All the Bible verses in this edition of The Presidential Prayer Team
for Kids Update are from The New Living Translation of the Bible.
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  • Forgiveness is in the news—and that’s a victory for Jesus!
  • President Bush makes a surprise visit to a special school—one named for him!
  • Christopher Columbus says he took his directions and ideas from God—you can read about it here!

Things to pray for

President George W. Bush was greeted by kids waving American flags when he visited George W. Bush Elementary School in Stockton, CA earlier this week. The President said he was deeply touched when he saw the school, named for him. Photo courtesy of the White House.
  1. This has been a very sad week for America. Ten little girls were shot in their schoolhouse. Five of them died. This tragedy took place in Nickel Mine, PA, in the heart of Amish Country. Though they practice their faith perhaps a bit differently from us, we must pray for all the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy. We must hold their hurting hearts up to God and ask Him to give them His comfort and peace. We must pray that this community will experience God’s nearness and eventual healing as they mourn this loss together.
  2. There is one very good thing about this tragedy. It has thrust the Amish people and their values and beliefs right into the spotlight. As non-violent, Christ-loving people they seek to live by the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. They believe in the power of forgiveness to heal and restore. So it’s a great time to pray that many people will be moved by this commitment to forgiveness on the part of the Amish community, and that they will be moved to consider the love of Jesus Christ and His radical forgiveness. Pray that those who have never considered believing in Jesus will do so, and pray that the members of the Amish community will take comfort in knowing that they are providing a powerful testimony to the love of God and faith in Jesus.
President Bush paid a visit to Lancaster, PA last August, and took time to greet members of the Amish community there. This week’s school shootings took place in Nickel Mine, about 12 miles from Lancaster. Photo courtesy of the White House.
  1. On October 10 President Bush will meet at the White House with the President of Peru, Alan Garcia. The two leaders will discuss the Peruvian commitment to democracy and our two countries’ cooperation in areas of mutual interest like education, health benefits, job creation and prosperity. Pray for these two men as they meet that they will be led by God and have His wisdom.
  2. Also on October 10, President Bush has called for a meeting of lawmakers and educators to consider problems with school safety. He has done this because of all the recent shootings. So pray that these leaders will have God’s help and wisdom and will come up with very good plans to keep children safe.
Members of our military seek strength and courage through prayer. They also rely on us to pray for them! Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense.
  1. Our troops are working hard to keep us safe. As they sacrifice for all Americans, we have a responsibility to hold them up in prayer. So pray for our troops, for those working in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world. Pray also for those who have been injured and are now recovering in hospitals. Pray for the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, that God will comfort and strengthen them. And thank God for the blessings and privileges of living in our country.

Leaders to pray for


Director of the CIA—Gen. Michael Hayden

Photo courtesy of the White House.

Gen. Michael Hayden became the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on May 30, 2006. A four star General, he is responsible for all the activities of the CIA. As one of the main intelligence and information gathering agencies in our country, the CIA helps America keep all citizens safe as we fight the war on terror.

Before this post Gen. Hayden served with National Intelligence Director John Negroponte as Deputy Director of that agency.

Born in Pittsburg, PA on March 17, 1945, Hayden has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in modern American history, both from Duquesne University. He is a distinguished graduate of the ROTC and entered active military service in 1969.

Gen. Hayden is very well qualified for this important post. He has served with both the National Security Agency, the Air Intelligence Agency and in many senior staff positions in the Pentagon. As the agency’s leader, he will continue to keep the CIA at the cutting edge of technology and other developments that will help them fight the war on terror.

Gen. Hayden is married to Jeanine Carrier, and they have a daughter and two sons.


Secretary of the Transportation Security Administration--Kip Hawley

Kip Hawley, Director of the Transportation Security Administration. Photo courtesy of the TSA.

Kip Hawley has a long job title. He’s the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). That means he’s responsible for the safety and security of everyone traveling by all the different forms of transportation in America. That’s a really big job, and Mr. Hawley is very good at it!

The Transportation Security Administration was formed after the September 11 terror attacks, and became a part of the Department of Homeland Security. Since Kip Hawley had great experience in the Department of Transportation as well as much experience with private companies like the Union Pacific Railway and others, he was a logical person to turn to when President Bush called for a transportation security department.

Sworn in on July 27, 2005 Kip Hawley oversees the thousands of employees of the TSA, which, when it was created was the single largest agency mobilization in recent years. As they work to keep us safe, the TSA uses every available resource, from high tech scanners to biometric identification and puppies.

