Little Prayers: How the Oakland Raiders Can Finish 2009 Strongly

Anytime I talk about faith without having my beliefs attacked, it feels like a sin.  The reason why is because I do believe that anytime a person wants others to follow that person in order to learn more about Christ, it is a sin.

Anyone who has studied acting has likely heard the terms "vertical and horizontal" which is a vague way of saying, act according to the internal not the external.  Don't rely on what others do, just do what you believe you need to do.

When it comes to faith, I believe that the Holy Spirit is the same thing: Don't worry about what other people are doing, simply focus on what you're supposed to be doing, which means walk the walk, not talk the talk.

I say this then with some hesitation, but I do pray for the Oakland Raiders.  Some of you will surely laugh at that, but I don't care.  I pray that they don't defeat themselves, even if they lose the game.

One thing that has stood in my mind has been the acquisition of Richard Seymour by trade before the season.  When Seymour did not immediately report, the media declared that Seymour must not want to play for Oakland, while Seymour's former "teammate" Rodney Harrison even recommended that Seymour should kill himself.

Some teammate. 

That tells me all I need to know about what the Patriots locker room is really like.

It turned out that Seymour merely had to hastily tie-up some family matters before the unexpected trade, and Raiders owner Al Davis would state that Seymour placed a high importance on, "Faith, family, and football." 

The night before the Raiders upset over the Bengals, I dreaded the possibility of another Sunday loss.  I decided that the only way to prepare myself for it was to read my Bible in advance, which included the Book of Kings in which the Ark of Covenant is brought to the Temple, and several Psalms.

I decided to pick Psalm 5 from a previous read, which does remind me of the Raiders:

Give ear to my words O Lord, consider my sighing / Listen to my cry for help / my king and my God / for to you I pray / In the morning O Lord, you hear my voice / In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation / You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil / with you the wicked cannot dwell / the arrogant cannot stand in your presence / you hate all who do wrong / You destroy those who tell lies / bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors

But I, by your great mercy / will come into your house / in reverence will I bow down / toward your Holy temple / Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness, because of my enemies, make straight your way before me / Not a word from their mouth can be trusted / their heart is filled with destruction / their throat is an open grave / with their tongue they speak deceit / Declare them guilty O God! / Let their intrigues be their downfall / Banish them for their many sins / for they have rebelled against you / But let all who take refuge in you be glad.

I hope that any in Raider Nation whom agree would also say a prayer for the Raiders this Wednesday.