[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2514-S2521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
63RD NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, earlier this year, Senator Casey and I had
the honor of serving as the cochairs of the National Prayer Breakfast.
The annual event is a longtime tradition that celebrates the importance
of faith and fellowship in our lives. This year's breakfast featured
moving prayers, songs, and speeches from a number of notable guests,
including race car legend Darrell Waltrip.
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, Senator Wicker and I would like to thank
all of the individuals who were involved in making the 2015 National
Prayer Breakfast a great success. Thousands of people from across the
country and world participated, including President Obama and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On behalf of Senator Wicker and myself, I ask unanimous consent that
the full transcript be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
63rd National Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, February 5, 2015, Washington,
DC, Co-Chairs: Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr., Senator Roger F. Wicker
The Honorable Roger F. Wicker: Good morning, everyone. I am
Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi, and together with my
colleague, Senator Bob Casey from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, we welcome you to the 63rd Annual National
Prayer Breakfast.
It is an honor to serve with Bob as co-chairman this year,
and we thank you for joining us this morning. Each year this
event is one of the most special and memorable in Washington.
Today, some 3,500 of us have gathered in this ballroom and in
auxiliary rooms down the hall. We represent all 50 states and
130 nations. As the Psalm says, ``Oh, let the nations be glad
and sing for joy, for Thou shall judge the people righteously
and govern the nations of the earth. Let the people praise
Thee, oh God. Let all the people praise Thee.'' So, for the
130 nations represented in this room today--be glad, be
joyful, and praise God.
Since 1953, the National Prayer Breakfast has exemplified
and celebrated the power of prayer and fellowship in our
lives. We come together as Ephesians 5:19 directs us,
``Addressing one another in Psalms and hymns, and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your
heart.''
We have a truly remarkable program with guests and
performers this morning. Like our weekly prayer breakfasts in
the Senate and the House, we will have Scripture, prayers,
songs, and speakers sharing their stories and reflections.
Our hope is that you leave today with new blessings and
perspectives about the strong community of faith in this
country and around the world.
The Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr.: My name is Bob Casey
and I'm honored to be here this morning with my co-chair,
Roger Wicker, my friend who has labored with us these two
years. Roger, we're grateful for your work.
In just a few minutes we'll have the opportunity to give a
warm welcome to the President and the First Lady when they
arrive. And in the meantime, we hope you are enjoying your
breakfast and getting to know those at your table, if you
don't know them already. We're honored you're with us.
And now to lead us in our first prayer, I'm happy to
welcome Rabbi Gregory Marx to the podium. For more than
twenty-five years, Rabbi Marx has been the spiritual leader
of Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen, Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania. We are grateful that he is with us today. And
he will do our prayer and then we'll have a break, and then
we'll go to the second part of the program. Rabbi Marx.
Rabbi Gregory S. Marx: Thank you, Senator. Good morning.
The Biblical prophet, Micah proclaimed: It has been told
you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you, only to
do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Justice without mercy leads to harsh judgment. Mercy without
justice creates a world where there's no accountability, no
moral goodness. At this moment, may God bless us with both
mercy and justice so that we may tenderly care for those in
need of compassion and rejoice in the good of others. We
celebrate this morning our uniqueness as well as our
commonality. We come from our different faith perspectives,
yet are united in a fervent desire to strengthen the hands
and the hearts of those who seek to build an enduring
society, which tolerates neither bigotry nor hatred. Master
of the universe, inspire us to release those reservoirs of
spirit and mind which make us truly partners with you. Grant
us patience and hopefulness in our daily tasks. May we never
give in to despair, despite their enormity. Give us love for
truth above cleverness, for people above things, for God
above all else. Remind us in the immortal words of Abraham
Lincoln, that religious devotion is not about having God on
our side, which mistakenly prompts us to condemn the faith of
others, but rather it is about being on God's side, which
requires devotion to civic duty, tolerance, humility,
justice, mercy, and peace. Be with us, oh God, as we seek to
establish new ties of friendship across religious, racial,
and ethnic boundaries, to create innovative opportunities of
service, to rejoice in the growth of all of our children. And
to lovingly and faithfully support our fellow men and women
who are in need of God's care and affection. May God bless
our beloved and noble country and those who defend her, so
that each may one day sit under their own vine and fig tree
and none shall be afraid. Give us, oh God, the good sense and
understanding to buttress the moral fiber of American life,
that we may gird ourselves with integrity, and to
successfully meet the immense challenges before us. Keep us,
oh God, from pride which prevents us from seeing the need for
real change and steel us with a commitment to stay the course
when necessary. Most of all, oh God, shield us from impatient
judgment towards those who differ from us. May we always
remember that you are exalted, oh God whenever and wherever
men and women work together to fulfill Micah's prophetic
vision of justice, mercy, humility. And let us say, Amen.
Senator Wicker: Thank you Rabbi Marx. At this point,
continue enjoying your breakfast and the conversation with
our table guests. The President and his party will be here in
a few moments.
[Applause]
Senator Casey: May everyone have a seat. Thanks very much
everyone. We're honored that the President and the First Lady
are with us. As Senator Wicker and I said earlier, we're
honored you're with us this morning, and we're grateful for
the folks who helped put this breakfast together every year.
I'm honored to share with everyone in this audience an
excerpt from a message from Rome, by Pope Francis. This
message is to all of us gathered here at this National Prayer
Breakfast, and he writes in part, and I quote:
``Dear Friends, I send prayerful good wishes for you, for
the fruitfulness of your work. I ask you to pray for me, and
to join me in praying for our brothers and our sisters
throughout the world who experience persecution and death for
their faith. Upon you, your families, and those whom you
serve, I cordially invoke God's blessings of wisdom, joy, and
peace.''
We're honored that the Holy Father would send us that
message. The entirety of the message will be read at today's
luncheon. While Pope Francis couldn't be with us today in
person, His Excellency the Papal Nuncio, the Holy Father's
representative in the United States is here today and we're
honored by his presence.
All of us, as well have the extraordinary privilege today
to be joined at this breakfast by another inspirational
spiritual leader and peacemaker, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
We're honored by his presence. [Applause]
When I was in state government in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
I worked in the finance building, and right over the building
in the front of the building, was an inscription that I think
is a good summation of what it means to be in public service.
And I'm quoting from that precept inscribed on the building--
here's what it says: ``All public service is a trust given in
faith and accepted in honor.'' Senator Wicker and I, and
those who are in the room who are elected officials, have
accepted that honor to serve. We also feel privileged. I know
this is true of Roger, and me, and so many others, but we're
privileged to do our work in the Senate, but the excessive
partisanship and politics that occurs in this town too often
gets in the way and divides the Senate. That's why the weekly
prayer breakfast on Wednesdays, on every Wednesday that the
Senate is in session, is a way for us to have an oasis from
the politics of the place. We gather at that breakfast for
prayer and to share some time with each other every Wednesday
morning--just as we're doing this morning with people from so
many different states, different countries, backgrounds,
faiths, and beliefs. We're reminded this morning of the
journey, the journey of faith that we're all on, and we
believe that faith is a gift, and a gift that we're blessed
by today and express gratitude. Senator Wicker. [Applause]
Senator Wicker: Thank you, Bob. The Senate prayer breakfast
dates back to World War II when a group of legislators met in
the Senate restaurant. We can only imagine the conversations
that took place during those early days as the deadliest
conflict in human history swept the globe. Then as now, the
weekly meetings which occur when the Senate is in session
have remained largely low profile. In January of 1943, an
article from
[[Page S2515]]
the Washington Post describes them as without fanfare, front-
page publicity or ballyhoo, and that is still true. In many
ways our prayer breakfast is a welcome sanctuary from the
politics and the partisanship we hear about. Each week we
sing a hymn, we hear prayer requests that we call the ``sick
and wounded report.'' We actually join hands and we pray
together. And we hear a presentation from one of our members,
but not before a very thorough introduction of that member by
either Senator Mike Enzi or Senator Jim Inhofe. Now, Senator
Inhofe and Enzi are here today, and I think it's high time
that something be said about their introductions. Everything
we do at the prayer breakfast is off the record, but this
needs to be said about Senator Enzi and Senator Inhofe's
introductions. Neither opposition research professionals nor
the FBI have a thing on Enzi and Inhofe when it comes to
background checks. Mike and Jim relentlessly call former
classmates, teachers, old friends, and relatives to discover
something a little unusual about each week's presenter.
