Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
Just got back from a 45 minute trip to Romainmôtier, an abbey in a monastic village at the base of the Jura mountains. It’s a little below freezing but as clear as can be. Alps are across the lake, though they seem much closer, while the Jura mountains ring our side of the water.
There was a church on the Romainmôtier site sometime in the 5th century. You can still see the foundation outline from the 7th century constructions. It seems the abbey was, at times, deserted for years because of enemies in the area who had come down from Germany in the 8th century. But now it has all been restored. I’ve sung in it before. Weddings are celebrated there (reservations are years in advance).
The style is the fortress like Romanesque from the end of the first millennium. Son 2 told us about the Cluny monks that built the place. Their motto was "No work and all pray makes Jack a Cluny monk". (I’m still working on what that means.) Some say that these places are permeated with prayer. I don’t know. But finding the balance between prayer and work has always been a challenge, one I will try to do better at this next year.
Posted in Prayer, Switzerland, Tourism | 3 Comments »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
We’ll be with about 40 Christians tonight to pray in the New Year. Sounds like a great way to bring in 2010.
2009? Well, although I loved certain days, there were some pretty rough times right in the middle of it. Bad news and sad news seemed to fill up the Spring and Summer, and I may never get over that. But I have faith.
BTW, I was comparing faith in the New Testament, checking out ways the inspired writers use the word… "Past" faith looks at all that Jesus did to bring redemption and Kingdom. "Future" faith is that God will keep his promises (think of the encouragement given to the Hebrew Christians). And "present" faith? It’s persevering from day to day.
I know you’ve welcomed Christ in as Savior and Lord and that you firmly believe in the promises our God has offered us. My prayer is that you persevere in faith, hope and love, and that God’s goodness will truly shine on you in 2010.
Posted in Prayer, Thanks, Time | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
It seems that this summer there are more people and situations to pray for than ever before. We keep our niece M. in our prayers every day. We continue to pray for Susan G. who was diagnosed with breast cancer just after leaving Pepperdine Lausanne, and we pray daily for Lynn A. (To check up on his progress, go here.)
About Lynn… He and Carolyn have made several trips to Lausanne. I was always amazed by their adventures. They managed to lose luggage, get on wrong trains, and there’s even a story that they once got on the wrong plane.
When I was an ACU student, my mom came out for a visit. I had recently started going to Highland church, so mom and I crowded into the sanctuary-auditorium-meeting place early one Sunday. When Lynn got up to preach, Mom said: Oh, Lynn preaches here? I quickly affirmed saying that Brother A. was indeed the preacher. Mom then informed me that they were great friends from college days. After service, mom dragged me up front to meet Brother A. I was scared to death, completely (and understandably) in awe of the man, totally sure that there was no way he was going to remember my mom and even more sure that he did not want to meet me. (My discomfort was somewhat like how I would feel when my mom would shop for women’s underwear and I found myself the lingerie section because I was pushing the cart. Still bothers me.) Anyway, I hung back, and over the crowd’s noise I heard Lynn shouting out: Sue? Sue? Is that you? What are you doing here? Hugs, introductions and the beginning of a good friendship followed… All reasons that we continue to pray.
Posted in Prayer | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
We lived the inauguration “live†here in Europe with all ears and eyes tuned in to the happenings on the Potomac. It took place at 6 PM our time, those who came to the Geneva weekly Bible study (at 7 PM) told me what news they had heard before leaving home or while on the road.
As a church, we sang praises to the King of kings and quietly prayed for Obama along with the leaders of other countries in the world.
The BBC covered major parts of the speech as I was driving home to Lausanne. The French were interviewing Americans in Paris and correspondents on site. There were reporters in Birmingham, Chicago and London, all interviewing Mr. or Ms US citizen, voices filled with emotion, sure that America was on the “right†path again.
Don’t doubt it: Obama is a star, not only in the USA, but throughout Europe. One of the members of the Swiss Executive Council stated on TV recently: “Obama is not just the hope of America, but of the whole world.†I think I know what she meant: That he’ll open doors to dialogue; that change can be more easily affected; that he will correct a downward spiral.
I pray for Obama. (God, bless the man.) But I’ll build my hope on something else.
Posted in Current events, Politics, Prayer | 3 Comments »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Here’s my current prayer list. I go through it several times a week and the people mean the world to me.
- Rick P.: He’s Christ’s servant who’s been in Kiev, always ready to give me a hand when I come through. He’s gotten terribly sick (no details) and is now in the hospital in Canada. What a blessing he has been to the Ukraine work.
- L. (from church) and his brother Victor in Canada, who is dying of cancer.
- Mom: Recovering from knee operation.
- Susanne and J-Pierre: Their age brings a new challenge every day;
- Son 1 and his studies.
- Daughter and Son 2: Both away from home.
- M., an older woman living with us who’s having many problems.
- C. and her severe sprain, T. and her search for work, J. and her emotional state, L. and her illness, Nicole’s father and his illness.
- Upcoming teen retreat.
- Of course, the church here, that we have faith and love and hope. It’s my constant prayer. As well as for strength to go forward.
Perhaps some of you will pray for these people.
Posted in Prayer | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
We picked up Jack at the airport late Monday. He’d been in Spain visiting Juan Monroy, an old friend. He wanted to come see Wife and me, even though it took going through London Heathrow, a major mess these days. Love knows no bounds…
Jack has meant much to our family, especially to Wife’s parents. He made many things possible in Ukrainian ministry by his support through the years. He and Joyce also had a little place up in Gruyère which served as a retreat, building project and getaway to Wife’s dad.
