More on Unanswered Prayer: Philip Yancey

by Richard Long,

  Following on a recent blog, here’s another excerpt from the book Prayer: Does it make any Difference? by Philip Yancey.  This comes from his chapter on Unanswered Prayer: Living with the Mystery.

“In all my prayers, whether I get the answers I want or not, I can count on this one fact: God can make use of whatever happens.  Nothing is irredeemable.  ‘Teach me, O God, so use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin,’ prayed the British author Joh Baillie:

        Let me use disappointment as material for patience.

        Let me use success as material for thankfulness.

        Let me use trouble as material for perseverance.

        Let me use danger as material for courage.

        Let me use reproach as material for long suffering.

        Let me use praise as material for humility.

        Let me use pleasures as material for temperance.

        Let me use pain as material for endurance.”

Beyond Politics

 

 

 

by Kirsten Harty

After having spent a wonderful two weeks with family (throughout Alberta), I’m back at home in Ottawa, and enjoying a relaxing summer…. (comparatively speaking, considering the busy year we’ve had)….

One of the things I’ve recently discovered is a great program on CPAC entitled “Beyond Politics”…. it’s a non-partisan, up-close-and-personal look at some of our elected officials.

Hosted by Catherine Clark - who does a stellar job at asking great questions – its given me an appreciation for what motivates our MPs, considering the varied life experiences and socio-economic environments they’ve come from.

For instance, did you know, that of our MPs….

- one of them was a national downhill skiing champion as a youth?
- another is an MD who, prior to politics, had the unfortunate experience of amputating the leg of a young man who was a landmine victim in Africa… resulting in this member introducing a private member’s bill in the early ’90’s which in turn resulted in an International Land Mine Treaty which now saves 17,000 lives a year….
- an MP’s riding is cut in half by the Rocky Mountains and requires travel by plane in certain regions of his riding

It’s going beyond a name and riding, and getting to hear their hearts….

“Beyond Politics“ … check it out.

The Blessing of Unanswered Prayers: Philip Yancey

by Richard Long,

  Here’s another quote from Philip Yancey’s book, Prayer: Does it Make a Difference?

“Apart from prayers impossible to answer – those that involve a logical contradiction such as opposing sides praying for victory, or farmers and athletes praying for conflicting weather patterns – what would happen if God answered every prayer?

  By answering every possible prayer, God would in effect abdicate, turning the world over to us to run.  History shows how we have handled the limited power granted us: we have fought wars, committed genocide, fouled the air and wather, destroyed forests, established unjust political systems, concentrated pockets of superfluous wealth and grinding poverty.  What if God gave us automatic access to supernatural power?  What further havoc might we wreak?”

  Good insights, eh?  Philip Yancey goes on to illustrate this point in many more ways, including some thoughts from the movie Bruce Almighty, and the life of Amy Carmichael.

  Better get the book!  Also there is a great interactive website at http://www.philipyancey.com/.

Energize Your Prayer Life

by Terry Long,

Father I give you praise
For the beauty that your world displays
For your creativity, your unrivaled artistry
Shown in countless ways.
I want to glorify
The one who colours every sunset sky
And I’ve only begun to see your creative mastery
Father I give you praise, Creator I give you praise.
 
    This is a song written by our good friends Don & Chris Richardson, elders at Runnymede Community Church in Toronto.  It just so happens that Richard and I will be visiting with Don and his Chris up in the Bruce Penninsula next week.  I like to call it “God’s country”.   Truly a beautiful area and one of Ontario’s best places to see unbelievable sunsets, star displays and shooting stars over this unique peninsula. I look forward to seven days and nights of the most amazing art show in the sky.  How can my spirit not respond to the incredible witness of our Lord and Saviour in light of such beauty?  Everything in me says yes and joins together with the praises of creation to the Lord most high and to His glory.  May each of you be able to take some time to reflect on the awesome beauty of the Lord and his handiwork this summer.  For me it is one of the best prayer energizers I know of as everything falls into perspective when we reflect on His beauty and greatness.

Findings of a Scotsman at NHOP!

Greeting avid NHOP followers, please allow me to introduce myself, I am the Scottish contingent at The National House of Prayer otherwise known as Iain! For some strange reason I have been entrusted with the great microphone of the NHOP Blog! They don’t know what they are doing!

I have been in Canada since the 6th of February and have noticed several things in that short space of time. I shall endeavour to share some of my findings with you

1. Michele our administrator only understands what I am saying when I sing. Personally I think she just wants a handsome Scottish lad to sing to her, but hey whatever works Michele!

2.Everyone in Canada has an accent. Often I’m walking along and I say “Hi” then immediately I get “I’m good thanks”! Now a number of years ago I would have put it down to me having some sort of absence and missing part of the conversation, but that doesn’t happen to me anymore, praise God!

3.Pants in Canada dose not mean a gentleman’s underwear! If you want to get a Scotsman paranoid just say “Nice pants you have on today Iain” It only freaked me out the first dozen times!!

4.There are many words that have different meaning  such as sweater which is an item of clothing in Canada, we would call this a jumper. You go to the gas station, we go to the petrol station. Now, if you put gas and pump together in a conversation in Scotland it would be referring to something we all suffer from after a good Haggis, need I say anymore?

I think I may have said enough or even possibly too much!!

So until next time intrepid NHOP followers, live long and perspire (well it is humid!)

Iain

The Sean O’Sullivan Legacy

by Richard Long,

   Every Friday afternoon there is a prayer meeting in the chapel on Parliament Hill.  It is located in the East Block and is called the Sean O’Sullivan room.  If you have been on a team at NHOP then you have probably joined us for that weekly intercessory time.

   Recently I have been reading the autobiography of Sean O’Sullivan.  At the time he was elected in 1972, he was the youngest ever M.P. at the age of 20.  He had been groomed from teenage years by John Diefenbaker and had been his personal assistant. 

   The really fascinating thing about the man is that he felt called to the Catholic priesthood after being seen as a fast-rising star on the political scene.  So in 1977 he began studying for that vocation.  Sadly he was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1983 and lost his second bout with it in 1989 at the age of only 37.

   The House of Commons never forgot his shining light and honoured their chapel in his name a few years later.  His life and faith still speaks on Parliament Hill today.

  You can read more about him on Wikipedia or get ahold of his biography titled Both My Houses.

Praying for Government: Election Timing

by Richard Long,

  One of the common sayings around Ottawa is “A week can be a lifetime on Parliament Hill.”  That translates into the reality that on any given day a scandal can erupt or an M.P. could mis-speak and the fragiity of a minority government would be drastically affected.

   In the last 2 and a half years we have probably had election talk heat up on a dozen occasions.  Our posture at NHOP is just to keep praying that all of God’s purposes would be accomplished for this particular Parliament.

   If you are following the political stories, you know that the rumour is that we will have an election triggered this Fall.  Certainly the way that the Opposition is talking, it looks like they are floating that trial balloon. 

   So … we would encourage intercessors to stay on their posts.  We need to continue to pray that none of God’s purposes for this session of government will be aborted.  That doesn’t mean that we know God’s mind on every topic, but we do want to pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The paradox of prayer: Henri Nouwen

by Richard Long,

   One of my favourite writers is the late well-known Catholic priest Henri Nouwen.  He was forever plumbing the mysteries of the spiritual world.

Here’s one of his quotes on prayer …

“The paradox of prayer is that it asks for a serious effort

while it can only be received as a gift.

We cannot plan, organize or manipulate God;

but without a careful discipline, we cannot receive Him either.”

By the way, I have recently been slow reading his classic “The Return of the Prodigal Son” and feasting on the insights on every page.  Grab it if you ever see it on sale.

Linking Hearts: Prayer Ministry

Linking Hearts

by Richard Long

   In our ongoing effort to bring attention to other important Prayer Ministries in Canada let me introduce our readers to one that is based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland.  Wanda Fost the founder is a great friend of NHOP from the very beginning.  She works with Rob & Fran Parker on several other major initiatives in the nation.  Not only has she been to Ottawa on a number of occasions but she has also set up meetings in Newfoundland for our team when we have travelled there.

Linking Hearts has a number of focii.  Let me draw three to your attention. 

1. Raising up prayer for Newfoundland and Labrador

2. Mobilizing prayer and prayer training for the Arctic (working with Veronica Dewar).

3. Drawing people to a love and prayer emphasis on Israel.  (In this regard Wanda organizes prayer trips to Israel.  She has two scheduled for 2009 already.

    We encourage you to visit the Linking Hearts website to learn more and connect with Wanda and her team.

Keep Your Hand to the Plow

by Wendy Turpin

You know, when I was in dialogue with Richard Long for my last post, he mentioned that he would like to do a short introduction about my new status.  I was in total agreement, but wondered how he would refer to me.  I suggested that he might try calling me a roving-prayer-missionary-on-special-assignment-for-NHOP-reporter, but for some reason he didn’t like that idea.  I think perhaps he had two good reasons:  firstly, that it’s a mouthful (that’s obvious) and secondly, that it could be far too many words,  as the rule of thumb is “less is more” around here.   It’s true that I’m no longer living at NHOP but I will be remaining in Ottawa staying with friends until the end of the summer.  The Lord still has me on a couple of prayer assignments even though I am no longer officially a prayer missionary with the National House of Prayer.  I was sad that my term had come to an end — it’s been an awesome, educational and fun year — but I am leaving with a lot of new, and I’m sure lasting, friendships and the wonderful satisfaction of knowing that I was able to sow into this nation with prayer for almost an entire year. 

Now that it’s the end of July I can’t believe how quickly the summer seems to be flying by.  I’m mostly writing this article in the hope to keep you inspired to continue your prayer for our governmental leaders.  It’s easy to get distracted with summer activities, and understandably so, but the fall session is coming up quickly.  I know that this next session will begin with a “bang” so to speak as the government will be working hard right out of the starting gate to finish what they began in the last spring session.  So, let’s remember to pray about the upcoming fall session.  I know that even though my term has ended at NHOP, my responsibility to pray for this nation’s leaders has not.  I know that you will join me in keeping our hands to the plow!