Yesterday morning I had the privilege to rise early (can you say 4:00 AM?) and attend the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The prayer breakfast is held each year at the beginning of the Louisiana legislative session. This was the 51st year for elected leaders and faithful pray-ers to join together.

God commanded us to do this. Not exactly in this way of course, but God has told us to pray for all those in authority. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

I hope you will make sure to follow the biblical mandate and pray for all who are in authority.

The program yesterday was excellent. We were privileged to hear Ravi Zacharias, Christian apologist and preacher of the Gospel. Dr. Zacharias has as his purpose to help thinking people believe and believing people think.

He delivered a message that “all in authority” need to hear. He spoke of the four pillars of God’s Word. These are four foundational ideas for a just government.

These are the four foundational ideas.

First, eternity. Eternity defines our existence. Zacharias asked: “if there are not eternal truths, what happens to justice?” Legislators must be vigilant in establishing a just government.

The founding fathers spoke of truths which are self-evident. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Unalienable rights are those that cannot be corrupted. They come from God and cannot be diminished. They cannot be taken away or given up.

Second, Morality . Morality defines the essence of who we are. Dr. Zacharias showed that law must be rooted in good, moral teaching.

Third, accountability. We are held accountable for adhering to our conscience.

Fourth, charity. We must be a beneficent people.

I took down two great quotes of the day.

First, from Dr. Zacharias: “God didn’t come to make bad men good; He came to make dead men live.”

In his response, Governor Bobby Jindal noted: “America did not create religious freedom; religious freedom created America.”

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