"Except the Lord that build the house......"

   There is nothing I find more interesting then reading about the history of the Untied States of America. We are such a privileged, God ordained nation and how we came about and have continued to keep going has been nothing short of a miracle. I'm currently reading "From Sea to Shining Sea" by Peter Marshall & David Manuel. It is the second of a series of three about God's plan for America. It is the most inspiring piece of literature I think I've ever read. So as I'm reading you can expect me to post things things that jump off the page at me. Here is today's tidbit. It takes place in Philadelphia in 1787, a year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After much bickering and fighting about what direction to take our new nation, Benjamin Franklin took leave to say what was on his mind.

"How has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, sir," he looked at Washington, "were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending Providence in our favor...And have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?

I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: "that God governs in the affairs of man.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it, I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little, partial, local interest; our projects will be confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, or conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business."
-Benjamin Franklin

   Mind you, Benjamin Franklin was not a christian. He was known for his Rationalist views and he was the last person anyone would have expected to make such a statement.
   God, I pray that you raise up a Benjamin Franklin in our government today. A man that see's the importance of you in governing our nation and will stand up and boldly speak about the future of our country without the hand and wisdom of God guiding our every decision, even if he may not be fully convinced himself.