A Christian leader—we’ll call him Steve —was traveling recently by plane. He noticed that the man sitting two seats over was thumbing through some little cards and moving his lips. The man looked professorial with his goatee and graying brown hair, and Steve placed him at fifty-something. Sure the man was a fellow-believer, Steve leaned over to engage him in conversation.

“Looks to me like you’re memorizing something,” he said.

“No, actually I was praying,” the man said.

Steve introduced himself. “I believe in prayer too,” he said.

“Well, I have a specific assignment,” said the man with the goatee.

“What’s that?” Steve asked. “I’m praying for the downfall of Christian pastors.”

“I would certainly fit into that category,” Steve said. “Is my name on the list?”

“Not on my list,” the man replied.

Common Ground, Vol. 10 No. 7