Last Friday, Brandon’s high school band was told by the court
system they could not play their halftime show. The show that the have worked
all summer to perfect includes the hymn “How Great Thou Art” and they were told
that if they played it, they would be fined $10,000. So…they didn’t.
Brandon is our neighbor city and the Bulldogs are our greatest
rivals, but we found absolutely no joy in the situation they found themselves
in. At our game a few towns over, what was going on in Brandon was the topic of
conversation. How sad and frustrating for the students who’d practiced so hard
for so many months to no not be able to perform. Would the same verdict have
been handed down if a Christian group complained about some other type of song?
Will the Brandon band be forced to change their show for competitions or are
they only forbidden to play at games? Are they only forbidden to play in
Brandon…or in Rankin County School District? Can they play at away games?
Shortly after Halftime, we all started to get messages on FB
and via text telling us what was going on in Brandon. If you haven’t heard or
seen it on the news, it is better that
you see for yourself…
This is what happened at Half Time... Click the link
I am so proud of the way the fans chose to take their stand.
I am so proud of the Bulldogs for the way they chose to make their voices
heard. I don’t know how this will play out. I hope that the other Mississippi
schools make a point to showcase the Brandon Band at their games, if it will
not more negatively impact Brandon.
At this point, many are standing with the Bulldogs. On the
way to work I saw several cars with “How Great Thou Art” painted on their back windshields and the thought that occurred to me as I sat in traffic was simply…
“Do you realize how great He truly is?”
I pray that the
citizens of Brandon Mississippi and the students of the Rankin County School
District will continue to stand in a manner that reflects the God and Savior
they represent. I pray that the School Boards and legal systems will see that there are still professing believers in Jesus Christ and that, while we are not as outspoken and loud as the groups that oppose our Savior, we also have a voice. I pray that it is made abundantly clear that we believe that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ and that the only alternative to belief in Christ is eternity in hell. I pray that it is made abundantly clear that our only objective is to share the message of Jesus Christ so that every person we meet has the opportunity to choose to follow Christ...or not to. We want to make sure that everyone has that choice, just as we have the choice to follow or not to follow Mohammad, Buddha, or any other god, profit, religion, or doctrine.
How like God to use a court order against Christians to spread His name and His message. How like God to use this to unite Christians and give them courage to take a stand? I hope and pray that this story will continue to spread. I am interested to see how it all shakes out.
How like God to use a court order against Christians to spread His name and His message. How like God to use this to unite Christians and give them courage to take a stand? I hope and pray that this story will continue to spread. I am interested to see how it all shakes out.
Until then, I am one of the...
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