"appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions”

In addition to the backyard BBQ, the touch football game and the
spectacular fireworks show, here’s another way to celebrate the Fourth
of July: Do a reading of the Declaration of Independence. (Reading the
entire Declaration out loud takes less than eight minutes.) More
importantly, join in its prayer at the end.

I’ll get to the prayer part in a minute, but first, let me make a case
for the reading: Not only does the Declaration state clearly the reasons our nation exists, but it also details the philosophy that underlies that existence. Most importantly, the Declaration demonstrates how God and His will are at the center of that philosophy.

For me, the best part of the Declaration is one phrase toward the end,
“appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our
intentions”. This is what I call, The Prayer of the Declaration. According to the
Oxford Dictionary (the best source we have for the meaning of English
words as they were defined when the American Founders employed them),
“to appeal” means, among other things, “a serious or urgent request.”

The Founders were making a serious and urgent request to whom? “The
Supreme Judge of the World.” Is there anything ambiguous about who
this “Supreme Judge” might be? It’s obvious on it’s face; this was a
serious and urgent request to God, and for what? “For the rectitude of
our intentions.” This clause, “rectitude of our intentions” means,
again according to the Oxford, “morally correct behavior or thinking;
righteousness.” In other words, the writers and intended signers of
the instrument that would bring the United States of America into
existence ended their monumental Declaration with a prayer. They asked
God to help them do what was morally correct and righteous.

That’s pretty powerful stuff! When the Signers put pen to paper, they
were saying “Amen” to this prayer. On this July 4th, I hope and pray
all Americans will join in this great foundational prayer of our
Nation. Perhaps we could express it this way: Holy God, may all we do
as a people be morally correct and righteous in Your sight; You who
are the One, Supreme Judge of the World.

“God is a righteous judge” Psalm 7:11a, ESV.

I am monitoring the last hours of questioning for President Obama’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, Solicitor General Elena Kagan. Hope you’re watching and praying with me. I highly recommend watching at http://www.c-span.org/Special/Supreme-Court-Kagan-Senate-Confirmation-Hearing.aspx. Today will be the last day for questions to be posed to the nominee. Tomorrow will be witnesses speaking mostly in support of her. A committee vote will be taken sometime before the end of next week, and a vote by the full Senate is expected in late July.

Tonight I’ll post my full appraisal of General Kagan as an individual, a nominee and a prospective Supreme Court justice. It will be my take as a missionary to elected and appointed officials and a chaplain on Capitol Hill. It will not be a legal or constitutional analysis. That perspective is better left to other experts and our allied ministries.

Back later . . .

Rob +

While monitoring the proceedings and praying inside the hearing room, Faith and Action’s Peggy Nienaber had this view of Nominee Kagan.

Our Faith & Action chief of program, Peggy Nienaber, has been inside the hearing room throughout the beginning of the confirmation process for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Look, I know these things can appear very boring–but I hope you are watching it, at least from time to time. While nothing substantive is really said by the nominee (for fear of inviting trouble), you can still get a sense for who the nominee is, at least in terms of style, personality, etc. Her body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, demeanor, all say a lot. Watching also reminds you to pray for her, for the senators asking questions, and for the entire US Senate as each of the 100 members consider how they will vote once the Judiciary Committee is done and makes it’s recommendation.

BTW: The confirmation process begins with as many senators as care to do so looking through her dossier. She also paid courtesy visits to many of them for brief chats. The members of the Judiciary Committee (12 Democrats and 7 Republicans) do the more serious work of examining her record. It’s these committee members that are now asking questions of the nominee in the hearing that will generally last a few days. Later on, witnesses will be called to say good or bad things about the nominee. The Committee will then vote whether to “report out” to the whole Senate and either recommend to vote on her confirmation or not. It’s a virtual fait accompli that Miss Kagan will be recommended to the Senate for a vote. The majority leader will then schedule that vote, likely within a few weeks. If the nominee receives a majority of Yea votes, she will be sworn-in immediately, but will likely have a more formal, quasi-public investiture within a few weeks or certainly before the new High Court term that always begins the first Monday of October.

Please take this seriously. Supreme Court justices are not only critically important in how major decisions are made on our way of life in America, but they are the longest serving members of our federal government.

Rob  +

As you well know by now, the US Senate confirmation hearing for President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan, is underway. At this hour “General Kagan” (as her title has her after her service us US Solicitor General) is seated at the chair and desk I anointed with oil during our prayer service last week. You may have also seen the members of the Judiciary Committee up on the dais making their opening remarks. Chairman Patrick Leahy is in the chair I paused to pray over a little longer, asking God to help the committee conduct a hearing marked by “Truth.”

