Prayer...Groovy Baby!

Since I have a condition I like to call "A.D.D. Spirituality", I have to try and either think of creative ways to spend time with God, or look and find something new and different that someone else is doing. If I don't, then I stagnate rapidly. I wish it was different, but them's the facts.

Anyway, if you go here, you will find a different way to pray. It's like you're going back to the groovy days with lava lamps and pet rocks. You simply click on a bubble, enter your prayer request, and watch it rise up with the other prayers.

I like it. :D

The Gospel According To The Daily Show

Normally, I don't find Lewis Black that great, funny or profound. But recently, on the Daily Show, he said something that was great, funny (in a disturbing way), and deeply profound.

"The latest astrotourist: American Anousheh Ansari, who spent 11 days in orbit. Price: 20 million dollars. Expensive? You bet? But it was the only way she could achieve her lifelong dream of flying over every single starving person on Earth and yelling, "Hey! Look at what I'm spending my money on!"

I hope she watched the episode.

If Peeing Your Pants Is Cool...

Consider me Jack Bauer.

Go here to see a trailer for the best show on TV - 24.

There Are Things You Just Can't Make Up

Case in point: The "Your Best Life Now" board game.

Honestly.

"Hey kids! What do you want to do tonight?

"I don't know, Dad. I'm bored. There's nothing to watch on T.V. and it's cold outside."

"Hey! I have a great idea! This will be loads of fun! Let's get out that old "Your Best Life Now" board game and play a few rounds."

"Yeah, Dad! Great idea! I love Joel Osteen!"

"Me too, Son. And after that, we can pull out the Tony Robbins board game and if we have time, take out the Susan Powter one."

"I'm feeling better about myself already, Dad."

"I knew you would, Son."

100 Ways To Take The Yawn Out Of Your Relationship With God: 51-75

More ways...(the above picture is actually my new kitten Zoe)

51. Write a "letter to the editor" explaining a Christian viewpoint on an issue being debated. Be articulate, reasoned. How would someone who doesn't love Jesus interpret your letter?

52. Welcome the children of your church every Sunday morning. Learn their names and enough about them to hold short conversations.

53. Study a book that explains the errors in cults' beliefs. Explain to an imaginary cult member why he or she is missing the real joy of knowing God. Tape-record yourself and evaluate how well you did. Did you show Christ's love through your words and tone?

54. Buy a painting with a Christian message and hang it in a prominent spot. Talk about the painting with your children. Or, check out a different painting each month from your library.

55. Start a telephone prayer chain. Whenever someone has a prayer request, he or she can activate the chain.

56. Write your own words to go with music of a praise song. Sing your message to God.

57. Memorize a Christian poem, for example: "On His Blindness" by John Milton.

58. Read through a book of the Bible without stopping. Think about what you learn from this overview that you would miss reading chapter by chapter.

59. Donate a Christian book or tape that has been special to you to your church library.

60. Fast for a specific time. Pray during the time you would usually eat. Consider other kinds of fasts. If you know you're spending too much time shopping or watching T.V., plan to fast and pray while you give up shopping or a program or two.

61. Teach a Bible verse or a phrase about Jesus to a mentally disabled child - and in the process learn, in a new way, what Christian love and patience are.

62. Be an unofficial welcoming minister at your church. Pray that the people you welcome will know that our loving God was speaking through you.

63. Kneel or lie prostrate before God.

64. Take a vacation with God, a one-day retreat where you get away from life as usual to be totally alone with your Savior.

65. Read the Bible in a version that is new to you.

66. Read through a Picture Bible with an elementary-age child.

67. During your quiet time, ask yourself these four questions suggested by Bill Hybels in his book Honest to God:
- What is the next step in my relationship with You, Lord?
- What is the next step in my character development today, Lord?
- What is the next step in my family relationships today, Lord?
- What is the next step in my ministry today, Lord?

68. Read a Christian allegory such as C.S. Lewis' science fiction trilogy or Chronicles of Narnia.

69. Write an imaginary letter to someone who has never heard about Jesus. Try to explain the gospel in a way this person will understand. Or, try to put together a podcast with this idea and tell other people about it.

70. With an open mind, listen to radically different types of Christian music.

71. Disciple a new Christian. Be prepared: The teacher always learns more than the student.

72. After each chapter you read in the New Testament, write a sentence summary of what the chapter contains and a personal sentence on what that chapter said to you.

73. Pray following this four-step pattern: 1. Adoration (praising God for who He is); 2. Confession; 3. Thanksgiving (praising God for what He's done); Supplication.

74. Draw a cross. On the cross write every sin you can remember committing, especially those for which you can't forgive yourself. Print the words, "Nailed to the Corss" over your words as a visual reminder that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you completely.

75. Linger before God. Be quiet before Him.

Before You Criticize The Emerging Church Movement...

you may want to head on over to the Internet Monk's blog, where he does a nice job of presenting five suggestions before criticizing what the emerging church is about and what it's doing. You might think the Internet Monk is an emerging church fan. He isn't - as of right now, he calls himself an interested onlooker.

It's worth the five minutes to check it out.