THERE IS A MOVEMENT AFOOT THAT IS DETERMINED TO
DRIVE EVERY VESTIGE OF CHRISTIAN EXPRESSION FROM
THE PUBLIC SQUARE!
ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WE UNCOVER THAT
MOVEMENT IN THIS ENCORE PRESENTATION OF OUR
SPECIAL PROGRAM, FREEDOM IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES
IN AMERICA.
I BELIEVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IS UNDER THREAT.
WHEN THOSE LIBERTIES ARE UNDER ATTACK WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO STAND UP AND DEFEND THOSE LIBERTIES.
HELLO, I'M FRANK WRIGHT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES.
WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM,
FREEDOM IN THE CROSSHAIRS, PART OF OUR ONGOING ROAD
BACK TO SANITY SERIES.
FOR YEARS, BEGINNING WITH DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY,
WE HAVE BEEN WARNING YOU ABOUT THE COMING ONSLAUGHT
ON YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS- PARTICULARLY
AGAINST THE FREE SPEECH OF CHRISTIANS.
AND WE ARE FEELING THE FULL FORCE OF THIS ASSAULT
IN OUR DAY.
ON THIS PROGRAM, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE STORIES OF
CHILDREN, MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, CHURCHES,
AND REGULAR CITIZENS WHOSE CHRISTIAN EXPRESSION IS
BEING SILENCED- SOMETIMES BY FORCE.
THIRTY YEAR AIR FORCE VETERAN OSCAR RODRIGUEZ JR.
IS ONE SUCH PERSON.
IN THE THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF YEARS I OBTAINED E-8,
WHICH IS ONLY COMPRISED OF 2% OF THE ENTIRE
POPULATION OF THE AIR FORCE REACHES TO THAT
GRADE, E-8.
NEARLY 20 YEARS INTO HIS AIR FORCE SERVICE,
OSCAR RODRIGUEZ JR. JOINED THE ELITE AIR FORCE HONOR GUARD.
I HEARD SOMEONE DO A FLAG FOLDING SPEECH AND
I LISTENED TO IT AND I ENJOYED IT BUT IT JUST
SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MISSING SOMETHING.
SO I TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF HONOR
GUARD AND I TOLD THEM, "SIR, COULD I TAKE
THE SCRIPT THAT WE CURRENTLY USE AND
MAYBE MODIFY IT A LITTLE OR CHANGE IT A LITTLE?"
AND HE SAYS, "YEAH, SURE, WHY NOT?"
SO I GOT THE SCRIPT, I TOOK IT HOME AND I LOOKED
AT IT AND I STARTED CHANGING THINGS IN IT.
AND THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF LIBERTY IS THAT
MAN CANNOT GOVERN HIMSELF, HE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE
TO GREATER POWER.
AND THAT RELIGION HAS TO BE PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT
YET THE SCRIPT SAID NOTHING OF RELIGION SO
I ENTERED- I PUT IN THE WORDS, "GOD,"
NOT ONLY ONCE BUT TO REALLY GALVANIZE IT FOR ME,
I PUT IT IN SIX TIMES.
OUR FLAG IS KNOWN AS THE STARS AND STRIPES.
AND I DID IT FOR RETIREMENT CEREMONIES,
I DID IT FOR CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR,
I DID IT FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
I WAS KNOWN AS THE PERSON THAT DOES THE FLAG FOLDING
SPEECH.
AFTER OSCAR RODRIGUEZ RETIRED,
THE AIR FORCE ADOPTED AN OFFICIAL SCRIPT FOR THE
FLAG FOLDING CEREMONY, ELIMINATING VARIANTS.
IN APRIL THIS YEAR WHEN OSCAR WAS INVITED BY
SOMEBODY WHO HAD SEEN HIM DO THIS SPEECH AT ANOTHER
EVENT, THAT PERSON PERSONALLY APPROACHED OSCAR.
MASTER SERGEANT CHUCK ROBERSON COMES UP TO ME
AND SHAKES MY HAND AND SAYS, "OSCAR,
IT WOULD BE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE HONOR IF
YOU COULD DO THIS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY."
