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The Lord’s Prayer: Twelve Tips for The Lord’s Prayer, Phrase-by-Phrase – “But Deliver Us from Evil”
10. But Deliver Us From Evil Please keep me out of evil’s way: the every day personal ones Like acting mean and selfish, cheating, not helping a friend and a lot of other things. But, Father there’s more – I not only asking for me, but for all of us. And ‘‘all of us” together got some big devils stalking us that we need to be rid of: Violence, famine, inequality, abject poverty, so many “ism’s” Hey, big guy! How about some deliverance from these? Hope I’m not being disrespectful, but… God, you gotta do a better job!
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The Lord’s Prayer: Twelve Tips for The Lord’s Prayer, Phrase-by-Phrase – “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”
9. Lead Us Not Into Temptation Really!! You’re such a Debbie Downer. Temptations can be exciting. Sometimes it’s fun to play with fire. Do you want me to be boring? Didn’t Jesus hang out with sinners? By now you’re reckoned I’m more arguing than praying this one. You put me in the world and you told to light up its darkness and shadows. But isn’t that where temptations lurk? I think I get it. I’m weak and can’t resist some bad things. So it’s better to not to be led there. But I’m pretty sure it’s not so simple or Maybe, I just disagree. Do you really only want me to…
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The Lord’s Prayer: Twelve Tips for The Lord’s Prayer, Phrase-by-Phrase – “Forgive Us Our Trespasses, As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us”
8. Forgive Us Our Trespasses, As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us I like the word “trespass:” – a neat grown-up word for mess-ups – But better, it’s so non-threatening! Like a kid crossing a neighbor’s property to chase a ball Other words scare me: evil, sin, meanness, selfishness, damage. God, as long as we keep this between us, I’ll cop to some to doing of those bad things So, I’ll take the deal. It seems fair. Forgive my mess-ups and I’ll forgive those who have messed me up. But I’m gonna need your help to close my side of the deal. By the way, one final thing,…
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The Lord’s Prayer: Twelve Tips for The Lord’s Prayer, Phrase-by-Phrase – “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”
7. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread Today’s prayer for today’s needs!! Jesus taught “the power of now” – well before contemporary gurus. No accruals from yesterday. No deferrals for tomorrow. Pretty sly of you, God! You know how to keep your power base. Tomorrow I’ll have to ask you again. But you know my A.D.D. distractions, my impatience when you don’t answer right away and my insecurity that you might not be there tomorrow… So, I have an idea. Why can’t I make one big prayer payment for the month – like I pay my bills? Umm – I don’t see you nodding, yes. Well, then please…
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The Lord’s Prayer: Twelve Tips for The Lord’s Prayer, Phrase-by-Phrase – “On Earth As It Is In Heaven”
6. On Earth As It Is In Heaven Earth, my hood; Heaven, your hood Your hood’s far away and perfect – Mine’s in my face and flawed I want my earth to be like your heaven – and I don’t want to wait until I die. So when you walk with me on my earthly journey – as you promised you would! Don’t come empty handed, bring some of heaven’s bling: happiness and glory. But I warn you. Me and hood’s my people are going to want to steal them. But I’m betting you’ll share them – at least a bit.