Category Archives: Uncategorized

Praying the Day after the Crucifixion

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Michael Summers

Lord, For three years you mentored your disciples. You answered their questions. You prayed for them, and when they could not find you, when they found you, they found you praying. You taught them to pray. You talked with them … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged christianity, discipleship, Easter, fear, Good Friday, hope, justice, Lament, love, Prayer, resurrection | Leave a comment

Call for Fire Seminar’s Tenth Anniversary: Learning to Pray

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Michael Summers

Ten years ago on March 26, 2013, I posted the first entry for this blog. You may find and read that first post here. In that post, I wrote about the need for situational awareness and faithfulness when praying. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blog anniversary, Call for Fire Seminar, Cross, discipleship, Lament, Prayer, resurrection, Spiritual Formation | Leave a comment

Prayer from a Song about Signs

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Michael Summers

When I was a teenager and a preacher’s son in Weirton, West Virginia, one of my favorite popular songs was “Signs,” originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band. The song protests the limitations imposed by signs. Several examples of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged christianity, faith, Five Man Electrical Band, glorifying God, hope, love, Prayer, Signs, spirituality, thankfulness | Leave a comment

Women, Chemistry, and Prayer

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Michael Summers

Lessons in Chemistry is an engaging overcoming-obstacles novel about a female chemist’s campaign for professional credibility and for women’s rights in general during the middle of the Twentieth Century. Along the way she also grows as a parent and learns … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged christianity, faith, glorifying God, hope, National Women's History Month, Prayer, prophet | Leave a comment

Singing, Praying, and Serving Work Best Together

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Michael Summers

“It takes no effort to sing.” I saw that quote shared with approval recently. It is a false statement. With the understanding that Christians should live our faith in the public square, singing is part and parcel of that experience. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged discipleship, James 5, John Pavlovitz, Lament, Lift Every Voice and Sing, Prayer, service, singing, worship | 1 Comment

Memorable Gifts and Prayers of Thanks

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Michael Summers

What is the most memorable gift you have received? When I was in my twenties, my younger brother Mark, to whom I referred in a recent post about my earliest memory, gave me a Christmas present that impressed me from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged baptism, bloganuary, faith, faithfulness, giving, grace, love, mirror, obedience, Prayer, salvation | Leave a comment

Prayer About Meditation on God’s Word

Posted on February 19, 2023 by Michael Summers

Originally posted on Call for Fire Seminar:
Prayer and meditation on God’s message in the Bible builds spiritual strength. Psalm 119:97-104 describes the equipping power of the Word of God as a psalmist prays to the Lord. He begins, “O…

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How Do You Show Love?

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Michael Summers

How do you show love? In his 1995 book The 5 Love Languages, author and family life consultant Gary Chapman identified five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Although he identified … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bloganuary, Golden Rule, love, love languages, poetry, Prayer, service, Valentine's Day | Leave a comment

Praying for Preachers

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Michael Summers

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bloganuary, christianity, Church of Christ, encouragement, poetry, Prayer, preacher shortage, preachers, preaching | 1 Comment

Prayer and Overcoming Fear

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Michael Summers

What fear have you overcome? In November 1998, I was preaching as an Army chaplain under a large tent in the Mojave Desert to a group of elite infantry soldiers. A siren rang out, interrupting our worship. The blaring noise … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bloganuary, breathing, calm, faith, fear, Lamaze, Prayer, presence of the Lord, trust | Leave a comment