Wednesday, December 10, 2008

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 (NLV)

This year more than any other I can remember people everywhere seem to be feeling (and expressing) more pressure and tension; not because of the season, but because of uncertainty. Traffic is as terrible as ever. The weather is getting colder. There is so much to think about and do, gifts to buy, friends to see, family to visit and care for, programs to attend, parties, budgets, baking, cards, etc... The list goes on and on, and just writing about makes me feel tired.

As we race through stores and drive in our cars a familiar song plays in the background, “Hark the herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.” We might even be humming along as it continues… “Peace on earth and mercy mild…” Peace, you might muse, what a thought. How great it would be to have peace. “If only I had a moment’s peace.” Have you heard someone say this statement (have you said it yourself)? Yet, is it peace we are after, or are we really longing for an absence of conflict? Are we really seeking to exercise what peace is really about, or do we just want people to stop fighting, and or leave us out of it? One has to finish the rest of the song to know what peace the songwriter is talking about, “… God and sinner reconciled.” The only One who can give true peace is God, and the peace he offers is so different from the world’s idea of peace. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Our world talks about peace, but what they often settle for is truce. Truce is a temporary absence of conflict - an agreement to cease from physical hostilities for a time. There is no reconciliation just an agreement to stop the fighting for now all the while allowing the real problem to fester and boil over inside. Peace on the other hand, is the interjection of righteousness into a situation in order to bring about reconciliation. This often causes chaos because people want their way and do not want to consider that they are a part of the problem. Peace involves humility and the realization that I may have to give up my perceived rights, and exercise my responsibilities. When we allow the King of Peace to rule in our hearts and make His desires ours, then we will experience true and lasting peace. The peace that was promised and given through the baby in the manger.

At the heart of Christmas is the greatest gift ever given. Packaged in the Person of Jesus is every gift we will ever need to fulfill every longing we may ever have. This good news outlasts anything and everything that this world offers, and has brought the greatest change, and the only true peace in the hearts of people everywhere who have received it. May your Christmas be filled with His presence and all that comes from knowing Him.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”Oscar Wilde

Once again, we find ourselves in the season of giving and getting. What will I give? What will I get? We all know the saying, “it is better to give than to receive.” The only problem is that sometimes what someone is “giving” is not something that you are necessarily “wanting.”

What do you do when someone gives you something undesirable? Have you ever been blind-sided by someone’s bad attitude, hurtful look, or snide comments? Have you ever felted pushed, or shoved into something? How do you deal with these kinds of gifts? Do you ignore them? Do you push back?

I have been reading a book entitled, “QBQ! The Question Behind The Question” by John G. Miller. I have found it to be a great read! He proposes that often when people are confronted by new situations (aka change) that their first reaction is to ask “incorrect questions,” questions like “Why?” “Who?” or “When?” He is quick to point out that these kinds of questions often lead to complaining, blaming, and procrastination. He suggests that a person learn to make better choices by recognizing and asking better questions. There are three guidelines that he offers: 1. Begin with “What” or “How” (not “Why,” “When” or “Who”); 2. Your question should contain an “I” (not “they,” “them,” “we” or “you”); and 3. Focus on action. So the questions, “What can I do?” or “How can I adapt to this situation to make it work?” are examples that follows the guidelines perfectly.

Sometimes when what one receives from others is grief or trouble, it is hard to believe the promise given in Romans 8:28. The main problem is that often many view the Christian life as a life free from all adversity. However, a better understanding would be that a Christian is delivered in the midst of adversity, which is something very different. Psalms 91: 9-10 (NLT) states, If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.” It does not say that you will not experience evil. On the contrary, if you are breathing, you will certainly encounter troubles, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. He says, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b) (NLT). Jesus is the one who has overcome and he is saying, “There is nothing for you (or I) to fear.” I like the way Oswald Chambers puts it, “God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome.” It is through the strain of life that a person is able to build his/her strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. You might say that if you never used your muscles they would most certainly atrophy. Using your muscles tones and firms them, and as a result, you are stronger.

So what are you asking for this year? Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. Once you face the strain, He will sustain you with strength (Philippians 4:13). Overcome your own fear and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment—“To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God” (NLT). God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Part of learning to seek Him means learning to avoid the “incorrect questions” and learning to ask better ones. Trust Him and He will provide all that you need in your moment of struggle.

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Pericles

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. Amidst its’ great beauty, there is great drama. As the days grow shorter, the leaves of the trees become vivid with color, and when the sun casts its’ amazing golden hue over everything it is truly breathtaking. Yet, it does not take long before the true nature of this season becomes a reality. It is a season of decrease. After the harvest comes winter, but before the ground becomes hard, something wonderful happens. Seeds are scattered, the seeds that will turn into the new growth of spring. During lunch recess the other day, some of the students and I watched as this happened right before our eyes. The wind was blowing the leaves off the trees. We watched and laughed as the leaves danced before us on the ground. The leaves were carried too and fro swirling around us in wild abandon. Moving this way and that, no one could predict which way they would be tossed next, or where their final resting place would be.