Faith and Action chief of program, Peggy Nienaber, is in that room while I’m out on the West Coast beginning an extensive speaking tour. This is the first hearing in recent times that I haven’t been in the room praying and observing. This time I’m monitoring from afar while Peggy E-mails, texts and tweets her observations to me. Together we will file reports for you each day and pass along other information that will help you to pray, evaluate and inform your senators about what you think of our prospective next top judge–who will likely serve for 30 or more years.

I trust you’re taking all this very seriously.

Before I sign off, let me just say that the US Senate has lost an extraordinary member in 92-year old Robert Byrd. He was one-of-kind. A faithful Baptist who taught Sunday school virtually all his adult life, he had also memorized the entire US Constitution. In fact, he was one of the few members of either house of Congress who actually daily carried in his coat pocket both a Constitution AND a Declaration of Independence. Senator Byrd could also be an enigma, though. He would often rail against an issue and even flail his pocket-edition Constitution in the air, but then go ahead and vote for what he was denouncing. Of course, there are no perfect politicians, but I’d sure take another Robert Byrd over many others. May God rest his soul.

Rob +

This two-word verse from John 11:35 is for me one of the most profound in the Bible. It says our Lord felt emotion as much as any of us. That’s why when news reached me that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had lost her beloved husband of 56 years, I knew our Lord wept for her, too. I know some people will struggle with that, because they mix up their feelings about her judicial philosophy with the person behind it.

Somehow we get the impression that these powerful people in government are not humans like the rest of us. I would argue that reducing public figures we don’t care for to something other than just people is to deny them their humanity. That’s the same sin that abortion commits against the unborn child. I can tell you from my muerous encounters with Justice Ginsburg that she is every bit as human as you and me, and she feels the same pain anyone of us would experience losing a loved one.

Frankly, I don’t care whether we agree with Justice Ginsburg or not, we’re equally obligated to pray for her and demonstrate to her God’s love. I hope you’ll do that by first praying for her and her family in their grief. You can also send her a personal message through our office at info@faithandaction.org. We’ll make sure it’s hand-delivered to her.

In His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” If you were in Justice Ginsburg’s place, you would want and need the love of God’s people. Let’s give it to her lavishly during her time of grief.

More later on the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee and prospective colleague to Justice Ginsburg, Elena Kagan.

Rob +

I just came from the US Supreme Court where the justices announced their decision in favor of the continued display of the a humble cross in the Mojave Desert memorializing fallen soldiers. As you know, Faith & Action filed a legal brief with the US Supreme Court in support of the Cross and I traveled there last year to pray in that lonely place. This is a great victory for religious liberty, for the First Amendment, for our American heroes–and, most importantly–for the Cross!

In their 5-4 decision today, the justices upheld the constitutionality of this single cross atop a ricky crag in the middle of the giant Mojave Desert. Atheist groups had attacked the cross as unconstitutional, but Justices Roberts, Kennedy, Alito, Scalia and Thomas reversed the decision of a lower court striking down the cross as a violation of the First Amendment. Justices Stevens, Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Breyer disagreed with the majority and filed dissenting opinions.

Back with more after I read the lengthy decision . . .

Rejoicing with you,

Rob +

Each week our ministry helps to host a weekly breakfast conference held in the US Capitol. This gathering is one of our richest fields of personal ministry. I often give the opening prayer–which is by itself extraordinary and exceedingly valuable ministry. This week, though, my responsibility was to introduce the guest speaker, so another member gave the prayer. It was a beautiful, meaningful and majestic old prayer. Our group was deeply moved by it, so I thought I’d share it with you:

“Almighty God, who hast 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 industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. endue with the 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 the time of prosperity, full 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. ”

Considering that in Washington we often hear meaningless platitudes disguised as prayers, this one was powerful and consummately effective. Thanks to our breakfast conference member who brought it to us!

Rob +

Below is an article that will post later this morning at www.faithandaction.org on last night’s declaration by a federal judge prohibiting President Obama from recognizing the National Day of Prayer on May 6. In her order, Judge Barbara Crabb compared recognition of the National Day of Prayer to the practice of “rune magic.”

National prayer observances date back to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. All recent presidents, including President Obama, have issued National Day of Prayer proclamations. It’s uncertain how the ruling will affect the 1952 law passed by Congress creating the National Day of Prayer, and its modification in 1988, signed by Ronald Reagan, that set the first Thursday in each May for its observance.

