June, 2009
Chronicle Columnist Slams NEMA’S National Day of Prayer
Columnist Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle blasted Dr. Guy Sconzo, Superintendent of HISD Schools and NEMA in his two articles on Sunday, May 30 and Wednesday June 3rd. According to Casey, two mothers whose daughters are members of the Kingwood High School choir that performed at the National Day of Prayer event contacted him. Casey states that Sconzo broke the law by forcing their daughters to attend the event. Casey stated that employees of government school, whether it is a teacher or any school official may not lead their classes in prayer, devotional reading from the Bible, or other religious activities. Casey continued, “Nor may school officials attempt to persuade or compel students to participate in prayer or other religious activities. Such conduct is ‘attributable to the State’ and thus violates the Establishment clause.” He [Sconzo] was ‘Clearly in violation.’ said Casey. Casey drew his opinions from various policy positions of the National Educational Agency having to do with government schools and religion, i.e., Christianity. The NEA is a prime example of the success that progressive secularists have enjoyed in today’s culture. With the help of organizations like the ACLU and others they have almost totally eradicated any hint of America’s Christian heritage from government schools and the general culture.
Casey has attempted to portray NEMA’s National Day of Prayer event as an evangelical, religious service. NEMA does not. Because of the historical significance of the NDP, Casey is incorrect in his characterization of the event. The National Day of Prayer has always been a part of America’s history. The Continental Congress issued a proclamation for a day of prayer in 1775 to designate "a time for prayer in forming a new nation". During the Quasi-War with France, President John Adams declared May 9, 1798 as "a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer," during which citizens of all faiths were asked to pray, "that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it". On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming each following president must declare a National Day of Prayer at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a National Prayer Committee formed to coordinate and implement a fixed commemorated day of prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan amended the law decreeing that the National Day of Prayer should be held on the first Thursday of May. Since 1775 the American Government and its citizens have observed this historical event. NEMA proudly hosted this regional, historical event in the spirit of the proclamation made by the Continental Congress of 1775 and various subsequent presidents.
The complaint of these two mothers and the ensuing articles of Mr. Casey clearly exemplifies the cultural war here in America. It is important to understand that this discussion is not merely between a columnist, two moms and a Superintendent. It is the ongoing clash between two opposing worldviews, i.e., those who hold to America’s Christian heritage and those who want America to become a secular State. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of speech to all Americans. Mr. Casey, and the organizations that he is networked with are free to voice their opinions. Those of us who disagree have equal freedom to voice our opinions. This particular debate has roots going back to the very beginning of our great Republic. Politicians, presidents, judges and citizens have debated this very topic. Our founding fathers believed that our Nation was founded upon specific principles influenced by the ‘laws of Nature and of Nature’s God’. These principles were to be the guiding light for conducting government and influencing society for them. Our early framers formulated their beliefs in writing when they wrote our Constitution and the accompanying ‘Bill of Rights’.
NEMA believes that the Constitution affords to all citizens the freedom of expression. We recognize that there are those who interpret the writings of the Founders of our Republic, i.e., the Constitution, etc., differently than the majority of our citizens. The progressive secularists have taken advantage of the composition of our culture and the freedoms given them by our Constitution. They have ‘out maneuvered’ those of us who believe in the ‘laws of nature and of Natures God’. They have saturated the power-centers of our Republic, i.e., government, medicine, education, communications, art, music, and even the Church. By doing so they are bringing change to America. They are re-making America in into their own image. Our lack of engagement has become the Achilles’ heel of the Church. To our shame we have allowed the progressive secularists to dominate our culture while we have maintained a ‘separatist-mentality’. Whether it is our false pietism or our lack of understanding, our silence is deafening. We have remained strangely silent and unengaged. Our silence has become the empowerment for those whose dream it is to ‘change’ America. They ‘live and breath’ their dream. They are consumed by it. They have sublimated their personal identity and dreams in order to create a new America. These individuals will not be satisfied until they have removed any hint of our Christian heritage from our schools, our courts, our government, or general culture. The Church must become engaged once again in the arena of ideas by positioning herself in every segment of our culture. The Church must once again become ‘salt and light’ in our Republic. Let us not only save souls but let us save America!