AND OSCAR SAID OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE MY PRIVILEGE
TO DO THAT.
WHEN I WAS INVITED TO THIS RETIREMENT CEREMONY,
I WAS NO LONGER PART OF THE MILITARY.
I WAS RETIRED; I WAS A CITIZEN,
JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
THOUGH IT DIFFERED FROM THE NEWLY-ADOPTED OFFICIAL
VERSION, OSCAR RODRIGUEZ AGREED AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN,
TO GIVE HIS VERSION OF THE FLAG-FOLDING SPEECH,
AS HIS RETIRING FRIEND HAD REQUESTED.
THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THAT UNIT,
WHEN HE HEARD THAT OSCAR WAS GOING TO BE GIVING
THIS SPEECH AND A SPEECH THAT AGAIN MAKES REFERENCE
TO THE WORD GOD ABOUT 6 TIMES, HE SAID,
THAT'S NOT AN APPROVED OR AN AUTHORIZED AIR FORCE SPEECH,
AND HE SAID HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE THAT SPEECH.
AND THE RETIREE SAID, BUT IT'S MY RETIREMENT,
THIS IS WHAT I'M PERSONALLY REQUESTING,
THIS IS WHAT I WANT FOR MY,
THIS IS MY SPECIAL DAY, AND SO HE TOLD OSCAR
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE THAT SPEECH.
AND THE RETIREMENT WENT VERY WELL.
EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN AND THEN THE FLAG
COMES OUT IN A VERY CEREMONIOUS AND SOLEMN WAY
I GET UP, I TAKE MY POSITION AND THIS
GENTLEMAN, THIS AIRMAN COMES UP TO ME AND HE
SAYS, "ARE YOU REALLY GONNA DO THIS?
ARE YOU REALLY GONNA DO THIS?"
I WAS SHOCKED.
SO AS SOON AS I HEARD THE CUE OF A CERTAIN NOTE IN
THE MUSIC, IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK.
AND I LAUNCHED OFF INTO THAT RETIREMENT SCRIPT.
OUR FLAG IS KNOWN AS THE STARS AND STRIPES,
A UNION CONSISTS OF WHITE STARS.
AND THEN ADDITIONAL AIRMEN CAME AND THEY GRABBED ME
AND THEY PULLED ME AND THEY PUSHED ME OUT OF THAT
AUDITORIUM.
AND TOGETHER THEY STAND UNITED INDIVISIBLE.
THESE MEN HAD JUST BETRAYED ME,
HAD BETRAYED THEIR OATH, HAD BETRAYED THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL THAT I AM, I HAVE NEVER FORFEITED
MY RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
THOSE ARE NATURAL LAWS AND THOSE ARE GOD'S LAWS AND
THERE'S NOT ONE MAN THAT CAN TAKE THOSE RIGHTS AWAY
FROM ME.
AND HOW DARE THEY ATTEMPT TO DO SUCH THINGS.
A MILITARY COMMANDER HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER
A CIVILIAN TO SAY, "YOU CAN'T SAY THE WORD GOD ON
THIS MILITARY BASE OR DURING THIS RETIREMENT CEREMONY."
WE'VE DEMANDED THAT THE AIR FORCE RESPOND TO THIS
BY APOLOGIZING, THAT THEY TAKE ACTION TO INSURE THAT
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE EVER AGAIN,
AND THAT THEY HOLD THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS, THEY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE,
BECAUSE NO AMERICAN, ESPECIALLY A DECORATED
VETERAN LIKE OSCAR RODRIGUEZ,
SHOULD BE MAN HANDLED LIKE THIS AND FORCED OUT OF A
RETIREMENT CEREMONY SIMPLY FOR GIVING A SPEECH THAT
HAS RELIGIOUS REFERENCES IN IT.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT FLAG, THAT'S ALL I SEE.
