Shannon, in reply to your comment:Our selfish, protectionist philosophy isolates us and hardens us to the plight of others, especially other cultures. Terrorists are not born they are disillusioned suffering people ( LIKE HITLER, STALIN, KARL MARX,MAO,POD PAL) who develop a heart full of hate for the Western countries who have forgot them.
First, one day soon Jesus will set everything in its right place, when he returns, including the none believers.In the meantime America, the United States of , so far has been the most benevolent country on earth. I am a survivor thanks to the fact that God sent American men and women to fight my own people who began killing their own after killing all the Jews and the other undesirables. It was the people of this wonderful country who sacrificed themselves to help us, they did not know us, they came to help, just like the many, many families who put together ‘care-packages and sent them to us. No packages ever arrived from New Zealand or Sweden or Brazil. Part of what you say is good, but part is tainted by liberal/marxist propaganda, be very careful what you easily seem to believe.
Please God give Shannon discernment.

Great idea. I wonder only aren’t we obliged to choose: either to pray for enemy or to bomb enemy… Mt 6:24, you know…

From Russia with Love

Iakov

Among his many insightful comments were: “Civility means listening with a genuine desire to understand. It means being open to being persuaded. It means that when you disagree with others, you do so without demonizing them….Today our airwaves and public debates are filled with attempts to not just denounce opponents’ logic, but to impugn their motives.”

I have been reading What Is So Amazing about Grace? and grabbling with how to be a “grace-full” participant in a democracy riddled with polarizing viewpoints.To me,Sam Nunn nailed it! He presents a wonderful example of how Christians should participate in public policy discussions. I urge you to visit his website to read the entire speech.

I’ve given up the blogosphere for Lent this year, but your is one of the two blogs I make an exception for, because reading it does me so much spiritual good! Thanks again!

Terrorists are filled with hate for their own reasons. Maybe if we had cared about the plight of others around the world, those reasons wouldn’t exist today. Our lives, our decisions, our elections, and our government policies are all made in a reaction to fear. Fear of loosing our way of life, our wealth, and our children. Our selfish, protectionist philosophy isolates us and hardens us to the plight of others, especially other cultures. Terrorists are not born they are disillusioned suffering people who develop a heart full of hate for the Western countries who have forgot them. However, we cannot remove hate from another persons heart, especially a terrorist heart, but the great thing is God can. The thing is though, He should start with our hearts first because until we learn to love others in this world we will continue to villify our enemies and back ruthless dictators to ensure our interests are met at the expense of others, thereby creating societies that breed terrorists. We need to pray for understanding, empathy, and forgiveness on both sides.

As an aside, thank you for recommending the book A Problem from Hell by Samantha Powers, it was very interesting.

(This is not explicity related to the blog – I wanted to write but couldn’t find a “contact” place on the website.) I have been reading “Prayer” and after reading the parts on unanswered prayer, wondered if you had ever read “With Christ in the School of Prayer” by Andrew Murray, or E.M.Bounds on prayer (both 19thC pastors). Both point out that there are relatively few examples in the Bible when the answer to fervent, “believing” (i.e. the pray-ers are not regarding iniquity in their hearts) and persistent prayer is No. (The examples they cite are Moses wanting to go into the promised land, David pleading for the life of his son by Bathsheba, Jesus in Gethsemane and Paul’s thorn.) They suggest that Christians too readily presume that their prayer requests are “not God’s will” and give up prematurely when, if we were to persevere in prayer, we might actually see the answers we seek. In persevering in prayer God can show us if there are hindrances to our prayers being answered (unconfessed sin, say, or the need to learn patience) that can be removed over time. Murray in particular emphasizes that God will still answer, even if the answer has to be “No” and advises that when we pray, unless the answer is clearly No, we are to persevere until we get an answer. Jesus did talk a lot about perseverance (the parables of the unjust judge and friend at midnight). These two men’s writings changed my outlook on prayer and I’d highly recommend them So did the examples of George Muller and Hudson Taylor. You briefly mention Muller in your book, but, if I may say so, did not do him justice. You probably are aware that he embarked on his ministry (which involved raising over 10,000 orphans) with the intention of showing people that God does most definitely answer prayer. Taylor started the China Inland Mission and over his lifetime over 18,000 Chinese people became Christian. Neither he nor Muller solicited funds or told others of their needs – they only told God.

Please forgive me if I’m sharing things you already know – I wanted to pass them along because they have made me a more confident and triumphant pray-er (and I have seen more answers to prayers) than I was (or saw) before and thought they might be of interest to you. Your books were some of the very first I read as a new Christian 20 years ago and I have always been grateful for your work.

Sandra, I appreciate your gentle spirit and take what you have to say very seriously. I have read both Murray and all of E. M. Bounds. Surely perseverance is key. As one person wrote, you can summarize what Jesus said about prayer in three words, Keep it short, Keep it honest, and Keep it up. Yet so many people struggle with this issue of unanswered prayer and it remains a major problem, especially in light of Jesus’ lavish promises about answers. For me, the formula, “No is one of God’s answers” doesn’t really help. I like your insight that perseverance opens up the possibility of understanding why we don’t get the answer we may want. Thank you for your contribution.
Philip

I use the NIV or New International Version, because I find it clear and accurate. I actually edited a kind of Study Bible, along with Tim Stafford, known as The Student Bible, and got to know the version very well. We designed it with the ordinary reader, or “novice” in mind. And just this year they are coming out with new updates.
Philip