The Warren prayer

Judging by all I've heard for the last few weeks, there are thousands of people out there far more worried about Rick Warren's prayer this morning than Rick Warren is.

I don't know Rick Warren well. But from the time I have spent with him, I have a hunch he'll offer an actual prayer-not a speech, or even a sermon, disguised as a prayer. I hope he'll offer up his desires to God on America's behalf, for things agreeable to God's will, in the name of Jesus, with confession of our sins, and grateful acknowledgment of God's mercies. That's what prayer is.

I was at Saddleback Church last August when Warren invited Barack Obama and John McCain for a pair of interviews that many observers said were the best interviews of the whole presidential campaign. Reporters in the big media center couldn't get over the fact that Warren pulled no punches. He was very much himself through the whole event, and that integrity won him a noticeable round of support from those who, going into the afternoon, had been nothing but cynical.

There are cynics again today. Some worry that Warren will get too preachy. Some worry he'll betray his Christian faith and forget to mention the name of Jesus.

I expect Warren to pray.

ADDENDUM: Here's video of Pastor Warren's prayer: