As we celebrated in this season of homecoming with our sisters and brothers in Christ through anointed worship and praise led by Buchanon Unity ministering in music with us last Sunday, I am continuing to be filled, basking in the afterglow of the Holy Spirit’s blessing upon our offering as the Lord leads us anew in the journey of faith. One of the sayings we shared in song together was the saying, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” Having sung and said that, let me say a thing or two here about “sayings” so….

Have you ever stopped and wondered how often certain witty sayings may come to mind given various situations one may encounter on a given day?

In my own experience, the thought was brought on recently upon noting John Wooden’s 99th birthday as reported by the L.A. Times in which one article listed 99 things about this former UCLA basketball coach. A significant portion of the Twitter-verse (as the universe of Twitter is sometimes referred to) was, on that day last week, all a-Twitter with many a wise quote shared by fans and admirers of this legendary man. Even now, a week or so later, a search on Twitter reveals many social media network users sharing their favorite quotes of his with one another and a whole world of other followers.

It is worth noting here that our own C.L.A.S.S. (Christian Living At Sunday School) offering on Sunday mornings at First Presbyterian Church includes a group led by John Lansinger in gleaning from John Wooden’s life as they read through his book, “A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court” together. His lifetime of observations and reflections are not only to be applicable in the game of basketball, but they hold treasures of wisdom and insight to be savored beyond the world of sports, with lessons to be learned and applied for his whole life to be lived well. And not just for himself, but for others’ lives as well.

All this got me thinking further this week as we approach the sometimes so-called “Stewardship season” and how that kind of language reflecting a particular sort of narrowed mindset is in need of reformation. How we refer to certain notions of living faithfully in the world can reveal a lack of understanding on our part of the bigger picture, showing an aspect of our lived theology that is in need of correction.

The following two corrective sayings come to mind: “Stewardship is not a Sunday. It’s a lifestyle.” “Reformation is not only for a time. It’s an ongoing process.” That is, stewardship is a transformative way of living from day to day. It is, in effect, responding with love and care for others, in gratitude of heart, for and by the grace we have abundantly and extravagantly been given in Christ. And reformation is, really, a continual changing of heart and mind to become more and more like Jesus. As the Latin saying goes from the time of the great reformation, “reformata et semper reformanda“. We are, as Christians in the Reformed tradition, reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God.

The last Sunday of October is marked on our church calendar as a time when we celebrate, recognize and observe the Reformation. As I shared with our confirmation class a few weeks ago, this year is especially significant in that we are remembering the 500th birthday of the one regarded as the father of Presbyterianism, the venerable reformer, John Calvin. Let us celebrate well by continually, ever more so, living into the lives God has called us to live with one another. Not just for ourselves, but for the world around us in desperate need of the sure hope we have in the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so in new ways with sayings that reflect God’s glory and which effect His redeeming grace in Christ for the world. Amen. –Pastor Rex

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March 29: Hebrews 5:5-10 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and once, made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him…” Jesus, we don’t like to suffer. We would rather learn what we need to learn another way. Show us places where we are suffering because of our disobedience, then quickly lead us to repentance. You are the source of our eternal salvation…we believe You are also the source of our immediate help and strength.

April 5: Mark 11:1-11 “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ Tell him, ‘The Lord needs it…’” Jesus, we know that most of our thoughts and our words are about OUR needs at any given time. We bow before You and place our thoughts and words before You. Give us the mind of Christ. Give us a passion to read, pray, and speak YOUR words. And tender our hearts, and the hearts of Your people everywhere, to offer what YOU need, to do YOUR work. In particular, please show us what YOU need from the PCUSA and its member churches.

April 12: “I have seen the Lord!” Jesus, we know Your tomb was empty on Easter morning. We know that Mary Magdalene and many others saw You in Your resurrected glory. Jesus, we long to see You. We long to see You in our work, our family life, our congregational life, and in the work of the PCUSA. We pray for miracles this week. We pray for the miracle of a denomination filled with people who have seen You, who love You, and who will serve You forever.

April 19: Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” Resurrected Savior, You know we need Your peace. Please send to us the peace that passes understanding. We need it. Our nation and world need it. Our denomination needs it. And bless those who are “sent”, especially those who are serving in missions around the world. We pray a holy anointing on those You have called to direct the missions of the PCUSA, including Tom Taylor, Teresa Grant, Eric Hoey, David Chai, Hunter Farrell, and Doug Welch.

April 26: Luke 24:36-48 “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in our minds?” We know that You are alive, Lord Jesus, but we do become troubled and have doubts. Forgive us. Pick us up and put us back on the right track with You. We want to discern and follow Your best plan for our lives, for our churches. Clothe us with power from on high, so that we can do what we are called to do in this time and place. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…in us.

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Feb. 1: Mark 1:21-28 “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him.” Lord God, forgive us for weak teaching we have been willing to receive…and to pass on to others. Create in us a hunger for Your truth, in all its power. We pray for an anointing upon all who teach in and through our churches.

Feb. 8: Mark 1:35-39 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Jesus, forgive us for our laziness and disobedience concerning prayer. Our churches show the effects of that laziness and disobedience. We ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us, even in early morning hours, and create within each one of us a passion for a prayer. And remind us daily to pray for the whole church.

Feb. 15: Mark 1:40-45 “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His and touched the man.” O God, our Healer, fill us with the compassion of Jesus. Let us be known as churches with Your heart, churches where people with all kinds of weakness and illness will feel called to gather, knowing that prayer and mercy will cover them. We pray a special anointing on all congregations who offer healing services and prayers.

Feb. 22: Mark 9:2-9 “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!” Jesus, our Savior, forgive us for the many times we have not listened to You…as individuals, congregations, and as a denomination. Be transformed before us…in our hearts let us see You in Your full glory, and know the power of Your Word. So many voices speak and conflict, please, Jesus, help us to hear and to heed YOURS.

Inserted from <http://www.presbypray.org/index.php?page=prayer>

Download Prayer Guide

Our prayer guide(s) can be found at the end of our quarterly newsletter

This Week’s Prayer Guide

Jan. 25-31: Read Psalm 62. “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” Lord Jesus, January can be such a tiring month for Your churches. At every level of church life we write reports, hold meetings, worry about meeting the budgets, etc., etc. Help us stop and find precious moments of rest in You. Help us to pour out our hearts to You, including our worries about our churches, presbyteries, and denomination. Remind us often that YOU are the Savior. And we pray for special blessings on every Clerk of Session and on the Stated Clerks of the higher courts of the Church…and on our Treasurers and office staff saints.

Prayer Guide for the Debate on Amendment B

by Melany Hamilton

FIRST THINGS: We give you thanks and praise, Lord God, for you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble—even trouble within your Church. We turn from fear, and instead choose to be still, and know that you are God. You will be exalted among the nations. May you also be exalted within the PCUSA. We know that you are the Lord, creator of heaven and earth, and nothing is impossible for you.

In repentance and rest is our salvation, in quietness and trust we will find strength. Hear the prayers of our hearts as we confess our personal sins to you. We know that we are all like sheep gone astray, no one is righteous, we have all turned away from you and we do not do good in your Name. Have mercy on us, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion shown to us in Jesus Christ, blot out our transgressions. Create in us pure hearts, and renew a steadfast spirit within each one of us. As we go forth in this amendment process, we offer the sacrifices you will not despise: broken and contrite hearts, joy and gratitude for our salvation.

PREPARATION: Holy Savior, we know that the Word of our God stands forever, we know that your Word is living and active and able to cut through cultural deception. Your Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. We ask you to lead us deeper into your Word. We pray for wisdom and knowledge. Jesus, you are the vine and we are the branches. Help us to cling to you, to abide in you, so that every thought will be taken captive to you. We pray to bear much fruit within our presbyteries. Give us the mind of Christ. Put your words in our mouths, and cover us with the shadow of your hand.

DURING PRESBYTERY MEETINGS: Whether we are speaking, offering encouragement to others who will speak, or listening to those who speak, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God. We pray for the fruit of your Holy Spirit to be clearly visible in each one of us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle strength, and self-control. We trust your Spirit to be present and active among us. If we start to feel fear, let us trust in you—in God, whose Word we praise. We know, Lord, that you care for those who trust in you. We choose to trust in your unfailing love. We will take the courage you offer.

AND BEYOND: Jesus, you alone are our Lord and our Savior. The Church, and the congregations, are yours. We recommit ourselves to live and serve as your disciples. May it never be said of us that we were ashamed of the Gospel or afraid of the Holy Spirit. With faith and humility, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices and pray to be holy and pleasing to you. We choose not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but pray to be daily transformed by the renewing of our minds. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be all glory in the church. Amen

These prayers are based on verses from 2 Chronicles, the Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nahum, Mark, John, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews, and I Peter.

© 2008 Presbyterian Elders in Prayer. All Rights Reserved.

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There’s a misbegotten conceptual blunder in all this. We think we can reduce the complexity of business acumen and leadership to something that is actually at a much deeper level of both personal and organizational understanding. It’s not that we shouldn’t try to articulate how to improve, but to confuse that with a promise, particularly a scientifically verifiable promise, is simply naive. This is not, to my mind, terribly different than the employee, not doing his/her job, who complains: “just tell me what to do!” And if you can’t tell me, then you are a hoax. So we do the best we can to offer the expertise, and voila, we are found out. We took the bait of hubris.

We skimmed over the section that said there are no absolute answers. We skimmed over the section that said we don’t know. The answer to this MAYBE is a community. One where we talk about the real stuff that’s going on in our firms and in ourselves. Seems like, from time to time, that might create a breakthrough.

Posted by: Dan | January 15, 2009 at 06:31 PM

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the key lessons from this book, and so many others, are:

1. As March implies, there
are no magical leadership or organizational practices that will quickly propel your organization to the top of the heap.  Even the greatest organizations struggle
to stay at the top and are led by fallible people
who make many mistakes.

2. There is no such thing as a single breakthrough study. The best and most valid conclusions and advice are based on a series of studies that have survived the brutal peer review process and that result in a consistent set of findings. In this regard, an interesting contrast is Chip and Dan Heath’s Made to Stick, which is based the weight of the evidence from hundreds of rigorous studies (instead of one that could not survive the peer review process unless the claims were toned way down and the hundreds of past studies that were consistent — and clashed with it — were at least mentioned).  I especially point to Made to Stick, and I would add Influence, because they are so well-written that they show you can combine good scholarship with a great read. 

3. My main objection, in the end, isn’t to the research Collins did — the stories are interesting and I believe that nearly all of the practices that he suggests would make a manager more effective — indeed many if not most are bolstered by more rigorous studies (albeit, even as his research now implies, as signs of competence or even ordinary greatness). My objection is — to use Jim March’s words — the hubris and ignorance about the claims about the rigor of the research and the originality of the ideas.  There are lots of management books, or parts of management books, that are incredibly useful and inspiring, but don’t claim to draw on research.  Orbiting the Giant Hairball is a great example.  Another is Tom Kelley’s masterpiece Art of Innovation. The difference is that these great books don’t make excessive claims – Hairball draws on the author’s personal story and Tom Kelley draws mostly on what he and his colleagues have done at IDEO.

