The Jesus Prayer

People I respect and love come from many different backgrounds, and many different sets of values. I want to be honest and real with every friend, but it is easier with some than with others to disagree at times and still feel unshaken fellowship. Some of my friends are convinced that the emerging church is the reason for a falling away in my denomination. Others of my friends are sure that people in political office are the greatest threat to our way of life, to the point of obsession. Some haver abandoned the music I grew up with, and the hymns that are written on my very heart; others excoriate the new, loud, casual music and cannot imagine how guitars and drums can ever bring a spirit of worship. I'm not saying it very well, but so many times what we are "against" becomes so strong that we forget what we are f\"for." Or, more properly, sometimes we hve to make our points until in our spirits we deny the very core of what we say we are. Actually, it is not what we are for, but Who is really our Life. Bottom line: The spirit (Spirit in us!) is everything! Even in militant opposition to sin as we understand it it is still the Jesus in us that people need to see. I have known many people whose doctrine is far different from my Wesleyan-Arminian persuasion-- but who lived and breathed a love for Christ that made me love Him more. I'm rambling, I know-- old people do that sometimes. But let me say this: the Word of God is a Person. The Bible is not true because it is written down-- it is written down and passed on because it is true. Sometimes TRUE means more than we can understand-- when it comes to how we got here, and why God permits this and that-- and why it seems hard for us to understand each other. The Church is God's darling. Don't rip it to shreds because it isn't like you think it should be-- rather pray that the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic church-- bigger than any "denomination"--purer and more holy that we can understand and yet imperfect and in need of grace (because I belong to it-- and you) --PRAY THAT WE WILL LET GOD BRING US TOGETHER AS HE SEES FIT. There is an ancient prayer that sums up what we need, day by day. Pray it with me: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.