GLUE

Fresh Encounters

Here’s a little word association. Are you ready?

Prayer.

Now, be honest. Does the word evoke a feeling of boredom within you, i.e., like the feeling you get on a rainy day when shades are drawn and all you want to do is sleep? Or perhaps, you feel a sense of guilt over the lack of enthusiasm you have for prayer, the lack of time you spend actually praying or in any other way, like a failure in this otherwise expected discipline of the Christian life so critical to discipleship, church development and leadership, etc.

If so, you are not alone. And that's why I recommend Daniel Henderson's work, Fresh Encounters: Experiencing Transformation Through United Worship-based Prayer (NavPress, 2004). This book deals personally, honestly and practically with the elephant in the room, i.e., a wide-spread, pastoral lack of experiential understanding when it comes to authentic, vibrant prayer. Henderson says, most people and pastors feel such things (as described above) because they have not been taught or exposed to anything other than "request-based prayer." In contrast, he recommends and describes the concept of "worship-based prayer," suggesting that a shift in focus will lead to a shift in attitude and, ultimately, a shift in practice that will benefit not only pastoral leadership, but entire congregations.

Most helpful for me was his analogy comparing a sailboat to a powerboat with reference to prayer. With this as a backdrop, he shares his own moment of awakening: "Lord, for so many years I've wanted to be a powerboat for you. As a pastor, I've kept my hand on the throttle of a man-made machine, enjoying the exhilaration of impressive speed. I've sliced through the choppy waters of church life impressing people with my dynamic ability to navigate and steer. Please give me the grace to learn to be a simple sailboat. Let this be the attitude of my heart. Let me set my sails everyday through prayer ... and wait for the wind of Your Spirit to blow."

Concluding this thought, he writes, "A powerboat advances on a predictable journey at the hands of the driver, propelled by man-made fuel. A sailboat is at the mercy of an unpredictable force and magnifies the beauty and energy of the wind. This example represents two different approaches to life and ministry," i.e., to prayer.

In the end, the book answers the question, "How can private and corporate prayer be transformed from an obligation to an oasis?" And if you're, like me, ready and needing to unfurl the sails, you'll benefit from this most helpful read!

You Tube Promo w/ Dr. George Yancey and Senator Mark Pryor

Here's an informative, three-minute media piece featuring myself, Dr. George Yancey and U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, recently put together by Leadership Network for distribution among pastors, educators and church leaders throughout North America and beyond. In fact, I have already heard from ministry leaders in Australia and New Zealand!

Following your own review, I would greatly appreciate you forwarding the link to those within your own sphere of influence. And thanks in advance for doing so!

Outreach Magazine Just Called ...

Seems my book is reviewed in their cuurent issue. Read Tamara Rice's review from the November/December 2007 edition of Outreach Magazine.

Prayer: A Struggle for Control

Admittedly, through nearly twenty-four years of full-time ministry, I have not often viewed prayer as something I enjoy. Of course, I know I am “supposed” to pray, but I struggle with a temperament compelled to action. Surely, I am not alone.

With a desire to advance in this critical area of my life/ministry, I have recently turned to Philip Yancey and his work, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference (Zondervan, 2006). Written by one who states that his “main qualification for writing about prayer is that I feel unqualified-and genuinely want to learn,” the book offers a refreshingly balanced assessment of the subject: of all that prayer is, is not and still can be for those, like me, who are not yet satisfied.

One section entitled “Guilty” has me thinking. There, Yancey reminds that God asked only two questions of Adam and Eve: Where are you? What is this you have done?

The first question, he notes, addresses our present reality. Are we attempting to hide, feeling exposed, suffering from guilt or shame, the hurt and rejection of others, or perhaps even angry with God due to unmet expectations, etc.?

The second question recalls the past and, if we are honest, provides an opportunity for proper assessment of what exactly has brought us here.

Having answered these questions before God, we are prepared to leave the garden (of prayer) newly clothed and rightly positioned for the journey ahead.

In other words, authentic prayer is that excerise through which I realign myself with God; through which I again admit, “Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.” Prayer compels me, therefore, to cease from striving to control, and to will myself to be controlled by the One who not only knows me best, but who is, truly, about what is best for me.

Perhaps prayer, then, is time to answer once again the question, “Do I really believe that?”