Sometimes I wince. Sometimes I cringe. But the introduction
always ends on a high note with a verse of Scripture and the
suggestion that our speaker is much like a Biblical character
of old. Thank you for that, Jim. Thank you for that, Mike.
And then we hear from the Senator himself or herself, a
Democrat one week, a Republican the next week. What we learn
about each other is a lot. During my time in the Senate
prayer breakfast, we've heard from our own American sniper,
our own astronaut, he's here today, our own missionaries, and
we've had several, and our own award-winning composer. From
camp directors, to university presidents, we've heard the
good and the bad. We've heard about difficult family
backgrounds. We've heard about financial bankruptcy and home
foreclosures, and we've heard about spiritual journeys, from
the heights of achievement to really, really tough times. It
has been said, ``There is so much good in the worst of us and
so much bad in the best of us that it ill behooves any of us
to find fault with the rest of us,'' and that is true about
the attendees in the Senate prayer breakfast. In short, on
Wednesday mornings we learn we are a lot like you, and you,
and every other child of God, and almost always I come away
with a blessing. This morning, I acknowledge and thank the
people who have gone before Bob and me in the Senate prayer
breakfast leadership over the period of six decades, and
along with Bob, I'm honored to continue in their tradition.
Now at this time, it is my pleasure to recognize a few
distinguished guests at our head table who will not be given
the opportunity to speak. And I'll ask the next three ladies
to stand and remain standing, Mrs. Stevie Waltrip, Mrs.
Therese Casey, and Mrs. Gayle Wicker. Thank you for joining
us, ladies. Thank you so much, you may be seated.
And it is my very special honor at this point to ask each
of you to give our appreciation and love to the First Lady of
the United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama. [Applause]
And now, it is a special privilege for me as a Senator from
Mississippi to introduce a familiar face from home. Jasmine
Murray is from Columbus, Mississippi. She has been a
broadcast communication major at Mississippi State
University. She was a finalist on American Idol. And she was
a finalist in the Miss America Pageant where she proudly
represented my home state of Mississippi. Ladies and
gentlemen, please welcome Miss Mississippi, Jasmine Murray.
[Applause]
Ms. Jasmine Murray: [Singing]
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and
home,
When Jesus is my portion? A constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me.
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches, I know He watches, I know He watches
me.
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
He watches me. I know He watches me. He watches me.
Ms. Murray: Thank you.
Senator Wicker: Thank you! Jasmine, that was wonderful.
Thank you, that was just great. I'm delighted to introduce
our next guest. He's a former Mayor of San Antonio and
current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. As a
member of the President's Cabinet, he represents the
executive branch of the family while his twin brother,
Joaquin, covers the legislative side as a member of the House
of Representatives. Please warmly welcome to read from the
Old Testament, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,
Julian Castro. [Applause]
The Honorable Julian Castro: Thank you. Thank you so much
Mr. President for the great assist, good morning, and to Mrs.
Obama, and to co-chairs Senator Casey and Senator Wicker, and
to all of our distinguished guests. It's a great honor to
join you on this day of prayer and of peace. Last week I had
the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles where I met some of
our nation's most vulnerable citizens, men and women living
every day with homelessness. Although they have endured
incredibly difficult circumstances, it was clear to me that
they have never let their hardship extinguish their hope. I
spoke with an older woman who spends her nights on a tattered
quilt over cold concrete. Night after night, that wears on a
person's body, yet this woman's spirit was unbroken and her
faith is a true testament of strength and of grace. And it
was this angel in the City of Angels, who reminded me that
the true measure of our progress is how we care for those
with the least.
The passage that I will read speaks to the hope we must
preserve, the needs we must meet, and the common humanity
that we must always honor. A reading from the book of Isaiah:
Is this the manner of fasting I would choose, a day to
afflict one's self, to bow one's head like a reed and lie
upon sack cloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, a
day acceptable to the Lord? Is this not rather the fast I
choose--releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of
the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking off every
yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing
the afflicted and homeless into your house, clothing the
naked when you see them and not turning your back on your own
flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and
your wound shall be quickly healed. Your vindication shall go
before you and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear
guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer. You
shall cry for help, and he will say, ``Here I am.'' If you
remove the yoke from among you, the accusing finger and
malicious speech, if you lavish your food on the hungry and
satisfy the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the
darkness and your gloom shall become like midday.
Thank you, and may God bless you. [Applause]
Senator Casey: Thank you, Secretary Castro. Our prayer for
the poor this morning will be offered by Sister Mary
Scullion, a woman who has devoted her life to service,
advocacy, and of course, God. She is one of the founders of
Project HOME in Philadelphia; I'm proud to say that today.
Project HOME is a truly exceptional organization that does
the important work of providing housing, employment
opportunities, and medical care and education for the
homeless and the impoverished. For her work, Sister Mary was
named one of Time Magazine's world's 100 most influential
people in 2009. Sister Mary.
Sister Mary Scullion: It's an honor to be here, Mr.
President and Mrs. Obama, thank you very much, and all
honored guests. And greetings to everyone from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
God of compassion and justice, we humbly come before you
with gratitude and a clear understanding that it is in you
that we all find our home. For when we are rooted in your
truth and grace, we are empowered to pray: thy kingdom come.
We recall how through the ages, you've been a God of
compassion, justice, and liberation, with a special love for
the poor and the oppressed. We remember your servant Moses
leading your people out of bondage. We recall Jesus, healing
the sick and proclaiming good news to the poor. We recall
those times in our own nation's history when moved by the
promise of liberty and empowered by Your Spirit, courageous
leaders worked to end slavery, to enfranchise women, to
welcome immigrants, and to expand economic opportunity for
all. Your constant revelation, God, is one of nonviolent
liberation from anything that oppresses the human spirit. As
we gather here, millions of your beloved children are
suffering under the burden of poverty, oppression, and
violence. Our prayers today can only be authentic if they
compel us to act. Let us hear the cry of the loving parents
struggling to provide for their children. Let us hear the cry
of those all around our world impacted by violence, and those
in our nation who suffer the wounds of gun violence. Let us
hear the cry of millions of children whose magnificent gifts
and possibilities are lost in under-resourced schools and
economically plundered neighborhoods, condemning them to a
life of persistent poverty. Let us hear the cry of our
veterans suffering from the wounds of war, especially those
who are homeless. Open our eyes, Lord, so we can see
suffering as a prophetic sign that calls us to radical
transformation. God, we know that our faith does not give us
answers; it gives us courage. As a people of faith, we pray
for the courage to live truthfully, justly, and
compassionately. Help us to see through our hypocrisy and
falsehood, empower us to stand squarely on the side of those
who are poor and struggling on the margins. Help us to move
beyond our ideological polarizations and economic
disparities. Form us into a united community that affirms
each person's dignity and works towards a shared prosperity.
Let us build a society free from the scourge of poverty, a
society that truly reflects Your Kingdom. Most of all, let us
understand that your ancient call for compassion and justice
is in truth, an invitation to us for fullness of life, and
richness of human community. As we meet the needs of those
who are poor, we are healing ourselves and our nation. As we
ensure that all families have enough to eat, we are building
the banquet table for everyone. As we work to provide health
care and education, we are making our whole society healthier
and wiser. As
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we bring those living on our streets home, we are finding our
own way home because none of us are home until all of us are
home. Fill us with that same spirit of liberation that filled
Jesus and the prophets. Fill us with that spirit of joy, of
hope that inspired the prophet Isaiah in his powerful
challenge. If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will
rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noon
day. God of compassion, God of justice, fill us with this
yearning and give us the strength, the grace, the courage to
make it real each and every day as we pray: thy kingdom come.
Amen. [Applause]
Senator Wicker: Thank you, Sister Mary. A few minutes ago
when I said, ``Perhaps someone within the sound of my voice
could come to my assistance,'' I guess that did include you,
Mr. President. Though I thought perhaps someone else would
step forward, but thank you young man for figuring that out.
I first became involved in the Prayer Breakfast as a House
member, and I'm delighted today to introduce to say a few
words, the co-chairs from the House Prayer Breakfast.
Congressman Robert Aderholt, serving his 10th term from
Alabama, and Congressman Juan Vargas, serving his second term
from California, are the co-chairs in the House, and by
virtue of that, they will be the co-chairs of the next
breakfast, the 64th Annual National Prayer Breakfast. Ladies
and gentlemen, Robert Aderholt and Juan Vargas. [Applause]
The Honorable Robert B. Aderholt: Good morning. It's a real
honor for Juan and myself to be here on behalf of the House
breakfast, which meets every Thursday morning at eight
o'clock, about this time in the Capitol, when the House is in
session. The House of Representatives weekly prayer group
meets and we come together as Democrats and Republicans. We
come together once a week, not promoting a party; we're not
promoting a particular issue, or a particular agenda. I'm a
Republican from Alabama, Juan is a Democrat from California
but we come together that one hour during the week to promote
Jesus.
We're told in John 3 that Jesus said, ``Just as Moses
lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the son of man must
be lifted up . . . that everyone who believes may have
eternal life in him.'' And that is what we promote during
that week--Jesus of Nazareth. And we are honored to be here
this morning. We're glad to be here with our colleagues and
all of our friends, and our family from literally around the
world and it is an honor to work together in a bipartisan
effort and to work as I say, with our colleagues and
especially this year to work with my colleague, Juan Vargas
from California. [Applause]
The Honorable Juan C. Vargas: Thank you, and greetings from
the Prayer Breakfast. Mr. President, it was great to see the
assist that you gave today. We went to law school together,
played against him a couple times in basketball, he didn't
assist like that. It was a little rougher out there. That was
great to see.
We do come together every Thursday morning and we call it
the best hour of the week. We come together as Democrats and
Republicans. Who would have guessed--a California Democrat
and someone from Alabama who is a Republican? But we come
together and we pray, and we bring Jesus into our prayers and
we lift up the country, we lift up the Congress. And we know
that special things can happen, and they do. And because of
that, I think we're all here today and appreciate very, very
much the prayers that you all have for us. We know that you
pray for us throughout the country. I've gone to many, many
services where we hear that you pray for your leaders, you
pray for the President, you pray for all of us in public
office. And we love that and understand that, and we bring
those prayers up too. So again, thank you very much. And for
all of my colleagues, I invite you to come and pray with us
every Thursday morning. It's the best hour of the week from
eight in the morning until nine, and it really is something
special. You get to meet people that you wouldn't otherwise.
Who would have known that I would have loved Louie Gohmert?
Louie Gohmert has been one of our leaders and it's just
fabulous to come and pray with him. He brings us Jesus every
Thursday, so thank you very much. It's an honor to be here.
[Applause]
Senator Casey: Thank you very much for the Members of
Congress. I'm pleased to introduce The Honorable Deborah Lee
James, the 23rd Secretary of the United States Air Force. She
joins us today to offer a prayer for the leaders of our
nation. Secretary James, of course is a distinguished leader
in her own right for our nation's military, and has the
responsibility of managing more than 690,000 Air Force
personnel and a budget of 110 billion dollars. Please welcome
Secretary Deborah Lee James. Madam Secretary. [Applause]
The Honorable Deborah Lee James: Thank you so much, Senator
Casey, Senator Wicker. It is truly an honor and a privilege
for me to come before all of you today. Mr. President, Mrs.
Obama, Senators, Congressmen, distinguished guests, friends
and allies from around the world, may I please invite all of
you to join me in a prayer for our national leaders.
Oh mighty God, it is in you that we trust. We ask for your
blessings on our President, Barack Obama. Lord, grant him the
wisdom and the vision to lead our nation toward a more just,
peaceful, and prosperous world. Help him to keep the beacon
of American freedom burning brightly as an inspiration to all
who long to live free from fear, free from want, free to
speak, and free to worship as they choose. We ask you also,
Lord, to bless our First Lady, Michelle Obama. Strengthen her
as she works to inspire all of America's children to reach
higher and to live healthier lives, so that one day they will
be ready to build strong families of their own, compassionate
communities, and contribute to a better world. Please guide
our Vice President, Joe Biden, Lord, and all the members of
the President's cabinet. Grant to these and all others who
serve and advise our President the grace to lean not only on
their own understanding, but also to trust in you with all of
their hearts. Lord, bless our lawmakers sent from every
corner of America to form our Congress. Grant them the
priceless gifts of insight, courage, and unity. Shepherd them
by your spirit to do what is right, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with you. Grant our Chief Justice and all of our
judicial leaders across the nation your wisdom, Lord, that
they may judge the law impartially as instruments of your
will. And very close to my heart, Lord, please, please
protect our men and women in uniform and all who stand in
harm's way to preserve the freedoms we cherish for our
children and grandchildren. And as you watch over those
serving far from home, also please encourage those who wait
for their return, and comfort those who have suffered
unspeakable losses. Lord, may the service and sacrifice of
those who have gone before us, and the lives of the heroes
who walk amongst us, let those individuals inspire the rest
of us to give our country, and our communities, and our
families the very best that we can with our wholeness of
heart, particularly in these uncertain times. Being always
mindful and grateful to you, Lord, for the many blessings
that you have bestowed on us, Amen. [Applause]
Senator Wicker: Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you so
much. As you can see from the program in front of you, our
next speaker was to be King Abdullah II of Jordan. We all
know the heartbreaking circumstances his country is
experiencing at this point. They required that His Majesty
King Abdullah return to Jordan. Our prayers are with the
people of Jordan during this troubling time of crisis. The
passage that King Abdullah was expected to read is from the
New Testament, Luke 10, and I will read this passage at this
point. Luke 10:
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test
Jesus, ``Teacher,'' he asked, ``What must I do to inherit
eternal life?'' ``What is written in the law?'' he replied.
``How do you read it?'' He answered, ``Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all
your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor
as yourself.'' ``You have answered correctly,'' Jesus
replied. ``Do this and you will live.'' But he wanted to
justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ``And who is my
neighbor?''
