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A couple of news stories piqued my interest today.
LaFollette Press (TN): TN Board of Education may not pray, it's against the law
"During the meeting Attorney Cantrell took the opportunity to make the group aware of legislation that impacts their meeting agendas. According to Cantrell, Tennessee falls into the only United States district that does not allow school boards to have prayer after the meeting begins. “As of right now you cannot pray at a board of education meeting,” Cantrell said noting the Tennessee School Board Association is adamant about strictly following the law."
"Speaking as a member of the Anderson County Board of Education Cantrell said that board had circumvented the law by gathering 15 minutes prior to the meeting to have prayer and a short devotional given by a member of the local clergy. Board members including J.L. “Sarge” Collins and Josh Parker spoke out in favor of finding a way to protest the law against prayer before board meetings. From the back of the room County Commissioner Rusty Orick stood to offer his opinion on the matter. “I wouldn’t back off from this. This is what has happened to our country,” Orick said of allowing a few to determine the direction of the whole. Parker agreed with Orick’s comments adding “some things are worth fighting for.” Chairman Mike Orick suggested the group follow Anderson County’s lead and meet prior to the start of the next board meeting for a time of prayer."
1/12/2011 School Board Report By: Boomer Winfrey;
"The Campbell County Board of Education was told Tuesday night that they are going to have to end their tradition of leading off their monthly meetings with a prayer. At a meeting that due to weather and slick roads, was sparsely attended and promised to be both short and routine, this advice from the board attorney had some board members ready to go to war, or at least to court. Attorney Dail Cantrell told board members that the Tennessee School Board Association has notified all local boards that the federal Sixth Judicial District in Cincinnati has ruled that leading public school board meetings with a prayer violates the constitutional separation of church and state."
“This is not the case nationally, as many federal courts in other areas of the country have allowed prayer at the beginning of meetings, but the Sixth District is one of the most liberal-leaning courts,” Cantrell claimed, adding, “It includes Ohio, which has the largest percentage of atheists of any state in the country.” “You cannot pray immediately before the meeting, the TSBA is adamant that you can’t do it,” Cantrell added. “You can meet before the board meeting begins if you wish but not at the public meeting.” Cantrell, who is also a member of the Anderson County School Board, suggested that Campbell County board members, if they wish, could do what they have decided to do in Anderson County and gather 15 minutes before the meeting for a short prayer. J. L. “Sarge” Collins asked if Congress has passed a law forbidding prayer at board meetings."
"When told it was a judicial ruling, he asked what would happen if the Campbell County board refused to go along with the ruling. “They could put the board in jail,” Cantrell flatly replied. “There’s a lot of smart people in this room, it seems we could start the protest here in Campbell County,” Collins observed. County Commissioner Rusty Orick, sitting in the audience, told board members, “I wouldn’t back off on this, I’d stand my ground and fight it.” When board members were recognized at the end of the regular agenda, however, Josh Parker insisted, “We should stand our ground on the prayer issue. I’ll go to jail with you. I agree with Sarge, this is worth fighting for.”
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It IS something worth fighting for. I admire the group of men who are taking a stand for their faith. I ask all of us to pray for these men and to pray for brethren across the country and the world we do not know personally but who may be having their faith infringed upon at this moment.
There is quite a bit of debate these days amongst Christians who are asking if we are going to be persecuted before the Tribulation. It's a bit myopic to ask that if you are in America, because from the moment Jesus ascended Christians were persecuted. Millions have lost their lives for His name. Christians are being persecuted this minute in Baghdad, Lebanon, Egypt, Indonesia, and many other places. They are being machete'd, burned, hung, and hunted. He said "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:18-20). I still think it is a legitimate question, because we can talk about levels of oppression and persecution. My personal opinion is that I do not think that here in America Christians will be killed for their faith (before the Tribulation begins). But it is increasingly apparent that even in freedom-loving America, Christians are being forced to make hard choices every day.
Our pastor says that we should be ready to make tough choices. The time is now, he says, when we may be faced with that choice. I read these articles and I thought about that statement and I thought about the choices the Board members may indeed have to make within the next few weeks.
They stood firm on their faith and vowed to fight. I applaud that. I applaud the very fact that they get together and have a devotional and a prayer before the meeting,. It is as it should be! They seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in order to govern well, something that is right and proper. The bible calls for those in power to be wise. "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth" says Psalm 2:10, and just where are they supposed to get that wisdom? The Holy Spirit of course! And the best way to access the Spirit is through prayer. In Jeremiah 22:16 the LORD says "He [the King] defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD." Caring for those who are under you in government with compassion and through the LORD is what it means to be a representative of government.
But when happens when the police come to the next meeting, with warrant and handcuffs, and the Board members must make a choice to pray and face arrest, or succumb to pressure? And make that choice knowing that their family and children depend on his income to eat. Will they still pray? To some people it is given to have a big battle and in that battle the LORD's name is being erased in big swoops as Christians lose their lives. To other Christians they are given a smaller but still important battle, where the forces of evil are erasing the name of the Lord from public life inch by inch. Defending the Lord means not only dying through a stoning, but it means inch by inch battles in the halls of justice, courts, government, and public life. Whether or not to retreat from that line is a choice we all may have to make. Pray for the Tennessee Board Members named here. I pray that when you and I are faced with that choice, we may stand for Him, unflinchingly, because someone prayed for us.
