Is our national motto – In God We Trust – true? Tomorrow – May 6th – represents the 59th Anniversary of the National Day of Prayer Observance. The Theme is: Prayer – For Such A Time As This and the Verse is Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” In keeping with national tradition, the President of the United States issued an official – National Day of Prayer Proclamation. He wrote: “Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad. On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time….”
USA TODAY conducted a Poll on May 1-2 of a sample group of 1,000 people. Their findings include: “83% say God answers prayers, 57% favor National Prayer Day…This fits with most Americans' views: 92% say there is a God and 83% say this God answers prayers…The survey also asked two groups of 500 people each a question about the National Day of Prayer…One group was asked if they favored or opposed the National Day of Prayer or if it doesn't matter…57% of adults favor it, and 38% shrugged it off. Only 4.5% opposed it. For most 18 to 29-year-olds, it could be the National Day of Whatever - 59% said it doesn't matter. Those who most strongly favor it were Republicans (76%); women 50 and older (71%); Midwesterners (71%) and Southerners (63%)…”
USA Today reports: “Americans are overwhelmingly sure there's a God who answers prayers. But that doesn't mean they all favor an official annual National Day of Prayer — or that its goal should be promoting Christianity.” In keeping with that sentiment, The Presidential Proclamation echoes that thought: “…We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.”
USA Today also reports: “If President Obama fails to intervene to allow controversial evangelist Franklin Graham to lead a National Day of Prayer event Thursday inside the Pentagon, it will be a slap in the face of all Christians…And invited or not, he'll stand in front of the Pentagon and pray…The Pentagon had invited…the National Day of Prayer Task Force, of which Graham is 2010 honorary chairman, to lead an official prayer service there. The prayers are for the U.S. military…But the invitation was rescinded after mainline Protestants, Muslims and Jews complained that Graham offends and excludes many believers because of his strict views on Christianity and his comments that Islam is evil…Graham reiterated his belief that Muslims do not worship the same God the Father I worship. He laughed at Hinduism's many manifestations of God: No elephant with 100 arms can do anything for me. None of their 9,000 gods is going to lead me to salvation. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have some big kumbaya service and all hold hands and it's all going to get better in this world. It's not going to get better…”
What does “In God We Trust” mean and imply? At the very least, it would suggest one listen to what God has said and what he requires. II Chronicles 7:14 would be a starting point: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” PC (political correctness) in DC (our nation’s capitol) needs to be honed and re-focused to God, and God Alone! Consider these things with me!
USA TODAY conducted a Poll on May 1-2 of a sample group of 1,000 people. Their findings include: “83% say God answers prayers, 57% favor National Prayer Day…This fits with most Americans' views: 92% say there is a God and 83% say this God answers prayers…The survey also asked two groups of 500 people each a question about the National Day of Prayer…One group was asked if they favored or opposed the National Day of Prayer or if it doesn't matter…57% of adults favor it, and 38% shrugged it off. Only 4.5% opposed it. For most 18 to 29-year-olds, it could be the National Day of Whatever - 59% said it doesn't matter. Those who most strongly favor it were Republicans (76%); women 50 and older (71%); Midwesterners (71%) and Southerners (63%)…”
USA Today reports: “Americans are overwhelmingly sure there's a God who answers prayers. But that doesn't mean they all favor an official annual National Day of Prayer — or that its goal should be promoting Christianity.” In keeping with that sentiment, The Presidential Proclamation echoes that thought: “…We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.”
USA Today also reports: “If President Obama fails to intervene to allow controversial evangelist Franklin Graham to lead a National Day of Prayer event Thursday inside the Pentagon, it will be a slap in the face of all Christians…And invited or not, he'll stand in front of the Pentagon and pray…The Pentagon had invited…the National Day of Prayer Task Force, of which Graham is 2010 honorary chairman, to lead an official prayer service there. The prayers are for the U.S. military…But the invitation was rescinded after mainline Protestants, Muslims and Jews complained that Graham offends and excludes many believers because of his strict views on Christianity and his comments that Islam is evil…Graham reiterated his belief that Muslims do not worship the same God the Father I worship. He laughed at Hinduism's many manifestations of God: No elephant with 100 arms can do anything for me. None of their 9,000 gods is going to lead me to salvation. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have some big kumbaya service and all hold hands and it's all going to get better in this world. It's not going to get better…”
What does “In God We Trust” mean and imply? At the very least, it would suggest one listen to what God has said and what he requires. II Chronicles 7:14 would be a starting point: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” PC (political correctness) in DC (our nation’s capitol) needs to be honed and re-focused to God, and God Alone! Consider these things with me!
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