Recently, my wife told me she noticed I have begun to be more comfortable using other people's quotes and materials in my sermons (in contrast- I do remember a decade ago one of my goals in sermon writing was to try and find some "new truth" that no one had ever proclaimed previously... often a futile task). Perhaps it is simply a matter of age and maturity, perhaps my dissertation work had a residual effect (there is one very humorous and somewhat true definition of a dissertation, "moving old bones from one grave to another"), or perhaps it is simply because I read so much great stuff about the Bible; interpretation and application. Whatever it is, I am more comfortable sharing things someone else has said. I have done so in this newsletter, I am doing so in our worship services (most of the new songs I am introducing to the church are based on the marvelous lyrics I found at www.the negrospiritualinc.com and Baylor University's published work on this genre), and I would like to do so with our prayer request this month. I came across this prayer by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It was originally written in the 19th century and is just as valid and needs to be answered today-
"God send us a season of glorious disorder. Oh for a sweep of the wind that will set the seas in motion and make our ironclad brethren, now lying so quietly at anchor, to roll from stem to stern. Oh for the fire to fall again - fire which shall affect the most solid! Oh that such a fire might first sit upon the disciples and then fall on all around! Oh God thou art ready to work with us today even as thou didst then. Stay not, we beseech, but work at once. Break down every barrier that hinders the incoming of thy might! Give us now both hearts of flame and tongues of fire to preach Thy reconciling word, For Jesus' sake! Amen!"
