R. Franklin Cook, Editor in Chief

April 2001

Teach Us to Pray

COVER STORY "Abba, Father" by Daniel Ketchum Some Christians have become so intent on serving God that they have lost the wonder of seeking, knowing, and loving Abba. Jesus modeled for us the primary purpose of prayer . . . not to achieve answers to our requests but simply to find intimacy with the Father. Read this story now...

 

FEATURES

• "Laboring for Love," by Carl M. Leth. The character, quality, and durability of our spiritual house will be shaped largely by our casual or purposeful practice of prayer and spiritual formation. How's construction going?

• "Fasting: A Feast of Communion," by Jesse Middendorf. Do you hunger to know God better? Is the clear direction of God needed in your life or in your church? Do you long to express your passionate and consuming love for God? Why not fast?

• "Have Prayer; Will Travel!" by Bobbi Smisko. Their differences in age, background, and interests would probably not have drawn these three women together at any other time. Yet the common bond of prayer took them to the other side of the ocean to experience the intimacy of conversation with God.

• "Tune In: Praying with Your Life," by Rebecca Laird. What happens when a trusted channel to God becomes blocked or confused by the static of life? These are the times to tune in to other channels of prayer God utilizes to reach us in difficult or dry times.

• "Superglue for Couples," by Geneva Cobb Iijima. Praying together can be a powerful tool in deepening couples' communication and commitment to each other and to God. It's an avenue to Jesus' promise: "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

COLUMNS

• The Deeper Way: "Holiness: The Only Message of Hope," by Teanna Sunberg. Jesus never meant for heart holiness to be a confusing sermon delivered from a pulpit or a theological term dissected in a seminary.

• Editor's Forum: April's forum answers the question of whether or not women should be ordained as elders.

• Metro: "High Points and Lowly Living," by Fletcher L. Tink. Perhaps what we erect over our cities doesn't matter so much. Perhaps more important is that we experience the fullness of Christ.

• Family Tree: "Teach Them to Pray," by Rick and Bonnie Ryding. Prayer is a spiritual discipline that requires modeling, mentoring, and practice. Few people, however, report being mentored or taught how to pray.

• Interconnected: "Hopeful Thinking," by Norm Henry. Praising God is good for us. Holding on to hope is critical for health.

• Touching: "Could You Please Pray for My Mama?" by Gustavo A. Crocker. The impact of HIV/AIDS in the developing world is affecting the lives of millions of women and children. At the current rate, in the next 20 years more than two-thirds of the people in Africa will be orphaned children.

• Portraits: "Daniel Hinthorn: Porch-side and Bedside Manner," by Dean Nelson. From the early days of his growing up to his adult life as a prominent physician, Daniel has seen the power of living under the influence of God's Word, and he spreads that truth to as many people as he can.

• Holiness: "Our Pursuit of Holiness," by John A. Knight. The word holiness describes the essential nature of God. To say that God is holy is to say that God is God. God alone is holy. Things, places, and persons become holy only because of their relation to the one holy God.

• Heartbeat: "The Expensive Free Gift," by Michael R. Estep. A contradictory E-mail title had stopped me in the midst of a very busy Advent season and reminded me of the truth.

• Essay: "Knowing God by Name," by Gary Sivewright. Pay attention. God's name is Rophe -- there is healing in store.

• Commission: "What the Church Means to Me," by William J. Prince. It is through the Church, the Body of Christ, that Jesus proclaims, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

COMING IN MAY -- ANTICIPATING THE GATHERING: 25TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

• "Holiness, Extravagance, and General Assembly," by Wesley D. Tracy. General assembly provides the Nazarene family a forum for purposes that cannot be written into a Manual. Rising above the debates and elections will be opportunities to rehearse the mighty acts of God and the faithful acts of saints since we last gathered -- stories of extravagant devotion, immoderate courage, abundant mercy -- stories that can be explained only by God's unconditional love in Christ.