I ASPIRE to be as great as these guys.
However, I guess, for now, I’ll just have to make do with my own lame moves. 😦
Author: Karen
Hi! My day job is a CMA in the Precertificiation Department (I work with insurance companies). I'm a mom to two young men. I've been married to the same man for 34 years. I have a lot to say about nothing. Lucky you.
Teaching: Can We “Pray” to Jesus Christ?
Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.
If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.
Let’s get started:
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There is a controversy among Christians who believe that Jesus is not God but the Son of God, about whether or not we can pray to Jesus. The only definitive place to go for an answer to that question is the Word of God. It is important when trying to answer such an important question that we do not base our position upon only one Greek word or one verse. Rather, we must examine the scope of Scripture to see what it says. We believe that the Bible makes it clear that one can pray to Jesus, but does not have to, and we will do our best to show why that is.
There are many points of logic in understanding why we can pray to Jesus. Before we delve into the issue, however, it is important to understand that the basic and fundamental definition of “prayer” is “asking.” Our prayers may also include some praise, but in every language, prayer is fundamentally asking for something, as is clear from studying the Hebrew and Greek words translated prayer, and even looking up “prayer” in an English dictionary. Below are some points of logic and Scripture that indicate we can pray to Jesus.
1) Jesus is Lord of all (Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:12), and has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). How can he be “Lord” in any real sense if we cannot ask him for things? Now that the Lord Jesus has all authority, it makes even more sense that we petition him, even as it made sense that people petitioned him when he was alive in his earthly ministry. Hundreds, even thousands, of people asked Jesus for things when he was on earth. Does it make sense that someone could ask Jesus for something over 2000 years ago, but cannot do so now?
2) We are to have fellowship with the Son (1 John 1:3). How can we have fellowship with Jesus, which clearly indicates being in relationship with him, but not ask him for anything? We have fellowship with God and ask Him for things, and we have fellowship with other Christians and ask them for things, so does it make sense that we are to have fellowship with Jesus but not ask him for anything?
3) Jesus said that his followers could ask him for things.
John 14:13 and 14
(13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
(14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.These verses become especially enlightening when they are read as they were written in the original text, which was without punctuation: “…I am going to the Father and I will do whatever you ask in my name…you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” It is clear from these verses that Jesus knew he was going to the Father, and wanted people to ask him for what they needed. Their doing so is a prayer, whether it is formally in a church building or informally as one is going about his or her daily business.
4) The Word of God makes it clear that believers in the early Church thought it normal to talk with the exalted Lord Jesus Christ.
A) After his ascension, the disciples prayed to Jesus about choosing a replacement for Judas. This was logical because they understood it was Jesus who had originally chosen the twelve.
Acts 1:24 and 25
(24) Then they prayed [proseuchomai], “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
(25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”Although some have contended that the Lord in the above verse is God, it is more logical that it refers to Jesus. He was the one who chose Judas, and he was addressed as “Lord” by all the apostles over and over in the New Testament.
B) Stephen called upon Jesus, not God, when he was being stoned.
Acts 7:59 and 60a
(59) While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed [epikaleo= “calling upon”], Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
(60a) Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”C) Paul pleaded with the Lord Jesus about his “thorn in the flesh,” as is clear from the context of the following verses.
2 Corinthians 12:8 and 9
(8) Three times I pleaded [parakaleo=to beseech] with the Lord to take it away from me.
(9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.5) Verses such as Acts 9:34 and 2 Timothy 4:18 show that as the Head of the Body, the Lord Jesus is actively involved in healing and sustaining its members. It is our contention that any Christian can ask the Lord Jesus to do for him anything that would help him do the works that Jesus did. As Head of the Body, he converses with believers and asks things of them. It is only logical that we would also ask things of him. The New Testament tells us of his personal interaction with Stephen (Acts 7:56); Saul/Paul (Acts 9:1-9; 23:11; Gal. 1:12; 2 Cor. 12:9); Ananias (Acts 9:10-16); Peter (Acts 10:9-22; 2 Pet. 1:14); [1] and John (Rev. 1:9-18).
A) Since Pentecost, many things come to the Body via the Head, Jesus Christ. It is he who:
* Pours out the gift of holy spirit (Acts 2:33)
* Gives us grace (Rom. 1:5; 16:20; 1 Cor. 16:23; 2 Cor. 8:9; 13:14; Gal. 1:6; 6:18; Eph. 4:7; Phil. 4:23; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:12; 3:18)
* Gives us peace (2 Thess. 3:16)
* Gives us mercy (1 Cor. 7:25)
* Blesses us (Rom. 10:12; 15:29)
* Nurtures and cares for the Church, holds it together and causes it to grow (Eph. 5:29; Phil. 1:19; Col. 1:17; 2:19)
* Directs us (1 Cor. 16:7; 2 Thess. 3:5)
* Is interceding for us (Rom. 8:35)
* Gives the equipping ministries to the Church (Eph. 1:1; 4:8,11)
* Gives revelation (2 Cor. 12:1; Gal. 1:12)
* Will transform our bodies at his appearing (Phil. 3:21)
* Will judge, reward, and punish people, according to what they deserve (John 5:21,22; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 6:8; Col. 3:23-25; 1 Thess. 4:6; 2 Thess. 1:8)Could it really be that with such an intimate connection to the members of his Body, the Lord Jesus could then not be addressed by his Church? Surely we can ask our Lord and Head for whatever that we need.
6) Calling on the Name of the Lord.
One evidence in Scripture that people can pray to Jesus is seen by paying attention to the phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord.” Through the Old Testament, when people “called upon the name of the Lord,” it was to pray to, appeal to, or ask for help from God.
Conclusion
It seems clear that we can pray to Jesus for things we need. However, the Bible does not give us clear direction as to when or about what a believer should talk to Jesus, as opposed to God. Whether a believer prays to God or Jesus is left up to the individual.
However, the vast majority of scriptures dealing with prayer make it clear that God is the principal source of all things, and therefore should be the chief focus of our worship, praise, and supplication. Those who enthusiastically embrace the idea of praying to the Lord Jesus must recognize that this practice ought not to be carried out to the point of distracting one from the worship of the Father. We are sure that the Lord Jesus would find it ironic indeed if he himself were to become the principal object of Christian worship and adoration, when his entire life and ministry was devoted to the glorification of his Father.
We should also make it clear that we are not saying that a Christian must pray to the Lord Jesus as part of his or her Christian walk. Because there is no clear command to do so, as there is to God (Eph. 5:19,20; Col. 1:3,9; 4:3), we must never tell anyone they must pray to Jesus. On the other hand, we shudder at the idea of any Christian telling another that it is wrong for him to talk/pray to the Lord Jesus. We would particularly hate to see believers judge one another and segregate themselves from other Christians over the issue of whether or not they pray to the Lord Jesus. We think whether or not one prays to Jesus is a matter of individual conscience, and not an issue about which believers ought to tyrannize one another.
You can read the entire article here.
If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about God’s wonderful message, please visit the Truth or Tradition website. You can also keep track of the ministry through their Facebook page, their YouTube Channel, or follow them on Twitter.
Thanks for reading.
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More from Write From Karen
Packed in Like Sardines
There is no way, NO WAY, I’d live like this. To avoid being stuffed into a situation where I couldn’t breathe (God forbid someone FARTS, or has bad breath, or forgets to put deodorant on that day, or sneezes, or COUGHS, or needs to throw up), I would wait HOURS for the crowds to subside. Seriously. I would just hole up in a cafe somewhere and read or something.
Just watching this video makes me hyperventilate. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I have claustrophobia, but situations like these, where I find it hard to get a breathe of fresh air, definitely drive me to the panic edge. I’m pretty sure I’d have a panic attack.
This is just insane. How can this even be safe?! What if the car breaks down? What if you’re in the middle of that mess and your stop comes up? How in the world can you squeeze through and get off?
Does anyone else find this nuts? Have you ever ridden in a subway car THIS crowded before?
P.S. I found this gem via @agentninety9 on Twitter. If you’re not on Twitter, why not? You’re missing some pretty cool stuff. Follow me and let’s waste time together. 😀
P.S.S. On an unrelated note – do you realize that 5 Minutes for Mom’s Ultimate Blog Party is coming?? I’d tell you just how terribly excited I get when this annual blog party comes around, but I’d likely scare you, so suffice it to say, I CAN’T WAIT! (5 Minutes for Mom haven’t announced when the 2010 party is yet, but if they follow years past, it should be the last week in March. Mark your calendars!)
Hello Mr. Saturday, I Have a Question
What is the most embarrassing, or funniest, thing your child has ever said?
Friday Craft: Winter Activites to Keep the Kids Busy
So, let’s see a show of hands – who’s snowed in?
Yeah, me too. And even though my boys are teenagers and can entertain themselves (for the MOST part), I know some of you out there (judging by your Tweets!) are having a hard time keeping your children out of the boredom zone. Because when it’s even too cold to go outside and play? You know you’re in trouble.
Maybe I can help.
As you probably know, I adore the Family Fun website. I routinely go there to get ideas to post links on the school websites I maintain (I’m uber cool like that. :D) and what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t pass this fun information on to you? Exactly. So … here you go.
(Disclaimer: Family Fun is not, and has never, compensated me for promoting their website. I just like them THAT much so please, relax and enjoy the read).
