I am the God Caller -- or so I am called by some of my friends.
I really don't remember who first called me that. I'm sure it was one of my high school friends. Since then, countless times, I have been called upon to offer invocations or pronounce benedictions at football games, civic clubs, boat christenings, award ceremonies, Memorial Day programs, political conventions and other public events. Once I was even Chaplain for the Day in the U.S. House of Representatives.
It's almost comical. They wheel me in, stand me up, point me toward the crowd and ask me to call down the blessing of God on whatever activity is at hand. I almost always oblige when asked. After all, that's what I do. I am the God Caller.
But much of this sort of public prayer seems pretty hollow -- a religious rubber stamp on activities that have little, if anything, to do with God. Over the years, I could not help wondering: "Isn't there more to prayer than this?" And hence this blog. The answers I've found have been a lot less shallow and a lot more real.
If you talk to God, if want to talk to God -- or even if you're the least bit open to the idea -- I invite you to join me. Let's see what we can learn on the journey.
Richard Barnard
