Prayer

The tradition of beginning Danville City Commission meetings with a prayer will continue, though Boyle County Fiscal Court decided last week to remove prayer from its meetings and instead have a “moment of silence.” The manner in which city officials pray is not in violation of constitutional law, said City Attorney Stephen Dexter during Monday's City Commission meeting. “This is an issue we've discussed in prior city commissions,” Dexter said. “The question is, is it appropriate or constitutional for this body, or any legislative body, to open its session with a prayer.” Dexter presented summaries of two “landmark cases” to support his legal assessment that praying in government meetings is not unconstitutional.

Please allow me to express my feelings toward public prayer at the beginning of the Boyle Fiscal Court meetings. One of the aspects of the God we pray to as Judeo-Christians is “truth.” John 4:24 states that we are to worship God in spirit and truth. In other words, we bring glory to God when we practice truthfulness in our dealings with other people. In John 18:37, we read the account of Jesus before Pilate. In that instance he told Pilate that he came to the world to testify to the truth.

I am writing today about prayer and Christians defending their freedom. I have read that they have the right to defend their freedom of prayer. Let me be clear. I am not anti-Christian. It seems that everyone wants to say they should have their right to have prayer at a meeting? What about the rights and the freedoms of the atheists? Since they choose not believe what you believe, does that somehow make you more special than they? You can't have it both ways. You can't expect to be able to say you have the right to pray at a public meeting and then trample the rights of those who do not live the way you live.

Self-professed atheist Ricky Smith has done a service in taking up the mission of separating church and state, a work formerly done by Baptists. As the recent Advocate-Messenger editorial made clear, Boyle County consists of atheists, agnostics, a host of Christian denominations, and a variety of non-Christian religions. The Fiscal Court must represent them all; it is not a church.  While two alternatives to opening meetings with Christian prayer have been suggested - a moment of silence and a non-denominational prayer - at least one other has not been considered.

Members of George Rogers Clark and Lexington Christian boys basketball teams circle arm-in-arm and huddle for a moment of prayer, while Clark's Corey Rogers lays on the court after sustaining an injury on a rebound in Saturday's 85-56 win over the Eagles. Attending to Rogers was Clark coach Scott Humphrey and Clark athletics director Jackie McCloud along with two medical personnel. Rogers was transported to Clark Regional Medical Center for observation and was later released. Rogers injured his nose while going for a rebound and was scheduled to get a second opinion on the injury later today.

To the editor: Thanksgiving is this month! What do we have to be thankful for? Many things, I am sure, and one way we can be thankful is prayer. We can carry it with us anywhere, any place, any time. The other day I was in Danville at noon so I went to Captain D's for lunch. As I was eating, an elderly couple came in and ordered their food. They prepared their food, joined hands and began to pray. When I was getting ready to leave I went to their table and told them that I had heard them pray.

Jessamine County resident Dr. Louis Arnold, 98, is pictured with state Sen. Tom Buford last month during the legislative session. Arnold's book “Day Starters,” a book of daily devotions, was given to every member of the General Assembly this year. Arnold opened the state Senate in prayer March 27. He was in Frankfort as part of “Preachers' Day at the Capitol,” an annual event sponsored by chaplain Lee Watts where pastors from throughout the state are invited to come to Frankfort, learn about moral issues facing the state, and meet and pray with legislators.

STANFORD - Lincoln County High School will not have a prayer during its graduation ceremony this month, according to school officials. Six students recently told Principal Tim Godbey they believe they should not be subjected to Judeo-Christian prayers during their commencement ceremony May 24. Student-led prayer at graduation has been a long-standing part of the ceremony, and the students' request “marks the first year we've had dissension,” Godbey...

I would like to thank the more than 40 people who were at the Boyle County Courthouse when prayer was restored to Fiscal Court. Of course, those with control said the prayer could not be in the name of Jesus. I wonder if they will tell Jesus that when he comes back and says, "depart from me I never knew you.” If you deny Jesus now, he will deny you then. Even if you do run the courthouse. To the many Christians who showed up, I would like to say thank you. I have read the book and we win!

Let's take a look at Matthew 6, and what the Lord taught His disciples. They could have asked Him how to teach, how to heal, or how to ... etc ... etc. but they didn't. Of all they could have asked Him, they asked Him how to pray. Why? Because out of all they saw and heard, they were most moved by the importance Jesus gave to prayer. Therefore, if He prayed, so should we. He said in Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Jesus was not telling His disciples not to pray in public, but, I believe, what he was saying, is, if you pray in public don't do it to be seen by others.

Supports prayer at graduation   As the graduation of the Lincoln County High School Class of 2013 draws near, I would like to say that I support having prayer at the exercise.  I have heard a great deal concerning the controversy. I don't think that anyone should be prevented from expressing their concerns about prayer at a school event. I firmly believe in freedom of speech.  As a pastor, I firmly believe that the problems we are facing in our schools today, i.e. teen pregnancies, drug abuse,teenage drinking, and bullying could very well stem from Godly values being removed from our education system as far back as the day when prayer was removed from schools.

I have seen on a local TV newscast that there is a scheme to do away with prayer at a nearby high school graduation in a couple of weeks. I hope this doesn't come to pass, because prayer is one of our rights we, at the time being, still have left to exercise. First, “the law” got discipline of students taken away from the teachers in the school systems. Now, “the law” wants to do away with prayer at all functions of the school systems in Kentucky. I say if “the law” doesn't want to pray at these functions, they don't have to, but let the ones who want to pray.

According to Matthew 12:21, “In His name the nations will put their hope.” The verse served as a theme for the 2013 National Day of Prayer ceremony in Clark County Thursday. Local preachers and leaders gathered at the Clark County Courthouse to lead community members in prayers for the city and county, state and nation. Dr. Travis Drake, minister at Central Baptist Church, prayed for America, specifically lifting up President Barack Obama and members of Congress. The Rev. Steve Humble prayed for the state, quoting 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” “We have the responsibility to hold our civil servants to accountability,” Humble said, thanking local and state leaders for “the willingness ... to serve.” He called on them to “conduct themselves in the service of King Jesus and in the fear of God.” Humble also prayed that government officials would always be mindful of the “sanctity of human life and the sanctity of marriage” and use the Bible as a guide for decision making.

STANFORD - Lincoln County High School will not have a prayer during its graduation ceremony this month, according to school officials. Six students recently told Principal Tim Godbey they believe they should not be subjected to Judeo-Christian prayers during their commencement ceremony May 24. Student-led prayer at graduation has been a long-standing part of the ceremony, and the students' request “marks the first year we've had dissension,” Godbey...

Editor's note: This is the second column in a series on prayer. We are looking at Matthew 6, at what is referred to as the Lord's prayer, but should really be called the disciple's prayer. The prayer found in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, would fit that description better. The Lord taught His disciples to pray - not that they would pray like a parrot, repeating the same words over and over again, or like a disobedient child asking over and over again, until he gets what he wants from his parent.

I would like to thank the more than 40 people who were at the Boyle County Courthouse when prayer was restored to Fiscal Court. Of course, those with control said the prayer could not be in the name of Jesus. I wonder if they will tell Jesus that when he comes back and says, "depart from me I never knew you.” If you deny Jesus now, he will deny you then. Even if you do run the courthouse. To the many Christians who showed up, I would like to say thank you. I have read the book and we win!

Self-professed atheist Ricky Smith has done a service in taking up the mission of separating church and state, a work formerly done by Baptists. As the recent Advocate-Messenger editorial made clear, Boyle County consists of atheists, agnostics, a host of Christian denominations, and a variety of non-Christian religions. The Fiscal Court must represent them all; it is not a church.  While two alternatives to opening meetings with Christian prayer have been suggested - a moment of silence and a non-denominational prayer - at least one other has not been considered.

Boyle County Fiscal Court unanimously decided Tuesday to have “non-denominational” prayers at the beginning of its meetings. Magistrates had reluctantly decided Jan. 8 to change the prayer portion of its meeting agenda to a “moment of silence.” Boyle resident Ricky Smith, a former Christian who is now an atheist, had privately objected to what he felt were Judeo-Christian prayers during meetings. Smith expressed an intent to sue the county if officials did not keep church and state separate; he believes Fiscal Court is pushing Christianity in opposition to the Constitution.

Boyle County Fiscal Court unanimously decided today to have “non-denominational” prayers at the beginning of its meetings. Magistrates had reluctantly decided Jan. 8 to change the prayer portion of meeting agenda to a “moment of silence.”  Boyle resident Ricky Smith, a former Christian who is now an atheist, had privately objected to what he felt were Judeo-Christian prayers during meetings. Smith expressed an intent to sue the county if officials did not keep church and state separate; he believes Fiscal Court is pushing Christianity in opposition to the Constitution.