Ozarkparson's Blog

This is dedicated to all teachers, and school administrators.
After being interviewed by the school administration the eager teacher prospect said:
Let me see if I have this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning, and I am supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their t-shirt messages and dress habits. You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship , fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.

I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment , recognize signs of anti-social behavior , make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don’t come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments. Plus , I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board,a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!
You want me to do all of this and then you tell me………

I CANT PRAY?

When the disciples were with Jesus they asked Him how they should pray. He said this to them: “pray like this-Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive everyone who is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” This is King James version from Luke
NIV and New Revised Standard from Luke says it this way.:
“Father hallowed be your name your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive everyone who is indebted to us and do not bring us to a time of trial ”

If we go to Matthew Chapter 6, the translations begin to agree. Here is what they say:
Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our debts as we have forgiven our debtors. and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever. Amen
Yes there are some differences even in the Matthew account of Jesus’ lesson on prayer. But Jesus has give us a pattern for prayer. First to praise him and “hallow” his name. We want to first recognize the righteousness and holiness of God. Second is to pray our priorities. That is to acknowledge the wonderful kingdom around us and to celebrate the reign of Christ. Third
is prayer for provision. That is the time to bring your petitions to God. Prayers for others and for guidance etc. Fourth is to acknowledge our debts ( or trespasses) and to forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us) Fifth is asking God for protection from temptation and evil. Sixth is again recognizing the power and glory of God.

We have probably learned this prayer as youngsters and say it every Sunday and maybe at funerals . But the problem is that it has become so routine that I question, are we praying it with our heart or just our mind. If we can internalize this prayer the pattern of all your prayers will be what Jesus gave us to follow.

I have just subscribed to a prayer study by Dr. David Jeremiah that is excellent. It is a 6-7 week study. I am anxious to delve deeper into this prayer and the pattern for us through a group study. If you might be interested , please contact me at my blog address or my email address ozarak1937@gmail.com