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Saturday, November 22, 2008 Religious perspectives – A pastor reflects with hope on Thanksgiving By REX ESPIRITU First Presbyterian Church Saturday, November 22, 2008 During the months of November into December, there are two scenes I envision at times that give me pause for reflection. One is marked by a frenzied business observable on black Friday after Thanksgiving Day. Another by contrast is more subdued and somber to the eye. In the economic climate of this election year, the latter view draws my heart and mind toward further exploration. These days, I can imagine folks trudging slowly through the commercial marketplace of life in the cold arctic tundra of the North American holiday season. In my mind’s eye, I can see people just going through the motions, trying to get by and make it to the other side of their current financial predicament. If I were able to probe more deeply into the psyche, I can maybe even perceive of myself or a neighbor nearby in the world of our emotional thought life doing the same. In a mystical moment, I turn to look and stare outside the window of the pastor’s study. And I wonder to myself, thinking, you know, this could be a picture of any two of us: a neighbor next door, and me. There we are, just getting by, attempting to make it through the winter of our discontent, hoping the heating and utility bills remain low enough with today’s price of gas. As the freshly fallen snow comes to rest upon the frosty frail ground, I think about what has befallen us in recent days, not only as a country first, but also as a planetary population of humanity. In the ongoing global saga of the human race, it appears we now face especially in the U.S. the consequences of our consumerism, materialism, greed, and neglect of stewardship. In an ever-expanding quest for more to satisfy our insatiable thirst for instant gratification, we can now conceive of ourselves being undesirably and undeniably depleted of resources, burned out in the never-ending pursuit of “happiness” and “the good life” of a sought after American dream at others’ and one another’s expense. In a self-centered, self-serving, increasingly individualized and secularized culture of entitlement, we may search for a quick easy fix where none exists for our rescue no matter what kind of planned bailouts our elected officials and expert economists may devise and attempt to implement. And skeptically, cynically some might suspect these unparalleled propositions could once more be earmarked on their and their cronies’ behalf. While the wearying winds and wintry weather wears on, the opening words of that timeless classic English novel among the writings of Charles Dickens comes to mind from ‘A Tale of Two Cities’: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…” Sometime after Election Day, when fires were burning in southern California, I read of one pastor from the west coast who shared a curious phrase with the rest of the virtual universe. I was intrigued by their short thought provoking statement, promulgating over the internet through their status update comment in the electronic realm of the world wide web portal sites of Facebook and Twitter notifications that “it is a fecund time.” A time in which we are – as a multicultural, multinational, globally interconnected people on earth – at a crossroads, with many burdens to bear and much fruit-bearing yet to be borne, if only, for the time being, in our imagination(s). And yet, something has been a brewing. Change is a coming, and has now already come. In the midst of an unprecedented economic downturn upon our 232 years young democratic republic, accompanied by its intricate effects on the global economy while wars on terror continue, did we really just now, only a moment ago, amidst all the suffering and chaos, witness the increased rising of voting by a generation of citizens, young and old alike, exercising their civic duties anew toward the breakthrough of service in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people with the advent of the first African-American President-elect in the new millennium? This is huge! This is big! This is heavy! In the tsunami’s wave and wake of centuries following a dominant Western culture of enslavement and intercontinental prejudice, it is in a word, monumental. Those among us of different colors who, in this society of wealth and privilege, have personally experienced bigotry in their lifetime are faced with a new reality. In the face of one cross-cultural person of prominence with whom we may now find ourselves identifying as a transforming, presiding influence, we could very well be experiencing a paradigm shift toward a new political and even newer religious landscape. Our lives and life together in this multi-national country of firsts, I sense, has turned a proverbial corner and will now and forever, never be the same again. This is first, in a sense, an undiscovered country. There is yet more to be fully revealed and realized in its larger ramifications for the dawn of a new era in inter-national leadership and human relations. This, I believe, is a God-given opportunity of a new and great adventure for us all to consider and experience together as a people being and becoming transformed by grace. As I heard Dr. Martin E. Marty remark from his theological distillation of Niebuhr last week at a seminar and luncheon in Indianapolis with Senator Richard G. Lugar on the subject of religion and politics, we are as sober-minded leaders in community, together tasked with renewed zeal and fervor to approach the times with “hopeful realism and realistic hope.” And biblically, the apostle Paul’s writing in Scripture informs us that as a people of God, we are called to such a hope that does not disappoint. Especially on the occasion of the first major holiday weekend celebration following a historic presidential election during a uniquely American season of Thanksgiving, I cannot do otherwise, but find myself giving thanks. For such a season as this, I am beginning to believe that we have been raised and blessed to seize the day and make for a fruitful, fruit-bearing time. With stark challenges to tackle, wonderfully awful agendas to aspire toward, and massive obstacles to overcome, we shall indeed, Lord willing, overcome as a nation, indivisible. It starts with the audacious optimism of expressing our profound gratitude for not only what we have and where we are now, but also for what we do not have and where we are not now in a place to be. It is a decision over a contrast of choices in which we can choose to acknowledge and submit to the sovereign Lord of history, or acquiesce and submerge into a sorry state of ungodly affairs, void of purpose or direction. In this day set aside for giving thanks, we are afforded an opportune window of time in which to pledge anew our allegiance for one another’s better future under the Almighty in Whom alone as our currency suggests we would trust, even as the early pilgrims did with their newfound friends on that first Thanksgiving celebration together upon a New England terrain. May we, each and every one of us, find ourselves appreciating where and when we are with this truth in mind: That we are all children of a loving God – our ever-caring provider whose grace is sufficient and whose mercy abounds. In view of this, it is appropriate for us once again to recount our blessings with grateful, thankful hearts. As we continue to wait in the hope of Advent, let us renew our commitment to the Lord, ourselves and neighbor alike in the redeeming and reconciling work of ministry and mission for the common good. As the Word of Scripture imparts comfort, may the Lord bless us and keep us to find favor and peace with one another on earth as it is in heaven. The Rev. Rex Espiritu serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in New Castle.
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Oct. 7-13: Read Lamentations 3 this week. “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His
mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” Gracious and faithful Savior,
we fall to our knees in gratitude for Your daily mercy. Help us to wake up each day ready to see Your mercy
and love at work in our local congregation…and in Your churches far and wide. We especially pray for Your
mercy on the PCUSA.

