Radio Silence Selected American Hardcore
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To get started with, my children already lived here with their mother and stepfather. The varsity football team, the Stephenville Yellow Jackets, was the winningest Texas football team in the 90′s and my sons, along with their stepfather, spurred and encouraged me to come and see these kids play. “They are phenomenal!” I was assured. I went to watch them play as they won the Texas State Championships in 98 and 99. They WERE phenomenal! My youngest son played football at Stephenville High. His underclass teams won district and he played Varsity ball on a team that went to the Bi-District finals his Senior year. This was sufficient to get me to criss-cross the wide open spaces of Texas from Arlington, chasing after my son’s football games for four years, including rather a few contests right in his home town of Stephenville. Game by game, the town was growing on me. Some strange things were happening there that caught my attention from my apartment in Arlington. For starters, on a Christian radio show I used to listen to, the host, Dawson McAllister, cited he would soon be speaking at a rally in…where else? Stephenville! Hmm. Intriguing. Turns out, my kids attended that rally. I found out later, most EVERYBODY’s kids attended. Another happening that the Holy Spirit employed to lure my attention to Stephenville was the war versus prayer in the schools, particularly at sporting events and graduations. The reports were on almost each nightly newscast. I noticed for the duration of my brief visits to town that there were a great deal of kids wearing a bright yellow t-shirt with the words “I Pray before I Play” emblazoned boldly upon the front. Following are numerous pieces of articles I found on the Internet, the likes of which I seemed to be hearing steadily back in the late 90′s. They speak for themselves, painting an precise picture of the climate of those days: “…the athletic field is quickly turning into a culture war battle zone, as it did Friday night at a game in Stephenville, Texas, over the issue of school prayer. Education boards and school principals throughout Texas are engaged in a struggle with federal guidelines on religious activities, including the ban on official school prayer. Earlier this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a heap of religious references were permissible at school events like graduation ceremonies, but were unfitting — not sufficiently sacred — for the duration of other actions like athletic contests. Jurists ruled that the hootin’ and hollerin’ of a down-home football standoff lacked the “singularly severe nature” of other functions, such as a graduation event. “That didn’t stop a little group of 15 students on Friday night, though, from smuggling a portable public address system into a high school game in Stephenville, Texas, to lead supporters in public prayer… “One of the “prayer warrior” students at Friday night’s game told the Stephenville Empire-Tribune paper, “This was not regarding football, it was in regards to God. We decisive to pray for God (sic).” According to an Associated Press report, local high school superintendent Larry Butler said that the impromptu prayer rally did not have support of authorities from the district. “With that being said,” added Butler, “I applaud them for doing something that they feel actually strongly about. I think the entire community of Stephenville believes in school prayer.” “So far, there are no other reports of spontaneous prayer outbreaks at weekend football games. News accounts suggest that most school district all around Texas are abiding by the Circuit Court guidelines…” FROM ANOTHER ARTICLE… “A number of “spontaneous” protest at football games have taken place in Stephenville. Last week, the Board of Trustees of the Stephenville Independent School District grappled with a policy which would permit a student chosen by usual vote to deliver a pre-game “message,” provided sure rules were observed. The local Empire-Tribune newspaper noted: “The rules are that the aim of the message is to give hope or courage to good sportsmanship and student safety and to promote the proper environs for the competition… The message may likewise be employed to welcome or greet fans and the opposing team and/or to commend them for their achievements. “While one board fellow member mused that the new policy “would legally give rise to an open forum for a amount of time of time indicated for the message and designate a place for the student message,” another fellow member saw through the obfuscation. Referring to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court decision disallowing pre-game prayer, he told fellow board members: “This is the law today whether we like it or not. Until this is cleared up, I personally think we go versus the law if we concede student prayer, or any prayer, before the game…” “ HERE’S ONE MORE FROM ’99… Students Defy Federal Judge on Prayer at High School Game Stephenville, TX – The August 27th football season opener for the Stephenville High School Yellow Jackets was not only unforgettable for the lop-sided victory they had, but likewise for the courage shown by the student body and the fans in the crowd. A district federal judge had issued a decision forbidding prayer at public school gatherings, even if initiated by students. The students of Stephenville High believe this is a violation of their constitutional right to freedom of religion. The student body not only takes pride in being the defending 4A state champions, but in exercising their constitutional rights. Before the opening kickoff, one