I am laughing in the inside because of a conversation earlier this week. Have you ever prayed a prayer like this, “Lord, I want you to do this for me!” “Now!”
I really believe that God must be amused at His people; or like a parent, He understands that sometimes we are really silly (like a child, who doesn’t really know what they are saying…)!
Maybe we pray, “Lord, if it be your will, let me have such and such…” “I want the real thing, not a knock off!” We couch our hidden agenda with the “if it’s your will” card! Of course, I want it to be His will, because it is mine!
We might try this approach, “God, do this because_______.” “You said that you give us the desires of our heart!” We can remind God of His obligation, duty to perform as He should for us! Oh, did I forget He is God?
Our prayers are often couched with an addendum. You understand what an addendum is, don’t you? Webster defines addendum as, “textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end.” Usually, as I pray, I have an addendum to my prayer! For some reason, I have the innate desire to add to my request–an addendum! How about you?
Our prayer life and prayers usually gives us away! They tell our story and our spiritual journey! They are a reflection of our spirituality! For example, let us look at Jesus at the crucible moment of his life, at the garden of Gethsemane.
In Matthew 26, Matthew writes, “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father
, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”
You will notice a few things about Jesus’ prayer:
1. Jesus is real…he is fully aware of his emotions and feelings. He understands what is surrounding him and doesn’t particularly like it! “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…” We can be real in our prayers to God.
2. Jesus leaves God an out…he understands that God is God. We may want something from God, but God is still God! “My Father, if it is possible…” Can our prayers give God an option? We can let God be God!
3. Jesus is not self-absorbed…he understands that there is someone Greater than him. Although he is God-incarnate, Jesus lives in selfless abandonment. “Yet not as I will, but as you will…” We can let go of ourselves in order to allow God reign in our lives. We can be God-absorbed!
4. Jesus is decisive…even in his prayer life; Jesus shows us that when we come to crucible moments, decisions are necessary! Jesus’ foreknowledge does not preclude his choices in humanity. Decide today, even as you offer prayers to the ultimate Decision-maker!
Lord, teach us how to pray as we should!
So, on the eve of the US Open, you expect the best golfers in the world to be the best! One by one, in each interview, they all declare that the possibility of winning the tourney is theirs for the taking. But deep inside my spirit, there is only one golfer in the bunch that really believes that. In his last tournament, playing in the final group, trailing by four strokes, he came from behind and birdied three of the last four holes to win the Memorial by two strokes over Jim Furyk. OK, you know da man…he is Tiger Woods!
Today, I’d like to take you to an off-beaten path in the KC barbeque cuisine. Drive south on 47th Street from our well-known Plaza and you will find that 47th becomes Blue Parkway; and you will find LC’s Bar-B-Q. As you drive closer to LC’s, you’ll notice that the restaurant sits on a corner lot and a noticeable flume of smoke from its chimney guides you like the shining star guided the wise men in days of Christ’s birth. Unlike the wise men, you get a whaff of barbeque mastery!
As you enter LC’s, you normally see LC himself seated at the table against the wall, a behemoth of a man which guarantees that you are going to get good barbecue! I specifically come to LC’s because I am in search for the best burnt ends in town! Of course, like any good bbque joint, you can order your ribs, beef, turkey, and pork sandwiches, but I come to LC’s for their burnt ends. It usually comes in a to go plastic container. Upon getting your order, you will instantly notice that you are carrying a heavy load of barbeque pleasure! LC’s burnt ends are generous chunks of beef burnt ends sandwiched by two pieces of white bread. I order their fries (they usually cook their fries, which are the thick kind of fries, with each order) along with my burnt ends. Every time I come, I expect to finish my entire order, but needless to say, I have not succeeded! I always have enough to feed myself dinner!
Lately, when you hear someone say, “Did you hear that _____crossed over?” Those words usually find their context in some sexual connotation. The implication is to have gone from what is appropriate and right (that is “culturally”) and step over, or cross over to something that is inappropriate or conservatively wrong…as you can see, this blog is already full of labels and I am sure, I may have already offended some… Give me a chance! Don’t stop reading yet!
Israel, the covenant people, gives us another illustration of biblical history. As a nation, deep in struggle and bondage, Israel calls on Jehovah to rescue and deliver them. As their act of faith, Moses (Exodus 14) instructs the nation to move away from their fears of an enemy chasing them, and a seemingly impossible obstacle of the Red Sea, and cross over to their promised land–their destiny! The people of God would cross over from the land of servitude to their land of promise! Fear, their own final enemy, is defeated by an act of faith–a simple step towards an impassable body of water!
I was just standing in the hallway when several guys started talking. It’s an interesting conversation when guys start talking from their perspective. All of us are married for except Joe (our soon to be groom). Soon enough, our attention was on him and what would be in store for him…and of course, we had our advise ready!
I can’t believe how quickly they can tear things down! For example, there is a new interchange and exit ramp that is being built on 291 past Woods Chapel Road. If you drive by there, you can quickly see how they are building an overpass underneath 291. Can you believe how quickly they have dug the overpass and move dirt around? It is amazing how easily the roads are being torn down in order to build something else!
1. Remember the road signs–it’s easy to forget that construction is all around us! We are all under construction and need the grace that He alone can give to make it!
barbeque. You can’t go wrong with ordering a mix plate at Gates Barbeque. We normally go to Gates on 12th St. You are greeted with the famous line, “May I help you!” Knowing the official routine, you pick up your tray and catch the eye of the person greeting you and with authority in your voice, you place your order! At Gates, you can ensure your satisfaction and contentment by simply following your order with simple request like, “lean as possible” (meaning the cuts of your choice of meat be without fat), “to show” (means that you want them to show you the ribs before they put it on your order), “moist as possible” (meaning you don’t want some dry piece of meat!), and “extra crispy” (means that you want your fries well done and hard). 
The mix plate is an order of two choices of meat (beef, turkey, pork) and some ribs and fries on top. As you can see from the picture, unless you are really hungry, two people can eat and leave Gates in barbeque bliss. My preference is to order the mix plate with beef and turkey (of course, moist as possible and extra crispy!). You don’t leave Gates disappointed when you order this meal. Gates on 12th Street has that barbeque, inner-city, smell and feel. From the moment you park and open your door, you know that you have walked into barbeque country! It is especially good when you walk in and are greeted by Kieva, one of your church members. She definitely puts a smile on your face and her hospitality adds to the ambience of Gates Barbeque.
If you hang out with me long enough, or hear me give a talk, sooner or later the subject of food will pop up. I love to eat! Food…and lots of it! Of course, one of the hazards of my profession is the exposure to food! There are lunches after staff meeting, lunch appointments, sectional lunches, members who invite you to lunch, quick lunch dates, you get my drift… So I thought, with all my profound experience, my delectable palate, and adventurous spirit, why not be a food critic…your very own, clergy food critic!
thighs. They serve baked chicken for those of you who are health conscious. The pork chops drowned with a seasoned dark gravy is to die for. The pot roast just melts in your mouth. If you’re adventurous, the neckbones are a must! (Every good neckbone eater must break up the neckbones and get all the meat!) There are of course all the sides, beans and rice, greens, corn, mash potatoes, and my favorite, cabbage. To finish your plate, you must add a buttery, homemade, bread (if you want, you can eat this for dessert…it’s that good–by the way, that’s my wife’s favorite part of the restaurant).
I’m sure you’ve heard somebody say, “I have do this one thing…”