THAT'S ALL I SEE; THE IMAGES,
THE THOUSAND IMAGES IN MY HEAD OF BATTLES THROUGHOUT
DIFFERENT FOREIGN LANDS OF PEOPLE DYING FOR OUR
NATION, SO WHEN I SAY THAT SPEECH,
THAT'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT.
WHEN I HAD THAT MISSION FOR SERGEANT ROBERSON,
THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.
AND DO YOU THINK THAT ONE AIRMAN OR TWO AIRMEN OR
THREE AIRMEN, OR THE ENTIRE SQUADRON IS GOING
TO STOP ME WHEN I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE MEN
THAT DIED FOR ME, NO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS GOING
TO STOP ME THAT DAY.
AS YOU WILL SEE ON TODAY'S PROGRAM,
OSCAR RODRIGUEZ'S STORY IS NOT UNIQUE OR ISOLATED.
THESE ATTACKS ON THE BASIC FREE EXERCISE OF OUR
RELIGION UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT ARE NOW DAILY
OCCURRENCES.
FOR DECADES NOW, OFFICIALS IN GOVERNMENT, THE COURTS,
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE
FUNDAMENTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSE
OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, TURNING ITS FOUNDATIONAL
GUARANTEES UPSIDE DOWN.
WRITTEN TO PROTECT OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS,
IT'S NOW OFTEN USED TO TAKE THEM AWAY- ALL BASED
UPON THE WILLFUL MISINTERPRETATION OF A
LETTER WRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.
HERE'S DR. JERRY NEWCOMBE WITH MORE.
OUR COUNTRY HAS LOST THE SENSE OF WHY WE HAVE
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, WHY IT IS THE FIRST FREEDOM,
FIRST PRINCIPLE.
OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES IN
AMERICA.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO
VIOLATE A DEEP RELIGIOUS CONVICTION OF THEIRS BY
LOOKING LIKE THEY CELEBRATE SOME LIFE STYLE THROUGH
PHOTOGRAPHY, THROUGH CAKES AND ALL THE OTHER.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN AMERICA COMPARED TO OUR
FOUNDING IN TERMS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS IT'S
NOT QUITE NIGHT AND DAY BUT IT'S GETTING THERE.
ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT'S BEEN
DISTORTED OVER TIME IS THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION BEGINS:
IT WAS ORIGINALLY UNDERSTOOD TO MAKE SURE
THAT STATES COULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WITH
REGARD TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO EMBRACE A
PARTICULAR CHURCH.
NOW THERE'S NO STATE TODAY THAT WOULD DO THIS BUT AT
THE TIME IT WAS UNDERSTOOD AS A PROTECTION FOR THE
STATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD THAT PREROGATIVE.
OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES THE SUPREME COURT HAS
COMMANDEERED THIS AREA OF THE CONSTITUTION,
HAS CHANGED IT.
IN 1947, THE SUPREME COURT FASHIONED A NEW
UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT,
BASED ON AN OBSCURE LETTER FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON.
CRITICS NOTE THAT JEFFERSON WASN'T EVEN
THERE WHEN THE CONSTITUTION OR THE FIRST AMENDMENT
WERE WRITTEN.
IN THAT LETTER TO THE BAPTISTS OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT
OUR THIRD PRESIDENT QUOTED THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
SAID THAT IT BUILT "A WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN
CHURCH AND STATE."
JEFFERSON'S WALL, IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN ITS CONTEXT,
THE CONTEXT OF THE LETTER ITSELF,
THE POLITICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH HE WRITES THIS
LETTER IS NOT A WALL ERECTED BETWEEN CHURCH AND
STATE RATHER HE WAS AFFIRMING A WALL BETWEEN
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE WALL.
HE WAS AFFIRMING, IN OTHER WORDS,
THIS PRINCIPLE OF FEDERALISM.
FEDERALISM REFERS TO WHEN THE COLONIES DECIDED TO
BECOME STATES AND JOIN TOGETHER TO FORM THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THEY CEDED POWER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
BUT NOT ALL POWER.
JEFFERSON'S WALL IS REALLY AN AFFIRMATION OF THE
PRINCIPLE OF FEDERALISM.