When Wife went to ACU from Switzerland, Jack and Joyce made sure she was taken care of, giving helpful advice and serving as a home away from home. When Wife went to Costa Rica for the missionary apprenticeship program, they made it possible.
For 23 plus years we have been the recipients of their love and generosity.
I came home last night to find Jack, Wife and Son 1 following the France-Italy game. In the kitchen there was a gift from Jack: An empty, lidless, label-less, 18 oz. tin can, with these word penned in felt tip: GOD CAN. Then on the back in smaller letters: “Let Him.†In the tin go all burdens I can’t handle.
I could use gallon can!
Posted in Friendship, Prayer | 4 Comments »
Sunday, February 10th, 2008
While on the subject of prayer, many of you know that we in Lausanne have the tradition of reading through Psalms, one psalm each Sunday, one after the other. I wanted to write praying through the Psalms, but I think some of the psalms just get read-through and not prayed-through. I’m talking about myself, not others.
Recently, there were two Sundays when the psalms read-prayed were especially appropriate. The first was when we had 9 Croatians with us for the Taizé meeting in Geneva. Psalm 113:
Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
For great is his steadfast love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Praise the Lord!
The second was last weekend at the women’s retreat. The weekend’s theme was Peace. The coincidental psalm? 122:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers.’
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
Two lovely coincidences, conducive to prayer and worship.
Posted in Prayer, Worship | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 8th, 2008
The Tuesday prayer group at the local Protestant Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud (that really is its name) always has two antiphonal prayers… One at the beginning and another, appropriately, at the end. One of the weekly participants, a very kind, yet very-old-enough-to-know-she-can-speak-her-mind lady, told me she hates those prayers. (I kind of like them.) She wonders why we have to respond like sheep baaa-ing. (Her words, not mine.) I suppose it’s because no one prays during the free prayer time. Plus we are able to cover the liturgical calendar, preparing our minds for Easter and Christmas.
Then the Tuesday pastor will continue… “As we pray the prayer that our Lord taught his disciples to pray: ‘Notre Père qui es au cieux, que ton nom soit sanctifié…’â€
I was at a workers’ retreat in November ’07 when one of the guys asked me to pray. I prayed Psalm 130 and then finished with: “As we pray the prayer that our Lord taught his disciples to pray…†Several joined in. Others prayed silently.
How about you? Does your church, or do you… recite that prayer? Why?
Posted in Prayer | 4 Comments »
Saturday, May 26th, 2007
Here is a translated, antiphonal prayer from a Reformed Protestant tradition, Crêt-Bernard, that we’ll be using to guide our thoughts on Pentecost Sunday. (Yup, this Sunday!):
–
Holy Spirit, Creator, who in the beginning hovered over the waters, by your breath every being received life.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Counselor, who inspired the prophets as they spoke and acted; you clothed them in your strength so they would witness to your Word.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Power, you covered the Virgin Mary with your shadow and you prepared her to become the mother of the Son of God.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Consecrator, you descended upon Jesus the day of his baptism to consecrate him as faithful witness to the Father.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Light, you led Christ into the desert; by your strength he cast out demons and you equipped him for the preaching the Kingdom of God.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Eternal One, through you the Christ, our Chief Priest, offered himself as a victim without blemish to deliver us from the works of death so we could serve the living God.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Defender, you came upon the apostles to teach them all things, to remind them of the words of Christ and to lead them into all truth.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, you Console, and through you we are born to life as children of God; you make us living temples of your presence and you intercede within us.
Holy Spirit, come!
Holy Spirit, Life Giver, you animate and sanctify the entire body of the Church; you live in each one of its members and will one day give life to our mortal bodies.
Holy Spirit, come!
Posted in Holidays, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Worship | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Mary* became a Christian about 3 years ago. She moved to another part of Switzerland last year and I encouraged her to dedicate herself to a local church in that part of the country (where there are no churches of Christ). She found a charismatic group not too far away and has been attending there ever since. We study the Bible by phone once a week, working through portions of the New Testament.
Mary hears a voice. It’s quite destructive, has led her to eating problems, lack of self-worth and much grief. She once asked me if I thought the voice was demoniac in nature. I told her I didn’t know, but would pray with and for her.
The voice continued after she became a Christian. She sought help from the local pastor and he assured her of what I couldn’t, that is, the voice is demon-inspired. She has asked for healing… The pastor there has prayed for her.
Recently, an acquaintance had a dream about Mary’s voice, and through this situation Mary was advised to attend an African Pentecostal group. Their pastor claimed that Mary had something in her that was destroying her, but that she couldn’t be healed because her faith wasn’t great enough. (Her local pastor has told her the same thing.)
We talked yesterday. Mary was quite broken up. God has been very active in her life. She has grown, has joy in her life, has made some difficult moral choices, has prayed every day for liberation, but she is not free of the voice and does not understand why. On top of that, she has learned from two of her spiritual guides that her slavery is her own fault (lack of faith) and this has inflicted deep spiritual hurt, doubt and tears.
I know she has at least the faith of a grain of mustard. I think the prayer, “I believe, please help me in my unbelief†is sufficient for God to act. If demon possessed, it is not her lack of faith but that of the exorcist that is called in question.
Mary and I will speak on the phone again tomorrow. Your input… your prayers… would be appreciated. We can discuss this more in the comments section.
*Of course, not the person’s real name.
Posted in Demons, Faith, Healing, Ministry, Prayer | 7 Comments »