecclesiastes 3. He opened with this: To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun. What follows are eight poetic verses pointing out life’s contrasts, things like life/death, mourning/dancing, gaining/losing, and war/peace. All are part of our time on this earth.

Further down, in verse 11, Solomon declares that God has made everything beautiful in its time.

I can tell you from experience that God hears our prayers. In fact, I keep a notebook of answered prayers. 

Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious but to pray about everything. I do, but there’s a basic problem . . . my timing and God’s rarely agree.

I try to remember my husband’s advice about prayer: “Slow down so you can keep up with God.”

As I said, God answers prayer. It’s just a matter of time . . . His time!

 

A Basket of Lemons

One day I was looking at a basket of bright yellow lemons and pink grapefruit. I happen to enjoy pink grapefruit, but I prefer lemons in cheesecake or pie.

You’ve probably heard the slogan When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade. It sounds good, but really it’s a rather messy time-consuming process.

I was intrigued by a basketful of lemons in scripture. Six problems were listed with two common denominators: 1) cause of stress, and 2) need for a timely solution.

The lemons listed in Habakkuk 3:17 included non-budding fig trees, fruitless grapevines, olive crop failure, fields yielding no food, plus empty sheep pens and cattle stalls.

Which of these lemons could be turned into lemonade overnight? None! Each one would require time and perseverance to improve or overcome.

The most fitting advice might be Winston Churchill’s famous quote: “Never, never, never give up.”   

The writer of Habakkuk was certainly realistic about his lemon list. What is interesting is his recipe for lemonade.

In verse eighteen it begins with trust in God. That attitude gave him a joyful spirit. He would persevere in processing his lemons because his strength would come from God.

We could declare Covid-19 a basket of lemons. They differ in size and amount from person to person and even country to country; however, they have brought new life to a poem I wrote several years ago.

Perhaps it will inspire you to persevere in making some personal lemonade:

ONWARD TO VICTORY

By Darlis Sailors, 2016

Life is bitter, where once it was sweet.

Faith feels worthless, and prayers seem weak.

But faith is not feelings, so onward you go

Into battle with power to meet every foe.

God’s Word gives you hope; His presence empowers.

There’s victory ahead, just not at this hour.

The timing is His, but joy will be sweet

When testing is over---your victory complete.

  

A Great Fish to the Rescue

Have you ever heard of a fish called an Ichthyosaur (ik-thee-o-sar)? It shared the seas of the world with other large marine creatures while dinosaurs ruled on land.

This giant water creature is described as having a body eight feet thick, with several flippers. Its eye sockets were a foot across and its tail was twenty-five feet long with six-foot triangular fins at the end. Vertebrae were up to twelve inches in diameter and its head was ten feet long with cone-shaped teeth and a long, pointed snout.

Based on these measurements, scientists estimated the Ichthyosaur weighed forty tons and was sixty feet long. It could breathe air and, like modern whales, lacked gills.

Fossils of this great fish can be found in Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nye County, Nevada, USA.

Children’s books tell the story of Jonah and the Whale. Actually, Bible translations seem to call it “a great fish.” Even my New World Dictionary definition of "whale" begins with "a large fish.”     

Whales have enormous air storage in their nasal cavity, as well as four to six compartments in their stomach. Any one of them could house a group of men.

Some people think the story of Jonah is simply a whale of a tale, but Jonah was a real person.

In the Old Testament Book of Jonah, he is listed by name, time, and place. That separates him from allegories and parables.

As a disobedient prophet, he tried to ship out and avoid God’s assignment. When a great storm arose, Jonah knew he was part of the problem, so he told the crew to cast him overboard. God mercifully provided a great fish to swallow him, instead of letting him drown.

Chapter two shares Jonah’s prayer. He said, “In my distress, I called to the Lord, and He answered me. . . "

Once Jonah repented and was ready to complete his assignment, God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah out on dry land.

Just as a great fish is not imaginary, neither is a God who hears and answers prayer. Call upon Him in your day of trouble. He always hears the cry of a sincere heart.

Burden Bearers

Do those two words remind you of pack mules or camels? Such animals have been valuable for centuries, but humans also have a burden-bearing capacity.

