Reimagine Curator's Posts (392)

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IT SEEMS TO ME . . .


It seems to me ... our fears for the National Day of Prayer may cause us to appeal to the wrong court!

Along with most of you, I am a huge supporter of the National Day of Prayer. I am privileged to serve on America's National Prayer committee, the members of which are collectively stewards of this vital spiritual enterprise. As director of the National Pastors' Prayer Network, I have annually promoted the event and encouraged pastors' prayer groups across the country to meet on that day and pray fervently for the future of our nation. I have enjoyed the Chicago NDP prayer breakfast in my home city and attended several national rallies on the first Thursday of May in our nation's capitol.

The NDP has been catalytic toward greater expressions of the unity of the Body of Christ in cities and communities in every state of the union. Though not yet more popular than Valentine's Day, the National Day of Prayer has accomplished much in calling America to recognize oits Creator. Similar to the nation of Israel's feasts and solemn assemblies, an annual day of prayer reminds us how desperately we need repentance and must humbly petition our eternal Judge to heal our land and restore justice. Long live a national day of prayer.

Suddenly, more than in years past, opposition is rising. Voices have always spoken critically, especially since Congress officially recognized a day for prayer. But this year, for the first time in memory, our judicial system has joined the antagonists. Many, even some Christian leaders, fear the end of a national day of prayer. And I, for one, certainly hope that does not take place.

But what if it does?

Christians have responded quickly to this threat. Some appeal to constitutional rights or legal precedence. Others seem incredulous that our society wants to vote prayer out, so to speak. A few sound genuinely fearful, as if the Church of Jesus Christ will tumble without government permission and protection. Of course we have the right, even the responsibility, to champion for our rights like every other citizen . . . but I wonder if our bottom-line concern is motivated more by the potential loss of the comfort and ease we've experienced as Christians living in America. As the NDP faces new threats, is our defense based upon American tradition or political connections in high places? Will we appeal more in courts of law or in the court of heaven (Ephesians 2:6)? If what we know as the National Day of Prayer disappears, what, really, has changed? Yes, our comfort (no small issue) and maybe one day our safety but hopefully not our commission and calling and commitment.

What if the growing anti-NDP movement in our country is in reality an answer to decades of praying for revival? Maybe the Lord knows that our desire for an awakening is sincere but that our capacity to refocus our lives and reformat our congregations is in need of a serious challenge. Not a political or legal challenge but one that causes us to individually and corporately become radical Christians. And maybe the Lord knows that can only be accomplished by those things that cause us discomfort; a jolt that shatters our Christianized status quo.

Believe me, I am not inviting discomfort or cultural disapproval nor am I courageous enough to welcome a purifying persecution. The threat to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion are life and death issues (at least they were at one time in our nation's early history). Like you, I have read chilling reports of persecution in other nations and watched news clips of the hardships and even killings endured by fellow believers in other lands. No thank you. I am enormously grateful to live in the land of the free.

But this is also the home of the brave. And if Congress or the courts one day delete a National Day of Prayer from the calendar, our calling to pray has not been altered one iota. Our permission to gather is rooted, not in a legislative decree but, like millions of brother and sisters in Christ throughout history and across the globe, is in our Lord's commands. Maybe the real test is not legislative nor judicial (and certainly not political); the real test may be spiritual. How committed are we, and to what extreme will we risk our comfort or safety, to make certain Christ-followers in every town and village, community and city gather to pray for our nation? Is it possible that the court of heaven would actually hear from more desperate American Christians if NDP was rescinded? Could the God of heaven be asking us to move from one day of national prayer to 365?

It seems to me, our fears for the National Day of Prayer may cause us to fight the wrong fight and appeal to the wrong court; God forbid!

Pastor Phil Miglioratti
Originally posted by the Church Prayer Leaders Network
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Pastors Praying Together

Pastors are beginning to pray together more than in the past 150 years! Look (and pray) over the 850+ listed in the National Pastors' Prayer Network directory - This move of the Spirit has the potential of impacting our cities and communities for Christ in new and unprecedented ways!
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I recently interviewed Jon McHatton of the Christian Emergency Network, which is based on the prayer-care-share lifestyle.

