Categories
discipleship prayer spiritual disciplines

When Prayer Becomes Bleh and Blah

As theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar says, “Most Christians are convinced that prayer is more than the outward performance of an obligation, in which we tell God things he already knows” (Prayer, 13).   If prayer is more than an obligation, why do we pray? Why Pray? Well, we spontaneously pray when we are filled with […]

Categories
discipleship prayer Recent Posts spiritual disciplines

Does Blind Obedience Mean You Have More Faith?

To the question, “Why pray?” I’ve heard the answer, “Because God commanded it.” This is pretty is pretty confusing, unsatisfying for me, and dangerous for the faith. Sure we can there are passages in the Bible that commands us to pray.  “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful […]

Categories
missional prayer

Is Prayer the Answer to School Shootings?

Responding with prayer is right (but not in the way you think). The immediate reaction to shootings like the one in Las Vegas is to offer “thoughts and prayers.”  We make an image-card and post it on social media. And we say prayers for those grieving. But the immediate response to this by progressives is to […]

Categories
Christology discipleship ecclecia ecclesiology prayer Recent Posts theology

The Human Side of Prayer (along with Tim Keller)

I came across this on twitter and it caught my eye and made me think. Failure to pray is not merely breaking some religious rule. It is really a failure to treat God as God. — Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) October 26, 2014 What do you think? As a Reformed pastor and theologian I know Keller […]

Categories
ecclecia ecclesiology evangelical Liturgical Calendar prayer Top Posts

Telling the Story: The Eucharistic Prayer

Last month, at the Ecclesia National Gathering, I had the privilege and honor to preside over communion for the whole group. I led through the time as we usually do here at Life on the Vine, but many people not from a more liturgical background asked about the prayer leading into the Table.  Many commented […]