When I read your first “What Belongs to All of Us” post, it was a breath of fresh Spirit. I need to be reminded biblically, not just experientially, of what makes “us” a body, and not just a bunch of “we” and “them”ers. Inspired concept.

Michael, this idea is a book. Really. After you write however many of these you intend to write, seek to have them published as a devotional. It’s not just that your thoughts and gifted writing deserve a wider audience, but that a wider audience deserves them. The body needs all the spiritual glue it can find right now to start bringing it back together. You’ve got the right stuff.

I assumed the “24/7/365 Prayer & Devotions” was a reference to Catholicism in general with its frequent emphasis on prayers and devotions. Or possibly just a more generic reference to any Christian who thinks that the Christian life is all about filling as many hours as possible with as many formal prayers and devotions as possible.

My reaction to Michael’s writing was the same as Ivy’s… Amen.

I have read and own the “Fire Within” and other Thomas Dubay books. (I even traded a Christmas gift copy of “The DaVinci Code” for his book about beauty)

Where I wasn’t clear to Ken, was that either he was putting that kind of ceaseless prayer down or there is a program called “24/7/365 Prayer & Devotions”

I’ve been out of touch with Southern Baptist churches for a while, except for reading my home state Baptist newspaper.

I never understood this either until I read Fire Within by Thomas Dubay. He is a catholic author and the book looks at the lives of Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, and the Gospel concerning Prayer. It is a great resource on Living the Gospel as well as prayer.

As for your question. I think “pray without ceasing” helps us to understand that prayer is more than just talking to God or sending our petitions as we can not possibly do this at all times. At the root of prayer as Paul describes it is the ability to enter into communion with God. What Paul says is no easy thing. It involves sacrafice and detatchment from this world so that we may be more united to the Triune God.

Mother Teresa was asked what she says to God in prayer. Her response: “I don’t say anything; I just listen.” She was then asked what God says to her. Her response: “He doesn’t say anything; He just listens.” When asked what that meant she said, “If you don’t understand then I can’t explain it to you.”

Fire Within will lend insight to this manner of prayer and while Paul’s command and Mother Teresa’s discourse will no doubt remain mysterious you may just catch a glimmer of light that will enhance your prayer life ten fold.

But be warned only read this book if you aren’t afraid to be challenged by what it really looks like to live the Gospel.

Thank you, Ken. I agree, except for the last. I’ve not heard of “24/7/365 Prayer and Devotions”. I know that Paul asks that we pray without ceasing; I also know that it is easy for some of us to remember to pray just a few words frequently while we work. (I don’t expect everyone to have the same type of job that allows it, nor the personality that finds it easy.)

Can you, or someone please explain it to me.

Thank you.

In the statement, “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” the “have put on” is active, but the “were baptized” is passive. I don’t think being baptized is any more active on our part than having faith is. Remember, the Bible sometimes talks about faith in active language too, e.g. Acts 16:31 (”Believe” as an imperative).

Note: “in Christ Jesus”.
NOT “in Young Earth Creationism”.
NOT “in Pre-Millenial Dispensationalism”.
NOT “in Soul Winning”.
NOT “in Heretic Hunting”.
NOT “in Spiritual Smugness”.
NOT “in Denouncing Demon Rum”.
NOT “in Burning Harry Potter“.
NOT “in 24/7/365 Prayer & Devotions”.

re; “You guys hate each other…Catholicism is like a soft bouncy pillow in comparison.”

It seems to me that you do not have a good perspective of history. Most Protestant denominations (with the exception of some Lutheranism and some Reformed groups) have never been directly in control of the government of the land. Historically, the opposite is true of the Catholics. In consequence, Protestant dominated countries have tended to be democratic, free thinking societies, while Catholic countries were not. Just ask protestants who were missionaries in South America half a century ago.

In a free society, there will be much bickering and bantering, as there is in any normal family. Just read the New Testament. There was constant friction between the Judaizers/law and the “Free in Christ” groups. Paul, Barnabas and Mark had their disagreements. Paul nailed Peter to the wall in public for his hypocrisy. In Romans 12:8, Paul is instructing THE ONE LEADING (the term used in the Greek is in the singular) at Rome, how to lead. Some attest that the leader in Rome at that time was Peter.

Freedom allows free speech, which can include dissent, at times vicious and uncalled for, to exist in the open. Autocracy forces it underground. As in a Family, there are constant squabbles with I HATE YOU innuendos plus at times vicious fights between siblings. However, should an outside force attack any of its members, BEWARE! I am part of a FREE, often squabbling, fighting family.