We are grateful when any of you present your prayer requests through our Living the Solution site (here). We do read and pray over each one. I am always thinking about prayer and I believe that God is teaching me more and more about it, or at least my attitude towards prayer and its purpose.

Prayer, as you are probably aware, is a way for you to raise your thoughts, feelings, worries, gratitude, praise and even your whole being to God. It’s not always about words, either. Sometimes quiet and contemplative prayer – our intention towards God – allows us to quiet our noisy brains and become aware of God’s loving presence.

It is a real challenge when our prayers are for things we want or hope for, no matter how pure our motives. That is because there are so many things we can’t change. If we or loved ones are sick we can seek medical help and we can prayer for the doctors and health care providers. We can ask God for healing and release from suffering. But prayer is not about changing God’s mind, as if God doesn’t already want the best for us. Prayer is really about accepting God’s will for us and being willing to do our part. God wants us all to be involved in creation and our part is to be like Jesus modeled. We need to love everyone, be forgiving, merciful, kind and compassionate, and to not be fearful and anxious. This is a tall order. Only God can change me, or you, to be like that.

Keep sending in your prayer requests. And, please, pray for us, too. Pray for our friend and Christian brother, Armando, who used to work with us on Internet marketing. His liver is bad and his kidneys are failing and he’s currently hospitalized. He has had several health battles over the past few years and each time that God brings him through he is grateful. He remains faithful in his belief in God’s power to heal and also that God is able to bring good out of all things.

We pray for peace and joy for all of you – and for all of us to accept the truth of life on life’s terms with a loving God who does not turn away from our need for Him.

When President George W. Bush makes his State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 31, 9 p.m. EST people will be watching to hear what he considers are the most important things facing our country. Certainly we will hear about the war in Iraq and the war on Terrorism. We will also hear about the economy. Where does the administration stand on social justice and peacemaking? These are values that are of importance to followers of Jesus. You might want to visit the Sojourners site to find out how to organize a “State of Our Values” watch.

Today’s Daily Thought has Pete Reinbold commenting on the importance of us asking and seeking from God the things we need. I agree with him that we must be willing to ask. For if we don’t ask God won’t force it on us.

You might wonder, then, does God ignore us and our needs if we aren’t asking Him for blessings? It’s not that “black and white”. If you go through life playing god yourself – deciding that you know best and will make all your own decisions and try to make things happen on your own power – then you inevitably will hit a point where that doesn’t work. Oh, it may work for a while, if you are strong willed and talented. But, eventually we all come to a place of powerlessness. Now, what you do at that point is very important.

God can, and does, do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. But, God is a gentleman. He waits for an invitation. God might make His presence known, but He still waits for you to make the decision that you want what God is offering.

Blogging has become pretty big on the Internet. People will express their views about anything. As a ministry tool and a way to reach others about God and Christianity blogging can be very effective. However, most Christian blogs are directed just at believers. There is a great potential to reach seekers. We try to do that with out site, although our site clearly has a Christian theme. If you are not a Christian, but you are open to seeking a faith in something bigger than just yourself then welcome to a site where you can explore what solutions for living challenges that we believe looks to Jesus Christ and the Gospel for those solutions.

There is an introduction to blogging and how to use weblogs for evangelism on this Gospelcom page – go here.

If you truly believe in the right to life – the sanctity of life – then you have to consider your views on more than abortion. The sanctity of life also includes the topics of assisted suicide and the death penalty, both of which are in the news today.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Bush administration overstepped its authority by trying to block an Oregon law that authorizes doctor-assisted suicide (here). And the oldest inmate on death row in California, Clarence Ray Allen, 76, was put to death by lethal injection just after midnight today (here).

These issues are controversial and discussions can be hearted. When we look at the sanctity of life, hopefully we can approach the dialogue with a willingness to listen and peacefully discuss and hold those who oppose our views in love while doing what we believe God teaches us about the sacredness of all life.

If you are happy and you know it you should show it (to paraphrase a children’s song). I find that often I am not acting as happy as I should be. Why do I let the worries of life affect me that way? Jesus had a great teaching about worry and anxiety. He said that God cares much more for you than he does for the beautiful flowers in the field and the birds in the air.

We can’t change the past and we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future – live for today – that’s a powerful message.

Laughter is good for you. Sometimes crying is, too. We should not be ashamed to show our emotions, but we need to laugh with joy and cry with compassion. I’ve got to watch myself about whining or laughter at the expense of others. We should insist on enjoying life and remember that so many of our troubles and difficulties are a result of our own fears, worries and resentments. Enjoy today and live enthusiastically.

Does God intervene in our world and lives? You might ask this question. I think God draws near to those who seek Him. Certainly God is proactive – why else would God enter into our world as the “Word made Flesh”? Jesus came to show us that God understands fully what it means to be human. But I don’t think that means that God is constantly sending wrath and punishment to people in the form of sickness. Unfortunately, and once again, evangelist Pat Robertson’s has made an outrageous claim about God. He stated that Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke because God is punishing him for interfering with God’s plan. Robertson said, "You read the Bible and God says 'This is my land,' and for any Prime Minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine.'"

Anyone who seriously investigates God’s word in the Bible should discover that God is about mercy, forgiveness and grace. Such dangerously inaccurate interpretation of scripture by Robertson is cause for alarm. It is not the first outrageous claim he has made. What does God tells us to do about people that talk this way? Pray and have compassion, sure, but not to stand in agreement with people who claim to speak for God with such outlandish claims.

Our education in life comes from our life experience. We can absorb lessons and study hard, but in the end how we live is what we really know. Your faith and your “cross to bear” is ultimately your own personal experience.

God is the greatest teacher and He came to us in the flesh, as Jesus Christ, to teach us who He is and what life is all about and how to live. The search for wisdom is not limited to highly educated people. I believe God wants all of us to come to know him intimately. Wise men sought the new born Messiah when they saw his star in the east. Apparently these three magi were not Jewish. They couldn’t be Christians – there was no such thing at the time. But they must have been seekers and they came to Jerusalem and met with King Herod because they believed that God was sending a savior (Matthew 2:1-12). They must have been interested in this however they came by such prophecy or knowledge.

Over the years tradition has tried to paint the magi as kings; three men imbued with power come to pay homage to the new and future King of the Jews. Well, scripture doesn’t say they were kings (which connotes images of power, leadership and control). They were magi on a quest. Wise men and women still seek Him – the One who has all power and grace. The One who can lead you, teach you and show you how to live.

Happy New Year to you all! At the start of each year it is common for us to plan our goals and look to ways we will change and grow for the better. This is all and good. But the secret to living the spiritual life is to approach each day as a new beginning.

This is harder than it sounds – but it is not that hard. I find I must use the “spiritual toolkit” to help me each day. God is never elsewhere. He is not “out there somewhere”. God is with us if only we will see that and welcome God in.

Practical spirituality is something of a theme for me. I hope that through this site we can pass along practical things that each day will help you grow. God already loves you, so don’t start with the assumption that He needs you to be a better person before you can have a relationship with God. Start right where you are.

Some of the tools that are always available and work every time that you use them are acceptance, humility, forgiveness, honesty, willingness, prayer and love. Keep the toolkit with you and use those tools! (See the Living the Solution Spiritual Toolbox here)