Creative, I don't know if the sore spot can be soothed or a different understanding brought to it to alleviate said sore spot through this thread. However, I believe ddn's point about people trying to be more like Christ, Wow, the reasoning behind that statement is blatantly apparent here.

Then again, to be fair, perhaps this is just my version of Pagan babbling, no offense taken....

Hi Miles. The witch answer is in a few older threads. LV gets a tad testy when constantly asked to repeat herself.

LV, Miles, like you apparently has a life outside the internet too. (Sorry, couldn't resist that.) In his defense, he probably missed those threads and had no idea his question could be construed as redundant. He doesn't strike me as a big fan of witches, so his asking you to define the word was actually pretty polite.

Hey everybody, enjoy learning, expanding, growth -- good stuff............

My grandmother used to go into her bedroom, close the door and pray so loud you could hear her throughout the house. She would always finish her prayers with "Thank you Jesus" repeated loudly about 10 times. That worked to keep me away from Christians for a long time. Now I realize that nobody is perfect, not even Christians. If you can accept someone who is flawless, what does that show about your character? If you can accept someone who has obviously imperfect, that reveals a lot about your character.

Praying in public, when your hearts desire is to help someone, is a good thing. Praying in public so that you get attention is bad. It's a good thing to fast, but it's a bad thing to fast and make everyone aware of it. What Jesus was teaching was honesty in worship. Worship God because you love God, not because you are doing it to impress people. Think of David who ripped his cloths, danced, sang and played musical instruments. He made a complete fool out of himself when he worshipped, but he didn't care. He wasn't trying to impress anyone, we was glorifying God. In fact, his style of worship caused his first wife to hate him for the rest of her life.

DKOW:

Thank you dear... the "sore spot" is fine... I truly appreciate your concern...

spider:

I like this common ground that has been walked upon... this genuine concern, without personal judgement... this meekness that you have shown is beautiful... absolutely beautiful...


May we all find genuine peace within ourselves...

DKoW, spider and Creative -

That's the only place where we can find it

there is no bad prayer
only insincere prayer
but that is not prayer

ASAP

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.?
Generally we think of it in terms of even more
hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think
of this abbreviation in a different manner, we
will begin to find a new way to deal with those
rough days along the way.

"There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
A.S.A.P.-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER


In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
A.S.A.P.-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
A.S.A.P.-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs
A.S.A.P.-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

Acronyms?

Sure... I can be the queeeeen of acronyms.


ASAP...

As Simplistic As Playdough

Alternative Sandcastles at Playlunch.

Absolutely Subtle As Punching.

Astute Suitors Are Perusing.

As Small As Pinpricks.

Creative Soul, you have put me between a rock and a hard place. The scriptures have been quoted, (all be it from every known worldly version known) and they say we are to pray in private. I like to write down as many of my prayers as I possibly can. I could never write them all down. I pray as often as I possibly can. God is one who can hear me, and I him. I like for others to read my prayers. I may be somewhat guilty of the same immodesty that the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were guilty of.
It is my prayer that someone will hear my prayers, maybe some unsaved person, and they will see something in what I have in my communion with God and want some of it.
This is a dating web site. We are all here because we would like to make new friends and find maybe a new mate. One very good way to select your mate is to simply listen to what they pray to God.

hi jb,
i never pray out loud.it is in my head as i drive,work or am in bed trying to make sense of things.we all have our own style.

I'm a person who has always believed that the extension of amenities sould be a 'common' courtesy. I raised my son with this belief. We help people in need as we see the need. We hold a door open, we return a lost article (including money) to the owner or a lost and found. We sit silently when others feel the need to pray.

Where is the 'common' return of the courtesy I have raised my son with? Why don't people simply bow their heads gracefully and in the peace of their own silence extend their prayer to whatever entity they entitle it?

Who enfringes on whom? Who's ego is bolstered by the spoken word more than by a silent action?

good question....

perhaps all rhetoric is public prayer of little gods to little gods, in that same vein.

O, would that silence reigned in the mouths of man, that the heart would be still and peace reign.

"One speaks when One ceases to be at peace with their own thought ... In speaking, thought is half murdered"
Kahlil Gibran

What good are the half murdered offerings to a God?

Believing as you do for yourself, you would not understand more words from me.

Have it as you wish for yourself.

I will retain my words for myself and leave the gulf between us as it is.

I will always think there is time for silent prayer.....like for me at the wee hours of the morning when The Good Lord wakes me and puts certain people on my heart. There are also times when he asks me to bring it to my sisters and we will have open prayer for all those in need, then there are those that are put on my heart so strongly that I have to do it right then and there. I believe with prayer that if done for the person in need and to glorify God, there is no rules on it....And I know that when they speak in the Bible about praying in the closet as I said before that was intended for the pharaseas that felt the need to bring and publicly display for look at me God selfish reasons.

Kahil and you are absolutely right in spirit 'red', but the bottom line is this : the stuff is not just half murdered, IT'S DEAD!!! And it's certainly not intended for god.

Let me tell you a secret 'red' and promise you won't tell:

"... it's a marketing thing..."

That's right 'red', 'MARKETING'.

And marketing must make noise, and be in everybody's face whether they like or not, and whetehr they want it or not.

Marketing is not necessarily about people buying, it is about GIVING THE IMPRESSION that everyone is buying.

Besides 'redy', do you know how many people would be affected if all the noisy cults closed down their 'marketing' departments???

Come on 'red', I know you have compassion,

Think of all these 'fundies' whose sole 'life mission' is thumping it down people's throats, what would come of them?!?!?

They know nothing else. Their dreams would be forever shattered. Lives destroyed by the 1000's.

Come on 'redy', I'm sure you have it in your heart to tolerate their insignificant noise, and attention grabbing tactics, it keeps them busy, and out of trouble.

Now remember, don't tell anyone.

hate to bust your bubble, there, good doctor.


A wounded and profusely bleeding prayer gets more attention from God than any icy and sophisticated one.

Reason being , that hot emotion and dire need demands the greater attention.

Groanings and utterances with little or no other coherence than heartfelt pleadings.

The dismantling of foolishness all too often requires the opting of folly.


Beautiful, isn't it ?

Is that a category 1 or category 2 construct or both ?


We may have a crack in the theory.

i say the lords prayer everyday...i like it and it gives me comfort.

I like that cutelil

I pray when I first wake up....all through the day and right before I close my eyes at night.