I’ve been thinking about prayer – especially since a small group meeting last night when we spoke on aspects of prayer.
I wonder if most prayers come in three formats: Worship, wish/want, and witness. These areas cover such things as Soul Care, Mental Health and Christian Mission.
Not a bad combination for a world that is curiously introspective, suffers from the uncommon fear and misses the big picture of life.
Over the years I have tried to remain aware of cultural trends. My first and only failure on a assignment in high school was a paper that was to highlight current affairs as reported in newspapers. We didn’t get newspapers at the time so I just didn’t do the assignment. Shame on me. For the last 50 or so years I think I’ve made up for that!!!
As COVID wound down in 2022 a number of TV series (or Netflix series, or Disney+ series, or . . . ) have been recorded. While I generally do not enjoy the salaciousness of many edgy videos, some of the series sound interesting or have actually been insightful. The ones I enjoy are based on humour that points out inconsistencies.
I was remarking yesterday that often the ability to laugh in our day and age means we are at least aware of the culture around us. We may be restricted to an echo chamber of our own social group – but can we see the inconsistencies (and hypocrisy)? Or we may study more widely and understand a “world” culture and see the strangeness of the system.
For me, gut-wrenching laughter comes when a contradiction is pointed out in such a way that you know the speaker has put some thought into the monologue. At the same time there is a sense that this contradiction needs to be remedied. Good comedy pushes for change.
My morning thoughts in not such an ordered way . . . almost comical!
December 29, 1979 the Calvin Baker family gathered. One sibling was missing, but the rest of the family (including spouse) were there. Youngest was 11 years old and the oldest was 61 (my dad, who was holding the cassette tape recorder). We start slow but get going – this is a 30 second clip – enjoy!!! A traditional Congolese song – Jesus is here, with us.
I don’t often post pictures – but here goes.
This is from 1972 – as the caption reads we are in Midland, Ontario on a music tour. I look young and dapper (which shows how old I am by using that word). We are all retired now and although I don’t keep close contact with the group, they were a great help in launching me into the singing/touring world!
