Tag Archives: Prayer

High School Football Player Penalized For Praying

A Florida high school football player who gave thanks to God for scoring his first touchdown was penalized by officials because of praying.

Sam Turner, a senior at Fort Myers High School, scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass and then knelt and pointed a finger to heaven, thanking God.

“I said ‘thank you, God, for this talent you’ve blessed me with’,” Turner told reporters.

The referees penalized Turner’s team 15 yards, saying that the act of praying was unsportsmanlike conduct.

Turner’s coach said that they talked to Sam and told him that his action of praying wasn’t a selfish act.  He also tried to be diplomatic when it came to the officials penalizing a student for showing his faith on the field.

“It comes down to a ref’s discretion. To them, they try to follow the letter of the rules. You accept both sides. I have seen it happen at all levels. The officials have to toe the line,” Sam Sirianna Jr. told reporters.

Police Kill Terrorist Who Attempted Assassination Of Jewish Activist

A Palestinian terrorist who attempted to kill a Jewish activist died after a shootout with police and security officers.

Moataz Hejazi shot and wounded Yehuda Glick, an American born settler who has been leading a campaign to allow Jews to pray on the Temple Mount.  He has been a target of Muslims who believe Jews should be banned from even setting foot on Temple Mount.

“Anti-terrorist police units surrounded a house in the Abu Tor neighborhood to arrest a suspect in the attempted assassination of Yehuda Glick,” Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. “Immediately upon arrival they were shot at. They returned fire and shot and killed the suspect.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, ignoring the fact Hejazi attempted to kill a Jewish leader, said Israel’s police killing Hejazi is “tantamount to a declaration of war.”  He called for a “day of rage” Friday against all Israelis.

Palestinians threw rocks at police as they attempted to capture and ultimately had to kill Hejazi.  Hejazi had been in prison for 11 years for previous attacks on Israel.

Dallas Nurse Free of Ebola

Nina Pham, the first of the two Dallas nurses to contract Ebola from Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan, has been declared virus free and has left the hospital where she had been treated.

The 26-year-old Pham was released Friday morning from the National Institutes of Health hospital near Washington.

“I am fortunate and blessed to be standing here today,” Pham told reporters as she left the hospital.  “I would first and foremost like to thank God, my family and friends.  Throughout this ordeal I have put my trust in God and my medical team.”

She thanked Dr. Kent Brantly for donations of plasma to help her strengthen her body’s response to the virus.

“I believe in the power of prayer because I know so many people all over the world have been praying for me,” Pham said.  “I do now know how I can thank everyone enough for their prayers and expressions of concern, hope and love.”

Pham said she’s looking forward to going home and hugging her dog Bentley.

Anti-Christianists Target South Dakota Football Team

A hostile anti-Christian organization has now set its sights on a high school football team in South Dakota.

The virulent anti-Christian group Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a threatening letter to the Aberdeen School District because an alleged “anonymous complaint” to their organization said coaches were praying with the team before football games.

“It is illegal for a public school to organize, sponsor or lead prayers at public school events,” the group claimed. “More notably, federal courts have specifically held public school coaches’ participation in their team’s prayer circles unconstitutional.”

The school conducted an investigation as demanded by the group and ordered all coaches to not pray with the team.

Members of the community were outraged that the out-of-state anti-Christian group is interfering with their local community and local high school.

“I think it is appropriate for coaches to join students in their prayer. After all they are a team, and the coach is part of a team. He is part of that community,” Pastor Bob Myers said. “I think as long as students initiate it, the coach has every right to express himself in that same way.  . . . There’s all kinds of school districts that are saying this can’t be done, and you can’t do this, but I think that’s a violation of the coach’s religious rights under the constitution.”

Imprisoned Pastor’s Wife Speaks Out On Second Anniversary

The wife of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini is speaking out about the lack of moment by the U.S. government on her husband’s behalf as he marks two years behind bars.

Naghmeh Abedini addressed the issue on Friday ahead of her speech Saturday at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.  She says that the Obama administration has gotten better about speaking about her husband’s plight over the years.

“They’ve come a long way,” said Naghmeh. “The first six months when Saeed was in prison there were no statements. The last year and a half we’ve seen a few statements.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last spoke of Saeed’s plight where he also called for the release of other Americans being held by Iranian authorities.

“The United States respectfully calls on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason Rezaian to their families and work cooperatively with us to find Robert Levinson and bring him home,” said Kerry.  At the time, Kerry claimed the government was working hard to see the release of the prisoners.

Naghmeh Abedini is not so sure.

“I have to say it is frustrating. It has been two years. It seems like there are a lot of statements, but no action. What are we doing to get him home?” she said.

Naghmeh says that she has felt stronger support coming from countries other than the United States, which boosts her hope that her husband may soon be released from custody.

“It’s encouraging because now it just isn’t between the U.S. and Iran,” said Naghmeh. “It’s the whole world speaking out. Brazil, Canada, England and other European nations have been a great support.”

Prayer rallies for Saeed Abedini were held around the world Friday on the two-year anniversary with over 400 gatherings in countries from Brazil to Kenya.

