prayer – 300 words a day

Two ways to pray

Prayer is like breathing – if you follow Jesus, you have to pray. One way that prayer is not like breathing is that we won’t die right away if we stop. But if we don’t pray, it will be the start of a long slow death. Picture a marriage where two people live in the […]

by Paul Merrill

Turn frustration into prayer

Politics are so polarized today that almost any discussion can turn into a fight when participants have different viewpoints. It’s very easy to get frustrated by world events and the reactions – or non-reactions – of our leaders. And it’s truly hard to bite our tongues when confronted with approaches to problems that are different […]

by Jon Swanson

A Monday morning prayer conversation.

“But I don’t know what to ask for,” I said. What do you mean? “Everywhere I turn, there are huge events and great risks and massive suffering. And I don’t know whether to ask for rescue or judgment or protection or deliverance or the Cubs to win.” Why do you think you have to ask […]

by Jon Swanson

Consider a reverse prayer list.

A reverse bucket list. The idea has been around for awhile. Rather than making a list of the things you want to do before you die, the idea is to make a list of the things that you have already done. I’m not a bucket list fan, but I like the idea. For those of […]

by Jon Swanson

Honest assessment of impending struggle.

Jesus said, “Now, my heart is troubled. And what shall I say, ‘Father save me from this hour?’” You know the feeling? It was a couple days before Good Friday. As best as I can tell, this is part of the last speech that Jesus gives, the end of his public teaching. In the next […]