Why I Know Prayer Works

In college I went through a phase where I HAD to have the answer for everything that I believed. I was in the middle of my religion degree, which was more sociology, psychology, history, theology than it was Bible, and my mind was racing a hundred miles an hour. Some of the issues were (you might find these familiar):
-Is Christianity really the only "right" religion?
-What happens to other non-Christians?
-Could all of this been a legend that gives us comfort, but really isn't true?
-Is the Bible more of a story than a fact book?

...and so on.

However, one of the issues that ate at me the most was the issue of prayer. Every other aspect of Christian faith seemed to have its place intellectually for me, but prayer was a mystery, at attribute of my faith that was superficial at best and one that I only participated in when others asked me to.

I began to feel that it was a psychological thing, because if God already knows what's going to happen, then God would have already made up God's mind, and who am I to change God's mind by asking God for something? And if I'm praying to thank God for things...well, what is worship for then? It seemed to be just something we do to make ourselves feel better.

I have heard of people receiving answered prayers, and know that I have as well...but that would hardly convince someone that prayer works. Miracles and callings, unless experienced, are merely figments of others' imaginations.

However, this past Sunday our church, Stonebridge UMC, held a prayer walk for McKinney ISD schools. Every school was covered and we walked around the outsides of the schools and prayed for the students, the teachers, the administrators, the custodians, the parents, the building, everything to ask God that our educational system would raise up young people that had every opportunity in this world to succeed where God calls them to be. We prayed for equality, effort and passion from the teachers and students. We prayed that the parents would be involved and active in their student's life.

We were asked if it was a success...we will have to wait and see I guess.

But for now, I will say yes, prayer works, because I drive close to Finch Elementary School, McKinney High School, Malvern Elementary School, Evan Middle School and a school that I don't even know the name for yet and ever since this time I have looked upon these schools not as educational centers but as the future of our world. I feel personally invested in these students' lives and want to cheer the teachers on to success. No longer are the kids just kids, but they are my kids in a sense...I want God to bless them all, and I want them all to follow God to where they are called to be. The schools are now grounds for future leaders of the church, future business leaders, future wonderful human beings...and there's no one else I want watching over them but God.

So when I say prayer works, I'm sure that there will be students that fail classes and parents who undervalue education. I'm sure that there will be teachers and principles who go to school dreading the day and waiting for happy hour to arrive. But I know that prayer works because my mind through prayer with God has oriented my view of that school as a place where God is at work...even if you can't talk about God. God has changed my heart to see the schools as awesome, valuable parts of our society, because education is really the key to happiness I believe.

I've come to see that prayer may not be about what I can make happen, or what I get out of it, or even showing God what I'm thankful for. Instead, I now have come to see prayer as a way of letting God focus me on the way God wants me to see the world...and that has worked. I have come to see my petitions to God as a way of me wondering how important my petitions are...and that has worked. Sometimes I don't even have to actively pray for an answer and God will lead me there.

So, rethinking prayer, I completely agree...prayer works.

Would you Pay for Jesus?

When I first started into ministry I wanted everything to be free and hated talking about money with the congregation. Even youth trips I lost money sometimes because I felt so bad about making people pay money for going on a misson trip. I was lucky sometimes if I covered basic costs. Luckily, I turned out to be good at fund-raising events...who knew?

But I am in a ministry situation now where money is an every day topic of conversation.
"Do we have enough to cover the budget?"
"Can we start a new ministry?"
"Can we raise money for organization x, y, z and the whole rest of the alphabet?"
"How are we going to pay the musicians?"
"Sorry, we can't give you that space because it's too expensive to have the AC on at that time."

And on and on...

I've gotten a little more comfortable due to exposure, but also I've realized reading through scripture that Jesus talks a ton about money. It's amazing, almost every parable has something about money...it's almost as if money were a prevalent thing in our society...go figure.

But I've still been stressing about mentioning offering statistics, charging people for sports activities, etc. It just seems like God's love is free, church stuff should be free too. As one person said, "It's like they have to pay to come to church. That's not right."

But I got to thinking about the old adage, "your heart lies at the same place as your checking account." The tickets to U2, my favorite band, were outrageous prices for this tour. To watch a football game at the new Cowboys stadium it will cost one person well over $100 for the worst seat and parking. Cable television costs an arm and a leg, internet is expensive, and gasoline is never going to go down it seems.

But people pay for it.

It's the old law of supply and demand. Essentially, whatever is important to people is going to cost money. So the conclusion I feel I can draw is: "entertainment is essential." People pay outrageous prices for extravagant experiences that are deemed once in a lifetime events (until they go to the ballgame the next week again).

So here's the question: Would you pay to go to church?

What about this? Would you pay to meet Jesus face to face? People pay to meet Bono, Troy Aikman, Barack Obama and Madonna...is Jesus any less important?

I'm not talking about offering money, because that is supposed to be a free gift of devotion and sacrifice that is done joyfully to show commitment to God, rather than our own bank accounts. This just isn't as common as it once was. People haven't learned about giving like they used to assume it.

And I know that if we charged admission to church, a la Joel Osteen for his conferences around the country, people wouldn't come unless it was extremely entertaining. It would have to have the lights, the show, great music and one kick butt sermon...and then it would have to be better and better each week, or people's money may start going elsewhere where their investment on entertainment is bigger.

What I'm really wanting to know is if you'd plop down any amount of money to meet Jesus Christ in person?

People say Jesus is their hero, boyfriend, homeboy, savior, lord, etc., etc. but they pay $50 to go meet a celebrity and it is the highlight of their life. And after all...Jesus is supposed to be free right? You can't take my Jesus from me and sell him, he's mine. Jesus is public property, he's for anyone and everyone. And like most public property that is free...it's not as valuable.

Sure, when you are in college, free pizza from the worst pizza place tastes wonderful...because it's free. But when you've got money to spend on pizza...you're going to Pizza Hut or some gourmet place, because the free stuff isn't as good then. You start to wake up to the taste.

I think many people feel this way about Jesus. If I need him, he's there, he's a great taste when I get in trouble...but I'm not going to spend the big bucks on him. In fact, many people skip church to go to concerts, to play baseball in hopes of the big leagues or simply because Jesus will be there next week and the week after that.

It's almost as if Jesus is old news. Churches are dying. No demand...no supply.

Should we make church more entertaining? Does it need to be more meaningful? Or should people just make it a higher priority. Maybe, yes and yes. It's our fault...and by that I think we're all to blame. From the holiest of Christians to the worst run churches in America.

I really would like to hold an event that was set up to be a "Meet Jesus Live!" Event and charge just $10 admission and see who would come. Can we really put our money where our mouths are and put our most prized assets towards the most prized Savior?

Maybe...just maybe, Jesus is too valuable for admission tickets. Maybe that's why He's free to all. He's priceless and we can't comprehend that in our value driven world. They do say the best things in life are free. And this time we're not talking about cheap pizza.