Today’s Date: 5/8. Today’s Rather Randomly Chosen Corresponding Verse Intended to Make You Want to Read Further: 2 Kings 5:8 -- But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent to the king saying,”Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come to me, that he many know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
This is what I mean by random and making you want to read further. I am not going to reflect on the details or the faith lesson, or the marvel of this quick story. I will just invite you to read this whole chapter and watch for power, wealth, buying favors, deathly illness, military negotiations, kingly intrigue, misperceptions, self-importance, miraculous intervention, unsanitary cleaning water, restoration, logic and reason, timely counseling, religious instruction and rich reward.
Do your homework, it will encourage you. And remind you that the world of politics and power have always been foreign to the ways of God, but the ways of faith are what brings godly results.
And last night’s parade and worship was powerful for those paying attention. The timing was confused and the number of watchers was limited (and wow, did the occasional child watching from the sidelines get showered with candies and God-goodies!) but no one fretted that much because we came to realize -- as with each year -- that journey of faith was in showing up to participate and to surround ourselves with friends and siblings in the Lord.
It was a procession, not with palms but with flags and t-shirts and signs and candy and friends. It was a demonstration of love and joy, a walk along Park Avenue to beautiful South Park, and those who had not been to South Park in awhile were surprised by its beauty, the pavilion that sheltered and praiseworthy praise band, and a playground that pointed to a new generation of Jesus--lovers, playing fervently and favorably with dozens of others, the historic village that reminds us of our beginnings -- including the iconic blockhouse -- and the crowd of worshippers that was as Godsfield as it gets, each called to rejoice and pray and stand with and praise God beside one another.
Prayers, yes; songs, yes; mission, yes; hope, yes. Praying for our nation because the nation was founded by prayer and is fueled by prayer, and knowing that the prayers were being lifted up in gatherings across the states, so that we were standing side by side in South Park and South Carolina and South Dakota, in Ohio and Oklahoma and Oregon, in Mansfields in Missouri and Massachusetts and Texas.
We probably should change the now-annual event from Prayer Parade to Prayer Procession, and let it be a culmination of our Pray the Way way of praying; being in a state of prayer in this great state, on each great day.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller was featured speaker -- preacher, actually -- and his words taken to heart will build the hope and possibilities available, regardless of circumstances.
A friend who lives on Townview Circle, three miles from South Park, said she could hear the worship music wafting over her backyard campfire, even knowing songs being played; Mansfield is Godsfield -- get on board!
I Love ya,
Paul