The Blessed Game of Football, or Blessing at a Football Game?

I received this email message from my Mom. When I read it, I thought it was too good to be true, thus, I checked it out on Snopes and other Rumour Sites and it turns out that this is ALL TRUE!!

It could not have come to me at a Better time…SUPER BOWL SUNDAY is right around the corner!

Perhaps we can all take a cue from Roane County HS…

Tennessee Football

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal, Jody McLeod.

“It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.”

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.

As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it “an alternate life style,” and if someone is offended, that’s OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, “safe sex.” If someone is offended, that’s OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a “viable means of birth control.” If someone is offended, no problem…

I can designate a school day as “Earth Day” and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess “Mother Earth” and call it “ecology..”

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as “simple minded” and “ignorant” and call it “enlightenment..”

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s,” and refrain from praying at this time.

“However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so.. As far as I know, that’s not against the law—-yet.”

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands.

They prayed in the team huddles.

They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer’s Box!

The only place they didn’t pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of “Justice” in the “one nation, under GOD.”

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten.

We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.

Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, “If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER..” If you are not ashamed, pass this on.

I’m not one bit ashamed to pass this on, Are you?

The right of your fist ends where the rite of my nose begins works well to define boundaries.

The right to free speech never ended when in the range of my ears. It has always been on the onus of the listener to move away. There is where the problems lay – because a person may not always have a place to reasonably move away to. At public events, it is not reasonable to ask those who do not wish to participate to leave just because they do not wish to hear something that was not part and parcel of the event. If I come to a church, the event is about prayer. If I go to a shoe sale, I don’t expect to hear prayer. If I go to a game, I don’t expect to hear prayer. It makes no sense that I, not wishing to hear prayer, would have to be forced to listen to it. That was never Jesus’ way.

Allowing time for any private moment, be it for prayer, reflection, or simply time to manage your date book, great idea – go for it. However, I must side with the catholic church and agree to keep state and church separate. If I want to go to events where prayer and play are mixed, I will find a catholic league. We are living in a time where Christianity meets OTHERS, and public events are for all of us. You want prayer in schools – form a Christian school system, end of story.

We have to stop thinking every Hindi who immigrated to our countries must become partially Christian. Why we took morning prayers out of the system when all the faiths had them – that was our mistake. All we needed to do was allow each and every one space to say them in their own words. Even Atheists could have had some space to be alone with themselves, after all, that’s all there is for them.

I applaud the principal for many of his words and for his obedience and especially for giving people time and space to do what they wanted to do. At a PUBLIC event.

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A Disciple says:

January 25, 2011 at 08:46

The right of your fist ends where the rite of my nose begins works well to define boundaries.

The right to free speech never ended when in the range of my ears. It has always been on the onus of the listener to move away. There is where the problems lay – because a person may not always have a place to reasonably move away to. At public events, it is not reasonable to ask those who do not wish to participate to leave just because they do not wish to hear something that was not part and parcel of the event. If I come to a church, the event is about prayer. If I go to a shoe sale, I don’t expect to hear prayer. If I go to a game, I don’t expect to hear prayer. It makes no sense that I, not wishing to hear prayer, would have to be forced to listen to it. That was never Jesus’ way.

Allowing time for any private moment, be it for prayer, reflection, or simply time to manage your date book, great idea – go for it. However, I must side with the catholic church and agree to keep state and church separate. If I want to go to events where prayer and play are mixed, I will find a catholic league. We are living in a time where Christianity meets OTHERS, and public events are for all of us. You want prayer in schools – form a Christian school system, end of story.

We have to stop thinking every Hindi who immigrated to our countries must become partially Christian. Why we took morning prayers out of the system when all the faiths had them – that was our mistake. All we needed to do was allow each and every one space to say them in their own words. Even Atheists could have had some space to be alone with themselves, after all, that’s all there is for them.

I applaud the principal for many of his words and for his obedience and especially for giving people time and space to do what they wanted to do. At a PUBLIC event.

LikeLike