"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.

She could have been my cousin!

Elena Kagan, President Obama’s most recent nominee to the Supreme Court, looks and sounds like anyone of my cousins. Maybe that makes her less scary to me. She’s so familiar—from the mild pinch in her voice, to the soft r’s in her speech, to her facial features and even to her body morph. Even more so, it’s Miss Kagan’s worldview—her philosophy of life—that pervaded my own upbringing. So, in that way, she’s definitely one of my “peeps.” For me, the only thing that is unusual about her is that her idiosyncrasies—unlike those of my cousins—could, very soon, become the law of the land.

What I learned about Elena Kagan this week was, well, at the same time a lot—and nothing at all. What I learned was, again, oh so familiar. She’s the quintessential Northeastern liberal–make that, the epitome of the New England liberal, cast in an ethnically Jewish personality. (During my growing up years, my father’s side was almost entirely in Connecticut.) At the same time, on the legal front, none of us really learned anything at all. What people saw was a likable and unflappable personality (she stuttered in only a couple of exchanges), but she largely deflected the pointed questions and gave only bland and ambiguous answers on the really salient subjects.

One certainty I think anyone one of us could take away from the committee inquiry is that Miss Kagan engaged, at least at one time, in pro-abortion activism. This point is quite significant. We haven’t really had an unapologetic, politically oriented abortion activist on the Court since the late Harry Blackmun, the author of Roe v. Wade. (And he didn’t start out his professional career that way, as Miss Kagan apparently did.)  So, Miss Kagan, as “Justice Kagan,” could turn out to be Harry Blackmun revivified on the High Bench—and then some. That would be a bad thing. Having said that, though, let me tell you what I harbor in my heart for the likely and near-future Justice Kagan.

Although (we’re told), Miss Kagan had a falling out with the Orthodox Judaism of her childhood, she still has a Jewish conscience in her soul. (There is no indication she has utterly repudiated her Jewish roots—culturally or religiously.) This is hopeful. The Great Apostle Paul (and former Rabbi Saul) wrote of those who may not apparently know God, “the work of the law [is] written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” (see Romans 2:15). A seed of conscience can always be nurtured. I’m convinced for most of us, the older we get, the richer is the soil of our hearts and, therefore, the better are the chances the seed of conscience can sprout—and even grow.

Should the Judiciary Committee vote this month to recommend Miss Kagan to the full Senate for a vote; and should she subsequently receive a majority of “Yea” votes in August (both outcomes are a virtual fait accompli), she will be sworn in as the next sitting associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. That’s when our work begins. Faith and Action will call the people of God to pray for Justice Kagan, and we will do everything God enables us to do to persuade her to return to the roots of her conscience, which are found in God’s Word, and epitomized in the Great Commandments.

The success of this endeavor is predicated on building an amicable relationship with Miss Kagan, starting now. So, at the expense of criticism from our friends and allies, we will continue to treat Nominee Kagan (the presumptive Justice Kagan) with all due respect, deference and generosity. For those who think we are compromising by doing so, I would hope they would consult the entirety of God’s Word on the treatment of others—including enemies—before rendering a final verdict on us.

To review or catch up with the Kagan confirmation, be sure to go to http://www.c-span.org/Special/Supreme-Court-Kagan-Senate-Confirmation-Hearing.aspx.

Rob +

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 +

This past Monday I received a great honor: I was officially recognized as “chaplain” of the Capitol Hill Executive Service Club, a unique private association that has met inside the US Capitol for almost 40 years. I’ve been a member for ten of those years, and I”m grateful to God for it.

The “Club,” as we affectionately know it, is made up of some of the most interesting–and I might add, kind and thoughtful–people in Washington. They are mostly retired now, but from distinguished careers in the White House, the Congress, the courts, and the military (we have both generals and admirals among us). Some made history–like our much beloved and late General Milnor Roberts, for whom, not long ago, I had the bitter-sweet honor of presiding at his funeral. General Roberts was a true American hero. He stormed the beaches Normandy, fought his way up a bluff under direct enemy fire, penetrated behind lines and went on the fight at the Battle of the Bulge. OK, I digress–but it’s easy to get carried away about this crowd!

Back to being named Chaplain . . .

Receiving this honor was humbling and long-awaited. I’ve come to love these folks with whom I have breakfast almost every Monday morning. They are people much like my late father. Though we do have newer and younger members, for the most part the demographic places the average member somewhere in the seventh and eighth decades of life. They came up at another time and at another place in the world–with strong values centered on duty, devotion and service. That’s a lot of experience–and knowledge–and I draw on it routinely.