Parker Palmer in his book “Let Your Life Speak” shares his experience with realizing the autumn of life. How he rarely saw autumn as a time of seeding, rather he focused upon the fact that summer had ended and now death was inevitable. There is a paradox within this season of dying and seeding of decline and hope for the future. In many ways, our lives are like the seasons. Often change means allowing some experiences to fade while focusing and placing emphasis on new ventures.

I have entered an “autumn” period in my life at Fairview. As I write this, I realize that some of you have already heard the news of the changes happening within my life and how those changes effect Fairview Christian School. In case you have not, I have resigned my position as school administrator effective January 3, 2009. I have been blessed to have been chosen (out of 700 applicants) to fill one of 30 slots in a medical radiography program here in Seattle. I am very excited about the opportunity. Beginning in January, I will work as a part-time pastor at Fairview, and will continue to be available to our new principal as he transitions into the leadership role of the school ministry. I am excited about Mr. Cultum, and believe that God has crafted him for this time and place. My goal in life has always been to do my best to follow what I believe that God has called me to be and to do. I have enjoyed my work with students and families here at Fairview Christian School these past 12 years, and have many wonderful memories, but is time for this chapter to close and I believe God is calling me to a new adventure. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you and your family.

Thanks for reading.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

“Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” Rollo May—Teacher, Author and Psychologist

This week I thought I would review some information about “Hints to having a successful Parent/Teacher Conference.” I hope you find the information helpful. In order to help your kids have a successful school year, you need to know what is expected of them, academically, from now until June. You can find out by asking some questions. Take this list with you to your next parent-teacher conference, and be sure to take notes.1. What skills and knowledge will my child be expected to master this year?2. How will my child be evaluated?3. What can I do to stay more involved in my child's academic progress?4. How do you accommodate differences in learning?5. How are students prepared for learning? Other good ideas prior to a conference with your child's teacher:

-Prepare ahead of time for the conference.
-Look over recent assignments and test grades so that you know how your child has been performing in class.
-Look through books and see what your child is learning.
-Ask your child questions, such as what is their favorite subject? What are they having a difficult time with? What subject do they find easiest (hardest)? And ask them to tell you who their friends are at school.
-Write down questions you have for the teacher so you will remember what you wanted to ask.
-List your child's strengths.
-Be on time for the conference, most are tightly scheduled. Being even 5 minutes late will substantially cut down on the time you have with the teacher.
-Be open to suggestions from the teacher.
-Ask what you can do at home to help your child be more prepared for school.
-Offer suggestions and insights into your child. You know your child best and you may be able to offer information that will help the teacher help them to succeed.
-Ask about social interactions as well as academic. Children struggling with friendships can suffer from low self-esteem, which can cause additional problems in school.
-If you find your child is struggling in school, ask to re-conference in a couple of weeks. This way the teacher will be able to spend more than 20 minutes with you and you can both work together to develop a plan to help your child succeed.

No matter how many suggestions, conferences can be stressful for you, the teacher, and your child. Before attending the conference, be sure to let your children know how much you love them and that you will love them no matter what is shared. Let them know that conferences are not for the teachers to "tattle" on children, but for parents and teachers to work together to best help them succeed.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.” Anonymous

Yesterday we took time to honor veterans, and were privileged to have five with us. It was a wonderful to have them with us, to take time to honor them for their courage and bravery, and to thank them for their service to our country. Some of our students had made special “Thank You” cards for them. It was priceless to watch as the students shared their cards with our guests.

I have been thinking about the word gratitude. The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines gratitude as “the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.”

I like what John Ortberg in his book, “When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box,” states about gratitude. He says, “Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It opens us up to wonder, delight, and humility. It makes our hearts generous. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation … Gratitude is the gift God gives us that enables us to be blessed by all his other gifts, the way our taste buds enable us to enjoy the gift of food. Without gratitude, our lives degenerate into envy, dissatisfaction, and complaints, taking what we have for granted and always wanting more.”

There is an account found in Luke 17:11-19, about ten lepers crying out to Jesus for help. Lepers were commanded to make their presence know by shouting “Unclean, unclean,” so that anyone near them would not accidently touch them. Somehow these lepers must have heard about Jesus and his power to heal, and so from a distance they yelled, “Jesus, Lord, have mercy on us.” Jesus’ heart was moved. He told them to go show themselves to the priests, which is interesting in that earlier he had healed a leper by touching him, now he is asking these lepers to go and show themselves before they had been healed. I can only imagine that they might have been a little confused by this command, but they had nothing to lose. The ten left Jesus and something happened. As they traveled they were healed. I am sure that the thrill of being healed and restored was overwhelming and so they ran home to tell their families, friends, and neighbors what had happened. All except one. One of the former lepers turned and ran back the way he had just come in order to fall on the ground before Jesus in gratitude.