IT IS SAYING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO
BUSINESS IN ESTABLISHING A RELIGION OR EVEN
DISESTABLISHING A RELIGION,
FAVORING OR DISFAVORING RELIGION THAT IS A MATTER
THAT THE PEOPLE CAN ADDRESS AT THE STATE
AND LOCAL LEVEL.
SO, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, LIKE THE WALL,
IS ABOUT FEDERALISM BUT THAT HAS BEEN LOST IN
SUBSEQUENT JURISPRUDENCE AND AGAIN THAT'S AN ALIEN
CONCEPT TO 21ST CENTURY JURISPRUDENCE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOSS OF LIBERTY IN
THAT TRANSITION AS WELL.
PRIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT'S 1947 CHURCH AND
STATE DECISION, THERE HAD BEEN RELATIVELY FEW CASES
DEALING WITH RELIGION.
AFTER THAT, THE FLOODGATES WERE OPENED UP- EVENTUALLY
WASHING AWAY THINGS LIKE SCHOOL PRAYER AND SCHOOL
BIBLE-READING WHICH HAD GONE ON FOR CENTURIES,
BEGINNING IN THE COLONIES.
AND THE POSTING OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC.
AND NOW IT NEVER STOPS.
NOWHERE IN OUR SOCIETY DOES GOVERNMENT HAVE MORE
DIRECT CONTROL THAN OVER THE MILITARY.
AND IN TODAY'S MILITARY, WHERE POLITICAL LIBERALISM
AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAVE RUN AMUCK,
CHAPLAINS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE BATTLE FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE, MERELY MAINTAINING A BASIC
BIBLICAL ORTHODOXY AS A CHAPLAIN CAN NOW BE A
CAREER-ENDANGERING STANCE.
CHAPLAINS IN THE ARMED FORCES TODAY ARE BEING
PRESSURED TO AFFIRM WHAT THEY CONSIDER IMMORAL
SEXUAL PRACTICES, INCLUDING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
MILITARY CHAPLAINS ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT FRONT
AND CENTER ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE FOR EXAMPLE COMES TO
THEM AND IS STRUGGLING WITH UNWANTED AND I EMPHASIZE
UNWANTED SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS, AND THEY SEEK
COUNSEL FROM THAT CHAPLAIN.
IF THAT CHAPLAIN THEN COUNSELS THAT INDIVIDUAL
FROM A BIBLICAL STAND POINT AND DOES NOT AFFIRM
HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR SEXUAL ATTRACTIONS AND ULTIMATELY
HAS A MORAL OPPOSITION AND BIBLICAL OPPOSITION TO
THAT, THAT CHAPLAIN IS GOING TO BE IN THE CROSS
HAIRS, AND THAT CHAPLAIN'S FUTURE WILL BE IN JEOPARDY.
CONSIDER THE CASE OF A 20-YEAR CHAPLAIN WITH A
STELLAR SERVICE RECORD.
I'VE RECENTLY RETIRED AS CHAPLAIN WES MODDER
LT COMMANDER US NAVY.
I'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE CAREER.
NAVY SEALS, SEAL TEAM 6, I'VE BEEN ON GUIDED
MISSILE CRUISERS, I'VE BEEN ON CARRIERS,
I'VE BEEN WITH THE MARINES IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I HAD OVER 50 STUDENTS THERE AT THE NUCLEAR POWER
SCHOOL FIRED FOR CHEATING AND THEY NEEDED A CHAPLAIN
TO COME IN AND TO HELP WITH THAT.
WHILE I WAS THERE I WAS SERVING 4500 STUDENTS,
900 STAFF AT THE NAVY NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING
COMMAND AND I WAS THE ONLY CHAPLAIN AT THE TIME AND I
WAS RECENTLY YOU KNOW THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL HAD
BEEN LIFTED SO I WAS MEETING WITH GAY COUPLES WEEKLY.
GAY STUDENTS DAILY AND IT WAS VERY NORMATIVE FOR ME
TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO AGREE WITH EVERYBODY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
TO LOVE PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS MINISTERS,
I'M ORDAINED WITH THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD.
