[Imc-tech] (no subject)

[Luketaylor111 at aol.com]

The Pastor's Pen

    JUAN NINGUNO, and old preacher-friend of mine from days past, sent me a 
letter not long ago.  His letters are always fantastic (in the sense of the 
primary meaning of that word).  I never know when I'll hear from Juan.  He 
moves around a lot - mostly in almost forgotten places where I myself have 
journeyed.  This letter was sent from Nevada.  Allow me to share it with you:

Dear John,
    As you know, we've been working real hard in our town to get prayer back 
in the schools.  Finally, the school board approved a plan of teacher-led 
prayer with the children participating at their own option.  Children not 
wishing to participate were to be allowed to stand out in the hallway during 
the prayer time.  We hoped someone would sue us so we could go all the way to 
the Supreme Court and get that old devil-inspired ruling reversed.
    Naturally, we were all excited by the school board's action.  As you 
know, our own little Billy (not so little, any more, though) is now in the 
second grade.  Of course, Margaret and I explained to him no matter what the 
other kids did, he was going to stay in the classroom and participate.
    After the first day of school, I asked him, "How did the prayer time go?"
    "Fine."
    "Did many kids go out into the hallway?"
    "Two."
    "Excellent.  How did you like your teacher's prayer?"
    "It was different, Dad.  Real different from the way you pray."
    "Oh? Like how?"
    "She said, 'Hail, Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners...'"
    The next day I talked with the principal.  I politely explained I wasn't 
prejudice against Catholics but I would appreciate Billy being transferred to 
a non-Catholic teacher.  The principal said it would be done right away.
    At supper that evening I asked Billy to say the blessings.  He slipped 
out of his chair, sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, raised his 
hands palms up and began to hum.
    You'd better believe I was at the principal's office at eight o'clock the 
next morning.  "Look," I said.  "I don't really know much about these 
Transcendental Meditationists, but I would feel a lot more comfortable if you 
could move Billy to a room where the teacher practices and older, more 
established religion.'"
    That afternoon I met Billy as soon as he walked in the door after school.
    "I don't think your going to like Mrs. Nakasone's prayer, either, Dad."
    "Out with it."
    "She kept calling God 'O Great Budda...'"
    The following morning I was waiting for the principal in the school 
parking lot.  "Look, I don't want my son praying to the Eternal Spirit of 
whatever or to Buddha.  I want him to have a teacher that prays in Jesus' 
name!"   
    "What about Bertha Smith?"
    "Excellent."
    I could hardly wait to hear about Mrs. Smith's prayer.  I was standing on 
the front steps of the school when the final bell rang.
    "Well?" I asked Billy as we walked towards the car.
    "Okay."
    "Okay what?" 
    "Mrs. Smith asked God to bless us and ended her prayer in Jesus name, 
amen - just like you."
    I breathed a sigh of relief.  "Now we're getting some place."
    "She even taught us a verse of scripture about prayer," said Billy.
    I beamed.  "Wonderful.  What was the verse?"
    "Let's see..." he mused for a moment.  " 'And behold, they began to pray; 
and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.'"
    We had reached the car.  "Fantastic," I said, reaching for the door 
handle.  Then I paused.  I couldn't place the scripture.  "Billy, did Mrs. 
Smith say what book that verse was from?"
    "Third Nephi, chapter 19, verse 18."
    "Third what?" 
    "Nephi," he said, "It's in the Book of Mormon."
    The school board doesn't meet for a month.  I've given Billy very 
definite instructions that at prayer time each day he's to go out into the 
hallway.  I plan to be at that board meeting.  If they don't do something 
about this situation, I'll sue.  I'll take it all the way to the Supreme 
Court if I have to.  I don't need the schools or anybody else teaching my son 
about religion.  We can take care of that ourselves at home and at church, 
thank you very much.
    Give my love to Sandi and the boys.
                                    Your buddy,
                                               Juan