Quote: “At this time of our country’s history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer”, said Shirley Dobson.
The President, who is a committed Christian said, “In this time of the history of our country we should be engaging Americans of faith in efforts to renew our country.
Renewing our country is prayer in action whether it be by people of faith or no faith.

“At this time in our country’s history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer.”
And prayer has done what for us? Iraq? Recession/Depression? Global warming?
I think President Obama has made a good choice there and I suspect it’s typical Shirley Dobson behavior to try to force out president to pray her way.

President Obama continues to show make me glad I voted for him! Good move. Get a grip, Shirley, the conservatives are currently NOT in the White House.

OOPS. …leave out the word “show”!

I agree with Obama’s decision who appears to agree, as I do, with Jesus who said, “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truely I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secrect will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard becasue of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father know what you need before you ask him.” Gospel of Matthew 6:5-8

Obama professes his faith every day by the work he does. His interest in working for ALL Americans, not only the Pharisees (Dobson Inc.), shows he takes seriously Jesus many lessons and admonitions. I admire him all the more for it. They may want to bond and beat their chests in public posturing and pious pretense. But the hymn of the day should be “They will know we are Christians BY OUR LOVE”. ANything else is shallow vanity.

In keeping with this now historic tradition in which past presidential proclamations have encouraged all Americans to pray on this day, it should be clear that the National Day of Prayer is intended to be a day that transcends differences by bringing together citizens of many religious traditions to share in the community that is America.
In stark contrast, the Dobson sponsored events deliberately exclude participation by people whose faith lies outside a narrowly defined criteria.
I am pleased that President Obama, a devout man of prayer whose Christian faith reflects humility rather than arrogance, is honoring the intent of this day by declining to host in the white house such an exclusively sectarian event.

jestrfyl:
You just brought a good memory from my teaching days back to me. The hymn you quoted was one we taught the kids in kindergarten while I was there. They loved singing it and the tune came into my brain when I read your post. Thanks for that!

A post script: for those who don’t know…I taught in a RCC school, thus being able to teach religious songs.

“‘We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration,’ Shirley Dobson said in a statement issued by the task force on Monday. ‘At this time in our country’s history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer.’”
You think she’d be happy that the “secret Muslim” was keeping his distance from JesusFest ’09. I guess there’s just no pleasing some people.

Has anyone seen the logo from the Dobson NDOP website? It states: “Prayer, America’s HOPE.” These folks deliberately made this a partisan issue by their use of the word HOPE (so how long did it take you all to go through a concordance to find a verse that would fit?). Even the style of the logo is reminiscent of Obama’s campaign logo. In short, the message from Dobson is clear: Obama only offers “false hope.” Insulting to not only to non-Christians, but to all Christians who do not subscribe to their narrow theology.

“President Obama is a committed Christian ….” And you know this how?

notfooled, how do you examine people to see if they are Christians? Never heard of this test. Whatever happened to faith in people?

H22 quote, “notfooled, how do you examine people to see if they are Christians? Never heard of this test. Whatever happened to faith in people?”
Have you read your bible it is full of the evidence of true followers, by their fruit. I agree with notfooled I see no evidence Obama is anything more than a politician and a brought man whose moral temperament is up to the highest bidder. I know it is hard to be true to who you are when who you are is lost in financial supporters and a person becomes more who his financial supporters are.

My quote for the day for National Prayer Day
Matthew 6:5-6 (New International Version)
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
I’m tired of hypocritical politicians using public prayer to claim that they have Jesus’s endorsement. You’d never get away with running around using Oprah’s name like that without her permission.

I’m sorry you can’t find President Obama in the Bible Cknuck. I found him there, so you didn’t look deeply enough, I guess. Of course he’s a politician, you wouldn’t want a shoemaker for the president, would you? (nothing against shoemakers).

We are going to war in Afghanistan so no change from Bush other than the abortion and homosexual issues.
I never said he’s not in the bible that’s your words after all everything is in the bible even wolves in sheep’s clothing