I HAD AN OFFICER WORKING FOR ME,
I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS A GAY ACTIVIST.
AND HE WOULD ASK ME EVERY QUESTION UNDER THE SUN
REGARDING SEXUALITY.
SO I GAVE HIM A BIBLICAL RESPONSE IN LOVE,
LIKE I WOULD ALWAYS DO AND HE FILED A COMPLAINT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE COMMANDER DECIDED THAT
CHAPLAIN MODDER WAS UNFIT FOR DUTY AND HE TOOK
ACTIONS TO HAVE MODDER FIRED FROM HIS POSITION AS
A CHAPLAIN AND HE ULTIMATELY TRIED TO HAVE
MODDER KICKED OUT OF THE NAVY.
THE CHARGES WERE THAT I DIDN'T CARE,
THAT I DID NOT CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DIFFERENT
THAN MY OWN FAITH GROUP.
I CRIED THE LAST DAY I WAS DRIVING INTO WORK,
WEARING MY UNIFORM, I'VE NEVER FELT ASHAMED OF MY
UNIFORM, BUT I DON'T LIKE WHAT IT'S BECOME,
I DON'T LIKE WHAT THE CHAPLAINCY HAS BECOME IN
THE MILITARY.
TO BE CONSERVATIVE, TO HAVE A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
IS NOT WELCOME.
THANKFULLY AFTER SEVERAL ROUNDS OF APPEAL WITHIN
THE NAVY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A TWO STAR ADMIRAL
WHO IS ONE OF THE SENIOR NAVY OFFICIALS OVERSEEING
THESE TYPES OF MATTERS AND HE ULTIMATELY REVERSED ALL
OF THE THREATENED PUNISHMENT AGAINST
CHAPLAIN MODDER AND EXONERATED CHAPLAIN MODDER COMPLETELY.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO, TO SAY AND BELIEVE AND ENGAGE
IN RELIGIOUS CONDUCT AND RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION EVEN
IF OTHER PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT EXPRESSION.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY OUR FOUNDERS CAME HERE TO THIS
COUNTRY AND FOUNDED THIS COUNTRY.
PERHAPS THE FIRST PLACE IN AMERICA THAT FREEDOM CAME
INTO THE CROSSHAIRS WAS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IN 1947, THE US SUPREME COURT FIRST APPLIED-
INCORRECTLY WE MIGHT ADD- THE SO-CALLED WALL OF
SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE IN
A CASE INVOLVING THE TRANSPORTATION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.
IT WAS THEN APPLIED TO PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TODAY, AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE,
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
ALIKE IS ROUTINELY STRIPPED AWAY.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION TO PROTECT
RELIGION FROM GOVERNMENT IS NOW USED TO PROTECT
GOVERNMENT FROM ANY VESTIGE OF RELIGION.
HERE'S OUR OWN JOHN RABE WITH MORE.
WELL, I JUST IT THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL
TO HAVE SOMETHING FUN IN HIS LUNCHBOX TO REMIND HIM
THAT HIS MOM AND DAD LOVE HIM AND SOMETHING FROM THE LORD.
I OPENED MY LUNCHBOX I FOUND A SCRIPTURE IN THERE.
AND I READ IT, IT WAS I WAS HAPPY.
WHEN CALEB ZAVALA STARTED FIRST GRADE AT
DESERT ROSE ELEMENTARY IN PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
HIS PARENTS JAMIE AND CHRISTINA WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT THEIR SON'S FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WHILE
ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOL.
WE HAD MORE KIDS THERE AND THEY WANTED SCRIPTURES
TOO, SO I TOLD MY MOM AND THEN SHE MADE MORE
SCRIPTURES FROM ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE.
AND THAT WAS A LOT OF KIDS.
CHRISTINA ZAVALA BEGAN SENDING BIBLE STORIES TO
SCHOOL WITH CALEB FOR HIS CLASSMATES.
WHEN THE TEACHER FOUND OUT WE COULD SHE LIKE
SCOLDED ME AND TOOK THE SCRIPTURES.
