Weekly Prayer Requests - August 16, 2009

Another week during August recess, but with changes to the Georgia Supreme Court:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For safety and wisdom for the President and his staff as the President continues to travel the country holding town hall meetings regarding healthcare reform and answering questions.
• For strength for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she returned from her trip to Africa on Friday.
• For the continuing efforts on education, including additional new funding for charter schools.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Defense, which provides the military forces to protect our country. Pray for the more than two million active and civilian employees of the Department and its Secretary, Robert Gates.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House and Senate as the August recess continues. Many are holding town hall meetings in person and by phone during this month.
• For the tenor of the debate regarding healthcare reform. Allegations continue to swirl regarding what is in various proposals, and much misinformation has circulated.
• For staff members to get sufficient rest and recovery during the August recess.
• Continue to pray for newly-sworn in Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Pray as she hires law clerks, establishes her chambers, and prepares for her first argument at the Court.

State Government Officials

• For the newest Justice on the Georgia Supreme Court, David Nahmias. Justice Nahmias was appointed by the Governor on Friday and must transition from his role as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia to establishing his chambers.
• For wisdom as the state continues to deal with drops in revenue.
• For the Georgia Department of Community Health, which administers many programs for under- and uninsured. Pray for its employees and its Commissioner, Dr. Rhonda Meadows.

National Requests

• As the nation remembers the anniversary of Woodstock, that people would turn to the Lord as their source of life instead of the emptiness of the world’s ways.
• For the nation’s economy. A number of indicators this week seem to show that the recession is ending. Pray for continued growth and recovery.

Thought for the Week

"A danger sign of the lapse from true skepticism in to dogmatism is an inability to respect those who disagree.” - Dr. Leonard George

Weekly Prayer Requests - August 9, 2009

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President and his staff as the debate over health care reform moves forward. During the August recess, much work remains to be done to figure out details and determine the best course of action.
• For the President to spend quality time with his wife and daughters during the slower month of August in Washington. Sasha and Malia return to school on Sept. 8.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Commerce, which among other tasks, administers the Census, which is already well underway. Pray for the 38,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Gary Locke.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House and Senate as they have begun their traditional August recess. Although usually termed “vacation,” the month means lots of town hall meetings, time with constituents, and attending events. Pray for rest after the stress of a DC summer.
• For calm, thoughtful discussion at town hall meetings throughout this month. Several have already become raucous and at least one has turned violent.
• For newly-sworn in Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Pray as she hires law clerks, establishes her chambers, and prepares for her first argument on September 8.

State Government Officials

• For the Governor as he prepares to make his selection for the new Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Interviews should be complete and an announcement should come soon.
• For the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which distributes grant funds and economic development funds to local government. Pray for its employees, particularly those administering the economic stimulus programs, and the Commissioner, Mike Beatty.

National Requests

• For the families of those killed in the mid-air collision in New York.
• For those in Iran being paraded in show trials after the unrest following the election. Efforts continue to suppress protests.
• Praise that two American journalists held in North Korea were freed.

Thought for the Week

"Politics, noun. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage." - Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Weekly Prayer Requests - July 26, 2009

This week's requests come as Congress moves quickly toward its traditional August recess and the debate over healthcare heats up. This week's requests:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President and his staff as they continue to deal with the challenges of the office. The President continues to fight for health insurance reform before the end of the year.
• For wisdom as intelligence agency officials continue to work through challenges. A CIA program was revealed this week with implications for national security.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for assuring food safety, assisting farmer and ranchers, and growing rural communities. Pray for the 100,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Tom Vilsack.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they consider appropriations bills for the Department of Defense, legislation related to corporate bonuses, and possibly a healthcare reform bill.
• For members of the Senate as they vote on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court and continue consideration of appropriations legislation.
• For the continued debate within the leadership circles regarding healthcare reform legislation. Negotiations broke down this week between members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and may move to the floor.

State Government Officials

• For the Governor and the new team of leaders to deal with the judge’s ruling on water. Georgia Power CEO Mike Garrett will head the effort.
• For the continuing campaign for Governor. Less than a year remains until the primary.
• For the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which investigates and assists the criminal justice community in the state. The GBI also operates the state’s crime lab. Pray for its agents and employees, and the Director, Vernon Keenan.

National Requests

• For wisdom in continued development of a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus and protection for those with it.
• For protection for the men and women serving our nation in foreign theaters. Troops remained posted all around the world in addition to Iraq and Afghanistan. Pray also for support operations.

Thought for the Week

“All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field.” - Albert Einstein

Weekly Prayer Requests - July 19, 2009

Here are the weekly requests for what promises to be a busy week in Washington.

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President as he continues to try to advance healthcare reform legislation prior to the Congressional August recess.
• For time together for the President and his family.
• For West Wing staff as the pressures of the office settle in. News reports this week indicated that many staffers are very fatigued and spending little time at home due to the pressures.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which is responsible for administering benefit programs for veterans. Pray for the 235,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, General Eric Shinseki.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they consider appropriations legislation for transportation, education, and health and human services. House leaders may also consider a version of the Defense Authorization bill.
• For members of the Senate as they finalize consideration of the Defense Authorization legislation. Votes may also happen this week on the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
• For the continued consideration of the Defense Authorization legislation. President Obama has promised to veto the bill over F-22 funding, in spite of the addition of Hate Crimes legislation.

