I've just been reading in the Telegraph about an evangelical christian american footballer who prays before being called on pitch.

Anyone who knows me well, will be aware I've an atheist brother, a church leader brother, another few who couldn't care less, and many, many years ago I did a stint in church leadership myself.

Though to be honest for me it was an interest in the practical, rather than in religious side....I'll let you work that one out :)

The correspondent in the Telegraph points out the footballers second rate team seems to on the up, and dares to imply it may be a result of prayer. Is prayer important?

I'd say yes. I suppose most people have a fixed idea, probably ingrained in childhood, that prayer is a communication with someone, or a group, that is greater than themselves. I'm ok with that. My church elder brother will tell you it's part of his faith that allows him to know he's loved. My atheist bro' will tell you it's a load of old cobblers.

Prayer, at it's basic is a bonding experience between people with a common goal. I'd say that for an individual, no matter if you have faith or not(faith, to quote Paul of Tarsus, is belief in that yet unseen) is important because it allows a reaffirmation of what you DO believe. In a nutshell, do it because you can, if only for the reason that you affirm a belief in your goals.

Faith in those things yet unseen. Why deny yourself the privilege?

Darn it. This bloke with a stroke was bought some jeans with button-up fly's jeans for Christmas. Really nice they are too. I have a weakness on the right side. Not totally bloom'n useless. Just much weaker. Have you ever tried to undo Jean buttons one handed when you REALLY got to go? Darn it. Right. I'm working hard on doing the out thing. I've done it twice over christmas with Bear, and I don't, can't shift, afterwards for days. But I'm pushing, and pushing, and only ended on my arse a couple of times. Pffft. Wish me luck.