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DAY OF PRAYER FOR
JACKSONVILLE'S
LEADERSHIP, BUDGET AND ECONOMIC HEALTH
FROM THE OFFICE OF COTS-JAX:
WHEREAS, throughout our national history government leaders
including Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Governors and
Congress have called for a day of prayer to humbly ask God for His forgiveness,
blessing and guidance during times of difficulty; and
WHEREAS, COTS-Jax acknowledges the blessings of God; and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville is suffering
from the severe effects of a prolonged national and state economic recession
that threatens the livelihood of many of our citizens and challenges the quality
of life for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, throughout this day of prayer we ask for God's favor,
blessing, wisdom and guidance to rest upon our city government, businesses and
our citizens that God would guide our city government leaders to resolve the
city's budget deficit, renew the vitality of our city's economy, and that God
would aid and empower the citizens and businesses in our city and in our
nation.
NOW, THEREFORE we, COTS-Jax, do hereby proclaim
Wednesday May 9th, 2012 as a:
"DAY OF PRAYER FOR JACKSONVILLE'S LEADERSHIP, BUDGET
AND ECONOMIC HEALTH"
And encourage all Jacksonville citizens to pray for God's blessing’s on our City, State and
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHERE OF, we have
hereunto set our hand for this proclamation:
COTS-Jax
PO Box 13086, Jacksonville FL 32206
To be held at Dusk (approx 8:15 pm)
at Hemming Plaza (Laura and Duval)
Behind the Fountain across from the Library entrance
Press Release HERE
Regarding Crabb's ruling on the NDP being unconstitutional,
Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice Jay Sekulow hit the
judicial nail on the head when he said, "It is unfortunate that this court
failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents
a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it."
The phrase "the separation of church and state" actually comes
from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists. He told
them that no particular Christian denomination was going to have a monopoly in
government. His words, "a wall of separation between church and state,"
were not written to remove all religious practice from government or civic
settings, but to prohibit the domination and even legislation of religious
sectarianism.
Just two days after Jefferson wrote his famous letter citing
the "wall of separation between church and state," he attended church in
the place where he always had as president: the U.S. Capitol. The very seat of
our nation's government was used for sacred purposes. As the Library of Congress
notes, "It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the
administrations of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) and of James Madison (1809-1817)
the state became the church." Does that sound like someone who was trying to
create an impenetrable wall of separation between church and state?
In 1789, after being urged by Congress on the
same day they finished drafting the First Amendment, President Washington issued
a Thanksgiving Proclamation stating that "It is the
duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His
will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and
favor."
President John Adams declared that America's independence
"ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion
to God Almighty."
Ben Franklin was particularly eloquent on the power of prayer
in government, as he addressed those who attended the Constitutional
Convention... "In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were
sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection.
Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us, who
were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a
superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this
happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future
national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we
imagine we no longer need its assistance? 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?"
~ Chuck Norris: Praying on the National Day of
Prayer
See HERE for
Jacksonville History and Links
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