of the students of Stephenville High grabbed a microphone and led a “spontaneous” prayer. Several students joined the young man on the sidelines, but what was even more powerful was the fact that not some, but all of the people in the stands stood up, got rid of their hats and joined in the prayer. Local news stations were there to cover the game and questioned the police and high school administrator as to what they planned to do in regards to the “illegal” praying. There was no response from the police, but the high school administrator merely said that no activenesses were to be taken versus the students. School officials likewise pointed out that since the school had not officially sanctioned the action, it could not be kept legally liable for what happened. The federal judge, upon hearing regarding the public prayer, said that the prayer was in violation of the constitutional separation of church and state. Some supporters of the students pointed out that the Constitution does not demand separation of church and state, but warrantees that there will be no laws made establishing any official religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Students interviewed said that they planned to pray publicly at their next game. What happens going forward from here depends on how determined the judge is to strength his will on the people, and how determined the citizens of Stephenville are to defend their constitutional rights. For one night at least, this was seen as a victory for Texans in the exercise of their rights. As for Weatherford High, it was the one bright spot in a night that resulted in a 34-7 loss to the Yellow Jackets. AND ANOTHER… MORE SCHOOLS IGNORE FOOTBALL PRAYER BAN North of Dallas, Celina high school football fans prayed before a football game with a Christian school. The apparently coordinated prayer by fans, football players, cheerleaders, and band members violates the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ban on school football prayers because football is not the right way solemn sufficient for God. Rev. John Mark Arrington, pastor at Lighthouse Full Gospel Church in Garland disseminated 250 T-shirts with the slogan, “Celina Bobcats Pray Before They Play.” Arrington want students to obey “God’s law,” which justifies the growing rebellion of evangelicals versus the U.S. Constitution. In Stephenville, students brought their own sound scheme to football games and delivered a religious message using the equipment. There was no report that school officials took any action to prevent it. In Midland, student-led prayers at football games still happen. School officials said the prayers would proceed until somebody filed a lawsuit to make them stop. FINALY, THIS FROM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT… To pray–or not to pray” by Robert Bryce. Joel Allen and Alan Ward, two Stephenville, Texas, high school students, refused to be refused the tradition that surrounded their school’s football games. So to circumvent a federal court order barring use of a school’s public address system for prayer before high school football games, the two students borrowed a little speaker scheme and led the crowd in prayer, much to the fans’ delight. The court ruling that affects Stephenville, Texas, handed down in February 1999, by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a national furor over the place of prayer in public school events. The court’s decision stated that student-led prayer for the duration of graduation ceremonies is allowed, but prayer for the duration of events such as football games is not since they do not represent a “solemn” sufficient occasion. This latest ruling is one of various conflicting federal conclusions on school prayer in recent years. In July 1999, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an Alabama school district could not ban student-initiated prayer at school activities, even when attendance of the event is mandatory. The Fifth Circuit Court’s decision will most likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, a lot of school districts in Louisiana and Texas say they will hold a moment of silence in lieu of prayer. Others vow to ignore the ruling altogether. YOU GET THE PICTURE. I was fascinated, waiting with baited breath for the next act of civil disobedience to come from the kids from this li’l ol’ town in Texas I’d never heard of until my kids moved there. Finally, I became very ill and was faced with a difficult decision. I had to leave Arlington, a place I’d lived for 14 years and a Church of which I was a Charter Member and Assistant Pastor as well as a good-paying occupation where I kept a honored position. But I couldn’t bend over to load my dishwasher, walk a flight of stairs or carry groceries to and from my car. I necessitated my children’s help. Stephenville, here I come! Crippled and in pain, finding a occupation was closely impossible. I came very close to filing Medicaid papers and getting a ward of the state. I couldn’t fetch myself to do it. Where God guides, He provides and He regularly sent ravens to take care of my needs. My old college roommate lived in Dublin just 12 minutes away. He directed a publishing company to contact me as they necessitated an illustrator for a series of children’s books. That occupation alone, a occupation I could do from my kitchen table or even from propped -up pillows, was sufficient to help me make ends meet. Between chapters, recipients of my weekly email Bible broadcasts would now and then come through with a love offering. I was living from miracle to miracle until I received a call from my old college pal informing me that the local Chamber