[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:

  Lord God, in the days of Gideon, out of fear of the Midianites, Your 
people established fire signals on the mountains, caves for refuge and 
strongholds. Today, Lord, bless and strengthen all efforts to build 
homeland security in places around the world like Darfur, as well as 
here in the United States. To protect one's home or homeland seems 
paramount in the Hebrew, Christian and Muslim scriptures. But, Lord, 
You seem to ask even more of Your people.
  Let Congress learn from Gideon's interaction with You, Lord.
  When Gideon asks ``if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened 
to us?'' the Lord turns to him and said, ``Go with the strength you 
have and save Israel from the power of Midian.''
  The Scriptures seem to ask for moral authority in a person as a 
prerequisite to being a leader in defense of what is good and just. 
Gideon is exhorted to look first to his personal strength. As he proves 
his own moral integrity, piety and ability, the Lord's promise is 
realized, ``I am with you.''
  May this Congress and the leaders of all nations move and act with 
deeper faith, knowing the extent and limitations of their strength, 
both now and forever. Amen.

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