I promised myself I was going to get through the current legislative session without publicly renewing my standing concerns about the daily invocations that open House and Senate sessions.

And then Monday happened. It’s OK to break a promise to yourself, right?

I’ve noted (carped?) in the past (including a 2013 column about the obvious predominance of Christian invocations) that many of the prayers ignore the obvious reality that this is a government building and there are lots of folks in it, elected and otherwise, of differing or no religion.

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On the House side, it’s a reminder highlighted in bold on the letter sent to chaplains of the day: “Because of the religious and partisan diversity of the Texas Legislature, as well as the diversity of the guests in the gallery and those who may be watching the process from afar, we urge that your invocation be non-sectarian. We request that your brief invocation promote civility and tolerance.”

Those are the marching orders, as far as you can give clergy marching orders. Many who offer invocations do a good job of making it inclusive. Some do not. See where you think the Monday House invocation by Rev. Will Bostian of The City Church in Fort Worth ranks on the nonsectarian scale.

He began by noting his first job out of college. “I walked these halls representing one of the highest authorities in this building,” said Bostian, who was a travel aide to then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst from October 2010 through September 2011.

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“And now I’m thankful to represent one of the highest authorities in the universe,” Bostian said, still pre-prayer. “King Jesus stood before one of the greatest authorities in the world at one point, and he was asked, ‘Don’t you understand I have authority over your life and death.’ Jesus reminded him that the authority Rome wielded was passed down from a higher authority, And then Jesus explained his kingdom was greater than this world.

“This great king is also a humble king. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even on a cross,” Bostian continued, still in his preamble to prayer. “He came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. That great king was also a perfect king. This is why the gospel is such good news and so it’s a great honor to be with you to be among the representatives of the state of Texas and to pray for you on your behalf.”

I can’t pinpoint the precise line of demarcation between praying and preaching, but this sounded like preaching in a place where it’s inappropriate and uninvited.

“So will you please pray with me?” Bostian said.

“Heavenly father, I pray that the men and women here that know your great love are living by faith in Jesus,” he said. “Today, I pray that you would encourage them and fan the flame of their faith and to worship in endurance. I pray for those who have known this love but have grown distant from it but that you use these brief moments to remind them of the radical grace extended to them in the gospel of Jesus. Please help them to know that when they turn to you in faith that you will have open arms for them.”

Then there was this that sounded like entreaty for all of us who have chosen lives without Jesus: “I pray for those that have never known the love of God and Christ Jesus,” Bostian said. “I pray that they would have a spark of faith in their souls today and that you’d open the floodgates of love in their lives.”

Look, I understand that this is a well-intentioned man of God who has found something wonderfully meaningful in his life and generously wishes to share it with others. But was he trying to pray my Jewish away?

RELATED: A prayer for and of inclusion

The best reason for Texas House and Senate invocations, if they’re reasonable at all, is for a moment of reflection before the lawmaking breaks out. The chaplain of the day is supposed to pray with us. Monday’s invocation left me with the unsettling feeling that I was being prayed on.

A brief nonsectarian prayer promoting civility and tolerance? Sure, can’t hurt, despite that important separation of church and state thing in the Constitution. But if Monday’s Texas House prayer was nonsectarian I’ll eat my yarmulke.

There’s a colorful little plaque next to my front door. “No solicitors,” it says, “religious or otherwise. We are happy just the way we are. If that changes, we’ll call you.”

Whimsical, but serious. That’s why, to me, there must be a hard delineation between a prayer offered in a House of God and one offered in a house of government, one that purports to be a House of Representatives in a state blessed with great diversity.

A legislative invocation can reflect that diversity. I know because I heard it again Tuesday when Rev. David Garcia of Mission Concepcion in San Antonio offered an inspiringly appropriate invocation that included this:

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“Let the vision we have as a state always include a spirit of welcome, respectful dialogue, compassion and generosity, so that everyone in our state participates in forging the future and no one is left behind because of where they live or what family they were born into.”

It was a prayer to which all Texans can say, amen.