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Cameron Franks watched teachers put up the posters---and he watched them take them down.
The administration at his public high school had been ordered to do so.
The posters had a religious theme but had been put up to demonstrate our religious freedom in America.
The poster has Scripture scrolled into a cross with this statement at the bottom:
"This Poster is illegal in 51 countries."
This is a story we've all heard before. A student was "offended" by the poster, took a picture of it, and sent it to the atheist Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation immediately contacted the school, demanded the posters be taken down...or else.
Schools believe they can't afford the "or else" which means a lawsuit, so they comply to the demands.
The school superintendent ordered the teachers to remove the posters saying, "The teacher who put the posters up was acting in violation of the establishment clause."
He explained that his "hands were tied" and he "had to do it."
This is a common narrative. But the local ABC affiliate reported that Cameron's response is not so common.
KTRE ABC CH 9 reported that the poster that once hung in the classroom now hangs in Cameron's home.
He says its a reminder of his mission to take a stand for Jesus.
He told CH. 9, "We've walked our halls for 4 years and we've been persecuted and called hypocrites and everybody that's a Christian, I'm sure they've had a time in their life when they've been persecuted and I knew it was time to take a stand."
He says, "All the posters and symbols and Scriptures were removed from every classroom and I sort of really didn't really understand what was happening."
KTRE says it was at this time that he decided to make a T-Shirt and practice his own First Amendment rights.
He told KTRE, "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of hiding in a corner."
Cameron told CH 9 he just decided to do it and see what the reaction would be.
Across the front his red T-Shirt says, "Let God Rule Your World, If You Want God To Rock Your World".
Across the back he put Romans 8:31, "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
This story was first reported early this month. After wearing his T-Shirt, other kids began asking if they could get one. Then some teachers and adults also wanted the shirt.
Cameron then started selling them for $5 each, putting all the money back into creating more T-Shirts. Three weeks ago he had over 2,000 orders and orders were increasing in volume.
He has now created a Facebook page that says, "Take a stand for Jesus, we won't be shaken."
Now he is receiving sponsorship and donations from the community.
I know...this is just one kid in Rusk, Texas.
But it is "one" kid.
This is a microcosm of the way good and decent people are feeling across this "Land of the Free," and they are beginning to discover ways, productive and proper ways, in which they can express their deeply held religious beliefs.
I personally believe that this rush to strip God from the culture and the relentless assault on religious freedom is going to create a backlash. It did in 1776 and it can now.
There is an awakening to what is happening to our freedoms.
In each case I find a common thread. Some specific episode of suppression of religious expression or a specific assault on a religious freedom creates one of those "moments"---a moment that becomes a call to action.
Think about this over the weekend---maybe while you're sitting in church.
At what point do we, no...at what point do I stop hiding in a corner?
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Bold. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed. Be Free.