God's UNLimited Range

Ok, I know the title of this one is a bit crass, but lets check the article first.

American Chronical
Outrage: Christians hold Prayer Vigil at Gas Station

Robert Paul Reyes

June 21, 2008

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"Members of the Toledo First Seventh-Day Adventist Church are holding a prayer at the pump vigil, asking God to solve the high gas price problem.

'Bush can't solve it. McCain and Obama can't solve it. We're going to have to turn to God,' said Rocky Twyman, the vigil's organizer. '...Because we believe prayer is the answer to any problem in life. I believe this is the way God is telling us to stop depending on ourselves and trust in him,' Twyman added."
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Ok here's my gripe with these people, ready for it?
I know it may be hard to understand, but here goes.
- God Almighty, creator of the Heavens and Earth and all
that is contained there-in does NOT have a limited range.
There, I said it.

Now sure, I understand that in troubled times like this it's good to turn to your God and ask for help, I often do myself. But going to the gas station to hold a Vigil? What the hell? Like He won't figure it out unless you're near a gas station to direct Him towards it? "Hey God, this is a 'gas station' and it's where we've been having a bit of problems lately. See-eth Thou this art a 'gas pump' and these numbers that Thine Holy Eyes doth (doeth?) look upon in their greatness are what we humble humans consider "too high". Please send help."
Or maybe they just wanted the prices lowered at that specific gas station?
Call me cynical, but I doubt their motives if they believe they have to be AT the gas station.

Now, dear reader, I'm sure you're wondering how I could get worked up over one simple article that I should post about it. Well, the truth is this isn't the first time I've run into "Limited Range Believers".

Back in my younger days I used to spend a lot of time down at 6th Street here in Austin, TX. If you don't know it's like a miniature New Orleans, Bourbon Street. The whole street for about 8 blocks is bars, clubs, beggers, homeless, weirdos, tattoo parlors, and more bars. A veritable 'Party in the Streets'.
From time to time, usually on Friday&Saturday nights I would be walking down the street and run into a group of 6 to 15 people standing on a corner in a circle, praying. Sometimes they were praying silently, sometimes with a bullhorn, but mostly just praying for the people on 6th street. Never noticed any of them stop and help a homeless bum or anything, they were just there to pray for the rest of us and our "wicked sinning ways". I know this not only from what I heard them yelling/praying over the bullhorn, but also because I stopped and asked once or twice. I couldn't help but ask them "does God have a limited range?". Well, they took offense and I'm sure they all said a special prayer for that sinner!(me) I just couldn't get through to them that night about what my perspective was. So here it is.

Going out to "the scene of the crime" to pray about it was most likely motivated not by a genuine desire to help others, but an egotistical cry for attention. "Hey everyone look at me, I'm doing something for YOU! You should like me and be like me!"
God doesn't have a limited range, you can pray for the "sinners on 6th street" from Tokyo or Alaska, God is still listening to you. God still hears your prayers and God is going to answer them.
Going down to the scene of the action?
That's just showing off.

Peace be with you