Prayer Position

I've wondered for a while now, why Christians typically pray with their head bowed and eyes closed. This seems to be the "correct" position for prayer in most churches.
Jesus, when asked how to pray, did not instruct his disciples to assume any particular physical position except that private prayer should be done privately. However, when Jesus himself prays publicly (Matt 14:19, Mark 6:41, Mark 7:34, Luke 9:16, John 11:41, John 17:1), he is almost always "looking up to heaven".

I don't know if there is anything special about having eyes-open and head up while praying, but it seems more than incidental that this is the exact opposite of the eyes-closed and head down position most Christians assume.

Test Drive

For some out of the ordinary fun, my brother-in-law and I decided to go test drive a few cars tonight. Sports cars are more fun to test drive, but 2 seaters were out since we would have 3 on board (us plus the salesman).
BMW makes the best sports sedans (so I've heard) so we started with the 330 (They had a 500hp, V10 M5 on the lot - the only demo model in all of California, but I didn't have the nerve to ask for a test drive). After the BMW ride, we crossed the street and took a Lexus IS 250 for a spin.

I could picture myself driving either one. The BMW handled slightly better than the Lexus - stiffer suspension and more intuitive steering.

The Lexus was a little more comfortable and had a wider array of cool technology - keyless entry and ignition, reverse video camera, bluetooth phone integration.

Both are admirable pieces of engineering, but $800/month plus insurance and maintenance is getting too close to my mortgage payment.

Casino Gambling

I just completed a very eye opening visit to Foxwoods (the largest casino in the world). This was my first in-depth look at casino gaming, and having a friend who could explain the games made the stay an extremely educational experience.

First, here are some observations:

- Craps myriad of betting possibilities make it an interesting game.
- I was blown away by a Bingo Hall that could probably house a 747 with room to spare
- My estimates by square footage: slots and bingo are tops, high risk table games in the middle, with blackjack and poker last.
- Money flows very freely. $100 is nothing to most people. One person I saw threw away $4,000 (by making very risky bets) in a few hours of craps and seemed to care less about it.
- People are genuinely disappointed when they lose even though the odds are overwhelmingly against them.
- As someone who likes math, I'm very impressed by the probability and statistics analysis that went into determining the payouts and betting structures such that they favor the house.
- Most casino games I observed (Slots, Bingo, Craps, Caribbean Poker) are a solitary occupation. Conversation is optional and often unusual.
- I have never seen so many senior citizens in one place.
- Poker stands out as a semi-intelligent game, since it is one of the few not played against the house.

Based on these observations, I concluded the following:
1.Most casino games, except poker, are varying forms of brain dead, unsocial activity. It was sad to see a sea of thousands of mostly senior citizens quietly and furiously stamping their bingo cards. I know this is not a one time event for most of them. I have to think that there is a better way to spend their time, not to mention their money.

2. I am confused about the motivation of people in the casino. On the one hand, many seem resigned to the fact that they are going to lose the money they brought. However, most people dream about hitting the jackpot or getting extremely lucky and are disappointed when they lose. The real motivation must be a mix of thrills from the risks and a desire for easy money.

3. I understand the math behind the games, but I doubt that most people do. In this sense, I now see how some call gambling "a tax on the mathematically challenged."

4. Casinos rely on people being unable to control themselves. Players are enticed into making low percentage bets, but if a player can control themselves enough to make higher percentage bets, they could come out on top. Certain table games and even the comp system can be "beaten" by a disciplined person (not unlike credit cards that offer 0% interest).

5. The combination of money, alcohol, smoke, lights, and sounds must negatively affect the minds of already dim-witted people.

6. Most people know the odds are against them in almost all games. However, if gambling were a religion, Luck and Superstition would be the gods in whom players put their faith. The superstition in craps especially is comical. Intelligent people talk about "hot" tables, and shooters ritualistically cast the dice expecting that it will change the outcome.

7. The games requiring least skill are the most popular and profitable while those requiring more skill get the least traffic (though poker is growing). People, on average, are looking for the easiest buck.


All told, for responsible people who enjoy the thrill of taking risks, I can appreciate how casino gaming might be interesting entertainment. However, the casino is also place where undisciplined, impatient, unintelligent, and/or rash people stand to lose a lot of money in a short time. I think most people who are opposed to casinos, are concerned that casinos take advantage of people in this second group. I now understand and better appreciate this sentiment.

The main problems I see with casinos (especially for Christians) is this:
1. Losses are more or less unlimited. The casino never closes, so time can disappear quickly, and the casino is ready to loan money, so money can evaporate even faster. I can't think of any other type of entertainment that gives someone enough rope to hang themselves.
2. The players are transformed into useless members of society for hours on end, participating in the some of the most meaningless and unproductive activities. Leaving aside the moral questions of gaming, it is undebatable that a Christian playing the games would be effectively neutralized for that period of time. Since time is our most valuable resource, this I believe is the most devastating effect of the casino.

Birds of a Feather

Someone recently remarked to me, "Its hard to be with so-and-so. They seem to have such a perfect life." Though an exaggeration, the sentiment of this statement had merit, and it led me to consider a broader problem.

Reflecting on myself, I am in my late 20s, have a college degree, a professional career, a mortgage, a wife and now a child. Most, if not all, of my time is spent with people who are in almost the same age, education, tax bracket, and marital status as I am. From observing others, it seems that I am not alone.

People tend to naturally flock together with others who in a similar educational and economic status. Since they are on level ground, there is not a feeling that one has the advantage over the other. There is a level of discomfort or awkwardness when people are in the company of someone from a completely different socio-economic position, either higher or lower.

People of many different backgrounds make up the local and worldwide Church, and I know I need to do a better job of intentionally befriending (not just aquainting) those who are farther removed from my educational or economic situation.

Justice and Mercy

I read a story today about a woman who was chased and attacked outside her home by a masked man. The woman's husband heard her screams and grabbed his handgun. The intruder was shot and died at the scene.

In reading this account, I experienced mixed feelings. On one hand, I felt comforted knowing that the innocent woman was saved from a violent evil act. Justice was done. But strangely, I also felt compasssion for the attacker had come to the point in his life where he believed attacking an innocent woman was a good thing to do. Sin had so controlled a man's life that it ended in death.

God is often described as infinitely just and infinitely merciful (especially regarding babies who die). In my finite mind, it is difficult for me to reconcile justice and mercy - I can only imagine how God balances them.