Earlier this week we talked a little about prayer. In the comments we somehow chased a tangent about how we pray and what this looks like so I thought I would follow up with this post. A few years ago I had a real epiphany when it came to prayer while studying this verse:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray continually.”
The verse almost seemed unrealistic to me because I viewed prayer as a compartmentalized action instead of a free flowing attitude. Since then I’ve tried to allow prayer to become a posture or a constant stream of life.
I even use props throughout my day to try to keep me connected to Christ from one moment to the next. Here’s a video segment from the message on Sunday that Matt put together. I guess you can tell from the title of the video I also had a little slip up. It’s at 4:25 if you don’t care about prayer but just want to hear me cuss.
Your thoughts?
Pete Says Hell_3.29.09 from Cross Point Church on Vimeo
Pete, I sooo love your openness and honesty!! Always have!! Keep up the great work for God! Your ministry is invaluable!
Love and Prayers,
Susan
Isaiah depicts a cure for those unclean lips..
Unfortunately I won’t be able to see the video until I get home tonight…late tonight. So I will have to wait until a later date to comment on the video… I am sure that I will enjoy reading other’s comments until then.
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Seeing this slip-up in person really made me cherish the community and authenticity of our church. I love how open and honest you are about your faults. I thought your message on Sunday was great!! Even if it had been curse free. It has really challenged me to pray more and trying to figure out what that means in my life. I’m even trying the idea of visual clues! Hope you haven’t had too much backlash from the slip up!
@Tony, I still can’t get over that you were at Catalyst this year and we didn’t hook up!
@Pete,
I wanted to stop by the restaurant but we had such a full schedule that we couldn’t make it happen.
I spoke with my wife and we are making plans to have a long weekend in Nashville later this spring or summer. Part of the plan is to stop in and visit your church. Hopefully we will pick a weekend when you are preaching… I will bring a coal
My parents live in Knoxville so we will be able to swing though their neighborhood before heading back to central Ohio. It will be a fun weekend.
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I live all the way in Ohio and it was great being able to hear you preach! But I have to say that I loved the shades of red that you turned after talking about your two year old! Thanks for posting that! Made me laugh! Open, Honest, Real!
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I have three kids, they cause Hell constantly! And I am with you, it’s not a cuss word, just a good description of what kind of havoc children can create! In the best sort of way!
Beautiful.
not that you said H E double hockey sticks
but your reaction to it.
Real and Honest dude, not a thing wrong with that!
(and it made me giggle)
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i’ve been waiting since you twittered about this to hear it. thank you for being real and honest. i’ve found that a rare thing with most pastors and it’s refreshing to see one that doesn’t feel the need to hide his slip ups.
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Pastor Pete, that was awesome!
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Awesome! Thanks for being real and thanks for teaching us about the props – it’s given my prayer life some new perspective!
Brittany
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Using a loofah = washed in His Grace?
(Whatever helps you sleep at night, Pete.)
I love the ambulance/healing analogy and the garage door opener one as well.
I like using fake cuss words, like “farging bastitches” from the movie Johnny Dangerously.
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That was hilarious. i brought some first timers too and believe me, they are coming back!
Seriously, Pete. That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time! I loved your facial expression and the great shades of pink and red that flashed across your skin. TOOOO funny!! Thanks for keepin’ it real, man. I’ll still watch your podcast videos.
Man….I miss experiencing YOU running around and causing hell all over the place.
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I’m glad you didn’t offend me with that at the 6PM service.
I think that is the reddest face I have ever seen in my life! Pete being real is what makes you such an amazing pastor. This was so fun to watch!
Hi Pete. I really liked the video. I posted it on my blog today. Hope it is cool with you.
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I have been reading some Jim Cymbala books lately because I stink at prayer. Basically we don’t pray because we think we can handle it. Then crises strikes and all of a sudden we need God.
I think, for me at least, I need to learn humbleness and dependence on God. Life is going good but when I take a closer look there are things I can always find to pray about.
