Don Miller's DNC Benediction

click on the title for the link.
what follows is a beautiful prayer for tonight's democratic national convention.
let us all echo an amen.

"Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen."

peace

pray for va tech

i'm sure there's a ton of stuff out there today about the need to pray for virginia tech. but i don't think one more would hurt.

its hard to comprehend what would drive one person to shoot 50 people and kill 32 of them. it doesn't make sense.

here in indiana, its almost a state of shock and feeling unattached. i can watch images of the event but it still doesn't register what is happening over there.

over there. this is in our country. this isn't iraq, afganistan, the sudan. this is our country.

i can't begin to grasp what happened.

i can only pray those affected will be surrounded by others to love them, care for them and be Jesus to them.

i pray that we will continue to value life. i pray that we as a country will move towards healthy relationships. because thats what life is about. relationships.

be good to each other. look at Christ. pray for va. tech. peace.

good friday

meditation on the cross for the comfortable

Lord,

i've prayed to know your cross, to know your suffering, pain, and death, to be in perfect union with your life on earth. i don't know what i'm asking.

you were spit upon, blunt iron nails ruined your hands and feet and the scorn of others made your life a failure. even your friends deserted you, and your Father even refused to save you from a hideous death. my life is so good. i am not homeless as you were, and i have friends and family that have not deserted me yet. my health is good. i can go out when i feel like it, seek entertainment and lawful pleasure.

how can i experience your passion in my life when there are so many good things? i cannot become a monk because of family obligations, and monks eat well anyway, and few seem to be suffering with you. i want to pray with you in gethsemane and be taken with you in the garden.

let some of the scourging you received fall on me. grant me thorns, too, and let my blood mingle with yours. i don't know why i want this, except maybe that i need you so much. i will take your company any way i can get it. i would rather be crucified with you than be separated from you for another moment.

please grant this prayer, that as much as it is possible, i may share in your sufferings and so be united with you completely.

amen.

unknown origin

for further reflection, go here.

scot mcknight has written a great piece about why Jesus chose passover for his death. you can read it here.

finally, as we reflect on Christ on the cross, "look at him with whatever faith you have and know that your worry about your lack of faith is itself a sign of faith....look at him. keep looking, and faith will take care of itself." - richard john neuhaus

st. teresa's prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence
settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

- st. teresa's prayer