Author: Jonathan Dodson

I too had noticed that our prayers for others flow more easily than those we offer on our own behalf. And it would be nice to accept your view that this just shows we are made to live by charity. I’m afraid, however, I detect two much less attractive reasons for the ease of my own intercessory prayers. One is that I am often, I believe, praying for others when I should be doing things for them. It’s so much easier to pray for a bore than to go and see him. And the other is like unto it. Suppose I pray that you may be given grace to withstand your besetting sin (short list of candidates for this post will be forwarded on demand). Well, all the work has to be done by God and you. If I pray against my own besetting sin there will be work for me. One sometimes fights shy of admitting an act to be a sin for this very reason.

— C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), LETTERS TO MALCOLM: CHIEFLY ON PRAYER
HT: CS

Funerals assume such an important place in Shan culture that we find hard to grasp if we come from western mindset. Churches have fallen apart in the past when it has been perceived that a funeral was poorly done. Each time someone dies within the community of believers , it presents a challenge and an opportunity to show Shan-Tai people that Christians can do a funeral that honours the dead in an appropriate way.

At a recent Shan funeral, Shan believers came together from several villages to show support. The lady had died of AIDS and leaves two children, her last 18 months had been a vibrant testimony to the saving power of Jesus. Her funeral gave glory to God and several Shan Tai Buddhists came to church the following Sunday to find out more.

One 93 year old man said “Christians can pray directly to God!” He pointed to his idols and said “we pray to these crooked things!” Pray that he and others will seek and find the only way to have access to the Father.

In the past month 29 new believers have also been baptised. Pray that these new believers will be overcomer’s just as our Lord is the true overcomer. For more on the Shan go to www.surehope.net

See previous post on Shan. Info taken from Shan-Tai Prayer Bulletin. 

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Shan-Tai Prayer bulletin contact;  maisung@bigfoot.com

Career-centered family building may be on the horizon.  A new study reveals the probability of a process that will enable egg fertilization without the inconvenience of pregnancy. “Ice babies” will be produced in the lab. Dejrassi, creator of the birthcontrol pill, is pioneering vitrification despite the social and ethical concerns.  He writes:

“Is there not something to be said for wisdom, affection and maturity? Why shouldn’t a woman have a child when she is older if the science is there to help her? Nowadays it is not thought peculiar if a man in his 50s or 60s has a child. So should it be different for a woman?”

Is this responsible use of science or unethical child play?

See article here 

Speaking at a recent conference, Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz and other books said:

“Propositional truths, when extracted from a narrative context, lack meaning. “The chief role of a Christian,” he says, “is to tell a better story.”

Agree or disagree? How has Miller’s writing affected you?

Whole article here.