This ruling shouldn’t shock anyone. Atheist activist and lawyer Michael Newdow, with whom I’ve had a couple of face-to-face ministry moments, has for years been relentlessly filing lawsuits against every public acknowledgement of God. It was inevitable he would find a federal judge somewhere to agree with him. He did in the Madison, Wisconsin based Judge Barbara Crabb. What really matters are two things: Whether President Obama will order his Justice Department to appeal the ruling and ardently defend the National Day of Prayer, or, whether he will simply let it stand. Another option he has is to “throw the fight,” by offering only a tepid, half-hearted defense.

Lamentably, President Obama cancelled last year’s White House observance of National Day of Prayer, saying it’s better for citizens to stay home and privately observe it. That doesn’t suggest he’s up for a vigorous fight to preserve this long and enormously meaningful American tradition.

Much more importantly, it focuses attention on the President’s nominee for the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by Justice John Paul Stevens when he retires this June. I will urge my friends and allies in the US Senate to be sure to ask any candidate for the post where he or she stands on the constitutionality of calling out to God for blessing on our land.

Here’s our news item on it . . .

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS OBAMA NOT TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

A federal judge in Wisconsin has ordered President Obama not to issue a Presidential Proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer which Congress has set as the first Thursday of each May. In the same opinion, Judge Barbara Crabb declared the annual observance in America to be unconstitutional, writing that the government’s acknowledgement of the importance of prayer is no different than if it were to recognize “rune magic.”

Judge Crabb issued her injunction against the National Day of Prayer in response to a lawsuit filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, an atheist organization co-founded by a former Pentecostal minister. One of the group’s champions is infamous atheist activist and “mail order minister” turned-lawyer Michael Newdow, who unsuccessfully argued before the Supreme Court against the Pledge of Allegiance (because of its clause, “one nation, under God”). Newdow has also filed lawsuits against the National Motto, “In God We Trust,” and against displays of the Ten Commandments.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation has amassed more than $5 million in cash to continue it’s campaign against the National Day of Prayer.

“Faith and Action and its allied partners, including the National Clergy Council and the Christian Defense Coalition, will urge President Obama to order the Justice Department to immediately appeal this outrageous order and to defend the long history of America’s calls to prayer that date back to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and even President Obama himself,” said Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action and its lead missionary.

Rev. Schenck and Rev. Pat Mahoney plan a national news conference at the White House early next week to appeal to the President to take urgent action, as the National Day of Prayer events are only 3 weeks away.

As I write this, President Obama is hosting a private Easter prayer breakfast at the White House for a select group of religious leaders from around the country. The only minister I know personally is in the room is Joel Osteen. (I’ve never commented on my relationship to the Osteens, but I preached for his father at the Lakewood Church many years ago, when Joel was just a young guy on staff!) Anyway, the other person I think is there is Washington Post reporter and fellow Christian Hamil Harris. I’ve done many interviews with him over the years. Mr. Harris and I once actually teamed up in an televised debate with Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Viewers were surprised that a Post Reporter and I were on the same side of the argument!

In any case, I was NOT on the invitation list for the breakfast. (Hmm . . I wonder why?) I’ll pass along anything I find out about what went on and what was said.

On a related matter, you may have seen that we covered the President’s Easter visit with his family to a nearby church, the Allen Chapel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) congregation in Southeast Washington. I’m familiar with the church and know one of the deacons there. I was actually criticized for the posting, as if we shouldn’t mention when the President goes to church. Frankly, I’d rather see the President attending church–no matter his motive–than not attending. A lot has been made that Mr. Obama, since being inaugurated, has spent more Sunday mornings shooting hoops than sitting in pews. This was a positive break in that pattern. Let’s pray it has a lasting effect on him.

OK, back later with more.

Rob +

If the current health care reform bill passes in the House of Representatives on Sunday, the US Government will officially enter into the business of abortion.

Let me explain how:

The bill creates a separate fund into which citizens will pay private monies if they elect an insurance plan that offers abortion coverage. That fund will be set up, managed, monitored and dispersed by federal government employees. Voila! Your tax dollars used to administer money for abortion businesses.

And there’s more: The pressure is on now–the US Government will be fully engaged in all aspects of health care. Insurers will comply with strong-arm tactics because they won’t want any more of the camel in their tent. All the US Government needs to say, with a wink and a nod, is, “You don’t have to offer abortion coverage, but, you better!” Voila! Abortion coverage.

No matter how you cut it, the new health care scheme will provide millions and millions of dollars to abortionists, compliments of the US Government. I’m sure Planned Parenthood, the world’s biggest abortion business, is licking its chops, working feverishly to exploit the new arrangement and open lots of “community health centers.” Voila! More abortions.

It’s amazing how much can get done very fast when billions of dollars are flowing.

Watching and praying . . .

Rob +