As Jon explains how the CEN works, he highlights many prayer points for intercessors who have a burden to pray for victims of disasters such as the recent Nashville flooding, Oklahoma hurricanes, and devastating earthquakes.

Phil Miglioratti interviewed John McHatton (Christian Emergency Network) on Christians, Congregations, and City Movements Impacting Neighbors and Neighborhoods

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Pray! Network News & Views #1

Deepening Your Relationship with God Through Prayer

A message to all members of Pray! Network


 Pray! Network
News & Views #1


Welcome to our first all-network broadcast!
• Your Team - introducing the Pray! Network team
• Your Network - ideas of how to best contribute to and benefit from
• Featured Blogger - inspiration and instruction to deepen your understandingand skills of praying


Your Team

Cynthia Bezek, former editor of Pray! Magazine is the driving force (alongside of the Holy Spirit!) for the new Pray! Network. Her editorial guidance will help shape us into an all-things-prayer our community.
Julie Langmade connects us to the NavPress ministry of deep and wide resources.
Steve Dueck, a designer for Ning Networks (the creative interactive platform that Pray! is built upon), serves as our coach who will help us transform social networking into ministry networking.
Phil Miglioratti, former pastor who now serves as a full-time prayer leader, is our moderator, facilitating enriching discussions & blog posts, photos andvideo, groups & events.
• ... contact us if we can help or to share an idea!


Your Network

Pray! Network is a new, interactive community of Christians who have a passion to deepen their relationship with God through prayer. Pray! Network allows that deepening to be enhanced through the experience of the corporate community of men and women, young and older, red-yellow-black- brown or white, who share that same heart-objective. Taking the format of a magazine a quantum leap forward, it provides a peer-to-peer learning experience through thought-provoking conversations, ideas generated from photos and video clips, and opportunities to pick the brains of others with service roles or personal struggles similar to your own.

Each bulletin will focus on one aspect of how our community operates - a request or a reminder for your participation. Websites are typically static destination points for information or resourcing, not unlike a store you'd walk into to purchase an item of clothing or a bag of groceries.. Pray! Network, like an interactive community, is more like a Starbuck's, a place you can find an item but also hang around to enjoy it with friends or acquaintances.

So, to make our experience with one another as personal as possible, may we request that you review/revisit your profile?
• Go to our site @ http://www.praynetwork.org
• Click on the top menu bar @ My Page
• Scroll down the left sidebar and review your page:
o Please upload a photo of yourself - Contact and communication is so much richer when we can "see" each other
o Update the "What brings you here" dialog box (directly under your name and to the right of your photo) -- This can be your daily or weekly state-of-my-prayer-life observation ... Inspire us! Invite us to agree with you n prayer! Inform us of a blessing for which we too may be thankful ...
o Are you a Tweeter or Facebooker? Only takes a moment to connectthem to Pray! Network --- Just click the Share button.
o Now, please review your activity. It may be time to revisit a discussion, ask your group a question, check out a few blogs or share a video clip you used to spark corporate prayer. Every member has something vital for other members' personal growth or ministry role. Participate. Contribute!


Featured Blogger



Each bulletin will feature a posting from a noted author or national leader as a way of:
• keeping us on task: deepening our relationship with God through prayer
• challenging us with new ideas (or with the need to reexamine old ones)
• building our prayer foundation upon the Word of God, not merely our own experience or preferential style or ministry culture.

Your assignment? Prayerfully read the post, then make a Spirit-inspired comment that edifies those who read. Help us take our thoughts and discussions upward in praise and forward into growth. Maybe the Lord has something to say to someone through your amplification or application of a blog post (or forum discussion).



Our lead-off Featured Blogger, fresh from leading the National Prayer Committee through the National Day of Prayer, is Dave Butts - >Check out his blog< and join the conversation ... strengthen our ministry community!



