prayer and water
Today is the umpteenth day of over a hundred-and-five here in Texas. Lots of folks are saying that they are praying for rain, and are suggesting that we all pray for rain.
Hmmm. What should my prayer be? How about this: "Dear God, I have no intention of moving away from Texas, which has had this kind of weather since before my ancestors decided to live here. So, since I've decided to live here, could You please change the weather patterns of the North American continent to suit me? Thank you." oops: "In Jesus' name, Amen."
Of course, some folks claim that it's not just weather patterns but rather God's judgment. I tend to agree insofar as gravity is God's judgment for jumping off a building. Similarly, droughts and heat are His judgment for deciding to live where there are droughts and heat.
The literature for The Response, the massive stadium festival in which Rick Perry takes the term "grandstanding" literally, mentions this weather, as well as tornados and (it hasn't been too too long) Hurricane Katrina, as further evidence of God's judgment. Again, I might agree that Katrina is God's judgment for building a city in the glorious Mississippi River delta, untouched for millenia.
If, however, I were to see such things as a sign that America is headed the wrong direction, I suppose I'd consult the Scripture — say, the book of Amos — where I could read the following call for water from a different source:
Hmmm. What should my prayer be? How about this: "Dear God, I have no intention of moving away from Texas, which has had this kind of weather since before my ancestors decided to live here. So, since I've decided to live here, could You please change the weather patterns of the North American continent to suit me? Thank you." oops: "In Jesus' name, Amen."
Of course, some folks claim that it's not just weather patterns but rather God's judgment. I tend to agree insofar as gravity is God's judgment for jumping off a building. Similarly, droughts and heat are His judgment for deciding to live where there are droughts and heat.
The literature for The Response, the massive stadium festival in which Rick Perry takes the term "grandstanding" literally, mentions this weather, as well as tornados and (it hasn't been too too long) Hurricane Katrina, as further evidence of God's judgment. Again, I might agree that Katrina is God's judgment for building a city in the glorious Mississippi River delta, untouched for millenia.
If, however, I were to see such things as a sign that America is headed the wrong direction, I suppose I'd consult the Scripture — say, the book of Amos — where I could read the following call for water from a different source:
I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.... Instead let justice roll down like waters."
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