Login | Sign up

2022 - US Federal Reserve makes largest interest rate increase since 2000 (+0.5%), attempting to combat the fastest rate of inflation in four decades.

In 1957, Lieutenant David Steeves walked out of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains 54 days after his Air Force trainer jet had disappeared. He told an unbelievable tale of how he had lived in a snowy wilderness after parachuting from his disabled plane. By the time he showed up alive, he had already been declared officially dead. 

When further search failed to turn up the wreckage, a hoax was suspected and Steeves was forced to resign under a cloud of doubt. More than 20 years later, however, his story was confirmed when a troop of Boy Scouts discovered the wreckage of his plane.

Another "survival story" from centuries ago is still controversial. A man by the name of Jesus Christ walked out of the Judean wilderness making claims a lot of people found difficult to believe. He was later executed and pronounced dead. But 3 days later He showed up alive. And there have been skeptics ever since.

But consider the facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. His integrity is well-founded. Prophets foretold His coming. Miracles supported His deity. Eyewitnesses verified His resurrection. And today the Holy Spirit confirms to anyone who is seeking to know the truth, that Jesus is alive. The power of his Spirit is available for you today.

One of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1. References from Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4.

This scripture in Matthew and the parallel account in Luke record the prayer known as the Lord's Prayer. Most likely this is the most prayed and most translated prayer in the world! It may be a preparation to receive the Holy Spirit, but more so is a model of the attitude and priority we need to apply in our prayer lives... the Lord's prayer itself is not to be repeated time and time again... it sets the basis for all our prayers that aren't spoken in tongues.

Notice first how many times the word 'us' appears, and also note the opening words 'Our Father'. This reminds us that, as believers, we're no longer isolated, but we're part of God's family. This prayer reminds us who God is... our Father in heaven (not our general, or our ruler, or our master... he keeps it family orientated and personal). Even though we're part of His family, His ways aren't like our ways! It's His kingdom, and His will, not ours, that's to be carried out.

These points are important to keep in mind, because they remind us that when we pray, we aren't to begin with what we need, but with who God is. It's not that our needs are unimportant (as the rest of prayer makes clear), but our needs must be seen in light of the One to whom we're praying.

The second part of this prayer may be summarized in one word: provision. In that time, bread was an indispensable part of life... praying for daily bread meant praying for everything required for day-to-day living. The fact that forgiveness is listed next suggests that being forgiven and forgiving others is also essential for our daily well being. 

Finally, we are urged to pray for spiritual protection from the temptation that surrounds us and from the Evil One who seeks to destroy us.

The Lord's Prayer clearly serves as a guide to the kind of things for which we should pray and their order of respect. The Lord made it clear that repetitive prayer was not on his mind. "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions" (Mat 6:7).