State Government Officials

• For the Governor and officials as they deal with the results of the judge’s ruling on water Friday. The order may put a severe burden on Atlanta if a Congressional solution can’t be worked out within the next three years.
• For state employees who continue to be furloughed without pay to save state funds.
• For the Georgia Building Authority, which oversees, manages, and maintains properties owned by the state. Pray for its employees, and the State Property Officer, Steve Stancil.

National Requests

• For authorities in Indonesia as they investigate the hotel terrorist attacks.
• For the family of Walter Cronkite as they deal with his death.
• For safety for the 13 astronauts in space on the International Space Station. The Space Shuttle launched successfully last week after five attempts.

Thought for the Week

“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.” - William E. Simon

Weekly Prayer Requests - July 12, 2009

Here are the prayer requests for what promises to be a busy week in DC with Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings beginning:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President and his family as they return and recover from meetings in Russia, Italy, and Ghana. The entire family was able to travel together on the trip.
• For the results of last week’s G-8 summit and the continuing efforts to stem the global financial crisis.
• For wisdom for the White House team shepherding the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Treasury, which is tasked with ensuring the soundness and security of the U.S. and international financial systems. Pray for the 100,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Tim Geithner.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they consider a number of appropriations bills this week. The nation’s fiscal year begins in just a few months, on October 1..
• For members of the Senate as they also work on appropriations bills. Staff and Senators are also working on climate change legislation and healthcare reform legislation before the August recess.
• For members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as they begin hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor tomorrow. Pray for a spirit of camaraderie and peace in the committee room, for thoughtful questions, and wise analysis by all involved.

State Government Officials

• For the many candidates in the race for Governor. They reported their first half fundraising last week, and the economic conditions have made that process even more difficult than usual.
• For the family of Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, as they welcomed a new child to their family last week. Pray for Jake and his mom.
• For the Department of Banking and Finance, which oversees Georgia banks and financial systems. Pray for its employees, and its Commissioner, Rob Braswell.

National Requests

• For the two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea. Pray for wisdom in dealing with a hostile government and a quick release for the journalists.
• For the children of Michael Jackson, Prince, Paris, and Blanket. Custody hearings continue as they deal with the very public loss of their father.

Thought for the Week

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.” - Ernest Benn

Weekly Prayer Requests - July 5, 2009

A few days early, here are this next week's prayer requests for leaders, as we prepare to celebrate the 233rd birthday of our nation!

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President and his staff as they navigate the difficult policy questions posed by the efforts to reform healthcare.
• For wise decisions for the Departments of Defense and State in dealing with foreign threats.
• Praise the President and his family are regularly worshiping at the Chapel at Camp David. Pray for the pastor, Lt. Carey Cash.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Transportation, which is tasked with developing the nation’s roads and coordinating safety for travel by air and sea . Pray for the 55,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Ray LaHood.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they return on Tuesday and consider a number of appropriations bills, plus authorization for the nation’s intelligence agencies.
• For members of the Senate as they deal with more appropriations bills this week.
• For members of Congress and their staffs as the next four weeks constitute some of the most intense of the year in Washington. Items pending that leadership wants to consider before the August recess include energy legislation, healthcare reform legislation, and preparing for hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Pray for wisdom and endurance.

State Government Officials

• For the Governor and his counsel as they consider the nine names submitted by the JNC for the vacancy on the Georgia Supreme Court.
• For the continued recovery of Lt. Governor Casey Cagle from back surgery.
• For the reorganization of a number of human services departments in state government.
• For the Department of Audits, which double-checks state agencies and their spending. Pray for its employees, and the State Auditor, Russ Hinton.

National Requests

• For the state of California, which was forced to begin issuing IOUs this week because of lack of revenue. Pray for the Governor and legislature to reach a solution quickly.
• Praise that apparently no one was injured in the partial collapse of a parking deck in Midtown Atlanta this week.

Thought for the Week

“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.” - Richard Armour

Weekly Prayer Requests - June 28, 2009

Here are this week's prayer requests for our national leaders:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President and his staff as they prepare for an intensive time of negotiation on healthcare reform legislation.
• For wise decisions as North Korea continues its threats to cause another incident over the July Fourth holiday.
• For the First Lady and her many responsibilities.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of State, which is tasked with developing the implementing the nation’s foreign policy. The U.S. has diplomatic relations with approximately 180 countries. Pray for the 30,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Hillary Clinton.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House and Senate as they are on the traditional July Fourth recess. Both chambers will return next Monday, on July 6, and begin a very busy few weeks of legislating as they make the final push toward the August recess.
• For the staff of the Architect of the Capitol’s offices. The Architect and his staff maintain the facilities of Congress and will often try to perform maintenance during times of Congressional recess like this week.
• For rest for D.C. staff of members of Congress as they prepare for the busy July leading up to the August recess.

State Government Officials

• For the Governor’s Judicial Nominating Commission, which meets to interview potential nominees to the vacant Georgia Supreme Court position tomorrow and Tuesday.
• For the family of state Rep. Howard Maxwell, whose two-year-old grandson passed away this week.
• For the Department of Natural Resources, which manages state resources and wildlife. Pray for its employees, the budgetary impact of cutbacks, and its newly-appointed Commissioner, Chris Clark.

National Requests

• For the family of Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a professing Christian who confessed to an affair this week.
• For so many people in our country who worship celebrity. This is brought into focus with the passing of Michael Jackson this week.
• For the continued recovery of those injured, and the investigation into the crash of the DC Metro train.

Thought for the Week

“Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.” - Mahatma Gandhi