National Day of Prayer

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=20% BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="1fa2e452egerdp.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="186005d2egerdp.jpg"> <div> <I><B> <style>  </style>  </B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Collage" ><I><B> <script language=JavaScript>  </script>  </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="1fefaa50.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Since the earliest moments of our nation’s history, our leaders have called for national days of prayer, repentance and fasting. When an impasse had been reached at the </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Collage" ><I><B>Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin </B></I></FONT><I><B>called for prayer with these words: “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men… And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I therefore beg leave to move--that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business…”</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Less than 100 years later, a concerned </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Collage" ><I><B>Abraham Lincoln </B></I></FONT><I><B>called for national prayer in the midst of the Civil War. “WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States; devoutly recognizing the Supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and nations, has, by a resolution, requested the president to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation. And Whereas, it is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Many other statesmen, presidents and leaders have called on the nation to turn to God in prayer. In 1952, </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Collage" ><I><B>President Truman</B></I></FONT><I><B> signed a joint resolution of Congress, creating the National Day of Prayer, </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Collage" ><I><B>and in 1988 it became a law under the signature of President Ronald Reagan.</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>During the earliest days of the conflict in Iraq, Congress called for a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. Recently, congressional leaders asked evangelical leaders what would be a good day for this effort. It was decided that the themes of gratitude, fasting and prayer could be incorporated into the National Day of Prayer in a meaningful way. So today, the yearly observance takes on new meaning as our country unites in gratitude, fasting and prayer for the blessings God has granted our nation. </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>If any information is not found to be public domail, please let me know immediately so that I may remove it.  Most of the information has been received by emails and articles from students and friends.</B></I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>