Prayer at the Pump

[Nbadan]

Yeah, this'll work...


miE1kZz7XLw

... I guess praying for more fuel efficient cars, energy efficient public transportation and city planning that makes driving vehicles needless is asking too much....

[PixelPusher]

And the Lord answered the multitude from on high, saying "Stop driving SUVs, my stupid children. You there, with the F-150! You're not a rancher or a contractor, you work at an insurance company downtown...you don't need a pickup. And you, tubby! You only live 5 miles from work; get your fat ass on a bicycle..."

And the multitude murmured in discontent, for they did not want to make any effort to solve their problems for themselves.

[Extra Stout]

Farce.

[ElNono]

Good luck with that...

[boutons_]

People are fucking stupid.

Pray for $8 oil, that will solve a lot of problems.

Praying for specific outcomes works about 50% of the time, like flipping a coin.

[Gino]

Yes, with the genocide occuring in Darfur, Im sure the all-mighty will grant OUR wish and lower the price of petroleum so we can afford bigger flat screen tvs.

[BRHornet45]

And the Lord answered the multitude from on high, saying "Stop driving SUVs, my stupid children. You there, with the F-150! You're not a rancher or a contractor, you work at an insurance company downtown...you don't need a pickup. And you, tubby! You only live 5 miles from work; get your fat ass on a bicycle..."

And the multitude murmured in discontent, for they did not want to make any effort to solve their problems for themselves.

LOL brilliant post son! and 100% truth. yes the gas prices suck, but people are overreacting with it. if gas is hurting you that bad, then get rid of your big ass gas guzzling vehicle and get something like a hybrid, honda civic, or another small car that gets 30-40mpg.

[angel_luv]

Don't knock praying before you have tried it.

Several weeks ago, my pastor instructed our church congregation the following way: When you fill up your car with gas, instead of complaining about the expense of it, ask God to give you raises at your places of employment.

I decided to try his advice.

About two weeks after that sermon, I was given an easy, part time, marketing assignment that is earning me an additional $200 per month, minimum

Even better, the project is located on the same retail property where I already work- i.e. it takes me no extra gas to get to it.

Suffice to say, I am going to continue praying.

[jochhejaam]

Don't knock praying before you have tried it.

Several weeks ago, my pastor instructed our church congregation the following way: When you fill up your car with gas, instead of complaining about the expense of it, ask God to give you raises at your places of employment.

I decided to try his advice.

About two weeks after that sermon, I was given an easy, part time, marketing assignment that is earning me an additional $200 per month, minimum

Even better, the project is located on the same retail property where I already work- i.e. it takes me no extra gas to get to it.

Suffice to say, I am going to continue praying.

A post free of cynicism, refreshing. Thanks :clap

[Nbadan]

Question: What happens to prayers that never get answered? Are some people more worth of having prayers answered than others? What's the criteria?

[TeyshaBlue]

Question: What happens to prayers that never get answered? Are some people more worth of having prayers answered than others? What's the criteria?

1. Dunno
2. Yes
3. Pray for the answer.

[Anti.Hero]

And the Lord answered the multitude from on high, saying "Stop driving SUVs, my stupid children. You there, with the F-150! You're not a rancher or a contractor, you work at an insurance company downtown...you don't need a pickup. And you, tubby! You only live 5 miles from work; get your fat ass on a bicycle..."



Exactly! Something like this would better suit his needs...

http://thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/randy_international_cxt_truck.jpg


These people relying on God to decrease fuel prices are just as stupid as those who rely on the government and not themselves.

[JoeChalupa]

I love my Saturn.

[DarrinS]

People are fucking stupid.

Pray for $8 oil, that will solve a lot of problems.

Praying for specific outcomes works about 50% of the time, like flipping a coin.



Yes. Yes they are.

[ashbeeigh]

Question: What happens to prayers that never get answered? Are some people more worth of having prayers answered than others? What's the criteria?

sometimes the answer is no.



But, as for this video. :lmao Seriously? Anyway.

[sabar]

Well if I'm God, I don't care about superficial needs like money and gas. Maybe I'll help people with cancer or something. Maybe.

