[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  Dr. Bob M. Patterson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Warm Springs, 
Georgia, offered the following prayer:
  Father, we open this session with prayer not because of tradition or 
misplaced need to convince You to be on our side. But in this place, 
sacred to our republic, we admit that we are lost and clueless without 
Your presence and guidance.
  Our first thoughts today are with those in harm's way around Your 
world in defense of freedom. We pray for victory that will be complete 
and permanent. For families who find themselves separated, we ask for 
strong bonds in spite of missed birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. 
And for those who have received a flag folded three-cornered, we pray 
Your presence will be an unseen source of comfort and hope.
  As the people's business is conducted in this hallowed Chamber, we 
ask for our representatives to not doubt their beliefs or believe their 
doubts. We pray for them the courage born of godly convictions and 
tempered by humility. We ask that You give them a clear idea of what is 
just and best for our republic coupled with the resolve to do the right 
thing.
  We pray this in the name of the one who promised to be present and to 
guide us, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
  


                              THE JOURNAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has examined the Journal of the 
last day's proceedings and announces to the House his approval thereof.
  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

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