I'm trying to understand prayer and praying.....

OK. You say you pray to God. Is that right?
Oh, yes. Of course I do.
Hmm. Have any of your prayers ever been answered?
Ahh, what do you mean?
You do speak English, don't you? Have any of your prayers ever...well, been answered. That's the way you put it, isn't it? Prayers answered?
Yes, you got that right. Prayers answered.
Well........
That's kind of hard to answer.
OK. Let's try again. Did you pray for anything last year?
Oh, of course. Many things.
Now we're getting somewhere. Now, pick one prayer that was answered and tell me about it.
Hmmmm. Well, I'm sure you know that not all prayers are answered.
Wow. OK. Not all prayers are answered. Now, who determines which ones are? Like is there a committee or something?
You shouldn't mock God. That isn't funny.
OK. OK. So, God decides on all prayers, is that what you're saying?
Of course.
Again. Which of your prayers were answered?
Well, sometimes prayers aren't answered right away.
OK. Let's just say that I agree with you that sometimes prayers aren't answered immediately. It takes some time. Why?
Why what?
Why does it take time? Hey, God's all great and powerful, right? I mean that's getting into that miracle stuff.... Soooooooooo, trying again. If God can do all of that.....why would he answer a prayer that had a time factor. You know. Well, as an example. Let's say someone who you love dearly is in horrible pain from cancer. OK. With me so far?
Of course.
Now, you pray to God. Please relieve the suffering of _____________. Still with me?
Yes, of course. I'm not an idiot.
OK.
Now, let's say God thinks that's a worthy prayer or whatever term you want to use. OK. And, that God says he will relieve the suffering of this person who you love dearly; however, he ain't doin' it right now. Nope, he'll relieve the suffering in six months. What would you think about that?
Like any Christian, I'd be grateful to God and sing his praise and continue to worship him.
Gee whiz. Hmmm. You wouldn't be pissed that he was going to make your loved one suffer for another six months?
Of course not. You don't get pissed at God.
OK. You don't get pissed at God. Why would he make this person wait six months for the pain to be taken away?
I don't question God. He would have his reasons.
Oh. He would have His reasons. Do you have any idea what these reasons would be?
I don't speculate about what God does or doesn't do.
Could ole God be testing you?
Could be.
And, how would that help anyone...this test.
Well, maybe God just wants to make sure that I believe in him and am praying to him.
Wow. Would you repeat that please. Say it again slowing and please listen carefully to what you're saying.
OK. I repeated it, now what?
Did you listen to what you said?
Yes. Of course.
Do you think it's OK for God to withhold relieving the suffering of your loved one because He wants to see if you're still praying?
Well, I'm sure you know that God works in mysterious ways?
OK. I'm almost at a loss as to what to say. Let's try something else, OK. Same basic scenario....good person and suffering. Person is suffering horrible pain...a good person...a person who prayed everyday...went to church five times a week...gave 50% of her salary to the church...was a volunteer in the community....taught Sunday school....never drank or smoked...had no vices...never committed a sin...and so on. OK?
Yes, I understand.
Now, you pray to God to relieve her suffering. OK? And, nothing happens...her suffering continues and for three years she's in excruciating pain...and then of course dies. Why wouldn't God answer a prayer for someone like this? Hmmm?
Wait. Wait a minute. Listen to me. I do appreciate you answering my questions. I do. However, do not tell me God acts in mysterious ways. Yes, I know you're 6' 5", 30 years younger than I am, in good heath, and 235 pounds....but if you say that once more my 5'8", 160 pound, old body is going to try to beat the crap out of you.
Hmmm. I can see you're getting...ah...frustrated. Hmmm. OK. Well, you know, it could be the Devil...Lucifer....you know. The one from the dark side.


(to be continued)

Help me make sense of this......

