Prayer Breakfast

"Our people in uniform understand the high calling they have answered because they see the nation and the lives they are changing. A guardsman from Utah named Paul Holton has described seeing an Iraqi girl crying and decided then and there to help that child and others like her. By enlisting aid through the Internet, Chief Warrant Officer Holton had arranged the shipment of more than 1,600 aid packages from overseas. Here's how this man defines his own mission: "It is part of our heritage that the benefits of being free, enjoyed by all Americans, were set up by God, intended for all people. Bondage is not of God, and it is not right that any man should be in bondage at any time, in any way." Everyone one in this room can say amen to that." (Applause.)

- President George W. Bush, salutes Chief Wiggles during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, 5 Feb 2004. Written transcript, audio, and video of the very brief speech here. (Don't miss the video.) The president cites other individuals in uniform performing similar charitable acts.

Meanwhile, in my part of the world we were treated to an appearance by Ravi Zacharias. An extraordinarily gifted speaker, listening to him in person I didn't notice the passage of time as I contemplated his powerful words. Such talents are rare these days. You owe it to yourself to not miss any opportunity you may have to see this man.

Paraphrasing, but Dr Zacharias relayed a story about being in Washington DC, in an event with journalists, "think tank-types", government officials, and others. A question was raised; "what do terrorists fear?" His simple answer: A moral America.

I think the President was on the same wavelength.

An earlier version of Dr Zacharias' remarks can be read here, from a Prayer Breakfast speech to the UN from 2002.

There are tremendous, audio, video, and text resources available at Dr Zacharias' website.