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Archives for October 2006

Blind Web surfers sue for accessibility

by 1 Comment

Blind Web surfers sue for accessibility

By SETH SUTEL, AP Business WriterTue Oct 24, 1:45 PM ET

“Links list dialogue.” “Links list view.” “Your Account — Two of 164.” This is what the Internet sounds like to Chris Danielsen. Danielsen is blind. He’s
using a software program called Jaws that converts the text on a Web page into a computerized voice that comes out through a speaker, allowing him to surf
the Web using keyboard commands instead of a mouse — the same way lots of blind people use the Internet.

In this case, his computer is listing all the Web links on the page he’s on and telling him that the highlighted link his cursor is on now will take him
to the “Your Account” section on Wal-Mart’s Web site.

Danielsen, who writes a blog called “The Voice of the Nation’s Blind” for the National Federation of the Blind, says accessing the Internet has been a “huge
boon” for blind people. It’s allowed them to accomplish a great number of tasks on their own that would otherwise present difficulties or require the help
of a sighted person, such as banking, buying plane tickets and shopping for things like groceries and music.

But like any evolving technology, accessing the Internet has hardly been a smooth ride for the blind. Some sites can be difficult to navigate, particularly
if they contain relatively few text links and rely more on graphics and other visual elements that screen-reading software such as Jaws can’t interpret.

That’s why the NFB, an organization that represents blind people, is suing Target Corp., saying that its Web site is inaccessible to blind Internet users.

Last month a federal judge in California allowed the NFB’s case to proceed, rejecting Target’s argument that its Web site wasn’t subject to the Americans
With Disabilities Act, a 1990 law that requires retailers and other public places to make accommodations for people with disabilities. Target argued that
the law only covered physical spaces.

The case, which is entering a pretrial phase called discovery in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, could set an important precedent
for applying federal accessibility law to the Internet.

Target said in a statement that its Web site was “committed to providing an online experience that is accessible to all of our guests. Despite the lawsuit
brought forward by the National Federation of the Blind, we have always and will continue to implement new technologies to our Web site.”

John Pare, a spokesman for the NFB, said most Web sites are far easier to navigate than Target’s. In a demonstration of screen-reading software for The
Associated Press, Danielsen showed that many links on Target’s side were unintelligible to the Jaws software, and that the final purchase required the
use of a mouse, something even the most sophisticated blind Web surfer would have trouble with. However, he was able to navigate other sites and purchased
a CD from Amazon.

Jaws, made by Freedom Scientific, is a popular kind of screen-reading software, but there are others, including Window-Eyes, made by GW Micro, and Hal,
made by Dolphin Computer Access.

Many Web sites already have made major progress in becoming accessible to the blind, and some, such as those run by the government, are required to do so
by law.

Yet surfing the Internet is not always worry-free for the blind. Crista Earl, the head of Web operations for the American Foundation for the Blind in New
York, said graphics that don’t contain textual labels — which can be read by screen-reading software — are a common obstacle for blind Internet users,
as are “forms” that are unlabeled. Forms are the little boxes where you insert data, such as a book title you wanted to search for.

The decision to hold Target’s Web site to the same standards of accessibility as its physical store under the Americans with Disabilities Act was considered
a victory by many advocates for the blind, but at the same time others worry that the ruling could be read too narrowly.

Not every business or Web site is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, said John D. Kemp., a lawyer with the Washington law firm Powers, Pyles,
Sutter & Verville P.C. The ADA applies mainly to public places such as restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and health care institutions, explained Kemp,
who has long worked on compliance issues related to disabilities, employment and technology.

For an electronic retailer such as Amazon.com, which has no physical store, the law is unclear, Kemp said. “There is no well defined policy in this area
at all.”

However, Kemp noted that many businesses, such as banks, see a strong business rationale for making their sites accessible, and have moved aggressively
to do so.

Meanwhile, other retailers are also moving to adapt their Web sites to screen-reading software. Kelly Groehler, a spokeswoman for Best Buy Co., says the
company has made a number of changes to its site since late last year, including incorporating “alt tags” — or text that labels items like graphics — into
its site.

Best Buy also moved code for drop-down menus to the bottom of the page, where it’s less likely to duplicate other elements on the page. “We’re trying to
be proactive here,” Groehler said. Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Colella says the site has made sure it is “reasonably accessible” to the blind.

