A FUNNY MESSAGE?

 Most of us receive E-mails that include alleged quotes or essays by everyone from General George Patton to Clarabelle The Clown.

The most recent one was allegedly written and recited by Ben Stein on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary - one of my favorite programs to tape.

I don't recall hearing this commentary - cannot verify it was ever written or presented by Mr. Stein - but admittedly, I may still have a couple programs stored.

We have a tendency to repeat or make reference to folks who we either can't stand or despise or, on a more positive note,  have a view on life that matches our own.

What I share below is an example of the latter.

Previous blogs have indicated that when younger I was a very active member in a few churches, holding various offices and titles.

For clarity sake, I want to state that's no longer the case. I seldom attend church with the exception of the occasional weddings or funeral and may change that in the coming year.

My reasons are personal. I still believe in God  and the excerpts I repeat from Steins alleged commentary which I edited for brevity and impact - are feelings and beliefs that I share.

"I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

In light of recent events . . . .terrorists attack, school shootings, etc .. I think it started when Madeliene Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools - and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school . . . The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem. (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) We said an expert should know what he's talking about..And (again) we said OK.

Now, we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school or workplace.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Are you laughing yet?"