I'm reading the President's speech in chapel tomorrow.....

[Scarlett O.]

In case you haven't read the back-to-school speech he gave today, here it is in transcript form:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

I realize that someone else wrote it and I realize that it won't go down in history as the most famous speech he gives, but it was soooooo good. Whoever did write it deserves some kudos. Please read it.




I'm reading in chapel for a couple of reasons.

• It was a speech to ALL students and they should get to hear it.
• It was challenging - something that they NEED to hear.
• It was inspiring.
• We are going to read and discuss 1 Peter 2:13-14 and 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and pray for the President and our country.

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

1 Timothy 2:1-3
FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,

2For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 3For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,

I am going to tell my 5th and 6th graders the truth.

• I did not vote for Barak Obama and would never.
• His beliefs and my beliefs don't mesh.
• I have the right as an American to voice my dissent to any authority.
• Nonetheless, I respect the office he holds and will obey him as my authority unless he tells me to do something that would cause me to disobey God - even if it is something that just ticks me off personally, as long as it is Godly, I will obey.
• According to the Bible, I am to pray for him whether I voted for him or not.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

His speech was full of core conservative principles. It was about the same thing I've told my kid for 18 years, but it is still a good speech. He did sound a little angry while reciting it.

 

[preachinjesus]

I was thankful for President Obama's speech. It is a terrific way to connect with students and he is in a great position to challenge them to greatness.

I can think of no better positioned person than he to talk about raising ourselves up by our hardwork to grasp the dreams God has given us.

(I'm also happy he rewrote it...yep, I think it was headed in a different direction a couple days ago. This is why you release text when you make the announcement...or at least specifics.) :thumbs:

 

[Scarlett O.]

His speech was full of core conservative principles. It was about the same thing I've told my kid for 18 years, but it is still a good speech. He did sound a little angry while reciting it.

I didn't listen to him give the speech. I just can't stomach him. I know that's so negative. I only read it online.

I've got some kids this year - albeit in a Christian school - who are going through "crap" at home. I don't know any other way to say it. Crap.

They need to hear this:

......Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

It's going to encourage some of my children that if the President of United States had a father that abandoned him and a mother who struggled to raise him that perhaps they, too, can be a success in life despite the ludicrous childhoods that they are having now.

I realize that the speech is contrived and purposely conservative.

I just have some kids whose parents aren't telling them these things and perhaps a personal message from the President to them might help.

 

[just-want-peace]

You know if Justice Thomas had given this speech (I have not read it incidentally, but just based on Scarlett's comments), I wonder if the blacks would have accepted it, as I'm sure they will from Obama??

I have my doubts, because it seems that the liberal blacks consider Thomas an "Uncle Tom", that got his position by playing by "the white man rules", and not by his own merit.

I actually heard a black man, on a talk show, discount Thomas as a good example for black success because, he actually said, "most blacks do not consider Thomas a black." Yet they adored Clinton as a "black " president

That brings up the question of why Obama is so accepted, in the top position for our country, while Thomas is ridiculed as an "Uncle Tom" in a position not too far below Obama.

Could it just be that the blacks have listened to the white Ds for so long and the majority do not really think for themselves?? (Maybe that's why they considered WJC the "first" black president--??!!)

Don't know, just asking!!

Definitely a paradox here, so if you have any reasonable explanation, let's hear it.

Anyway, my point is while I'm positive that one black (Obama) can give this speech and it be hailed as "wonderful" by a majority of the black community, why will they not accept this same advice from other blacks* that have made it w/o the help of the "keep 'em on the plantation" Ds?

* Just a few that come immediately to mind:
1 Clarence Thomas
2 Bill Cosby
3 Thomas Sowell
4 Walter Williams
5 JC Watts
6 Lloyd Marcus
etc., etc., etc.------

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Didn't hear it. Didn't read it. Don't care what he has to say.

Around here, chapel is reserved for worship, preaching, and the study of the word of God, not political statements.

 

[Johnv]

Scarlett, I dont' think it's necessary to preface the speech with your own voting choices or views. That might be seen as voicing political opinion, which I dont' think one should do in a school setting.

But simply reading a president's speech or proclamation, nothing wrong with that.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Scarlett, I dont' think it's necessary to preface the speech with your own voting choices or views. That might be seen as voicing political opinion, which I dont' think one should do in a school setting.

But simply reading a president's speech or proclamation, nothing wrong with that.

Agreed. Actually you should get a recording, preview it, and let them see it.

 

[Johnv]

Around here, chapel is reserved for worship, preaching, and the study of the word of God, not political statements.

We're talking school chapel here. At school chapel, it's not just worship, but also presentations, giving of awards to students, stuff like that.

 

[BroTom64]

Just a Question

Did someone Hack President Obama's teleprompter for this speech?

Bro. Tom

 

[Scarlett O.]

Didn't hear it. Didn't read it. Don't care what he has to say.

I don't care much for what he has to say either. I don't like him. But I didn't tell the children that.

But, since you are judging his words to children without reading them first, that doesn't speak highly of your criticism. They were great words.

I dare you - in fact, I double-dog dare you to read the transcript and THEN come back and tell me what you think.

Around here, chapel is reserved for worship, preaching, and the study of the word of God, not political statements.

We did study God's Word. We read and discussed 1 Peter 2:13-14 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2. We had a "sword drill" for these two verses. I talked about the need to obey all authorities in our lives. We talked about honoring your father and mother, obeying teachers and principals, and when you get older, obeying a boss and civil authorities. I told them that authority is from God and the Bible should be obeyed. We discussed how the Bible trumps all authorities. The Word of God was studied in my chapel.

We did worship. Worship is presenting your body a living sacrifice - laying down your heart, mind, attitude, talents, and everything that makes you human and allowing God and His Holy Spirit to control you. We submitted ourselves to God's authority and to governing authorities. We prayed four times. We thanked God for Godly parents and for policemen and good schools. We prayed for the president's spiritual status. We prayed for his personal safety and the safety of his family. And we prayed for him to follow the wisdom of God's leadership.

And ..... I do consider what I do in chapel every Wednesday from 10:15-10:45 preaching to those children. We get deep into the Word and we pray hard. Last, over 15 children were saved and over the course of the year, over 40 made public rededications to Christ - at chapel. I thank God for that.

No political statements were made. I did not mention Republicans or Democrats or conservatives or liberals. I read a statement from the president to the children encouraging them to do their best in school and encouraging them to behave and study hard. He encouraged them to rise above their circumstances and dream big things and achieve big things.

And we committed ourselves to be in obedience to the two verses that were the text of my message to them.

It was a good day.