Emery column shows opening prayer breakfast was openly political

(From Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar)

This was a very big week at the Capitol with the inauguration of a new governor and four new constitutional officers in what might have been the largest ever event of its kind. It was a real blessing to have many of my constituents in Jefferson City as well as my wife, Rebecca, and family from Minnesota and New Mexico.

Senate Committees also began meeting this week, and the Government Reform Committee, which I chair, held our first public hearing for Senate Bill 31 – Collateral Source on Wednesday morning. Multiple bills have already been assigned to the Government Reform Committee, and I look forward to hearing many of them in future hearings. The committee on Gubernatorial Appointments is another committee to which I have been appointed, and we will be busily examining and vetting the governor’s countless appointments as he staffs his administration. Several appointees have already been by to introduce themselves, and their abilities and qualifications are encouraging.

Last week I promised to publish excerpts from the prayers offered at the local prayer breakfast held to kick off the 2017 legislative session. Prayers were offered for each branch of government. Following is the prayer offered for the Missouri Supreme Court:

“Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the privilege and freedom we have to gather together in Your name. I agree with the prayers that have been spoken, and I come to lift up our Supreme Court judges. I pray your blessings on them and their families and ask You to provide for their every need and protect them as they carry out their duties. Help them to fulfill their oath of office to judge equally without partiality in accordance with our laws and Constitution.

Where our laws conflict with Your Word, I pray You would turn their hearts to do what is right in Your sight. Sadly, we have laws that are in conflict with Your Word. We have abortion, which is premeditated murder of the unborn in the womb, and Your Word says "thou shall not murder,” and "before I formed you in your mother's womb I knew you. I numbered your days before there was yet one of them."

We have same-sex marriage that is in direct opposition to marriage that You established between one man and one woman, and Your Word says that homosexuality is an abomination before You. We are confusing our children with the transgender agenda that says a man can be a woman and a woman can be a man, when Your Word clearly states that You created us male and female.

In these and all matters that come before the Supreme Court, may You convict them to search Your Word and seek Your face and let truth, justice and righteousness be their guide. I repent for the sins of our nation where we have called good evil and evil good. For America cannot be great and we cannot be blessed unless we turn back to You. In Jesus name. Amen”

I hope you agree that the prayers of God’s children are essential to our nation, state and citizens reaching their God-given potential. There is nothing more beneficial than God’s favor and nothing more frightening than His curse. Ben Franklin was right; please keep me, our state, and your government in your prayers.