Joel Allen Prather

One of the greatest dangers of reading Revelation as American Christians is thinking we're somehow being persecuted like John's readers. Jesus warned those same *Christians* against participating in Babylon in chapters 2 & 3. Have we asked ourselves if we are participating in today's Babylon?

Power exercised as earthly strength over another is anti-Christ.
Christianity teaches that ultimate power and triumph looks like a lamb willing to sacrifice itself for another. Yet worldly empires who rule might are "the dwelling place of demons."
(Revelation 5:6 and 18:2).

Recipe for Christian living: Read. Worship. Pray. Repent. Repeat.

The Son of Man is coming in the midst of calamity & promises, it is the grief of nations & the longing of saints.
~ Tertullian

What is talent, really...talent has to do with your capacity for suffering. ~ cycling champion Eddy Merckx

Let people feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it.
~ John Eldridge

My SWAT team buddy's advice for handling crisis: Pause. Breathe. Focus. Act.

Suffering lies at the heart of the Gospel...Yet in western democracies today you will scarcely find a self-sacrificing Church let alone a suffering one.
~ Michael Bourdeax,
RISEN INDEED: Lessons in Faith from the USSR.

December 13, 2011
was awoken early this morning by my beautiful wife holding candle-light and a tray of Santa Lucia cakes for me

December 21, 2011

A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
~ George S. Patton

January 16, 2012
John 4:9 "Jews do not associate with Samaritans." My 6 year old's reply, "Well, you could say Jesus was actually a Gallilean."

We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.
~ Winston Churchil

Secularism is, above all, a negation of worship.
~ Alexander Schmemann

If the goal is resurrection in a new earth with no possessions spending our life enslaved to them seems a strange way to prepare for it.

The superior Christian lets God strip him of everything that might serve as a false refuge, a secondary trust.
~ A.W. Tozer

January 28, 2012
So the Missus & I mention getting rid of some of our books & the Mancub exclaims, "Not the Greek & Hebrew!"

January 29, 2012
So after making holy water as part of the House Blessing @ my buddy's house he exclaims, "Dude, I never realized that if we ever have any vampire-related issues we've totally got the hook-up since you're a priest!" I laughed so hard I cried.

I love that the Hall of Saints in Hebrews 11 includes those who "were,made strong out of weakness" (v34)

Tomorrow I plan to work, work from early until late. In fact I have so much to do that I'll spend the first three hours in prayer.
~ Martin Luther

February 7, 2012
Me, the Mancub, chinese carryout & the original Lone Ranger (starring Clayton Moore & Jay Silverheels) on Netflix . Perfect Dad & Son night.

One of the most powerful, transformative, healing things a person can do is confess their sins to Jesus & another human being.

February 26, 2012
Mancub ~ Let's make up nicknames for our whole family.
My nickname is "Animal"
Dad your nickname is "Ace Frehley"
And Mom, your nickname is "Munchkin."

March 11, 2012
Mancub: "I think I'm the toughest man on earth...except for Jackie Chan." (referring to recent bouts of stitches).

March 22, 2012
Mancub: Dad, what's Kung Fu?
Me: It's a Chinese version of Karate (grossly over-simplying)
Mancub: What do you mean?
Me: It's the kind of fighting Jackie Chan does.
Mancub: So Kung Fu teaches you how to fight with pots and pans?

If people would really hear Holy Week...there'd be no need for theology.
~ Alexander Schmemann

April 6, 2012
Mancub to Grandpa: "We're not going to eat for 2 more hours because Jesus suffered for us so we're going to sacrifice for Him."

Obedience requires Atonement. 1 Peter & 1 John: both speak of obedience & Jesus' blood in the same breath. Can't do the 1st w/out the 2nd.

Are you one of the 2.4%? When Jesus began His ministry He had crowds of 4000 & 5000. 3 yrs later after He ROSE FROM THE DEAD He had 120.

May 1, 2012
Christian: One who actively participates w/ Jesus in God the Father's redemptive plan for the world.