As an itinerate preacher (without a local church assignment), I have traveled preaching in other ministers’ pulpits for over 25 years. I stopped counting after I had visited over 1000 different congregations–that was a long time ago. These days I’m out about two Sundays a month–sometimes more–bringing a message consistent with our mission here in Washington, DC. During the last six weeks, I spoke in six very different churches, in six very different cities, in four very different states. And that doesn’t count addressing soon-to-be ministers at the commencement of my own alma mater, Faith Seminary, in Tacoma, Washington–and hundreds of pastors, ministry directors and chaplains at the annual conference of the Evangelical Church Alliance in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. Our own National Clergy Council, a component of Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital, includes member clergy from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. So, in the course of any year, I’m in churches and with ministers from every denomination and no denomination at all.

This is one of the side benefits of what I do, and it’s a magnificent one. I get to see and experience the Church in all it’s shapes and forms; the Body of Christ “at large” in all of its varied expressions. There was a time when some would not keep company with others. A Baptist minister once told me there was a time in his life when, if he walked into a restaurant and saw a Catholic priest sitting in there, he would walk out. He didn’t even want to be seen in the same place with a “papist.” Today, that same Baptist minister regularly prays with and works alongside one of the most prominent Catholic priests in America. Why? Because he discovered that he needed the priest and the priest needed him. These are terribly challenging days for Christians–as all of time has really been since the Day of Pentecost, when very different kinds of people first discovered something very important:

“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’” (Acts 2:5-11)

When the focus was on God, the cultural and language differences melted away. They heard them “declaring the wonders of God” in their own languages. It was a miracle–and one that taught a lesson. These very different people were united by their acknowledgement of the One, True God. When our focus is in the right place, the differences aren’t so important. In fact, our unlikely unity in “declaring the wonders of God” is a miracle that proves His reality.

When I’m out in the churches–humble little country churches and sophisticated mega-churches–elaborate cathedrals and simple auditoriums–quiet and reserved, loud and raucous–very poor and very wealthy–my faith in the wonder-working power of God is strengthened and my resolve to do His work is reset.

Here’s to ALL our churches–God bless, use and multiply each one!

Rob +

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.

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 +

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.

With Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota

Unless you live in Minnesota, you may not know the name Tim Pawlenty, but if you watch the news, you’ve probably seen his face.

Pawlenty is the governor of Minnesota and a former state legislator there. The reason you’ve likely seen him is because he’s making the rounds inside the Republican Party and on the talk shows as an “unannounced” presidential “pre-candidate.” That’s my way of saying he’s clearly testing the political waters for a potential presidential run in 2012.

I caught up with Governor Pawlenty when he came to town this week to address the Susan B. Anthony List, an organization that supports principally pro-life women candidates.  (I know what you’re thinking: So why aren’t they supporting Sarah Palin instead of Tim Pawlenty? Answer: They aren’t supporting anyone at this stage—and she’s speaking at their annual breakfast next month.)

The reason I went to the dinner was specifically to ask the Governor one question: What church does he attend? I knew everything else about him—well, everything else that can be known—but I didn’t know exactly about his church affiliation. When I huddled with him away from the crowd, he told me: Woodale Church of Eden, Minnesota. He’s attended there since the early 1980’s.

Born, baptized and raised Catholic, he moved over to the then Baptist church (it’s since become non-denominational Evangelical) after he met his wife, who had been raised in the congregation.

The Pawlentys’ pastor is the Reverend Dr. Leith Anderson, whom I’ve met several times. He’s an author, former Christian college president and now president of the National Association of Evangelicals. He’s also a fellow signer with me (and hundreds of others) of the Manhattan Declaration, a document stating that the signers pledge not to comply with rules and laws forcing us to accept abortion, same-sex marriage and other ideals that go against our religious consciences.

Keep an eye and a prayer on Tim Pawlenty. If nothing else, he’s a refreshing voice of conscience in the political arena.

My “official” ministry year got underway yesterday when I helped launch a week of prayer for a church I’ve been linked to for 20 years, the incomparable Van Nest Assembly of God in Bronx, a borough of New York City. I continue in the vigil with them until Friday, when I lead a retreat for their young adults until Sunday. Meanwhile, the church will remain focused on prayer, and will maintain a fast for 21 days.

Pastor David Hernquist, his wife, Mary, and their son, David Andrew, have been friends to Cheryl and me and our family for nearly 30 years. Dave and I taught Bible at Buffalo School of the Bible in Western New York, native home to both of us, and worked together for a short time in the 1980s. In 1988, at the conclusion of my 2000-mile charity walk for the children of Mexico’s inhabited garbage dumps, Dave flew to Texas to join me in crossing over the Rio Grande, then worked alongside me at one of the clinics we established there. Nothing will bond you to a friend like traipsing around in mountains of rotted trash, rescuing child-workers from their maniacal slave-masters!

Since 1990, Dave has been senior pastor of this extraordinarily multi-ethnic and burgeoning congregation in the Bronx. He’s a tireless servant of God (preaching five services every Sunday) and a remarkably humble man for all he’s accomplished. To begin with, New York is one of the most difficult places in the country to shepherd a spiritual flock. A minister faces challenges here rarely encountered anywhere else. Simply negotiating the city with its cramped spaces, crowded streets and land-locked church facilities  would be enough to discourage many pastors. (To say nothing of the complex human troubles here.) Dave and Mary have toughed it out, though, and their people love them for it—and far more.

Dave is a deeply spiritual man and a committed prayer warrior. He leads 5:00 Am prayer every weekday morning in the church’s sanctuary. He also includes a personal prayer time during every service, inviting people to come forward and bring their needs to God. He’ll often lay hands on them, anoint them with oil, if appropriate, and pray a very personal pastoral prayer over each one.

While we didn’t plan it as such, the week of prayer here in New York coincided perfectly with the inauguration of our new 2010 theme at Faith & Action: “Prayer Before Politics.” Throughout this year, Faith and Action will emphasize the need for God’s people to pray, to seek His will, repent of our own sins and the sins of our nation, andreturn to Him in faithfulness.

Many heartfelt thanks to Pastor Hernquist, Mary and all the good people of Van Nest Assembly of God for inviting me here to pray with and for them as we begin the New Year. I need it as much as they do!

To learn more about this amazing church, visit www.vannestassembly.org

Pastor Dave Hernquist prays as Lenny Beadle leads a hymn at Bronx's Van Nest Assembly of God