This pup, named Flagg, is one of the TSA’s special puppies, bred to become a bomb-sniffing dog to keep Americans safe. Photo courtesy of the TSA.

Puppies? Yes, the TSA identifies and trains puppies to become the ace bomb-sniffing canines that work with their human team members to keep us safe. The TSA is always pursuing new ways to keep Americans safe.

Kip Hawley received the degree of J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School, and his B.A. from Brown University.

As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. "Must you come here drunk?" he demanded. "Throw away your wine!" "Oh no, sir!" she replied, "I'm not drunk! But I am very sad, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Please don't think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow." "In that case," Eli said, "cheer up! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him."
—I Samuel 1:12-17

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
—Romans 5:3-5

Amish children are very involved in the work on their farms. They dress plainly and attend school through the 8th grade, often in one-room schoolhouses run by their community, rather that the state. Photos courtesy of Pennsylvaniadutch.com.

The Amish are a unique religious group who do not use modern inventions to help them with their every day work. They want to stay separate from the pride and distractions of the modern world, so they can keep their families strong and stay true to the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. They drive buggies or carts pulled by horses, both for their transportation and their farm work. They don’t use electricity or telephones, and they dress in plain garments with both men and women keeping their heads covered most of the time. Many of these practices are meant to keep them humble, strengthening their resolve to resist the temptations of the world.

The Amish understand how easy it is for our human nature to become filled with pride, so they take deliberate steps to stay humble. Their toys and playthings are very simple, and they work very hard on their farms and in their businesses. They don’t use electricity because they see the power lines as something that would literally connect them to the outside world.

This week’s tragic school shooting took place in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.

The Amish and many other groups take seriously the New Testament instruction to resist the influence of the world. Can you think of any Bible verses that express that instruction? Hover here to read.

The Bible is full of reminders to believers to remain humble. What is your favorite? Hover here for two great ones.

Principal Sylvia Ulmer presented President Bush with a Bush Elementary sweatshirt during his visit to her school. Photo courtesy of the White House.

On Tuesday of this week, the kids at George W. Bush Elementary School in Stockton, CA were having a normal day. Their principal, Mrs. Ulmer, was in her office working. A few weeks earlier she had learned that President Bush was going to be in the area, and she and the teachers at her school had invited him to stop by. The President’s event scheduler had written back to say that the schedule was just too full to pay a visit. Disappointed, Mrs. Ulmer understood.

President Bush paid a visit to these students in the Laura Bush Library at George W. Bush Elementary School. The President expressed his joy over seeing the students reading. Photo courtesy of the White House.

Then on Monday afternoon a member of President Bush’s staff told her to prepare for the possibility of a visit. Tuesday morning rolled around and there was no follow-up phone call, so Mrs. Ulmer figured that the visit would not take place. But when parents started calling her office to ask why there were so many law enforcement vehicles surrounding the school, her heart began to pound. She knew it would be a very special day.

Mrs. Ulmer greeted the President outside the school where he stopped and made a few comments to members of the media. President Bush first thanked Mrs. Ulmer for her warm welcome. There was a catch in his voice as he told how it felt to drive up to a school named after him. “It's such an honor to have a school named after me. When I pulled in the parking lot and I saw George W. Bush Elementary, I couldn't think of a higher tribute to a person and I thank you all and the citizens of this community for this honor and tribute. Frankly, I was a little emotional when I pulled in.” Mrs. Ulmer said that she felt the same sense of deep emotion when she saw the President coming to her school.

This little boy holds up a biography of President George W. Bush during a visit by the President to the school. Photo courtesy of the White House.

President Bush later went into some classrooms and visited the school library—named after First Lady Laura Bush. Mr. Bush expressed the excitement he felt about telling Mrs. Bush about the library. “I can't wait to tell Laura that I went into the Laura Bush Library and saw teachers working hard to teach kids how to read. It's just a blessing to be there.”

Soon, the visit was over and the presidential motorcade took the school’s namesake to Air Force One, waiting on the runway at the Stockton airport. President Bush returned to Washington as the kids at George W. Bush Elementary reflected on the experience. One third-grade girl reported, “It was exciting. I just can't believe it. I always see him on TV. My grandpa talks about him a lot. He likes the president." Another student said she wasn’t’ sure if her parents would believe her when she told them about the school’s famous visitor, “It was very exciting, because I never got to meet a president before. He just shook everyone's hand. I'm going to tell my mom and dad, but they probably won't believe it."