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Okay, so even though I just got through telling you that it’s probably too cold for your kids to get out, I had to share this activity because it’s about more than just your kids, it’s about feeding your poor neighborhood birds.
Kids can delight their feathered friends by decorating a snow angel with a mosaic made of birdseed.
Materials
* Various types of birdseed (like thistle, corn, sunflower and safflower)
* Cups
* Pine boughs
Instructions
1. This angel is easiest made by a team: One partner lies down to make a snow angel while the other partner stands by to help the maker get up without messing up the imprint.
2. After the imprint is formed, pour cups of birdseed into the angel, filling the head and body with bands of variously colored seed.
3. For a finishing touch, add pine boughs for the angel’s spreading wings.
Now come on, you have to admit, this is pretty cool. Not only are your kids busy and having fun, they can sit back and watch the birds peck their way out of hunger. A win-win situation, honestly.
String up a few of these crystals, made of pipe cleaners and beads, and get ready for a flurry of compliments. For a cool twist, use silver pipe cleaners and pom-poms too.
Materials
* 12-inch white iridescent pipe cleaners
* Clear tri or sunburst beads
* Needle and fishing line
* White iridescent pom-poms
Instructions
1. Cut 6 pipe cleaners in half to create 12 pieces. Hold 11 pieces together and tightly wrap the last piece around the middle of the bundle, as shown, twisting its ends to secure it.
2. Spread the pipe cleaner pieces into a starburst shape and thread about 5 beads onto each pipe cleaner half as shown.
3. Using the needle, thread the pom-poms on the fishing line, then tie the snowflake to one end of the line.
Critters That Keep Out the Cold (Homemade draft blockers)
Stationed in a window or up against a door this winter, these charming homemade draft blockers will help keep indoor temperatures up and fuel bills down — provided they don’t get coaxed off the job for a playdate, that is. Both are simply fashioned from a pair of tights and filled with rice, which makes them posable enough to tuck tightly into nooks and corners.
Materials
* HEAT-SAVING SNAKE
* 1 pair striped women’s tights
* Uncooked rice (ours took a full 5-pound bag)
* Needle and thread
* Fabric glue
* Felt
* Googly eyes
* Scissors
* DOGGY IN THE WINDOW
* 1 pair women’s tights
* Uncooked rice
* Needle and thread
* Fabric glue
* Felt
* Googly eyes
* Scissors
* Paper clips
* Button
* Old belt or bracelet
Instructions
1. HEAT-SAVING SNAKE: Cut off one leg from a pair of striped women’s tights and fill it with rice (ours took a full 5-pound bag). An easy, spillproof method is to use a plastic cup with the bottom cut out for a funnel.
2. Pinch the open end of the leg into itself to form a tapered snake tail and stitch it closed.
3. Glue on googly eyes. Lastly, sew on a felt tongue, using the same technique described for attaching the dog’s ears (see step 7 for Doggy in the Window, below).
1. DOGGY IN THE WINDOW: Cut one leg from a pair of women’s tights and fill it with rice. Leave enough room to tie the open end into a tight knot.
2. For a tail, apply fabric glue across the base of a felt triangle (ours was about 2 1/2 inches wide and 7 inches tall) and sandwich it around the knot.
3. Apply more glue to the sides and then fold the felt in half. Secure the tail with paper clips until the glue dries.
4. Glue on googly eyes. Attach felt ears by draping each one over the head, as shown, and then sewing the base in place. This way, when you flop the ear down, the stitching won’t show.
5. For the finishing touches, sew on felt feet and a button nose (we used a triangular shank button). Then use your hands to shape the nose and body. Don’t forget a collar: an old belt trimmed to fit, or even a bracelet.
Take a cue from professional innkeepers and invite your guests to record their names and memories in a guest book. Next visit, you can all look back on your time together.
Materials
* 8 ½ x 11-inch hardbound sketchbook with acid-free paper
* Colored markers
* Mementos such as children’s drawings, pressed flowers, and ticket stubs
* Restickable glue stick
Instructions
1. Start with an 8 ½ x 11-inch hardbound sketchbook with acid-free paper to help preserve photos. (Art supply and craft stores offer a variety of sketch- and scrapbooks that would work as well.)
2. Keep a cup of colored markers nearby, and include mementos such as children’s drawings, pressed flowers, and ticket stubs.
3. For mounting, consider using a restickable glue stick, which allows you to reposition items without destroying the pages.
4. Leave plenty of space to add photos later.
Turn gloves into palm-size pals.
Materials
* Knit glove
* Needle
* Thread
* Yarn
* Scissors
* Rubber ball
* Buttons
* Mini pom-pom
* Rice
Instructions
1. Knit Wits – Step 1 Tuck the ring finger of the glove into the palm and stitch the hole closed.
2. Fill the glove (all but the cuff) with rice and tie it off tightly with a piece of yarn.
3. For the doll’s head, fit a small rubber ball (or a Ping-Pong ball) into the cuff. Then, sew the glove closed to hold the ball in.