[jochhejaam]

Farce.
Dear "King of Scotland",

You critized these people, labeling their prayers as a farce <seems like God's call to me>, then you labeled those that critized Obama's prayer as "despicable". Based on those observations, was it despicable of you to critisize them, or is critizing public prayers okay?







"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways"

-Isaiah 55-















http://spurstalk.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2300136

[herzlman]

funny

[angel_luv]

Question: What happens to prayers that never get answered? Are some people more worth of having prayers answered than others? What's the criteria?

All prayers get answered- perhaps just not always in the way or timing we expect.

[DarkReign]

All prayers get answered- perhaps just not always in the way or timing we expect.


You keep believing that...

[Cry Havoc]

Don't knock praying before you have tried it.

Several weeks ago, my pastor instructed our church congregation the following way: When you fill up your car with gas, instead of complaining about the expense of it, ask God to give you raises at your places of employment.

I decided to try his advice.

About two weeks after that sermon, I was given an easy, part time, marketing assignment that is earning me an additional $200 per month, minimum

Even better, the project is located on the same retail property where I already work- i.e. it takes me no extra gas to get to it.

Suffice to say, I am going to continue praying.

I agree with you, but I think if people pray for lower gas prices and are really seeking an answer, God is going to tell them to use alternative methods of transit. If you can afford to throw $40,000 away on that full-size SUV with leather, lace, and fully automated dry-cleaning service, you have no business asking for help from anyone. My daily driver is by no means a fantastic car, but it was built in 1993 and still gets 30+ mpg in the city. Which is why it's my DD.

People should really ask themselves if they NEED to drive all over the countryside. I drive to and from work. That's it. That's the only time I use my car, and I'm considering cutting that out, even though it would take longer to get there on public transit.


You keep believing that...

That's kind of how it works.

[angel_luv]

You keep believing that...

I intended to. :)

[angel_luv]

I agree with you, but I think if people pray for lower gas prices and are really seeking an answer, God is going to tell them to use alternative methods of transit. If you can afford to throw $40,000 away on that full-size SUV with leather, lace, and fully automated dry-cleaning service, you have no business asking for help from anyone. My daily driver is by no means a fantastic car, but it was built in 1993 and still gets 30+ mpg in the city. Which is why it's my DD.

People should really ask themselves if they NEED to drive all over the countryside. I drive to and from work. That's it. That's the only time I use my car, and I'm considering cutting that out, even though it would take longer to get there on public transit.


I agree with you that God gave us wisdom and wants us to use it.
I try to be responsible about how I use my gas. For example, I try to run errands on my way home from work instead of going all the way home first.

My car is a 2003 Nissan Xterra that I was blessed to get second hand last year for 8,000.

Before that I had a 1995 Saturn which was second hand even before my mom passed it down to me.
I would still be happily driving that Saturn had not a truck hit me and totalled it.

I had to get a new car quickly and was afraid to get a small car after my accident, thus the SUV now.

All that to say, since God provided me with such a great deal on my car, I know He will provide the funds necessary to keep it running.

[Heath Ledger]

Aww Angel its so cute that you really believe those things.

I used to believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa.

[Extra Stout]

Dear "King of Scotland",

You critized these people, labeling their prayers as a farce <seems like God's call to me>, then you labeled those that critized Obama's prayer as "despicable". Based on those observations, was it despicable of you to critisize them, or is critizing public prayers okay?


What you say in the prayer closet is between you and God. What you pray out in public involves the public. If people go standing outside praying at gas pumps looking ridiculous, they can be called ridiculous.

For too long the evangelical church in the United States has whored itself out to the world. For all of the rancor towards the liberal apostate church for its apostasy, the "conservative" evangelical church has done the same things. Where the liberals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to sexuality (among other things), the evangelicals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to materialism.

And don't you dare start deflecting that criticism. You know damn well it's true. The prosperity gospel is just the most flagrant form of the heresy.

So the farce here is the spectacle of Christians, long encouraged to live out their lives of mindless consumerism by churches that not only fail to admonish them from it, but even cater to it, whose understanding of God now is of a sugar daddy who will make the price of gas go down.

I wonder what that mother in Kenya running an orphanage and school, praying for a few extra dollars so she can adopt another AIDS orphan off the streets of Nairobi, would think of a spectacle of middle-class Americans praying at the pump beside their big SUV's, on the way to their 2500 square-foot air-conditioned homes in the suburbs.

This is the harvested fruit here at the last days of American evangelicalism, of churches with their coffee shops, and their plush theater seats, and their 148 programs, and their "bookstores" consisting of Christian "gifts," luxury Bibles, Danielle Steel-derived fiction, and "Christian living" books predicated on baptizing the consumer's self-obsession, of churches that think secular marketing instead of the gospel is the way to evangelize, and who fashion pastors as CEO's instead of shepherds.

So, yes, FARCE, and if you don't like it, I don't care. Jesus turned over the tables in the temple court for a reason.

[Cry Havoc]

Aww Angel its so cute that you really believe those things.

I used to believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa.

She seems to be doing pretty well. It's amazing that she believes in something so "ridiculous" yet continues to function and do well in society, isn't it? I'll take her well-meaning belief in something beyond our sensory perception over your broad-scope cynicism any time.

[Cry Havoc]

What you say in the prayer closet is between you and God. What you pray out in public involves the public. If people go standing outside praying at gas pumps looking ridiculous, they can be called ridiculous.

For too long the evangelical church in the United States has whored itself out to the world. For all of the rancor towards the liberal apostate church for its apostasy, the "conservative" evangelical church has done the same things. Where the liberals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to sexuality (among other things), the evangelicals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to materialism.

And don't you dare start deflecting that criticism. You know damn well it's true. The prosperity gospel is just the most flagrant form of the heresy.

So the farce here is the spectacle of Christians, long encouraged to live out their lives of mindless consumerism by churches that not only fail to admonish them from it, but even cater to it, whose understanding of God now is of a sugar daddy who will make the price of gas go down.

I wonder what that mother in Kenya running an orphanage and school, praying for a few extra dollars so she can adopt another AIDS orphan off the streets of Nairobi, would think of a spectacle of middle-class Americans praying at the pump beside their big SUV's, on the way to their 2500 square-foot air-conditioned homes in the suburbs.

This is the harvested fruit here at the last days of American evangelicalism, of churches with their coffee shops, and their plush theater seats, and their 148 programs, and their "bookstores" consisting of Christian "gifts," luxury Bibles, Danielle Steel-derived fiction, and "Christian living" books predicated on baptizing the consumer's self-obsession, of churches that think secular marketing instead of the gospel is the way to evangelize, and who fashion pastors as CEO's instead of shepherds.

So, yes, FARCE, and if you don't like it, I don't care. Jesus turned over the tables in the temple court for a reason.


I cannot possibly agree more with a post than I do here. Absolutely spot-on.

I saw an Acura NSX parked outside of a church this week. It made me sick.

http://www.edmunds.com/media/reviews/top10/04.cars.best.residual/04.acura.nsx.500.jpg

Yeah. That car says a lot about what matters you concern yourself with.

[Extra Stout]

angel_luv from what I can gather on the internet (which isn't much) seems like a person with childlike faith (the kind one is supposed to have), who is content with what she has, and makes effort to be kind and generous to others.

The bolded part makes her especially rare.

[Cry Havoc]

angel_luv from what I can gather on the internet (which isn't much) seems like a person with childlike faith (the kind one is supposed to have), who is content with what she has, and makes effort to be kind and generous to others.

The bolded part makes her especially rare.

Dude, you're just saying that cause she's hot. :lol

[angel_luv]

Thanks very much Cry Havoc and Extra Stout.

You are both very kind.

[Extra Stout]

Dude, you're just saying that cause she's hot. :lol
My wife is waaaaaaaaay hotter. To me anyway.

[Cry Havoc]

My wife is waaaaaaaaay hotter. To me anyway.