In reply, Jesus said: ``A man was going down from Jerusalem
to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him
of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half
dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and
when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too,
a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on
the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where
the man was and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went
to him and he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine,
and then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an
inn and took care of him. The next day, he took out two
denarii and gave them to the inn keeper. `Look after him,' he
said, `and when I return I will reimburse you for any extra
expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was
a neighbor to the man who fell into the hand of robbers?''
The expert in the law replied, ``The one who had mercy on
him.'' Jesus told him, ``Go and do likewise.''
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word.
Senator Wicker: At this point it is my pleasure to
introduce to you our next guest. He too has been recognized
by Time Magazine. For 2014, he was one of the persons of the
year of Time Magazine. Dr. Kent Brantly and his colleagues
became known as the Ebola fighters for their work saving
lives and caring for those affected by this deadly disease.
As a doctor with the Christian relief organization,
Samaritan's Purse, Dr. Brantly contracted Ebola in Liberia.
Now fully recovered, he gives thanks to God and to the power
of prayer. Today he is with us to offer a prayer for the
leaders of the world, please warmly welcome Dr. Kent Brantly.
[Applause]
Dr. Kent Brantly: Let us pray. Our Father who art in
heaven. The Lord, the Lord, the God of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness, lover
of all peoples of the earth, there is no God like you in all
of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant
and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in
wholehearted devotion. Hallowed by thy name. Remind us that
all nations are as nothing before you, their governments but
a shadow of passing age, all authorities are intended to be
your servants, to do good to the people under their care and
to ensure justice for those who have been wronged. But we
all, including our leaders, will stand before your judgment
seat, oh God, and as surely as you live, oh Lord, every knee
will bow
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and every tongue confess and give praise to you. Thy kingdom
come on earth. Grant to thy children throughout the world,
and especially to the leaders of the nations the gifts of
prayerful thought and of thoughtful prayer that following the
example of our Lord, we may discern what is right and do it.
Bless the leaders of the nations that they may not walk in
the council of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or
sit in the seat of mockers. Bless the leaders of the nations
that they might delight in the law of the Lord, that they
might meditate on it day and night that Thy will might be
done on earth as it is in heaven. Help us, Lord to protect
and to provide for all who are hungry and homeless,
especially those who are deprived of food and shelter, family
and friends. For true religion that is acceptable to you, oh
Lord, is this, to care for orphans and widows in their
distress, and to flee corruption. Give us this day our daily
bread. Forgive us for neglecting to seek peace and pursue it,
and finding ourselves in each new crisis more ready to make
war than to make peace, for choosing violence and war over
peace and reconciliation. We have not loved you with our
whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as our
selves. Forgive us for neglecting the needs of our people,
for choosing corruption and greed over integrity and
generosity. Forgive us for oppressing the minority while the
majority is filled with pride and self reliance. We have all
sinned and fallen short of your glory, oh Lord. Forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Let us not seek revenge but reconciliation. Let us not
delight in victory but in justice. Let us not give ourselves
up to pride, but to prayer. Lead us not into temptation. Be
present, Lord, to all your children. Be present to those who
are killing, and to those who are being killed. Be present to
the oppressed and to the oppressor. Be present to the leaders
of the nations. Deliver us from evil. Subdue our selfish
desires to possess and to dominate. Forbid us arrogance and
victory, and self-pity, and defeat. Bless the leaders of the
nations, Father, that they might act justly and love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, oh God. For yours is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. In
the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. [Applause]
Senator Wicker: Thank you Dr. Brantly, and please pass
along our good wishes to our friends at Samaritan's Purse.
Ladies and gentlemen, the National Association of Stock Car
Auto Racing, commonly known as NASCAR, is second only to the
National Football League in terms of TV ratings in our
country. NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries.
Our keynote speaker this morning is one of the best known
figures in NASCAR. Simply put, Darrell Waltrip is one of the
great race car drivers in history. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 we
hear, ``Do you not know that in a race, all runners run.''
(The internal combustion engine had not been invented back
then.) ``All runners run but only one receives the prize.''
Well, Darrell Waltrip has received that winning prize some 84
times. He's driven 809 races and 237,773 laps. His life story
includes an important faith journey. I believe God has placed
a message on Darrell's heart that can benefit us today. But
first, let's see this clip from 1991 at the Daytona Speedway.
[Clip from Daytona Speedway, showing Darrell Waltrip's car
crashing]
Senator Wicker: Well, he made it. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr.
Darrell Waltrip. [Applause]
Mr. Darrell Waltrip: Let's go racing boys. I always chuckle
when I see that clip because my insurance man says, ``Have
you ever had an accident?'' I've had a couple. But good
morning, Mr. President, First Lady, all of the distinguished
guests, Congress members, everybody that's here this morning.
This is a huge honor for a kid that grew up in Owensboro,
Kentucky, and now resides in Franklin, Tennessee.
So, I knew about the Prayer Breakfast. I'd heard about it.
It's been going on since the early 1940s, so I'd heard about
it for a long time. But I have to tell you a quick story:
When the ``committee'' called me and asked me, ``Would I
like to come have breakfast with the President?'' I said,
``Wow, they must know it's my birthday. What an honor to go
to Washington, D.C., and have breakfast with the president.
Oh, this is going to be great.'' ``And by the way, we'd like
for you to be the keynote speaker.'' ``Ah, I'll get back to
you on that.'' But I thought about it, prayed about it--and
I've got a lot of really great friends that pray for me all
the time--but I thought about it, Mr. President, and said,
``I've got it. I'm not a brain surgeon, and I'm not running
for office, so I'm the perfect guy to be here this morning.''
[Applause]
I hope that was okay. My wife told me maybe I shouldn't say
that, but she's sitting down there shaking her head now. But
anyway, I'd like to introduce my family. You've already met
my beautiful, redheaded wife Stevie. Jessica and Sarah, my
two daughters, and their husbands, Fausto and Matthew, are
out there, and it makes me feel so good to have them here
this morning with me. I love my family, and I love the Lord.
If the room should start vibrating just a little bit--don't
get excited, don't get nervous--it's just all my friends back
in Franklin, Tennessee, my Tuesday morning Bible study group,
all my friends over in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Motor
Racing Outreach, our ministry at the track. All my friends
are praying for me right now. And I don't know if you can
feel it or not, but I certainly can, and I'm thankful for it.
So if it starts shaking a little bit, it's okay. It's just
the Lord. He's amongst us. [Applause]
Being here this morning reminds me of this: Before you
start a big event as a driver, like the Daytona 500, which
comes up in a couple of weeks on Fox, you go down on pit
road, you get in your car--and quite honestly, I did it for
30 years but it never failed, always that adrenaline, those
butterflies, being excited, nervous. Because when they
dropped the green flag and they say, ``Let's go racing
boys,'' you didn't really know what was going to happen. And
so, that's kind of how I feel this morning. I really don't
know what's going to happen here, folks. They kept asking me,
``Do you have an outline?'' I said, ``No, I've never really
done an outline for a speech before.'' That's when they
thought maybe I wasn't the right guy for this show.
I've got to tell you this. I probably shouldn't, but I'm
going to: So, they call me up, and they tell me all the great
speakers that have been here before. And as they went down
the list, I said, ``Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait just a minute,
boys. I'm just not sure I'm qualified for this job.'' And
they said, ``Well, we kind of knew that going in.'' So, right
away I knew I was in good company.
