Jack’s Winning Words 11/21/14
“All you need is faith, trust and a little pixie dust.”  (Peter Pan)  How are fairies able to fly?  Peter Pan gives the answer.  Sometimes faith and trust doesn’t seem to be enough to make our wants come true.  Would some pixie dust help?  God doesn’t rely on “magic” to accomplish his will.  He is omnipotent!  I can relate to the father who wished for Jesus to heal his son.  “I believe; help my unbelief.”  Faith and trust is enough!  Pixie dust is for fairy tales.    ;-)  Jack

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  Since Faith and Trust exist in the realm of the Spirit, man has to add the fairy dust so that he can actually "see and touch" stuff. Then, it can make "sense" to him in the world of cause and effect and science. Just like the idea that man has the power and authority to change global temperatures...our cars become the new fairy dust!====JACK:  Are you putting G-d in the pixie dust realm, too.====RAY:  Not at all. The "pixie dust" is man's invention (like magic) that provides the illusion or delusion that man is more than he actually is. I'm simply saying that man requires proof. Faith and trust have no proof inherent in them. If so, we could call it "science" and include Faith and Trust in the realm of the sensory (or science). Indeed, the sensory acuities (science) are limited both in Life and extent. What limits are there on Faith or Trust except for those which are imposed by the person? In the same way, G-d can be made to be nonexistent, a silly fairytale, a fable, or very small by anyone who decides to make himself and all his magnificent works of greater significance. Hence, man's belief that fossil fuels use causes warming temperatures and alternative energy uses will cause a cooling effect -- "fossil fuel" is his fairy dust, and he gets to be god. This is what I am saying.====JACK:  Isn't G-d beyond "proof" also.  Isn't that where faith and trust have their reason for being?====RAY:  Precisely! G-d is the author of it all. He exists within the realm of the world AND beyond or outside of it. God is Life itself -- physical AND spirit. My point is that there are those who can't see or envision beyond the sensory -- where Faith exists. There is no faith in what one senses; that is called "knowing" or experience. They trust what they can see and sense...all the rest is a fairytale. They need fairy dust because they have no faith in anything but themselves. This where the deceitful trust in man's capabilities to alter "global temperatures" (and other outrageous ideas) is born.

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  To me, faith and trust are things that seem reasonable and even though they are so abstract, feels like I can "get my mind around them". Pixie dust might be the really absurd and unpredictable and outright laughable (sometimes) answers to our prayers that I could have never thought of or "gotten my mind around" in a million years. They are things that happen in this world that only God could have dreamed up and often they seem magical and sort of Christmas like sparkling to me. They make faith and trust very, very livable qualities to keep holding onto with all the hope and expectation that is in me.  This is my 2 cents.====JACK:  We have to be careful not to let our prayers become requests for pixie dust.  In Martin Luther's catechism explanation of the petition, "Thy will be done,"  he writes..."The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us."===SHARON:  I agree with Luther that God doesn't need our prayers and I also agree that we pray that His Will be done among us but don't agree at all that one of the Ten Commandments is that we always pray politically correct prayers, i.e., not asking for pixie dust or something. At our church, our former Pastor instituted intercessionary prayers (prayed from the pews) during worship and, in general it hasn't worked because most people simply don't feel comfortable praying aloud in a group. Ditto, the small prayer group just finally faded away. I believe it might be because the Lutherans have some rules about praying that are inhibiting. Are my prayers "good enough" or something. I think I'll be bold enough to sin boldly and ask for pixie dust this morning.  Cheers====JACK:  I prefer face-to-face meetings over blog discussions.  There's more of a chance for clarification.  What I meant to say previously was that God knows our needs, spoken or not.  It's not necessarily what comes out of the mouth in prayer, but what is in the heart.  On Sundays during "prayer time" I can hear people speaking names.  I am moved by that.  I like this hymn by James Montgomery...
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,  Unuttered or expressed;
 The motion of a hidden fire  That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,  The falling of a tear
 The upward glancing of an eye,  When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech  That infant lips can try;
 Prayer, the sublimest strains  That reach The Majesty on high.
Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,  The Christian’s native air,
 His watchword at the gates of death;  He enters Heav’n with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,  Returning from his ways,
 While angels in their songs rejoice  And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
The saints in prayer appear as one  In word, in deed, and mind,
 While with the Father and the Son  Sweet fellowship they find.
No prayer is made by man alone  The Holy Spirit pleads,
 And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,  For sinners intercedes.
O Thou by Whom we come to God,  The Life, the Truth, the Way,
 The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:  Lord, teach us how to pray.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  It's amazing how much can be accomplished with just a little faith.  Imagine what this world would be like if everyone had just a mustard seed of faith'

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  apparently you've never seen a fairy.====JACK:  Your song for the day is "Young at Heart."

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  RIGHT...THE FATHER'S PRAYER IS ECHOED BY MANY OF US, OVER A LIFETIME.  FAITH AND TRUST ARE HARD-WON, BUT NECESSARY IF WE ARE TO LIVE FULFILLING AND CONTENTED LIVES...====JACK:  Martin Luther stressed that salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone.

FROM SBP IN FLORIDA:  Interesting WW and responses today. So here's my non-philosophy-background based---rather pragmatic---uninvited "chiming in." I love/loved Peter Pan and his "pixie dust". However, he was/is a fictional character....like so many that delight/ed us. But in real life and tough times faith and trust sans "pixie dust" are my mainstays. "Not my will, but Thine be done." And prayerful thanks and prayers for strength to deal with His will. I love the "pixie dust" tales. But I also recognize the reality and strength of faith and trust are the foundations of belief (without the pixie dust.)====JACK:  My thoughts, too.