Pics or get lost. :toast


:rollin

[Extra Stout]

Pics or get lost. :toast
Not a chance. :downspin:

[PixelPusher]

Dear "King of Scotland",

You critized these people, labeling their prayers as a farce <seems like God's call to me>, then you labeled those that critized Obama's prayer as "despicable". Based on those observations, was it despicable of you to critisize them, or is critizing public prayers okay?


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways"

-Isaiah 55-

ES pretty much covered it, but you can also take it straight from the J-man's mouth:


Matthew 6:5
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

[DarkReign]

Religion constantly gets in the way of everything it seems.

Forum talk, politics, gas prices, self confidence, peer acceptance, etc.

Seems more a barrier than a bridge to the un-indoctrinated. But whatever gets you in the "IN" crowd is okay in my book.

Another thing I have noticed in little old Michigan, it would seem the most ignorant and petulent people I have met in my life are always quasi-religious. "Quasi" because theyre too dumb to read the Bible and actually understand it, but "religious" in that they invoke the Lord's name in the most mundane facets of life. Whether its "Swear to God?" or in the face of adversity, "The Lord has a plan..." or other such drivel to explain away life's misfortunes.

As an example:

You can pray all day, every day for one thing thats tangible. Like...sheesh, I dont know...a better job (to use Angel_Luvs situation).

If you do nothing to further that goal, then your prayer means nothing and (so to speak) falls on deaf ears. A religious person would probably write that off as "hasnt happened yet".

But, in the case of Angel, who Im sure pursued her goals and hit the net with resumes' (sp?), beat the street knocking on doors and turning in applications, called friends or what have you in the industry asking about and all other due diligence in seeking better employment gets her better opportunity, God helped because you prayed?

Im sure its easy for those in your boat to understand the connection, but for those of us at sea, not so much. Sounds like hard work and diligence paid off, not divine intervention. But whatever...

[clambake]

does anybody pray for ford or gm?

[DarkReign]

does anybody pray for ford or gm?


No, they pray for their jobs. Judging by their local parking lots, God must have been on the phone...

[Heath Ledger]

Im not knocking her beliefs, just being a little bit of a smartass, I don't judge the believers just the ones who judge the non-believers. Her beliefs do not hurt me in any way and I would agree there are a lot of positives about religion. Imagine a world where there was no religion and no fear of consequences or a fear of god, this world would be in total Anarchy, not that its not too far from that now.

[Extra Stout]

You can pray all day, every day for one thing thats tangible.
Prayer is about more than asking God for things.

[E20]

Apparently this shit is working, because gas prices are steadly going down where I'm at. It was at 4.59 like a month ago now it's around 4.20. It would be perfect around 3 dollars to 3.30.

[Heath Ledger]

I was in Vegas last weekend it was $3.99 now its close to $3.90

[Heath Ledger]

And Angel dont take my comment the wrong way, i do think its kinda cute with your and your faith. You go girl.

[2centsworth]

Prayer is about more than asking God for things.

It's ok for starters, but as you mature asking for things becomes less important.

[jochhejaam]

What you say in the prayer closet is between you and God. What you pray out in public involves the public. If people go standing outside praying at gas pumps looking ridiculous, they can be called ridiculous.
I believe they were well intentioned, that is, they were frustrated and genuinely concerned by the hardship higher gas prices have put on many people and families. At worst, they were harmless.
As far as being called ridiculous, Christ was called worse for his public prayers, imagine someone taking a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish and publicly asking God to satisfy the hunger of 5,000 people with it. Riciculous looking for sure. I personally wouldn't have joined the prayer at the pump, but I certainly wouldn't offer them one bit of criticism either.

Are you absolutely sure God believed those people were ridiculous and foolish?






For too long the evangelical church in the United States has whored itself out to the world. For all of the rancor towards the liberal apostate church for its apostasy, the "conservative" evangelical church has done the same things. Where the liberals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to sexuality (among other things), the evangelicals go off the rails on biblical interpretation relating to materialism.

And don't you dare start deflecting that criticism. You know damn well it's true. The prosperity gospel is just the most flagrant form of the heresy.

