Just something I'm thinking about. Last night I heard where some stores are going to open at like 4 am this Friday - so shoppers can get a head start. I'm thinking of maybe joining them. Not to shop. But partly just to *see* it, and partly to kinda walk around and silently pray for people. Consumerism is so rampant, and devastating, and maybe it's.... something I can do. I don't know. I often do this on my days off. I'll walk around the mall, or different stores. Sometimes people are pretty easy to read. But I usually never say anything to them. I especially think about it before Christmas though. People have lots of needs. I don't know. Just a random thought. Sometimes I wonder if it makes any difference. Sometimes I think about setting up a booth and putting up a sign that says "Need Prayer?" I wonder what would happen? People would probably think I was a freak. Or they might think I thought I had all the answers. Which I don't. I dunno.
Just thinking...
11 comments:
How 'bout "Got prayer?" with a trendy black and white poster of two hands clasped? :o)
Actually, this is a really good people. I sometimes pray for people I see in need (does anyone else pray when an ambulance passes by? I have since I was a teen), but I don't do it enough.
Uh, that should've said "Actually, this is a really good post". What was that whole thread about typing faster than we think? :o)
It is a good post, Dan. And when I heard that stores were opening at 4:00 am I was struck by some of the same thoughts. Boy, we really want STUFF. I like your idea of praying while we mingle during this busy time -- and even more the experiment of setting up a booth (I don't know why, but I kind of pictured Lucy with her "Psychiatrist" sign). Let's film it when you do that, because I think we'd be amazed at what might happen and we'd want to play the tape over and over again to remind us of that day. And, Jim, I, too, pray at those signs of a tragedy somewhere. For me, it's the sound of a siren (lots of prayer here with a window that faces a main thoroughfare in downtown DC). It always reminds me that there is a world full of people with pain right at my doorstep.
Hey Dan,
Let me know if you will happen to be going to Best Buy on Friday. They're having a terrific sale on the Photoshop Elements 6/Premiere Elements 4 bundle that I want (I mean need) but I hate the traffic. If you could pick one up for me that would be great. :P
How's that for hijacking your post and completely ignoring your concerns about consumerism!
I thought about doing the same thing - sort of. I really just want to go see if anyone actually shows up. Most people I know are boycotting Black Friday all together. I bet Khols is still packed.
I just stopped by after reading the comments at the emergingcggc blog and now I'm in a bad mood.
According to some who comment there, you are a bad Christian for just walking around and praying. You are wrong. What you should do, is take a bull horn and shout your prayers at them, convict them, and then lead them through the "invitation prayer".
I really wish I had the will power to never look at that blog again - at least until those who make you all feel bad for caring about the poor create their own blog and leave you guys alone.
I don't feel I have the place to post a comment there but in the hopes that some of your EmergingCGGC pastor friends read this - you all inspire me. To my generation who thinks that 40ish middle class white men have no clue, they are wrong. You guys are hip, down, cool...whatever word it is that young people use these days to describe extremely relevant, with-it people who actually have a clue about our world, that's you guys.
I remember the first time I went to Indy with the Anderson folks. Issac was telling the girls in the car (and me) not to bring up God and the Bible. People hurting on the streets, the poor living in group homes, when they see someone acting with love, they recognize what's going on and THEY bring it up. I was amazed to learn this truth. I think the boys would have done a great disservice to the homeless of Indy and themselves if they had set out with an agenda. They cared, they acted, and they made a difference.
I think the emerging blog is a great place for discussion and is the beginning of a lot of good changes. Ideas are being exchanged and I hate to see them being shot down.
I am just one girl, one pastors daughter, I am just one member of an amazing CGGC church but I want to encourage you, Brian, Bill, Tammie and everyone else to keep being that example to us. To keep encouraging us to think outside of the box. To take a step back and examine what words like 'evangelical' have become to our society and then step back in to redefine those essential concepts for our world. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ - a Christian - a word I'm hesitant to use some times because of the negative conotations it holds in the not-so-Christian world.
The EmergingCGGC message may not always be popular with some Church folks who like the control they have, but I believe it is the message that will change the world.
Some point out the cycle - it started with Jesus, the people got away from the message, people came back to the original message, people fell away. I think that just like anything else (for example, bell bottoms, again, really?) the church is somewhat going through this cycle. I am grateful to be the daughter of a pastor who is going back to that message.
I think a lot of people in the church today would have stoned Jesus. If Jesus returned today and tried to teach the same message, a lot of "church folk" would kill him. That's scarey to me.
Thanks again for being smart. Thanks for not being afraid to ask questions. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Thanks for reading this...
love, your opinionated daughter,
carrie jade
p.s. a long with Jim and Joan, I pray for the dead animals on the road as well as ambulances and police officers. i bet a lot of road kill is mom road kill. and that means that pretty soon there will probably be orphan road kill...sad sad sad.
Carrie,
Wow. Thanks for the encouraging words. Consider your Christmas shopping done for me - that comment is one of the best gifts you could give me. :)
As far as the emerging cggc blog... don't let it get to you. I usually find it incredibly humorous at first; until I realize how sad it really is.
Hope you're having a nice day.
love,
Dad
Jim,
Good idea. Thanks.
Joan,
Hmm, I was actually picturing the Lucy sign too.
Tom,
I will be praying for you, brother.
Hey, Carrie Jade,
I drifted over here from the mayhem at the other blog as well. Thought briefly about posting something, but didn't want to get hit by the mud being slung (and I am wearing my new Crowder shirt!)
Thanks for the encouragement. I hate boxes. And box stores ... which brings me back to Dan, the actual owner of this blog we have hijacked. I like that idea, though I probably would be more the silent type who walks around just praying for the people I see. The weirdo in me wonders what would happen if you would hold up a sign that says "I need prayer."
[cleaning mud from my hands]
Tammie,
Now that WOULD be a radical idea (holding up an "I need prayer" sign). Just don't try that in church, ya know. :)
holy frankenberry, that was a long comment.
I am so glad that I can read this and smile about and learn from the thoughts that are shared here. Some are inspiring and thought provoking - some humorous and even silly. I have definitely been blessed with a husband who inspires, a daughter and son who actually enjoy thinking and learning and all of you who post here add to my day. These are the things that make me especially thankful this Thanksgiving!
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