PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER
REQUESTS FOR
DECEMBER 11, 2003

This photo shows an American soldier with an Iraqi schoolboy, sitting on the steps of a medical clinic in Baghdad. Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense.

Pray for three significant developments in President Bush’s efforts to strengthen and restore Iraq:

1. For Secretary of State Powell as he works to involve more NATO and United Nations members in the rebuilding of Iraq. 
2. For the development of new businesses and free enterprise in Iraq. As Americans and others begin to invest in businesses there, pray for God’s blessing and strength in the economic recovery of that nation.
3. For James Baker as he steps up to serve President Bush by helping restructure the debt in Iraq. Pray for wisdom and cooperation for all his initiatives.

Pray for the many soldiers here in the states who now face duty in the Middle East when the New Year begins—or sooner. Pray that those who are now training and preparing for duty overseas will gain all the knowledge and skills they need and will be ready to assist the President and his advisors in the mission to free Iraq completely.

Pray for those who are suffering due to the heightened intensity of the flu season. With the rapid advancement of new strains and a nationwide shortage of vaccine, pray for the protection of children and the elderly.

Pray for the President as he and Mrs. Bush continue to welcome great numbers of visitors to the White House for the many traditional Christmas festivities held there during this season. Pray for strength and blessing as well as continued safety and security for the White House, Congress and all the public areas of Washington, D.C.

Pray for Treasury Secretary Snow and his team as they work to combat identity theft in America. Pray that they will be successful in their efforts, reducing financial crime and preventing fraud in our country.

Give thanks for the excellent service of Secretary Mel Martinez as he has led the
Department of Housing and Urban Development. Pray for wisdom for the President and his advisors as they seek a new candidate to lead this important department.

ADDITIONAL LEADERS TO PRAY FOR THIS WEEK

Photo of Secretary Paige courtesy of the Department of Education.

Secretary of Labor
Elaine Chao

Secretary of Energy
Spencer Abraham

Secretary of Education
Rod Paige

U.S. Trade Representative
Robert Zoellick

INSPIRATIONAL REFERENCES
FOR THE WEEK

"Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found."
--The Bible, Psalm 32:6 (NIV)

"Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God."
--The Bible, Psalm 43:3-4 (NIV)

PRAYER AND FAITH
IN THE NEWS

It's been a week of killing and violence in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a city councilman wants to see it stop. Four people have been shot in a variety of circumstances in just over a week. Believing that prayer is the means to help bring a stop to the destruction, the councilman held a prayer meeting at the corner where two of the killings took place. Additionally, a group of clergy held a second rally outside the Caddo Parish Courthouse in downtown Shreveport. Another rally will be held later in the week.

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High School Bible Club Gains Victory.

In yet another case of a sore misunderstanding of the First Amendment, a group of students has been permitted to hold an on-campus Bible club after initially being denied by school administrators. Students from Shorecrest High School in Washington were told they would not be permitted to hold Bible Club meetings on campus and would be denied the rights and privileges given to other student-run special interest clubs at the school. The reason given was concern over violating the school’s understanding of “the separation of church and state.”

Legal counsel from The Rutherford Institute stepped in with clarification on the issue of students’ rights, helping clarify the situation for administrators and students alike. A Rutherford Institute representative said it did not appear as though school officials intended to discriminate specifically against the Christian students. Instead, he said, they were simply acting out of ignorance of the Constitution and the First Amendment. He stated, “It was basically just an issue of misunderstanding what the First Amendment provides and what it means.”

The Bible club will now have all the rights and privileges that other extra-curricular clubs enjoy on campus. The club will have access to school funding and be allowed to advertise their events over the loudspeaker and on school bulletin boards.

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Christian Lawyer Urges Believers to Learn and Exercise their Rights

Will outdoor displays such as this one soon be illegal? Image courtesy of Hambergerdisplays.com.

Believing that the sometimes frivolous suits of many secular groups must be countered by informed Christians, Mat Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, is working to keep Christ in public celebrations of Christmas this year. “What we need to do is educate the public and certainly government officials that you can have religious references--and must have religious references in order to have equal treatment and abide by the Constitution regarding Christmas holidays," he says.