OK.
We're told God is great. God is good. God cares for all of His people. God is merciful. And, so on.
Now.
We're also told that this all powerful and knowing God will beat the crap out of us and make us burn in hell forever if we don't believe in Him. Wow, did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed, or what?
I think some folks say that if you're not baptized that you go to hell. Hmmm. Let's see. A baby is born. And, sadly and tragically, shortly after birth dies. Now, is God sending this baby to hell because the baby wasn't baptized?
Hey, how about some of the poor folks who live in the ran forests and such and have never heard of God. When these poor folks die do they burn in hell? Now, assuming for the moment that there is this God...and that yes, he would make these folks burn in hell forever because they didn't know of him and as they didn't, would have no way of throwing in with Him, so to speak. Wow, does that seem fair to anyone?
And, how about our mentally retarded who just don't have the capacity to understand things like religion....how about those folks? Same answer? I would assume. Yep, truck 'em off to hell. But, but....ahhh, they had no way of knowing. They are innocent human beings with a horrible disability (oh, almost forgot...did God do that?....wow, wouldn't that be something....he makes mentally retarded people knowing that they don't have the capacity to understand about Him...and then shoots those folks to hell....hmmm...talking about ironies and what would seem a gross misuse of power. ....). Too bad. The hell with them. They should know the rules.
Folks....and...let's see.....you pray to this guy. Wow. Is this kind of person you'd invite over for dinner? Is this the kind of person you'd let babysit your kids? Hmm....

What was the catalyst for starting yet another blog?

November 2007

Our local paper had an article a couple of days ago about a prayer caucus. The photo had US Representative J. Randy Forbes and several others, standing outside with their heads bowed...yes, in prayer. That was the catalyst for this site.
OK. I know, maybe I shouldn’t make fun of or question peoples' religious beliefs. But, dang! Enough's enough!

“Randy believes that prayer is what changes things and our country needs to be on our knees in prayer,” said the Rev. Allan Campbell, the church’s music minister.

Let's see, Randy believes prayer changes things. OK, Randy, please. One example, just one, that prayer changed anything. One.

Robert A. made a comment to the paper, which said in part….."God will honor this and answer our prayers. He is always faithful to respond when we seek Him. I will be spending more time in prayer for our country, its leaders and our troops."


My comment.......


OK. If you actually want to pray for something worthwhile, I want you to pray that all of our young men and women, who have had limbs blown off in Iraq, will have God put them back on. That should be a piece of cake for someone who is all powerful. Show me one limb reattached and I'll join you folks. Otherwise, I will remain a Pastafarian….


Kind of angry bitter words. Yes, they were.

*****

Though the above I guess launched this blog, the rumblings started a few months ago when a cherished friend of sixty years died. How would I describe him? Well, sit and write everything you'd like to have in a good human being, and that would describe him. As a human being, he had it all.

A couple of years before he died cancer started its attack. Gathering speed and resisting all known medical treatments, it soon had the upper hand and attacked with a vengeance. The day before he died I visited him briefly. This strong exuberant person, who loved life and always tried to spread happiness, good will, and humor, had been reduced to lying in his death bed, weighing not more that 75 pounds, eyes open...not able to talk or move. It wasn’t known whether or not he could hear and even if he had the ability, I doubt that he could have overcome the horrible pain he suffered every moment his life continued. Hmmm.

Yes, I went to the funeral. Yes, went to the church. Catholic. There were more than a thousand people.


I picked a seat at the end of a pew. I watched the faithful come in, kneel, move their hands around saying, I guess, some kind of prayer before seating themselves. Also, a kind of birdbath thing with water. Here the faithful, dipped their fingers. Hey, guess it was holy water.

And then the proceeding started. No, I can't remember it all. There were at least four men dressed in, well, sorry, dressed in tacky and ostentatious costumes. They walked up on the stage, or whatever it's called, and spent no telling how long moving around kissing things, mumbling prayers, moving stuff around, opening and closing books and Bibles....and so on. They sat side by side, each jumping up and doing something and then passing it on to another.

As I watched this I just got more and more disgusted and angry. Here was my friend lying dead in his coffin and they seemed to be putting on some kind of show for, of all people, God. They seemed to be praising God! I'm thinking, if God had the all-powerful stuff everyone talked about, why did He allow my friend to die in the manner he did. I found it insulting, praising God, as I found him to be the villain. The Devil, if you will. Isn't anyone pissed off? Isn't anyone mad at God for allowing this horrific thing to happen? No, praising God!

Yes, they did speak of my friend, but it was as if he was secondary to praising God for allowing him (my friend) to enter the Kingdom of Heaven…or something like that. Hmmm.

After 30 minutes or so I started questioning if I should stay for the rest of their show. Would I dishonor my friend if I left? Of course, he would never know, so how could I dishonor him? Finally, after ruminating for 15 minutes, I decided I could best honor him by getting the hell out of the church. And, I did.