All the Bible verses in this edition of The Presidential Prayer Team
for Kids Update are from The New Living Translation of the Bible.
 Click here to learn how to print this page.

IN THIS ISSUE

  • Meet William Penn, a great and godly man!
  • Who wrote from prison, hoping to encourage others in their faith?
  • President Bush promises we won't be intimidated by terrorists!

Things to pray for

President Bush met with his cabinet on Wednesday of this week. His cabinet members are the people closest to him who advise him on many issues. Photo courtesy of the White House.
  1. There has been really great progress in discovering who made and set the bombs in London last week, so we can thank God for that. But we need to keep on praying for President Bush and the other leaders who will be helping him make sure America is safe. Pray that God will guide them with His help and wisdom.
  2. Even though we hoped that we'd be watching the Space Shuttle Discovery as it orbited the earth this weekend, we can give thanks that the launch was scrapped in time and we can pray for wisdom for NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and others on his team as they decide when is the best time to try the launch again.
  3. If you've been listening to the news lately, you know that the President has a big choice to make in the next several weeks. Since Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retired from the Court, he now must choose someone to take her place. Pray that God will guide the President as he chooses a new judge for the Supreme Court, helping him select the person who will please God and rule justly. Ask God to help the President choose the right person—someone who has great judgment and who really understands the Constitution.
  4. Pray for our troops as they serve our President and our nation overseas and right here at home, asking God to protect them and help them to do their jobs very well. Pray for those who have been injured and have lost limbs, that God will give them the strength and patience to recover and return to normal life. Pray that they will have God's comfort and help.

Leaders to pray for


Director of the Central Intelligence Agency—
Porter Goss
Photo courtesy of the White House.

As head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Porter Goss and his team work to gather meaningful information that impacts the well-being of the citizens of the United States. In his role as an advisor to other intelligence agencies like the National Security Council as well as the President, he provides knowledge and takes action to ensure the national security of the United States and the preservation of American life and ideals.

The CIA works very carefully to protect the sources and ways they gather intelligence. Team members must portray strong personal integrity and courage while sacrificing for their nation. Most often their efforts are quiet and unseen.

Porter Goss came to the position with outstanding qualifications, having worked as an Army intelligence officer with a decade of experience in the CIA's clandestine service. A CIA field officer on two continents, Mr. Goss has a rich knowledge of the agency, and he understands the importance of human intelligence.

No stranger to public service, Mr. Goss was elected to represent the 14th Congressional District of Florida for almost 16 years. He has also served as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 until August 2004.

Mr. Goss holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in classics and Greek from Yale University. He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and with his wife, Mariel, has four children and 11 grandchildren.


Director of National Intelligence—
John Negroponte
Photo courtesy of the White House.

Did you know that our country has 17 different intelligence agencies? "Intelligence" is information that is gathered about an enemy or an enemy's efforts to bring harm.

President Bush created the position of Director of National Intelligence as a way of getting all the different intelligence-gathering agencies in our country working together. Ambassador John Negroponte works with them all, helping them share information so that our country can be safe. Ambassador Negroponte also briefs the President every morning on any threats to America's security that are revealed by our intelligence efforts. He sets the budget for each of the intelligence agencies as they do their work every year.

How many of our country's 17 intelligence agencies can you name? Hover here for full list:

Ambassador Negroponte was born in London, England and is a graduate of Yale University. He is married to Diana, and they have five children.

Bible Verses of the week

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.
—Luke 18:1

Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
—I Thessalonians 5:16-18

WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THE LONDON BOMBINGS

Image courtesy of the White House.

This week there's great suffering in the city of London, but Londoners are resilient. They have faced brutal enemies before. A city that survived the Nazi blitz will not yield in the face of thugs and assassins. And just as America and Great Britain stood together to defeat the totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century, we now stand together against the murderous ideologies of the 21st century.

History teaches us that we can be confident in the future because the darkness of tyranny is no match for the shining power of freedom. There will be tough fighting ahead; there will be difficult moments along the path to victory. The terrorists know they can't defeat us on the battlefield. The only way the terrorists can win is if we lose our nerve. This isn't going to happen on my watch. America and its allies will continue to act decisively, and the cause of freedom will prevail.
--George W. Bush

PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation.

America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask every man and woman in this audience that from this day on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great Book.
--Woodrow Wilson

MEET WILLIAM PENN!

This portrait shows William Penn as a very young man, perhaps about the age of 22 when he wrote his wonderful work on holy living called No Cross, No Crown. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Do you know about William Penn, the founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? He was a great and godly man who took his Quaker faith very seriously. When William Penn lived, it was costly to be a Quaker in part, because they were outside the mainstream Puritan faith. As a young man, William Penn was imprisoned three times because of his beliefs. It was during his imprisonment in London Tower that he wrote his famous book, No Cross, No Crown. Read the following excerpt from No Cross, No Crown and see if you think this man was serious and sincere in his Christian faith:

Christ's cross is Christ's way to Christ's crown. This is the subject of the following discourse, first written during my confinement in the Tower of London in the year of 1668, now reprinted with great enlargement of matter and testimonies, that thou mayest be won to Christ, or if won already, brought nearer to Him. It is a path which God in His everlasting kindness guided my feet into, in the flower of my youth, when about two and twenty years of age. He took me by the hand and led me out of the pleasures, vanities and hopes of the world. I have tasted of Christ's judgments, and of His mercies, and of the world's frowns and reproaches. I rejoice in my experience, and dedicate it to Thy service in Christ...
--William Penn

Those are some pretty amazing and mature thoughts for a young man of 22, wouldn't you say?