He added that schools and communities are in error when they seek to make their observances strictly secular. Stating that to eliminate Jesus Christ, the centerpiece of Christmas, is "blatantly unconstitutional and discriminatory."

Staver says Liberty Counsel is involved with five cases of this type of discrimination against Christians seeking to have a faith-related emphasis to the Christmas celebrations or public displays. The effort to preserve religious liberty demands our attention, he says. “We need to constantly be vigilant, Staver says, “every year. We need to educate, we need to litigate where necessary, and we need to defend against frivolous lawsuits or threats. We need to make sure the Grinch really does not steal Christmas--not only in our own lives, but certainly in the public expression of the holiday at this time of year.”

The Christian attorney says that the Christmas holidays are a very busy season for his legal firm, but that they are willing to defend any governmental entity that abides by the Constitution and allows the equal expression of religious views.

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PRAYER QUOTE
FOR THE WEEK

It is not faith in the amount of praying we do, faith in our ability to pray long, beautiful, and scripturally accurate prayers, or even faith in the prayers themselves. It is faith in God--faith in who He is and faith that He rewards His children who seek Him in prayer. [We] can pray, ‘Father, my faith has turned into unshakable confidence in You--because of who You are.’
--Evelyn Christensen, author, speaker and essayist

INSPIRATIONAL WORDS FROM A FOUNDING FATHER

Image courtesy of PBS.

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!
--Thomas Jefferson

GREAT PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM RESOURCES IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING

Have you seen the Presidential Prayer Team Devotional and Journal? These two beautiful volumes will help your loved ones strengthen their faith and knowledge of America’s godly heritage while encouraging prayer for the country. In addition, a special volume, Kids Who Pray for the U.S.A. makes a great gift for children. Packed with fun activities and inspiration, it will motivate kids to make their faith real by praying for the President.

HAVE YOUR KIDS
JOINED THE TEAM?

The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids is a faith-filled website that enables children of all ages to get involved in the important mission of The Presidential Prayer Team. The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids will teach kids how God's hand has guided our nation, encouraging them to change the world through their prayers for our President and our country. Kids can join today by visiting the website at http://www.presidentialprayerkids.org/.

A group of special friends has graciously offered to help The Presidential Prayer Team finish the year strong by agreeing to match your gifts this month! Your generous gift today will ensure that this important effort continues to stimulate prayer for our President and our nation. Click here to give

TAKE THE PPT POLL

Has your community experienced conflict over the faith traditions represented in public Christmas displays or observances? Yes   38.36% No   61.64% Past polls | Send this poll to a friend

OUR NATION'S
GODLY HERITAGE

Portrait of President Roosevelt courtesy of the Library of Congress.

As he delivered his State of the Union Address in January of 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was faced with the daunting task of inspiring Americans to accept his plans to increase production during the war effort. His goal was to gain victory in the raging conflict with Hitler in Europe. He appealed to the national love of freedom, predicting that four essential freedoms, including the freedom to worship God, could only be restored to Europe by defeating Hitler.

Here are the words, in part, to FDR’s speech: “In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.

This nation has placed its destiny in the hands, heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women, and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights and keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose. To that high concept there can be no end save victory.”
--Franklin Delano Roosevelt, January 6, 1941

To hear an excerpt of President Roosevelt’s speech, click here.

WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

President and Mrs. Bush welcomed a large crowd to the Ellipse of the White House last week for the Pageant of Peace and the lighting of the national Christmas tree. The President spoke these heartfelt words about Christmas.

Photo courtesy of the White House.

The story of Christmas is familiar to us all, and it still holds a sense of wonder and surprise. When the good news came first to a young woman from Nazareth, her response was understandable. She asked, "How can this be?" The news would bring difficulty to her family and suspicion upon herself. Yet, Mary gave her reply, "Be it unto me according to Thy Word." The wait for a new king had been long, and the manner of His arrival was not as many had expected. The King's first cries were heard by shepherds and cattle. He was raised by a carpenter.

Yet this one humble life lifted the sights of humanity forever. And in His words we hear a voice like no other. Across the generations, the poor have heard words of hope, the proud have heard words of challenge, and the weak and the dying have heard words of assurance. And mankind has been given a message first delivered by angels on a shepherd's field: "Fear not."

