Search results matching tag 'prayer'

Re: Public prayer: May 18-24

godsprincess38 — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:46:18 GMT

[quote user="Luanne Traud"]

What does the First Amendment mean in stating:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..."

[/quote]

The headline read,” Roanoke’s vice mayor hit a hot-button issue by opening a city meeting with a prayer that referred to God's son”. What he did, he did because of his faith. If I were asked to lead a prayer in an open format, I too would end my prayer in the name of Jesus.

Faith to me believes in what you do not see. We cannot always see how prayer works or how prayers get answered can we? Most of us pray to someone or something. The wind blows you can’t see it, you see the leaves moving on the trees. That is what I believe happens when I pray in the name of Jesus, I don’t see my words, or even my thoughts, going to heaven, but I know the power of the Holy Spirit is carrying them there.

Prohibiting the free exercise of public prayer for me means being cut off from my lifeline. If that means I might be persecuted, arrested, or publicly flogged, so be it. I don’t need to worry about what to say or how to say it for at the right time, I will be given what to say by my Father in heaven.

Dr. James Gray said in 1914, “God gives us the privilege and the indescribable honor of presenting our bodies to the Holy Spirit, to be His dwelling place on earth. The Bible says in Romans 12 verse 1 and 2 that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice and not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We cant give our bodies to Jesus, he already has one, nor to God who remains on his throne, but to the Holy Spirit who has no body.”

~Tanya~

Corrie ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Prayer moves the hand of God that moves the world. Watchman Nee said, “Our prayers lay the track down on which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.”

God has a course mapped out for your life, and all the inadequacies in the world will not change His mind. He will be with you every step of the way. And though it may take time, He has a celebration planned for when you cross over the Red Seas of your life. ~Charles Stanley~

What an incredible witness it is to a lost and fearful society when the Christian acts like a child of God, living under the loving sovereignty of the Heavenly Father. The Christian needs to walk in peace, so no matter what happens they will be able to bear witness to a watching world. ~Henry Blackaby~

Re: Public prayer: May 18-24

Deb Landgraf — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:08:17 GMT

I made some additions to my original post.

[quote user="Luanne Traud"]

What does the First Amendment mean in stating:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..."

[/quote]

Though our Founders could not see into the future, they successfully wrote a Constitution that is timeless. The Constitution is a living, breathing document. The First Amendment provides for the separation of church and state--to protect each from the other. Also protected are individual rights to freedom of conscience and free expression of religious beliefs. What was customary practice in public schools and meetings in the past is now questioned. What seems to have changed has been an increased awareness and understanding of diversity within our culture. Our diverse religious beliefs are a personal choice deserving of equal protection, regardless of popularity. Politics and religion are subject to change over time, yet the unalienable rights of all people through a government established by the consent of the governed remains the same. I sense that our Founders saw the solution to issues such as this in the U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the land. The First Amendment seems to be standing the test of time and is protecting the choice of all citizens to practice their beliefs.

Re: Prison: April 13-19

Ricky — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:12:46 GMT

[quote user="Marvin Foster"] We can't display the ten commandments in public buildings and can't speak God's name in prayer at public meetings and wonder why we have a problem with crime.[/quote]

They don't display the Ten Commandments in public buildings and speak God's name in prayer at public meetings in Russia, and their crime rate is lower than it is in the U.S. Likewise Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and, well, at least fifty other countries, all with lower crime rates than the U.S., and no government display of the Ten Commandments.

It is hard to imagine a person commiting crimes simply because the Ten Commandments are not posted in buildings where he happens to go (unless it might be someone who took it upon himself to go around drilling holes and posting them without permission); but if posting the Ten Commandments would truly lower the crime and incarceration rates, we might be persuaded to advocate for it. Still, there is that rascally Supreme Court, and that darned First Amendment.

Dave, using Ricky's computer while he is napping.

Re: Does prayer have a place in government meetings?

Deb Landgraf — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:57:48 GMT

Does prayer have a place in governmental meetings?

This topic has resurfaced because of the prayers that recently opened the Roanoke City Council meetings. Though this issue passionately upsets many citizens, I see it not as an issue of religion but rather as one of government and the rule of law.

Our beliefs are a personal choice. It is not a concern for the public or the government. We do not diminish nor are we in any way unfaithful to our beliefs if we accept the fact that our government is based on the U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

Our currency says “In God We Trust” and “one nation under God” is a part of the Pledge of Allegiance (though not the original version). Understandably, it is a common thought by many that the Constitution establishes our country as a Christian nation. While our Founding Fathers supported Judeo-Christian beliefs, they did not want a country with a public religion or an established church. It is important to note that they wanted a separation of church and state--to protect each from the other.

Would our Founding Fathers have wanted this to be divisive to the nation? What steps can we take to ensure that our religious beliefs are respected? Would we be concerned if our government (federal, state or local) became too involved in religion—whether inclusively or exclusively? I think our Founding Fathers were onto something when they added the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Re: Does prayer have a place in government meetings?

georgegobble — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:36:26 GMT

I was taught in school this country was founded on Christian principles. It is a shame we have gone so far away from those principles. It is no wonder the country is in such a mess. We have take God out of everything but when we get in trouble He is the first one we call on. How often would you come running to help someone if they told you they didn't want to even hear your name? I thank the two gentlemen who are not afraid to call upon the name of Jesus. Christians have rolled over and played dead every time someone thinks we have offended them and violated their rights. What about our Christians rights in a nation our forefathers declared to be a Christian nation? If we ever need direction from God we need it now and to say not to pray in the name of His Son is unbelievable. No one is trying to convert others by praying in the name of Jesus. If those who don't believe in Jesus or even if He existed what’s the big deal about praying to something they don't believe lived or existed? Should I go to another country and they pray to some other God it is not going to offend me because I don't believe in who they are praying too. I thank God for the freedom we have in this great nation but as a Christian I see my freedom to worship my God being taken away a little at a time. It is time for Christians to take a stand and not to stick their heads in the sand hoping it will go away. The only thing going away is your right as a Christian to pray and worship God as YOU see fit.

Re: Does prayer have a place in government meetings?

jbjmaj — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:06:15 GMT

[quote user="mmartin"]

Governmental prayers have been a hot-button issue this year. In July, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision that Hashmel Turner, a Baptist minister and member of the Fredericksburg City Council, did not have a right to say a sectarian prayer to open council meetings. Lawyers for Turner are now trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. [Related story.]

Roanoke Vice Mayor Sherman Lea sparked criticism when he referred to Jesus Christ during a prayer that opened a council meeting on Dec. 15. Lea's invocation raised the ire of at least one person who, in an e-mail to council members, called the prayer "illegal and offensive to the many religions in Roanoke City." Lea, who is also a minister, then asked to be removed from a rotation of clergy used to give the opening prayer at council meetings.

What is the place of prayer in government meetings?

Join the discussion here.

[/quote]

Why would a nation "under God" with it's currency stating "In God we Trust" and founded entirely upon Christian principles and practices NOT want to ask God to grant His favor, leadership and blessings upon our governments business. One may work to hard to determine where we are headed as a nation but no one can change where we have come from. We will always be a nation founded upon the foundation of Christianity.

Does prayer have a place in government meetings?

mmartin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:40:55 GMT

The issue has also been raised in the most recent General Assembly session, as well.

What is the place of prayer in government meetings?

Join the discussion here.

Prayer in City Council meetings

mmartin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:56:00 GMT

What do you think about Vice Mayor Sherman Lea’s decision to refrain from leading the city council invocation because of a complaint about referring to God's son?