I didn’t claim to know what God would have an interest in. I mentioned I don’t have a direct dial to him. This is all about guesses on my end. It’s interesting to me when people are bowing in prayer seeking blessings and expressing thanks for things that don’t seem to link up with what [my view] of God would support or care about.

I agree with everything you wrote in general terms. What I feel you may be missing from my post is that I feel religion is becoming more of a request line for general wants and less of a way of life that is tied to a basic faith. Thanking God for allowing you to be able to provide your family with a special Christmas isn’t quite the situation I intended to convey. It’s the “please God can I have an iPod, please God can I have an iPod” type of mentality I was thinking about. And sure a musician’s music and success is important to him. Asking God to help him put on a good show while he sings about messages that don’t generally tie in with God is just strange to me. Granted, this isn’t an extreme oddity. It’s not as contrary as a suicide bomber praying to God for strength before walking into a coffee shop and murdering 30 people.

I have to comment on the ‘troop’ portion of your response because that is a very sensitive topic these days. Certainly safety is important to troops fighting a war. Praying for God to keep them safe isn’t strange at all. I was speaking in a bigger picture. Not of the individual soldier, but of one side versus the other. Both sides are praying to God and asking the same thing. To me, it would be like a parent have a son and a daughter who were fighting and expecting that parent to pick a side and show favor to one over the other…to one’s demise. Again, what does God think in this situation? How does He view the position we are putting him in? When our President and opposition leaders in Iraq bring up God, both are mentioning their belief that God will help them prevail and defeat the other. Neither is mentioning (in public) the hope God can find a way for everyone to lay down their arms and coexist peacefully. I’m not trying to play God here Chelle. And, under these circumstances, I’m glad I don’t have to.

Those are the prayers that those people say out loud. Who knows what anyone does in private. Just because those things may not be important to you (or others), doesn’t mean they are not important to them. Yes, world peace is important, health of family and friends is important, but to a surgeon, doing his best job IS also important. To music stars, THEIR music is important. To the troops who HAVE to be over fighting a stupid war…..being safe IS important to THEM! I see nothing wrong in asking for prayers for help with those things. Do you or anyone really know what God wants us to say or ask for or thank Him for?? My guess would be no. I’m not going to judge anyone on who they pray to or what about. Prayer is personal, at least to me. I could thank God for the ability to give our kids a wonderful Christmas with nice gifts under the tree, I could thank Him for the beautiful gifts I received…..BUT….I could also thank Him for good health and ask Him to be with others who have medical needs or who are sick.