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LaFollette Press (TN): TN Board of Education may not pray, it's against the law
"During the meeting Attorney Cantrell took the opportunity to make the group aware of legislation that impacts their meeting agendas. According to Cantrell, Tennessee falls into the only United States district that does not allow school boards to have prayer after the meeting begins. “As of right now you cannot pray at a board of education meeting,” Cantrell said noting the Tennessee School Board Association is adamant about strictly following the law."
"Speaking as a member of the Anderson County Board of Education Cantrell said that board had circumvented the law by gathering 15 minutes prior to the meeting to have prayer and a short devotional given by a member of the local clergy. Board members including J.L. “Sarge” Collins and Josh Parker spoke out in favor of finding a way to protest the law against prayer before board meetings. From the back of the room County Commissioner Rusty Orick stood to offer his opinion on the matter. “I wouldn’t back off from this. This is what has happened to our country,” Orick said of allowing a few to determine the direction of the whole. Parker agreed with Orick’s comments adding “some things are worth fighting for.” Chairman Mike Orick suggested the group follow Anderson County’s lead and meet prior to the start of the next board meeting for a time of prayer."
1/12/2011 School Board Report By: Boomer Winfrey;
"The Campbell County Board of Education was told Tuesday night that they are going to have to end their tradition of leading off their monthly meetings with a prayer. At a meeting that due to weather and slick roads, was sparsely attended and promised to be both short and routine, this advice from the board attorney had some board members ready to go to war, or at least to court. Attorney Dail Cantrell told board members that the Tennessee School Board Association has notified all local boards that the federal Sixth Judicial District in Cincinnati has ruled that leading public school board meetings with a prayer violates the constitutional separation of church and state."
“This is not the case nationally, as many federal courts in other areas of the country have allowed prayer at the beginning of meetings, but the Sixth District is one of the most liberal-leaning courts,” Cantrell claimed, adding, “It includes Ohio, which has the largest percentage of atheists of any state in the country.” “You cannot pray immediately before the meeting, the TSBA is adamant that you can’t do it,” Cantrell added. “You can meet before the board meeting begins if you wish but not at the public meeting.” Cantrell, who is also a member of the Anderson County School Board, suggested that Campbell County board members, if they wish, could do what they have decided to do in Anderson County and gather 15 minutes before the meeting for a short prayer. J. L. “Sarge” Collins asked if Congress has passed a law forbidding prayer at board meetings."
"When told it was a judicial ruling, he asked what would happen if the Campbell County board refused to go along with the ruling. “They could put the board in jail,” Cantrell flatly replied. “There’s a lot of smart people in this room, it seems we could start the protest here in Campbell County,” Collins observed. County Commissioner Rusty Orick, sitting in the audience, told board members, “I wouldn’t back off on this, I’d stand my ground and fight it.” When board members were recognized at the end of the regular agenda, however, Josh Parker insisted, “We should stand our ground on the prayer issue. I’ll go to jail with you. I agree with Sarge, this is worth fighting for.”
-------------------------------------
It IS something worth fighting for. I admire the group of men who are taking a stand for their faith. I ask all of us to pray for these men and to pray for brethren across the country and the world we do not know personally but who may be having their faith infringed upon at this moment.
There is quite a bit of debate these days amongst Christians who are asking if we are going to be persecuted before the Tribulation. It's a bit myopic to ask that if you are in America, because from the moment Jesus ascended Christians were persecuted. Millions have lost their lives for His name. Christians are being persecuted this minute in Baghdad, Lebanon, Egypt, Indonesia, and many other places. They are being machete'd, burned, hung, and hunted. He said "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:18-20). I still think it is a legitimate question, because we can talk about levels of oppression and persecution. My personal opinion is that I do not think that here in America Christians will be killed for their faith (before the Tribulation begins). But it is increasingly apparent that even in freedom-loving America, Christians are being forced to make hard choices every day.
Our pastor says that we should be ready to make tough choices. The time is now, he says, when we may be faced with that choice. I read these articles and I thought about that statement and I thought about the choices the Board members may indeed have to make within the next few weeks.
They stood firm on their faith and vowed to fight. I applaud that. I applaud the very fact that they get together and have a devotional and a prayer before the meeting,. It is as it should be! They seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in order to govern well, something that is right and proper. The bible calls for those in power to be wise. "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth" says Psalm 2:10, and just where are they supposed to get that wisdom? The Holy Spirit of course! And the best way to access the Spirit is through prayer. In Jeremiah 22:16 the LORD says "He [the King] defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD." Caring for those who are under you in government with compassion and through the LORD is what it means to be a representative of government.
But when happens when the police come to the next meeting, with warrant and handcuffs, and the Board members must make a choice to pray and face arrest, or succumb to pressure? And make that choice knowing that their family and children depend on his income to eat. Will they still pray? To some people it is given to have a big battle and in that battle the LORD's name is being erased in big swoops as Christians lose their lives. To other Christians they are given a smaller but still important battle, where the forces of evil are erasing the name of the Lord from public life inch by inch. Defending the Lord means not only dying through a stoning, but it means inch by inch battles in the halls of justice, courts, government, and public life. Whether or not to retreat from that line is a choice we all may have to make. Pray for the Tennessee Board Members named here. I pray that when you and I are faced with that choice, we may stand for Him, unflinchingly, because someone prayed for us.
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