If desire causes suffering it may be because we do not desire wisely or that we are inexpert at obtaining what we desire. Instead of hiding our heads in a prayer cloth and building walls against temptation why not get better at fulfilling desire Salvation is for the feeble thats what I think. I dont want salvation I want life all of life the miserable as well as the superb. If the gods would tax ecstasy then I shall pay however I shall protest their taxes at each opportunity and if Woden or Shiva or Buddha or that Christian fellow--whats his name--cannot respect that then Ill accept their wrath. At least I will have tasted the banquet that they have spread before me on this rich round planet rather than recoiling from it like a toothless bunny. I cannot believe that the most delicious things were placed here merely to test us to tempt us to make it the more difficult for us to capture the grand prize the safety of the void. To fashion of life such a petty game is unworthy of both men and gods.

Why do you pray he asked me after a moment. Why did I pray A strange question. Why did I live Why did I breatheI dont know why I said even more disturbed and ill at ease. I dont know why.After that day I saw him often. He explained to me with great insistence that every question possessed a power that did not lie in the answer. Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks Him he was fond of repeating. That is the true dialogue. Man questions God and God answers. But we dont understand His answers. We cant understand them. Because they come from the depths of the soul and they stay there until death. You will find the true answers Eliezer only within yourself And why do you pray Moshe I asked him. I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.

Temptation is stronger in the minds of people who are in doubt. Prayer makes it weaker.

Dont pray that God would teach you how to love like He loves pray that He would fill you with Himself and that He would love in and through you. Dont pray that He would teach you to have joy pray that the living God full of joy would enter into you. Dont pray that He would teach you how to be peaceful ask for the God of peace the Prince of peace to infill you. Because if you try to imitate in your own strength you will be a miserable replica. But if you allow the impartation of Jesus Christ to overtake you suddenly it all works because it is Him imitating Himself and He is very good at being God.

Those who pray for your downfall are concentrating negative thoughts towards you without taking cognisance of the slippery ground in which they are standing which could lead to their downfall.

No one particular religion has been able to secure the exclusive rights for the power of prayer. No matter who you are we all have the ability to take advantage of this amazing and wonderful power. Once you realize this you will then be filled with the desire to help others realize this as well. More and more people are resonating with this understanding and this could result in a more wonderful future for mankind. 165

I look out into the water and up deep into the stars. I beg the sparkling lanterns of light to cure me of myself my past and the kaleidoscope of mistakes failures and wrong turns that have stacked unbearable regret upon my shoulders.

So you make this deal with the gods. You do these dances and theyll send rain and good crops and the whole works And nothing bad will ever happen. Right. Prayer had always struck me as more or less a glorified attempt at a business transaction. A rain dance even more so.I thought I might finally have offended Loyd past the point of no return like stealing the lobster from frozen foods that time to get myself fired. But Loyd was just thinking. After a minute he said No its not like that. Its not making a deal bad things can still happen but you want to try not to cause them to happen. It has to do with keeping things in balance.In balance.Really its like the spirits have made a deal with us.And what is the deal I asked.Were on our own. The spirits have been good enough to let us live here and use the utilities and were saying We know how nice youre being. We appreciate the rain we appreciate the sun we appreciate the deer we took. Sorry if we messed up anything. Youve gone to a lot of trouble and well try to be good guests.Like a note youd send somebody after you stayed in their houseExactly like that. Thanks for letting me sleep on your couch. I took some beer out of the refrigerator and I broke a coffee cup. Sorry I hope it wasnt your favorite one.

I receive Thee ransom of my soul. For love of Thee have I studied and kept vigil toiled preached and taught

In moments of prayer people tend to pose as a critic and point out percieved flaws in Gods art.