I think all of us in this room know that sometimes your
biggest assets can be something that works against you. They
can be a blessing and a curse, and that's really how racing
was for me. It was sort of a blessing and a curse. I grew up
in Owensboro, Kentucky. My dad drove a Pepsi-Cola truck. My
mom was a cashier at the local grocery store. I had two
brothers and two sisters. We didn't have a lot of money; we
worked hard to put food on the table. And so, when I went to
races as a six-year-old kid with my grandmother and came home
and told Mom and Dad that someday I wanted to be a race car
driver, they said, ``Good luck, son.'' My dad was a believer
in hard work. He said, ``You know, if you really work hard,
and that's what you want to do, then maybe someday you'll be
successful.'' But that was about all the encouragement my dad
gave me, because racing is expensive. It costs a lot of money
to go racing, so we didn't have a lot of money. So, I had to
figure out a way to make that happen. I became a self-
promoter--in other words, I bragged a lot. God had given me a
talent; there was no question about that. I don't know where
it came from. There's no reason for me to be able to do what
I did other than that was my passion, that's what I cared
about. I tell kids every day--and Mr. President, you know
this--there's nothing any more discouraging and disheartening
when you ask a kid, ``What are you going to do when you grow
up?'' ``I don't know.'' ``Really? Embrace something. You've
got to have a passion.'' Well, my passion was racing, and
quite honestly, I went at it all the wrong ways in the early
years. I was just as aggressive off the racetrack as I was
on. I didn't have a lot of friends. I didn't think I needed
friends. I looked over in the car, and I was the only one
ever in there, so I didn't need any friends to be with me.
So, my relationships early on in my life were shallow. I
didn't have any really close friends. Quite honestly, I
looked back, and it's the hardest thing for me to do this
morning--to look back--because when I look back, I see things
that are disturbing to me. I can see things and say, ``How
could I have felt that way? How could I have acted that way?
How could I have been that way?'' But I was.
And you're going to love this. This is what people said
about me: They said I was brash, ruthless--ruthless?--pushy,
cocky, conceited, aloof, boastful, arrogant, and just
downright annoying. I hope you don't feel that way this
morning, but if you do, I'm sorry. And I've got to tell you,
those were people that liked me. You could imagine what
people who didn't like me had to say about me. The fans booed
me when we'd have driver introductions. It would be just like
if I got up this morning to speak, and they started booing.
Instead of hollering ``boogity, boogity, boogity,'' they
would start booing. Fans wore ``Anybody but Waltrip'' T-
shirts to the track. They hated me. The drivers despised me.
Richard Petty once told me: ``I don't know how you keep a
sponsor. You're so unpopular with the fans; I don't know how
you keep a sponsor.'' And this is Richard Petty. He's the
icon of our sport. He's the king of our sport. I wanted to be
king, but I went at it all the wrong ways, for sure. I was
always arguing with NASCAR. I didn't like the rules, mainly
because they never worked in my favor, so I was always trying
to change the rules. We know guys like that, right? Always
wanting to change the rules. [Laughter, Applause.] I always
like to say I fought the wall, [and] the wall won. I fought
the law, and the law won. Those were the things that were
going on at the track, and quite honestly, my personal life
wasn't much better. I was so arrogant. I really was, and
that's why I say it's the hardest thing for me to do. My kids
are sitting out here for heaven's sake. But the hardest thing
to do is to look back and see how you were. My personal life
was a mess. I drank too much. I liked to go to the bars and
hang out with the boys. I did everything to satisfy me.
Whatever felt good to me, I did it; I didn't give it a second
thought--that was my lifestyle, that's how I lived. Like I
told you, I didn't have any great friends. I didn't have any
close friends. Heck, I always figured if you wanted a friend,
get a dog. I have several dogs.
But my wife, my beautiful wife, my redheaded wife whom I
love dearly--we've been
[[Page S2518]]
married 45 years. [Applause] That in of itself is a miracle.
She was married to that guy I was telling you about. She
lived it. My wife once described me as this: that she had
lived with two different men with the same name. And that
might be a little confusing to you, and so obviously I must
explain. But that first guy that I told you about, that was
the guy she was married to originally. I knew God had his
hand on me when I met Stevie. I didn't acknowledge it. I
didn't necessarily follow through, but it's one of the few
times in the early years of my life that I felt like God
spoke to me. God said to me, ``I gave you this woman. I
brought you this woman. Don't let her get away.'' And so, I
tried to always be on my best behavior when I was around her,
and certainly when I was around her mother and father,
because they didn't think a whole lot about a race car
driver. When her father asked me, ``How are you going to
support Stevie?'' I said, ``I'm going to be a professional
race car driver.'' He was the president of Texas Gas, and he
didn't quite understand how a race car driver could make a
living and be able to support his daughter. He wasn't sold on
the idea at first but he became a big fan as time went by.
So, Stevie would always pray for me. She is a Godly woman,
and she loved the Lord way before I did. And she would always
pray that someday, somehow we would get involved in a Bible
study or that I would, that I would get involved in a Bible
study, or a church, or something. And I'd always kind of blow
her off, and I'd say, ``Look honey, I race on Sundays. I
don't have time to go to church. I'm busy all through the
week getting ready for the next race. I just don't have time
for this church stuff and this God stuff. I just don't have
time, okay.'' And you know what she said? ``Well, I'll just
keep on praying.'' And let me tell you, when somebody says
they're praying for you, you better pay attention and don't
take it lightly. People don't pray for you if they don't care
about you and if they don't love you. [Applause.] Amen, amen.
It used to happen to me at the track, and people would come
up and say, ``I'm praying for you.'' And I'd say, ``Oh, thank
you very much. I've got to go now.'' Don't ever do that.
Embrace that person, because it's not a waste of time. It's
them embracing you and caring about you, and that's the most
important thing in the world is that we all care about each
other.
I almost had us do this, and Stevie talked me out of it. At
home when we pray, we hold hands. And in Bible study when we
pray, we kind of lock arms or hold hands. I was going to ask
everybody in the room to hold hands while we pray, but then I
thought maybe you weren't that close just yet, so I kind of
let that one go.
I got a great opportunity in 1983. I got a chance to drive
for Junior Johnson. Junior Johnson was a childhood hero. He's
the last American hero. They made a film about him. They
wrote books about him. He was the last American hero. As a
kid growing up in Owensboro, I listened to my little
transistor radio, and Junior Johnson drove this white #3
Chevrolet with a 427 mystery engine. Junior Johnson, a
moonshiner from Wilkesboro, North Carolina, car #3 with a
mystery engine. I mean, that's hero material right there for
a guy like me. So obviously, I thought maybe someday I'd get
to meet him, but never thought that someday I'd get to drive
for him. Those were the best years of my career--'81, '82 we
won 24 races, 18 pole positions, 2 championships. But Junior
was a no-nonsense kind of guy. He said, ``Let me tell you
something, boy: When you come to drive for me, you work your
hands and not your mouth.'' I said, ``Yes, sir.'' Because
when Junior spoke, I listened. We had great times together.
We won races together, but in 1983 I had a horrible wreck--
worse than that one you saw there. I had a concussion. I went
for a couple of weeks to the next couple of races, and I
didn't even remember being there. And when I finally came to,
or woke up, I realized that that wreck had knocked me
conscious. It scared the hell out of me, and I mean that
literally. I realized I could have been killed that day. What
if I would have lost my life right there that day at Daytona?
