220th Annual Conference Des Moines, Iowa July 1-5, 2006

Index	Theme	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Wrap Up

Moderator Ron Beachley gave the message Sunday morning, focusing on prayer. - photo by Regina Roberts

Sunday's worship center included the hands of prayer; prayer is the second of five spiritual disciplines being emphasized at this year's Conference. - photo by Justin Hollenberg

“Woven Together by Prayer”
1 Timothy 4:6-8, Philippians 1:3-7, Mark 1:35-39
by Ronald Beachley

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST OUR LORD!

WHAT A BLESSING TO BE STANDING HERE, IN FRONT OF THIS GREAT CONGREGATION AND LISTEN TO YOUR VOICES BLENDING TOGETHER IN PRAISE AND ADORATION TO GOD. SURELY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN THIS PLACE. IT IS TRULY A DELIGHT TO BE AT WORSHIP ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LORD’S DAY MORNING! I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND TO HAVE YOU PRESENT AS WE SHARE TOGETHER IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

I ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH WHERE OR HOW TO BEGIN A SERMON. TODAY, WAS NO EXCEPTION! I PRAYED AND LISTENED FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INSPIRE AND GIVE SOME DIRECTION , BUT NOTHING CAME TO MIND. I CONTINUED TO READ THE SELECTED SCRIPTURES, MEDITATE AND SEEK AN INSPIRING THOUGHT OR IDEA. FINALLY, ON MAY 18, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM LERRY FOGLE, AC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATING, A SERMON MANUSCRIPT WAS NEEDED IN THE CONFERENCE OFFICE BY JUNE 2. TALK ABOUT INSPIRATION!! AS I CONTINUED TO PRAY, SOME THOUGHTS BEGAN TO UNFOLD. A STORY CAME TO MIND. I SHARED IT IN TWO OF THE AREA MEETINGS I WAS INVOLVED IN EARLIER THIS SPRING. BUT, I FEEL IT IS WORTH REPEATING.

MUD, DIRT AND WATER WERE ALL OVER THE KITCHEN FLOOR. JUST IN FROM THE RAIN HERSELF—THE MOTHER KNEW THAT THEIR FIVE YEAR OLD HAD ALREADY ARRIVED. FIRST, SHE FOUND ONE SOAKED SHOE, AND THEN ANOTHER. NEXT, SHE SAW A PAIR OF DIRTY SHORTS AND A SOILED T-SHIRT. FINALLY, THE EXASPERATED MOTHER FOUND THE YOUNGSTER’S SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR, IN EVEN WORSE CONDITION, JUST IN FRONT OF THE OPEN BASEMENT DOOR.

SEEING THE LIGHT ON IN THE BASEMENT THE MOTHER YELLED LOUDLY, “ARE YOU RUNNING AROUND DOWN THERE IN THE BASEMENT NAKED?” RECEIVING NO REPLY, SHE YELLED AGAIN. AND A DEEP, RATHER ASTONISHED MALE VOICE ANSWERED. "NO, LADY, I’M JUST DOWN HERE TRYING TO FIX YOUR FURNACE.”

HOW EASY IT IS TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS...HOW NATURAL TO CONFUSE APPEARANCE WITH REALITY. THE HUSBAND HAD LET THE REPAIR MAN IN EARLIER, WHILE THE WIFE WAS OUT SHOPPING. IT’S ESPECIALLY EASY TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS, WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS. REMEMBER, HALF RIGHT, CAN AND IS AS BAD AS ALL WRONG.....GIVEN ANY SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CAN MAKE A DECISION, BE IT RIGHT OR WRONG. IN OUR LIFE TOGETHER, IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE SUPPORTIVE, CARING, ENCOURAGING, AND NOT BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE AND JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.

