Comments for chrisaltrock.com http://chrisaltrock.com Chris Altrock Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:03:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Day 26 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Kevin G. http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-26-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4524 Kevin G. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:03:20 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1787#comment-4524 Do you tend to imagine Jesus praying for you or against you? Why? I feel Jesus is "rooting" for me, although that terminology bothers me for some reason. I guess the mental picture I have of someone "rooting" is related to sports. In reality sports fans, when it comes right down to it, all "root" for laundry. But Jesus "roots" for people. I guess I like that thought after all... Do you tend to imagine Jesus praying for you or against you? Why?

I feel Jesus is “rooting” for me, although that terminology bothers me for some reason. I guess the mental picture I have of someone “rooting” is related to sports. In reality sports fans, when it comes right down to it, all “root” for laundry. But Jesus “roots” for people. I guess I like that thought after all…

]]> Comment on Day 26 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-26-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4521 Jason K Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:19:41 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1787#comment-4521 What a comforting thought! Praise Jesus! Thanks, Chris. What a comforting thought! Praise Jesus! Thanks, Chris.

]]> Comment on Day 25 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Kevin G. http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-25-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4515 Kevin G. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:56:26 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1779#comment-4515 I am reminded everyday that I live in two worlds. Contrast my Highland community with my working community at the Med. I AM their *pastor* at the Med - at least for the evening shift. And the social-economical difference I experience is astounding. Personally I feel we (Highland) could do a better job of meeting needs here at the Med. Just recently there was a ministry started at LeBonheur. Being a faith based hospital may make that a more natural fit, but I have wondered "why not the Med?" I mean, I am here every weekday and we certainly could use the volunteers. And I have NO doubt in my mind that Jesus would most likely hang out at this hospital. It definitely has the most need. Anyway, not to rant, but "Yes" I do pray for the folks here, just not as much as I should. And I shall begin to pray more for Highland. "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." And Jason, I struggled too with the move eastward instead of standing pat or moving westward. My prayer is that Highland will NEVER forget our obligation to the poor of our community NO MATTER where we are located. I am reminded everyday that I live in two worlds. Contrast my Highland community with my working community at the Med. I AM their *pastor* at the Med – at least for the evening shift. And the social-economical difference I experience is astounding. Personally I feel we (Highland) could do a better job of meeting needs here at the Med. Just recently there was a ministry started at LeBonheur. Being a faith based hospital may make that a more natural fit, but I have wondered “why not the Med?” I mean, I am here every weekday and we certainly could use the volunteers. And I have NO doubt in my mind that Jesus would most likely hang out at this hospital. It definitely has the most need. Anyway, not to rant, but “Yes” I do pray for the folks here, just not as much as I should. And I shall begin to pray more for Highland. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

And Jason, I struggled too with the move eastward instead of standing pat or moving westward. My prayer is that Highland will NEVER forget our obligation to the poor of our community NO MATTER where we are located.

]]> Comment on Day 25 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-25-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4514 Jason K Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:54:14 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1779#comment-4514 I love your second to last paragraph. So true and especially in Memphis. We are not Christians living out the principles of Jesus in Anywhere, USA (as if such place even existed). We are living in a place seriously scarred by racism and in a place where people continue to perpetuate separation especially along socio-economic and political lines. Inconveniently, I do believe intensely that location matters, specifically because in Memphis that separation has followed observable geographic lines. So, yes, I pray intensely for a Community that will allow God to overcome the separation we see in our city. I wish to be a part of a Community that will be an alternative to what we see in Memphis everyday. I think we have made it harder for ourselves at Highland to be that Community, still Highland is my Community and I am not going anywhere. So I pray that we will work even harder to be what we are really called to be. I love your second to last paragraph. So true and especially in Memphis. We are not Christians living out the principles of Jesus in Anywhere, USA (as if such place even existed). We are living in a place seriously scarred by racism and in a place where people continue to perpetuate separation especially along socio-economic and political lines. Inconveniently, I do believe intensely that location matters, specifically because in Memphis that separation has followed observable geographic lines.

So, yes, I pray intensely for a Community that will allow God to overcome the separation we see in our city. I wish to be a part of a Community that will be an alternative to what we see in Memphis everyday. I think we have made it harder for ourselves at Highland to be that Community, still Highland is my Community and I am not going anywhere. So I pray that we will work even harder to be what we are really called to be.

]]> Comment on Day 24 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Kevin G. http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-24-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4512 Kevin G. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:19:48 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1766#comment-4512 Jason, I, too, have enjoyed this journey. I have just been amazed at how many times Jesus is found praying in the Scriptures. I have simply overlooked them and not much about them with the exception of the passages that talk about Jesus spefically finding a quiet place to pray. I'm praying for the staff of the Med today - not just the nurses and doctors, but the floor moppers, the janitors, the cafeteria personel, the foodworkers and all the support staff. They are easily overlooked. Jason, I, too, have enjoyed this journey. I have just been amazed at how many times Jesus is found praying in the Scriptures. I have simply overlooked them and not much about them with the exception of the passages that talk about Jesus spefically finding a quiet place to pray. I’m praying for the staff of the Med today – not just the nurses and doctors, but the floor moppers, the janitors, the cafeteria personel, the foodworkers and all the support staff. They are easily overlooked.

