I have never been one to avoid conflict, at least in some areas. I am opinionated and will often wade off into a swamp. Normally, when neck deep I wish I hadn’t, but sometimes I can’t help it. That said, let me say that, if my opinion is different than yours, so be it, I am not offended, and hope you aren’t – besides, you can respond to this post and redeem your position.

Yesterday, one of our office employees forwarded a link of a pastor praying before a NASCAR race. The local news announcer at a Nashville station remarks that,” This prayer is one of the most unusual you might ever hear.” and I think it is. But I loved it. Now there is the rub, because this prayer has set off a firestorm in some Christian circles, and the remarks by many Christians have been, well… less than flattering. I liked it; in fact I thought it was hilarious. Now there is yet another rub, many think that a prayer should never been described as hilarious but I think there are more of these types of prayers than we know. I am convinced that God must laugh at our prayer on occasion, the situations we can get into that require intense prayer are sometimes hilarious.

 I will include a link to this prayer because you will have to listen for yourself to know where I am coming from. http://deadspin.com/5824226/this-pre+race-prayer-might-actually-be-the-most-redneck-moment-in-nascar-history
Here are some general observations;

1. The crowd actually heard his prayer. I have been invited to pray before many events like this, and a typical payer is seldom noticed, and most are simply waiting for the “amen” to offer their own, “Play Ball,” or, “Gentlemen start your engines”. Oh, I know it is God that I am talking to so it is not about the people in the crowd listening, but that said, the thought that goes into many public prayers does take into account that folks might be listening.
2. The crowd liked the prayer, were engaged and laughed. I know some will say, ”They laughed, how can that be good?”  It was disrespectful irreverent and a joke. Not a real prayer at all.
3. Why was it a joke? Is it ok to thank God for a car, technology, fuel, tires, or fun entertainment? I think so — we do it all the time. Who has not thanked God for their car or asked for one if they need it? Who has not thanked God for technology? It has been used by Him to save lives. I think all he thanked God for was appropriate, and since I am married to a “Smoking Hot Wife” whom I thank God for every day, I do not see a problem. I thank God for my children just as he did. So what in the prayer was out of line? The way he did it? Who is to say that his heart was not right? The heart seems to be the criterion in scripture. Besides, we have no problem when a child thanks God for everything they see when offering their bed time prayers. So what is the big deal?
4. I think this guy earned the right to have conversations with people who are far from God. I think folks in the crowd thought, ”Who is that? I want to go to his church. He is fun, crazy, and neat.” My own sons — after hearing this – said, “I want to go hear him preach.” Sometimes, getting out of our “church speak” and having fun opens a door to genuine conversations about the things of God, and I bet a conversation with this guy would be an uncompromising dialogue about a God who loves us and offers eternal life in Christ. I think I would like to go to his church as well.
5. Jesus endured the same kind of ridicule for the radical things he said and for his continual departure from the stale religious rituals of His day. Before we throw stones think about it. Maybe the only part that was not normal was the “Boogety, Boogety, Boogety” at the end, and I think God laughed at that too.