Bearing a burden means being helpful in some way. Sometimes you are required to do the heavy lifting. Other times your help is needed to bear up under emotional stress.

While fighting cancer in 2007 I had many burden bearers. The closest one was my husband. He drove hundreds of miles that year between our home and the city where I had to be for treatments. I'm still grateful for his help. The year was filled with doctor appointments, chemo, surgery, radiation, labs, and scans.

What is a burden? My dictionary says it's anything hard to bear or put up with. Not all human burdens are physical. Some are emotional. Right now, isolation is creating a burden for many, as well as a loss of jobs and a lack of finances. And death always creates burdens for those left behind.

The Apostle Paul instructed believers to bear (endure or carry) other people's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). So, what did Jesus say about that?

It's really quite clear in John 15:12-13: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends.

Love is a tricky word. Our first reaction is generally emotional. But my husband often acted out of love, not as a feeling, but for the good of another.

There's a "boots on the ground" explanation of love expressed in First Corinthians, chapter thirteen. Meanwhile, what are you doing to help bear someone's burdens?

Practical help may include giving a ride when needed. Other help may include providing a meal to meet dietary needs, calling with a word of encouragement, or sending a card or text. Donations to burden-bearing organizations help, too.

There are many ways to be a burden bearer. The important thing is to do it, not just think about it.

She Lived to be 100!

As our pastor gave an open invitation to a memorial, my curiosity kicked in. I kept waiting for him to say the name, but he just said she had lived a little over one hundred years.

I decided to attend. It was my first opportunity to celebrate a centenarian. Yes, I know . . . a friend reminded me that people live way longer than that nowadays, but I’ve never met any of those either.

Her big, beautiful family, including great-grandchildren, impressed me. It reminded me of Proverbs 17:6: Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children (NLT). The memorial reflected their love for her.

During the slide show, I realized I knew this lady, though I had never met her. I had often observed her walking slowly toward the church, holding onto the arm of her daughter-in-law. She was obviously a senior, but I would never have guessed her to be one hundred.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed they parked far out. The pastor said, “One day I asked why they didn’t drive up closer and use our portico?” Their reply? “She wants to walk.”

Imagine the changes this lady lived through. From the end of the horse-and-buggy era into the space age, for one thing. And think of the changes from wall-mounted party-line telephones, to desk-top rotary-dial models, to current pocket-sized cell phones.

During World War II she took her place in a factory to help with the war effort. She lived through the Depression and several recessions. Is it any wonder this was the verse on the front of her memorial brochure? The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

One comment on her life stuck with me. While sharing the accomplishments of this Christian wife and mother, Pastor said, “There were many changes during her life, but one thing remained constant---her values.”

What a statement! 

I hope people will be able to say that of me. 

What about you?

The Balance of Three

   

If you believe in prayer, you've probably heard a lot about it lately. I've been familiar with the National Day of Prayer for years, but this year held something new.

Jonathan Cahn, the author of The Harbinger, written after 9-11, has a current book called The Harbinger, Two. Along with the book, he organized a National Day of Prayer called The Return. 

Today was the day: September 26, 2020. Not everyone could get to Washington, DC, of course, so people were encouraged to sponsor community-wide events in their own areas.

A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to our local event. I wrote it on the calendar and determined to go.

I heard there would be several speakers and I wondered how there could be much prayer? I was pleasantly surprised. Meaningful prayers were offered by each speaker as they closed out their personal story, or shared their involvement with some social concern.

We had been encouraged from the start that this was not a spectator event. We were asked to join in a personal prayer of agreement with each speaker.

Some people stood, some sat, and some knelt on the grass. There was no pressure to pray in a certain position, or even to pray out loud.

This event was based on 2 Chronicles 7:14. It's a direct call to people who call themselves Christians. I see it in three parts:

1. Humble yourself before God
2. Pray and seek His face
3. Turn from your wicked ways

My concern is that we will do the first two, but skip the third. That's where it gets quite personal.

After 9-11, there was great interest in spiritual things. Churches were full overnight, but looking at society's issues and actions today, there was obviously a lack of deep, lasting spiritual commitment.

Thank God for every person with a heart to pray; however, two things are needed: (1) Don't limit this prayer to one-day events, and (2) observe the balance of three.