What would I have done? Would I have gone to heaven? Or would
I have gone to hell? I thought I was a pretty good guy. But
folks, let me tell you something: Good guys go to hell. If
you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you
don't have a relationship, if He's not the master of your
life, if you've never gotten on your knees and asked him to
forgive you of your sins, you're just a pretty good guy or a
pretty good gal. You're going to go to hell. Think about
that. I did. And like I said, it was a wake-up call. It
literally knocked me conscious.
Stevie and I started going to church. We met Dr. Cortez
Cooper, one of the Godliest men--preached from the Bible,
loved sports, a lot like the President. He could play any
sport, he pretty much knew a little bit about every sport
there was, and he knew me personally. And because of him, and
him talking to me just like I'm talking to you this morning,
every time I went to hear him preach, I felt like he was
talking directly to me. And so, we met in a high school in
Hillsboro, just outside of Nashville there while they were
building a big sanctuary. It was July; it was hot, kind of
like being in a race car--no air conditioning. I got down off
my high horse, I got down on my knees, and Dr. Cortez Cooper
and Stevie and I prayed that the Lord would come into my life
and forgive me of my sins and be my Lord and Savior. And that
was the greatest day of my life. [Applause]
That changed everything. I'll never forget: We were going
home from that night, and I told Stevie, ``Man, I feel like
the weight of the world has been lifted off of my shoulders.
I feel like I've been born again. I feel like a new man.'' I
felt different, and I knew I was different. When the Lord
comes into your life, you're going to be different. You have
to be different. If he comes into your heart, into your life,
and you're not different, you better go back and try it
again, because the Lord changes you. And He changed me, and
it was for the better. And we left there that night, and did
it fix all? Listen, you don't make a deal with the Lord:
``Hey Lord, if you do this, I'll do that.'' It don't work
that way, folks. He's there for you. He's there to walk with
you. But you've got to do your part, too. So did my life, my
personal life, change things on the race track? I still had
wrecks. I still had problems. Things still happened, but I
wasn't in it alone. Where I felt like I was always in it by
myself, now I had somebody to pray with, talk with, to guide
me, direct me--the wisdom of the Lord. I had it, and I needed
to use it.
Stevie and I wanted to have a family. We were having
trouble having kids. We had a couple of miscarriages, and we
were praying, ``God, can you give us a child?'' And we'd
gotten to the point where we thought we'd just adopt. We're
not going to be able to have kids on our own, so we'll adopt.
And then Stevie got pregnant, and we prayed, and the Lord
gave us peace about it. He said, ``Hang in there this time,
I've got something special for you.'' And sure enough:
Jessica Lee Waltrip. September the 17th, 1987, we had our
first child. I, folks, was on cloud nine. I was so excited. I
couldn't wait to get to the track. I left that weekend to go
to Martinsville. I get to the racetrack, I'm a proud papa,
and everybody's congratulating me because they knew how badly
we wanted kids. I go over to my race car on Sunday morning,
and in the seat of the car is a vase with one rose in it and
a note. I pulled the note out, I opened it up, and it said,
``Win this one for me, Daddy.'' That was quite a moment. I'd
never been called Daddy before, and I'd never been a father
before, and I was so happy. And I have to tell you: This is a
fairy tale. I never led a lap of that race. I wanted so badly
to win that race for Jessica--never led a dadgum lap, until
the last one--and you won't believe what happened. People
say, ``Can you tell me a time when God showed up?'' I don't
think he was working against those other guys, but he sure
was working for me--I know that. We go off the last lap, the
white flag's in the air, and I thought, ``Oh man, I'm running
third.'' There's nothing I can do. Dale Earnhardt and Terry
Labonte, they're a little bit quicker than I am. They go down
the back straightaway into third turn at Martinsville, a
little paperclip racetrack, and Terry bumps into the back of
Dale. And when he does, both cars get a little loose, and
they slide up the racetrack, and DW goes driving by.
[Applause]
Daddy won that one. Same thing--1992, Sarah was born. Sarah
Kaitlin Kerns Waltrip. Same deal: Go to the racetrack. It had
been kind of a tough year. I dominated that race, Bristol
half-mile track, like being hung up in a salad bowl for 500
laps. Spinning around--your head's hurting, your eyes are
burning. I get out of the car, and I can't remember my
daughter's name. So, I'm trying really hard. I'm saying
``Sarah, Sarah, Kaitlin''--she had a lot of names--``Kerns
Waltrip.'' Because when I left the hospital, we really hadn't
decided on exactly what her name was going to be. So, it took
a little time, but it came to me, and certainly Sarah's never
let me forget that I couldn't remember her name.
One final story for you, and it's about Dale Earnhardt Sr.
And I don't know how many of you people knew the old
intimidator. He was one tough customer and my biggest
competitor. We were `frenemies.' We were friends off the
racetrack but not so much on the racetrack. And this
beautiful redhead down here--she loved Dale, and Dale loved
her. And she witnessed to him just as much as she witnessed
to me. In 1994, Neil Bonnett lost his life at Daytona in a
practice crash. Sunday morning, Stevie had always put
Scriptures in my race car on a note card. Not good luck
charms, just encouragement. Whatever happened that week, the
Scripture sort of fit the events of that week.
We're standing on pit road praying with some of the
chaplains from MRO, and Dale walks by. Now, Dale is one of
those guys that you know he's a tough guy, so for him to pray
or to acknowledge that he may have a relationship with the
Lord was pretty hard for him to do. But he walks by, Stevie
grabs him and says, ``Come and pray with us.'' We all huddled
up on pit road there, and when we finished praying, Stevie
hands me the note card with the Scripture on it, and Dale
grabs it, and he says, ``What's that?'' And he read it. And
he looked at Stevie, and he said, ``Where's mine?'' Oh my
gosh, she ran to the pit box, got a note card, wrote a
Scripture, put it on the note card, and ran back to Dale's
car, and Dale put it on his dash. And so from that day until
2001, when he lost his life at Daytona, he had a Scripture in
his car just like I had in my car. You have to know
something: Me and this guy, we were fierce competitors. He
didn't like me, and I didn't like him when we were on that
racetrack. That woman would make us pray together. Stevie
would grab him and grab me and say, ``I want you all to pray
together,'' and we'd ``[makes mumbling noises].'' And then,
and
[[Page S2519]]
then to make it worse, she'd say, ``Tell him you love him.''
[Laughter, Applause] So, as he was walking away and I was
walking away: ``I love you.'' [stated in perfunctory tone]
As I said, the hardest thing about being here this morning
was, as I prepared--and I did prepare--was looking back and
remembering how I was. But the good news this morning is I'm
not that way anymore. I just share this: You don't have to
walk alone. You don't have to carry all those burdens like
it's you against the world. You have to do like I did. You've
got to get off your high horse and get on your knees and ask
for forgiveness. He's waiting for you. He was there all the
time. I just didn't know it or acknowledge it. I told you
when I got up here I wasn't running for anything, but I will
tell you this: I am running to something. The Lord is a
strong tower; the righteous will run to it and be safe. God
bless you. God bless America. God bless our President, and
thank you for letting me share with you this morning.
[Applause]
Senator Casey: Darrell, thank you for that great message.
Darrell, I want to ask your permission but I'll do this as
I'm pretending to ask your permission. Your birthday is
today?
Mr. Waltrip: Yes.
Senator Casey: It's also the same birthday as my mother-in-
law, Nancy Foppiano, so I've just scored big points, Darrell,
thank you very much. It's my honor now to introduce the
President. Mr. President, First Lady Michelle Obama, we're
honored you're with us, honored by your presence. And they've
been here every year. So we're grateful to have them back.
