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On Faith
Murray Hohns
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Warrior faithful believe in the power of prayer
The weekends that followed Thanksgiving featured the largest prayer meetings ever experienced in the state of Hawaii. The focus of this un-contained concert of prayer was the outcome of the football games that our Warriors played on each of those weekends.
It did not matter if the seeker was a deeply or lightly religious, Protestant, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Unitarian, Mormon, Muslim, atheist or whatnot. We all prayed for the Warriors, and the Warriors responded.
I don't know how many were numbered in those crowds praying for victory, but I am sure the number was large and, perhaps, the largest ever to come together in prayer in our state with one purpose. When the Huskies could do no wrong and were eating my team alive in that terrible first quarter, I prayed for our guys over and over: "Lord, help the Bows." He did and we won.
Now, I can't give you scriptural proof texts that this is the reason God preferred our team over these two opponents; such proof simply does not exist. Scripture says God does not have favorites, but that any and all of us can go to His throne of grace without the sense that we are not good enough to merit His attention and receive what we seek.
Obviously there were folks praying for Boise State and the University of Washington, yet they both lost. What should we think about that? What does God think about that? Does He owe an apology to the fans who were disappointed by the outcome of those games? Perhaps more people prayed for Hawaii, and that is the answer.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan prays in the closing seconds of a nonconference NCAA game between the University of Washington and Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. Hawaii won 35-28.
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And again, I cannot give you scriptural proof texts that God favors a majority of praying people as opposed to only a scattered few on the other side of the prize being sought. The Kingdom of God doesn't work that way. It is a theocracy, not a democracy. And none of us understand how that theocracy works.
There are several genres of religious thought that urge that God is all-knowing and, thus, knew the outcome of those two games before they started and knows as much about the bowl games on New Year's Day and beyond. That perception or doctrine can lead to futile arguments.
Well, I don't feel that I have advanced anyone's faith by this article. Why pray for the Warriors if I cannot guarantee you it helps? On the other hand, praying for the Warriors is the obvious course for all UH fans to pursue because it might help. Don't be proud; be loyal and self-sacrificing for the common good.
Why not start off 2008 with one mind, one cause, one purpose, and be united with our neighbors across our state? God, please help our team raise a mighty score in New Orleans. Lord, please help our Warriors win. What a way to start the new year!
God help the Bows!
Murray Hohns is an assistant pastor at New Hope Christian Fellowship.