I'm kind of like Jesus when it comes to demonstrative praying!
I don't like praying to the public any more than Jesus did.
If you want to read up on public praying try The new testament King James version of Mathew.
6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask
6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask
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You can't go anywhere anymore without seeing a public display of misplaced reverence. I have heard about "religious groups" that dance around with copperhead and rattlesnakes in their hands and hair. Some throw ashes at each other and make a public spectacle of themselves in all manner of things. I heard of an outfit that took to rolling around on the ground above the graves of ancient loved ones. They do most all this stuff in the daytime of course, while others are sure to be there to watch.
I guess for reasons of their own they seek their reward from the attention.
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In the church that I have gone to all my life I see these people now with their palms turned upward and their arms raised to scoop up an extra dab of Gods love.
Some guy is singing a pretty hymn written in early America by a reformed Shaker, while the Preacher is monotonously repeating a phrase written originally by a Roman Catholic who was trying to advertise his newly formed religion and the congregation whirl like dervish's speaking in tongues.
Just a little while back I saw a bunch of folks doing some public praying at the dinner table down there in Las Vegas at Harry's Hamburger Heaven!
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There have been a lot of Bibles written before the King James, and someday there will more Bibles written in good faith after the King James version than before it.
Everybody who writes a new version are pretty sure that they can better tell you about God than the last guy.
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The King James version is a real nice version written in the 17th century (1604 or so) in the style that Shakespeare made so popular.
Mathew probably wasn't written by Mathew the disciple, because it seems clear to those who study these things that it was written about 85 years after Christ hiked the country around Syria and Galilee.
They figure someone in the early church was asked to remember just what the story was all about and tried to write it down word for word. He was so taken by Mathew that he put his name on the assignment instead of his own when he turned it in.
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I have an interpretation about the LORDS PRAYER myself inspired by my reading of Mathew. There is a Luke version too, but I don't have an opinion about Luke that I'm proud enough of to write about. So here it goes.
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Jesus and his band of followers went back packing all over the country and when night time came they camped out in state and local parks.
They would warm themselves by the fire and stare into it's flames to revel in it's spirit, like anyone who knows camping has done. Before Jesus ate a bite of barbecued chicken or steak or something cooked over the open fire he would go out beyond the light of the fire all by himself. One or another of the guys would prod him to tell them what he was doing out there in the dark. They could hear him talking or singing to himself or something. This went on a number of days. They asked him in every which way they could think of; what in hell he was doing out there by himself?
They so taunted him that finally , Jesus told them he was "praying."
Praying? Teach us to pray, they demanded.
Jesus said hey, I can't teach you to pray; you are prayer. You are Gods great work. It is like asking me to teach you to think or to breath.
I can't teach you to be what you are!
They said; come on, we can hear you carrying on out there. You're doing something besides thinking and breathing. What are you saying in this singing and all this praying.
OKAY, OKAY, Jesus said, sometimes-- when I pray-- I say this at the same time.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever.
Amen
Lords Prayer, from Aramaic into Old English Translationby G.J.R. Ouseley
Our Father-Mother Who art above and within:
Hallowed be Thy Name in twofold Trinity.
In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all.
Thy will be done, As in Heaven so in Earth.
Give us day by day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of the living Vine.
As Thou dost forgive us our trespasses, so may we forgive others who trespass against us.
Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the same.
In the hour of temptation, deliver us from evil.
Amun.
I say that first one in the shower most mornings.
Even though I know prayer to be it's own reward I have some darned fool reason for wanting you to know.
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Today's Sunday go to meeting could be accomplished with greater good if you carried along a HOT DOG TRAVELER for that quick get up and go after a boring and lengthy sermon
Our Other sponsor asks us to remember to thank God that we have GENERAL CHOW for that weekend spiritual camp outing!
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