PAUL, CERTAINLY FOUND A POSITIVE WAY TO SHARE WITH THE PHILIPPIAN FAITH COMMUNITY. IN THE PASSAGE FROM PHILIPPIANS 1:1ff.-- IN THE MESSAGE, PETERSON PARAPHRASES IT THIS WAY, “EVERY TIME YOU CROSS MY MIND, I BREAK OUT IN EXCLAMATIONS OF THANKS TO GOD. EACH EXCLAMATION IS A TRIGGER TO PRAYER...” WOW!! WHAT A WONDERFUL THOUGHT AND IDEA. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS—LIFT THEM UP TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET THEIR NAME BE A TRIGGER PULLER. WILLIAM JAMES ONCE POINTED OUT–THAT WORDS AND PHRASES CAN BE “TRIGGER-PULLERS.” MEANING THEY DISCHARGE STORED UP THOUGHT AND ENERGY IN PERSONS. I ALWAYS PRAY THAT MY SERMON WILL DO THAT—BECOME A VEHICLE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INSPIRE, MOTIVATE AND CHALLENGE PERSONS TO FAITH AND ACTION.

WHEN YOU LIFT ANOTHER PERSON UP IN PRAYER, WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON THEM? A PRAYER OF THANKS AND PRAISE–SHARED WHEN WE THINK OF A SISTER OR BROTHER. DO WE REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE, EVEN FOR THOSE WITH WHOM WE MAY DISAGREE?? IT MAY BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE PERSONS, WITH WHOM WE DISAGREE, IN OUR PRAYER TIME, OR WHEN WE THINK OF THEM. I’M CONVINCED OUR ATTITUDE WILL BE IMPACTED AND THOSE PERSONS, FOR WHOM WE PRAY, WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.

PAUL KNEW THE POWER AND BLESSING OF BEING “WOVEN TOGETHER BY PRAYER.” THAT IMAGERY IS CAPTURED IN THE CONFERENCE LOGO. EACH QUILT PATCH WAS DESIGNED TO PORTRAY THE THEME FOR THE DAY. THE THREAD WHICH RUNS BETWEEN EACH PATCH REPRESENTS OUR BEING CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO CHRIST.

WOVEN TOGETHER BY PRAYER. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FINE ORIENTAL RUG AND A RUG MADE BY A MACHINE? RUGS MADE ON MACHINES ARE BASICALLY ALL THE SAME. FINE ORIENTAL RUGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR CURIOUS VARIATIONS IN PATTERNS. FINE ORIENTAL RUGS ARE HAND WOVEN, IN MIDDLE EASTERN VILLAGES. THE WEAVERS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A MASTER WEAVER. IT OFTEN HAPPENS THAT THE WEAVER MAKES A MISTAKE. BUT, WHEN A WEAVER MAKES A MISTAKE, INSTEAD OF PULLING THE WORK OUT TO CORRECT THE ERROR, THE MASTER-WEAVER FINDS SOME WAY TO INCORPORATE THE ERROR INTO THE PATTERN. AND THE EXPERTS SAY, THE EXCEPTIONAL BEAUTY OF A COMPLEX DESIGN, IN THE RUGS, IS DUE TO THE SKILL OF MASTER-WEAVERS WHO TURN THOSE MISTAKES INTO WORKS OF ART.

IN THE CREATIVE PLAN OF GOD, EACH OF US HAS THE GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL TO BECOME A UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL MASTERWORK OF GOD’S CREATIVE ARTWORK. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING. MOREVER, EACH OF US IS A CO-CREATOR OF HIS OR HER OWN LIFESTYLE OR LIFE PATTERN. WE ARE THE WEAVER’S IN THAT SENSE. WE HAVE A HAND IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE PATTERN–OF MAKING OURSELVES COMPLETE WHOLE. BUT, WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. WE RUN INTO SNAGS. WE MAKE MISTAKES. WE SIN AND FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR US. AND, WE NEED A MASTER-WEAVER TO SHOW US HOW TO REDEEM OUR ERRORS. TO LEARN FROM THEM. TO BUILD ON THEM. TO TRANSFORM THEM. WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DISTORT THE PATTERN OF OUR LIVES. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE ARE MADE WHOLE AND COMPLETE, WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

