Samuel Thompson

wrote, "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. And we are

in the Bible belt. 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 earplugs. 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 court systems strip us of all our rights.

Our parents

and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go

to sleep. Our Bible tells us just 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

screams loud enough to be heard, know that the vast majority of us 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, and we will win. After all, the God you have the right to denounce

is on our side.

May God bless

us one and all, especially those who denounce Him. God bless America,

despite all her faults still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our

servicemen who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back

as the foundation of our families and institutions. Keep looking up. In

God we trust (what a shocking statement).

The Rev.

Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev.

Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the

Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The

church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of

Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church

office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]. The church's

new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com

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