to make arrangements to have televisions available to join in the East Room service.
Sleep had not come to the Bookseller that night. The burden was heavy on him to be careful to say only what God wanted him to say. He remembered God’s cry of frustration and anger to Jeremiah against self-appointed “prophets” who ran with a message that He had not given them, leading God’s people further away. “But which of them,” God questioned, “has stood in the counsel of the Lord to see or hear His Word?” The Bookseller wanted to be such a man; a man who stood in the counsel of the Lord to hear His word because of how God said He would use such a man. God had declared, “But if they had stood in My counsel, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.”39 He knew that God’s declaration must be his purpose for this day and the few moments he would have to open the East Room service. His words must be God’s words to God’s people.
A peace came over the Bookseller as he dressed. He passed on breakfast, for this was not to be a day to focus on himself, even in the simple act of eating. This was a day to deny himself, even that small pleasure, so that he could focus fully on God. Taking Margaret’s hand, he smiled. “I must admit, I never thought I would live to see a time when a modern president would have the courage to call the nation to repentance. God has done an amazing thing. He must have a clear purpose for a changed America.”
“Yes, if America will allow itself to be changed,” Margaret replied.
“It is not America as a whole that is at issue this morning,” the Bookseller responded. “It is we who call ourselves Christians, but who live in active rebellion against the teachings of the Bible. Many Christians’ lives effectively declare that we can be our own god and live any way we want. By our lives, we have said to a watching world that the Bible is a lie and Jesus is not God. Who in their right mind would want to become what they see of Christians today? The only argument for being a Christian is the ‘happy church good time hour’ or the theology of ‘grabbing fire insurance before it is too late.’ Church has become a club in which you don’t even have to pay dues if you don’t want.”
They were silent as they were led to a small room near the East Room to await the time to begin. The little group of three from Williams held hands and prayed. The Bookseller had been given no program, no time limitations, nothing. What would happen in these next few public moments had been left completely in his hands. Those were the president’s instructions, again over the objections of many advisors who warned of possible adverse political consequences. The president, even as the Bookseller had passed on food, was passing on political consequences. Nothing must get in the way of hearing from God.
The battle in the invisible had gone on throughout the night. Unbeknownst to those now gathering in the East Room, Professor Trice had been awakened by a representative of an organization called Government Without God, better known as GWG, to immediately file suit to block the broadcast. He had moved quickly, understanding the importance of standing against what he saw as an attempt by the religious forces to take their message to the public without restraint. He truly feared what could happen if the American people heard the message of the Bible without restraint and without “clarification.” His Keeper dug his fingers deep into Trice’s brain to plant the passion and influence necessary to fight this last-minute battle in the midst of the Harkins setback.
Suit was filed by 2:00 AM, claiming the broadcast was a violation of the First Amendment prohibition against the establishment of religion. A pre-selected favorable United States District Judge who had been appointed by former President Cox was then awakened. Judge Hightower had been carefully avoided since he had demonstrated that he could not be trusted on a matter of this importance. An injunction was issued without the government having the opportunity to appear and oppose the request. The order would allow the service to go forward, but not be broadcast. Professor Trice notified the White House and ITN demanding that the broadcast be canceled.
But Professor Trice was not the only legal mind awake at that hour. Attorney General Rodriquez had been up all night preparing for such a battle. He had been directed by the light within to expect a challenge, and the appeal papers to seek reversal of an expected injunction were ready. The United States Court of Appeals for the 1st circuit had been notified of the possibility, and a panel was on call if needed. The appeal was filed quickly, and the matter was fully briefed and argued by both sides as the sun rose over Washington. By the time most in the Capitol had finished their breakfast, a decision had been rendered.
The court’s opinion was direct and simple.
We reverse the District Court. No evidence was presented to demonstrate compulsion by the president or this administration to force the broadcast or to force anyone to watch. No government funds are being expended, and thus there is no state action to establish any particular religion.
The president is also a private citizen with the right to the free exercise of his religion as he may wish. There is historical precedent for political leaders in this nation, including presidents, to call the country to voluntary prayer and repentance. If the media wishes to cover the event, that is their First Amendment right. The injunction was issued in error and is hereby dissolved.
There was no time for a Supreme Court appeal. Professor Trice was tied up with Dr. Bristol, making sure they would have all the documents together for the 1:00 PM showdown with Judge Hightower. Dr. Bristol was willing to stand for what he believed in as long as he did not have to stand behind bars. Trice shared that opinion. The appeal would not have been heard anyway as the Supreme Court was in recess this morning. The majority of the members of the court were now sitting in the East Room awaiting the start of the service.
By 10:30 AM, the East Room was full, with an overflow of people standing in the back. The president’s invitation to members of his administration had been almost uniformly accepted. Present in the room were the vice president, cabinet secretaries, heads of departments, advisors, the Joint Chiefs, members of the Survival Commission, and as mentioned above, most members of the United States Supreme Court. Although no one knew what to expect, there was a sense of history and anticipation in the room. Some prayed while others simply waited and wondered what was about to happen.
The nation paused at 11:00 AM, some from deep commitment, others from curiosity to hear what the old man from Williams was going to say. People throughout the earth had been drawn together for this moment, and it began simply with a plainly dressed little old man with white hair and a white beard walking to a podium at the front of the room carrying a Bible and a single sheet of white paper.
Taking his Bible, the Bookseller turned to the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy and said by way of introduction, “To his people, to those who publicly had declared that they would follow Him as their God, the Lord through Moses laid out consequences of their future choices, for God is a God of the moment, and the consequences we face individually and as a nation are not the result of history — they are dependent on the choices we make now — the choices we make today. Listen to the Word of God.
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:40
“Consider this one blessing out of the many:
The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.41
“And now consider the consequences of a different choice:
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:42
“Consider
