"THAT WORD"

Jesus Banned From Christmas Poem - Andrew White

The following comes from an article in the Pastor's Briefing of 12/23/08. This is a weekly briefing I receive from Focus on the Family. I am so glad that there are educators in our school system who actually understand the laws concerning Jesus Christ in the classroom. Read on---
Mississippi public school teacher, Latasha Atkins, gave her 6th-grade class a creative writing assignment with a choice of three topics. One student, Andrew White, chose "What Christmas Means to Me." Andrew's original poem, which he entitled, "A Great Christmas," reads:
The best Christmas ever is when everyone is there.

It is when everyone is laughing here and there.That is the Christmas I want to share.

Christmas is about Jesus' birth.About peace on Earth.This is what Christmas is about.

It is when He lay in a manger.And the three wise men come to see.That's what it means to me.
After White turned in the rough draft of the poem, his teacher circled the word "Jesus," deducted a point from his grade, and asked him to rewrite the poem without using that word. (emphasis mine) White's parents questioned the teacher about her comments and were told by e-mail that "[Andrew] and another child did a poem about Christ. I know we can't discuss these type [sic] of things in school so I asked the two of them to do another poem of their choice."
But Principal Carrie Hornsby did not agree with Atkins, and sided with Andrew and his parents, changing his grade to a 100 and conceding that there was nothing improper in using Jesus' name. Hornsby also asked each teacher to send out a letter to all the parents explaining that religious expression is permitted under federal guidelines.

God's marvelous blessings to Principal Carrie Hornsby. I pray that other educators around the nation will take her lead and educate themselves as to the laws of our land concerning "that word"--Jesus Christ.

Pastor Joe

IT'S BEEN AWHILE

Well, it has been 8 months and 2 days since my last entry. Sorry 'bout that but things got pretty busy in my life. We had to move from our home which we were buying because MOLD was beginning to take it over. In fact, when we had it inspected we were told that by the time the mold was cleared out and the necessary repairs done to where the mold was removed, we were looking at around $25,000 plus to make the house liveable for us. My wife had to go to Texas to her daughters for a few weeks while I searched for another place to live.
We became suspicious after every time she went to visit her daughters she would feel better than ever while there, but when she came home she went downhill again. After we moved she mentioned several times how she felt better than she had in years. In fact, she had started back taking art classes and she had lined up a piano and guitar student to start teaching again.
As many of you know, she died on August 17 of this year. She went to bed Saturday night and when I went to wake her for church Sunday morning she was gone. More than once she mentioned how when it was her time to go that she would like to just go to bed one night and wake up in heaven. Praise God, she got her wish. Her passing was easy and painless and I thank God for that.
As I plan to celebrate Christmas tomorrow with my son in Ponca City and my daughter in Pond Creek, I have joyful thoughts of Barbara celebrating her first Christmas with the One whose birth we celebrate. It must be an overwhelming joy for her to be in His presence. I would not wish her back into this world when I know she lives where there is no more suffering pain, politicians, etc. In fact, there are no preachers there either. Don't need them in heaven. Their work is done. No more Sunday worship services--every day is a MAX worship service in the presence of our Lord.
I tell my friends that since Barbara is now in heaven I have a lot more to worry about. She and my other two wives who died (1978 and 1992) are getting their heads together and comparing notes. Boy, am I in trouble when I get home!! Seriously, though, I'm looking forward to that wonderful day of reunion in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please don't read this as a "downer" for Christmas. It's not. Sure, I would like to have Barbara right here with me at Christmas, enjoying the grandchildren as their little lives sparkle at the wonder of it all. But I must be happy for her as she has run the race, finished the course, and now receives those wonderful words from her Savior, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I am so happy that I can honestly say that I have not lost any of my three wives--I know exactly where they are.
May Christmas of 2008 be a joyful one for you and your family! May the New Year of 2009 be entered into with great expectations of magnificent prosperity--the kind the Lord wishes for us. There is a prosperity that you cannot put in your banking account. That is the one that really matters.
May God continue to bless each and every one of you!
Joe