Yesterday, I had the honor of giving an invocation at a Memorial Day service in Lancaster. It was the first time that I’ve done something like this in my young ministry as a Presbyterian pastor. There were many in attendance from all of the Military branches of service in our country. It was a reminder again that the persons who’ve gone before us and who will go before us are instruments of God’s blessing of freedom that we get to experience in this country.

After the event, I was challenged by one person who asked me of what I thought about praying in the “Name of Jesus” or closing my prayers with in the “Name of Jesus Christ we pray” at an event like this. I did the invocation, gave a short meditation, a short benediction along with closing prayer. I’m positive that I didn’t say in the “Name of Jesus Christ we pray.”

I’ve never encountered this question before and I think I’ve become more discerning of how I pray in public arenas like the event I attended yesterday. His context for his question was his concern for pastors and Christians going along with culture for the fear of offending those in attendance at a function like a Memorial Day service where there is a possibility of folks who aren’t churched and who’d be offended by a prayer closed by saying “In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray.”

Listening to this person ask me my thoughts about this made me wonder about what other pastors have prayed at an event like this where one is invited to give a prayer or speak in a public arena? Do you pray in the name of Jesus Christ we pray when you close your prayers?

My personal opinion is that in an arena where I know there might be churched folks I’d close my prayers with an “in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.” Why not at an event like this? Of the folks present it was an older generation who grew up with clergy closing their prayers with “In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray.” So, it shouldn’t of been an issue for me to close my prayer with, “in the Name of Jesus Christ we pray?” Right? In my short time as a pastor I’ve learned and through some of my training as a pastor I’ve come to understand that discernment is key to praying at a public event like a Memorial Day Service. Am I going along with culture by not say in the name of Jesus Christ we pray?

When the service was over a sweet old fellow and I chatted and he said, “thank you for the prayers.” We talked for a moment and I said thank you, I hope it was helpful, and he said, “when you’re led by the Spirit, you never will go wrong.” 

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in
the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered
with names with small American flags mounted on either side of it.
The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some
time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said
quietly,
“Good morning Alex.”
“Good morning Pastor,” he replied, still focused on the
plaque.
“Pastor, what is this?” he asked.
The pastor said, “Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young
men and women who died in the service.”
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large
plaque.
Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling
with fear, asked,
“Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?”

Got this in an emal today…

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered With names with small American flags mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some
time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, ”Good morning Alex.”  “Good morning Pastor,” he replied, still focused on the plaque. “Pastor, what is this?” he asked. The pastor said, “Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.” Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large
plaque. Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, ”Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?”

Make sure you visit Jenny. She’s graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary this weekend. Pray for her. She rocks and will rock the kingdom of God. Jenny and I served in the youth ministry at this cool church way back when and sensed God’s call to go to seminary. Jenny, you rock, can’t wait to see where God will lead you.

You ROCK Deb! Thank you Lord for Deb. Bless her, love her, fill her with your love, and most of all may she continue to be and become the woman you’ve created her to be. May it be so. amen.

BY JIM SKEEN, Daily News Staff Writer

ANTELOPE VALLEY - Lancaster’s population increased by 3.8 percent last year and Palmdale’s by 3 percent, making them among the fastest-growing cities in Los Angeles County, according to state population statistics released this week.

Although Lancaster grew at a faster rate, Palmdale retained its position as the largest city in the Antelope Valley, growing from 141,199 people to 145, 468. Lancaster’s population increased to 143,818 people, up from 138,562, according to the state Department of Finance.

“It helps out our real estate industry, because people are buying homes, and it helps out our business community,” Palmdale Councilman Mike Dispenza said. “As far as services, we’re not so stretched that we can’t absorb 4,000 or 5,000 people.”

Although housing sales have slowed from the furious pace of a year or two ago, there are still eager prospective buyers, Palmdale officials said. Palmdale is seeing interest in housing on its east side, and two large master-planned communities are under construction on the west side: the 5,000-home Anaverde and the 7,200-home Ritter Ranch.

Press here to read the whole daily news report

Ht: JUAN

Blogging hasn’t been the greatest of late. Busy. Kids. Family. Stuff. Church.  I did learn how to play golf today…it was acutally fun…don’t pastors play golf? Well…I stunk…you golfers…you rock! You keep doing it…and if you see me at the small little tiny 9 hole place in Palmdale…I promise I will yell FORE!!!!!