THINK ABOUT IT!

When you think of William Penn writing words that encourage others in their faith it should remind you of a really important person in the Bible—the New Testament, specifically. Who also wrote from prison to encourage others in their faith? Hover here to read:

William Penn wrote No Cross, No Crown as a very young man. He eventually was released from prison and came to the New World to see some land that had been granted to his father. This land eventually became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state founded to provide for religious freedom!

William Penn had a family whom he loved very much. At one point in his life he did not know if he would ever see them again. He passed some important advice on to his children as he was nearing the end of his life. You see, Penn wanted to be sure that his children had plenty of reminders to keep following God and loving Him.

If you had kids, what kind of advice would you leave for them?

Here are some of William Penn's words. Read them carefully and see if they are meaningful to you!

Portrait of William Penn courtesy of Berkshirehistory.com.
 
1 "Above all things, my dear children, as to your communion and fellowship with Friends (fellow Quakers), be careful to keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace. Have a care of reflectors, detractors, backbiters, that undervalue and undermine brethren behind their backs, or slight the good and wholesome order of truth for the preserving things quiet, sweet, and honorable in the church." Hover here for a PPT Kids version of William's words."
2 "Have a care of novelties, and airy, changeable people, the conceited, censorious, and puffed up, who at last have always shown themselves to be clouds without rain, and wells without water, that will rather disturb and break the peace and fellowship of the church where they dwell than not have their wills and way take place." Hover here for a PPT Kids version of William Penn's words:
3 "Having thus expressed myself to you, my dear children, as to the things of God, His truth and Kingdom, I refer you to His light, grace, spirit, and truth within you, and the Holy Scriptures of truth without you, which from my youth I loved to read, and were ever blessed to me, and which I charge you to read daily; the Old Testament for history chiefly; the Psalms for meditation and devotion; the Prophets for comfort and hope; but especially the New Testament for doctrine, faith, and worship; for they were given forth by holy men of God in divers ages, as they were moved of the Holy Spirit, and are the declared and revealed mind and will of the holy God to mankind under divers dispensations, and they are certainly able to make the man of God perfect, through faith unto salvation; being, such a true and clear testimony to the salvation that is of God..."

Hey--We think you can understand this paragraph pretty well without help! Give it a try!

WEEKLY QUIZ

QUESTION 1

Read paragraph #1 of William Penn's words.

What is the most important thing William Penn wants his kids to remember to do?

  1. William Penn wants his kids to be sure to have a lot of friends.
  2. William Penn wants his kids to hang out with anyone they meet--because everyone has something good to offer.
  3. William Penn wants his kids to find their most meaningful friendships in church, because those are the kids they'll have the most in common with.

QUESTION 2

Read paragraph #2 of William Penn's words.

What does Penn say is the problem with "airy, changeable and conceited people?"

  1. They may look flashy at first, but when you really need them, they might not have much real support to offer.
  2. They put their own needs before the needs of others--especially in the church.
  3. They will create problems because they tend to want their own way, and that usually means trouble in any group of people--especially in the church.

QUESTION 3

Read the final paragraph of William Penn's words.

Based on his thoughts for his children, which statement do you think best explains William Penn's feelings about the Bible?

  1. He thinks the Bible is a good book, but not of much use for every day kids.
  2. Penn believes that the Bible is too diverse in its approach. You should find a book that is more focused and clear in its purpose.
  3. Penn believes that everything a kid could need can be found there, so he really wants his children to stay in the Scriptures.

THINK ABOUT IT!

William Penn said that everything we need is in the Scriptures—they have all kinds of important truths for people of all ages. What are the things Penn says can be found there? Hover here for a look at the things Penn says you can find in the Bible:

SCRIPTURE CHECK

In William Penn's last sentence he uses words that echo some of Jesus' words. Can you think where they are found in your Bible? Hover here to read:

QUESTION 4

True or False: William Penn tells his children to read their Bibles carefully, because he regrets that he never did so when he was a child.

  1. True
  2. False

A WORD TO PPT KIDS

Even though William Penn lived a long, long time ago, his words are pretty good ones for kids today! That's one of the reasons it is so good to learn the history of our nation--because every voice that has spoken in the past can teach us something for the future. If you've ever gotten caught up with the kinds of friends William Penn was talking about, you know the value of his advice. Just stay with your friends who are steady and secure, and you won't be as likely to get hurt or disappointed.

Home | Sign Up | Downloads | Radio Program | Archives | Contact | Last Week
Presented by the sustaining partners of The Presidential Prayer Team.
© Copyright 2005 The Presidential Prayer Team, Inc.

INTERNET SECURITY NOTICE: For your safety, The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids will never phone or initiate personal correspondence. If anyone saying they are from The Presidential Prayer Kids contacts you (other than to respond to your question or request or to send you birthday greetings or updates), please tell your parents or the authorities. Never give your address, phone number or personal information to anyone you don't know (or anyone else on the Internet). Membership is free and members' names and email addresses will never be shared with any other entity or individual.

The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids is a division of The Presidential Prayer Team (www.presidentialprayerteam.org), a nonprofit, charitable organization. The Presidential Prayer Team is not affiliated with, nor does it receive funding from, any political party or office of the government.