ICYMI – February 29, 2012
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
NYC Churches Can Have Access to Public Schools for Religious Services, Judge Rules
NEW YORK – Churches won back the right to hold services in the city’s public schools when a federal judge issued an injunction Friday against its no-worship policy.
The city said it would immediately appeal, guaranteeing that a case that has gone back and forth for 17 years will continue.
District Judge Loretta Preska ruled in Manhattan that a tiny evangelical Christian church, the Bronx Household of Faith, has a good chance of ultimately winning its lawsuit claiming the policy violates freedom of religion.
City lawyers had argued that the church’s use of a public grade school ran afoul of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, the prohibition against governmental endorsement of religion.
Top 5 Regrets of the Dying – Susie Steiner
A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life?
I am a Youth Worker – Shawn Michael
I am Youth Worker. I am the 99.
I am underpaid and overworked – working a full time job to pay the bills and doing my best to honor God and my students with the spare time that I have to put together the service each week for youth group.
I stayed up late last night talking to a student who’s relationship break-up resulted in their crisis and many tears. I’m up early this morning on my way to work.
I want to be involved in the youth ministry network in town but it’s just not feasible. I need the encouragement, resources, networking, and tools that they offer, but I can’t make it with my work schedule.
I often times compare what I have to the youth worker down the street with interns, a monthly budget, and a youth building and recreation center. It’s not like I’m trying to compete (How could I?), but I sometimes finding myself wishing I had more of what you do.
I’m just as passionate and work just as hard as the full time, paid guy, but I do it after my day job – not as my day job. As a result, I’m burnt out, tired, and sometime – no, many times – feel like giving in.
R.I. Student Draws Ire Over School Prayer Challenge – Elisabeth Harrison
There are not many 16-year-olds who take a police escort to school, but until recently, Jessica Ahlquist was one of them.
An atheist, Ahlquist sued the city of Cranston, R.I., over a banner hanging in the auditorium of her high school, Cranston High School West. Printed on the banner, a longtime feature at the school, is a prayer to “Our Heavenly Father.”
Jessica Ahlquist has received threats since suing the school district over the banner.
In January, a federal judge ordered the banner removed. The school board is expected to decide Thursday whether to appeal.
The ruling has prompted an angry backlash from residents. Ahlquist has received death threats and has even been criticized by her own state representative, Peter Palumbo.
“What an evil little thing. Poor thing,” he told local talk radio station WPRO. “And it’s not her fault. She’s being … trained to be like that.”
The prayer, which opens with “Our Heavenly Father,” urges students to work hard, be good people and achieve in sports. It ends with “Amen.”
