Reaching for The Stars

 

Humans have always tried to get an advantage in the game of life. In an effort to get an edge on the game of life, many people turn to astrology, horoscopes to help guide them to success, love, and luck. This is not necessarily a hail Mary. The creation story in the Christian religion says God created the lights in the sky for a reason. And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, Genesis 1:14. Astronomy incorporates the use of planets and if you connect the stars in a certain way, the symbol representing each zodiac sign can be seen for that month. Come on, even our favorite son, President Ronald Reagan, consulted the stars (his wife did and we all know husbands do what their wife tells them to).

Aastrology, the position of Venus in a person's birth chart can indicate their potential for fame and recognition. Venus is the planet that signifies beauty, creativity, and charisma.

Ancient peoples from across the Earth only knew about five of the planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. To the people of some ancient civilizations, the planets were thought to be representation of deities, for others they were a means through which gods communicated to humans.

The belief in horoscopes originated in Mesopotamia (c. 3rd millennium bc) and spread to India, but it developed its Western form in Greek civilization during the Hellenistic period. On the basis of their observations and calculations, the Babylonians divided the sky into twelve areas, each of which was assigned a figure, a name, and a specific meaning. This became the zodiac with its twelve zodiac signs such as Aries, Gemini, Virgo, or Leo.Finally, the Babylonian astral scientists created a body of knowledge that enabled them to assign meanings and contexts of meanings based on their calculations of which planets were where in the zodiac at which point in time. 

Astrologers (people who study astrology) believe that celestial objects are linked to human behavior. For example, it is a common belief in astrology that a person's personality traits align with the zodiacal constellation that was in the sky when they were born. Some people might find it appealing because it enhances their sense of egotism and specialness, while others might be drawn to it because they see it as an avenue to spiritual knowledge. Although it is well proven that astrology does not get things right, 27% of Americans and 23% of the French believe in it, while 46% of Mexicans feel that their horoscope is something important in their lives. For Native Americans, astrology has been, and still is to some degree, an integral part of their culture and tradition. 

Modern astrologers see each planet as a reflection of a basic human impulse. Here is a list of the heavenly bodies and how a person's ruling planet in their horoscope affects them.

Sun: I Am

The Sun is the "star" of the astrological planets. It's your "will to be," your personal center, your confidence, and your vitality. The energy of your Sun sign colors every aspect of your life. The Sun rules Leo as well as the fifth astrological house (the house of pleasure and creativity).

Moon: I Feel

The Moon is your need for comfort and security. It governs your emotions and is responsible for their ebb and flow. The Moon is the mother archetype. It's feminine in nature and has a strong influence on your moods The Moon rules Cancer and governs the fourth astrological house (the house of "home, family, heritage, and roots.)

Mercury: I Think

Astrologically, Mercury is a small, but a very busy planet. It represents your need to learn, think and communicate. Mercury sparks curiosity. Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo and holds sway over the third house (the house of talking and communicating) and sixth house (the house of your mundane life).

Venus: I Love

Venus is your need for harmonious relationships. It's feminine in nature and brings diplomacy to all your interactions with others. Venus encourages you to reflect on what is important in life and strive to find balance. Venus rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and governs the second house (the house of personal possessions) and seventh houses (the house of committed relationships).

Mars: I Act

Mars, named for the Roman god of war, is the planet of survival. Mars is personal and physical. It's about sexuality and your courage. It speaks of how and for what you'd fight. Mars is the ruler of Aries, co-ruler of Scorpio and governs the first house (the house of self) as well as the eighth house ( the house of sexuality, death, and rebirth).

Jupiter: I Grow

Jupiter is the planet that encourages us to expand our horizons! It brings a sense of optimism and increases our chance of good fortune. Jupiter rules the sign of Sagittarius, is co-ruler of Pisces. and governs the ninth house (the house of philosophy and travel) and twelfth house (the house of the house of mysticism and mastery).

Saturn: I Achieve

Saturn provides you with a sense of structure and limitations. It's your sense of restriction, commitment, prestige, maturity, discipline, and order. Where jolly Jupiter urges you to "go for it", Saturn cautions you to act more conservatively. Saturn is your reality check. Saturn rules the sign of Capricorn, is the co-ruler of Aquarius, and governs the tenth house (the house of how you are seen by the greater world) and eleventh house (the house of friends, hopes, and wishes).

Uranus: I Evolve

Uranus is the planet of social reform. It is associated with genius, individuality, unconventional ideas. Uranus encourages you to look at and do thing things in a unique and radical manner. Uranus shares rulership of Aquarius and, along with Saturn, governs the eleventh house.

Neptune: I Dream

Planet Neptune represents everything that that is subtle, intangible, and ethereal. It encourages you to connect with the "oneness of all" and inspires kindness and compassion. Neptune shares rulership of Pisces and the twelfth house (the house of the house of mysticism and mastery).

Pluto: I Empower

Pluto represents your power to endure crises. It's the human ability to transform and rise, like a phoenix, out of the ashes. Pluto shares Scorpio and the eight house (the house of sexuality, death, and rebirth) with Mars.

It is a personal choice and chance to believe in ANY sign when looking for signals to guide life decisions. Soon we will be celebrating St. Patric's Day, March 17th, which nods to Leprchauns and four leaf clovers. We are now in the season of Pisces, where Neptune is said to have influence. Whatever people turn to and use as a too to make life more manageable for them, the bottom line is they still have HOPE.

No To Christian Nationalism

As a practicing Christian, I would like to speak about the buzz around CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM. Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Popularly, Christian nationalists assert that America is and must remain a “Christian nation”—not merely as an observation about American history, but as a prescriptive program for what America must continue to be in the future. 

To be clear, Patriotism is the love of country. It is different from nationalism, which is an argument about how to define our country. 

Religion was addressed in the First Amendment in the following familiar words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishmen of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In notes for his June 8, 1789, speech introducing the Bill of Rights, Madison indicated his opposition to a "national" religion.

So why is there BUZZ about the Republican Party wanting to establish Christian Nationalism? Because they must have forgotten or not learned what the Christian Bible has to say about FREE WILL.

Depending on what religion we are looking at, we will find different teachings regarding free will. However, in Judaism, Protestantism, and Catholicism, we find that people are TAUGHT to believe that there is free will. Jewish teachings often state that free will is “bestowed” upon all humans. Why is free will important? One group of scholars views free will beliefs as a mechanism that allows the self to pursue self-enhancing desired states and goals and seek own wants and needs, GOD does not want you to be FORCED to choose Him, but to WANT you to choose Him on your own. No one is to IMPOSE God on anyone, its NOT Christian.

God gave us free will—the ability to think, reason, and make our own choices. He gives us commands and instructions that show us how He wants us to live, but He ALLOWS us to decide whether we will or won't obey. So both God and man have the freedom (free will) to choose and act according to their respective natures. That human nature prior to the Fall (in the Garden of Eden in Genesis) included the capacity to choose evil is apparent (because we did). Free will in Christianity teaches that God gave humans free will. This is the ability for humans to make their own decisions. It means that although God made a world and it was good, it is up to humans whether they choose to do good or bad deeds.

"Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee" (Moses 3:17). God has told us through His prophets that we are free to choose between good and evil. We may choose liberty and eternal life by following Jesus Christ. We are also free to choose captivity and death by following Satan. No one gets to decide a person MUST to a Christian lifestyle.

Of course our country makes laws which negates harm to it's citizens. Laws are not intended to legislate morality, but to ensure humane treatment of people is protacted and maintained. It goes without saying, there are laws against robbing people, not because its a religious belief, but it causes harm to others. There are laws against murder, because you have no right to take a life. This is why Roe v Wade is such a difficult debate. For many, an unborn child is considered a life. For others, because the fetus is not a completely formed, viable being, it is not considered as a living being yet. 

Christians have been given the command to spread the Gospel by Jesus. It is part of living out their faith. But even in their mandate to share the good news of Christ they have also been told in Galatians 5 13, "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through LOVE become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You SHALL love your neighbor as yourself." You do not love others if you try to take their free will away.

What are the two requirements of free will? First, the freedom to do otherwise and the power of self-determination. The second is that an adequate account of free will must entail that free agents are morally responsible agents and/or fit subjects for punishment. 

There is a major example of a follower of Christ who wanted to apply his faith to the political arena whichhad disatrous consequences. The traitor, Judas.

Judas the Zealot or Judas Iscariot, is best known as the man who betrayed Jesus. Though he was one of the 12 disciples, he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, leading to Jesus’ arrest. The Bible does record that Judas was the treasurer for the disciples (John 12:6; John 13:29). However, the Bible also reveals that Judas used this POSITION for his own personal gain. John 12:6 states, “he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

At the time, Israel was occupied by Rome, which was newly transformed from a republic to a massive empire of rapid conquest. In Israel, the Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious rulers of Israel and Jerusalem’s grand temple, but they were submitted in temporal matters under the authority of Roman-appointed kings or Roman governors. Israel was already a fractured land with fighting between Samarians, Jews, and other local groups, but with the Roman occupation, Israel became a hotbed of political unrest, rebellion, and oppression, making it a volatile place to live—especially for anyone following a leader like Jesus who attracted so much attention and controversy. 

Judas Iscariot, has been labeled a Zealot in the Bible by many experts. According to this perspective, Iscariot was a member of Sicarii, a subgroup of Zealots who partook in assassinations against Romans and their allies. The Zealots believed the Messiah would come as a military leader who would liberate the Jews from their Roman oppressors. The Dagger-Bearers among them were willing to free the Jewish people through what we would regard today as acts of terrorism. This theory holds that Judas was disillusioned by Jesus (his ministry of love and peace) and believed that having Jesus arrested might force Him to start the revolution.

In my book The Politics of Prayer, I say Judas wanted revolt and Jesus advocated for love and compassion. Judas was frustrated with the government rule. He turned to the powerful in a flawed idea of FORCING what he wanted. Judas did not hate Jesus, he just did not approve of his way of making CHANGE. Judas demanded action by any means necessary. Judas recognized too late the error of his thinking. He was filled with remorse and was ineffective in bringing about change. In the end, he harmed more people than he helped. Judas was actually used by those who were corrupt and sinful.

Right now in history, the Christian faith is being used in a way that is against its own teachings. Whenever religion is used for selfish gain, the outcome is catastrophic. Christian Nationalism was not practiced in the Bible. In the Bible, the religion was always given to people. The people who adopted the faith were to live holy lives and share their faith with others. Brow beating others and making laws has not been a part of the Christian faith. 

In 2 Chronicles there is a verse that reads, “ 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” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God is speaking to his followers and worshippers, not to every person in the land. They are told to be humble (the practice of meekness, obedience to God, respect of self and others, submissiveness and modesty (see Colossians 3:12-13). People with humility put others' needs before their own, sacrificing for the love of others), To pray, seek God, and stop sinning, then God will heal their land.

I truly hope those representing the Christian faith realize they are embassadors of Christ. it is not what they SAY that has an affect but what they DO. Wanting others to be adherents of the Bible while they themselves are not adhering to the Bible is not Christlike. If America is a Christian nation as so many Christians believe, and Christians were practicing Christianity, our country would not be as contentious towards one another and polarized in the way we are today.

Don't forget to buy my book, The Politics of Prayer, available on amazon.com and please like, share, comment, and follow this page. Thank you.

The Power of Words

Sticks and stones break one's bones, but names will never hurt one. It appeared in The Christian Recorder, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on March 22, 1862, where it was presented as an "old adage" in this form: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

We more than likely grew up knowing this children's nursery rhyme. I'm sure it was to encourage young ones, when they were being picked on or called names, that words could not really hurt them. Fast forward to the 2000's and everyone will tell you WORDS HURT.

I was surprised to learn the origin of the nursery rhyme came from religion. In the same vein, I'm not surprised that this familiar saying can be traced to religion. Many spiritual practices and various faiths put a great deal of importance on WORDS.

The much maligned practice of Witchcraft uses words for spells and encantations.What is the difference between a spell and an incantation? Spells are the generic term for all magical “actions.” Charms are a subset of spells (also hexes, jinxes, and curses). Charms affect the behavior of the “recipient” (human or object), but don't change its nature. The incantation is the word/words that the user actually says. (not my beliefs) - It is said an incantation can be used to turn a negative or limiting belief or thought into a positive one. Incantations have the power to rewire your brain and get you to take a positive action. Incantations are about speaking what you want to become. You can literally re-create yourself using incantations. It has also been said that we learn SPELLING in education, the process of being able to put our thoughts and intents into words and then sentences; casting spells. I think spelling may have been hyjacked.

One of the earliest records of a witch is in the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, thought be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of when King Saul sought the Witch of Endor to summon the dead prophet Samuel’s spirit to help him defeat the Philistine army. The witch roused Samuel, who then prophesied the death of Saul and his sons. The next day, according to the Bible, Saul’s sons died in battle, and Saul committed suicide.

Words have power. One positive or negative word from us to another person can affect their entire day. Words have the power to inspire, motivate, comfort, and heal. But they can also cause harm, pain, and damage to ourselves and others. Yet we throw words around so cavalierly, without much thought daily and especially on social media. WHY?

Many spiritual people meditate and use words of affirmation. According to the English American Dictionary, the definition of “to affirm” is to state that something is true. When applied to the spiritual life, an affirmation is a statement of truth which one aspires to absorb into his life. For the spiritual person, any negative, thoughts, speech, and/or actions are a no no.

Among a variety of religious activities, praying and chanting are quite common forms of practice in major religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Chanting is a form of rhythmic, repetitive vocalization practiced in a wide range of cultures. It is used in spiritual practice to strengthen community, heal illness, and overcome psychological and emotional difficulties.A mantra can be a letter, a sound, a word or many words or sentences. Om is the most important and widely known mantra in Hinduism and Buddhism. Asian Indian ancient religious writings are of many mantras and rituals, as in the Vedas.  They constitute the most important expression of ritual offerings in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.  Mantras with their meaning and intonation, are ritualistic offerings to the Godhead. 

In Christianity, both God and Satan exercise power through SPOKEN words (Gen 1:26, 3:4-5). God's words are true, eternal, and unchanging and the Bible is the living word (John 1:14). Satan's words are twisted truth, lies, and deception (Gen 3:4-5). Christians use words in the form of praying as a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, especially in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving. Prayer is seen as a form of spiritual communion with a deity. 

Words can wound people or build people up. The Bible is very clear about WORDS. In James 3:5 "Likewise the TONGUE is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a WORLD of EVIL among the parts of the body. It corrupts the WHOLE person, sets the WHOLE course of his LIFE on fire..." It goes on to say no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless EVIL full of deadly poison. It can praise God in one moment and curse others the next moment and it should not be that way. Freshwater and saltwater can not flow from the SAME spring and blessing and curses can not spring from the same source of the mouth. One will be true and the other will be false.

We are living in a time when everyone seems to be complaining, dissatifies, distraught, and out right miserable. The words coming from their mouths are highly negative. It almost seems as if this condition of 'meanness' is contagious. America has turned into a nation of BICKERERS. There is a constant pattern of opposition no matter the topic. People are offended and taking hard stances on any and everything. NOTHING is too small to spar about.

We have lost sight on how important our words are and that our words matter. Words can heal or cause harm. Mature mentally healthy people know the importance of their words and act accordingly. Once again, the Christian Bible states in Proverbs 10:19, “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Even when praying the Christian is told in Matthew 6:7, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." This is where the saying "You have ONE mouth and TWO ears for a reason" makes sense. Listen more than you speak.

Most people write off the Christian Bible as just a book filled with fairytales. I'm not here to argue about that. What I will say is there are many great passages that would serve humanity well if they were taken to heart. Ephesians 4:29 states, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” If you say I use this verse often, you're right. Guilty as charged.

During this presidention election, I would love for the presidential candidates to remember their words have power. Their words can be positive or negative. Their words can build or destroy. I also emplore those who listen to the candidate to be aware both GOOD and BAD words cannot flow from one source. Either good will be true or bad will be true. A good person does not issue from their mouth horrible things and a bad person doesn't present you with good from their mouth.

I leave you with this James 3:13-18:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Don't forget to buy my book The Politics of Prayer available on amazon.com and please like, share, comment, and follow this blog. Thank you.

Presidents Day With No God

 

It's Presidents Day and we are in presidential election season. America has been lucky to have had some great presidents. The political atmosphere and the caliber of people running for the highest office has not been up to the standards of past leaders. What is missing in the people who have been running for president in the last decade?

Looking back to past presidents there is one thing that can be noticed. They had a strong faith in God. I beleve there SHOULD be a separation of church and state, but NOT the separation of man from God. Religious faith, if lived out, encompasses a moral standard, and love for your fellow man. It is accountability and responsibility to a greater SOURCE. Religous faith reminds a person they have a duty to their fellow man and the universe to do no harm and to show love and respect for CREATION. It teaches to strive to be a BETTER person who represents the philosophy of the religion. 

Of course their are religious beliefs that have factions who go astray. After all, Jesus even had a Judas who became radical in the political arena and strayed from the teachings of Jesus which encompassed love and compassion. There will always be religious zealots who do not model their faith. We are to RECOGNIZE those who use religion as a sheild to do nefarious thing in the name of thier god. But faith or spirituality does SHAPE a person, hopefully for the BETTER.

Below are some words from several of our presidents. In reading their words in regards to their faith, I ask you if you think they lived a life and served their country in a way that DEMONSTRATED they were guided and shaped in some way by their faith. I HIGHLIGHT President Abrahm Lincoln because his presidency was at a time when religious faith played an important role in shaping a country.

One of Lincoln's earliest statements on the subject of his faith came in 1846:

"That I am not a member of any Christian church is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular....I do not think I could myself be brought to support a man for office whom I knew to be an open enemy of, or scoffer at, religion." [July 31, 1846]

Mrs. Lincoln stated that after the demise of their son Willy in early 1862, her husband drew much closer to God. The evidence of this increases steadily while he is in the White House. Many of Lincoln's presidential speeches are superb examples of a man seeking God. Below is one of Lincoln's many proclamations, as president, for a national day of fasting and prayer. Few ministers of the gospel could have done better:

 "It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. And, insomuch (sic) as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisement in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness." [March 30, 1863]

 On January 5, 1863 Lincoln responded to a letter from some Quakers that had written to encourage him and tell him they were praying for him:

 "It is most cheering and encouraging for me to know that in the efforts which I have made and am making for the restoration of a righteous peace to our country, I am upheld and sustained by the good wishes and prayers of God’s people. No one is more deeply than myself aware that without His favor our highest wisdom is but as foolishness and that our most strenuous efforts would avail nothing in the shadow of His displeasure."

On September 4, 1864 Lincoln responded to Elizah P. Guerney, another Quaker, thanking her for her prayers and kind letter:

 "The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom, and our own error therein. Meanwhile we must work earnestly in the best lights He gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great ends He ordains. Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay."

 The following demonstrates Lincoln's humble, unquestioned dependence on God's aid. Rarely do our history books tell the story of a president on his knees in prayer! This was a statement he made to General Dan Sickles, a participant in the battle of Gettysburg:

 "Well, I will tell you how it was. In the pinch of the campaign up there (at Gettysburg) when everybody seemed panic stricken and nobody could tell what was going to happen, oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His war, and our cause His cause, but we could not stand another Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville... And after that, I don't know how it was, and I cannot explain it, but soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands and that things would go right at Gettysburg and that is why I had no fears about you." [July 5, 1863]

Lincoln stated the following upon receiving a gift of a Bible from a group of African-Americans from Baltimore:

  "In regard to this great book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to men. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it." [Sept. 9, 1864]

 PRAYERS BY PRESIDENTS

 From George Washington to George W. Bush, a sampling of personal and public prayers of America's presidents.