Prayer list: my unsaved mother, we need more prayer support/financial support for our full-time work in Germany, I need to a change in attitude and this is daily, these are just a few examples. Everyday I must get back to God. If I take the time to really think about how I need God then I think I wouldn’t be able to help but to pray continually.
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It’s pretty funny to see a pastor turn that many shades of red during a sermon…I love what you are saying about prayer being less compartmentalized and more of an attitude.
Once in a small group, we were asked to share “the way we do” devotions. Honestly, the question didn’t really sit right with me, but in an effort to be part of the group, I gave an answer. My answer was that I prayed and meditated upon Scripture or just hung out with God during the night when I woke up, in the bathtub, while doing dishes, while driving, and a zillion other times throughout the day. One of the others (a pastor’s wife, no less) said “I wonder how God feels being squeezed into your empty spaces and getting the leftovers of your time.”
Wow. I was angry, ashamed, and hurt all at the same time. But later (I hate to admit that is was much later; I’m glad you can’t see my shades of red right now…) I realized that she might be wrong. Not only was my way of being with God NOT shameful; it was scriptural–”Pray continually.”
I think God wants all of our hearts all of the time–not just a scrubbed up image for [insert mandatory, church- or mentor- or self-approved time here].
Great post. And thanks for sharing the video clip. Hell, it made my day! Wait, can I say that? I meant….
@ttm, “I think God wants all of our hearts all of the time”. Bingo!
I laughed so hard and not even at the fact that you said it (because you didnt use it in “that” way) your reaction after was amazing. Honestly its refreshing to just be reminded that you are you, we are all human!
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Speaking of prayers and cussing, I was closing us out in small group one night and accidentally said the same thing twice and as I realized it I am told I mumbled “oh sh…” and am constantly reminded by those guys…
That is hilarious and I too loved how red faced you got. You are so right half of us have probably said He double hockey sticks to church
I saw Natalie Grant twittering about the loofah. It’s cool my husband uses one as well 
Blessings
so much of what you say I keep on dancing around….to light and just let it sink in….hmmmm
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Oh Pete! Had you not said anything and kept going no one would have noticed! It’s not a cuss word, it’s just frustration! LOL. Way to try to get yourself out of trouble. . . I won’t psychoanalyze your “coping mechanisms”
You might want to sit down with Blake and get some insight for what might be in your future….like the FCC.
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Im was really upset to hear that you did this and I missed it. I would have fell out of my seat!! Of course I was at the 8:30 service where you had a clean mouth and no computer prop, why didn’t we get the computer prop huh?? So much for trying to get people to attend any service other than the 10:30 one
I like when you said – don’t give me “heck” about it… HA HA HA! Good show mate!
WOW.. you did get RED… hahahha…
I try to pray all the time.. I start each prayer with “AND”… so it never ends..
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I personally don’t think that is a cuss word, but I guess in the Christian Community it is… even though I’m in it…
For me, “hell” can be used, as well as other cuss words, to depict something in a more intense and serious way, and to bring righteous judgement upon those who are not following the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.
Like in Matthew when Jesus was talking to the religious leaders, he said, “You brood of vipers,” etc… I believe that this verse was translated by a bunch of Christian Conservatives, because the word in hebrew for “brood of vipers” must have been a lot worse than the way they translated it… It wasn’t said in the same way as you, but the point is, it can be used in the right way.
Another thing is the pastor at my friends church in WV said, “What the fuck is wrong with you” as he was talking about the poor, naked, and dying in this world that need us. His point was this: the people in that church turned and started to scream and be extremely mad at him, and he said back, “You are more worried about me saying fuck than you are about helping those people!”
Then, sorry for the length… A man in a church one time, who was one of the older mentors of the new leaders, etc… heard some gossip from a few older and younger ladies, and was really upset (righteously), and turned and said, “BULL SHIT”, and then walked out of the church.
If you want some judgement on the wrong going on in the church, say the f word every week until they get it through their minds.
Stephen
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I (heart) Pete Wilson!
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@Jennifer D., I totally forgot to put the computer on the table before the service.
