The following is a conversation that took place in reference to the email "Paul Harvey and Prayer", between myself and the astranged family friend that sent it. The friend being righteously outspoken about her piety.
I received......
....Paul Harvey and Prayer.
Paul Harvey says:
I don't believe in Santa Claus,
but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.
I Don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be
endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.
So what's the big deal?
It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts.
They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America,
a country founded on Christian principles.
According to our very
own phone book,
Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.
So what would you expect-
somebody chanting
Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.
And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome...
"But what about the atheists?"
is another argument.
What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized.
We're not going to pass the collection plate.
Just humor us for 30 seconds.
If that's asking too much,
bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.
Go to the bathroom.
Visit the concession stand.
Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.
One or
two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game is
going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other
cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.
Our
parents and grandparents taught! T us to pray before
eating; to pray before we go to sleep.
Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.
Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us
to cease praying.
God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you,
well just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long.
It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard .... that the vast majority don't care what they want.
It is time the majority rules!
It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray;
you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance;
YOU don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.
That is your right, and we will honor your
right.
But by golly,
you are no longer going to take our rights away.
We are fighting back
we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all . especially those who denounce him.
God bless America,
despite all her faults.
She is still
the greatest nation of all.
God bless our service men who are fighting to protect
our right to pray and worship God.
May 2006 be the year the silent majority is heard
and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions.
Keep looking up.
If you agree with this, please pass it on.
If not ... delete and God bless you .
{I responded....with vigor....}
I. Since when has Christianity since Christ himself walked this earth, ever advocated fighting and war and death. Since when did Christ ever say..."Pick up that sword and live by it to protect your rights"?? Since when did turning the other cheek become to hard for peaceful people.
There is a real problem in this country. In all agreeability some resides within our judiciary, but to deny that some also resides in the Christian faith itself is blasphemous to Christ and God.
When did the Christian faith lose its way. Where are the words decrying violence and war. Where is our saviour now, for he has been desecrated in the name of political treachery.
So how shall I respond to you email, how shall I show you that God and Christ live within my heart and soul........it shall be this. One does not need to organize and/or verbally project their prayers in order to be closer to God or Christ, so do not ask permission and do not ask for recognition....to do either is against the word and will.
Benjamin Tatrow
{I received in return.......}
II. Dear Ben, I am sorry you feel that way about a God who created not only the world you live in, but you also....these little emails I have forwarded to you and Christy are of no secret motive to try to get to you......it is just my way of saying I and God our Father, loves you and HE will always be there for you when and if you choose to turn to him in FAITH. I hope you and Christy have a Blessed New Year, and when I send you an email do what you feel in your heart either read it or delete it....but as a Christian, and a child of God, it is my duty to spread his LOVE and WORD to ALL AND EVERYONE I am able to while I am on this earth. JoAnne (Jan's Mother-in-law)
{I replied....with vigorous restraint}
III. JoAnne,
My dear JoAnne, you have it all wrong. I realize now that I should have made something very clear. I take no offense to the word of God, Christians, Jesus or Faith itself. That needed to be stated and I failed to do so and for that, I apologize.
You must find it just a little odd that this is the first email of yours that I have ever responded to? I have never responded before cause I felt no reason to, honestly. I am a true Christian by birth, but more spiritualized by life. My core values are Christian, but I consider my values an ever growing child within me, with wide eyes and an innocent heart, and he does not need conversion to any one specific Christian faith in order to be close with God, so most of the time I read your emails, smile, laugh and/or cry and I too forward most of them on to people in need of spiritual help.
THAT BEING SAID.
What I took offense to was the language of Paul Harveys message. I find it appalling that in today's day and age, that there are actual Christians upon this earth that believe WAR is an acceptable thing. That segregation and discrimination of GOD'S children of different sexualities, is an acceptable thing. That conversion was a tool ordained by Christ, when in fact Christ excepted all faiths that were not in conflict with God.....“And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” (Luke 9:49-50).
I find it very troubling when I see the words; God, Christ, Faith, Fight, Sick and Tired, Majority rules and win in the same sentence, exclaiming all to be in the same venue of Christianity. A true Christians lays down their sword. A true Christian picks up the poor and oppressed. A true Christian cares less about winning and more about who is suffering. A true Christian does turn the cheek and embrace the murderer. "And Jesus said to to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." LUKE 23:43
"Break free, one must, from the guises and treachery of false prophets; Though their words be soothing and softly spoken, they are blackened and charcoaled bane, embracing the Holy Rose only half handily while raising the Crucifier’s Nails on high within the mighty grasp of the hypocrite's tongue." B.J. Cross
So in closing my feelings of and on God ARE of Hope and Peace and Love. My feelings of and on those that speak wrongly in God's stead are of Caution and Pity and Love, for they are the truly lost and "I AM" is the only path, "I AM" is the only way, "I AM" is the word. "I Am" chose these two words very wisely for all men to hear....and for all mankind to repeat. I am the path, the way and the salvation and so are you, for you too are "I AM".
Benjamin Tatrow
{Conclusion and question}
Theory: the center is an imaginary line, of which only division can occur. Whether left or right of center, progress can only be made when actions are taken to remove the center line all together and live as one people of these United States of America!
If the President and his administration is not held accountable then it will be the children of our children that pay the final price of this day and age in American History!
How can I help, if I do have the means to be heard?
That is my question and thank you for your time.
Benjamin James Tatrow I
Ben=son, jamin=from the right hand
James=father
Tatrow=servant to God
I=II
...the product of which, through biological mathematics, is either copies without the word or words that give copies hope. Written or in the flesh!