GOD’S WORD PROMISES US THAT WE CAN RELY ABSOLUTELY ON THE FORGIVING, SAVING, HEALING, REDEEMING, POWER AND HAND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST–TO TRANSFORM THE BROKEN PATTERNS OF OUR LIVES, INTO A PICTURE OF BEAUTY AND BLESSING. WHEN WE EXERCISE DAILY IN GOD–HE KEEPS US HUMBLE, OPEN AND READY TO SHARE WITH OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE SING WITH PASSION, “JESUS LOVES ME,” OR, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS,” BUT, IF I ASKED YOU TO TURN TO THE PERSON SEATED NEXT TO YOU AND SHARE–“THE MEANING/VALUE OF CHRIST’S LOVE IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?” OR, “HOW DO YOU EXPERIENCE JESUS LOVE DAILY?” WOULD THE ROOM BE SILENT OR WOULD IT BE FILLED WITH A POWERFUL WITNESS OF GOD’S LOVE FOR EACH OF US? DO WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE WITH OTHERS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, OR, ARE WE SATISFIED TO LET SOME ONE ELSE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY? I’M CONVINCED, OUR FAITH HAS BECOME WEAK, NOT FROM OVER-USE, BUT FROM UNDER-USE. WE DO NOT EXPECT A STRONG COMMITMENT WHEN A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST AND BECOMES A PART OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY. AND, WE DO NOT GET IT.

WE LAMENT, COMPLAIN AND ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEMS, AND SPEND VERY LITTLE OR NO TIME TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION. SHAME ON US, OR MANY OF US, FOR OUR OWN LACK OF COMMITMENT AND FOR NOT EXPECTING MORE COMMITMENT FROM OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS. I HEARD NUMEROUS COMMENTS THIS PAST YEAR ABOUT DIMINISHING MEMBERSHIP. THAT IS ALSO A CONCERN OF MINE. I BELIEVE A PART OF THE ANSWER IS TO REQUIRE STRONGER COMMITMENT WHEN A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST AND BECOMES APART OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY.

I WOULD CHALLENGE EACH OF US TO PUT THIS AS A PRIORITY ON OUR PRAYER LIST. AND, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT INCREASE AND CHALLENGE STRONGER COMMITMENT FROM BELIEVERS.

PAUL KNEW ABOUT COMMITMENT. HE WAS WEAVING A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN THROUGH HIS WORDS OF KINDNESS AND CARE. "I THANK MY GOD EVERY TIME I REMEMBER YOU. IN ALL MY PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU, I ALWAYS PRAY WITH JOY BECAUSE OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL NOW, . . .” WE ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER IN A VARIETY OF WAYS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THAT CONNECTION IS THROUGH PRAYER. WE ARE NOT TOGETHER DAILY, BUT WE CAN BE IN PRAYER FOR ONE ANOTHER EVERY DAY. THOSE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION ARE A VALUABLE SOURCE OF STRENGTH TO EACH OF US. A PRAYER FROM THE HEART BECOMES A BLESSING IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. WHICH REMINDS ME OF A STORY:

IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, ON THIS PARTICULAR SUNDAY, TWO PERSONS WERE ASKED TO RECITE THE 23^RD PSALM. THE ONE PERSON WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED SPEAKER, TRAINED IN THE TECHNIQUES OF SPEECH AND DRAMA. USING PERFECT ENUNCIATION THE PSALM WAS INTONED WITH GREAT BEAUTY AND POWER:

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD;
I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES:
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS.
HE RESTORES MY SOUL:
HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR THOU ART WITH ME;
THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.
THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES:
THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL,
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER;
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE:
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.

WHEN FINISHED, THE OTHER CLASS MEMBERS APPLAUDED WITH ENTHUSIASM AND ASKED THAT IT BE REPEATED–THAT THEY MIGHT HEAR THIS WONDERFUL RENDITION AGAIN. THEN THE SECOND PERSON RECITED THE SAME WORDS:

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT,......AND WHEN FINISHED—

NOT A SOUND CAME FROM THE AUDIENCE. INSTEAD, THE PEOPLE SAT QUIETLY, IN A DEEP MOOD OF PRAYER AND DEVOTION. AND, BEFORE THE TEACHER COULD SAY A WORD, THE FIRST PERSON STOOD AND SAID, “I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU HAVE JUST HEARD FROM MY FRIEND AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM ME—IS THAT I KNOW THE PSALM, MY FRIEND KNOWS THE SHEPHERD. AND, ISN’T THAT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT?

KNOWING THE SHEPHERD—THE ONE WHO GIVES LIFE, LIGHT, JOY, PEACE, LOVE AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. WE LEARN TO KNOW THE GIVER OF LIFE THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL EXERCISE. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SPIRITUALLY HEARTY AND PREPARED TO GO OUT IN THE WORLD TO SHARE CHRIST—IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE IN SHAPE SPIRITUALLY. THERE IS A DESIRE ON THE PART OF SOME TO BE IN SHAPE PHYSICALLY, OR ISN’T THAT WHAT “LIGHTEN UP BRETHREN” IS ALL ABOUT? EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE IS SPIRITUAL FITNESS AND DEVELOPING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.

TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST IS VITAL IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANY INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD TODAY. A 20TH CENTURY PROPHET, A. W. TOZER, WANTED TO STIR THE MODERN CHRISTIAN MAN AND WOMAN TO KNOW GOD MORE DEEPLY. HE WROTE IN, THE PURSUIT OF GOD:

“FOR IT IS NOT MERE WORDS THAT NOURISH THE SOUL, BUT GOD HIMSELF, AND UNLESS AND UNTIL THE HEARERS FIND GOD IN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

THEY ARE NOT BETTER FOR HAVING HEARD THE TRUTH. THE BIBLE IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF, BUT A MEANS TO BRING PERSONS TO AN INTIMATE AND SATISFYING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, THAT THEY MAY ENTER INTO HIM, THAT THEY MIGHT DELIGHT IN HIS PRESENCE, MAY TASTE AND KNOW THE INNER SWEETNESS OF THE VERY GOD HIMSELF IN THE CORE AND CENTER OF THEIR HEARTS.”

THE LATE HENRI NOUWEN, ONE OF THE 20TH CENTURY’S GREAT TEACHERS ON SPIRITUALITY, BELIEVED THAT MEETING GOD IN SOLITUDE AND SILENCE IS ESSENTIAL IF, WE WANT TO UNITE OUR LIVE WITH THE WILL OF GOD. HE WROTE IN HIS BOOK, THE WAY OF THE HEART:

“SOLITUDE IS THE PLACE WHERE CHRIST REMODELS US INTO HIS OWN IMAGE, AND FREES US FROM THE VICTIMIZING COMPULSIONS OF THE WORLD. SOLITUDE IS THE PLACE OF OUR SALVATION.”

THAT SAVING SOLITUDE IS HARD FOR MOST OF US TO FIND. BURDENED BY THE WORLD’S EXPECTATIONS AND LURED BY ITS ENTICEMENTS, WE SELDOM GET QUIET ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT. BUT, WHEN WE DO, WE TAP INTO THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRY—WHAT HENRI NOUWEN CALLED, “THE PRAYER OF THE HEART.” THIS KIND OF PRAYER TOUCHES OUR SOULS, NOT MERELY OUR MINDS. HE WROTE, “THE PRAYER OF THE HEART IS A PRAYER THAT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO LIMIT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO INTERESTING WORDS OR EMOTIONS.”

SUCH PRAYER TRANSFORMS OUR WHOLE BEING INTO THE MIND OF CHRIST. AND, I BELIEVE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE IN MINISTRY IN EXCITING WAYS. TO BE IN PRAYER IS VITAL AND LIFE GIVING. GOD COMMUNICATES TO US IN PRAYER, BUT, OFTEN WE DO ALL THE TALKING. THEREBY, PREVENTING GOD FROM SPEAKING TO US. TO BE IN PRAYER DAILY IS CRUCIAL. REMEMBER, WHEN YOU PRAY, STOP AND LISTEN. LISTEN, FOR THAT STILL SMALL VOICE. GOD DOES STILL SPEAK, IF WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE TIME TO PRAY AND LISTEN. THE WARMTH, VITALITY AND THE LOVE OF GOD ARE PRESENT WHEN WE CONTINUE STEADFAST IN PRAYER. NOT JUST ON SUNDAYS, OR WHEN WE ARE ON RETREAT, AND NOT JUST IN TIMES OF CRISIS IN OUR LIVES. CONTINUE IN PRAYER REGULARLY AND OFTEN.

WE MISS THE POINT OF PRAYER, IF WE USE IT AS A SPIRITUAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER, OR A SPIRITUAL ASPIRIN TABLET. PRAYER AT ITS BEST IS THE STEADY, SUSTAINED COMMUNICATION OF LIFE FROM GOD TO US AND WE NEED THIS EVERY DAY.

