Since this is Think-Biblically.com it’s important to point out at the start that the practice of celebrating Ash Wednesday is not found anywhere in the Bible. One should always be cautious of adopting spiritual practices not found in Scripture.
When the Bible becomes the basis for our lives and every day dilemmas we become motivated to pray. This prayer is rarely selfish (“Lord please help ME…”), trite (“God’s neat, let’s eat!”) or compromising (“Lord, whatever you think is best…”). This is true intercessory prayer that is filled with meaning and lets God know what we are hoping for.
What does it mean to “engage culture?” Certainly it does not mean the church has any intention of wedding itself to the worldly culture around it. On the contrary, the word “engage” has many other meanings, two of which are practical in this discussion.
If the prayer of penitence is most important to our soul, then the prayer of praise is most important for our heart. If the prayer of penitence is hardest on the ego, then the prayer of praise restores one’s self-worth.
Ad rem is a straightforward, biblically-based, analysis of our times.
Today’s analysis is of the recently released poll results of a survey conducted over the last seven years by the American Bible Society. Some of you may have read the January 22nd, 2014 article regarding the survey in Time Magazine, which faithfully represented the results without comment regarding their relevance.
Any engagement of culture is a corporate act. Sin came into the world through one man, and the salvation of the world comes through one man, but engaging culture is not the job of a single individual. In Luke 9.1-.6, Jesus sent the 12 disciples into various towns and villages to spread the gospel of hope. He could have sent each off on their own in 12 different directions, but He didn’t.
Today American Muslim’s celebrate the birth of their prophet, Muhammad. Some celebrate by fasting, others by feasting and many by special prayers and commemorations. Like Christians, Muslims do not know the exact date of their leader’s birth (circa 570 AD), but the occasion is intended to praise his life and message.
A life marked by prayer would be incomplete without the prayer of preparation. After confession and the forms of prayer for immediate concerns, this form focuses on the future. Throughout first and second Samuel we see David asking the Lord if he will be victorious before undertaking a battle or chase.
Journalist, radio personality and commentator for Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, together with writing partner Martin Dugard, took upon themselves the task of writing a historical account of the life of Jesus. The book is available from most book retailers of the digital and brick-and-mortar variety for under $20 hardback and under $10 for the e-book.
Culture is described in a myriad of fashions, from “American Culture” and “Cross-Culture” to “Corporate Culture” and “Class Culture” Books have been written about the difference between East coast and West coast cultures. It seems culture can be found almost anywhere. Indeed, culture is found wherever there are people!
Whenever I travel to guest speak I spend time in the prayer of preparation, asking the Lord to prepare me as a messenger of His Word. At the beginning of each session I always open in a word of prayer and similarly close each session in prayer. It isn’t anything that most pastors and Christian speakers wouldn’t do, and it is entirely expected.
In the 17th chapter of the gospel of John we find Jesus praying in the garden shortly before his arrest, trial and crucifixion. This is the last time he will be with his disciples, and he takes the opportunity to petition the Father on their behalf. Take a moment, read through the passage, notice how specific he is.