As we near Christmas in a time of war, these words bring comfort. We don't know all of God's ways, yet the Christmas story promises that God's purpose is justice, and His plan is peace. At times this belief is tested. During the Civil War, Longfellow wrote a poem that later became a part of a Christmas carol, "Hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men." That poem also reminds us that hate is not the final word: "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.'"

And now, as an expression of our own hope for peace in this Christmas season we light the national tree.
--George W. Bush

FROM OUR MEMBERS

Last week we asked you to tell us about your most meaningful holiday traditions. Here are some of your responses. More comments will follow next week.

This year our tree is decorated in red, white and blue in honor of our military around the world. As we enjoy the comfort and warmth of our homes and the gatherings with family and friends while they are on foreign soil defending the freedom we enjoy, we lift them up in prayer. May we never forget that freedom isn't free. God bless our military and our President and the leaders of this nation.
--Sharon

Photo of red, white and blue Christmas tree courtesy of Tinker Air Force Base.

One of the things I do every year to keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in my heart amidst all of the Christmas activities is read Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. It takes me back to the time and customs surrounding Jesus birth revealing the real struggles joys of Mary, Joseph, their family.
--Sydney

What is most meaningful to me is the reading of the Christmas story. I never tire of its message of hope as it confirms that miracles can happen and that Christ is a light in the world that cannot be destroyed.
--Wolter

It seems that every year is more precious. What glows the warmest is the love we, as a family, hold for each other. Nothing is finer than having your family together, sharing in the love of God which is shown so mightily in the gift of His holy Son.
--Rhonda

My daddy always read the Christmas story to us. My daddy has died, but now my husband reads the story to our children and grandchildren. To me this is the best gift my parents could have given to us, the gift of Jesus. Thank you for the website. Our prayers are with President Bush, our country and all the troops.
--M.J.

I am very blessed with many friends and family to whom I send Christmas cards. I have started praying over each card before sending it. I pray for each individual family member, their needs and for the salvation of those who do not know the Lord. This way I know that I pray for all of my loved ones at least one time each year.
--Ronda

One of the most meaningful traditions I have is to go to church on Christmas to attend the candlelight service. I look forward to this every year. I t is a very reverent time with other believers.
--Patricia

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HOW DID THE TROOPS FEEL ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH’S SURPRISE VISIT ON THANKSGIVING DAY?

President Bush visited the troops in Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day. Though some have questioned the propriety of his visit, there is no question among the soldiers with whom he spent the day. This firsthand account was sent to The Presidential Prayer Team by a member.

Photo of President Bush addressing troops on Thanksgiving Day, courtesy of the White House.

An Email from a Captain in Iraq

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We knew there was a dinner planned with Ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. There were 600 seats available and all the units in the division were tasked with filling a few tables. Soldiers were grumbling about having to sit through another dog-and-pony show, so we had to pick soldiers to attend. I chose not to go.

But, at about 1500 [hours] the G2, LTC Devan, came up to me and with a smile, asked me to come to dinner with him, to meet him in his office at 1600 and bring a camera. I didn't really care about getting a picture with Sanchez or Bremer, but when the division's senior intelligence officer asks you to go, you go. We were seated in the chow hall, fully decorated for Thanksgiving when all kinds of Secret Service guys showed up.

That was my first clue, because Bremer's been here before and his personal security detachment is not that big. Bremer thanked us all and pulled out a piece of paper as if to give a speech. He mentioned that the President had given him this Thanksgiving speech to give to the troops. He then paused and said that the senior man present should be the one to give it. He then looked at Sanchez, who just smiled.

Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the United States came around. The mess hall erupted with hollering. Troops bounded to their feet with shocked smiles and began cheering with all their hearts. The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet away from me! The cheering went on and on and on.

Click here to read the rest of the story

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PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE
FOR THE WEEK

Portrait of President Andrew Jackson courtesy of the White House.

"Finally, it is my fervent prayer to that Almighty Being…that He will so overrule all my intentions and actions and inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from dangers of all kinds and continue forever a united happy people."
--Andrew Jackson