WHEN WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WE WILL FIND IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO SET ASIDE A CERTAIN TIME EACH DAY FOR PRAYER AND MEDITATION. WHEN PAUL USES THE TERM, “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING,” HE IS TALKING ABOUT A WHOLE STYLE OF LIFE—WHICH ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP AN OPENNESS TO GOD EACH MOMENT OF THE DAY. WHICH, THEN ALLOWS GOD TO BE OUR GUIDE IN AND THROUGH EVERY LIFE SITUATION.

JESUS PRAYER LIFE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE FOR US. IN MARK’S GOSPEL, WE READ, “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, JESUS GOT UP, LEFT THE HOUSE AND WENT OFF TO A SOLITARY PLACE, WHERE HE PRAYED.” . I HAVE A SUGGESTION, TRY TO GET ALONG FOR A WEEK WITHOUT ASKING GOD FOR ANYTHING! JUST GIVE THANKS, PRAISE, ADORATION! LIFTING YOUR THOUGHTS AND MIND TO A NEW LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF GOD’S WONDERFUL PRESENCE. JUST KEEP MEDITATING IN THE WORD AND ON WHAT A GREAT AND GLORIOUS GOD WE SERVE. THEN LISTEN!!

PAUL KNEW THAT PRAYER WAS CRUCIAL FOR SPIRITUAL FITNESS AND MINISTRY. HE ENCOURAGED TIMOTHY TO “TAKE TIME AND THE TROUBLE TO KEEP YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY FIT. BODILY FITNESS HAS A CERTAIN VALUE, BUT SPIRITUAL FITNESS IS ESSENTIAL, BOTH FOR THIS PRESENT LIFE AND FOR THE LIFE TO COME.” AS DISCIPLES, BELIEVERS’ WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO WEAVE A PATTERN OF LOVE, CARE AND CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS–AS WE SEEK GOD’S WILL AND DIRECTION THROUGH PRAYER. PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER. PRAYING FOR VISION, DIRECTION AND THE CONCERNS OF THE WORLD. NOT ONE PERSON, BUT TOGETHER, EACH MEMBER OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING AS AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THE PROCESS.

IT WAS SAID THAT WHEN LEONARDO DAVINCI WAS WORKING ON HIS PAINTING OF “THE LAST SUPPER,” HE WOULD SPEND HOURS, EVEN DAYS, JUST LOOKING AT THE CANVAS. THEN HE WOULD TAKE HIS BRUSH IN HAND AND ADD ONLY ONE OR TWO STROKES. THE MONKS IN THE MONASTERY WHERE HE WAS WORKING BEGAN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SLOW PROGRESS HE WAS MAKING. DAVINCI TOLD THEM, "WHEN I PAUSE THE LONGEST, I MAKE THE MOST TELLING STROKES WITH MY BRUSH.” WE MAKE THE MOST TELLING STROKES WITH OUR LIVES, WHEN WE PAUSE THE LONGEST—IN PRAYER.

PRAYER–LIKE THE AWESOME MYSTERY OF GOD, IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO FATHOM. THE FULL DEPTH OF THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO PENETRATE. THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE DOESN’T UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY OF GOD; IT DRAWS US DEEPER INTO IT. AND, SO IT IS WITH THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER. WHEN WE PRAY SINCERELY–WE ARE DRAWN INTO THE MYSTERY OF THIS WONDROUS MEANS OF COMMUNICATING WITH GOD. EVERY SINCERE PRAYER PROVIDES US WITH A NEW CLUE,

A DEEPER INSIGHT, AND THE MORE WE LEARN THE MORE WE REALIZE THAT GOD DOES WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS!!! AS PAUL SHARED IN 1 TIMOTHY: "GREAT INDEED WE CONFESS, IS THE MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH.”

WHEN WE POSITION OURSELVES BEFORE GOD IN AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER, WE ARE ON HOLY GROUND, WE ARE IN GOD’S PRESENCE...THUS, WE MUST ENDEAVOR TO APPROACH GOD WITH OPEN HEARTS, RATHER, THAN OPEN HANDS. THE CENTRAL THEME OF OUR EVERY PRAYER SHOULD BE, “I WANT TO PLEASE GOD.” JESUS ECHOES THE ANGELS’ SONG WHILE TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE: “HE WHO SENT ME IS WITH ME; HE HAS NOT LEFT ME, FOR I ALWAYS DO WHAT IS PLEASING TO HIM.”

