For a fascinating perspective on prayer in America, check out the New York Times article, The Right Way to Pray? that ran this past Sunday (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/magazine/20Prayer-t.html). It mentions names that many of us in prayer circles love--Jim Cymbala, Daniel Henderson, and Pray! magazine (!)--along with an assortment of others including Steven Waldman of Belifenet.com, Rabbi Marc Gellman, Catholic scholar Bradford Hinze, and more.

The article is not written from a Christian perspective--the author makes a point of distinguishing himself from the 75 percent of Americans who report that they pray once a week or more and says that even when twice it appeared he was gong to die, "I didn't give God a thought." However, it's still worth reading. 

Isn't it interesting that so many of us practice prayer, even though we may view it and God very differently? I'd love to hear about interactions you may have had with people outside evangelical circles who love to pray. How can we connect with them? How can we capitalize on what we agree on while sharing with them our passion for Jesus whom is the focus of our praying?