NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 2010

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April 30, 2010

National Day Of Prayer: Central Illinois Observers To Worship On State Capitol Steps

EDITOR'S NOTE: Though a federal judge ruled the National Day of Prayer is "unconstitutional" this does NOT prohibit American citizens from expressing their faith in the public square. The day and events--as Bernie Lutchman writes below--is still on. No matter what rights government tries to take away from Americans, God is eternal. Therefore, prayers offered up to Him, bringing the fate of our nation before Him in the public square is not subject to any judge's ruling.

Those who want to participate in the National Day of Prayer do not have to come to Springfield, Illinois or Washington, D.C. to do so. Observers can go to their own city hall whether or not there is an organized event in their city, town or village. The First Amendment still protects the expression of faith in the public square.

If there is not an organized National Day of Prayer event in your area, take a family member, friend, or church group with you to your city hall or town square and exercise your rights. The U.S. Constitution still applies.

by Bernie Lutchman, National Day of Prayer Coordinator, Springfield, Illinois

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GREAT STATE OF ILLINOIS:

We, the People of the State of Illinois -- grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors.

The Good Lord gave us several examples, throughout the Scriptures, of His saints interceding and praying for mercy for their land and people. Several stand out immediately. Abraham pleaded with the Lord Jesus to spare Sodom and Gomorrah from Fire and Brimstone (Genesis 18) if there were 50, 45, or even 40 or less “righteous” people to be found there.

Then we read in Exodus 32 that while Moses was up on the Mountain meeting with God, Moses stayed a lot longer than the people wanted. So several of the “redeemed” or rescued from Egypt asked his brother, Aaron, to make a false god for them to worship. Aaron promptly fashioned a golden calf which the perpetrators began to “worship”.

The entire thing promptly developed into an orgy. God was so angry that He was about to wipe out the entire bunch of them. Moses pleaded and petitioned our Holy Father to stay His Wrath which He did. The testimonies of men and women of God praying for their people are countless throughout time.

The Apostle Paul instructed in 1 Timothy 2 that believers are to pray for this in authority over us and many of us do daily. So, given this divine history and tradition of Prayer and Intercession, why are certain in the community of man opposed to us doing this, not just in our own private time – in the Secret Place – but as One Body in the Community of Believers? Why?

The answer is brief. In a word, the answer is Satan. This entire assault on the National Day of Prayer (NDP) by atheists, agnostics, leftists, others in pagan cults and religions has reached fever pitch this year. Little by little, what people like “Rev”. Barry Lynn (United Church of Christ!!!) of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State began in the media years ago, has spawned groups like the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FRF) and others who seek to remove Christ and Christians from our full rights, in the public square.

In fact, it was the FRF's suit against the NDP, which caused Federal Judge Barbara Crabb of the people’s republic of Madison, Wisconsin to declare the actual National Day of Prayer “unconstitutional”. But the essence of her outrageous ruling did make it “clear” that it was alright for people to pray. How truly generous of her!

So, what does this mean to this year’s observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 6, 2010? Several things, and the first thing is – IT IS ON! In Springfield, Illinois, the Annual Prayer Service is from 12 Noon to 1 P.M. on the East Steps of the State Capitol Building, in the public square, as always. This is constitutional and legal.

This year, because of Judge Crabb's ruling and the slide into perdition of the political class at the Pentagon, (which caused Rev. Franklin Graham's appearance to be cancelled from an Official Prayer Event), interest is higher. God’s people are finally awakening! The lines are drawn...and I mean in the church. We expect evil to abound in the secular world which hates the Lord Jesus Christ. What is new, is Christ has called His own out of the church and only His will stand with Him here on earth first -- in the coming persecution, and then on Judgment Day. The weak-kneed liberal American church has sided with the world, as have many “evangelicals”. But God always has a remnant. He is calling us to fast, pray and obey.

Therefore, let it begin now. Come and join us at the corner of 2^nd Street and Capitol Avenue (by the Lincoln Statue), in Springfield, Illinois on the National Day of Prayer -- Thursday, May 6th -- and let us, the Remnant, cry out to Him for His Mercy, Grace and Return.

"Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years before."

John Quincy Adams, on July 4, 1837, the 61st anniversary of the

Declaration of Independence

Bernie Lutchman--National Day of Prayer Coordinator--Capitol City, Springfield, Illinois

National Day of Prayer Task Force: www.ndptf.org

Business Men In Christ: www.businessmeninchrist.com

Bernie Lutchman's blog: www.bernielutchman.blogspot.com

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