• Easter=New Life—what a great equation!
• President Rutherford B. Hayes invited kids to the White House for something special—what was it?
• President Bush asks you to pray for a very special friend.

It’s Cherry Blossom Time in Washington, D.C.!  Many people flock to the city to enjoy the beautiful display of light pink and white blossoms that bedeck the tidal basin and many public areas in our nation’s capital.  Here, President Bush speaks to members of the media under a graceful canopy of lacey blooms earlier this week.  Pray for the safety and protection of the President and First Lady throughout this Easter weekend.  Photo courtesy of the White House.

1. Happy Easter!  President and Mrs. Bush are spending the weekend at their Crawford, TX ranch where they will celebrate Easter with loved ones.  So it’s a great time to pray for President and Mrs. Bush to have the Spirit of God powerfully present as they relax, fellowship, work and worship this weekend.  Pray for their health and safety, for grace and peace for them and for their family and friends as they celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice this Easter because God has opened the way to life in Him through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ!

2. Since it’s Easter—a religious holiday that captures the attention of many people—it’s a great time to pray for our country, that we will turn to God in repentance and obedience to Him.  Pray that those who visit churches and sunrise services, even if out of curiosity or tradition, will find the sincere message of salvation and hope their hearts long for!
    

President Bush has asked everyone to pray for his friend and staff member White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.  Snow just learned that the cancer he had successfully battled in 2005 has returned. Be sure to join President Bush in asking God for full healing and strength for Tony Snow.  Photo courtesy of the White House.

3. A very special friend of President Bush’s is sick!  White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is a cancer survivor.  In 2005 he successfully battled colon cancer and had been free of the disease for two years.  But last week doctors found a suspicious growth in his abdomen, and they removed it earlier this week.  It turned out that the growth was cancerous, and they found out that the cancer is definitely back.  When President Bush heard this news, he asked us all to pray for Tony Snow as he now undergoes treatment.  So we need to join President Bush and pray for Tony Snow to have a complete recovery and full return of health.  Pray for his wife Jill and his kids who are 14, 11 and 10 years old.  Learn more about Tony Snow HERE.  Send Tony Snow an email telling him you are praying for him HERE.
   
   

President Bush shakes hands with a soldier at Ft. Irwin Army Training Center, CA during a luncheon there this week.  Pray for the President as he continues to lead our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, that God will guide him with His wisdom and help.  Photo courtesy of the White House.

4. President Bush is working hard on several concerns that are really important to America.  He is working hard for the very best results in Iraq, though many people disagree with him.  As our country is divided on this issue, it’s a fantastic time to pray for President Bush as he leads our country and our effort in Iraq, and pray, too, for the members of Congress as they represent their views.  Pray that God’s will is done regarding our effort in Iraq and that we will be united as a nation as we move forward together.
   
   
5. While we celebrate Easter with great joy and bountiful feasts this weekend, our troops will be sacrificing and doing without simple conveniences as they fight for democracy and freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world.  So it is important to pray for our troops as they keep serving with such dedication and strength.  Even though people in America don’t agree about the war, we all agree that we must support and pray for our troops as they serve the President and the cause of freedom by working in Iraq.  Pray for their safety, encouragement and for each one to be able to return to their homes and families. 

Photo courtesy of the National Security Agency.

Director of the CIA—Gen. Michael Hayden
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 work they do 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 Pittsburgh, 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.

Photo courtesy of the White House.

National Security Advisor—Stephen J. Hadley
The formal title for the National Security Advisor is Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.  The NSA’s position is very interesting because she or he serves on the National Security Council within the Executive Office of the President.  That means they work independently of the State Department and the Defense Department and can offer advice that is not colored by those departments or their policies. 

Another interesting thing about the National Security Advisor is that the person in that position does not undergo the approval process of the Senate as do many other cabinet level positions.  The NSA is an important member of the President’s team because he works very hard to provide the President with the most up-to-date information about America’s foreign and defense policies as well as advising the President on issues of national security.  

The NSA is chaired by the President and includes the Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense, as well as several other high-ranking government officials.  Each president determines how active a role the National Security Council and the National Security Advisor will play in his administration. 

Stephen Hadley has a great track record as a strong public servant, having served as Deputy National Security Advisor under Condoleezza Rice who moved on to become Secretary of State.  Before becoming a public servant, Mr. Hadley served in a Washington law firm and with an international consulting agency.  Mr. Hadley received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray…  Stay here and keep watch with me."  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will."  Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.”  Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

--Matthew 26:36, 39-42

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Photo courtesy of the White House.

I send greetings to Christians around the world as they gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus' life and teachings continue to speak to every generation and Christians believe his miraculous Resurrection provides hope for the future and offers us the promise of new life.

Through His ministry and sacrifice, Jesus demonstrated God's unconditional love for us.  He taught us the importance of helping others and loving our neighbors.  His selfless devotion and mercy provide a remarkable example for all of us.

As families and friends gather to enjoy this Easter season, we celebrate God's gift of freedom and His love that conquers death.  For those who observe Easter, our faith brings confidence that good will overcome evil and that joy is everlasting.  Today, we give thanks for God's many blessings and pray for His peace in the affairs of men.

Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a happy Easter.

--George W. Bush

This tomb in Jerusalem may be the one where Jesus was laid.  The open door to the cave reminds us that Jesus is risen!  Photo courtesy of ida.net.

Unless you understand the real meaning of Easter for those who believe in Christ, that equation won’t make much sense to you! 

If you know the story of Easter, you know that after Jesus was crucified on the Cross, he was gently taken down and carefully placed in a tomb--that’s a cave that was used to place bodies in.  Jesus’ followers were very sad, until Easter morning when they went to the tomb to take care of some things.  When they got there, the cave where Jesus’ body had been placed was empty!  Jesus wasn’t there. 

At first Jesus’ friends wondered if someone men had taken the Lord’s body in a cruel trick.  But soon they saw Jesus with their own eyes.  He was alive again!  The promises that had been made about a risen King, a strong Messiah, were really true. 

Jesus kept on reminding the people how much He loved them.  He kept on promising them new life--eternal life--if they would make friends with Him and dedicate their lives to Him.  For those who do that, Jesus promises life forever in Heaven with Him.  He includes in this promise the forgiveness of our sins. 

So that’s how an empty tomb equals new life.  

People in many cultures around the world decorate eggs at Easter to celebrate new life!  Photo courtesy of momsbreak.com.

Did you ever wonder why eggs and bunnies and chicks are a part of our Easter celebrations? 

For many years--even before Jesus--people celebrated spring.  They enjoyed the way the earth bloomed and flowered after the long cold winter.  They were glad for the baby animals that were born.  Once Christians began to observe Easter, it fell on the calendar at just about the same time of year as the spring time celebrations. 

At first Christians felt they should not be involved in these celebrations at all.  But eventually they decided to observe Easter around the same time of year as it had always been celebrated, because if they did not, they risked great persecution from rulers who wanted to wipe out all believers in Christ. 

Hopefully, in the area where you live, spring is starting to show itself with flowers pushing up through the ground, light green leaves budding out on the trees and warmer breezes blowing through the air.  If you live on a farm, you may be expecting a new calf or colt or a batch of chicks.  That’s why eggs and bunnies and chicks are such popular symbols of Easter, because as part of God’s creation, they remind us of the wonderful way He makes the world new each and every spring.  They are good symbols of new life, but the very best symbol of new life is the empty tomb, because it reminds us that Jesus died for us and is now alive!