Participate. Contribute!



Phil and the Team

Visit Pray! Network at: http://www.praynetwork.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

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Observing National Day of Prayer

From Prayer Force One @ http://www.prayerforceone.com

Five Suggested Levels of Involvement & Participation

1. Private Observance. While Jesus never discouraged public prayer, he did exalt the practice of sincere private prayer. Our public prayers and public prayer forums will be hollow shells if we as individuals do not practice solemn prayer in our personal lives. Therefore, whatever else one does to observe The National Day of Prayer, be sure that it begins with sincere and fervent prayer in your own prayer closet. We encourage you to make this day particularly special in your personal prayer life. Remember, repentance must begin in the hearts of individuals.

2. Family Observance. What could be more appropriate on this day than for parents to gather their children and grandchildren around for a solemn observance of The National Day of Prayer? Why not make plans right now for a special family observance of The National Day of Prayer? Call your married children. Invite your parents, cousins and other relatives. This could very well become a very special, once a year day for your family. Such an observance will certainly leave the imprint of fond memories of solemn faith in the hearts of your children, and could impact their lives for years untold.

3. Church Observance. More churches are beginning to implement church-wide observances of The National Day of Prayer all the time. Some invite members to come to the church altar at any time during the day. Still others have special services. Pastors and church leaders are encouraged to make special plans to assist their members in taking part in The National Day of Prayer. Bulletin inserts are particularly helpful in letting congregants know what the church is doing, and also of special community events in which the church is participating. We believe that pastors are still the key. If our American pastors are asleep and uninspiring in promoting national prayer, our nation has little hope of Heaven's help.

4. Community Observance. This is the area in which The National Day Of Prayer really shines. The idea of thousands of communities meeting for the express purpose of acknowledging God in prayer is so very encouraging. We encourage participation in events in your community. To find out about events in your area, keep an eye on your local newspaper. The National Day of Prayer Task Force also does a tremendous job of providing a forum for posting local events on their web site at: . If you would like to become more involved in your community event or to start one in your community, you will find helpful material available on this site.

5. State & National Observance. For those who would like to be more involved in The National Day of Prayer, there are events and activities at both the state and national levels, with information on the NDP Task Force web site.


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Podcasts on Prayer

I've completed several podcasts that may be of interest -- or you might find a sound bite or two to use as prayer prompts on various topics (some that we seldom get to in our typical prayer meetings).


Here is one on the state of prayer in our nation:

[audio] Phil talks about the state of prayer in our nation

Click here

Click the PLAY Button to use this player



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National Day of Prayer

Lots of consternation around National Day of Prayer. Franklin Graham disinvited. Judge rules NDP unconstitutional. Local permit request refused ...

Let's not forget, we are admonished to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 2:6) whether the government likes it, permits it, promotes it on their Congressional calendar or not.
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Love (and pray) for Enemies?


...everything changes when Christians get power. When Jesus said "Love your enemies," he was talking to people who didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. Sure, they could rebel (and they did), but it was always short-lived and futile in the wake of Roman retribution. American Christians today stand in a very different situation than did Jesus or Paul.

Power changes love, somehow seducing it by reminding us what we have to lose. And when love has something to lose, it wavers. The love of Jesus is unhindered, unwavering, exuberant. I don't know if brown is the new black or if Muslims are the new Nazis But I do know that there is no "new love" to offer our enemies in this world. The old one, demonstrated so well by Jesus, works just fine, and remains the only answer, albeit a disturbing one, to this perplexing question.

Are Muslims the New Nazis?
Dave Datema, General Director, Frontier Mission Fellowship
Mission Frontiers March-April 2010
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When Religion and Politics Mix Well

It seems to me this is a good example of faith serving government (and society) ...

At the prayer request from the MO Legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, the meeting last Monday at the MO State Capitol rotunda with Anne Graham Lotz was developed. It was a wonderful evidence of God’s workings and power!