IN YOUR FAITH JOURNEY AND IN MINE, ARE WE DOING WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD? I WANT TO CLOSE WITH A STORY, WHICH I BELIEVE INDICATES HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUT OUR FAITH TO PLEASE GOD. THEN, I WILL OFFER A CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PRAYER PARTNER WHILE WE ARE HERE AT CONFERENCE.

THE STORY IS ONE ABOUT A 15 YEAR OLD IN THE HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR LEUKEMIA. HE WAS CRITICALLY ILL AND THE TREATMENT BEING GIVEN—WAS NOT HELPING. HE WAS DEPRESSED AND BEGAN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HIS CONDITION DID NOT IMPROVE AND WAS DETERIORATING WITH EACH DAY. AFTER A FEW DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL HE SAID, “I THOUGHT WHEN YOU CAME TO THE HOSPITAL YOU RECEIVED FLOWERS.” AN AUNT OVERHEARD THIS REMARK AND CALLED THE LOCAL FLORIST TO ORDER FLOWERS.

WHEN PLACING THE ORDER, SHE COULD TELL THE PERSON TAKING THE ORDER WAS RATHER YOUNG. THINKING SHE MAY NOT GRASP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITUATION, THE AUNT PROCEED TO EXPLAIN HER NEPHEWS CONDITION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ORDER. THE YOUNG LADY TAKING THE ORDER SUGGESTED, PLACING A FEW FRESH FLOWERS IN THE PLANTER AND THE CONVERSATION ENDED.

WHEN THE PLANTER ARRIVED, THE 15 YEAR OLD READ THE CARD THAT WAS TUCKED IN THE ARRANGEMENT. WHEN HE FINISHED READING THE FIRST CARD, HE NOTICED ANOTHER CARD AND WHEN HE REACHED FOR IT—HIS MOTHER, WANTED TO TAKE IT, THINKING IT WAS PLACED THEIR BY MISTAKE. HOWEVER, THE SON INSISTED ON READING THE SECOND CARD. IT SAID, “DEAR KYLE, I DON’T KNOW YOU, AND I COULD LOOSE MY JOB FOR DOING THIS, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD I HAD LEUKEMIA. I AM NOW 22. KEEP THE FAITH. I WILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DAYS, KYLE’S ATTITUDE CHANGED AND HIS HEALTH BEGAN TO IMPROVE. HERE HE WAS IN A HOSPITAL, SURROUNDED BY EQUIPMENT COSTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THOSE TREATING HIM WERE SOME OF THE MOST SKILLED DOCTORS IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT WAS A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT WHICH PUT HIM ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. A PERSON MAKING MINIMUM WAGES, WILLING TO RISK LOSING HER JOB, TO SHARE HER FAITH JOURNEY. SISTERS AND BROTHERS, I CHALLENGE US, TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY FOR OTHERS. TO SHARE LOVE, CARE AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE GO ABOUT EACH DAY.

THERE IS A PRAYER BOARD, LOCATED IN HYVEE HALL–WHICH I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE DURING CONFERENCE. THERE WAS A SQUARE OF PAPER IN YOUR BULLETIN, OR AVAILABLE ON ONE OF THE TABLES, AS YOU LEAVE THIS SERVICE. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST, WRITE IT DOWN, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN IT–AND POST IT ON THE PRAYER BOARD.

THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE–GO TO THE BOARD AND REMOVE THE REQUEST AND KEEP THAT PERSONS NEED, CONCERN IN YOUR DAILY PRAYER TIME HERE AT CONFERENCE. IF THERE ARE REQUESTS LEFT ON THE BOARD AT THE END OF CONFERENCE I WILL BE TAKING THEM HOME AND PUTTING THEM ON MY DAILY PRAYER LIST.

--Ronald D. Beachley is moderator of the 2006 Annual Conference, and executive minister of Western Pennsylvania District of the Church of the Brethren.

Members of the 2006 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, contributed to the Annual Conference web pages: Jake Blouch, Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, Kathleen Campanella, Eddie Edmonds, Karen Garrett, Clara Glover, Amy Heckert, Keith Hollenberg, Jill Kline, Sarah Kovacs, Frank Ramirez, Jesse Reid, Regina Roberts, Frances Townsend, and Becky Ullom.