Rejoicing in the Natural State!

Honored Invitation!

                On Thursday, I had the honor of praying for the Arkansas House of Representatives. Thank you to fellow church member and Representative Jim Wooten for inviting me. It was a joy to pray for the House's work and then join them in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rejected Invitation!

     As I drove to Little Rock, I recalled why I had rejected a similar invitation in a previous state in 2020. I would have gladly prayed for that state’s legislative body, but the letter from my state representative extending the invitation contained the line that killed my interest. I saved that letter for the sake of a future sermon illustration. Here is the sentence that I could not accept: “For your information, due to ongoing legal cases, current House rules prohibit clergy members from mentioning the names of specific religious figures.”

The Only Way to Pray!

  What a simple decision! Choose the honor of praying before the assembly or choose the honor of the name of Jesus!  My only access to the Father (1 Timothy 2:5-6) and only hope of being heard when I pray is to pray as the Son taught us “in my name” “that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

The Struggle for Religious Freedom Continues!

I am thankful to be back in Arkansas again, where the state did not impose a burden on my conscience, permitting me to pray freely with no restrictions. Remember to pray for countless believers who live in countries and some states with less religious freedom. They face restrictions in the classroom, the office, the job site, and the halls of government.