Simple Prayer & Groaning Prayer = Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah?

We today yearn for prayer and hide from prayer.  

We are attracted to it and repelled by it. -Richard J. Foster.

I have been reading off and on Richard J. Foster's book Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home. In the beginning chapter by talking about the intro prayer that said from the Christian and non-Christian alike (but they may not even know they are doing it) it is called by Foster as Simple Prayer.  In Simple Prayer it is a beginning prayer, but prayer that tends to be self-focused and other times outright selfish.  It has no guidelines from scripture (Jesus, instructing his disciples to pray like this for example).  It is being real with God on who we are and where we are right now.   As Christians we should progress from Simple Prayer, but we will never escape it completely if we are to come to God as we are and what we are many times is not pretty.  Scripture is littered with them like Psalm 137:9. 

The other prayer I was thinking of is the prayer that doesn't even escape our lips. This groaning prayer.  It is a deep, emotional state (usually grief and pain) that is deep in our mind, soul and feeling that can't be put into words.  It is this loss for words but wanting to say so much that is a groan (either internal or expressive) in this the Holy Spirit interprets it and intercedes for us by expressing the deep feelings that can't be put into words.  (Romans 8:26, Acts 7:34).

Simple prayer and the groaning prayer, is mainly a Christian thing but not exclusively.  God, through the Holy Spirit, works on and through the hearts of the non-Christian as well.  They wrestle with God and with the concept of God just as Christians but tend to push Him away to different degrees. Nevertheless, they intrigued by Him and simultaneously run from Him if they fear that the concept of God would mean in their lives.  Thus, it is interesting that the song from Jewish, Buddhist who was intrgeed by Christ, Leonard Cohen's song, Halleluljah has impacted so many people.  Christian and non-Christian alike.  It is like Cohen has tapped into the simple prayer and groaning deep troubling, pain, and hurt prayer that can't be put into words and gave it poetic words set to music. 



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Scientology: The Worst Cult?

Today is supposedly Christmas to Scientologist.  It is the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard the mastermind behind the worst cult in the United States and many parts of the world.  As I watch Leah Remini's A&E series on Hulu, Scientology and the Aftermath, I am reminded of the damage that cults in various forms have on families and society.

But is it the worst cult in the world?  I would gather that the worst cult in the world is still the cult of personality that is the DPRK, North Korea.  In many ways, Scientology mirrors the Kim Regime in the DPRK.  To many to list, but the control of information, limiting of family interaction, attacking critics, attacking those who have escaped, and locking people up and abusing them (some to their death). 

For myself, cults and the abuse of a religion towards others is something I'm familiar with in my life and family.  It is what caused the divorce of my parents.  My sister was part of and had to get out of a cult.  No group should prevent you from asking questions or seeking truth.

L.Ron Hubbards Birthday should be cult awareness day.   Today should be a day we pray for those stuck in any religious, ideological, or political cult that controls someone, cuts them off from family and society, abuses them, and their money, talents and lives.

When Dax Shepherd from Parenthood thinks you're Punny...

Then it's time to retire from your comedy career on top (note to self, Dax Shepherd is not Zach Braff).

"Me? I know who I am! I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.

This song has been on the intro on some of the Youtube video's I regularly watch and I can't get the song off the brain: