Nathan Tabor
A leader who's not afraid of prayer
By Nathan Tabor
Given the news coming out of Washington these days, you might think our country doesn't stand a prayer.
Yet, one Congressman's recent address to the Conservative Political Action Conference shows that hope is alive in our nation's capital, as long as there are leaders who are willing to call upon the Almighty for guidance.
Congressman Mike Pence represents the 6th district of Indiana. In his speech to CPAC, he spoke of U.S. News & World Report calling to check out a rumor that he opened his staff meetings at the House Republic Conference with prayer.
"Only in Washington, D.C.," Pence said, "is being caught in private prayer a newsworthy event.
"We told them, 'Yes, the Congressman does open meetings in prayer. We pray for the President, for colleagues in both parties, and sometimes we even pray for the press!'
"The truth is that in times like these it is good to 'remember what your knees are for.'"
Pence recalled how our founding fathers believed firmly in prayer. Prayer was also an important part of the administration of one of our greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln:
"At the height of a civil war and on the eve of a bloody battle on a field in Gettysburg, President Lincoln fell to his knees and prayed. Lincoln later recalled to a Union general, '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 hands and that things would go right.'"
The fruit of prayer is service. Is it any wonder that Pence, a man of prayer, is also one of the most outspoken champions of the right to life? As Pence told CPAC, "We must stand for the sanctity of life. Ending an innocent human life is morally wrong. It is also morally wrong to take the money of millions of pro-life Americans and use it to promote abortion at home and abroad.
"The largest abortion provider in America should not be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X. The time has come to deny any and all federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America," Pence added.
As Americans, we are facing some of the greatest challenges in our nation's history. We are fighting two wars abroad and economic ruin at home. Terrorists continue to harbor blood-thirsty hatred against us.
At times like these, we have no alternative but to place our trust in God. We must rely on Divine wisdom to guide us in the many difficult decisions that come our way. Our public officials should follow the lead of Congressman Pence, and start each day with an appeal to the Almighty. This is a country founded on God, and only in God can we prevail.
© Nathan Tabor
March 16, 2009
Given the news coming out of Washington these days, you might think our country doesn't stand a prayer.
Yet, one Congressman's recent address to the Conservative Political Action Conference shows that hope is alive in our nation's capital, as long as there are leaders who are willing to call upon the Almighty for guidance.
Congressman Mike Pence represents the 6th district of Indiana. In his speech to CPAC, he spoke of U.S. News & World Report calling to check out a rumor that he opened his staff meetings at the House Republic Conference with prayer.
"Only in Washington, D.C.," Pence said, "is being caught in private prayer a newsworthy event.
"We told them, 'Yes, the Congressman does open meetings in prayer. We pray for the President, for colleagues in both parties, and sometimes we even pray for the press!'
"The truth is that in times like these it is good to 'remember what your knees are for.'"
Pence recalled how our founding fathers believed firmly in prayer. Prayer was also an important part of the administration of one of our greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln:
"At the height of a civil war and on the eve of a bloody battle on a field in Gettysburg, President Lincoln fell to his knees and prayed. Lincoln later recalled to a Union general, '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 hands and that things would go right.'"
The fruit of prayer is service. Is it any wonder that Pence, a man of prayer, is also one of the most outspoken champions of the right to life? As Pence told CPAC, "We must stand for the sanctity of life. Ending an innocent human life is morally wrong. It is also morally wrong to take the money of millions of pro-life Americans and use it to promote abortion at home and abroad.
"The largest abortion provider in America should not be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X. The time has come to deny any and all federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America," Pence added.
As Americans, we are facing some of the greatest challenges in our nation's history. We are fighting two wars abroad and economic ruin at home. Terrorists continue to harbor blood-thirsty hatred against us.
At times like these, we have no alternative but to place our trust in God. We must rely on Divine wisdom to guide us in the many difficult decisions that come our way. Our public officials should follow the lead of Congressman Pence, and start each day with an appeal to the Almighty. This is a country founded on God, and only in God can we prevail.
© Nathan Tabor
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