I GOT A CALL FROM HIS TEACHER AND SHE JUST
WANTED TO LET ME KNOW THAT I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE WAS A SEPARATION OF CHURCH
AND STATE.
THAT HE CAN'T JUST BRING THIS MATERIAL AND SHARE
WITH THE KIDS.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE TEACHER SAID WE COULD DO
IT OUTSIDE THE GATE.
AND SO WE RESPECTFULLY DID THAT.
WHEN DADDY WAS PICKING ME UP FROM SCHOOL THE
PRINCIPAL CAME BY WHEN I WAS HANDING MY SOMEONE A
SCRIPTURE AND SAID ONLY HAND OUT SCRIPTURES ON
THE SIDEWALK, NOT NEAR THE GATE.
PROBABLY WITHIN HALF HOUR, FORTY-FIVE MINUTES OF US
BEING BACK HOME WE GET A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
THE OFFICER CAME BY THE DOOR.
AND HE LET US KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL HAD CALLED HIM.
THERE'S A SHERIFF WITH THE AUTHORITY FIGURE,
THE BADGE, THE GUN, THE HANDCUFFS,
KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL IT'S YOUR SON CALEB AND WE'RE WANTING TO TELL
YOU THAT IF HE COMES BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ANY
SCRIPTURE VERSES, THERE WILL BE TROUBLE.
WELL AFTER THE POLICE CAME TO THE DOOR,
WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS MAYBE BIGGER THAN US AND
WE DIDN'T REALIZE- WE DIDN'T KNOW OUR RIGHTS.
SO I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION.
MY WIFE HAD EMAILED OR TALKED TO A LIBERTY
COUNCIL AND THEY RESPONDED BACK TO US.
LIBERTY COUNSEL GOT INVOLVED.
WE SENT A DEMAND LETTER, WE CONTINUED TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL AND FORTUNATELY
JUST BEFORE AND AT THE TIME OF SCHOOL STARTING
AGAIN, THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES REVERSED THEIR
POSITION, THEY SENT A LENGTHY LETTER AND SAID
CALEB CAN BRING HIS BIBLE VERSES TO THE SCHOOL,
HE CAN TALK ABOUT HIS FAITH DURING THESE
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL TIMES WHICH INCLUDES THE LUNCH HOUR.
CALEB DID NOT GO BACK TO DESERT ROSE ELEMENTARY AND
IS ENROLLED IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
THANKFULLY, THE ZAVALAS STOOD FOR THEIR RIGHTS
WHEN THEIR FREEDOM WAS PLACED IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HIS PARENTS DIDN'T STAND UP?
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE HADN'T STOOD UP WITH THEM?
HE WOULD HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE MESSAGE THAT HE
WOULD HAVE RECEIVED AT SEVEN YEARS OLD AND HE
WOULD CARRY THAT MESSAGE WITH HIM THROUGH THE REST
OF HIS LIFE.
THE TWISTING OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT HAS ALMOST
COMPLETELY REVERSED ITS ACTUAL INTENTION.
THE CONSTITUTION IS WRITTEN ENTIRELY TO PLACE
LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT- NEVER ON INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.
AND YET NOW, UNDER A RADICAL MISUSE OF THE
FIRST AMENDMENT, INDIVIDUALS LIKE CALEB
ZAVALA ARE BEING TOLD THEY ARE VIOLATING THE
CONSTITUTION- IRONICALLY BY EXERCISING THEIR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
ANOTHER STRIKING CASE IS THAT OF FOOTBALL COACH
JOE KENNEDY IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON.
(CHEERS)
IT WAS KIND OF THE COVENANT AND AGREEMENT
I HAD WITH GOD IF HE ALLOWED ME TO COACH THEN,
AND THAT WAS MY CALLING, THAT I WOULD GIVE HIM THANKS.
THE REFEREE HAS BLOWN THE FINAL WHISTLE,
THE PLAYERS HAVE LEFT THE FIELD,
AND AFTER THAT HAPPENS COACH KENNEDY MADE A
COMMITMENT TO GOD THAT ONCE THE GAME IS OVER,
AND HE'S DONE COACHING, HE WANTED TO PAUSE BRIEFLY AT
THE 50 YARD LINE, AND HE JUST WANTED TO GIVE THANKS
FOR WHAT THEY DID.
THOUGH COACH JOE KENNEDY NEVER ASKED ANYONE TO PRAY
WITH HIM, PLAYERS BEGAN TO TAKE NOTICE.
THE KIDS STARTED COMING OUT AND,
"COACH WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE?"
AND I WAS LIKE, "JUST GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT YOU
GUYS DID" AND THEY SAID, "CAN WE JOIN YOU" AND I
WAS LIKE "IT'S A FREE COUNTRY YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO."
THIS IS ABOUT THE GAME, THIS IS ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
COACH KENNEDY HAD BEEN PRAYING AFTER GAMES FOR
EIGHT YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT.
BUT A RECENT PHONE CALL TO THE PRINCIPAL- IRONICALLY
TO COMPLIMENT COACH KENNEDY AND THE SCHOOL ON
THE PRAYER, RAISED THE PRINCIPAL'S CONCERN,
AND HE SENT THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO INVESTIGATE.
THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR APPROACHED ME AND SAID,
"ARE WE CLEAR ABOUT THE PRAYER THING?"
AND I WAS "NO, I'M NOT CLEAR ABOUT IT."
AND HE SAYS, "WELL, WE CAN'T HAVE YOU PRAYING.
WE JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAD THE PRAYER."
I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD PROMISE THAT."
AND SO I WAS ALONE.
IT WAS AN AWAY GAME.
ALL BY MYSELF ON THE 50 AFTER THE GAME WAS OVER.
NO KIDS ON THE FIELD.
I TAKE A KNEE FOR MAYBE 30 SECONDS AND JUST CONTINUED
ON WITH THE TEAM AND THEY ENDED UP SUSPENDING ME.
AFTER BEING FIRED FOR PRIVATELY PRAYING ON THE
FIELD AFTER FOOTBALL GAMES,
COACH KENNEDY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE
BREMERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS STILL ONGOING.
WELL, BREMERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NO LEGAL
BASIS TO MAKE THIS TYPE OF ULTIMATUM ON ANY EMPLOYEE
LET ALONE A FOOTBALL COACH TO SAY YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN YOUR FAITH AND YOUR JOB.
I WANT TO BE THE COACH AGAIN.
I WANT TO BE OUT THERE WITH THOSE GUYS.
THEY'RE MY WORLD.
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU UNTIL YOU
LOSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN.
IT REALLY HITS YOU.
IT'S LIKE LOSING YOUR KID.
IT'S THAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH THAT EMPTY HOLLOW PART OF
YOUR SOUL AND IT'S A HORRIBLE FEELING.
HOW HAVE WE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, WHICH GUARANTEES NO GOVERNMENT
ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHURCH AND PROTECTS THE FREE
EXERCISE OF RELIGION FOR ALL AMERICANS, IS NOW USED
TO PUNISH FOOTBALL COACHES AND TO SEND LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO THE DOORS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN SHARING
BIBLE VERSES?
WE HAVE REACHED THIS POINT BECAUSE, WHILE RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR DECADES IN THE
COURTS, TOO MANY HAVE ALLOWED A FALSE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSTITUTION TO OVERRIDE
LONG-ESTABLISHED FREEDOMS.
WE HAVE TWO RESOURCES TO REMEDY THIS MASSIVE
PROBLEM.
HERE'S MY VERY DEAR FRIEND JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY
TO TELL US MORE.
JENNIFER WELCOME.
THANK YOU, FRANK.
THE FIRST OF THESE RESOURCES IS THE BOOK FROM
MY FATHER, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY, CALLED THE TRUTH
ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
IT FEATURES FOUR KEY MESSAGES: "CHURCH AND
STATE," "WHAT PRICE LIBERTY," "DAWN'S EARLY
LIGHT," AND "THE REAL THOMAS JEFFERSON," AND IT
DISPELS THE LIES OF THE SECULARISTS.