[Applause]
President Obama is a person of faith who has spoken often
about his faith journey. His life has been, and continues to
be, a life of service, public service, in the pursuit of
justice here, at home, and around the world. My mother, Ellen
Casey, (that way I've got my mother-in-law and my mother in
the same remarks) always told us when we were growing up
over, and over again, she would say, ``Count your
blessings.'' Count your blessings. And I've tried to do that;
probably don't do enough of it. But I know that the President
is one who follows my mother's advice, especially about the
blessings of his family. So today as we gather to pray and to
express gratitude for so much on a morning like today, I
count as one of our blessings, Mr. President, your good work
as our President and your abiding commitment to your family,
to your faith, and to our country. Ladies and gentlemen, the
44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. [Applause]
The President: Thank you. Well, good morning. Giving all
praise and honor to God. It is wonderful to be back with you
here. I want to thank our co-chairs, Bob and Roger. These two
don't always agree in the Senate, but in coming together and
uniting us all in prayer, they embody the spirit of our
gathering today.
I also want to thank everybody who helped organize this
breakfast. It's wonderful to see so many friends and faith
leaders and dignitaries. And Michelle and I are truly honored
to be joining you here today.
I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama--who is a powerful example of what it
means to practice compassion, who inspires us to speak up for
the freedom and dignity of all human beings. I've been
pleased to welcome him to the White House on many occasions,
and we're grateful that he's able to join us here today.
[Applause]
There aren't that many occasions that bring His Holiness
under the same roof as NASCAR. This may be the first. But God
works in mysterious ways. [Laughter] And so I want to thank
Darrell for that wonderful presentation. Darrell knows that
when you're going 200 miles an hour, a little prayer cannot
hurt. I suspect that more than once, Darrell has had the same
thought as many of us have in our own lives--Jesus, take the
wheel. Although I hope that you kept your hands on the wheel
when you were thinking that. [Laughter]
He and I obviously share something in having married up.
And we are so grateful to Stevie for the incredible work that
they've done together to build a ministry where the fastest
drivers can slow down a little bit, and spend some time in
prayer and reflection and thanks. And we certainly want to
wish Darrell a happy birthday. [Applause] Happy birthday.
I will note, though, Darrell, when you were reading that
list of things folks were saying about you, I was thinking,
well, you're a piker. I mean, if you really want a list, come
talk to me, because that ain't nothing. That's the best they
can do in NASCAR? [Laughter.]
Slowing down and pausing for fellowship and prayer--that's
what this breakfast is about. I think it's fair to say that
Washington moves a lot slower than NASCAR. Certainly my
agenda does sometimes. [Laughter.] But still, it's easier to
get caught up in the rush of our lives, and in the political
back-and-forth that can take over this city. We get
sidetracked with distractions, large and small. We can't go
10 minutes without checking our smartphones--and for my
staff, that's every 10 seconds. And so for 63 years, this
prayer tradition has brought us together, giving us the
opportunity to come together in humility before the Almighty
and to be reminded of what it is that we share as children of
God.
And certainly for me, this is always a chance to reflect on
my own faith journey. Many times as President, I've been
reminded of a line of prayer that Eleanor Roosevelt was fond
of. She said, ``Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may
be driven to Thee for strength. `` Keep us at tasks too hard
for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength. I've
wondered at times if maybe God was answering that prayer a
little too literally. But no matter the challenge, He has
been there for all of us. He's certainly strengthened me
``with the power through His Spirit,'' as I've sought His
guidance not just in my own life but in the life of our
nation.
Now, over the last few months, we've seen a number of
challenges--certainly over the last six years. But part of
what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we've
seen professions of faith used both as an instrument of great
good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil.
As we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring
people to lift up one another--to feed the hungry and care
for the poor, and comfort the afflicted and make peace where
there is strife. We heard the good work that Sister has done
in Philadelphia, and the incredible work that Dr. Brantly and
his colleagues have done. We see faith driving us to do
right.
But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as
a wedge--or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon. From a school
in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence
and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for
faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in
fact, are betraying it. We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death
cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable
acts of barbarism--terrorizing religious minorities like the
Yazidis, subjecting women to rape as a weapon of war, and
claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions.
We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and
Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African
Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in
Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.
So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these
realities--the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the
compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths,
operating alongside those who seek to hijack religions for
their own murderous ends?
Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout
human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think
this is unique to some other place, remember that during the
Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds
in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim
Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.
Michelle and I returned from India--an incredible, beautiful
country, full of magnificent diversity--but a place where, in
past years, religious faiths of all types on occasion have,
on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply
due to their heritage and their beliefs--acts of intolerance
that would have shocked Ghandiji, the person who helped to
liberate that nation.
So, this is not unique to one group or one religion. There
is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and
distort our faith. In today's world, when hate groups have
their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden
places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract
such intolerance. But God compels us to try. And in this
mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide
us, particularly those of us who profess to believe.
And, first, we should start with some basic humility. I
believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt--not
being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right
and that God speaks only to us, and doesn't speak to others,
that God only cares about us and doesn't care about others,
that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.
Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of
truth--our job is to be true to Him, His word and His
commandments. And we should assume humbly that we're confused
and don't always know what we're doing and we're staggering
and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that
process. And that means we have to speak up against those who
would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or
hatred with that fierce certainty. No God condones terror. No
grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the
oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.
And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back
against those who try to distort our religion--any religion--
for their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around
the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental
freedom--freedom of religion--the right to practice our faith
how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice
no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of
persecution and fear and discrimination.
There's wisdom in our founders writing in those documents
that helped found this nation, the notion of freedom of
religion, because they understood the need for humility. They
also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that
there is a connection between freedom of speech and freedom
of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext
of protecting another is a betrayal of both.
But part of humility is also recognizing in modern,
complicated, diverse societies, the functioning of these
rights, the concern for the protection of theses rights calls
for each of us to exercise civility and restraint and
[[Page S2520]]
judgment. And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a
person to insult another's religion, we're equally obligated
to use our free speech to condemn such insults--[Applause]--
and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities,
particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such
attacks. Just because you have the right to say something
doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't question those who
would insult others in the name of free speech. Because we
know that our nations are stronger when people of all faiths
feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and
equal members of our countries.
So humility I think is needed. And the second thing we need
is to uphold the distinction between our faith and our
governments. Between church and between state. The United
States is one of the most religious countries in the world--
far more religious than most Western developed countries. And
one of the reasons is that our founders wisely embraced the
separation of church and state. Our government does not
sponsor a religion, nor does it pressure anyone to practice a
particular faith, or any faith at all. And the result is a
culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can
freely and proudly worship, without fear, or coercion--so
that when your listen to Darrell talk about his faith
journey, you know it's real. You know he's not saying it
because it helps him advance, or because somebody told him
to. It's from the heart.
That's not the case in theocracies that restrict people's
choice of faith. It's not the case in authoritarian
governments that elevate an individual leader or a political
party above the people, or in some cases, above the concept
of God Himself. So the freedom of religion is a value we will
continue to protect here at home and stand up for around the
world, and is one that we guard vigilantly here in the United
States.
Last year, we joined together to pray for the release of
Christian missionary Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two
years. And today, we give thanks that Kenneth is finally back
where he belongs--home with his family. [Applause]
Last year we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini,
detained in Iran since 2012. And I was recently in Boise,
Idaho, and had the opportunity to meet with Pastor Abedini's
beautiful wife and wonderful children and to convey to them
that our country has not forgotten brother Saeed and that
we're doing everything that we can to bring him home.
