Air Prayer

Ummm…. no.  God isn’t “up there somewhere.”  Scripture tells us that Christ ascended into the clouds, and will come back to earth in the same manner he left.  Which by the way, doesn’t necessarily mean He will descend from the clouds, I believe the passage just means that He will return in glory, just as He left in glory.  But I digress.

I say this because of another website that was started by some young Christians asking others to pray for God’s creation any time they fly because “you’re never closer to God than at 30,000 feet.”  Now, let me just say that I think these folks have the best of intentions and I love the fact that they are using their time in a jet wisely; in prayer rather than watching the in-flight movie.   But to think that you are closer to God just because you’re high up in the atomosphere is theologically incorrect, and really just deist.  This is a god who as Christian Smith explains, “created the world, and defines our general moral order, but not one who is particularly personally involved in one’s affairs–especially affairs in which one would prefer not to have God involved. Most of the time, the God of this faith keeps a safe distance.”

But scripture doesn’t teach us that God watches us “from above.”  He is intimately involved in all of creation.  Job 38:39-41 speak of how God even provides food for the lion cubs and young ravens “when it’s young ones cry to God and wander around in search of food.”  Our God manages His creation every minute.  He doesn’t sit on some throne up above the clouds.  We’ve been above the clouds and He wasn’t found there.  We’ve been as far as Mars and no one has seen His temple.

If you really want to be close to God, visit a prison.  Visit an old folk’s home.  Visit a hospice.  You’ll never be closer to God than when you’re next to someone who is about to meet Him…

So I have this comment in my moderation queue (that’s where comments are held before they show up on the site) from someone at a site called AirPrayer.org !  I may post the link once I figure out their theology and make sure it doesn’t hold anything counter to my own.  I never thought I had the market cornered on this domain name but I picked it because 1) it wasn’t in use, and b) it was not likely to be used.  Now, it’s being used.  Oh well, when your site is about prayer and it has to do with airplanes, how many names can you possibly pick?  I read a post on his site that details the origins of AirPrayer.  I’ve never done that so I guess it’s about time.

So… Why AirPrayer?

If you know me, you know I’m into airplanes.  You know, real ones.  Not remote controlled models.  I’m into flying airplanes.  I’m into building airplanes.  It’s borderline idolatry.  (Elders, if you’re reading this I am trying!)  So, several years ago I was still building my RV-4.  It took 5 years to complete so many people had a chance to take a look at it while it was being built.  I remember one person in particular asked me if I was going to pray before I flew it.  I told them I’d be praying while I flew it!  Since all airplanes need a name and since my wife ruled out 4-play as a possible name, I chose Air Prayer.  It was the name of my first airplane.  I never had the name put on the plane but everyone knew.

And those of you know know me, yes, I’m building Air Prayer II right now.  The planes will always be Air Prayer and I will always pray in them.