BERNARD SHUFORD

I’m becoming more and more convinced that praying “in Jesus’ name” has absolutely nothing to do with saying those words at the end of our prayer.  Even though I virtually always do it that way, too. 

We think that saying those words is a magic potion that forces God to do what we want, because, after all, we prayed in Jesus’ name. 

But I wonder this…  If we pray for our own wants and “claim them” in Jesus’ name – in other words saying that we want a Rolls Royce and blaming it on Jesus – isn’t that perilously close to taking God’s name “in vain”? 

In other words, if I show up on your doorstep and scream “Open up in the name of the law!” I’m claiming to represent the law – I’m claiming to be something that I’m not. 

It seems easy to say “I always pray in Jesus’ name.” 

Just thoughts…  What are yours?

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The number of losses I’ve suffered over at chess.com this week has been monumental.

That’s what I get for entering a tournament for folks at least twice as good as I am.

Feels kinda like fighting the devil on my own.

Or like trying to conquer sin in my own strength.

The odds are not in my favor.

Now, if Garry Kasparov were to play my games for me….

See, Jesus took my mess on his shoulders at Calvary and did what I could never do.

Kick Satan in the teeth.  Send sin packing.  Laugh at the grave.

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I’m a huge fan of flashlights.  Every real man should own at least one, if not two, Brinkmann Pro-Max 3-D flashlights, preferably in black.  The 2-D is acceptable for home use.  The 4-D is just too big, even though it makes a nice nightstick.

However, technology has intervened and made things different.

For one thing, D-cell batteries are incredibly expensive these days.  Well, actually, ALL batteries are expensive, but the small ones cost what the big ones used to cost…

So, enter the new era of LED flashlights.

I’ve got one of the cheapie Brinkmann LED lights, a sort of tatical “look alike”.  But I’m amazed by the fact that there are tactical flashlights out there with five LEDs that are three times as bright as mine.  Those puppies cost $40 or even as much as $60.  Or more.

Just goes to show, if you want to shine brightly, there’s a price to pay. But I’ll guarantee you, if I ever buy such a light, I’ll brag about it.  I’ll probably blog about just how awesome it is.  I’ll show it off to all my friends.  I’ll be amazed.  I’ll want you to be amazed.  I’ll shine it a lot.  I’ll use it instead of turning on the light in the basement.  I’ll shine it into a few folks’ eyes just to aggravate them.

One thing I won’t do, though, is put a piece of duct tape over the lens.

Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our light.  It’s an incredibly bright light, more than any tactical light could ever lay claim to.

As Christians, we spend a lot of time with duct tape over our lens.  Maybe we need to be amazed by the power of the light.

Take off the duct tape.

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