Unfortunately not everyone’s hearts in the health care industry are turned toward making people well. Money is a powerful and disruptive force in this industry. Think about it – unlimited demand, and a controlled supply. That’s a lot of temptation for any business person to not take advantage others in exchange for bigger profits.

My wife has worked in rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health and could tell you stories for days about shady-to-overtly-illegal decisions by the “higher-ups” in the health care industry to make an extra dollar. It makes me feel dirty just thinking about it, and I don’t see it every day.

Fortunately, there is a movie coming out that gives the rest of America a little taste of what is going on.

I invite each of you to at least watch the movie Sicko when it comes out in theaters on June 29th. Yes, yes… Michael Moore has typically not been a favorite of Republican voters because of his criticism of the GOP in the past, but everyone could watch this so they get at least some view of what is going on behind the scenes in our health care industry – it’s not pretty.

I’m not saying I agree with the concept of socialized health care, which I’m guessing Mr. Moore proposes in the film, but we need to be aware of the blind eye being turned to a huge area of graft and corruption from our government down to the private sector. I know I said I wasn’t going to get political… and I’m not. Just watch the movie, and please keep your nation’s health care system in your prayers.

I was just laying on the bed with my wife rubbing her belly and thinking about the baby we’re having in a couple days. I then thought about the 30-some other couples doing the same thing around 20 years ago; waiting on the birth of their child. Those children, now young men and women, are gone.

Please pray for all those on the Virginia Tech campus for

• God’s healing touch on those directly impacted by the shootings
• that the power of Jesus Christ may be revealed to help this community, and consolation of the families during this horrible time.
• Christians in that community and on the campus itself will be strengthened to be channels of God’s love and peace.

I’m not precisely sure how prayer from others not involved with a situation plays into God’s plan, but I have faith in God’s word that it does. It’s tough sitting here in the middle chapters of the storybook of the human existence, watching evil ostensibly “winning the battle”. Fortunately there is the hope in that all those who believe on the name of Jesus Christ have a look into the future; we know how this story will end. I pray that God strengthens each of our faith to the point when we can rest assured that God is in control now and forever despite the dark days.

Thanks,

Every now and then I get fired up about something political, so I got the idea to put my rants on a separate blog so I didn’t offend those stopping by for encouragement regarding addictions, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Decent idea, but it was completely unnecessary given the context of the verse above. In fact, I realized my entire rationale for creating the blog contradicts what God wants me to be doing with my writing on the web.

Intrigued? No? Well, how about “Bored, and willing to read along”? Alright then…

My wife and I decided to fast watching “Scrubs” this week and instead spend that time reading the Bible together. Some of you may have noticed that my blog posts had been fewer and further in between these past 6 months. I’d like to blame it on baby preparations, but really I just became self-absorbed and hadn’t been spending much time in God’s word. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out. That’s how it works.

We were reading through 1 Timothy and came to the beginning of Chapter 2.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – (2) for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (3) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, (4) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Praying for Those in Authority

The first thing that jumped out at me was the prayers and intercession for our leaders. This is an area I could be much stronger in, for sure. I have problems with disobedience and issues with authority figures. Rebellion – let’s call it what it is. I gripe about my bosses, customers, my wife’s bosses, national, state, and local leaders, other nations’ leaders, etc. I quit watching the news because I got so argumentative and riled up over politics. I don’t stick my head in the sand – I work on the Internet so I do scan the headlines, but I just don’t steep my mind in it like a bag for my sun tea.

Giving… Thanks for Those in Authority!?

C’mon God! You mean not only do I have to pray for my boss and leaders, but I have to give thanks for them? This is one area that I really never considered before I read this passage. I know that God puts all leaders in positions for a purpose, and I know that I should give thanks in all circumstances, but I hadn’t put the two together until now.

I’m actually pretty happy about this verse, because just trying to “not be bad” by keeping from griping is tough. It’s like putting fingers in a leaky dam – the water being sin and the dam being a paper-mache like structure of my sinful nature and weak resolve.

Instead I should be doing something positive – Giving thanks for those in authority gets me away from the leaky day and closer to Christ. Giving thanks seems crazy when (insert politician here) does something to tick me off or (insert boss, business partner, or client here) does something to disappoint me, but I’m thinking it will seem more sane after I do it for awhile. God’s truth always works out that way

Our Peace and Quiet Depends on Praying and Giving Thanks For our Leaders

Look at verse 2 again in that passage.

