PRAY ALWAYS...OUR FATHER...

I took the day off.  This was a sit-down-day.  I planned nothing.  The sky was dark.  It was windy.  It became cold.  The temperature dropped over 30 degrees in short order.  It was good that I got things done yesterday. Today I simply sat on the back porch drinking my hot tea and watching the birds.  Later in the afternoon I went out and looked at a picnic table for the back porch.  I didn't get one yet, but probably will. That's how the day went. Everyone needs a day off now and then.

"Amen, Amen. I say unto you..."  Most of us know that short phrase.  I always thought "Amen"  meant "So be it."  And it does in a way.  It turns out that it actually means "May it be as prayed" in Hebrew.  Much of Christianity is founded on the tradition and history of the Catholic church, which in turn is founded upon the Jewish religion.  Like it or not, and some won't, most modern religions are the offspring of the Old Testament and of the Torah....onless you happen to be a snake handler from eastren Ky. and are trying to tempt or test God.  Don't do that.

Get used to the idea that you are something of an evolved Jew.  If you have a Christian Bible you also have the Old Testament  If you go to church you probably hear many of the Psalms incorporated into and sung in the liturgy.  The liturgy is the prayer of the church and is encouraged to be read, prayed or sung.  While keeping with the historical traditions of the first churches, the present churches are evolving.  And as a Christian you are or should be evolving, too.  As God's creations we are changing every day, as we are meant to do so, without giving up the precepts of the church.  There is an old adage that goes like this: "Better and better every day, better and better in every way."

We are exhorted to pray without ceasing.  We can and do, often and only, give worship, lip service, and appearing to be in prayer or meditation.  It is not easy to pray or meditate all the time.  I know that I can not do it.  I do try.  Often I wake up in prayer.  I also wake up laughing sometimes because I have had a funny dream.  If I could remember and write down the funny dreams, I guess I could write a best seller.  I would rather remember the prayer that I wake up to, write it down or bottle it, and  save it for next time, or as needed.  No, it wouldn't be a best seller in today's world of materialism, but it would sooth my soul and make me happy throughout the day.  Got a prayer on your lips or in your soul?

As a side note:  Now that Lent is over church attendance seems to have fallen off.  I suppose I should be glad of that in some evil way because now I can find a place to park.  However, parking is not what it all about, is it?

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