The Answer....A Rap

   9/28/14                                  

If no one is coming down to set us straight

Then man alone must stop the hate

Just more of man’s laws to get fair and just

Yet our coins say “In God We Trust”

Hopeless man tries from his birth

To make Heaven right here on Earth

Try to make everything fair & square

Impossible for him, he doesn’t stand a prayer

Now if life here is all there is

Then at the end, there’ll be no pop quiz

Don’t stress, just pleasures be our goal

Let’s chop up the babies for birth control

But how can we all live as brothers?

Well righteousness and peace kiss each other          Psalm 85:10

Not everyone will serve the Lord

Jesus said "Sell your coat & buy a sword"                 Luke 22:36

War raged within me till the Prince of Peace             Isa. 9:6

Held my soul and gave me release

Victory every time, I’ve found the key

I just let God do the fighting for me

Now Shadrack, Mesach and Abednego

Dragged to Babylon, a long time ago

Had cool names and let me tell you mo

Fire couldn’t burn these three home bro                    Dan. 3

You may be believe you can up from the slime

And cleaned yourself up over time

Some like me are no accident

Created in His image, I was a blessed event

Brothers, sisters be it known

This big blue marble is not our home

Cause His eye is on the sparrow

Even on us when we’re down & low                         Matt. 10:29

Peace and justice can be real thin

When you’re looking for the answer blowing in the wind

Love flows out like hot fudge sauce

For those who are not ashamed of the cross

Today’s the day, let us sing & shout

Our troops are in and Satan is out

Shouts of joy for the Perfect Lamb                            John 1:29

What a great day to be an American

No need to be angry & full of despair

And go out cursing like Madeline O’Hare

Real peace and joy will overflow your cup

Just give it all to Jesus & keep looking up                Psalm 118:9

Written by
Luana Layton
    © 2002

HIS HOLY NAME

September Writing

A recent joy filled visit from our little granddaughters reminded me of the fact that my husband and I used to kneel down with our children each night and pray The Lord's Prayer with them. I think, as parents, we used this prayer with our children as a teaching tool. We felt that the rote nature of this prayer also brought comfort and security to our youngsters. Lingering over this memory caused me to realize that the “Our Father” is no longer a part of my everyday prayer life.

As I contemplated the text of the Lord's Prayer, I was drawn to the phrase “Hallowed be Thy name.” Essentially it is a plea that the Lord's name be kept holy, revered, respected, and cherished. It came to me that over the last 40-50 years many have been dishonoring God's precious name. In fact, with worldly television programs, licentious movies, ungodly rap music and internet entries, never has there been a time in history when the Lord's name has been so frequently and disgracefully blasphemed. And never has there been a time when so many millions of people have heard and internalized this profanity either willingly or with reluctant tolerance.

It does seem that the recitation of the Lord's Prayer used to be much more common among the members of the Body of Christ. We have progressed so far in the area of teaching on prayer, that I fear we have neglected the old tried and true basics. I feel impressed to attempt to, at least occasionally, reincorporate the “Our Father” into my prayer time. I wonder if any one else is feeling so led. It would be extraordinarily powerful if the Church would, in unity, pray that God's name would once again be honored, and that the desecration of His name would cease. It grieves my heart that God's name is so widely profaned. It must break our Heavenly Father's heart because He loves us so dearly and has sacrificed the life of His precious Son that we might all be saved and sanctified.

My hope is that we would all regain our sensitivity to the sacredness of that “Name which is above all Names.” May we once again uplift and reverence the title of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;

 for the Lord will not hold him guiltless

 that taketh his name in vain.” 

(Exodus 20:7)

Written By Cathy Friberg