(2) for kings and all those in authority, THAT we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Paul uses “that,” which is like a “so we may…” This isn’t an optional word like “and we may.” Paul is telling us via the Holy Spirit that praying for those in authority in us is directly related to the degree of peace and quiet in our communities, and the godliness and holiness in our lives.

Just looking around the world from my backyard, to war-torn areas in wherever, we Christians could all use more uplifting prayer for our leaders. I’m talking thankful prayer. My usual prayer for politicians goes like this,

“God please give us Godly leadership to straighten up this situation. Please straighten those leaders while you’re at it. Oh, and thanks for forgiving me even though I’m obviously holding a grudge against my brothers.”

OK, so that’s not the literal prayer, but as you can see my prayers are way more like David’s prayers in the cave than Jesus’ prayers on the cross. Do I want situations to change? Voting makes a difference, but what can I do in the 364 days between elections? Write a gripe blog? No way! I’m taking my fingers out of the dam and heading to high and dry ground!

My wife and I will start with something small and to practice this truth. This Friday when our paychecks go through, we’ll pray over our taxes that are taken out in a positive manner and give thanks for all those in authority over us.

I’m also going to occasionally add a prayer request or praise report regarding leaders (especially difficult ones) in this category titled by the chapter and verse that inspired it – 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

Thanks God, for the opportunity to stay accountable on a global basis through the Internet, and for friends so I can stay accountable in person.

First I wanted to thank everyone for visiting the blog either by choice or just when surfing by. It is such a blessing to be able to share our experiences with Christ.

I also have a quick prayer request for you and would appreciate any intercession from our friends around the world.

My wife’s best friend at work, Christi, and her husband Rick were in a head-on collision coming back from small group last night. She has some “crushed” feet, and a broken pelvis and clavicle. Fortunately she had no head trauma and is responsive.

They are strong Christians and part of a small group that will undoubtedly rally around them, but this will still be a true test of faith. Her and Rick have just been married a few months, she was just starting her career as an Occupational Therapist, and they are closing on their first house in a few weeks.

Please pray for miraculously fast healing in Christi’s body and for no lasting effects of the injuries. Also pray for Rick to be strengthened and for God’s blessing on their marriage and finances during this this difficult time.

Thanks!

If you have a prayer request… and who doesn’t , you can add it to the worldwide prayer request line, or you can send an email to prayer (at) seacoast (dot) org (had to disguise that so the email robots wouldn’t start sending spam).

Have a blessed day

Her name is Valerie – please join me in a brief prayer that the Lord will comfort her family and provide for them in this time of loss.

Thanks,

Our group discussed what each of us pray about. There were two ladies in the group that were very emphatic that they did not pray for themselves at all; rather they just prayed for other’s needs. At first that seemed pretty noble and I felt like a selfish boob, but something just didn’t seem right about what they said.

Of course God does not want us to be selfish in our prayers – he wants us to pray with others and for others. However, what was their motivation in not praying for themselves?

• Was it because they wanted to look “Holy” in front of the group? Perhaps that was subconsciously part of their motivation. I’ve caught myself praying, thinking about what the other person with me thought about my prayer. Messed up – but true : (
• Was it because they had everything they needed? I don’t think the most faith-filled believers on the planet do, much less a small group for new believers. Even James 4:2 (NIV) tells us, “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”
• Was it because they were not 100% sure that God answers prayer? By not asking for personal blessings they would not be entirely dissapointed if they did not come to pass.
• Was it because they considered themselves unworthy of prayer? They were right – we are not. Fortunately God loves us despite our sin and chooses to ignore it so long as we are in Christ.

Learning More About Prayer

None of the aforementioned questions are something we want to answer in our own lives with a “yes”. We’ll take a look at prayer over the next few posts and how to avoid other “rookie” mistakes as these and I hope you’ll join us. I’m looking forward to it, as my prayer life has been a bit stale lately.

Are you outside the family of God? No, I’m not talking about a particular church or denomination – I’m talking about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is the most important and wonderful decision we can ever make. I can testify to this personally. Becoming a Christian is the first step to opening a clear channel of communication with God. Of course God hears our prayers before that point, but by accepting Jesus as our personal savior, our motives begin to change and our prayers become more infinitely more effective. If you are interested, click here to learn “How to become a Christian.”

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Thanks for dropping by – have a blessed day.