John Carney: Delaware

As I peruse the goal to remember all the governors in the coming weeks, I am finding it harder as I go along. It is Friday and I'm praying for the governor I should have done Tueday.

Anyway, I come to John Carney, whose son was or is a student at Clemson. With connections to our state, I can hope that I can muster concentration enough to honor this statesman politician.

Heavenly Father, bless Governor Carney as he works to better the lives of workers and children of Delaware. Bless his wife as she assists him.

Guard him from the mouths and pens that might attempt to harm his programs. I thank you for his work so far in over two decades in Deleware.

In Christ's name,
Amen

Confession Time

I must confess, I subconsciously put off praying over the weekend. I read up on the governors of Colorado, Connecticut and Deleware, the first two even are termed out, and couldn't compose separate nonpartisan prayers for the three Democrats.

This is odd, since I did okay with Jerry Brown. I think it may be that Gov. Brown is a seasoned and principled statesman. These others seem more like young hopeful politicians in comparison.

And so, for tonight, I will be asking anyone who comes across this to pray for these men. This is especially true for those in these 3 states. I will try to get five prayers done in the next two days to catch up.

A prayer:

Lord, I confess that my bias, and any prejudice I surely have, has hindered my prayers. Be with the citizens of these states, and with their leaders in the coming days.

Be with me as I meditate upon what I know, so that I may know what to pray on their behalf.

In Jesus's name, Amen.

Ruth Ann Minner - Deleware

A remarkable woman from humble beginnings, Governor Minner is a twice widowed great grandmother. Having left school at the age of 16 to help work the family farm, she did not receive her Graduate Equivalent Degree (GED) until after the death of her first husband, Frank Ingram . In her mid-thirties she was working two jobs to support her three young sons alone. She later remarried and began her political career in 1974.

Her second husband, Roger Minner, did not live to see her take office in 1993 as Lieutenant Governor. After two terms in the second spot, she was elected to her present position in 2000, and re-elected in 2004. She works to encourage the improvement of education, environment, and job creation and retention. Her most impressive efforts, though, have been in the fight against cancer (killer of her second husband). The cancer rates have declined four times as much as the national average, while cancer deaths are down by twice the national average.

We pray for her continued health as she reaches the end of her second term. Assuming a retirement from public life (not a safe assumption, for sure), we wish her well as she enjoys her three sons and their wives, her seven grandchildren, and her great-granddaughter, great-grandson, and two step-great-grandsons!

Visit her and her state online at http://governor.delaware.gov/index.shtml