Tonight's blog, for April 12, 2013

LORD, tonight i want to praise YOU for your folks. LORD, i know you love us, and we love YOU as well. One of

the best parts of this blogging experience, for me at least, is to know that i can talk to the creator of the universe, as a loving father and not as a reigning king or, even worse, as a despotic dictator. Father, i love that Jesus called you "ABBA" which i think means "dada" and not some four syllable word with out meaning. Father, you know that we are your children, babies even. This speaks volumes to me about the relationship we can have with YOU, LORD. 

LORD, we have been so blessed by the people who have crossed our path. Whether it is the small group that meets at Luna Pier, or the small group in Tom's house, or at Panera Bread, or in the office at MCC. The geography never did count with YOU, but the heart of your people and the willingness to obey does definitely count! Today has been a day of prayer, of reading, of helping with small groups, and as i finish this evening, I pray for your folks to see that YOU, LORD, ABBA already know what we need, and have already sent angels to help us or to protect us or to bless us. Whether it is a friend with a grand baby coming into the world soon, or a small group wrestling with which passage we should study, or a one of our young men sharing a poem on Facebook., LORD, YOU are LORD of the small details, and LORD of insignificant folks like us. 

LORD, we have been praying for Benjamin for quite a while. He is away from home but has retained his humor in difficult circumstances. Here is his poem. BLESS him tonight LORD!

A poem by Benjamin - harassed by wild chickens in his modest abode… 

"Oh chickens,

How do I hate thee, let me count the ways,

I hate thy blank stare, your dull empty gaze,

Small souless demon, your eyes all a'glaze,

A ruse just to keep, suspicion at bay,

I hate thee in morn' , you cry before sun,

Reminding me that, all dreaming is done,

Yet once not enough, you scream out for fun,

O you fowl so foul, from hell thou hast come,

I hate how my home, you try to besiege,

Walls of my safety, you so often breech,

For no reason but, to torment and tease,

Leaving behind you, havoc and feces,

For words to tell of my hate I'm at loss,

Your true value lies in barbeque sauce."

LORD, from my perspective, i wish all our problems were "wild chickens" and all your answers were "Barbecue Sauce"! WE love you for caring for your children so well, LORD!  

big marv