Didn’t mean to leave you guys out!
So funny! I am a visual learner also and need visual reminders. Loved that teaching! God gave me 5 lil reminders everyday that I need him and must be in prayer just to make it through the day!
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I love it!
I wouldn’t have considered it in the “cuss” word form, but I am sure others would.
Great 3 minute message on prayer too, I enjoyed it.
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Good tie-in… asking if it was getting hot right after you explained you were actually talking about Hell. You could have said it was hot as Hell in there and totally been in the right context!
I liked this a lot [and now understand the manliness of the shower poof in relation to prayer]. I often felt bad that I wasn’t as good at the concentrated prayer, that the more I tried to say the right flowery words, the less I felt sincere. But what you do throughout your day is how I pray… resting constantly in him for strength and fortitude. All of that constant state of prayer, however, hasn’t helped in the least bit with my potty mouth. I’ve decided all of my meds have dissolved the filter in my brain that catches those words.
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lol I was hoping to see this…
the best part is that if you hadn’t acted so guilty about it, I probably never would have even noticed what you said.
Awesome… its always hard to get back on track when something like this happens… go job bringing back in!
There’s a reason i never did any acting (not that I’d have been any good) and a reason why I didn’t become a preacher (not that I’d have been any good). With acting I was forget I’d forget a line. With preaching I knew it was only a matter of time until I accidentally cussed. You’ve gone over 8 years since i met you (if I calculate when I first heard you preach correctly). I don’t think I’d have made until to Easter of the first year.
I’m personally trying to work on that…me and my buddy Gerald decided to stop cussing last week and do an accountability thing. Not going so well (at least on my end) but I think this little discussion has given me the kick in the…behind…that I needed to get remotivated.
“afraid I’d forget” that is…
Pete, great video, even with the potty mouth. Now don’t groan too loudly, but I have a couple of good quotes for you.
Your pillow anecdote reminded me of this one, by Oswald Chambers: “Unless in the first waking moments of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide . . . and pray to your Father . . . and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.” Keeping that in mind, I usually try to start my day with the prayer, “God, please let me be a blessing to someone today.”
And the other quote is from Dean Goulburn, “When you cannot pray as you would, pray as you can.”
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Love that ‘you’re keeping it real’!
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Bwahahahahahahahahahaha Pete! Oh my gosh this is so funny! I totally know what you meant. If you hadn’t said anything no one would have noticed! Hilarious!!!!!! Oh and my hubby likes your shirt.
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When you said you cussed in church, I thought you’d ACTUALLY cussed in church. Eek, you’re putting my unclean lips to shame Pete.
Btw, I love the prayer prompt ideas. Really good thought. I do the ambulance one too.
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Thank you for posting this we would have missed it otherwise. AWESOME !
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That was funny, and great idea using those everyday props! I’m sure praying will come to mind now when I look at my similar items. I’m also going to try and come up with some of my own to spark spontaneous prayer throughout the day. Thanks for sharing this!
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@Bridget, those 5 little reminders would keep my in a constant state of prayer!
Love it !!!!
I love this. Love the prayer prompts. And the hell would have gone right be me if you hadn’t turned such a bright crimson red!
Thanks for a visual and tangible reminder of something that ought to be a way of life for us.
@Laura Morris, I didn’t want your husband to be the only person to have cussed on the CP stage.
Awesome Pete….I feel much better about what I said earlier
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Laughing out loud here at BonkLand…been outta town and am catching up…love this post. I might have once or twice said “hell”…I mean, only when I am praying that people won’t go there. ; )
I am pretty sure hell in the context you used it isn’t cussing…I sure hope not, ahem, or I’ve got some confessing to do.
Two thumbs up for your authenticity…
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You crack me up! What was the pause for? Did religion embarrass you? I would have loved for you to say: Anyone else think it’s hot in here? It’s hotter than…
Here’s the deal. There are probably more people who had a problem with you saying “hell” than they do with people going there. THAT will preach…
That was awesome! So entertaining! Also changed the way I will wake up tomorrow and how I will look at things tomorrow and how often I will be in prayer tomorrow. Thanks for that post, Pete.