Mrs. Lotz has made an excellent commitment to MO by offering daily devotions of prayer specifically for our MO crisis. Anyone who will go to her website: www.annegrahamlotz.com / click on the state of Missouri (with a cross on it) and sign up for the daily prayers for MO will receive these brief thoughts. These will automatically stop at the end of the 40 days, which coincides with the time the budget has to be passed (around May 7). When you visit her website after clicking on the MO map, you can listen to the great message she gave on Monday. You can also listen to a brief radio interview with her at www.haroldhendrick.com.

*Would you urge your prayer website/network/prayer list to go to Anne’s website and be a part of a great swell of prayer for MO at a time of great crisis, whether living in MO or elsewhere? MO has to have a balanced budget and to do that this year means cutting thousands of dollars which will hurt many in our state.

We are in step with our Founding Fathers who realized that prayer was the backbone that provided The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution written for our country.

Four of the seven sayings etched in stone in the MO State Capitol Rotunda are from Scripture, an evidence of our own Missouri’s Christian Heritage!

Harold & Joan Hendrick

Hendrick Ministries

Phone: 314 355-1052

Cell: 314 974-7212

www.haroldhendrick.com


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Me? Blog?!?!

The Pray! Network blog is a great place to post a resource that has helped strengthen your prayer life or a quote that might inspire others to pray or a comment on a scripture reference ... The process is simple - Jump in!
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Hello Ministry and Prayer Leaders,

ShirleyHIGHRES1.jpg

NDP Task Force Chairman, Mrs. Dobson is requesting the attached
letter be sent to your church and prayer leader relationships to
encourage participation for May 6, 2010 and on-going prayer
mobilization. You are invited to include an opening statement to your
audience and in addition to use our attached logo and picture of Mrs.
Dobson in your communications.

May the Lord give mighty increase in prayer and revelation for
2010 as we seek to advance His Kingdom in this nation.

To God be all the Glory,

Lisa Crump, Director of Prayer Mobilization
National Day of Prayer Task Force
719-268-4803 office
www.nationaldayofprayer.org
<http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/>

?ui=2&ik=cf36ae3eed&view=att&th=126bf8e016efb8d3&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&zw

<http://www.lifeway.com/ev/ev_occ_details/0,2223,O%3D1709,00.html>
Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares
for those who trust in him..."

<Opening Paragraph from Church Leadership)

I believe it is imperative that God’s people come together to pray for our nation. The critical challenges facing America and the culture at large call for
faithful, persevering intercession – not only on the National Day
of Prayer, but throughout the year. Scripture provides abundant
evidence that the Lord is attentive to our cries and that He moves
powerfully
in response to the fervent and contrite prayers of His children.
As Martin Luther once said, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance,
but laying hold of His willingness.”

What comfort and encouragement are available in the assurance that our sovereign God is attuned to our pleas, that He waits to intervene on our behalf, and that He is
“mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:17). Bearing those wonderful
truths in mind, may we continue to seek the Lord’s blessing and
protection
upon our beloved land during these crucial days that will impact the
direction of our country for generations to come.

The 2010 observance of the National Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday, May 6, and
the theme we’ve chosen is Prayer! For Such a Time As This.

This emphasis was inspired by Nahum 1:7, which states, “The Lord is
good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust
in Him.” At this perilous and uncertain juncture in our country’s
history, it is critical that we remain in prayer. The American
people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simple answers,
and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance, protection,

and blessing.

In II Chronicles 7:14, the Lord tells His people that He will respond to their contrite
and heartfelt cries of intercession. Please join our Task Force
in endeavoring to spark a revival of prayer throughout our country.
There is no better time than this! It is the hope for America.

Every blessing,

Your browser may not support display of this image.

Mrs. James C. Dobson (Shirley)

Chairman, NDP Task Force

To find or host an event in
your area or learn more, visit
www.NationalDayofPrayer.org

Posted by Phil Miglioratti
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