Posted on 12/11/2005 8:57:24 AM PST by wallcrawlr
A book that urges people to pray to God for a daily surprise gets a most unusual reputation after a pastor's accidental death.
It was an epiphany, said Terry Esau: ask God for a daily surprise for one month and write down what happens. The result, he thought, would make people aware of the sacred things present in even the small maneuvers of each day.
Then Esau went to Waco, Texas, and everything changed.
A pastor there had heard about the book Esau wrote about his epiphany and wanted his congregation to partake in the 30-day faith experiment. Esau, in the Texas town to visit a daughter at college, attended the service on the Sunday when the pastor was talking about the book.
"He was so excited," said Esau, recalling how he met the Rev. Kyle Lake, 33. Lake was the pastor at University Baptist Church and embraced a brand of theology that asked churchgoers to focus inward on their personal feelings about faith. Esau's book was tailor-made for the congregation.
That Sunday morning, Oct. 30, Lake laid out the plan for the 800 people who had come for service, saying they should all take part in the monthlong experiment.
Esau, sitting in the pews, looked on as a picture of his book's cover was beamed onto a large screen while the pastor talked about the experiment. Lake then prepared for a baptism. The baptismal font required him to step into waist-deep water.
He waded in, then reached for a microphone, and was electrocuted.
< snip >
Q Where did the idea for the book come from?
A I was watching a reality TV show, "Fear Factor."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Is praying "Surprise Me" a test? Is it appropriate of us to say to God?
Read the rest of the article for his context and let me know what you think.
My understanding of the intention of the prayer is that it didn't really mean, "Okay, God, come up with something to impress me!" but rather, "Help me to be aware of the unexpected ways that you are present in my life, so that I can appreciate and thank you more."
Well, if you pray to God to surprise you, and then step in front of a speeding truck, is God to blame because you did something deadly?
I feel sorry for the poor soul that was about to be baptized. What a burden to carry.
Amen to that. Wow.
"Give thanks in all things." St. Paul to the Thessalonians.
#mphasis in #8 is mine! Sorry that I didn't mention it in the post.
What's in a name ping.
Glancing at the church web site, it appears that they still haven't moved back into their facility. They are worshiping in alternate locations, and have cancelled Sunday School.
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