George Washington

A Prayer for Guidance

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul....

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life bless my family, friends, and kindred.

--An undated prayer from Washington's prayer journal, Mount Vernon

Thomas Jefferson (Attributed to Jefferson but actually from the Book of Common Prayers, 1928.)

A Prayer for the Nation

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Washington D.C., March 4, 1801

Abraham Lincoln
A Prayer for Peace

Fondly do we hoPe, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continues... until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid another drawn with the sword... so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

--Second Inaugural address, March 4, 1865

Franklin D. Roosevelt

A Prayer in Dark Times

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity...

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph...

Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home--fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice... Give us strength, too--strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace--a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

--D-Day, June 6, 1944

John F. Kennedy

A Prayer of Gratitude

Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings--let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals--and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.

On that day let us gather in sanctuaries dedicated to worship and in homes blessed by family affection to express our gratitude for the glorious gifts of God; and let us earnestly and humbly pray that He will continue to guide and sustain us in the great unfinished tasks of achieving peace, justice, and understanding among all men and nations and of ending misery and suffering wherever they exist.

--Thanksgiving Day, 1963

Jimmy Carter

A Prayer for a Meaningful Life

I would like to have my frequent prayer answered that God let my life be meaningful in the enhancement of His kingdom and that my life might be meaningful in the enhancement of the lives of my fellow human beings.

I call upon all the people of our Nation to give thanks on that day for the blessings Almighty God has bestowed upon us, and to join the fervent prayer of George Washington who as President asked God to "impart all the blessings we possess, or ask for ourselves to the whole family of mankind."

--Prayers from his inaugural address, January 20, 1977, and his Thanksgiving speech to the nation, November 27, 1980

Ronald Reagan

A Prayer for Healing

To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that "If my people, which are called by my name shall 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 will heal their land."

Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.

The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America... Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.

If I had a prayer for you today, among those that hhave all been uttered, it is that one we're so familiar with: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...." And God bless you all.

--From a speech to the American people, February 6, 1986

George H. W. Bush

A Prayer to Help Others

My first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads.

Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: "Use power to help people."

For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord.

The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways... that all peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.

--Inaugural address, January 20, 1989

Bill Clinton

A Prayer for People in Public Office

May Those generations whose faces we cannot yet see, whose names we may never know, say of us here that we led our beloved land into a new century with the American Dream alive for all her children; with the American promise of a more perfect union a reality for all her people; with America's bright flame of freedom spreading throughout all the world. From the height of this place and the summit of this century, let us go forth. May God strengthen our hands for the good work ahead--and always, always, bless our America.

--Second Inaugural address, January 20, 1997

George W. Bush

A Prayer for the Departed

We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead, and for those who love them... On this national day of prayer and remembrance, we ask Almighty God to watch over our nation, and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come. We pray that He will comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow. We thank Him for each life we now must mourn, and the promise of a life to come.

As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, can separate us from God's love. May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own. And may He always guide our country.

--From his address to the nation after the World Trade Center attacks, September 14, 2001

America is a country of many religious practices. We expect our leaders to represent the morality of our nation. They are the representation of the people that elected them to speak for us, to us, and other world leaders. They have a responsibility to show the world the philosophical worldview the people of our country believe and live out. We have STRAYED from this concept.

Other nations are beginning to doubt the United States and our IMAGE as a super power is crumbling. The philosophy of the United States is splintering. We are at a pivotal point in history where each individual must decide if the reputation of America is more important than personal ideology peppered with skewed religious leanings. 

Hopefully, America will live up to its pledge, "... one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,..."

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