Good sermonette, but I've never said anything in this forum that should have given you cause to believe that I want to deflect that criticism, and I wouldn't think of defending the Osteen's and other's that promote a materialistic doctrine. On the contrary, Christ and Scripture condemn striving for, or accumulating material wealth.






So the farce here is the spectacle of Christians, long encouraged to live out their lives of mindless consumerism by churches that not only fail to admonish them from it, but even cater to it, whose understanding of God now is of a sugar daddy who will make the price of gas go down. This is the harvested fruit here at the last days of American evangelicalism, of churches with their coffee shops, and their plush theater seats, and their 148 programs, and their "bookstores" consisting of Christian "gifts," luxury Bibles, Danielle Steel-derived fiction, and "Christian living" books predicated on baptizing the consumer's self-obsession, of churches that think secular marketing instead of the gospel is the way to evangelize, and who fashion pastors as CEO's instead of shepherds.
It may be easier for you to write them off as being ridiculous if the spike in gas prices didn't put a big dent in your lifestyle, or make the basic necessities in life more unaffordable than they already were. Those who were pushed further into indebtedness because were probably praying with them.
They weren't seeking material wealth, just praying for a break for those who were struggling more financially.
They were harmless and well intentioned, no harm done.





I wonder what that mother in Kenya running an orphanage and school, praying for a few extra dollars so she can adopt another AIDS orphan off the streets of Nairobi, would think of a spectacle of middle-class Americans praying at the pump beside their big SUV's, on the way to their 2500 square-foot air-conditioned homes in the suburbs.
I wouldn't know, but otoh, you don't know what those people are driving or what their living conditions are.
Maybe you'd like to share with us the amenities and luxuries you've accumulated, then speculate as to what the mother in Kenya thinks of you.

Self examinition would serve us all better than examining "the other guy".








So, yes, FARCE, and if you don't like it, I don't care.
It was not, I don't mind, and i think you do care. :lol
<would it be out of order for the student to tell the teacher to "lighten up"?>





Jesus turned over the tables in the temple court for a reason.
Praying for a break in high gas prices, because you're concerned for your neighbor's financial crunch, is a far cry from turning His synagogues into a strip mall.

[Ignignokt]

Jochejam wins, not that discussing issues like this requires a scoreboard, this isn't the Victoria Texas Longhorn Circle Jerk Forum, nevertheless...

I agree 100 percent with Extra Stouts criticisms of the Prosperity-Seeker Sensitive-Starbucks Spiritualism gospel espoused by the Osteens and Creflow Dollar. But I think his ire is misdirected.

i personally think there are other things more worthy to pray about, but i don't know the true intent of these people, and i wont judge.

[fyatuk]

You there, with the F-150! You're not a rancher or a contractor, you work at an insurance company downtown...you don't need a pickup. And you, tubby! You only live 5 miles from work; get your fat ass on a bicycle..."


That was creepy for a second, but I work at an insurance company 2 miles from my house and drive an f-150, so obviously, this isn't about me...

[Cry Havoc]

does anybody pray for ford or gm?

Sorry. I have a bit too much on my plate to concern myself with companies full of arrogant executives who do nothing to improve quality, nothing to change fundamental flaws in their design, and nothing to respond to a growing discontent among the public for 20+ years. I'm not going to pray for someone who thinks they're invincible and uses that principle to get rich and widen the difference between their pay and the pay of the average worker.

I will pray for the workers who have to bear the brunt of that incredible avarice and arrogance, though. I grew up in a Ford family and to be honest it's really sad that it took THIS long for a company to take one single step to make things better.

[Whisky Dog]

I dig Angel's apparent full on faith, not for any religious reasons but for the sheer optimism in her tone (as much as tone can be judged from a monitor). I don't think the reason why someone is optimistic is important (be it religion or a healthy and content world view), but it is extremely important to have the optimistic world view. If she is truly successful and content in her life it is because she chooses to be and accepts that in herself. That's really cool to see, you don't see too many people walking around who are nearing or even moving towards a self actualized state.

As for the oil situation, it is what it is. You take the changing environment and life factors and find a way to work your life in that frame. Paying $4 a gallon for gas still beats the quality of life lived by 99% of the people who inhabited this planet before us.