The purpose of prayer?

I came across this comment by Florence Allshorn yesterday: “the primary object of prayer is to know God better; we and our needs should come second.”


Which made me wonder about the purpose of prayer. Certainly I think prayer is foremost about God's purposes and His Kingdom (e.g. the Lord's prayer begins with a focus on Our Father in heaven and that His will be done). But I'm not convinced that there is one primary object of prayer, but many purposes: to connect with God and build a relationship with him, to present our petitions and requests to Him, repentance and forgiveness, to uphold others, to edify the church, advocate for justice and so on. After all, the Lord's prayer has many dimensions.

I guess as a result of all this we get to know God better, but is this the primary objective? What do you think the purpose of prayer is?

Barbarian Way [Part Two]

A great description of the reality of love...

Anyone who chooses the barbarian way will learn quickly that love and sacrifice cannot be separated. This is perhaps why so many of us who know love fear love. We know that love is not the absence of pain. No one has loved more deeply than God. Has anyone ever been more betrayed? God would not know suffering if He did not know love. But because He is Love, He chose to suffer on our behalf. Without love there is no glory in suffering….compelled by love, God would go where He knew suffering was certain. Love always moves to sacrifice, which is exactly where He calls us to go. We shouldn’t be surprised, then, that to follow Christ is to abandon the luxury of safety and security. If we are to be like Him, we must always risk for love. We are invited to follow him with reckless abandon. The call of God is more than a leap of faith, it is a life of faith. Even when it seems beyond our abilities, we should not be surprised when God tells us to jump. (Erwin Raphael McManus, The Barbarian Way: p. 116)

May we love fully and heartily, with sacrifice and suffering, all the while relying on God's strength.

Barbarian Way [Part One]

This is the first of three quotes from a book that I read recently, The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus:

All who belong to the barbarian tribe are like Moses, who stepped toward the fire and heard the voice of God. For them the whole earth is holy ground. They do not separate between sacred and secular or real life and spiritual life. All of life is sacred; every action is spiritual. God is everywhere for them and in all things at all times (Erwin Raphael McManus, The Barbarian Way: p. 94).

I think this is a notion that sometimes gets lost when we may view some parts of life as un-spiritual. To me, I find this a big challenge. There are things which I see and observe in this world and wonder how God could be in it. As it says in Colossians:

For by him (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Chapter1: 16-17).

So how, for example, do I make sense of the wars, the injustices perpetrated by rulers and authorities? I do trust that Christ has providence over, or within, this world, though at times it can be hard to see how this works!

Religion, Reflections, Perceptions [Part Two]

Some may view religion as rules and regulations. Maybe there is some validity in this. It strikes me as tragically ironic that the Jews - God's very own chosen people - managed to get so caught up in human tradition, laws and rules, that they failed to accept Jesus Christ, God Himself, our Redeemer and Saviour. Jesus was very critical of the religious leaders, so much so that they had Him killed.

But Jesus came preaching a new covenant, a new gospel. His manifesto seems so simple: love God and your neighbours. No doubt Christians have added, and continue to add, layers of intepretations, human expectations and practices on top of this message, layers which are not core or fundamental to Jesus' teaching. I guess that will always happen. Which makes me wonder about the significance of the passages which highlight Christ's attitude towards children. He calls us to accept them and have an attitude like theirs.

I view my faith as relationship, not rules. Sure, there are principles to live by, but God provides them out of love. They offer freedom, not restriction. Relationships are dynamic, messy, challenging, rewarding, life-giving; not judgemental, overly structured, contained, law-bound or entirely rational.

Religion, Reflections, Perceptions [Part One]

I've been thinking about the concept of religion lately. What does it mean? Do I classify myself as religious? I read the other day: "Christianity was never meant to be a religion, it is a way of life". I agree that Christianity is a way of life. But is Christianity a religion?

Clearly, it is hard to discuss this topic without clarifying what the term religion means. One dictionary defines it as such:

1. belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe
2. a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship
3. a set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader
4. a cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion

By this criteria, I am religious to the degree that I believe in and rever a supernatural power (though not numerous powers) who created and governs the universe, I am part of a community who live by this set of values and worships God, I follow the teachings of a spiritual leader (Jesus Christ), and I pursue the Kingdom of God with zeal and devotion.

That said, I am reluctant to call myself religious per se, perhaps because of the perceptions associated with Christianity. If others perceive my faith as simply going to church and following so-called religious practices, I would say I'm on about much more than that. I am into a dynamic and living relationship with my Creator.

How do you perceive religion? How would you define the term? Do you regard yourself as religious?

Music for the soul

Chris Middendorp wrote an interesting article on spirituality in pop music (see http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-soul-kind-of-feeling/2007/04/13/1175971346540.html). He makes the point that "pop music can tap into our spiritual yearning", and that "pop artists habitually explore deep questions about who we are and what we should live for. Irish pop group U2's classic mantra I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For probably best articulates the ongoing quest." He goes on:

"Music has been used to inspire spiritual yearning for most of human history. Even Plato, who was mistrustful of the arts, said that "music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and everything".

I wonder how you may have experienced spiritually meaningful moments through music. As Chirs outlines in his article:

The power they [pop songs] generate can be astonishing. When I listen to Nick Cave's 2001 song Darker with the Day, for instance, the spiritual intensity conveyed is stronger than any sermon I've ever attended. The song doesn't just make you think, it gives you tingles. It reminds you that who you love is more important than what you own: And in my best shoes I started falling forward down the street/I stopped at a church and jostled through the crowd and love followed just behind me, panting at my feet, as the steeple tore the stomach from a lonely little cloud. Combined with Cave's sonorous delivery and Old Testament gusto, this is one of the greatest six-minute sermons you'll ever hear".

What "sermons" have you experienced outside the four walls of a church?

Quick quote

Hey there…

Thought I’d share a quote which I heard recently, and which I reckon is rather profound (and has many different interpretations)...


“There are cracks in everything…that is where the lights gets in”


Peace