"Then he... blessed God and said, 'Lord...mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation,...a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the
glory of Thy people Israel.'"
Luke 2:28-32


We owe much to Luke and his gospel about Jesus and especially Jesus’ birth. The wonder is that he wrote a gospel at all. The story had already been written- twice over and perfectly-by those who had the advantage of having known Jesus personally (Matthew and Mark).

What could he add? Quite a lot, it turns out.

Luke persevered because he meant to mentor one person called Theophilus (Luke 1:3). His commitment to minister to that one person gives us more of the New Testament than we get from anyone else. Though Paul wrote more books, Luke, in his Gospel and the book of Acts, wrote more words.

Had he not taken on that daunting enterprise we would know nothing of Zacchaeus, the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son. And we'd know very little about the first Christmas. Luke alone introduces us to Simeon, who waited for Jesus. When he met Jesus he prayed and praised the Lord. We can be sure that he prayed a great deal.

George Washington's Prayer for America

Washington 's prayer for America was: "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

God Is Still in DC

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., are displayed two words: Laus Deo.
No one can see these words. These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation.
What do those two words, in Latin, possibly mean? They say, "Praise be to God!"
It was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public.
Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.
On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6.