roboThe year was 1987 and the title of the movie, RoboCop, was futuristic and ripe with sci-fi-intrigue.  The plot of the movie told the story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop, who was was brutally murdered by a gang of thugs.  Murphy becomes the experimental project of a tech company and he reappears as RoboCop, a superhuman cyborg with a conscience.  

When I did a “robo” search, the Top 10 results surprised me:

  • robots
  • robocop
  • robot chicken
  • robo craft
  • roboform
  • robot vacuum cleaner
  • robotech
  • robot games
  • robotic surgery
  • robots movie

I’m not surprised by the contents of this list; however, I do wonder about the absence of “robocall.”   Consumer Reports describes robocalls as “those prerecorded, unsolicited annoyances that are invading homes every day like a swarm of gnats.

The Federal Trade Commission receives over 150,000 complaints each month from consumers asking for relief from this technological nightmare.  It’s estimated that scams related to robocalls rob consumers of about $350,000,000.00 a year.

I’m not suggesting that the church should adopt the techniques of the gods of the robocall; however, I do marvel at their zest and zeal to promote their product.  Why is it that those who live in the shadows are so energetic in the propagation of a lie while those who walk in the light are so lackadaisical in their stewardship of the truth?

Jesus warned us of the wolves who come in sheep’s clothing:  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The minions of darkness carefully lay a snare with the intent of trapping the naive with their lies.  Your task, is to brighten the path of the innocent, so they can see Jesus and live life more abundantly.

Think about that annual loss of $350 million.  What if we changed the scheme of things and translated that to 350 million prayers.  How would your part of the world be different if people like you would prayer more and say more about Jesus?

 

 

 

Essential Communication

scrabbleI would imagine that most everyone who reads this blog has a cell phone. Not so long ago, the cell phone was thought of as a convenience, but it’s now considered to be an essential device for daily communication.

In a sense, the same can be said for prayer. Some people think of it as a convenience, while others recognize its true importance. It is the essential means through which we communicate with God.

The importance of prayer is seen in the words of Philip Yancey: “If prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet, then I must learn about prayer. Most of my struggles in the Christian life circle around the same two themes: why God doesn’t act the way we want God to, and why I don’t act the way God wants me to. Prayer is the precise point where those themes converge.”

Several years ago I began to use the word PRAY as an acronym to guide my quiet moments with God:

Praise: Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is King of all the earth (Psalm 47:5-7)

Repent: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).

Ask: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

Yield: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As Yancey said, “If prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet then I must learn about prayer.” I hope this PRAY acronym will help you learn more about prayer, and help you spend more time using this essential means of communication.