Oct. 14-20: Read Psalm 66 this week. “He rules forever by His might; He keeps His eye on the nations.”
Lord of all, in a few weeks we will go to the polls for a major election. We pray that You will keep Your
eye on our nation. We pray for Your wisdom. And in the midst of this intense campaign season, remind us
that YOU rule forever. Lord God, rule in our lives, our congregations, Your church worldwide, our nation,
and throughout the world You love.

Oct. 21-27: Read Jeremiah 31 this week. “I will place My law within them and write it on their hearts. I
will be their God, and they will be My people.” Jesus, we ask You to write Your law within us, on our
hearts. We pray this for ourselves, for our families, our churches, the PCUSA, and Your beloved people
around the world. Head knowledge is good, but never enough. Lord, write your law of love and faithfulness
upon our hearts.

Oct. 28-31: Read 2 Timothy 4:16-18. “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…” Our Lord, our
Shepherd, we thank You for all the times You have stood with us and strengthened us. Today we look
beyond our own personal lives, and cry out to YOU to stand with and strengthen Your churches far and wide,
including the PCUSA. Rescue us from any evil work and bring us safely into Your heavenly kingdom. May
we show forth YOUR glory, now and forever.

Above excerpts from the Prayer Calendar for August, September and October, 2008
(Prayers inspired by lectionary readings; all prayers are prayed in Jesus’ name) in PRAYERPOWER:

The newsletter of
Presbyterian Elders In Prayer

PRAYER POWER
Vol. IV No. 4 James 5:14-15 Aug.-Oct. 2008

http://presbypray.org/index.php?page=newsletter

http://presbypray.org/PEP_Aug-Oct_2008.pdf

PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE 8 DAYS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUNE 21-28, 2008

An Explanation of the Prayer Guide for the 8 days of GA:

Each day will provide highlights for the proposed docket, as far as we know them. Please pray for those specific items.

The highlights will be followed by a simple, classic prayer from the whole Church.

Pray the words for yourself, and for the commissioners at General Assembly.

Saturday, June 21: Lift up the first 3 business meetings, and the election of the Moderator.

God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be in my end, and at my departing. (Old Sarum Primer)

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[1]http://www.presbypray.org/8dayprayerguide.pdf - Presbyterian Elders in Prayer (PEP) – www.PresbyPray.org

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To download the prayer guide for the 40 days leading up to the General Assembly, click here

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© 2008 Presbyterian Elders in Prayer. All Rights Reserved.

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