ABSTRACT
Writing a response to Larry Dossey's article has forced me to revisit a number of my own assumptions and beliefs about intercessory prayer, and to stretch my understanding of the nature of prayer and how it functions. The scientist within me was pleased to know that there is empirical support for the efficaciousness of what I have been doing myself and encouraging others to do for years. I initially welcomed his challenge to take prayer seriously, but as I examined my faith and pastoral practice, I was reminded of the difficulty of discerning what to pray for and the enduring problem of unanswered prayer. While intercessory prayer has been a part of the Judeo-Christian culture and practice since its beginning, the dilemma remains about how one is to deal with these nagging questions. Let me share a recent personal example.
