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To the Editor:
Good news for students and their parents is the annual back-to-school tax holiday, which runs from Friday, July 28, until Sunday, July 30. It covers clothing costing less than $100 along with school or art supplies costing less than $100 and computers, laptops and tablets for personal use costing $1,500 or less.
Good news for all Tennesseans is the back-to-school holiday will be followed up by a much needed grocery tax holiday running from August 1 until October 31. It covers food and food ingredients, but not alcohol, candy, dietary supplements or prepared food.
We should applaud Gov. Bill Lee for providing much needed financial relief for families on everyday expenses. Pray that Tennessee continues to be a pro-family state with one of the lowest tax rates in the nation. Another thing that the state leaders should consider is having a gun and ammo tax holiday in the future.
Now that students will soon return to school there might be confusion about their right to pray and express their religious beliefs. Good news for students is they have constitutional rights. The American Center for Law and Justice says the U.S. Supreme Court consistently has held that “students don’t shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” The ACLJ also says, “The right to persuade, advocate or evangelize a religious viewpoint, implicates the very reason the First Amendment was adopted. Accordingly, the U.S. Constitution forbids school officials from censoring student speech because of the religious content of that speech.” The Rutherford Institute says student-initiated prayer is legal and students have the right to meet and pray together during free time on school property. According to www.christianheadlines.com students can express their faith in five ways. 1. Bring their Bible. It’s perfectly legal and a constitutional right to bring a Bible or New Testament to school. It can be read during free time such as lunch, recess or on the bus. 2. Pray before lunch. Praying is legal anytime if it doesn’t interrupt a class or other school function. 3. Start an after-school Bible study. Public schools allow after-school Bible studies or clubs, as long as they are student-run and led. 4. Incorporate faith into a school project. For example if required to write a biography of their choice they could choose an influential Christian such as Billy Graham or Martin Luther. 5. Share the gospel with a classmate. Students should give their testimony of how Jesus has positively impacted and changed their life. For example they can say how prayer has lowered their stress and how the Holy Spirit has helped them be more forgiving and less easily offended. Also, if the opportunity presents itself and the student feels the Holy Spirit’s guiding, they should share the gospel which is the good news of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15) with fellow students. The clearest way to explain salvation is say you need to accept that you are a sinner and need Jesus, the only Savior. Believe Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again and is your only way to Heaven. Call on or pray to Jesus to give you His free gift of salvation.
God can use Christian students of any age and they can make a positive difference. Remember what the Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:12, Let no one despise you for your youth but be an example in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. According to Christian radio website, www.wcqr.org great Christian singers Casting Crowns with special guest Jordan Feliz are coming to sing at Elizabethton High School Citizens Bank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. until 9:30. It requires a ticket to see this concert.
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7 a.m. is this year’s see you at the pole event when students meet at flagpoles to pray for their schools. However, Christians should pray for their teachers and the students every day. The nationwide bring your Bible to school day is Thursday, Oct. 5.
Pray for these three events because any of these events or all of these events could cause a needed revival to begin in Carter County. As much as we like to see our high schools win ball games and state championships it’s only for one year. The Bible says it’s wise to win souls and you will receive eternal rewards. We want more than anything for all our high school students to join team Jesus and be winners and champions forever! As Paul did as a Rome citizen in the Bible, American Christians should stand up for our constitutional rights! As Martin Luther did 500 years ago Christians must take a stand for truth. In these evil last days before the return of Jesus, students have more distractions and are under more demonic spiritual attack than ever. However, the Bible says Christians overcome by the blood of Jesus and our testimony. The Bible says in Ephesians 6 when you take a stand put on the whole armor of God! “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore!”

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton