[AKidsRight.Org] Happy Easter - Do you have a vision for Family Law Reform?

jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org

Good People and People of Faith,

Our special greetings to all of you weren't able to go to a
church service with your child.  Who didn't have the opportunity to
participate in an Easter Egg hunt!  Who didn't have the chance to sit 
down and eat a load of chocolate with your little one.  Why?  Because 
a court order decided that was not in "your child's best interest." 
Imagine that!

Our most heartfelt greetings to those of you who didn't talk to your
children today and didn't even get a card.  Not because your child
wasn't allowed to do it -- but because they DIDN'T WANT TO.  THEY 
HATE YOU.  More than anything, this should help us all understand the
obscenity of a system that turns children away from loving parents!

After Understanding / Action & Imagery
--------------------------------------
Did the above paragraphs bother you?  Make you angry?  They should.
How mad should you be, how disgraced and mistreated?  Can you compare
those paragraphs to the imagery of a Black person being told you had 
to drink out of a different water fountain, or sit in the back of
a bus, or send your kids to a different school?  How mad would that 
make you.  It took a while, but there came a time when they were
ready to sacrifice and risk arrest -- with the knowledge the Klan 
might even show up later and burn their homes down.  Can you relate 
to that ..... yet?

What is worse, sitting in the back of a bus -- or being told to take 
a back seat in the lives of your children?  Don't we have it much, 
much worse?  Do you really believe that?   Would you go to a parent's
rally if you knew it would cost you your home?  Would you?  What kind
of Faith do you have that your sacrifice would matter?

Before you can paint a picture and create imagery -- you've got to 
have a vision.  Before others can see the image, it has to exist in
your mind's eye first and then ....  you have to act.  Don't tell
other people about it - show them.  Good parents, average parents,
and poor parents -- all EQUAL parents, protected from government by a 
jury of their peers.

Before the Million Parent Marches, before the Huge Letter Writing
campaigns will ever happen -- there have to be people with a vision 
who are willing to act when the risks are high.... and things are 
starting to happen.

Jesus of Nazareth - a lesson in good imagery!
---------------------------------------------
Easter is a good time to remember Jesus of Nazareth and PLEASE, we 
don't even need to talk about the Son of God here, or the 
resurrection.  Just talk about the real 'historical' Cristos -- a man 
who had a vision of a human family and was willing to take great 
risks to make us see that vision.

If you have thought about taking real 'action', you can appreciate 
the suffering and doubts of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Aren't 
my miracles and my preaching enough?  Is my death really required? 
Is this the right time?   Will anyone remember me?  Can this 'cup' 
pass me by?  Have I gone too far?

Many of us remember the words from the cross right before his death,
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  But how many of us know
those are the first words of the 21st Psalm.  One he would have known 
very well.  It describes the roller coaster of human emotion, of our 
experience of the Divine  (the entire text follows below my signature 
if you are interested).

Part of the message of Easter is that through our willingness
to sacrifice wehave the POWER to bring about great change. No
other resources are required, but Faith.  The result is not certain
and sacrifice is always painful, but when we sacrifice with love
there is personal renewal, joy, and Resurrection!  We could all
use a little of that.

-- 
                                        John Murtari
____________________________________________________________________
Coordinator                            AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org             "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
Toll Free (877) 635-1968(x-211)        http://www.AKidsRight.Org/

        My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
        Why are You so far from helping Me,
        And from the words of My groaning?

        O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
        And in the night season, and am not silent.
        But You are holy,
        Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
        Our fathers trusted in You;
        They trusted, and You delivered them.
        They cried to You, and were delivered;
        They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

        But I am a worm, and no man;
        A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
        All those who see Me ridicule Me;
        They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
        "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
        Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

        But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
        You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.
        I was cast upon You from birth.
        From My mother's womb
        You have been My God.

        Be not far from Me,
        For trouble is near;
        For there is none to help.
        Many bulls have surrounded Me;
        Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
        They gape at Me with their mouths,
        Like a raging and roaring lion.
        I am poured out like water,
        And all My bones are out of joint;
        My heart is like wax;
        It has melted within Me.
        My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
        And My tongue clings to My jaws;
        You have brought Me to the dust of death.
        For dogs have surrounded Me;
        The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
        They pierced My hands and My feet;
        I can count all My bones.
        They look and stare at Me.
        They divide My garments among them,
        And for My clothing they cast lots.

        But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
        O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
        Deliver Me from the sword,
        My precious life from the power of the dog.
        Save Me from the lion's mouth
        And from the horns of the wild oxen!
        You have answered Me.

        I will declare Your name to My brethren;
        In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
        You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
        All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
        And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
        For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the 
afflicted;
        Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
        But when He cried to Him, He heard.

        My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
        I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
        The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
        Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
        Let your heart live forever!
        All the ends of the world
        Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
        And all the families of the nations
        Shall worship before You.

        For the kingdom is the LORD's,
        And He rules over the nations.
        All the prosperous of the earth
        Shall eat and worship;
        All those who go down to the dust
        Shall bow before Him,
        Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

        A posterity shall serve Him.
        It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
        They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who 
will be born,
        That He has done this.

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