Neighbors don’t have to see you pray
I am all for the students of Soddy-Daisy being able to pray before a game on Friday nights, or any other time they feel it is necessary. That is their American granted right. I just want to make sure they are being taught the proper way to pray, the way Jesus said to do it in the Bible. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the street, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:5-6.
Have these students been taught or are they afraid that if they do not pray out in the open for everyone else to see, they won’t be good Christians? Are they afraid that others will not think they are good Christians if they don’t see them praying? All that matters is how you and your Creator and Savior see you, not your neighbor.
TIM WRIGHT
Georgetown, Tenn.
There’s no surprise in election outcome
No one should be surprised at the outcome of the election. Those in power ran roughshod over the will of the people regarding passage of health care, bailouts, cash for clunkers (buying Korean and Japanese cars with borrowed Chinese money), buying automobile companies and not knowing the difference between wants and needs which have resulted in a national debt of almost $14 trillion. Those who sow the wind reap the whirlwind.
DALE E. YODER
Treat potential for TBI depression
Traumatic brain injury affects over 5 million Americans each year. Just last year, there were over 350 reported cases of TBI in the Chattanooga area. Many people who experience TBI suffer from depressive symptoms or are diagnosed with depression.
The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that depression “may be the most common and disabling psychiatric disorder in individuals with TBI.” However, often times depressive symptoms do not begin to appear until three months post-injury.
This information tells us that depression does not have to be a side affect of TBI. If, after receiving a TBI diagnosis, steps were taken to prevent depression while simultaneously rehabilitating the individuals’ cognitive and/or physical impairments, then the high percentages of those who become depressed are likely to decrease.
To treat the potential for depression would take little effort by rehabilitating officials. Just showing the slightest amount of compassion might do all the difference in preventing depression in post-TBI patients.
HAILEY WARD
Marijuana ‘dangers’ from prohibition
As a Colorado resident, I strongly disagree with the opinion that the “Dangers of legalizing marijuana” (editorial, Oct. 23) are good a reason to continue caging sick citizens who use the relatively safe, God-given plant cannabis (marijuana). Most all the “dangers” are a consequence of prohibition, not the plant itself.
One important reason to re-legalize the plant cannabis for sick citizens that doesn’t get mentioned is because it is biblically correct since Christ God Our Father, The Ecologician, indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the very first page (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30).
The only biblical restriction placed on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness (see 1 Timothy 4:1-5). And, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:17.
Further, many people know of cannabis as the tree of life, and the very last page of the Bible indicates the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations.
STAN WHITE
Dillon, Colo.
Consider holiday blood donations
I urge all healthy adult readers of the Times Free Press to consider making appointments with Blood Assurance during the four-day Thanksgiving weekend and the two-week Christmas-New Year holiday. Since university and high school students will be away during those days, the importance of replacement donors becomes urgent.
As soon as I am healed from my June 15 home accident, I will gladly resume my gifts of platelets and plasma to this wonderful community.
HARRY GELLER
Follow Scripture, pray in secret
I’m reminded of Matthew 6, which reads as follows:
6:6, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
6:7, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
6:8, “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
6:9, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
6:10, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
6:11,” Give us this day our daily bread.”
6:12, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Nothing prevents a person from praying before the game, during or after the game. What we need is less show and more following of the Scripture. Find a closet, folks; that’s what Jesus would do.
STAN WOFFORD
Rotate prayers among religions
It’s amazing how quickly we abandon the Constitution when it doesn’t fit with our personal beliefs.
Here’s a solution: Rotate prayers. Each public school function — paid for by all taxpayers — should feature a prayer by one of the world’s religions (since U.S. citizens come from all over the world and all faiths).
To be fair we could select them alphabetically, starting with agnostics, Anglicans, and then atheists (they could do a lecture on quantum physics or something). We’ll include Baptists between Baha’i and Buddhists. Then Hindus, Jews and Muslims. Catholics and Mormons will have their own slots since they’re not “real” Christians. Don’t forget Unitarians!
I guess we’ll make a place for all various flavors of Christianity — God as one person, two, three, etc. Make room for the Pentecostals, they’ll need it when they’re overcome by the Holy Spirit. We’ve got to have Seventh-day Adventists, but we can’t have that game on Friday night!
We’ve got to include all the Pagans including the original, animist religions, Shamanism and Voodoo. Nobody likes the Satanists, but we’ve got to include them, too. And that guy Joe, who has his own personal religion.
I’m sure all these folks will be warmly welcomed … with torches and pitchforks.
GREG LAUDEMAN
East Ridge