Other retailers are making similar efforts, but it remains a challenge due to the continuing evolution in the technologies used by blind people to surf
the Internet, says Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation for online retailers.

“As the retailers’ Web sites continue to evolve to stay competitive in the marketplace, sometimes the technologies necessary to do that are a little bit
ahead of where the screen-readers are,” Silverman said. “It’s a very fast-moving environment. Retailers want to serve all their customers, including blind
people.”

Internet search giant Google Inc. is getting into the act as well. In July it launched a project to identify and rank Web sites that offer significant accessibility
to the blind.

As more information and services migrate online, keeping access open to it is of paramount importance to advocates for the blind.

“The blind have more access to information than they ever had in history — but that’s only true to the extent that Web accessibility is maintained,” Danielsen
said. “The technology is out there, and we don’t need barriers to be put in our way. Give us a way in.”

___

On the Net:

National Federation of the Blind: http://www.nfb.org

Google Accessible Search:

http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.html

American Foundation for the Blind: http://afb.org/

>Blind Web surfers sue for accessibility

by 1 Comment

>Blind Web surfers sue for accessibility

By SETH SUTEL, AP Business WriterTue Oct 24, 1:45 PM ET

“Links list dialogue.” “Links list view.” “Your Account — Two of 164.” This is what the Internet sounds like to Chris Danielsen. Danielsen is blind. He’s
using a software program called Jaws that converts the text on a Web page into a computerized voice that comes out through a speaker, allowing him to surf
the Web using keyboard commands instead of a mouse — the same way lots of blind people use the Internet.

In this case, his computer is listing all the Web links on the page he’s on and telling him that the highlighted link his cursor is on now will take him
to the “Your Account” section on Wal-Mart’s Web site.

Danielsen, who writes a blog called “The Voice of the Nation’s Blind” for the National Federation of the Blind, says accessing the Internet has been a “huge
boon” for blind people. It’s allowed them to accomplish a great number of tasks on their own that would otherwise present difficulties or require the help
of a sighted person, such as banking, buying plane tickets and shopping for things like groceries and music.

But like any evolving technology, accessing the Internet has hardly been a smooth ride for the blind. Some sites can be difficult to navigate, particularly
if they contain relatively few text links and rely more on graphics and other visual elements that screen-reading software such as Jaws can’t interpret.

That’s why the NFB, an organization that represents blind people, is suing Target Corp., saying that its Web site is inaccessible to blind Internet users.

Last month a federal judge in California allowed the NFB’s case to proceed, rejecting Target’s argument that its Web site wasn’t subject to the Americans
With Disabilities Act, a 1990 law that requires retailers and other public places to make accommodations for people with disabilities. Target argued that
the law only covered physical spaces.

The case, which is entering a pretrial phase called discovery in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, could set an important precedent
for applying federal accessibility law to the Internet.

Target said in a statement that its Web site was “committed to providing an online experience that is accessible to all of our guests. Despite the lawsuit
brought forward by the National Federation of the Blind, we have always and will continue to implement new technologies to our Web site.”

John Pare, a spokesman for the NFB, said most Web sites are far easier to navigate than Target’s. In a demonstration of screen-reading software for The
Associated Press, Danielsen showed that many links on Target’s side were unintelligible to the Jaws software, and that the final purchase required the
use of a mouse, something even the most sophisticated blind Web surfer would have trouble with. However, he was able to navigate other sites and purchased
a CD from Amazon.

Jaws, made by Freedom Scientific, is a popular kind of screen-reading software, but there are others, including Window-Eyes, made by GW Micro, and Hal,
made by Dolphin Computer Access.

Many Web sites already have made major progress in becoming accessible to the blind, and some, such as those run by the government, are required to do so
by law.

Yet surfing the Internet is not always worry-free for the blind. Crista Earl, the head of Web operations for the American Foundation for the Blind in New
York, said graphics that don’t contain textual labels — which can be read by screen-reading software — are a common obstacle for blind Internet users,
as are “forms” that are unlabeled. Forms are the little boxes where you insert data, such as a book title you wanted to search for.

The decision to hold Target’s Web site to the same standards of accessibility as its physical store under the Americans with Disabilities Act was considered
a victory by many advocates for the blind, but at the same time others worry that the ruling could be read too narrowly.