Franklin Graham Says Christians Need To Step Up Against Persecution Abroad

Reverend Franklin Graham is making a call to Christians across America to shake off their apathy and begin to work to help persecuted Christians around the world.

“I don’t think we’re doing enough. No, I don’t. There is much more we can do,” Graham told The Christian Post.

“The greatest thing we can do is to pray — to pray for the Christians who are suffering. Saeed Abedini is on the poster behind us, but there are thousands upon thousands of Christians in Syria and Iraq who are suffering because of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Graham spoke at the Washington vigil for Saeed Abedini, whose plight has been largely ignored by the State Department and Obama administration.

Graham was also critical of Muslims around the world that have not taken steps to stop Islamic extremism.  Graham believes if they truly are against the movements of groups like ISIS or Boko Haram, they would be taking action.

“Followers of a peaceful religion do not cut off the heads of innocent people in the barbaric action the world has been watching,” said Graham before those gathered.

“Believers in a peaceful religion do not kidnap 300 young school girls as Boko Haram did in Northeastern Nigeria in April. … Men who practice a peaceful religion do not detonate bombs on American streets during a marathon race to kill and to maim.”

Worldwide Prayer Vigils For Saeed Abedini

Friday is a day of worldwide prayer for Pastor Saeed Abedini.

The event was organized by Saeed’s wife Naghmeh and is including groups of Christians from the United States to Mexico to Kenya.

The American Center for Law and Justice says the event is focusing on prayer for Abedini as the day marks the 2nd anniversary of his wrongful imprisonment for being a Christian.  The event will also pray for other Christians imprisoned around the world for professing Christ.

At the Washington, D.C. event, Naghmeh Abedini read a letter that Saeed wrote to his daughter for her recent eighth birthday.

“I know that you question why you have prayed so many times for my return and yet I am not home yet,” it read. “The answer to the why is who. Who is in control? [The] Lord Jesus Christ is in control.”

“Jesus allows me to be kept here for His glory,” Abedini continued. “He is doing something inside each of us and also outside in the world. People die and suffer for their Christian faith all over the world and some may wonder why. But you should know the answer of why is who. It is for Jesus. He is worth the price. And He has a plan to be glorified through our lives.”

Arizona Coach Suspended For Praying With Team

An Arizona football coach is riding the bench for two weeks because he prayed with his team.

Tom Brittain, head varsity coach at Tempe Preparatory Academy, has asked a member of his team to lead a prayer.  The coach then joined the students after they began praying.

That’s when Headmaster Dr. David Baum swooped in and suspended the coach because he dared to pray with his team.

He also gleefully stood by his decision.

“I think I preserved the religious freedom of our students, who have to have the liberty to be able to practice or not practice their religion on our campus, without interference by adults,” Baum said.

Parents were outraged at the anti-Christian action taken by Dr. Baum.  They showed up at the homecoming game last week with T-shirts showing support for the coach saying “Let Tom Coach.”  Students also had a poster with the “we believe in Coach Brittain” message and had personal notes of support for the coach.

Self Proclaimed “Man Of Faith” Stops School Prayer Chain

A school superintendent who claims that he is a “man of faith” told a school principal and his teachers that they can no longer have a prayer chain for the sick and needy.

“I’m a man of faith who wants good for all, but I’m also a firm believer in separation of church and state,” Medina Schools Superintendent Dave Knight told The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Still, this “man of faith” Dave Knight told Principal Chad Wise of A.I. Root Middle School that he had to stop a prayer chain for community members dealing with a number of difficulties.  The plan was to uplift those who were facing illness, dealing with family deaths or in the middle of neglect or abuse cases.

“Public school staff can’t use district resources, including email, to promote prayer, especially when the principal, a person in a position of influence, is involved,” “Man of Faith” Knight told reporters. “When it comes to separation of church and state, it’s very clear.”

The principal was advised a single e-mail asking for keeping a family in “thoughts and prayers” was permissible but the prayer chain was a bridge too far.

Principal Wise says he will continue the prayer chain on his own time outside of school e-mail and outside the reach of “man of faith” Knight.

High School Cheerleaders Stand Against Anti-Christanists

A group of Tennessee high school cheerleaders is refusing to allow out of state anti-Christian groups to take away a tradition of pre-game prayer before football games.

Oneida High School had been offering prayers over the loudspeaker before the start of football games since 1930.  Two years ago, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association told schools to stop doing the prayers because of threats of lawsuits from those wanting to remove Christians from society.

The school continued but began to get threats from outside anti-Christianist groups because of the prayers.  So the school replaced the prayers with a moment of silence.  The team, coaches and fans said they could feel a difference in the atmosphere at the games when the prayers stopped.

And that’s when the cheerleaders stepped in.

Cheerleader Asia Canada stood during the moment of silence and began to say the Lord’s Prayer out loud.  The rest of the squad joined her.  Soon, the entire stadium was saying the prayer.

And because it’s student led, the anti-Christianists can do nothing about it.

“The removal of prayer before football games wasn’t an option in my opinion,” cheerleader Kayla King told the Independent Herald. “It’s your option what you do during that moment of silence, whether you say a prayer or not, but ‘as for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.’ I’m thankful for the community I live in and hope to represent it well.”