Walkway to inaugural stage

Atheists may want prayer banned at Barack Obama's inauguration, and Muslims may appreciate the Islamic influence in his past, but the walkway the president-elect will take to the stage on which he will take the oath of office has been dedicated to Jesus Christ.

At a brief prayer and dedication service this week, two Christian leaders and a Christian congressman physically anointed with oil from the Holy Land the doorway through which Obama will walk to place his hand on Abraham Lincoln's Bible and swear to support the Constitution of the United States of America.

The leaders also encouraged Christians to pray for the land's soon-to-be leader.

A video of the service was posted on YouTube, and it also is embedded here:

At the service were Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia, FaithandAction.org chief Rev. Rob Schenck, and ChristianDefenseCoalition.com leader Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney.

In the video, Broun makes an introduction before  Schenck cites the biblical affirmation that the Lord "can and does turn the hearts of the leaders."

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Oil described as being from the Holy Land was placed on the doorjambs.

Broun prayed that God would stir the heart of the new president.

"It's important for us to pray for this place, but also important to pray for the people involved," Broun said.

Mahoney read the prayer delivered 40 years earlier by Rev. Billy Graham at the first inauguration of President Richard Nixon, making one significant change.

"In thy sovereignty thou hast permitted Barack Obama to lead us at this momentous hour of our history," he read, substituting Obama's name for Nixon's.

He also declared the United States is a "nation under God."

"Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom, our power," he continued, alluding to the nation's Christian foundations.

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do," he prayed.

"The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the test of this hour. … Too long have we tried to solve our problems without Thee. … Now with the wages of sin staring us in the face, we recall your words, 'If my people who are called by My name will repent, and turn from their wicked says, and call on me, I will forgive them, and heal their land.'"

The trio consecrated Obama to his duties as president and prayed for him and his family.

"In the moments of testing, Lord, may they find themselves in a place of humility and obedience to Your voice, Your will and Your Word," they prayed.

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