[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 66 (Monday, April 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray:
  Almighty God, our hearts are at half-mast with grief over the 
catastrophic bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City. We mourn 
for the victims, especially the children, of this senseless crime and 
reach out with profound empathy to their families. We ask You to 
strengthen them as they endure incredible suffering. Graciously grant 
physical and emotional healing to those who survived. Most of all, 
comfort the children who ask ``why?'' and give wisdom to parents as 
they search for words to answer. We all need help in understanding an 
ignominious act of tyranny like this.
  We only can imagine the agony of Your heart, Father. If our 
indignation burns white-hot, it must be small in comparison to Your 
judgment. You have given us freedom of will and made us responsible for 
the welfare of our neighbors. Our hearts break with Your heart over 
those who willfully cause suffering. Therefore, we boldly ask for Your 
divine intervention for the speedy capture and punishment of these 
traitors against our Nation and the sacredness of human life. As You 
have given us victory in just wars, now give us a strategy to defeat 
the illusive and dangerous forces of organized terrorism.
  Lord God of this Senate, we are never more of one mind and heart than 
when dealing with a threat to our national security or in responding to 
a catastrophe in any one of our States. We rally in support of Senators 
Nickles and Inhofe as they continue to care for their people.
  We press on to the issues of this day with the strong inspiration of 
the 40 years of leadership of John Stennis in this Senate. May the 
memory of his faith in You and his courage in conflict give us 
determination to seek, as he did, to do our best. In the Lord's name. 
Amen.

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