JOEL 2 GENERATION

This post is about something that has bothered me for years and recently has been only been highlighted/underlined even further. 500 years ago the Protestant Reformation was partly about the "priesthood of all believers"! The clergy/laity distinction had gotten to a place where ordinary believers were viewed as "second class" - having less access to God. Only special believers, the ordained priests, and bishops were able to pray for people. And don't get me wrong - I believe in the ordained ministry. I am ordained.  But here is my PROBLEM. I pray for a lot of people. My wife prays for a lot of people. The people in our community pray for a lot of people. And I get the most annoying question asked to me all the time. When I offer to pray for people, and they are Christians (or from a Christian background), the next question I inevitably get is this, "Are you a pastor?" WHY in the world would a Christian ask another Christian if they are a pastor for off

This morning, I received this message from the young man from Cameroon who I prayed with last week about his high blood pressure. "Goodmorning ...David. I'm Calvin from the P... Hotel. Since ... that day you prayed for me. My health condition has been rapidly improving. I celebrate the Grace of God over your life, sir." I wrote back, "Rejoicing in your recovery!" His reply...."Amen, Amen, Amen" (with a dancing emoji) I shared this testimony right after receiving it with a man from Zimbabwe who was getting my coffee at Starbucks.  I asked how I could pray for him and he told me that due to COVID he and his wife had been separated now for two years (also from his young children).  I prayed that Jesus would make a way for them to be together - either here, or in Zimbabwe, or somewhere else.  He was so encouraged. As I was leaving he said, "You made my day!" My theology is this..."There is no way that when a Spirit-filled Christian prays for