Hopefully the NEMA Network and other concerned citizens will understand that this debate is not merely between a columnist, two moms and a superintendent.
The absence of the American Christian in the public square emboldens those dedicated to change America into a Secular State.
Hits On NEMA’s Web-site Soar!
Kathi Crissman, NEMA Advisory Council member and nemaonline.org’s web-site-master reported that an unusual high number of visits to our web site has taken place. It seems that since the critical articles by Chronicle Columnist Rick Casey, people who have never visited our site have done so in the past few days. It is hoped that more Christian businessmen, pastors and other spiritual leaders will become a part of NEMA as we continue to serve our community. In a strange way Mr. Casey has been good for NEMA.
Texas 173; New York 10; California 3; Florida 3; Virginia 1; Ohio 1; Maryland 1; Connecticut 1 Georgia 1; District of Columbia 1, Humble 67; Houston 45; Tyler 14; Chandler 9; Spring 8; New Caney 7; Huffman 6; Athens 4; Conroe 2; Cypress 2
Please check the website to see if your church or ministry is listed. If not contact Kathi@sonintl.org.
Shalom Hebraic Christian Congregation to host June 11th Network Luncheon
Pastors Bron Barkley and Mort Petrushansky of Shalom Hebraic Christian Congregation will host our June 11th. Network Luncheon. This will be our last network luncheon for the summer. We consider the months of July and August as ‘rest’ months to allow for the summer activities of our churches and ministries. We will resume our monthly luncheons in the month of September. If you would like to host a NEMA Network Luncheon next season contact us at dhicks2138@aol.com.
The address of Shalom Hebraic Christian Congregation is located at 804 Russell Palmer Road, Kingwood, TX 77339. You may google ‘Map It’ or check nemaonline.org for directions.
The June’s luncheon the Advisory Council will give a report and summary of the recent article by columnist Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle. They will also give an update of the National Day of Prayer Event which NEMA sponsored.
‘The Call’ Comes to Houston
NEMA has just received notification that Lou Engle believes that God is directing his organization to bring ‘The Call’ to Houston on January 23, 2010. Lou will be meeting with pastors, businessmen and other spiritual leaders on July 1st. to present the strategy. All NEMA pastors are invited to attend.
The Call has a vision to bring young people together to pray and fast for America. In the past few years they have seen God bring hundreds of thousands of young people together in football stadiums, soccer fields, and even in the Washington D. C. Mall. In D. C. they gathered one of the largest contingencies of youth ever assembled there.
The prophetic anointing upon these gatherings is profound. It is life-changing to witness thousands of young people, coming off of a 21 day fast, to worship God in-mass. The testimonies of miracles before and after these events bears semblance to the Early Church as it is depicted in the Acts of the Apostles.
NEMA has been asked to be responsible for communicating the news of THE Call-Houston to Churches, businesses and ministries in the Northeast corridor. The Advisory Committee will be sharing information to the NEMA Network as the plans unfold.
Please begin to pray now that God’s hand will give direction and anointing to every phase of this historic gathering.
College Scholarships for Students Impacted by Hurricane Ike
If you know of any student that has been adversely impacted by Hurricane Ike in regards to their college education please contact us. We are presently interviewing students.
Vickie Dalton
Somebody Cares America
P. O. box 570007
Houston, TX 77257
Office 713-621-1498
Cell 832-439-9545
Email: vickie@somebodycares.org
Nation Day of Prayer Breakfast Budget Reached
The budget for our event, The National Day Breakfast was met. All bills have been paid. Thanks to all of you who assisted in the details of the event. Thanks to those of you who were able to help with the budget.