The Truth

[Nantahala Fly Fishing]

Summary of eRumor:
The email says that a session of the Kansas State Senate was opened in prayer by a Pastor Joe Wright. His prayer was a sizzling one and prompted controversy. The story says that several members of the Senate got up and walked out and that Paul Harvey aired the text of the prayer and it prompted the largest response he's ever had.
The Truth:
This event actually happened in the Kansas House (not Senate) in Topeka on January 23, 1996. Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita and was guest chaplain that day. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville , Kentucky . According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January 24, 1996, his prayer did stir controversy and one member of the legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer. The controversy didn't end there. Later that year in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright's prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest.

Paul Harvey did air the story and the prayer. He got such a large response that a phone number was set up to handle the calls. He's aired it a couple more times since.

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas
Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what
they heard;

"Heavenly Father,
We come before you today
To ask your forgiveness and
To seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says,
"Woe to those who call evil good"
But that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium
And reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and
Called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness
And called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn
And called it choice.

We have shot abortionists
And called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline
Our children and called it
Building self esteem.

We have abused power
And called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's
Possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air
With profanity and
Pornography and called it
Freedom of speech and expression.

We have ridiculed the time
Honored values of our
Forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God,
And know our hearts today;
Cleanse us from every sin
And set us free.
Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked
Out during the prayer in protest.

In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor,
logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding
negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies
of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea .

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio
Program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this
program than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our
Nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called
"one nation under God."

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends.
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone
On your email list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by The world.

How many people in your address book will not receive
This prayer.....do you have the guts to pass it on?

I just did!


*This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms 118:24