<OT>We are going to be in trouble

[Michael Hipp]

Tony Alfrey wrote:

> It is a nice thought to have empathy for someone in need, and if your 
> prayer leads to some collective action that might mitigate that need, 
> then so much the better.  But the prayer in and of itself will not help,

Prayer is *not* about empathy.

Prayer is about making a petition for help to a person who truly has the 
wherewithal to do something about the problem.

> and in some sense, by thinking that prayer alone might help, you and 
> your congregation are deluding yourselves and thereby avoiding the more 
> complex issue of what material action might actually be taken to help 
> solve this problem.

I know of no-one, no-one, who believes in substituting prayer for meaningful 
action where such action is available.

A couple of platitudes to remember:
"God helps those who help themselves."
"Pray like it all depends on God. Work like it all depends on you."

Even better:
"Go to the ant, ...consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, 
overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food 
in the harvest." Proverbs of King Solomon 6:6-8

Michael