I did it! It was fun. If you think high school is tough as a Christian, college is much tougher.

Because of my legal status and the old slander which continues about me, I no longer minister openly among local young people under the age of eighteen.  The kids praying at the pole in my community witness more effectively when I am out of the picture.  I can only pray for them and for their endeavors to witness for Our Lord.  However scripture reassures me, "the fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much."  It is Christ Jesus Himself Who makes me righteous; so I know my prayers carry much weight and shake things up in the heavens over my county, loosing the angels of God to participate directly in my stead.  Anyone reading this post who, for whatever reason, avoids open participation in such events as "Meet Me At The Pole," come and join me in prayer on the sidelines.

@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - from what I understand they pray around the pole because pretty much every school has one, and it's easy to centralize the event that way and make it "portable"

and I did it when I was at an american school, but we didn't have a pole because of fear of terrorist attacks and what not (it wasn't in the states...) so we just met in a central area, which was interesting. The teachers thought we were protesting at first and had a mini spaz attack before they remembered what was going on =P

@canadiansrock@xanga - Thanks for the attempt to explain. Combining a universal concept such as God and religion with the temporal concept of division called a nation is anathema to me and for that reason alone I'd steer clear of the idea and the participants.

I used to moan about the regulated prayers for the monarch, and the regimental flags in English Anglican churches, as if God and Christ was on the side of the British in times of international strife. The way Amercia constantly mingles Americanism and religion repels me and many others who are not enthralled by nationalism. The flag and what it represents then becomes a barrier to evangelism, which presumably is what the more fundie of the religion think is paramount.

hmm, I really have never understood why it has been claimed that prayer isn't allowed in schools-- it completely is. It just has to be student-led. In other words, public schools (that receive public funding) can't enforce or endorse religious activity.

Sorry, I know that wasn't really the point of this blog post. It just irks me when people (not you) claim that students' religious freedoms are restricted in schools. Students have complete religious free speech in schools as evidenced by these demonstrations. They just can't expect the schools to include their religion in the curriculum/functioning of the school.

@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - Because America was the first nation where people were free to worship any way they chose in public without fear is why we tend to mingle our patriotism with our religion. But that has been used against us and some of us are waking up to that fact. But when they do it, it is more as gratitude to God for the freedom to worship Him in public and safety. And for all the rich blessings we have had in this country. Blessings I think are now coming to an end.