Our family is staying at a tropical casino.
The kids are getting bored, so we start wandering towards the outside.
The casino is having their grand evening religious ritual.
The main hallway and staircase are lined with formally-dressed staff holding candles.
I am never sure if they are genuinely devout, or just putting on a pageant for the tourists.
My friend and I are hard-luck kids
In Sunday School
He’s dying of cancer.
The teachers try to take an offering
Of the bright yellow candy we both like
But rarely get
Salome, the mother of James and John, and her complicated relationship to advancing the ministry of Jesus.
Continue readingFather and I have been taken prisoner by female guards.
I have no idea what is going on.
I wonder if we were betrayed by Hades, when he opened the Box in his Office.
Then I see Adam.
He no longer looks like a truant Child.
He looks like a Man who has stared Death in the eye.
And Death knelt at his feet and called him Master.
I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.
Then I realize stupidity is inevitable, whenever Man sees Woman.
So instead I start to pray.
Pray he does the Right Stupid Thing.
The Gospel: God Loves Us Like Jesus
You are an amazing person. You have a lot in common with other people, but there is nobody quite like you.
God is amazing. We are like God, but God is not like us.
Dear God,
We acknowledge you as our King.
Free us from sin so we can be happy with you
Teach us how to respect each other,
and help each other feel valuable,
So we can work together to spread your Kingdom.We ask this by the blood of Jesus. Amen.
Dear God,
Thank you that our family belongs to you.
We confess we need you to free us from our sin and shame so we can love like Jesus.
Give us the grace to:
We ask this by the blood of Jesus, Amen.
Dear God,
Thank you for a new year at Valley Christian Elementary School.
Help our dog Qhuinn and us to adjust to our new life.
Lead us to honor you and care for other people.
Teach us to be kind, forgive, and grow closer as a family.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Rohan: Alleluia! Sing with gladness on this holy, happy morning.
Anjali: Alleluia! Christ has risen on this joyous Easter morning.
A hardcore version of The Sinner’s Prayer. From a dream I had on December 26, 2015.
God, I am a f***ing sinner, and I deserve to die. Save me from myself. Do whatever you have to do to burn away all the sin in me, so that I can become like you. I ask this by the blood of Jesus, Amen.
The Dream Continue reading
Dear God,
Thank you for the new year, and new beginnings.
Please make us more like Jesus
So everyone will know how much you love them.
Lead Daddy to the right job.
Draw our family and church closer together.
And help us have fun!
We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Dear God,
Thank you for the wonderful life we lead
And all the ways you bless us.
Help us experience and share
Your peace and joy
At home, school or work
With family, church and neighbors
So others will trust you to take care of them.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Part 5 of 6 in the series Childlike Theology:
As children, we express faith in our parents by obeying them to stay safe. As adolescents, we risk danger in order to express faith in ourselves.
I have come to believe that the hallmark of a mature faith is wise risk. Which implies we should be designing our lives — and churches — to maximize learning rather than avoid failure.
Fall 2015
Dear God,
Thank you that we can be your minions.
Help us control our anger
and let go of what we want
so we can show everyone
how good and strong a boss you are.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.
DEAR GOD,
HELP ME HAVE FUN.
BLESS MY NEW TEACHERS.
MAKE ME LIKE JESUS.
AMEN.
Dear God,
Thank you for such a fun summer.
Help me to do a good job in Pinocchio, and have fun with old and new friends at Summer Camps.
Help Daddy to bring the Kingdom of God to his new job at Matterport.
Help Mommy to enjoy the time she spends with work, family, and the house.
Help Anjali to stay healthy and learn lots of new skills.
Help us all to be kind to each other, and become responsible enough to get a dog by Christmas.
I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth will obey you,
as you are obeyed in heaven.
Give us each day the food we need.
Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from the evil one.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
A. Sinner’s Prayer
Dear God,
I confess that you love me better than I can ever love myself.
Please forgive me for putting myself first instead of loving you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and my neighbor as myself.
I am sorry for not listening to and obeying you. I open my heart to receive and trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.
Make me like Jesus through your Spirit, Word, Body, and Blood.
I ask this in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Amen.
B. Brief Catechism
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