15 Sep '05 00:24>
of Allegiance. As you may have heard a court ruled today that it is unconsitutional to have the words "under God" in the pledge as they represent state sponsored religious support and maybe religious cohersion of children. Perhaps a lawyer in the "house" might clarify this ruling.
However, this post is not to debate the decision. I have seen children in school recite the pledge of allegiance many times. I'm not sure there is any reaction to those words at all. The other night I was sitting in a hospital room with my ten year old who is very sick. It was sort of quiet on the unit. A pentecostal church group came for a lady down the hall. They all surrounded her bed and prayed. They screamed, fell out on the floor , cried, spoke in tongues, and everything else you can imagine. Sorry, no snakes. As you may know, that is not exactly the religious tradition I come from. And yet, I've got to give it up to these people for knowing what prayer is. For them it is not some stale cracker of diluted thought lowered to the least offensive idea so as to placate everyone.
MY wife said that she considered asking them to pray for our kid if they returned. My only hesitation was that the sheer volume might frighten her. Anyway, this whole experience got me to reflect on the nature prayer as perhaps the "ultimate conversation."
Anyway, I thank you for your prayers however you experience them.
However, this post is not to debate the decision. I have seen children in school recite the pledge of allegiance many times. I'm not sure there is any reaction to those words at all. The other night I was sitting in a hospital room with my ten year old who is very sick. It was sort of quiet on the unit. A pentecostal church group came for a lady down the hall. They all surrounded her bed and prayed. They screamed, fell out on the floor , cried, spoke in tongues, and everything else you can imagine. Sorry, no snakes. As you may know, that is not exactly the religious tradition I come from. And yet, I've got to give it up to these people for knowing what prayer is. For them it is not some stale cracker of diluted thought lowered to the least offensive idea so as to placate everyone.
MY wife said that she considered asking them to pray for our kid if they returned. My only hesitation was that the sheer volume might frighten her. Anyway, this whole experience got me to reflect on the nature prayer as perhaps the "ultimate conversation."
Anyway, I thank you for your prayers however you experience them.