Welcome to “Joni and Friends”. I'm Joni Eareckson Tada.
Thanks so much for joining me yesterday in praying for America and its leaders and its institutions – I know you agree that our nation is in such desperate need of prayer. In fact, it’s pretty tough to find public places in which you can openly congregate for prayer… many anti-Christian forces are trying to undo the official stature of the National Day of Prayer, as well as stop prayer meetings from occurring in courthouses and schools across America.
In fact, I remember listening to Warden Burl Cain of the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana. He was speaking about our Wheels for the World program (I should add that we have a wonderful Wheels for the World restoration shop doing a great job refurbishing wheelchairs right there in the Angola prison. The prisoners volunteer their time to make our wheelchairs for us to distribute to needy disabled children around the world. The inmates also have a chance to meet together and pray over these wheelchairs, as well as to pray for the children and adults who receive the chairs).Anyway, Warden Cain was explaining how our Wheels shop was such a blessing to the prisoners and how much they enjoyed seeing the videos and photos of the children who they help – it really energizes their prayers. But right then, the warden stopped and kind of scratched his head and paused a moment then laughed and said, “You know, the shape our country is in these days, you have to be in prison in order to pray without fear or harassment.”
Everyone laughed, but in a sad way, he’s right, isn’t he. People who want to ensure that prayer remains a part of our national culture are being harassed – and even the National Day of Prayer is in jeopardy. Last year, on April 15, 2010, United States District Court Judge Barbara Crabb, for the Western District of Wisconsin, struck down the National Day of Prayer statute, saying it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Judge Crabb ruled that the statute serves no secular purpose, but rather calls the nation to engage in a religious exercise – prayer. But we say that the National Day of Prayer belongs to Americans. It is a tradition that dates back to 1775 and it is not for a Judge to take away. We the people called for the day of prayer and for 59 years we have practiced our freedom to gather and pray. This is an attack upon our religious freedoms and it is a sad day in America when an atheist in Wisconsin can undermine this tradition for millions of others who simply wish to join their fellow citizens in praying for their nation.
I know you want to join me in safeguarding the National Day of Prayer and so I encourage you to visit nationaldayofprayer.org to sign a petition along with millions of other Americans. Do it today, would you? We need to ensure that there will always be an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily in a sanctioned prayer event protected by our Constitution – the National Day of Prayer is part of our religious tradition in America and it does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Oh, and one more thing: don’t forget this is your last day to get your free copy of “Pray for Our Nation” which is a wonderful little booklet filled with scriptures and insights on how you can pray for leaders in our government, our Armed Forces, and in our courts. Just visit joniandfriends.org when you get a minute and be sure to ask for your copy of “Pray for Our Nation.” And don’t forget to post your prayers for our nation on my blog on our website or on our radio page – and as I read each posting, I'll be lifting my voice up with yours asking God to pour out His mercy on the United States of America.
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