As demonstrated by the wide array of speakers we host each week, our members not only have an insatiable thirst for more knowledge, they can effectively engage any subject. One week it will be a Supreme Court justice addressing some nuance of constitutional jurisprudence; the next week the chief engineer in charge of protecting spacecrafts from space debris. It may even be–well, a newly appointed chaplain talking about the importance of “body, soul and spirit.” (They were extraordinarily attentive during my acceptance speech on Monday!)

Of course, becoming the “official chaplain” to these very, very interesting and interested people leaves me with a big challenge. Pastors will always find the needs and demands of their congregations unique–but this one, well . . . it goes on ad infinitum!  Having said that, on Monday I told my new “parishioners” that come the beginning of each week, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else–or be anything else, but their chaplain.

“I’m grateful for what I’ve experienced on Capitol Hill,” I said. “For ministry moments with presidents, leaders of Congress and with Supreme Court justices. Yet, I’m equally grateful for having come to know each of you–and for the way you’ve invited me into your lives.”

I meant every word of it.

Just call me Chappy . . .

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 +

About the recent federal court order declaring the National Day of Prayer supremely illegal (well, that’s what “unconstitutional” really means): The President has filed a formal “intent to appeal.” This means he has notified Federal District Judge Barbara Crabb that her decision striking down the National Day of Prayer will be challenged. At the same time, the President’s lawyers at the Department of Justice have not indicated what they will say in their defense.

Now, here’s how these things work: When the President or his actions are “enjoined” (or prohibited) by a court, as in this case, he orders the Department of Justice to assign one or more of its many lawyers to legally defend his position. Inside the Department of Justice a decision is then made whether this matter is important, or really important. Really important means the best and most experienced lawyers are tapped and the most prominent personalities–like the Solicitor General (the nation’s top civil attorney) herself–or at least her deputies–are visible and vocal on the matter.

So far, I haven’t seen or heard from the Solicitor General or one of her deputies. (I may have missed it. If so, please bring my attention to it.) This could mean the matter is only in its preliminary stages, or . . . it’s just important, but not really important. Please pardon my cynicism, but after 16 years in Washington, I always give the benefit of the doubt–both ways. During the three presidential administrations I’ve observed up close (two Democrat and one Republican), I’ve seen an awful lot of horse and pony shows. In other words, legal window dressing. I’ve also seen presidents “throw the fight,” so-to-speak. It can be very convenient for an administration to blame-shift to the courts. On the campaign trail it sounds something like this, “Well, we tried to do the right thing, but the courts wouldn’t let us.”

Time will tell what President Obama plans to do with this legal contest. I hope and pray he’ll mount a vigorous defense of the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer. Even more so, I hope and pray he’ll remind the court why prayer is so important to our nation and its well-being.

Regardless of how the President and his lawyers approach this, Faith and Action will mount its own vigorous effort. It’s why we’ve launched a new facebook page, “Defend the National Day of Prayer.” I hope you’ll sign on to it to show your support. By doing so, you’ll also be included in our own Faith and Action legal brief to be filed with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals–and maybe even with the United States Supreme Court, should it get that far. You can also sign up to be listed on the legal defense at our website: www.faithandaction.org. (Use the National Day of Prayer Amicus Brief tab at upper left.)

It’s important for the courts to know what American citizens think about the National Day of Prayer. While it’s true the federal courts are to be free and independent of political pressure, they also want to contemplate the sentiments of the American people when deliberating their decisions. Let’s show them strong sentiments for the National Day of Prayer!

If you haven’t done it already, please go to our new facebook page now: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defend-the-National-Day-of-Prayer/113264075374172?ref=ts and press the “Like” button at the top right-hand side of the page. Then, pass along the link and information to all your facebook friends. Thanks for helping us send a strong message to the courts: Americans want and need the National Day of Prayer!

Rob +

Here’s an exhortation for the members of Congress that I will stand with today when they defend the National Day of Prayer:

“. . . they shall not profane the holy things . . .” Leviticus 22:15.

This is a reminder to me and to everyone involved that prayer is a holy thing and should not be exploited for political advantage. I’ve been around Capitol Hill long enough to know there are probably some who are already thinking, “Gee, this is a wedge issue we can use in the upcoming elections.” Republicans will be tempted to paint Democrats as ungodly and the GOP as sacred because it supports the National Day of Prayer legislation. Democrats will be tempted to say, “We’re not jumping on board with this because it’s going to be used against us at election time.”

Either position is wrong-headed and wrong-hearted.

Prayer is sacred and transcends every political consideration. Both parties have historically violated this holy trust. God reminds us through the prophet Isaiah:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

When we profane the things of God by dragging them into the rough and tumble of our earthly politics, we only remind ourselves how far we are from the Holy.

Rob +