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