Random thoughts, musings, parts of sermons/messages that didn't make the cut, and just whatever Jason Matters of Ridgefield Church of the Nazarene in Ridgefield, Washington, feels like writing about.
Our six year old daughter, Olivia, is growing and flourishing, and we are learning this parenting thing as we go! We recently introduced a chore chart for her with a few daily chores and a few optional chores. Each chore earns a small amount of money (even at $1 each, we would go broke!) Then there are the penalty items - those things like leaving a wet towel on the floor - that result in the loss of a few dimes.
As we were researching the idea of a chore chart, we found nothing online! So we made our own. And for anyone else who would like to borrow it, here it is! You can download it here. It is in a Word document format, so you can modify it for your own use. Enjoy!
Morris Weigelt and Dee Freeborn introduced me to the spiritual energy of the Lord's Prayer during my first year of seminary. They both retired at the end of that year and wrote this book to encourage others to connect with God in new ways through the Lord's Prayer. I recently concluded a five week teaching series entitled How To Pray, and I used this book to help provide some insights and supporting material. (You can listen to those messages here)
During these weeks I was reminded of their insights and helpful suggestions. I have again experienced the wonder and beauty of the Lord's Prayer. Far from being a ritual devoid of meaning, or some complicated prayer (as I have sometimes viewed it), the Lord's prayer has become a vehicle for really connecting with God. Kind of like an app, if you will.
If you are looking to better understand the Lord's prayer, I suggest that you get a copy. This book dedicates one chapter for each line of the prayer. But it is not too analytical. The goal is to show how every part of the prayer is connected to the whole. One of the most interesting insights from the book shows the "V" pattern of the prayer. While the book is written for all Christians, and not just for pastors or Bible scholars, it is a bit thin on the practical, creative side. You will not find in it 4 new ways to pray the Lord's prayer. It is intended to make you think. At the same time, it is not lifeless prose. When you get to the story of Larry, you may even shed a tear. The authors, two godly men and heroes in the faith, deeply desire for you to connect with the heart of God through an energetic prayer life.
