On econimics, politics and religion
Is there a difference? Here is a quote from Vermont's founding criminal...
“To pray for any thing, which we can obtain by the due application of our natural powers, and neglect the means of procuring it, is impertinence and laziness in the abstract, and to pray for that which God in the course of his providence has put out of our power to obtain, is only murmuring against God, and finding fault with his providence, or acting the inconsiderate part of a child.” - Ethan Allen
To summarize, To ask for something which you can get on your own is lazy, to ask for something which is beyond your reach is to doubt God's will.
The question I have, then, is why pray? I say, to give thanks, but that is just me.
I was reading back through a few years of liveJournal posts and was pleasantly entertained at the stress and horrors of the Bush years, during which I was deployed, discharged for medial reasons, hired, transferred fired, drunk, sober, lost, found, married and confused. It's only been a few months, but I have to keep saying to myself "Oh, yeah, Bush isn't president anymore, it's that black dude...."
Does that mean, nothing has changed?
I once wrote a great post about being stuck alone on a sailboat of the coast of Florida in a wicked storm, but I can't find it. Bummer. The thing I learned there, while seeking refuge from taking care of my dying father is, sometimes, you don't have a choice, you get stuck and have to just wait and see. Tant pis.
“To pray for any thing, which we can obtain by the due application of our natural powers, and neglect the means of procuring it, is impertinence and laziness in the abstract, and to pray for that which God in the course of his providence has put out of our power to obtain, is only murmuring against God, and finding fault with his providence, or acting the inconsiderate part of a child.” - Ethan Allen
To summarize, To ask for something which you can get on your own is lazy, to ask for something which is beyond your reach is to doubt God's will.
The question I have, then, is why pray? I say, to give thanks, but that is just me.
I was reading back through a few years of liveJournal posts and was pleasantly entertained at the stress and horrors of the Bush years, during which I was deployed, discharged for medial reasons, hired, transferred fired, drunk, sober, lost, found, married and confused. It's only been a few months, but I have to keep saying to myself "Oh, yeah, Bush isn't president anymore, it's that black dude...."
Does that mean, nothing has changed?
I once wrote a great post about being stuck alone on a sailboat of the coast of Florida in a wicked storm, but I can't find it. Bummer. The thing I learned there, while seeking refuge from taking care of my dying father is, sometimes, you don't have a choice, you get stuck and have to just wait and see. Tant pis.