[Applause] And then, I received an extraordinary letter from
Pastor Abedini. And in it, he describes his captivity, and
expressed his gratitude for my visit with his family, and
thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his
captivity.
And Pastor Abedini wrote, ``Nothing is more valuable to the
Body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control, and
moves ahead of countries and leadership through united
prayer.'' And he closed his letter by describing himself as
``prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great
nation, the United States of America that cares for religious
freedom around the world.'' [Applause]
We're going to keep up this work--for Pastor Abedini and
all those around the world who are unjustly held or
persecuted because of their faith. And we're grateful to our
new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom,
Rabbi David Saperstein--who has hit the ground running, and
is heading to Iraq in a few days to help religious
communities there address some of those challenges. Where's
David? I know he's here somewhere. Thank you David for the
great work you're doing. [Applause]
Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and
our faith or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one
faith over another. And, finally, let's remember that if
there is one law that we can all be most certain of that
seems to bind people of all faiths and people who are still
finding their way towards faith but have a sense of ethics
and morality in them--that one law, that Golden Rule that we
should treat one another as we wish to be treated. The Torah
says ``Love thy neighbor as yourself.'' In Islam, there is a
Hadith that states: ``None of you truly believes until he
loves for his brother what he loves for himself.'' The Holy
Bible tells us to ``put on love, which binds everything
together in perfect harmony.'' Put on love.
Whatever our beliefs, whatever our traditions, we must seek
to be instruments of peace, and bringing light where there is
darkness, and sowing love where there is hatred. And this is
the loving message of His Holiness Pope Francis. And like so
many people around the world, I've been touched by his call
to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and
compassion to the most vulnerable; to walk with the Lord and
ask ``Who am I to judge?'' He challenges us to press on in
what he calls our ``march of living hope.'' And like millions
of Americans, I am very much looking forward to welcoming
Pope Francis to the United States later this year.
[Applause.]
His Holiness expresses that basic law: Treat thy neighbor
as thyself. The Dalai Lama--anybody who's had an opportunity
to be with him senses that same spirit. Kent Brantly
expresses that same spirit. Kent was with Samaritan's Purse,
treating Ebola patients in Liberia, when he contracted the
virus himself. And with world-class medical care and a deep
reliance on faith--with God's help, Kent survived.
[Applause.]
And then by donating his plasma, he helped others survive
as well. And he continues to advocate for a global response
in West Africa, reminding us that ``our efforts need to be on
loving the people there.'' And I could not have been prouder
to welcome Kent and his wonderful wife Amber to the Oval
Office. We are blessed to have him here today--because he
reminds us of what it means to really ``love thy neighbor as
thyself.'' Not just words, but deeds.
Each of us has a role in fulfilling our common, greater
purpose--not merely to seek high position, but to plumb
greater depth so that we may find the strength to love more
fully. And this is perhaps our greatest challenge--to see our
own reflection in each other; to be our brother's keepers and
sister's keepers, and to keep faith with one another. As
children of God, let's make that our work, together.
As children of God, let's work to end injustice--injustice
of poverty and hunger. No one should ever suffer from such
want amid such plenty. As children of God, let's work to
eliminate the scourge of homelessness, because as Sister Mary
says, ``None of us are home until all of us are home.'' None
of us are home until all of us are home.
As children of God, let's stand up for the dignity and
value of every woman, and man, and child, because we are all
equal in His eyes, and work to end the scourge and the sin of
modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and ``set the
oppressed free.'' [Applause]
If we are properly humble, if we drop to our knees on
occasion, we will acknowledge that we never fully know God's
purpose. We can never fully fathom His amazing grace. ``We
see through a glass, darkly''--grappling with the expanse of
His awesome love. But even with our limits, we can heed that
which is required: To do justice, and love kindness, and walk
humbly with our God.
I pray that we will. And as we journey together on this
``march of living hope,'' I pray that, in His name, we will
run and not be weary, and walk and not be faint, and we will
heed those words and ``put on love.''
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this
precious country that we love.
Thank you all very much. [Applause]
Senator Casey: Mr. President, thank you for your message,
and we're honored by your presence here today. We close our
program with one song and one prayer. Our last song this
morning will be sung by a remarkable young man, and those
words don't do justice to who this person is. A young man
from Tennessee named Quintavious Johnson. If you're a fan of
the television show, America's Got Talent, you might
recognize him as one of last year's finalists. But today,
singing at the National Prayer Breakfast in front of more
than 3,500 at the age of 13. Just imagine that, that's going
to be hard to top. And now to sing the Lord's Prayer, please
welcome Quintavious Johnson. [Applause]
Quintavious Johnson [Singing]
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come and thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
And give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debt, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
And the glory, forever.
Amen.
[Applause]
Senator Casey: Wow! Quintavious, thank you for your great
performance, we're grateful you're with us this morning. And
finally this morning, our last prayer at this breakfast will
be offered by an extraordinary public servant who also
happens to be a minister. He's a former Member of Congress,
Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta, and
recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a well-known
civil rights leader and friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our next speaker was instrumental in the civil rights
campaigns in Selma, and in Birmingham that ultimately led to
the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting
Rights Act of 1965. [Applause] But of all of his many titles
and accomplishments, he's most proud of his role as husband,
father, and grandfather. Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable
Andrew Young. [Applause]
The Honorable Andrew J. Young: This morning I woke up to
the hearings of the Senate committee on your new appointment
as Secretary of Defense. And as they went around talking
about all of the dangers and problems that he must confront,
and that you must face every day, I realized that's why we
need prayer. And I wondered, has the world ever been in this
bad of shape? And I remember when I was about the age of
Quintavious, even a little earlier, the Japanese bombed Pearl
Harbor, and Germans were sinking ships, and America was far
weaker then. We still had the same conflicts in Congress. We
still had the same differences racially, and emotionally, and
religiously, but somehow we pulled together and we heard the
President say, ``The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself.'' And then a little while later, in fact quite a
while later, the people with whom we had gone to war became
our best friends and our trading partners. And this country
of ours helped unite the world, and in thanks for that,
President Eisenhower asked that we come together and form
this prayer breakfast, to thank God--for only the spirit of
Jesus can forgive as we forgave, can reconcile enemies to
each other, and that same Jesus that walked with President
Eisenhower and all the presidents since, therefore, with you
Mr. President. And when
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I look at these young people from Mississippi, Senator, we
have overcome so much. [Applause] And we thank you, and we
thank all of you, and we thank God. May we pray:
Be with us dear Father, as we take on the challenges of
life, not just as government but as business, as private
sector and nonprofit sector, as religious leaders, as
community leaders, as volunteers, as fathers and mothers, as
brothers and sisters, as mothers and sons, and fathers and
daughters, bind us together, heal our wounds, calm our
spirits and make us always mindful that you came into the
world to say you would make all things new, but that you
would be with us always. So as we go through many dangers,
toils, and snares by your amazing grace, make us always
mindful that your presence is in the midst of us. That each
of us, because of you, know that we too are your children and
that our Father loves us, forgives us, saves us by the mercy
that we must share with each other and with the world in
which we live. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. [Applause]
Senator Wicker: Thank you, Ambassador Young. And as we
conclude this, the 63rd Annual National Prayer Breakfast--
depart with these words of God from the Book of Numbers:
``The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face
shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His
countenance upon you and give you peace.'' Amen.
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