]]> Comment on Day 24 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-24-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4510 Jason K Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:56:54 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1766#comment-4510 Melanie, thank you for your prayer. Melanie, thank you for your prayer.

]]> Comment on Day 24 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-24-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4509 Jason K Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:56:14 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1766#comment-4509 I am praying for my students today, much like Jesus prayed for his disciples. I pray for them often, actually. Chris, this is one of those posts I really value. I am really benefitting from this walk through the prayer life of Jesus. It seems that as Jesus went thriugh his life he was "holding class" on prayer; he is teaching us how to pray. We often poo-poo formulaic prayer as cold and disingenuous but I am beginning to think there is more benefit to be found in using the topics of Jesus' prayer (as you are highlighting for us) as rubrics for our prayers too. They give me topics when I am not being very creative. They direct me into the places that need prayer when I am too dense to think of it. Thanks. I am praying for my students today, much like Jesus prayed for his disciples. I pray for them often, actually.

Chris, this is one of those posts I really value. I am really benefitting from this walk through the prayer life of Jesus. It seems that as Jesus went thriugh his life he was “holding class” on prayer; he is teaching us how to pray. We often poo-poo formulaic prayer as cold and disingenuous but I am beginning to think there is more benefit to be found in using the topics of Jesus’ prayer (as you are highlighting for us) as rubrics for our prayers too. They give me topics when I am not being very creative. They direct me into the places that need prayer when I am too dense to think of it. Thanks.

]]> Comment on Day 24 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Melanie http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-24-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4507 Melanie Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:49:36 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1766#comment-4507 Father God, bless those who will enter classrooms all over this city this morning. Thank you for those special people who love you and love children. Help them to see their special calling as teachers of your children. Guide their words, their responses, and their decisions, and help them, wherever they are, to honor and glorify you with their lives and their example. Remind them, dear Father, they they are the hands and feet of Jesus, and that you have called them to this special mission of being light and salt among these children of yours. Grant them patience, energy, passion, kindness, and perseverance in their ministry of teaching. Amen. Father God, bless those who will enter classrooms all over this city this morning. Thank you for those special people who love you and love children. Help them to see their special calling as teachers of your children. Guide their words, their responses, and their decisions, and help them, wherever they are, to honor and glorify you with their lives and their example. Remind them, dear Father, they they are the hands and feet of Jesus, and that you have called them to this special mission of being light and salt among these children of yours. Grant them patience, energy, passion, kindness, and perseverance in their ministry of teaching. Amen.

]]> Comment on Day 23 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Melanie http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4506 Melanie Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:42:38 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4506 Sometimes I'm not sure how much of my view of Satan is shaped by John Milton or Dante and even Frank Peretti and how much by the Bible. I'm not sure Satan is a demon literally sitting, invisible, up in the corner of my room, but I believe that there is a war over our souls. I hear people attributing things that go wrong--things like accidents, death, disease--to Satan's power, and I'm hardly ever comfortable with that. However, the idea that the evil one is targeting and attacking my faith or someone else's--that I can accept. And so, like Jason, I pray to be faithful and I pray that others to be faithful. Sometimes I’m not sure how much of my view of Satan is shaped by John Milton or Dante and even Frank Peretti and how much by the Bible. I’m not sure Satan is a demon literally sitting, invisible, up in the corner of my room, but I believe that there is a war over our souls. I hear people attributing things that go wrong–things like accidents, death, disease–to Satan’s power, and I’m hardly ever comfortable with that. However, the idea that the evil one is targeting and attacking my faith or someone else’s–that I can accept. And so, like Jason, I pray to be faithful and I pray that others to be faithful.

]]> Comment on Day 23 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus by Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4505 Jason K Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:00:53 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4505 I definitely believe that evil is real and it shapes my prayer. I know it is real. It have seen what evil does in my life and in the world around me. But I get twitchy about personifying that into Satan. I know Jesus did and I need to wrestle with that a bit more. I just don't like what people do when they talk about Satan. Some talk about Satan like God's equal. That is not the case. We are not in a dualistic world of good and evil. God is king; this is his world. We are sons of this King and Satan is defeated. The Dragon cannot take the followers of the Lamb if we will stay faithful. So I pray we will be faithful. Some make Satan into a scapegoat for our own bad choices. Short of demon-possession, I don't think Satan can make us do things. It is up to us: the flesh or the Spirit. So I pray for the Spirit. I definitely believe that evil is real and it shapes my prayer. I know it is real. It have seen what evil does in my life and in the world around me. But I get twitchy about personifying that into Satan. I know Jesus did and I need to wrestle with that a bit more. I just don’t like what people do when they talk about Satan.

Some talk about Satan like God’s equal. That is not the case. We are not in a dualistic world of good and evil. God is king; this is his world. We are sons of this King and Satan is defeated. The Dragon cannot take the followers of the Lamb if we will stay faithful. So I pray we will be faithful.

Some make Satan into a scapegoat for our own bad choices. Short of demon-possession, I don’t think Satan can make us do things. It is up to us: the flesh or the Spirit. So I pray for the Spirit.

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