This painting shows one artist’s idea of Christopher Columbus’ landing in the New World. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

Next Monday, October 9 our country will observe Columbus Day!
What do you know about Christopher Columbus? You have probably learned that he was a very brave and adventuresome man who wanted to explore beyond where anyone had yet explored. Because of his dream, he went to the King and Queen of Spain and asked them to help him follow his dream by providing funds for his explorations.

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451, the son of a wool merchant and weaver. He began his experiments in navigation and exploration while still a teenager, going as far as Iceland to seek adventure and new lands--or new routes to lands that had previously been discovered.

Columbus knew that to truly explore and find a way to the eastern lands by going west, he must have the backing and the blessing of a large government. Forsaken by his native Italy, he went to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain seeking their help. They eventually agreed to provide financing and help for his venture, so he embarked on his first voyage in 1492.

What you might not know about Christopher Columbus is that he believed that exploring the New World was not just something he wanted to do--it was something God wanted him to do. He was certain that his efforts were being stirred by God. He also wanted to teach the love of God to those he found in far away lands.

We are fortunate to have the diaries of Christopher Columbus, and they show a sincere and godly man who was convinced that he was following God’s will when he navigated new and uncharted waters. He believed that every new place where he made landfall was an opportunity to tell others about God’s love, whether they were people of faith or not.

WEEKLY QUIZ

This photo shows Columbus’ actual coat of arms after certain privileges were granted to him from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Here are some excerpts from Columbus’ diary. What can you learn about him from the things he writes? Read his words and answer the following questions:

    It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with the rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Spirit.

QUESTION 1

In reading Columbus’ words, it seems like

  1. Columbus was seeking fame and fortune, so he decided to find a way to sail ships to India.
  2. Columbus believed it was impossible to sail to India, but why not have fun trying anyway?
  3. Columbus felt that God was nudging him to try finding a route to India and he believed he should respond and obey.

The Bible talks about the hand of God as His rule and authority. But it is also referred to as a way that God urges His people to follow and obey Him. Hover here to read about a time in the life of Israel when this happened.

Have you ever felt God’s hand on you? What did you do? What did these people in the land of Judah do?

QUESTION 2

Read Columbus’ words above once again. Which of the following best describes the situation facing Columbus when he let everyone know that he had a new idea for finding India?

  1. Columbus’ friends and fellow citizens thought he was a genius with a great idea, and they told him so.
  2. A few friends laughed at him but he didn’t mind.
  3. Everyone thought Columbus was nuts, but that didn’t bother him. When others laughed and made fun of him, it just convinced him more that he was doing what God wanted him to do. In fact, he was quite aware of God’s comfort in spite of the teasing

Here is another part of Columbus’ diary, written when he was very close to finding land, but had not yet made his big discovery. Read it and see what you think about his attitude.

    I found our Lord well-disposed toward my heart's desire, and He gave me the spirit of intelligence for the task...Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit? He, with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the Holy and sacred Scriptures...encouraging me to proceed.

QUESTION 3

When you read these words of Columbus’ it seems clear that lots of things were compelling him to keep going. Which answer below best explains his motivation?

  1. Columbus had a lot of friends who wanted to know how far a ship could sail without finding land.
  2. Columbus wanted to prove how intelligent he was.
  3. Columbus believed that God was granting him the desire of his heart and was encouraging him through the Scriptures and through His Holy Spirit.
This picture shows replicas (copies) of Columbus’ first ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Have you ever noticed how when your heart is right with God, things just seem to go better? Can you think of a Bible verse that explains how that works? Hover here to read.

This picture shows Columbus landing in the New World and giving thanks to God for His blessings and guidance. From what you learned about him in today’s update, do you think this happened? Can you see something special in the background? Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Portrait courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

In these comments from the Father of Our Country, George Washington, we are all reminded that God’s hand was definitely blessing and helping America. Can you understand President Washington’s words?
No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass.
--George Washington, June 29, 1788

A WORD TO PPT KIDS

We’ve learned some fantastic things this week—one of the most important being the fact that even when tragic things happen, God is still in control and He invites us to trust Him. For kids who pray, this is a really important thing to remember—that we can trust Him and watch as He is glorified in this. So remember to pray for President Bush and for our troops. And pray for the families who have lost their precious children this week, and watch as their obedience to Him brings glory to Him and His Kingdom. What a fantastic thing to see, even in a tragedy.

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