From National Day of Prayer at Mt. Rushmore

Just got back a little bit ago from the National Day of Prayer observance at Mt. Rushmore tonight.

The weather was uncooperative but we managed to get through. About an hour before it began at 6:30 pm, dark clouds started to roll in and it was pretty windy up there. The clouds occasionally broke, but it ended up raining off and on throughout the event, a couple of times fairly heavily. The weather hurt attendance, but there were still several hundred hearty Christians who came, and if any left during the rain, I didn't see them (most people had umbrellas and ponchos).

Among the speakers were author and historian William Federer (I received his "America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations" as a gift tonight) and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. Music was provided by several local musicians and recording artist Luke Garrett. Chris Hupke, the new Executive Director of the South Dakota Family Policy Council spoke, as did several area pastors. Many of the pastors led in praying for our governmental leaders, educators, the military and media.

Here are a few pics I took tonight.


















Not sure what this was about; you didn't used to see this sort of thing, but I noticed during the rally we had in October 2006 at Mt. Rushmore in support of the abortion ban, marriage protection amendment and video lottery ban that the park rangers suddenly hung a cloth over the National Park emblem on the front of the ampetheater bandstand. I suppose our country, as a whole, is so profoundly ignorant of our Christian heritage and what the First Amendment means that they feel they have to do this to (a) keep some idiot from thinking the park service is establishing a religion by allowing Christians to assemble and exercise their right of free speech and worship, and (b) keep said idiot from suing the park service for violating his right not to be offended (still not sure what amendment covers that right, though).

I plan to look into this more when I get time.



















This one didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, but it was striking in person, seeing the sun peeking out from behind the clouds momentarily as the event was about to begin.



















Here is William Federer speaking.



















And here is Dale Bartscher, former pastor of First Christian Church in Rapid City, and ever the servant of God, holding an umbrella over Tony Perkins as the rain was coming down pretty good.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14