BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - Monday May 26, 2010 (Photo: NASA)
Yesterday was the first-ever National Day of Prayer for Creation Care. Both an early morning Prayer Breakfast in the U.S. Capitol and a noon worship / prayer assembly in the Senate Capital Park were marked by Evangelical leaders offering genuine prayers of repentance drawn from the Word of God.
In light of the oil spill catastrophe continuing to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico, the mood was somber, yet celebratory of the Lord and the richness of His goodness as reflected through Creation.
The preeminence of the Risen Christ who “holds all things together” and the hope that is found in Him alone, was affirmed and was central to all that was expressed.
Daniel A. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez of Pepperdine University exhorted us to remember to continue in prayer throughout this destructive period, and during the massive cleanup effort after the oil spill is stopped. Dr. Rodriguez was passionate on these matters as you will see on this short IFA / GAP You Tube posting.
Edward Brown, Executive Director of Care of Creation, also blogs at “Our Father’s World” and has posted a useful piece on how we might pray for an oil spill, a natural disaster of our own making. A pattern is drawn from that of the prophet Daniel. Our model is a prayer of confession or “identificational repentance.”
Ed Brown stressed that an important prayer principle to remember is that we cannot appeal to God for something that is our own fault unless we also admit to Him that it is our fault.
The assembly called itself into commitment to live lives in Christ marked by loving God, loving His people — especially the poor who are often impacted in greater measure — and by loving and caring for God’s creation in intentional ways which demonstrate to the world that we are servant stewards in His Kingdom.
Do we care? If so, how are each of us demonstrating that care?
Rev. Jim Ball, Ph.D.
As I engaged in conversation with Dr. Jim Ball of the Evangelical Environmental Network, America’s need for God-fearing and effective leadership surfaced repeatedly. Jim is burdened about the impacts of the climate crisis, but there is now a state of crises on most every front. America needs reform at every level. Yet, there is hope as we see God stirring fresh national debate over constitutional principles and governance. You will pray with more understanding as you view this 3-minute IFA / GAP You Tube posting as Jim shared his heart with me.
Driving home from a meaningful day of repentance, prayer and dialog, I found myself musing and praying about how our nation needs “the mind of Christ” and effective leadership for “national clean-up” in every sphere, and at every level – not just clean-up from a tragic oil spill. Let us “stand in the gap” for the leaders our nation so desperately needs.
“He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
BP reported early Wednesday morning that the “static kill” process was going according to plan, as heavy drilling mud pumped into the throat of its blown-out Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico is 