of Commerce was in need of a receptionist. I did not even recognise what a Chamber of Commerce in truth did but I was sentiment miraculously better, well sufficient to have used for work at a local dairy reading the ear tags on cows just the day before. Funny, I can’t recall a occupation consultation where a potential employer asked if I’d mind occasionally getting “splattered with manure.” (I replied that it sounded like my last job. He didn’t laugh.) Any way, I went right to The Chamber and I’ll be there 5 years this July 7th. It’s a outstanding occupation and the Lord has permitted me a good deal of chances to tap into the spiritual origins of the community from my position. UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY At the Chamber, I’ve been privileged to work for and with terrifi Christian people. Several years back, one lady I worked with had the idea of putting on an event that would give teens something to do after school ended in may. as we brainstormed, the event evolved into “The Extreme Thing.” In no time, other church members and ministers jumped on board. In the end, we had 29 churches involved, 9 bands, bouncy toys, coordinated games, 1,000 attendees and various ministers. The event was closed by a fantasti Church of Christ choir and their pastor. It was awesome! In 2002 and 2003, I organized a July 4th parade entry which I called “The Declaration of Dependence.” I designed a T-shirt and sameness banner and when it comes to 50 Christians suitable up and took part. The next year, over 150 Christians took share from 11 dissimilar churches – including Hispanic Churches. We had the biggest entry in the parade that year. One day, a man from the Assembly of God Church took me to lunch. He had an idea for a door to door prayer ministry he called “Operation Jesus.” I designed a logo for a T-shirt and, in the past two years, hundreds of players have prayed for almost each dwelling place in town. We’re with regards to to start out over and the numbers of taking part churches is increasing each time we go out. A young Youth Minister from the Disciples of Christ had the imagination to coordinate an event he called “The Unity Conference.” In the end, hundreds of believers attended from respective denominations to listen to seven dissimilar ministers speak on a assortment of subjects and worship together in song with assorted church worship teams. I was honored to have been one of those who ministered. Just a few months ago, I genuinely preached the Sunday morning services in that same church on two successive Sundays. My own ministry has expanded to include prospects to speak at the high school and the local college where I not long ago participated in a panel discussion on homosexuality in a graduate level counseling/psych class. Last Sunday, I finished my 6th and final week of instructing at the First United Methodist Church. I’ve been invited back. The Pastor called me at work just today to thank me for “sharing my gift” with his congregation. Nice man. The pastor from the local Cowboy Church – a Baptist group that has blossomed to 500 members in it is original year – has asked that I come and instruct the Cowboys when it comes to the cults. Though I’m not Baptist, I have taught too a lot of times to count at the Sunday meetings of the local Baptist Ministry. I attend a on a weekly basis house church meeting that includes various Pentecostals, a great deal of Baptists and a couple of Catholics. We’ve prayed together and ministered to others and have seen miracles and spiritual gifts in operation. Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one. Unity commands a Heavenly blessing. THAT’S MY STORY… That’s how I got to town and what God’s shown me in the mean time. Has it been without it is trials? Hardly. Aside from hate mail thru my computer, I once visited a woman in the region jail and even helped arrange her release. She later accused me of a crime and filed a restraining order versus me. Not only did that case never make it to trial, but that woman has been sent to the state jail for another crime. On top of that, there have been a few persons who wouldn’t grant their kids to sit under my instructing because they learned I’ve been divorced. At least no one’s shooting. Oh, one last bit of good news is this: I moved to a cabin in the woods and, when I met my fantasti wife, Barbara, we not only moved here and love it, but we purchased a Victorian home in town that my parents moved into from Las Cruces, New Mexico and are managing as a rooming house. We call it Vanderbilt Place. Barb is a registered nurse and got a occupation at the hospital located just 2 blocks from my downtown office at The Chamber. I see all 4 of my kids, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren regularly. I may recall the times that I was always so all alone and sickly. I’m not sure what it is the Lord is doing here in this fantasti little town but, knowing Him, I recognise it’s gonna be great! I give hope or courage to anybody reading this now to grow where you’re planted, disregarding of circumstances. I’ve learned that anything we may see with humane eyes is subject to change. Even at my sickest, I was mailing Christian Gospel tracts to Middle Eastern-sounding names from the phone book on the chance the recipients might be Muslim. I made it to the letter “J” as I recall. My stamp-licking tongue wasn’t broken, after all. Later, a dear friend gave me a good employed computer and my email ministry was on it is way. I STILL only type with one finger (40 wpm, not bad, huh?). Now, scroll down and FORWARD the message. Rate it if you like. |
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