Do as I say - not do as I do. Think about this - how are we living out our lives as modern disciples of Jesus if we do not practice what we preach? Is it honest to proclaim one thing - to urge others to do that which we ourselves do not do? Many years ago I had a physician who basically forced me to have a hernia operation that I did not want done. Honestly - I was fearful for a bad outcome. My doctor urged and urged me until I finally gave in and had the surgery. Everything went fine and afterwards I was happy that I went ahead with the procedure. However, when I was discussing the operation with the physician who had urged me to have it fixed - he admitted that he also had a hernia that needed repair but had not had it done. When I asked him what he was waiting for he declared that he was afraid of surgery. I lost almost all respect for him upon hearing that - how could he have the gall to push me into having a surgical procedure done on my body when he was afraid to have it done on his body? In retrospect I am happy that he pushed me into the procedure - but I still ask myself how can you tell people to do something that you would not do yourself?
When I discuss prayer with people - quite often they tell me how hard it is to find time to pray or how difficult it is to go to a quiet place and talk with God. I can only tell them that I can relate one-hundred percent with them - because even though I am ordained - I too, have a hard time, on occasion, to find the time that I need to devote to prayer. We are all very similar - we have busy lives and although we have the best intentions - we are not always able to accomplish even a simple thing like talking to God in prayer. My best advice is just stick with it. If you miss morning prayer - you can always try again in the afternoon or evening. The point is to not quit - but to hang in there - after all when Jesus was dying on the cross He could have quit - but because of His love for us - He hung in there.
Deacon Dale
When I discuss prayer with people - quite often they tell me how hard it is to find time to pray or how difficult it is to go to a quiet place and talk with God. I can only tell them that I can relate one-hundred percent with them - because even though I am ordained - I too, have a hard time, on occasion, to find the time that I need to devote to prayer. We are all very similar - we have busy lives and although we have the best intentions - we are not always able to accomplish even a simple thing like talking to God in prayer. My best advice is just stick with it. If you miss morning prayer - you can always try again in the afternoon or evening. The point is to not quit - but to hang in there - after all when Jesus was dying on the cross He could have quit - but because of His love for us - He hung in there.
Deacon Dale