Not every business or Web site is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, said John D. Kemp., a lawyer with the Washington law firm Powers, Pyles,
Sutter & Verville P.C. The ADA applies mainly to public places such as restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and health care institutions, explained Kemp,
who has long worked on compliance issues related to disabilities, employment and technology.

For an electronic retailer such as Amazon.com, which has no physical store, the law is unclear, Kemp said. “There is no well defined policy in this area
at all.”

However, Kemp noted that many businesses, such as banks, see a strong business rationale for making their sites accessible, and have moved aggressively
to do so.

Meanwhile, other retailers are also moving to adapt their Web sites to screen-reading software. Kelly Groehler, a spokeswoman for Best Buy Co., says the
company has made a number of changes to its site since late last year, including incorporating “alt tags” — or text that labels items like graphics — into
its site.

Best Buy also moved code for drop-down menus to the bottom of the page, where it’s less likely to duplicate other elements on the page. “We’re trying to
be proactive here,” Groehler said. Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Colella says the site has made sure it is “reasonably accessible” to the blind.

Other retailers are making similar efforts, but it remains a challenge due to the continuing evolution in the technologies used by blind people to surf
the Internet, says Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation for online retailers.

“As the retailers’ Web sites continue to evolve to stay competitive in the marketplace, sometimes the technologies necessary to do that are a little bit
ahead of where the screen-readers are,” Silverman said. “It’s a very fast-moving environment. Retailers want to serve all their customers, including blind
people.”

Internet search giant Google Inc. is getting into the act as well. In July it launched a project to identify and rank Web sites that offer significant accessibility
to the blind.

As more information and services migrate online, keeping access open to it is of paramount importance to advocates for the blind.

“The blind have more access to information than they ever had in history — but that’s only true to the extent that Web accessibility is maintained,” Danielsen
said. “The technology is out there, and we don’t need barriers to be put in our way. Give us a way in.”

___

On the Net:

National Federation of the Blind: http://www.nfb.org

Google Accessible Search:

http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.html

American Foundation for the Blind: http://afb.org/

people are so stupid these days!

by 2 Comments

Hey all,
First of all, what is mentioned here is aimed at a spicific individual, and not adam, for a change.
She reads this blog, and since this individual won’t listen to me on the phone or by e-mail, I’m going to put it here, where I am sure to be read, not just by her, but by a lot of people.
Your all probably wondering what’s up with the title for my post.
Why would I title a post what I titled it?
Well, for one, this is my blog, and I can title posts whatever I like, and for two, my X, niki, who used to be a huge part of the penny drive, the committie at our school that raises money for McMaster Children’s hospital, basically said in an e-mail, I’m still apart of the committie, and you have to listen to what I have to say, and if you don’t I’m going to shut the committie down.
Let’s see, what gives you the authority MS. Hotshot to say things like that. You turned control over to Rose, and we don’t need your flat nose in our affairs.
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we can run the committie just fine without you.
You turned control over to rose, complete control, and that’s the way it is going to stay.
We don’t need you, and francly, we don’t want you either.
You were the one who caused most of the problems with brauling last year. You pushed your weight around, bossed us around, and the committie nearly fell apart last year because of you and your bossiness
I’m not going to say their weren’t others causing issues, we all took part at one time or another, but you seemed to always be at the head of it.
The committie has already said we don’t want you bossing us around this year, and we can and will do this with or without your help.
You can’t boss us around, sure you may be on the list, but you are an advising member. Get that straight, advising member, not full member, advising member.
So that means you have some say, but the final say comes down to the committie and if we say no, then no is the way it will be and you will just have to deal with it.
You have to remember one thing, you’ve lost trust in a lot of people, not just me, I’m not going to speak for everyone reading this, but you’ve broken trust, and you’ve done it by hurting me the way you did. You made me feel worthless, and made me cry on a number of occasions with your actions and with what you said to me, and the way you treated me when I tried to talk to you about things and explain my side of things to you regarding certain issues.
I know everyone hates drama and long drawn out things so I won’t go into details.
Nikki, you aren’t going to earn my trust back overnight, and pushing your weight around with this committie isn’t going to help, it’s just going to make me distrust you more.

So, all I am going to say to you Nikki is back off, and let us do our work.
We’ve got ajob to do, and with you shoving your crap in our faces, we can’t do our job properly.
If you continue to persist, I will bring it to the head of the committie and have you removed perminantly from all aspects of this committie, and we will continue on our own without you. And if you want my opinion, we could do a heck of a better job without you, thank you very much.
if you ask me, We accomplished more in the first meeting, then we ever did last year in all the meetings we had. We had no brauling, no fights, we were civil about things, and we got a lot done without you their! Wow! We actually don’t need you, can you believe that? I’m sorry if that hurts your eago, but that’s just too bad! It’s a part of life, and you’ll just have to deal with it! You’re not always needed, and you’ll just have to suck it up!
Now quit being a baby and we’ll all be happy.
Thanks all for reading, and i do apologize for that, but I had to say what I had to say.
If you have thoughts on what I wrote here, feel free to comment.
I’ll post later on.
everyone have a blessed, geezus filled day.

>people are so stupid these days!

by 2 Comments

>Hey all,
First of all, what is mentioned here is aimed at a spicific individual, and not adam, for a change.
She reads this blog, and since this individual won’t listen to me on the phone or by e-mail, I’m going to put it here, where I am sure to be read, not just by her, but by a lot of people.
Your all probably wondering what’s up with the title for my post.
Why would I title a post what I titled it?
Well, for one, this is my blog, and I can title posts whatever I like, and for two, my X, niki, who used to be a huge part of the penny drive, the committie at our school that raises money for McMaster Children’s hospital, basically said in an e-mail, I’m still apart of the committie, and you have to listen to what I have to say, and if you don’t I’m going to shut the committie down.
Let’s see, what gives you the authority MS. Hotshot to say things like that. You turned control over to Rose, and we don’t need your flat nose in our affairs.
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we can run the committie just fine without you.
You turned control over to rose, complete control, and that’s the way it is going to stay.
We don’t need you, and francly, we don’t want you either.
You were the one who caused most of the problems with brauling last year. You pushed your weight around, bossed us around, and the committie nearly fell apart last year because of you and your bossiness
I’m not going to say their weren’t others causing issues, we all took part at one time or another, but you seemed to always be at the head of it.
The committie has already said we don’t want you bossing us around this year, and we can and will do this with or without your help.
You can’t boss us around, sure you may be on the list, but you are an advising member. Get that straight, advising member, not full member, advising member.
So that means you have some say, but the final say comes down to the committie and if we say no, then no is the way it will be and you will just have to deal with it.
You have to remember one thing, you’ve lost trust in a lot of people, not just me, I’m not going to speak for everyone reading this, but you’ve broken trust, and you’ve done it by hurting me the way you did. You made me feel worthless, and made me cry on a number of occasions with your actions and with what you said to me, and the way you treated me when I tried to talk to you about things and explain my side of things to you regarding certain issues.
I know everyone hates drama and long drawn out things so I won’t go into details.
Nikki, you aren’t going to earn my trust back overnight, and pushing your weight around with this committie isn’t going to help, it’s just going to make me distrust you more.

So, all I am going to say to you Nikki is back off, and let us do our work.
We’ve got ajob to do, and with you shoving your crap in our faces, we can’t do our job properly.
If you continue to persist, I will bring it to the head of the committie and have you removed perminantly from all aspects of this committie, and we will continue on our own without you. And if you want my opinion, we could do a heck of a better job without you, thank you very much.
if you ask me, We accomplished more in the first meeting, then we ever did last year in all the meetings we had. We had no brauling, no fights, we were civil about things, and we got a lot done without you their! Wow! We actually don’t need you, can you believe that? I’m sorry if that hurts your eago, but that’s just too bad! It’s a part of life, and you’ll just have to deal with it! You’re not always needed, and you’ll just have to suck it up!
Now quit being a baby and we’ll all be happy.
Thanks all for reading, and i do apologize for that, but I had to say what I had to say.
If you have thoughts on what I wrote here, feel free to comment.
I’ll post later on.
everyone have a blessed, geezus filled day.

Trekker 3.0 Now Available:

by Leave a Comment

the following comes from
humanware
enjoy.
Trekker 3.0 Now Available:
HumanWare expands the possibilities of GPS guidance for blind people.

Longueuil, October 18, 2006 — HumanWare is proud to announce the release of the new version of the GPS orientation system most used by blind people in
the world. Trekker 3.0 boasts an array of new features, including using multiple GPS maps, maps covering wider areas, turn by turn instructions guidance
while in a vehicle, capabilities to handle various sources of points of interest, and other innovations providing more information.

New generation of GPS maps

Moving from one region to another is now easier, with the new generation GPS maps used by Trekker 3.0. These cover larger territories and are divided into
regional maps for more convenience. Multiple maps can now be activated and stored in the memory.

More flexibility to manage points of interest

Trekker 3.0 also expands the sources of geographical information with the capability to integrate complementary points of interest coming from other users,
or databases downloadable from the web. Searching for points of interest is now easier because different search criteria can be used and combined (postal
code, categories, distance, etc.). Personal points of interest can be organized into categories, transferred to and backed up on a PC, and even shared
with other users.

More comprehensive routes

Whether you are travelling on foot or in a vehicle, Trekker 3.0 provides more information than ever before. When a route is activated, the initial direction
is now announced. Navigation information is provided step by step, giving the next instruction and the distance to it.

Superior information system

Trekker 3.0 offers the user an unsurpassed access to information. This includes shortcut keys for instant information about speed, direction, city name,
altitude, latitude, longitude and number of satellites in view.

“Since Trekker was introduced 4 years ago, the lives of sightless people have been literally transformed: they now have more freedom and can take full advantage
of their environment,” says product manager Lucia Gomez. “With Version 3.0, we have expanded the concept of “freedom to explore” even further, offering
a product that is both more comprehensive and more flexible”.

Trekker 3.0 is now available from HumanWare subsidiaries and distributors. A free upgrade is available for users of earlier versions at this:
location
A detailed list of the new features in Trekker 3.0 is also available at:
this location.

>Trekker 3.0 Now Available:

by Leave a Comment

>the following comes from
humanware
enjoy.
Trekker 3.0 Now Available:
HumanWare expands the possibilities of GPS guidance for blind people.

Longueuil, October 18, 2006 — HumanWare is proud to announce the release of the new version of the GPS orientation system most used by blind people in
the world. Trekker 3.0 boasts an array of new features, including using multiple GPS maps, maps covering wider areas, turn by turn instructions guidance
while in a vehicle, capabilities to handle various sources of points of interest, and other innovations providing more information.

New generation of GPS maps

Moving from one region to another is now easier, with the new generation GPS maps used by Trekker 3.0. These cover larger territories and are divided into
regional maps for more convenience. Multiple maps can now be activated and stored in the memory.

More flexibility to manage points of interest

Trekker 3.0 also expands the sources of geographical information with the capability to integrate complementary points of interest coming from other users,
or databases downloadable from the web. Searching for points of interest is now easier because different search criteria can be used and combined (postal
code, categories, distance, etc.). Personal points of interest can be organized into categories, transferred to and backed up on a PC, and even shared
with other users.

More comprehensive routes

Whether you are travelling on foot or in a vehicle, Trekker 3.0 provides more information than ever before. When a route is activated, the initial direction
is now announced. Navigation information is provided step by step, giving the next instruction and the distance to it.

Superior information system

Trekker 3.0 offers the user an unsurpassed access to information. This includes shortcut keys for instant information about speed, direction, city name,
altitude, latitude, longitude and number of satellites in view.

“Since Trekker was introduced 4 years ago, the lives of sightless people have been literally transformed: they now have more freedom and can take full advantage
of their environment,” says product manager Lucia Gomez. “With Version 3.0, we have expanded the concept of “freedom to explore” even further, offering
a product that is both more comprehensive and more flexible”.

Trekker 3.0 is now available from HumanWare subsidiaries and distributors. A free upgrade is available for users of earlier versions at this:
location
A detailed list of the new features in Trekker 3.0 is also available at:
this location.

A Slide, a Prayer, Again

by Leave a Comment

Good afternoon fellow readers.
I get a lot of christian related material by e-mail.
I enjoy a lot of it.
a lot of the good stuff comes from:
christian today.com
this site offers a lot of great reading.
The following article comes from the
children’s ministry
section of that site.
Please enjoy, and remember, your comments are always welcome on the material posted here.
and now, as they say in show business, we give you our featured presentation, the article entitled A Slide, a Prayer, Again.

A Slide, a Prayer, Again
by Keri Wyatt Kent

Little Josh wanders the three-year-old room at Promiseland, stopping first at the art station to color a picture of Jesus, which he embellishes with a few
lines and circles meant to be Thomas the train. I admire his work. He smiles, but is already scanning the room, sizing up the possibilities: a reading
corner with picture books, a play kitchen, bowling with plastic pins, and a rubber ball. Then he sees it: the sturdy plastic slide, brightly hued and inviting.
“I want to slide,” he says, pulling me by the hand. “Okay,” I say.

He points to a spot on the carpet beside the slide. “You sit here and watch me,” he says kindly. As a volunteer, that’s my job during play time—to watch
the kids (we’ll talk about the Bible lesson later during small group time). I agree and sit on the floor. Josh climbs to the top of slide, sits down and
looks at me expectantly.

“Ready, set, go!” I say. He slides down, his light-up sneakers catching slightly on the slide. He runs over to me and I give him a high-five. He stops,
looking thoughtful. He lifts one finger, looking professorial. “I’ll do it again!” he says.

Josh was sliding for at least 15 minutes, maybe more. Each time, he’d lift that index finger and repeat, “I’ll do it again!” Since I was at Promiseland
and not at home trying to get other chores done, I sat down and simply watched Josh play. He’d look over at me, and I’d clap or make comments. Occasionally,
other kids joined in, and I watched all of them, saying “Ready, set, go!” when prompted and offering “Great job!” with a high-five as each came off the
slide.

What made this activity satisfying for three-year-olds? Well, they like doing things “again”! (And again and again.) But mostly, I think, Josh liked having
someone to watch and admire his play on the slide. He just enjoyed my attention.

Prayer is like that, I think: just enjoying the attention of God.

What an amazing gift—the loving attention of God. We can have it any time we want—God is never hurried, never stingy with time. We can take that attention
for granted. It’s easy to focus on ourselves and our needs when we pray. But prayer is so much more than communicating our concerns.

Prayer is rooted in relationship. The writer of Hebrews notes that our relationship with Jesus not only gives us access to God, but assurance that we’ll
be heard and helped. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in
our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15,16).

Just as little Josh was confident that he could ask me to sit and watch him play on the slide, that I would give him my attention and affirmation, we can
be confident that God will listen to us.

That begins the conversation, but if it is truly to be that—a conversation—we must listen as well. To be aware that God is giving us attention and to respond
by offering our attention back to God—that’s the beginning of a deeper kind of prayer.

Do these ideas fill you with longing? Pay attention to that.

“Desire for God is fuel for prayer,” writes Marjorie Thompson, adding that all our spiritual desires come from God. God is the initiator—the one who sits
down to listen to us and longs to have us listen, be still, and know.

Does prayer feel like a privilege, or an obligation? Is it a time to listen, or just a chance to stuff your complaints in the suggestion box? Do you enjoy
the attention of God, or does it make you squirmy, wondering what to say?

One way to listen to God is to simply be still, and pray a simple breath prayer. A breath prayer is one that can be uttered in the space of a single inhale
and exhale. It’s a way of giving God attention that you can carry with you through your day.

Start by simply being quiet and taking a few deep, calming breaths. Imagine Jesus is there with you, asking, what do you need? Do you need peace? Confidence?
Strength to endure? Wisdom? Jesus promises to give us all these things if we ask.

Then, decide how you want to address God. What feels most intimate, or addresses your need most directly? Loving Father? Compassionate One? Lord?

Combine this name for God with your desire or need. For example, you may pray, “Counselor, give me wisdom.” A famous breath prayer that has been prayed
for generations is “Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

You may want to write your prayer in a journal or on an index card that you can carry with you. Or simply carry it in your heart. Pray it throughout your
day. Then listen for God’s response. Or simply enjoy the quiet presence of the Spirit.

Today, take some time to enjoy the attention of God, to share your joys and challenges with one who delights in listening to you. And then, offer your undivided
attention to God, who longs to tell you how deeply and fully loved you truly are.

