tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1777773975428010636.post8575734435047526002..comments2008-05-19T20:09:26.345-04:00Eric Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17559297084562073727noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1777773975428010636.post-77023825471475252622008-05-19T20:09:00.000-04:002008-05-19T20:09:00.000-04:00Bell's video - whoa! The woman shuffled down the dark hospital corridor with her IV rolling alongside, we learn that her <BR/>destination is the bedside of the other driver in the crash, unconscious and fighting for his life. And she prayed.<BR/><BR/>I've witnessed many medical and trauma scenes and consider it a blessing that I may be able to serve additionally by offering up a private prayer or praise. <BR/><BR/>This discussion in class speaks not only to how we pray, and why, but also to Christian maturity and growth in His service.billonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1777773975428010636.post-42863003160365925532008-05-19T10:13:00.000-04:002008-05-19T10:13:00.000-04:00from his book THE SACRED ROMANCE<BR/><BR/>"God created us for intimacy with him. When we turned our back on him he promised to come for us. He sent personal messengers; he used beauty and affliction to recapture our hearts. After all else failed, he conceived the most daring of plans. Under the cover of night he stole into the enemy's camp incognito, the Ancient of Days disguised as a newborn.<BR/><BR/>God risked it all to rescue us. Why? What is it that he sees in us that causes him to act the jealous lover, to lay siege both on the kingdom of darkness and on our own idolatries, not to annihilate, but to win us once again for himself? This fierce intention, this reckless ambition that shoves all convention aside, willing literally to move heaven and earth - what does he want from us?<BR/><BR/>We've been offered many explanations. From one religious camp we're told that what God wants is obedience, or sacrifice, or adherence to the right doctrines, or morality. Those are the answers offered by the conservative churches. The more therapeutic churches suggest that no, God is after our contentment, or happiness, or self-actualization, or something else along those lines. He is concerned about all those things, of course, but they are not his primary concern. What he is after is US. - our laughter, our tears, our dreams, our fears, our heart of hearts."suz, quoting John Eldredgenoreply@blogger.com