Luke's Space

*Beeping Sound* I check my phone, it’s a text message letting me know that my sister Ashlei has updated her Twitter “Ashlei Paige: reading John Keats” I write a quick message to Ashlei inquiring about this John Keats fellow, she promptly replies with some of his works. After thinking about I thought “I have the internet right here at my fingertips” so I do a search for John K…and before I finish entering the rest of his name my search bar has already figured out that I want to search for John Keats and has added his name to a drop down list, I click it.

First result John Keats - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, I click it and within a few minutes I know that John Keats was born on October 31st 1795 and died at age 25 on February 23 1821, I have read the 5 or so paragraphs describing his life, and I could view a list of all of his works.

Hitting the back button to see what other sites were returned from my query John-Keats.com here I could view a Biography, Letters written by John Keats to various people, and a collection of his Poems.

We live in a time where information and knowledge that used to be tedious and time consuming to find is just a click away. Definitely makes it easier to “learn something new every day”.

These are some things that I want to accomplish in 2009…

1. Read more
   • Read the Bible front to back
   • Read at least one theological book
   • Read at least one Programming book
   • Read at least one book for fun
2. Work Harder
   • I am going to strive to not just do the minimum expected of me, but to strive to excel in my role as a husband and father and also in my career.
3. Guitar
   • Practice at least once a week
4. Finish something
   • I am going to start and finish writing a software application

This Sunday was my first time opening Sunday school. When Tracy asked me to do it, I was a little hesitant because public speaking is really not my thing. But all I have to do is announce what hymn we are singing, sing, announce what scripture we are reading, read, ask the kids if anyone wants to recite the scripture, pray, and dismiss the children to their Sunday School classes. So I talked myself into it.

I have been going to this Church my whole life. I know everyone in that Sunday School room but for some reason I was really nervous. It is really weird to read a Bible passage when you feel like you are the leader. I have read along with people all the time, but for some reason this felt different. I lost my place a couple of times, and it felt like everyone would notice, even though I know no one even cares. Anyways, I think the hardest part is praying. I am not a wordy prayer…prayist?…anyway, I pretty much like to keep it short and sweet, and I kind of have a biblical reference for why that is (besides the fact that I am not an eloquent speaker)…

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: (The Lords Prayer)
- Mathew 6:5-9

I thought for a second that verse 7 meant that we shouldn't pray the same prayer over again. But that obviously is not what it’s talking about. We pray the Lord’s prayer every Sunday. I think it is saying that among other types of repetition we shouldn’t be saying the same thing but in a different way over and over again. I am trying to think of an example…hang on a second…well, I can’t really think of an example but I think it really comes out in verse 8 where it says “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” I take that as we don’t have to go into great detail describing what we are asking for. I don’t think that it means that we shouldn’t ask things repeatedly or pray the same prayer, so long as we are actually praying for these things with faith, and not just saying words.

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
-Luke 18:1-8

Well I guess I kind of went off on that a little bit. I am by know means an authority on prayer, these are just some of my thoughts on the subject.