I love the message!!! And I’ve authored a book on prayer:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-War-Manual/C-B-Grace/e/9781436314015/?itm=14
You are establishing a culture of prayer in your church; among your people. That is a beautiful thing and powerful tool.
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Pete,
Finally got to see the video… dude, you crack me up. I would have been laughing with you and praying for you
I don’t know which one I like better… this or “I’m making love to the corner of this thing!”
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Oh my gosh. It’s funny, I missed it until you turned red and started defending yourself. LOL Then my mind caught up and I realized what you’d said.
On prayer. I’ve been listening to Louie Giglio on youtube about how awesome and indescribable God is and you know, it has so encouraged me not to just pray more but to make sure I worship more.
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@Julie, I love me some Louie Giglio. Good stuff.
You know, Pete, I don’t want to derail your post, but I feel like I’m in a strange place where the Lord is doing so much at once that I can’t grasp it all. Between “In a Pit,” Louie, listening to your podcasts, plus my own church, it’s kind of like I’m in a feeding frenzy. The thing is, the recurring theme is how incredible God is and how much power is ours to tap into. Just wish I knew what He wanted me to do with it. THAT is my prayer promp these days.
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Nice Blog.
I’ve got a website that may be interesting for you. I hope you’ll find time to visit this website.
http://esoriano.wordpress.com
totally reminded me of this slip up which I would say was a little more embarrassing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JzSLIhhd5s
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@Josh Ulmer, Did you know Blake (preacher in video) is the campus pastor of our Nashville campus? His office is next to mine.
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Now just don’t start preaching about “pitching tents”. We all know how that comes out.
I love the time you blurted out “sex” at MCC when you weren’t even talking about sex. I wish I could remember all the details. I would love to share them with the www too, but alas I cannot. You guys have a great weekend.
today is national give some love to men under 5′ 7″ – or so i’ve been told!?
blog love is an amazing thing.
feel free to thank Tam.
Good reminders and ways to keep Christ ‘in mind’, hopefully in Heart also. I hope it helps keep you IN him constantly, likewise.
As i read 1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing can also mean to never ‘give up’ on our prayer… or the habit of praying, submitting to His Will.
i’m curious as to the original wording of Paul?
love,
<B
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I think having visible, tangible prayer prompters is a great idea. I wrote it down, so I can find my own “prayer props” after I do my homework for the day.
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@Julie, that is so exciting. I love it when I’m in those growing times. Be patient. I believe God is probably preparing you for something.
What? I have no stinking idea. But I can promise you this growth in your life will not be wasted!
Pete,
Thanks for the encouragement to pray. This is something in my life right now that I am trying to increase! I need to be a man of prayer. Thanks for your words…
~Peter
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Pete,
Thanks for the encouragement to pray. This is something in my life right now that I am trying to increase! I need to be a man of prayer. Thanks for your words…
~Peter
Peter’s last blog post..Toy Story with a Twist…
@PeteWilson no way….awesome!!!!
So I am sure you have seen that and the one where he gets pranked on the FCC coming to fine $50,000?
@PeteWilson no way….awesome!!!!
So I am sure you have seen that and the one where he gets pranked on the FCC coming to fine $50,000?
Dude I have got to hang with the two of you sometime…I work downtown maybe one day for coffee or something…
I could use the time out of the office since I have now windows…
Thanks, Pete. Patience. Not my strong suit. LOL I am working on it.
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lol aw that little slip up wasn’t that bad. For some reason I thought it was going to be worse!
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oh and I do care about prayer…I love that verse!
It’s easy to remember.
and maybe the shortest verses in the Bible are the most important ones.
Most important because they’re easiest to remember and therefore put into practice!
This was so…….awesome!!! My favorite prompt in the morning is the sun rising. My favorite at night, the moon shining. At work, I have the best seat in the house, the front office and am able to see the seasons change, all kinds of weather, etc. It prompts me to say a simple prayer of thank you.
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