Ed Martin Invocation at Lincoln Days, Feb 26, 2010

One of the more amazing parts of this campaign has been to make new friends and to realize that these new friends believe in me and our campaign.  It is humbling and feels even a little scary – it’s a lot of pressure in some ways.  One new friend is Pastor Bruce McCoy.  Pastor McCoy is a hard-working Baptist pastor in south St. Louis County who is helping me.  (In fact, he was the first “public” person to endorse me!).  He is a good and holy man who I admire and who gives me good counsel.

When I was asked to give the Invocation, I thought of Pastor McCoy – I figured he could give me some tips.  I went to read some of his words and came upon his speech/invocation from the Glenn Beck event a few weeks ago.  I decided to use it.  Here it is with my minor adaptations.

Thanks.
Ed

Ed Martin Invocation at Lincoln Days, February 26, 2010 (as prepared)

Tonight, it is my privilege to lead us in prayer.  Some among you – Lloyd Smith to name a name! – have expressed concern that I might talk off topic and say, discuss my Twitter feed @ed4congress or my facebook fan page facebook.com/edmartinforcongress.

I will not do this.  Instead, I prefer to read to you a prayer given by my dear friend, Pastor Bruce McCoy of Caanan Baptist Church in south St. Louis County.  Pastor McCoy, the President of the Missouri Baptist Convention is a friend and support of my campaign … (pause) … you can find out more about what interests him in my campaign at www.EdMartinforCongress.com.

Here is my adaptation of Pastor McCoy’s prayer which was somewhat longer in its original.

Bruce’s Speech and Prayer: at Glenn Beck Rally, held by Constitutional Coalition, 2-5-10.

In the summer of 1776 – 56 men met together in Philadelphia – to sign a new document.  That parchment was to stand forever as a partnership between the living, the dead and the yet unborn.  We call it:  The Declaration of Independence.  Those men considered liberty so much more important than security – they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  They fulfilled their pledge; they paid the price; and freedom was born! (adapted from friend, Derrick Johnson.)

Our Founding Fathers wrote into the Declaration of Independence that majestic reference to “our Creator” with the certainty that, someday, they would meet their Maker.

They openly acknowledged God.  And, they knew that God, not government, is the Giver of our freedom.  What God has given, no man has the right to take away.  As both a religious leader and a concerned citizen, I do not suggest a Church-run state or a state-run Church.  But, banning the public acknowledgment of God is a tyranny “foreign” to our Founding Fathers and risks forfeiting the blessing of the Almighty!

I am the son of a WWII veteran who suffered as a P.O.W. in Nazi Germany.  My dad, 88 – taught me to be proud of our nation.  And now – we look into the deep of a new darkness that requires each of us to shine the light of Liberty on the neglected pages of our Constitution.

One of the things I admire about Glenn Beck is that he does not view the United States’ Constitution in the light of our times, but rather, he seems to view our times in the light of our Constitution.  Most of us here tonight probably agree that our nation has strayed from the Original Intent of our Founding Fathers.

In the same way, I stand before you as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as one who does not view the Bible in the light of our times, but rather, I view our times in the light of the Bible.  And, “all we like sheep have gone astray…” We have strayed from the Original Intent of God’s plan for us.

Our Founding Fathers understood the fallen nature of humanity.  So, they crafted the “checks and balances” within our three branches of government.  The Bible tells us, what they knew well, that “All of have sinned….” (Rm. 3:23)  We say it this way, “Nobody is perfect.”

The Bible is filled with prophecies that describe the Things to Come.  God’s Word tells us how to be prepared for the future. I am going to ask you to consider for a brief moment – the Original Intent of “Our Creator” – Who…sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins.

Prayer: Before I  pray – listen to the Words of Jesus Christ:

“For God so loved the world (that’s people…you & me) That He gave (that’s free) His only Son (that’s Jesus Christ) That whosoever (that’s anybody) Believes in Him (that’s faith) Should not perish (that’s mercy – being saved from eternal hell) But have everlasting life (that’s the favor of God; He wants us to live with Him – forever).

“Lord God, please restore this nation to become again – that “shining city set on a hill.”  Restore us to the Original Intent of our Founding Fathers.  And then, individually, restore us, as we repent of our own sin, to You, the God of our Fathers.  Restore us to the Original Intent of Your plan for the future of our soul.  That if we will confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord – we will be forgiven. Have mercy on us, Lord.  And may the truth of the Gospel of God continue – to go marching on!”

Lord, bless this food, those who prepared it and those who will do without tonight.

And I am careful to pray this prayer in the Name of my Lord: Jesus Christ.

Amen!