Super Soper

SoperDSmetrodistrictnewlycometoshowus (a silly subtitle I couldn't resist, to be sung to the tune of Mary Poppins' favorite word)

Yesterday in chapel, we had a real treat – John Soper spoke. He got a cheerleader intro from Bob ‘n crew who walked in shouting “Gimme an S – O – P – E – R!” I love it when exec-types loosen up a bit. I first met John a few months ago when I got to sit next to him at a Board meet-n-mingle, and learned he’d lived in Australia. My family had just watched The Dish and so we chatted about Australian culture. He commented how very relationship-oriented things are. I’m thinking we could use more of that here in the U.S.

Yesterday, Soper challenged us with Joshua’s prayer for the sun to stand still, and how unusual of a prayer that was, and is. He also stirred our faith with some humdinger stories about pioneer missionary John G. Paton. The cool thing is, I heard these stories before – when I was 3! Soper says this is because Child Evangelism Fellowship cared enough to put them in children’s ministry materials. I heard the stories on records (you know, the ancient spinning dinner plate thingeys) and can still feel the hair on my arms stand up just thinking about those cannibals-turned-Christians telling Paton years later how they saw armed men on his roof. CEF has flashcards, slightly less exciting, but if you don’t want to wait until they restock this item in 2008, check out John G. Paton’s autobiography on Amazon . And if you know anyone who makes audio programs, these are stories worth re-telling.

Anyhow, my point: it occurred to me this morning - OK, I know this seems really obvious, but it JUST occurred to me this morning, that Joshua’s prayer is very similar to Mark 11:23-24. It’s always nice when you find parallel OT/NT passages.

Speak to the sun, speak to the mountain – pretty similar, don’t you think?

It says Joshua uttered this prayer in the presence of all Israel – that’s the part that took faith, if you ask me.

So what I'm about to pray should be quite minor by comparison: I speak to my father’s heart in the name of Jesus and command it to resume beating normally, and the blood to flow through the upper right ventricle in the healthy way God designed. In a few minutes as the doctor jolts his heart to correct arrhythmia, I command his heart (in complete cooperation with my father’s own desires) to receive the treatment and to function normally thereafter. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name, be it so.

Thanks, John Soper, for encouraging my own heart.