[Roses]

Written by Danny Dutton, Age 8, Chula Vista, CA, 3rd grade homework assignment:

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes these to put in place of the ones that die so that there will be enough people to take care of things here on earth. He doesn't make grownups. Just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that up to the mothers and fathers. I think it works out pretty good. God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, as some people, like preachers and things, pray other times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV on account of this. As He hears everything, not only prayers, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off. God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere. Which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your parents head and ask for something they said you couldn't have. Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church. Jesus is God's son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and doing miracles and trying to teach people about God who didn't want to learn. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK. His Dad (God) appreciated everything He had done and all His hard work on earth, so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road any more. He could stay in Heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing which things are important to God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important of course. You can pray any time you want and they are sure to hear you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time. You should go to Sunday School, because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip Sunday School to do something you think will be more fun, like going to the beach. That's wrong! and besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway. If you don't believe in God, besides being an Atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like camp, but God can. It's good to know He's around when you're scared of the dark or when you can't swim very good and you get thrown in real deep water by the big kids. But you shouldn't just think of what God can do for you. I figure He put me here and can take me back any time He pleases. And that's why I believe in God.