4. Make a wig by loosely wrapping yarn around your hand about fifty times to create a think hank.
5. Tie the strands together at one end of the hank, then cut the loop opposite the tie.
6. Stitch the tied portion to the top of the doll’s head.
7. Finish up by stitching on button eyes and a tiny pom-pom nose.
You can find many, many, MANY more fun winter crafts on this page.
Stay warm!
Fiction Fix: A Mysterious Mutilation
“Oh God, she’s coming in.”
Bethany paused over her work, her hands lightly resting on either side of the material she was feeding through the sewing machine.
“What?”
“That …” Robert hunched forward and stage whispered across the small shop. “That homeless woman.”
Bethany arched a brow before shifting her eyes back to the seam she was mending. “That homeless woman has a name, Robert – Coney.”
“Coney,” Robert snorted and scooted further into the shop as the woman neared the door. “What sort of lame ass name is that?”
“It’s short for Connie,” Bethany answered back and straightened up in her chair as the bell over the door chimed to indicate someone had entered.
Bethany noticed that Robert immediately pretended to be engrossed in the shelves that housed their scrap material and she resisted the urge to sigh. She loved her shop assistant, she truly did, but his snobbery really grated on her nerves at times.
“Hey Coney,” she said and grabbing a straight pin from her zebra pin cushion (her niece had given it to her for her last birthday), she marked a stopping point in the material before getting out of her chair to see what the woman wanted. She knew, from past experience, that Coney wouldn’t venture too far into the belly of the shop but preferred to remain just inside the door thereby insuring a quick and easy getaway if needed.
“H…h…hello Bethany,” the woman fairly whispered and Bethany gave her a warm smile. Coney had been coming to her shop, on and off, for the past six months and she was just now to the point where she felt comfortable enough to call her by name, the woman had insisted on addressing her as Miss Sewing Lady up until that point. It had taken Bethany nearly five months to gently coax the woman to call her by her first name.
Bethany paused to grab a sandwich from behind the counter before approaching Coney.
“What can I do for you today?” Bethany asked and as discretely as possible, she handed the sandwich over to Coney. The woman just as discretely pocketed the sandwich inside her over-sized apron.
Bethany never really understood why the woman insisted on wearing an apron over the four layers of clothes she always had on and every time she asked, Coney changed the subject. She presumed it was because Coney’s clothes were her most precious asset and she didn’t want to get them dirty or possibly damage them in any way, so she wore an apron over them to protect them.
“I,” her dark brown eyes darted over to Robert and she lowered her voice even more. She had to lean forward a bit in order to hear her. “I have some more clothes that need mending,” she said, a soft flush peeking through the grime on her cheeks.
“Oh?” Bethany smiled and looked down at the dirty trash bag Coney had clutched tightly in her fingers. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”
Coney nodded and together, they stepped over to the cutting table. Coney began pulling out articles of clothing – several t-shirts, three hoodies, a pair of gloves, two pairs of jeans, one pair of child’s size Mary Janes and one really thick jacket, the puffy fiber fill spilling out from several tears in big white cotton balls.
Bethany’s stomach dropped. Where did Coney get all of these clothes?
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Trying to Be Cool – or Warm, I Can’t Decide
I TOLD you I Tweet random stuff!!
And by the way, I have NO idea if this is even how you do the whole “cool” hand thing. If I’m actually flipping you off in gangsta’ speak, then my apologizes.
Anyway …
It’s cold here. As in single digit cold. And we have snow, as in about 4 1/2 inches of snow with more on the way.
(By the way, did you hear about Fulton, New York? It’s been snowing up there for nine straight days and they have 55 inches of snow – with more on the way!! Wow, just wow).
But I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m just thankful it’s not ice because that much ice? Would be baaaaaaad.
We’re getting by. The temperatures are supposed to drop to the negative digits both tomorrow night and Friday night. I’m sitting here wearing a t-shirt, a sweater AND a hoodie (as pictured above) and I’m just NOW feeling comfortable. Our poor heater is on overdrive.
The boys are refusing to wear coats to school. They claim that the school is pretty hot and they don’t want the hassle of carrying a coat around. This means, that half mile they walk to reach me after school? They’re walking with just sweat jackets on.
Their lips are blue and their teeth are chattering by the time they reach my car. But you know, I’m MOM; I’m STUPID. I don’t know ANYTHING.
Silly boys.
The weather is supposed to warm up to the 30’s next week, so hopefully we can get rid of some of this snow. I’m getting pretty tired of dealing with snow blindness.
(I know. Wah).
