Tag Archives: faith

Prayer from a Song about Signs

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

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Women, Chemistry, and Prayer

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

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Memorable Gifts and Prayers of Thanks

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

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Listening to God when You Cannot Pray

A little more than thirty years ago, I endured a series of events that traumatized me. I was angry at God, so angry that I didn’t want to talk to him. However, I did want to hear what he had … Continue reading

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Prayer and Overcoming Fear

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

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Prayer, Praise, and the Beauty of the Sunset

Where is the best place to watch the sunset near you? I like to run in the afternoon. During the winter when the days are shorter, my runs often coincide with sunset. On one of my routes, I run west … Continue reading

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Prayer in the Rain

Headlights sparkle, then glare.Startled passengers scream.Trucks zoom past as we stare,Mesmerized in dark dream.Boundaries dissolve, turn black.Maneuver, stay on track,I peer ahead, intent,Hopes of safety now rent,Like Paul off Malta’s coast,I pray devoid of boast. I cry out, silent scream,Envision … Continue reading

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How Far Back in My Family Tree Can I Go?

How far back in your family tree can you go? In Luke’s genealogy of Jesus, he traces the family of Jesus all the way back to “Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:37). Genealogies occur throughout the Bible, and you … Continue reading

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Prayer and Defining Success

How do you define success? In different parts of my life, I have measured success by attainment of goals or by consistency of effort. At this time in my life, I still run, but I measure success in frequency of … Continue reading

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Why I Write about Prayer

The reason why I began to write about learning to pray from the Bible began with a discovery I made back in the 1980’s. I was preaching for a church in Aberdeen, Maryland, and needed to put together a thirteen-week-long … Continue reading

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