Common Words, Uncommon Prayers

About the Book

The prayers contained in this book have been credited with causing people to view prayer in a new and different way. They have been described as "graphic", "heartfelt", "outside the box", "pictorial", "colorful", "rather offbeat", and "prayers that stay with you in the everydayness of life, not just on Sundays." These unique prayers, published here for the first time, were developed for personal devotion as well. Here's one example from the book:

"With so much for which to be thankful, how can we merely turn inward? It is as if we are on the Atkins Diet or the South Beach Diet spiritually - changing from low card to low prayer, losing contact and relationship with You - like we 'didn't get the memo.'" (Jan. 18, 2004)

In addition to the prayers themselves, there are several helpful suggestions from the author, who has over 50 years' experience in the ministry, on the preparation of meaningful and attention-getting prayers.

About the Author

James Lawrence "Larry" Maddin was born and raised as an "Okie from Muskogee (OK)," but has now lived longer in his adopted state of Louisiana that he lived in Oklahoma. He holds degrees from The University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University and The School of Theology at Drew University. His life has centered around his family and his years as an ordained United Methodist minister in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Now officially retired from full-time service, Dr. Maddin serves as Pastor Emeritus for St. Timothy on the Northshore United Methodist Church in Mandeville, LA. He and his wife, Gayle, are blessed with seven children and eight grandchildren.