THE SECOND RESOURCE IS A HANDY "FAST FACTS" CARD ON
THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, FEATURING KEY
POINTS ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH YOU CAN KEEP IN YOUR
BIBLE OR ON YOUR READING TABLE.
WE WILL SEND YOU BOTH OF THESE VITAL RESOURCES AS
OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION TO THE
ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
AS THE GREAT AMERICAN PURITAN COTTON MATHER ONCE
SAID, "RELIGION BEGAT PROSPERITY, AND THE
DAUGHTER DEVOURED THE MOTHER."
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST STAND FOR TRUTH- AND
WE MUST DEFEND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS BEFORE
THEY ARE SWEPT AWAY.
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES IS STANDING FOR TRUTH, AND
DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOM.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO IT.
IGNORANCE ON THESE ISSUES HAS ALLOWED PROGRESSIVES
TO PUSH CHRISTIANITY OUT OF PUBLIC LIFE AND TAKE
AWAY RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
ONLY BY KNOWING THE TRUTH CAN WE PUT A STOP TO IT.
PLEASE, CONSIDER GIVING A GENEROUS DONATION, AND LET
US SEND YOU THESE KEY RESOURCES THAT CLEAR UP
THE FALSEHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN PERPETUATED BY OUR
SCHOOLS AND OUR COURTS.
AMERICA WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A SECULAR NATION.
KNOW THE TRUTH AND PASS IT ALONG TO OTHERS WITH THE
HARDCOVER BOOK FROM THE KENNEDY COLLECTION CALLED,
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND
STATE, AS WELL AS THE HANDY FAST FACTS CARD ON
THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, WHICH FEATURES
ALL THE BASIC INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ON THIS
ISSUE.
THEY'RE BOTH YOURS AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS
DONATION.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PEOPLE OF FAITH,
CHRISTIANS IN PARTICULAR ARE IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
WHERE YOU SEE A POWERFUL STATE THAT SAYS, YOU CAN
PRACTICE YOUR RELIGION SO LONG AS WE APPROVE OF
WHAT YOU SAY AND DO.
IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE AWAY
YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, YOUR OTHER FREEDOMS
WILL COME SHORTLY AFTER.
FREEDOM IS IN THE CROSSHAIRS IN THIS NATION.
THERE ARE POWERFUL INTERESTS AND
ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVELY WORKING TO SILENCE
CHRISTIANITY, BECAUSE IT'S A THREAT TO THE AGENDA OF
SEXUAL ANARCHY THAT PREDOMINATES IN AMERICA
TODAY.
THIS BATTLE ISN'T JUST ABOUT MY RIGHTS OR YOUR RIGHTS.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT KIND OF NATION OUR CHILDREN OR
GRANDCHILDREN WILL LIVE IN.
CHRISTIANITY HAS BROUGHT UNTOLD BLESSING TO AMERICA-
INCLUDING FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS.
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL LEGACY OF FREEDOM,
WIDESPREAD EDUCATION, MODERN MEDICAL CARE-
ALL ARE BLESSINGS THAT SPRING DIRECTLY FROM
CHRISTIANITY.
IN SECULAR AND ATHEISTIC STATES, HUMAN LIFE IS
DEVALUED AND GOVERNMENT EATS AWAY AT FREEDOM.
AMERICA IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF HER RELIGIOUS
FOUNDATIONS.
WILL YOU STAND WITH US TO DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO TELL A
LOST AND DYING WORLD THAT A SAVIOR HAS COME?
WILL YOU HELP US TELL THEM ABOUT GOD'S ABUNDANT
MERCY; THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST GAVE HIS OWN LIFE
ON A CRUEL CROSS SO THAT ALL WHO WILL TRUST IN HIM
CAN ESCAPE THE COMING WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD?
TRUE FREEDOM WILL ONLY BE FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST,
WHO SAID: "IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD,
YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES,
AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH,
AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE."
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES
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