New Jersey Teen Wins Court Case Against Atheists to Keep ‘Under God’ in Pledge of Allegiance
“I’m so grateful the court decided that kids like me shouldn’t be silenced just because some people object to timeless American values,” said Jones, who was a defendent-intervenor in the suit.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve recited the Pledge of Allegiance because it sums up the values that make our country great. The phrase ‘under God’ protects all Americans — including atheists — because it reminds the government that it can’t take away basic human rights because it didn’t create them.”
A state judge dismissed the case brought by the American Humanist Association seeking to gut “one nation under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance after hearing Jones and her family’s testimony against it.
This is the second time a state court has stopped the American Humanist Association from outlawing the federal pledge. Their first state-level suit, raising identical claims, was unanimously rejected by Massachusetts’ highest court last year, according to the Becket Fund.
In a case filed in February 2014, the American Humanist Association, claimed the recitation of the pledge violates Article 1 of the New Jersey’s constitution. The case was filed on behalf of an unnamed New Jersey family from Monmouth County against the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District.
Last November, Jones told Fox News “our rights don’t come from the government but from a higher power, so they can’t take away the rights.”
“The message today is loud and clear: “God” is not a dirty word,” noted Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel for the Becket Fund in a press statement. “The Pledge of Allegiance isn’t a prayer, and reciting it doesn’t magically create an official state religion.”
Jesus was not a wayside philosopher. He did not sit around and debate the state of the world. He didn’t engage in political banter for the sake of it. He wasn’t a baby kisser pining for office. Jesus was a doer. The tsunami impact of His life branded the world. How did He do it? He moved in God’s timing. He flowed with the Spirits direction. He left every disciple a reproducible model. What Jesus did you can do. How do we know? He told us so.
Gerbil In The Grease
I was busy working about the kitchen when I noticed Henry, one of our pet gerbils sitting atop a stool next to the counter. A few moments later I heard a splash and then frantic scrabbling. The sound was mystifying. What was its source? Suddenly I knew. Grabbing from the corner of the counter a large tin which I poured used oil into I witnessed a sodden Henry going down for the last time. Fortunately for him I was able to grab his long tail and haul him out. As he huddled in a pitiful mess upon a kitchen towel I gently soaped him up and rinsed him in warm water. As the grease disengaged from his coat he raised his little head, straightened himself up and shook himself off. Henry was restored.The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. Henry fell into the grease because he was somewhere he shouldn’t have been. He did not fall into the oil on purpose. His fall resulted from not knowing better. Sometimes this happens to us as God’s children. We fall. We fall into situations due to ignorance. Other times we fall into situations due to our own rebellious choices. Whatever the case the LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Today you or I may be in a fallen state we may be bowed down by a situation incurred by our ignorance or perhaps by a rebellious choice. Whichever the case let us remember the LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Let us lift our hearts and eyes to him who is faithful and allow ourselves to be restored.Prayer: Lord God and Wonderful Father thank you for your loving kindness which endures forever. Restore us this day as we may have need and bless us with a spirit of gratitude toward you, our Father, who loves us so. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Lynne Phipps lynnephipps@hotmail.com
There are reasons why sometimes Christians struggle to receive from the Lord. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. If you are unknowledgeable about what the Word of God says in an area of struggle, you can’t have faith in God to help you in that area. Help from on High is received by faith. A second handicap to receiving from God is engaging in the sin of worry. Along this line there are two verses you should become familiar with.
According to new research from Duke University’s Mark Chaves, speaking in tongues has jumped five percentage points and is on the rise among American churchgoers.
A silent rowboat drifting to no particular place. The other boats clustering at port look normal. Why is this one floating alone? The motor is in place. The oars, you can see them. They are a little splintered but they are serviceable. How confusing. Why is this boat drifting? The absence of anchor and rope makes everything clear. Isn’t this like some churchgoers today? Sometimes you see them, they are full of God’s Words. Other times, if you didn’t know better, you might think, “I need to help them find Jesus.” It is an odd thought for a believer in Jesus to need help finding Him. Isn’t He with you everywhere you go? Quality decisions are like anchors for a rowboat. They steady you. They help you stay in port. They keep you from making a living mess out of your life. Let’s look at decisions in today’s post.
Receiving Your Certification in Christ
James 1:12 (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
The word ‘tried’ suggests authentication and approval. Let us address the typical ‘other side of the coin’. Some believers have fallen away when facing trials and tests. This is not new news under the sun. Why did they return to the world? They blamed the negative happening for their scurrying back to old ways. What did they miss? For one, standing against tests and trials affords you an opportunity at certification. You can show God, the world, and your relatives you are the genuine article. You can receive authentication as a real deal twenty first century believer by staring down the mud of difficulties. Get your certification. It builds aggressive confidence to know mud, guts, and the world’s puke can’t pull you down. What if you failed the test? The war is not over just because you spilled your coffee. Opportunities to right the course, for the fallen, exist through God’s mercy. Through repentance and restoration, renewal occurs. The lame can experience healing. The crooked can know a straight path again. With blood washed determination prodigals can still realize the life of a ‘blessed man’ and receive the ‘crown of life’.
People are often impressed with heroes and martyrs. – Remember Nathan Hale – who said “I only have one life to live for my country.’ We appreciate the liberty and freedom that we have because of the sacrifice of others. What about the sacrifice of Jesus? Do you appreciate His death on your behalf? Do you appreciate all that His death provided for you? We can rejoice and thank God because we were saved by His blood. But you can also rejoice that not only did Jesus save you from your sins but He also provided healing for your body at the same time.
One commenter on this article asked the above question. ‘Would you take Jesus to see this movie?’ I thought it was a great question so I pass it along with the article link.
My answer to the question?
If you think you would, something is way wrong with your experience in God.
Marriage is a precious God ordained institution. The marriage bond mirrors the bond between Jesus and the church. We use the phrase ‘a marriage made in heaven’. The marriage institution does come from heaven. In each individual marriage, however, God gives the couple a “Do It Yourself Kit.” We are to work out marriages on earth. This “kit” consists of the teachings of the Bible about marriage 1. Follow these teachings and your marriage will flourish. Here are some rear view mirror musings on the subject. They come from thirty three years of walking the walk.
Hearing What the Spirit is Saying unto the Church! In 1Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul lays out for the church an explanation of Spiritual Gifts. If you read the list, you will see that three of the gifts are vocal. Prophecy is words inspired by the Spirit in a known language. Tongues are words inspired by the Spirit in an unknown tongue. Interpretation of tongues is a Spirit given rendering of an unknown tongue. Below is an example of the gift of prophecy. The following prophecy was given by Kenneth E. Hagin on June 22, 1988.
In 1Jn 1:1-3, John testifies to his encounter with Jesus. John’s testimony is a simple one. Jesus is not an illusion – ‘we saw Him’. He is not a figment of our imagination, – ‘we touched Him’. He is not a fairy tale – ‘we heard Him’. If you believe in Him, your testimony can parallel John’s. By faith, you can see Him. By faith, you can touch Him. By faith, you can hear Him. By faith, you can encounter Him.