>A Slide, a Prayer, Again

by Leave a Comment

>Good afternoon fellow readers.
I get a lot of christian related material by e-mail.
I enjoy a lot of it.
a lot of the good stuff comes from:
christian today.com
this site offers a lot of great reading.
The following article comes from the
children’s ministry
section of that site.
Please enjoy, and remember, your comments are always welcome on the material posted here.
and now, as they say in show business, we give you our featured presentation, the article entitled A Slide, a Prayer, Again.

A Slide, a Prayer, Again
by Keri Wyatt Kent

Little Josh wanders the three-year-old room at Promiseland, stopping first at the art station to color a picture of Jesus, which he embellishes with a few
lines and circles meant to be Thomas the train. I admire his work. He smiles, but is already scanning the room, sizing up the possibilities: a reading
corner with picture books, a play kitchen, bowling with plastic pins, and a rubber ball. Then he sees it: the sturdy plastic slide, brightly hued and inviting.
“I want to slide,” he says, pulling me by the hand. “Okay,” I say.

He points to a spot on the carpet beside the slide. “You sit here and watch me,” he says kindly. As a volunteer, that’s my job during play time—to watch
the kids (we’ll talk about the Bible lesson later during small group time). I agree and sit on the floor. Josh climbs to the top of slide, sits down and
looks at me expectantly.

“Ready, set, go!” I say. He slides down, his light-up sneakers catching slightly on the slide. He runs over to me and I give him a high-five. He stops,
looking thoughtful. He lifts one finger, looking professorial. “I’ll do it again!” he says.

Josh was sliding for at least 15 minutes, maybe more. Each time, he’d lift that index finger and repeat, “I’ll do it again!” Since I was at Promiseland
and not at home trying to get other chores done, I sat down and simply watched Josh play. He’d look over at me, and I’d clap or make comments. Occasionally,
other kids joined in, and I watched all of them, saying “Ready, set, go!” when prompted and offering “Great job!” with a high-five as each came off the
slide.

What made this activity satisfying for three-year-olds? Well, they like doing things “again”! (And again and again.) But mostly, I think, Josh liked having
someone to watch and admire his play on the slide. He just enjoyed my attention.

Prayer is like that, I think: just enjoying the attention of God.

What an amazing gift—the loving attention of God. We can have it any time we want—God is never hurried, never stingy with time. We can take that attention
for granted. It’s easy to focus on ourselves and our needs when we pray. But prayer is so much more than communicating our concerns.

Prayer is rooted in relationship. The writer of Hebrews notes that our relationship with Jesus not only gives us access to God, but assurance that we’ll
be heard and helped. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in
our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15,16).

Just as little Josh was confident that he could ask me to sit and watch him play on the slide, that I would give him my attention and affirmation, we can
be confident that God will listen to us.

That begins the conversation, but if it is truly to be that—a conversation—we must listen as well. To be aware that God is giving us attention and to respond
by offering our attention back to God—that’s the beginning of a deeper kind of prayer.

Do these ideas fill you with longing? Pay attention to that.

“Desire for God is fuel for prayer,” writes Marjorie Thompson, adding that all our spiritual desires come from God. God is the initiator—the one who sits
down to listen to us and longs to have us listen, be still, and know.

Does prayer feel like a privilege, or an obligation? Is it a time to listen, or just a chance to stuff your complaints in the suggestion box? Do you enjoy
the attention of God, or does it make you squirmy, wondering what to say?

One way to listen to God is to simply be still, and pray a simple breath prayer. A breath prayer is one that can be uttered in the space of a single inhale
and exhale. It’s a way of giving God attention that you can carry with you through your day.

Start by simply being quiet and taking a few deep, calming breaths. Imagine Jesus is there with you, asking, what do you need? Do you need peace? Confidence?
Strength to endure? Wisdom? Jesus promises to give us all these things if we ask.

Then, decide how you want to address God. What feels most intimate, or addresses your need most directly? Loving Father? Compassionate One? Lord?

Combine this name for God with your desire or need. For example, you may pray, “Counselor, give me wisdom.” A famous breath prayer that has been prayed
for generations is “Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

You may want to write your prayer in a journal or on an index card that you can carry with you. Or simply carry it in your heart. Pray it throughout your
day. Then listen for God’s response. Or simply enjoy the quiet presence of the Spirit.

Today, take some time to enjoy the attention of God, to share your joys and challenges with one who delights in listening to you. And then, offer your undivided
attention to God, who longs to tell you how deeply and fully loved you truly are.