prayer

People talk about it a lot, especially when they have some sort of need. But, what is prayer? Some see prayer as a formal act that is performed in a formal setting, i.e., church. Others see it as the repetition of words or the mouthing of a formula. While not necessarily denying any of these avenues, here are some additional thoughts about prayer.

Prayer is . . .

• an acknowledgment that we do not have all of the answers (and can’t even formulate all of the proper questions). Since it is true that we lack complete knowledge, the prayer impulse is completely sensible and wise, for it fosters an attitude of humility.

• equally, an awareness, an intuitive sense, that there is indeed something (and Someone) bigger that we are. Not only are we smaller than some would assume, but there is a corresponding something/Someone that/who is larger than any of us have completely envisioned. This encourages the relational impulse in us, the need to connect to this Someone.

• built on the assumption that this something/Someone is actually good and powerful– good enough to care and powerful enough to do something about our circumstances. This, I think, is an encouragement, for it teaches us that Gos is approachable.

• a realization, however subtle, that we have value. Indeed, the reason we sense the need to look outside of ourselves to another is because we believe that there is help available. Thus, prayer prompts humility (as mentioned above), not humiliation, for we instinctively know that a good God values us.

• an actual connecting to this Someone, comforting our hearts and allowing us to sense or comprehend his plan, purpose, and presence (the alliteration is coincidental . . . or is it?). God is not merely a theory, an idea, or a belief. He is a real person with whom we can connect. This makes prayer personal in a dual sense: we are (1) people who connect to (2) the ultimate Persons (i.e., trinity).

• that which enables us to see our lives within the context and the presence of a being who declares his love for us and also demands our devotion to Him. It is thus ethical, moral, and devotional in focus, along with being personal.

• evidence that this Someone who actually exists is not a mere Anyone, a being we get to define and create out of whole cloth. While we must, by the nature of the case, walk by faith, this faith is neither irrational nor imaginary. Having connected with this Someone, we instinctively lean into his purpose and seek to know something of his identity. Without getting into a prolonged argument or debate, this Someone appears to be revealed most unambiguously and clearly in the One who specifically came from God (as God) to live among us. This Someone, in Christian terms, is Jesus. Whether we know a little or a lot about him, whether we are confident or doubtful in our faith, he is the I Am, the One who comes to us in grace and love and embraces us in spite of our ignorance and foolishness.

Prayer, it seems to me, involves our hearts and lives (formally or informally) connecting with God, bathing in his love, cognizant of his presence, keenly (or not so keenly) aware of our association with Him. It is intentionally recognizing that all of life is sacred, and all of life is his (since he creates and sustains it). When you think of it this way, it makes perfect sense that we would be invited to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

25 things

This is something I wrote for facebook. Why? I don't know. :-)

1. I love my wife and kids.

2. I love work/teaching.

3. I love (at least some of) my school kids.

4. I love writing and often have multiple projects going on simultaneously. (I’ve written 2 books . . . so far.)

5. I wrote a dictionary article for a major Christian publisher on the subject of extraterrestrials.

6. I love to read and tend to be reading 5-10 books simultaneously.

7. I’m ranked in the top 100 in the world in Pi recitation, having recited Pi to something like 250 digits.

8. When I was younger (note the implication: I’m still young but not as young as I once was. Who is?) I was able to leap high enough to hit my head off the bottom of a basketball backboard. Hmm, perhaps that explains a lot. :-)

9. As a kid, my favorite basketball player was Dr. J.

10. When I was younger, I played basketball for hours each day.

11. When I was younger, I once did 1,234 consecutive sit ups. I stopped because I was bored.

12. When I was younger, I could leg press the entire universal gym leg press stack with one leg. Honest.

13. I’m still young . . . just not younger. :-)

14. When I was younger, I did a lot of running, and I’m still running. See, I told you I am still young. :-)

15. I love the old Western Bonanza because of the values it represents, and I love Seinfeld because I think it’s a brilliant comedy (despite some of the questionable values).

16. I love music.

17. I believe that “music” is playing every day, God’s music, and it is up to listen for (and to) it.

18. My great aunts (my dad’s aunts) had a major impact in my life.

19. One of my best friends and I almost always conclude our conversations with KP, which means Keep Praying.

20. I love cake batter.

21. I am a strange combination of levelheadness and crazy emotion. Was that schizophrenia? :-)

22. I love movies and watch them all of the time.

23. A good friend of mine, who used to be a professional body builder and who lives in Florida, always makes it a point to give me a call and visit each Christmas season. Talk about faithful! We’ve been friends since kindergarten, which we attended in something like 4 B.C.

24. I’ve used the word “I” entirely too much in writing this.

25. I could easily write much more. Oops, there goes that “I” word again. I will shut up. :-)

why teach?

The other day I was handed a questionnaire by a member of the school's newspaper staff (Genessa Lopez). In response I wrote the following, which I thought I'd share here . . . for what it's worth.

Teacher Feature

1. What do you like best about your job as a health teacher?
(obviously, I teach health)

Connecting with young people is what matters most. Connections lead to relationships, and relationships present the possibility of mutual growth. My class involves a good amount of group work, which provides ample opportunities to share with students. Given my subject matter and the breadth of material in my curriculum, I take a very holistic approach to health, which I love. I really enjoy being able to relate broad topics to the everyday lives of students.

2. What do you look forward to most each school year?

Actually, there are lots of things I love, including pep rallies, sporting events, various school functions, and the school spirit that permeates this building. That said, the thing I most look forward to each year is the opportunity to build relationships with tremendous young people. It is a privilege and a joy to interact with fine young men and women, to get to know so many of them, and in some cases to establish lifelong connections.

3. Do you enjoy teaching at the same school your son attends?
(my son is a sophomore in the school where I teach)

It’s been both fun and strange having _______ here with me. Having taught so many years before he arrived, it was a little different at first. Now, it’s hard to believe that I’ve actually had him in class. Though it was perhaps a little awkward initially, I think it went very well and, overall, having him here has been great. Next up is my fifth grader, _______, who will arrive at PAHS in less than four years!

4. Why did you decide to become a teacher? Why health?

Teaching began to appeal to me as I came to realize the impact you can have in people’s lives when you interact with them on a regular basis. When you combine intellectual pursuits with social ones, you have a recipe for success. This combination has always fascinated me.

Health, by the nature of the case, provides access to topics that have enduring relevance, especially for young people. Given that we are all concerned about our bodies (the physical), our minds (the emotional), and our relationships (the social), health is the perfect vehicle for addressing these issues. A balanced health program, in my opinion, joins the academic to the real world.