Gratitude: Saturday November 14

Today, use your list from yesterday and try exercising these ideas throughout the day.

Prayer: Pray for God's revelation as you as you try these ideas through the day.

Donald Miller Prayer

Here is the text from Donald Miller's prayer at the Democratic National Convention a couple days ago (disclaimer: Convergence is not endorsing a particular candidate or party; we just like the prayer :-) )

"Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen."

You can go to Donald Miller's website to see a video of the prayer.

prayer and creating

last Sunday we watched the Nooma video "Open," about prayer, then had some discussion. It was great. Here are some quotes and questions from the evening; The quotes are taken from Rob Bell's talk in the video. I might throw in some commentary.

Jesus took very seriously the creation poem, Genesis, that the Bible begins with. And in this creation poem God creates. But God creates things that are capable of creating more. God creates animals and plants and fish, but then empowers them to create more. And then, God creates people and gives them the ability to create more. So everything in creation is essentially unfinished. God leaves the world unfinished and invites people to take part in the ongoing creation of the world.

wow. I love this thought...it really echoes what we have been saying at Convergence--that as people made in God's image, we are created to create! We live out one of our primary purposes when we create. That's what art is all about!

God can handle what you're thinking.

God can handle how you're feeling.

God can handle what you're saying.

Prayer, if it's anything, is truth.

It's being honest with your maker.

Sometimes it seems (in church culture) that we get hung up on doing and saying the right things. We use a special language when we talk about and to God. I have some dear friends that always use "thou" and "thy" and "thee" when praying. It sounds nice, but it seems so distant or disconnected to me.

The times I feel closest to God are the times when I just let loose and get completely open and honest and real; pouring out all my junk and ugliness and honesty.

God's desire is that the divine energy that made the world would flow between us and in the process draw us closer together. Prayer is tapping in to the same energy that formed the universe. that's why people say that they can feel prayer. it's because we can. Praying connects us to the people and things we're praying for. Prayer enlarges our perspective. Praying gives us a bigger heart. Praying makes us feel things. Praying changes things but prayer changes us.

May your whole life be a prayer. And may you be honest with God as you become more and more open to your role in the ongoing creation of the world.

Speaking of ongoing creation, congratulations to Steve and Heather who are partnering with God in creating a new life, and a new addition to the Convergence family!

Prayer of Assurance

Prayer of Assurance
by Amanda Vogel
after Isaiah 61

Good news:
He has come to
bind up your broken hearts
proclaim freedom from your captives
release you from prisons of darkness

There is hope in the aftermath:
On your head, a crown of beauty will replace ashes.
On your feet, the oil of gladness will replace mourning.
On your body, a garment of praise will replace despair.

Now:
You are great oaks of righteousness,
rising up from strong roots.
You will rebuild out of the ancient ruins of your past.
You will repair the long-destroyed relationships in your cities.

Scarlet to white.
Crimson to wool.
Captive to free.
Broken to whole.

Merging of the Blogs

Todd and I have decided to consolidate blogs and include entries from other people on here as well. We hope you will join us in conversation about Convergence, God, art and faith. Feel free to comment or send us a post. In the coming year we will be devoting time to exploring questions about artists and worship.

Elise Edwards Ph.D. student studying art, faith and culture will be leading a lecture and discussion series in July at Convergence. We hope to have these podcast and posted on our blog and website. We hope you join the conversation!

Thursday, July 10 - 7:00 pm - What is the place of the artist in Christian Community?
Thursday, July 17 - 7:00 pm - Worship Planning and the Design Process
Thursday, July 24 - 7:00 pm - The Connection Between Art, Faith and Civic Engagement
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Todd wrote this and shared in last week's worship gathering on prayer:

I pray because I know I can't make life work on my own.
I pray because I need to be connected to more than just what I can see and touch.
I pray because I need to know that I am not alone.
I pray because I have seen God work supernaturally, in my life and the lives of others.
I pray because I gain strength and insight when I do.
I pray because sometimes at midnight, God is the only one listening.
I pray because the Bible, full of wisdom and insight into God and humankind, tells me it is crucial.
I pray because it helps me feel God's presence.
I pray because I love God.
I pray because I believe God loves me.

Read more about our worship gatherings