Lincoln & Obama; to Washington by way of Illinois

I'm from Indiana, not Illinois, but we're neighbours and share much the same history and values. I like what Scot McKnight wrote.

We in Illinois are proud today; we in the USA are proud today. The Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, an Illinoisan, has taken a new step forward that Lincoln never imagined. Our attention today is on another Illinoisan, someone upon whom Lincoln looks with pride, the 44th President, Barack Obama, an African American, who -- with us and the world -- today will realize some of what Lincoln dreamed. My favorite biography of Lincoln is called With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln , and I hope that theme -- with malice toward none -- will guide Obama's Presidency. May freedom and liberation spread anew, may they spread wider than ever imagined and may they penetrate deeper into the heart and soul of all of us. May God, in his mercy, grant us this request.

Jesus Creed Prayers for Obama-

Our prayer today, Our Father, is for our President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Our prayers include [Please add your prayers as well]:

That You, the infinite font of wisdom, might grant him wisdom daily, for our country and for the world.

That You, the loving God of all, might grant him love for you and for others, including especially our enemies and with a renewed commitment to work together for peace and justice. That not only the teachings but also the cruciform life of Jesus may shape his vision for our world.

That You, the holy and righteous God of justice, might empower him to do what is right in all that he does and that he might pursue what is right from the moment he arises until the moment he sleeps.

That You, the Lord, might grant him the charisma of insight to lead in this turbulent world and time and that this charisma might be used for the good for everyone in the world. We pray this especially for the turbulence in the Middle East where suggestions are simpler than solutions. Give him the insight to speak peace to all.

That You, the One God, might grant him the graces of unity in bringing together our divided country, including our Senate and House, our financial wizards and the common worker, and our leaders and people.

That You, the Healer, might grant him the grace of reconciling damaged relations in this country and in the world about us. That healing might occur between all races, between all countries, between men and women.

That You, the God of Life, might grant him a commitment to act for all -- the unborn and born, the young and old, the civilian and the soldier -- to preserve life and honor that each of us is fashioned in the image of God.

That You, the Father, might grant him the time and wisdom to father his two young daughters and love Michelle, his wife, and her mother.

We commit ourselves, also, to pray for his family as a family.

And that you might deliver him from the powerful temptation to pride, that you might remind him daily that we are mortal and that you alone are Immortal, and that humility may attend his every way and day.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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