A New Look @ ‘Answered Prayer’

Gerry Sittser sees martyrdom a little more broadly than he used to.  It’s not just dying for Christ physically in an arena or under a dictator; it’s also dying to self through the situations when we hold onto faith even when it seems impossible to do it; when there seems to be no material evidence that shows us God is good and  for us. It’s being faithful  in the face of affliction.  Sittser lost his mother, wife, and one of his children in one car accident!  He is a theology professor and does not just write about grief and prayer, but he does those two very well.  In a sermon on John 16 last week at Christ Church, I mentioned Sittser and many were asking for more information.  Here is the Amazon list of his works. I also listened to a podcast interview with him on his book, When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer. The podcast is The Illumined Heart and the June 5, 2009 edition is with Sittser and can be downloaded or subscribed to at Ancient Faith Radio here. Here are some of his key insights that I shared Sunday: