Oddly enough I have been mulling the question since my front door was a hit and run victim of a religious organization and its pamphlets last week that were announcing to prepare for the end of the world. I regretted I missed them.

Scientifically they may be right if you follow the ancient calendars that all tend to point toward problems in 2012. However I don't think their bible and preaching was aimed based on those findings. And I dislike religious scare tactics.

So, I was asking myself about prayer and speaking to God. I had arrived a my own personal conclusion. Shut my mouth, open my mind to my God. Be silent and listen and watch. Ask for help and guidance when I need it. Answers may come and do come from source I least expect. Thank yous are said at red lights, parking lots, meals, looking at my kitchen window, laying in bed watching my spouse take a breath, hearing my mother's voice, listening to a child say I love you, listening to one of my dogs snore. Whenever, because it means I am still living and breathing.

I don't wait for sticks and bricks to communicate or listen. I don't have to read a book by others to believe.

I do read books by others to learn viewpoints, percepts, concepts, ideals, and such to help me live by. I find that each social, religious, or ethnic group have their own beliefs that work. And I have found that through the variety, some have the the same rivers of rules and thoughts that are good and bad. And some have uniqueness that are good and bad.

I always remember that the modern bible that many claim is the final word of God has gone through so many interpretations and politcal changes over millieu that you must take biblical history classes, polictal classes, and language classes to truely understand the different versions of the books and how each was translated over time; what was removed and added. I took two vidio courses on just one book of the modern bible -- The St. James version was slowly migrated through each editorial change backwards, every change through language interpretation, and through to aramaic adaptations. Just one book and it boggled the mind and also showed that what the original pages looked like (they still have) and what the pages say today are sometimes way off thanks to man's continued personal interpretations and wanting to change the masses way of thinking.

IMO the bible is great for a reference but there are other writings out there too. And I need to also be silent and listen and say thanks a lot.

I actually had the pleasure of meeting the Archbishop Tutu about 20 years ago. He wasn't as well known then. I worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The triune God of Abraham, Yaweh. I do believe that the bible is the Holy Word of God. It was written by men who were filled by the Spirit of God. When seeking God's help, I try to read His word for the solution. I have never been disappointed. I know there are many who see many discrepancies in the written word of God, but I understand it as God's love letter to me. I have faith that God's word will sustain me. Linguistically, the Bible has been proven to have one voice. I truly believe that voice belongs to God. ......the word became flesh....Jesus Christ....Savior of the world....and he sent a comforter......the Holy Spirit.......all parts of the Creator.....paraphrases mine.

God does not speak in words, but life. In the translation of life, words sometimes fail to convey true "understanding". To have understanding is to go away from evil.

Once you have received the "living word" of God written interpretations are unnecessary. Study of the written word, is only to assist you in preparation to recieve the living word. Some people don't even require having read the bible, and others require renewed study.

When a being lives according to God's will, they are ready to receive the holy spirit; which empowers everything they do, because knowingly or not they are the living will of God on earth.

"God's will be done"

I did not listen to the broadcast, not for any reason; just because I was not compeled too.

Prayer to me is not necessarily the same for others, my prayer is "my life".

The Archbishop Tutu is so right on, the Holy Bible and the writtings that were used to create is not the word for word dictation of God's word. The Bible is written by man and has the ancient Jewish laws within its text, and the flaws of man in them. You asked if I pray to the God created by man or the God who created man? I pray to the God of Abraham, above all heavenly host, the creator. If due to your sexually you reject God, don't be surprised if God rejects you.