Dear Church Family,
I have found it so helpful to read the Bible with the lens of “How did they pray?” We often are very rigid and imagine that there’s only one way…the Presbyterian way. So, if you ever go to a Catholic, Lutheran or Pentecostal church, you are tempted to wrinkle your nose and sneer at their strange and foreign practices. But who’s to say which is right?
On Sunday we’ll look at various passages from 1 Samuel and examine the prayer life of Hannah, Eli and Samuel. What I appreciate about these three is none of them got it perfectly right. A theme I will repeat is that often our worship and prayer life is wrong. But if we don’t attempt it we’ll never have them refined according to the way that pleases our God.
During the mega church growth movement of the ’80’s Mike Yaconnelli, the founder of Youth Specialties ,used to ‘brag’ about being pastor of the smallest, slowest growing church in the country. Tongue-in-cheek and yet, he got it. Invite imperfect people to worship a perfect loving God and watch what happens.
So, come on Sunday. Worship and surrender yourself to the Savior who hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners. We are in good company unless you’re a Pharisee. But Hey! You’re invited too. If Jesus had been from the South, He would say, “Y’all Come”
God Bless,
Allen
