Yeah...It Made Me Angry. What Will It Do To You?

Last night we attended a homecoming football game at our local high school.  Donna and I were talking the night before about this being homecoming week and I thought it would be a cool thing for us, as a family, to attend the game. 

It was a great night for football.  The air was cool, the moon was bright and there was a light breeze blowing.  Everyone was having a great time socializing and eating hamburgers, nachos and enjoying that cool refreshing RC cola.   I had diet…in case you were wondering.

As we sat there waiting for the game, the announcer came on and started introducing the homecoming court.  It was different than any homecoming court I had ever seen, but I was there for the game and to hang out with the family.  I really wasn’t interested in the homecoming court and who their escorts were.  When the announcer finished with the homecoming festivities, he asked if we would rise for a moment of silence; and that’s when my furry started. 

I thought to myself; did he really just say what I think he said?  That guy just asked us to stand for a moment of silence, really?  Why can’t he say, please stand for a moment of prayer?  We’re in East Texas for crying out loud.  Never mind East Texas, we’re in Texas!  NEVER MIND TEXAS WE’RE IN AMERICA!!!  Bro, if you’re afraid of offending someone over asking them to pray, you’re in the wrong place.

I noticed that some of the people had taken off their hats and placed them over their heart or behind their backs as a sign of respect.  Some were lowering their heads and you could hear the faint chatter of prayers throughout the crowd….which is what you should do during this time.  Pray for the players’ safety, the officials to be fair, the coaches to have good attitudes and that the kid next to you would sit down and be still….I think I’m turning into an old man, but that’s for a later blog.  However, there were some that didn’t do anything.  They didn’t lower their head, they didn’t take their hat off, and they didn’t stop talking.  They just kept doing what they had been doing and this really got under my skin. 

As we finished our “moment”, the announcer said, “Please continue to stand for the National Anthem”.  So we did, and as we did I begin to notice those same groups of people that continued to talk and gab put their hand over their heart.  Those that didn’t take their hat off now had it placed over their heart and  that kid that wouldn’t sit down and be still was still and quiet…God does answer prayers at a football game.  However, I thought, you want to talk and gab and run and be disrespectful during a “moment of silence” and now you want to put your hand over your heart as a pledge to America?  My heart sank as I watched this take place. 

We’ve lost our focus America.  We’ve put our trust in a system and that system has now failed us.  We’ve let a government try to run our lives and look what it’s gotten us…broke, jobless and an economy that’s in the tank.

Why can’t we go back to the way it used to be?  Why can’t we go back to prayer at the beginning of a game where we asked God to protect and guide?  Why can’t we as a Nation go back to “In God we Trust” instead of trying to trust a man.  Why can’t we have politicians who will stand and say, this is America and we as a Government will serve God who has blessed this Nation?  Yes, God uses men to do His work, but where are those men today.  Where are the men who know how to depend on God instead of their own abilities?  I posted on my FB page earlier this week, "it's not a question of "Will I make a difference?" Rather, it's "What difference will I make?” and I think that’s the question we need to be asking ourselves.  What difference will I make? 

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic date of 9/11.  As we remember that day and mourn those that lost their lives during this tragic event, let’s take a moment and remember what God has done for us over the last ten years. 

Yes, we have men who have given their life for this Country.  But we also have a God who has given His life for our soul.  Yes, we have men who served this Country with dignity and respect, but we have a God who continues to serve us with love, grace and mercy.  Yes, we have men who have stood through wars and perilous times, but we have a God who has never left us nor forsaken us as we’ve faced our own battles.  We have a God who’s done more for us than any man, Nation or Government can ever do.   Don’t you think it’s time we as a people, stood up and said enough is enough.  I’m proud to be an American, but I’m more proud that I have a God that I can depend on.  America has been good to me, but my God has been better. 

So the next time you hear the words, “Please stand for a moment of silence”, don’t let that moment be a silent one.  Pray out loud and let those around you hear your voice as you speak to your God.  I’m not ashamed.  Let’s get back to trusting God America…It’s not too late.

Just my thoughts on a page.