Praying for the People of Tuscaloosa...

...and all the most recent victims of tornadoes in the South. May the acts of nature be followed by the compassionate acts of God prompted in His people.

4-27-11 Tornado Tuscaloosa, Al from Crimson Tide Productions on Vimeo.

By the way, here are links to pictures taken recently of a tornado in the Eastgate area of Clermont County, where we lived for seventeen years, here and here. All of Ohio has gotten rain this April, where we've had only six days without it. But the Cincinnati has been particularly hard-hit, including much severe weather.

Prayer for Clermont 20/20 Salute to Leaders Banquet

This evening, I attended Salute to Leaders, an annual event sponsored by Clermont 20/20, an organization in our suburban/rural county that fosters the development of leadership and that recognizes those whose service makes our communities better. There were about 500 people in attendance. It's heartening to note the supportive presence of our elective officials, too.

Two of the leaders recognized this evening are involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Clermont County: Lynn Baird, who works with the high schoolers, received the county wide Civic Award; Deidra Thacker, a nine-year member of the New Richmond club, received the youth leadership award.

I was honored to provide the prayer for the event:

Lord:
You’ve taught us and during this Lenten season we especially remember, that the only true leaders in the world are those who dare to be servants. They put the needs of others ahead of their own agendas. True leaders have learned that to accomplish anything of significance, they must think “we” more than “me.”

This is difficult for us to accept, Lord, and even more difficult for us to live. So, we’re grateful when we find good examples of servant-leaders like those we honor here tonight.

As we salute these Clermont County leaders, Father, help us also to thank them for being living examples of servanthood. And teach us all to be servants.

We thank You for the efforts of those who prepared our meal and those who will serve it and those who readied this room for our gathering tonight.

Thank You for the food that’s set before us. We ask You to use it to strengthen us to be Your servants.

We pray all these things in the Name of the Savior God Who dared to put us first, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

I also led the Pledge of Allegiance last night. But when I scanned the room in which we were meeting, I found that the only flag in the place was an enormous balloon-version on the wall behind the stage. I told the crowd it was a first for me, pledging allegiance to the balloons of the United States of America. (Cindy Jenkins, the always-up CEO of Clermont 20/20 said that there was supposed to be a real flag there, then told us all, "First glitch of the evening!" You gotta appreciate people with Cindy's positive attitude!) So, we said the pledge facing this balloon flag, fifty-five stars and all!