I have observed that there are a couple of different possible approaches to building one’s theology. One approach is often taken by those who likely have the gift of teaching, those who love to really dig deep into the bible and study as much as they can about God. The bible is taken more as
Molding People to Church or Church to People?
There is a large variety of people out there. People aren’t made in a cookie-cutter fashion and don’t fit neatly into clearly defined molds. People often don’t fit into a box (and most don’t like others trying to put them in one). People don’t like being restricted from being free. People don’t want to be
The Lord’s Prayer – Modern Paraphrase
Father, you are father of us all, and above us all. Your are so incredible, people should be in awe at the mere mention of your name. We want to see your nation established here, your desires to become reality in our world. Provide for our needs today. Forgive us for our less than perfect
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 6
6. “Guide our lives away from situations in which we may be tempted to do wrong, and protect us from harm.” * Evil is being wronged and/or doing wrong. The prayer closes with us praying for God to keep us from being on either side of wrong doing. We know that there is still much
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 5
5. “Forgive us for our less than perfect actions, just as we have forgiven those who have wronged us.” * We often try to minimize, excuse and/or justify our less than perfect actions, but as Jesus teaches in the previous part of the “Sermon on the Mount”, none of us are good enough for God’s
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 4
4. “Provide for our needs today.” * Again, this doesn’t say, “Provide for my needs today”, though I used to think of it that way in my mind, as you may have as well. Are your needs not being met? It probably isn’t because God isn’t providing—God has provided enough—it’s because someone isn’t sharing (make
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 3
3. “We want to see your nation established here, your desires to become reality in our world.” * We are not just waiting to go to heaven and be saved ourselves. We so love God and his ways that we want to see them lived out presently, right here in our world. Again, in so
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 2
2. “Your are so incredible, people should be in awe at the mere mention of your name.” * We recognize how good he is, but beyond that, we want others to recognize this as well. In saying this, we take on the responsibility to make this happen though our actions, as we bear his name.
The Lord’s Prayer Commentary 1
1. “Father, you are father of us all, and above us all.” * We address God as our father (or elsewhere even “daddy”), because he has chosen to have an intimate, familial relationship with us. * He is not just my father, but our father. Throughout the entire Lord’s prayer, the singular pronouns “I, me,
The Lord’s Prayer – Modern Paraphrase
Several years ago I was at a retreat which focused on “the Lord’s prayer”. I believe I had already begun to pray through it regularly, but either way, it made me want to rewrite the prayer in modern language. I have continued to pray through this prayer regularly, and have learned from it by meditating