Tag: god

National Day of Prayer: Shut Up and Listen

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

Have you ever been in a conversation with an overly-wordy-talker (OWT)? You know how those conversations unfold:

OWT: Hey you, blah, blah, blah, and then I said blah, blah, blah, blah and oh yeah… blah, blah, blah and you know blah, blah, blah…

You: Hi…

OWT: well, I think blah, blah, blah because he said blah, blah, blah also blah, blah, blah, blah blah and I meant to tell you blah, blah, blah…

You: That’s interesting, but…

OWT: No, no blah, blah, blah have you heard blah, blah, blah, and don’t forget blah, blah, blah, blah blah, blah, and who knows blah, blah, blah. What do you think?

You: You could try…

OWT: Of course, blah, blah, blah is better than blah, blah, blah and If you don’t mind blah, blah, blah, when you blah, blah, blah and then blah, blah, blah…

You: Excuse me, but…

OWT: Oh, blah blah, blah really irritates me and blah blah, blah and did you hear blah, blah, blah and I’m going to scream blah, blah, blah…

You: Wait…

OWT: Ok. Good talking to you. Bye 

You: Bye (under your breath) Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

That’s not a conversation. It’s a monologue. I wonder if that’s how God feels about our time in prayer with Him? Have you heard ourselves pray? Too often it goes something like this:

Us: Dear God, blah, blah blah, and oh my God… blah, blah blah, and don’t forget blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah, and if you don’t mind, blah, blah, blah, and one more thing… blah, blah blah, and ok two more things… blah, blah blah, and blah, blah, blah, blah and then there’s… blah blah, blah, blah and Aunt Martha’s gout…blah, blah, blah and please, please, please… blah, blah, blah and pretty please… blah and, blah, blah, blah… ummm…  Amen. 

God:  

Of course, I can’t speak for God. I don’t know how the Almighty responds to the too wordy, one sided monologues that we too often call prayer. I just know how I feel when a too-many-words-talker starts bending my ear. Ugh!

Today is the National Day of Prayer. How about trying this… instead of thinking of it as the National-Day-to-Place-As-Many-Requests-to-the-Almighty-As-One-Possibly-Can Day, think of it as the National Listening-for-the-Almighty-to-Speak Day. 

Psalm 46:10 doesn’t say, “Blab on and on and know that I am God.” It says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe we should do that on this day of prayer. Be still. Quiet. Listen. It’s being like Samuel when he took Eli’s advice in 1 Samuel 3:9 and simply prayed: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 

God might be trying to say something to us, but can’t get a word in edgewise. We might be surprised at what the Lord might say if only we’d stop talking and started listening. Slow down. Quiet. Still. 

In other words, (I write this in the nicest way that I can): Shut up and listen!

When I was in Gaza

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

How much should the church say in response to complicated world issues? When should the church speak and when should the church be silent? James wrote, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). Jesus didn’t speak out against Roman aggression and violence. He wasn’t holding protest rallies at Herod’s Palace following the beheading of John the Baptist. When and how much should the church speak into the matters in our world. This is especially complicated in a global denomination like the Church of the Nazarene. The world is complicated.

Nazarenes leaders and publications formerly took a stand in USA national politics. The October 26, 1960 issue of the Herald of Holiness had several articles (including those written from notable Nazarenes such as General Superintendent Hugh Benner, WT Purkiser, Kenneth Grider and C. William Fisher) written about being Protestant and not voting for a Roman Catholic. The articles were clearly siding with Richard Nixon in the 1960 US election. No one would want Bonnie Perry and the Holiness Today leadership involving themselves in the upcoming USA presidential election in such a manner. We want them to stay out of politics. Still there are times to speak out regarding world events. 

Desmond Tutu, a South African Anglican bishop, said, “If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” In other words, there are circumstances that demand a call to action. There are times when one can no longer be silent. 

The atrocities in Gaza are such a time. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers last Thursday that Israel had killed more than 25,000 Palestinian women and children since October. When does one say enough is enough?  How much killing is enough? How many innocent people need to die before we say we can no longer support such actions. The October atrocities of Hamas (1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals—including 764 civilians– killed and 248 persons taken hostage) are horrific and have been rightly condemned. Hamas is an evil, terrorist organization and the release of the remaining hostages should be demanded. Other Arab and predominantly Muslim nations should join in demanding release of the hostages. Even so, the church must add its voice and call for immediate humanitarian action in Gaza. The Church of the Nazarene Manual has statements regarding the value of children and youth (Paragraph 921) and coincidently the next paragraph (922) is a statement regarding war and military service and a plea for peace. The Manual demands it’s members protect children and to call for an end to the of violence. It demands us saying, “Enough is enough.” 

Will the 2023/2024 church be standing before the throne of God one day saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-39). 

To which He will reply, “When I was in Gaza.”