Outside the Pigeon Holes

A few years ago I pulled a little pink paper heart off of a bulletin board at Shiloh church. It was to remind me to think of the person whose name was printed on it in my prayers - someone who was serving overseas during the heat of the war with Iraq. The name on my heart was Dr. Brad Wenstrup. I taped it to the dashboard of my car and it stayed there for a year or so. I thought of this person - who I'd never met - when I'd glance at his name as I was driving or getting into my car.  And I would say a short breath prayer. "God bless Brad" or "Be with Brad". I confess I am not gifted in deep intercessory prayer. My prayers for him were short and sometimes I didn't pray, but would look at the name and wonder who this person was, what he looked like, did he go to my church or was he a friend of someone who went there? What was his job in Iraq? I wondered if I would ever meet him. I hoped that I would, or at least know that he was OK. One afternoon dur...

This is an excerpt from William P Young's Blog:  There is something that I have wanted to write about so here goes. Some of the stupid things people say to those who are suffering: If you had enough faith, then Suzie wouldn’t be sick . The tongue has the power of life and death, so stop saying Suzie has a brain tumor . If you believe enough and confess with your mouth that Suzie is healed, then she will be healed . Have you tried …fill in the blank. Do you think there might be un-confessed sin in your life? Suzie is God’s gift and He can take her when he wants to. This was God’s plan for Suzie. Now, having been ‘stupid’ myself, I understand the intent and motivation that often lies behind saying these kinds of things.  I wasn’t trying to be stupid; I was trying to help.  I thought I was bringing to bear the wisdom of God in a certain situation.  I truly thought what I was saying was going to be helpful and I thought what I was saying was true....