Snapshots and Synapses

copyright ©2010 Mitchell Malloy ( http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/ ) - Sermon Notes for 07/25/2010 at Soldier's Memorial Chapel in Fort Benjamin Harrison “All we can do is pray.” I find myself saying that way too often. Why do we say “all” as if this is somehow an inferior act? Although I KNOW that prayer is important and powerful, somehow, it’s easy to lose sight of that. I wonder why? How is it that when we finally get to the end of our own power, our own strength, that we remember our most valuable Resource: we have the ear of the All-Powerful and All-Knowing God! Now for clarification, God is not some genie in a bottle that we command to do our bidding; He is God and we are His subjects. Still, why wouldn’t we go to the King of the Universe when we need anything? He is our Provider and Protector! 1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2He said t...

I’ve noticed something about myself: when purpose drives my life, I’m passionate about life, but in the absence of purpose, I tend to focus on what pleases me, which leads to a lack-luster longing for more. I don’t think I’m unique in this, especially among guys. We thrive on purpose. Our identity rests on it, and in the absence of purpose, we find one: career, status, finances, skills, video games, drinking games or whatever else brings us pleasure. It can drive us to build great things, create new artwork, or just compete for competition’s sake. In the end, it can be filled with great worth or feed our vanity, and it whiles away the hours. Now, there are a lot of worthy activities, and there are some less worthy ones. When we occupy ourselves with the less worthy pursuits, there’s a cost. When my purpose centers around my pleasure, the world suffers; I suffer. Whether it’s a short-term, immediate self-gratification or a long-term pursuit self-service, selfish ambition keep...