1 A nondenominational prayer? Isn't the whole point of a prayer is to ask assistance from at least one specific higher power?

2 Ya know, I'm all for people praying, until they try to make prayer part of the official process of government. There is no priestly caste in America, and religion has no place in government. If any government officials want to pray, there are lots of hours in the day to do it in private. Here are some relevant scriptures: Mat 23:1-2 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: In other words, they're putting themselves where they don't belong. Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers. Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Kelo v. new London, anyone? Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Perhaps they should see to the business of state, rather than that of the temple. Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. The GOP corruption scandal springs to mind here. For all their holier-than-thou churchiness, the Republicans sure don't seem to mind dirty money any more than the dhimmicraps do. Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. No more need be said.