Gratitude is always an act of humility. Unfortunately, many believe that they will experience gratitude more if they received new stuff, the stuff they really want. Yet the truth is that having too much can make a person feel entitled rather than grateful. According to researchers Robert Emmons and Mike McCullough gratitude can be learned. They did a study where by they randomly assigned people to keep a daily diary for two weeks of events in their lives. One group was to record happenings that they were grateful for, and the other hassles or simply life events. Joy, happiness, and life satisfaction all rocketed up for those in the gratitude group.

My advice is do not wait until you “feel” grateful or thankful before giving thanks. Usually thinking and doing lead to the emotions. Begin today to express gratitude and you will begin to change the world around you.

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

“A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight.” Oswald Chambers

The end is coming (of first quarter). Friday marks the first “ending” of this school year. The students have mixed feelings about this. Some are excited because it will be a half-day rather than a full-day of school. Some are relieved glad to have finished all of their work. Some are frantic trying to finish their work, yet others are neither agitated nor excited.

Have you ever felt irritated about completing something? Faced with duties below your position or that make you feel like you are wasting your time? Sometimes doing small things makes us feel small in the impact we might have. It is almost as if we lose sight of the main objective when stuck doing small things. There are times when I feel that some things do not make a difference. It is my failure to understand or comprehend the magnitude of when these things have an incredible influence upon the future.

Missed opportunity is one of those merciless and gnawing events. It eats away at a person causing sleeplessness, loss of appetite (or the opposite), depression, anger—and/or a lot of other discomforts. There is a story about a man in the Bible who did a simple thing really well. He did it so well that it had a major impact upon his life. His name was Enoch, and in Genesis 5:21-23, you can read about him. He loved God and spent time with Him. In the end he did not die, but was taken by God to heaven.

Oswald Chambers once said, “A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight.” Enoch did a simple thing well; he walked with God. Because he was focused on the right thing at the right time, it meant that he did not have to die. I wonder what would happen if each of us took the small things more seriously. How would the lives of those around us be influenced or even changed? 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it” (TMSG).

Since second quarter begins Monday, our students will have the opportunity to try doing the small things differently. I hope that some will understand better the importance of small things. I hope you will consider the small things that you are being asked to do, and consider doing them well. You never know what will happen.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

“more people believe in Santa Claus than in the Great Pumpkin, but let’s face it; Santa Claus has had more publicity." Linus Van Pelt

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was on television last evening. This animated TV special first aired October 27, 1966, and has been a classic ever since. It is a fun story about the Peanuts gang getting ready for Halloween. The story opens with Linus and Lucy going out into a pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin. Linus points out several pumpkins, but Lucy is not interested. Lucy then points to a large pumpkin and Linus then has the job of rolling it home. Once they arrive Lucy takes a big knife and slices into the pumpkin to gut it, at which point a mortified Linus says “Ohhh, you didn’t tell me you were going to kill it!” and starts wailing.

A couple of weeks ago I shared with our students what I call the “Pumpkin” chapel. I bring a pumpkin to school and carve it while the kids watch. I start the chapel by sharing about the origins of pumpkin carving explaining that it was out of necessity that people carved gourds so that they could use them as lanterns to see where they were going at night. Today it is different, people still have the need to see where they are going, but they have more efficient means of casting light into darkness. We then talk about why people carve pumpkins today and most of the answers center around the idea that it is a festive event to do around Halloween. My pumpkin on the other hand is used as an illustration of a person and the Christian life. My story begins with a pumpkin covered in mud who wants to meet God. The pumpkin tries to clean itself up by washing off the mud, but soon discovers a problem. He learns that God is not so concerned about the outside, but He looks at the heart. So now the pumpkin has to trust the hand of His maker to clean-up his heart. At this point I cut open the top of the pumpkin and begin scooping out its’ guts. I usually make the most of this by having students smell the inside of the pumpkin and see how slimy and gooey the insides are. Some of the gunk comes out easily, but then the hard part comes. “Sometimes to bring about change you have to be scraped” I will say. At this point I ask the kids to name the kinds of feelings and or thinking that may need to be “scraped” out of a person’s heart. They usually respond with answers like, lying, stealing, cheating, angry feelings and other hurts. After cleaning out the inside, I hold the pumpkin up and show the students how clean it is. I then tell them that God loves them so much He would never leave them empty, but puts His light and love inside of us. I put a candle in the pumpkin and put the top back on. After a short amount of time the candle goes out, and the students are all clamoring to tell me that I have forgotten to make a face. I usually cut a funny face into the pumpkin and then re-light the candle explaining to the students that when God places His light inside of us it is so that we will shine His love and truth to all who are around us. If we try and keep His light to ourselves it soon goes out. At this point we dim the lights and sing, “This little light of mine…”

Linus is convinced that the Great Pumpkin will bring toys to the child who waits in the most sincere pumpkin patch. The problem is that while his belief is sincere it is incorrect. This does not make him a bad person only misguided. Hopefully, people like Linus will see God’s light in us and put their faith in something that lasts forever.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Ben Franklin - "One today is worth two tomorrows; what I am to be, I am now becoming.”

Many of you might be familiar with Judith Viorst’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It’s the story of a little boy whose day falls to pieces.
“I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard...and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” (Viorst, p.5).

Alexander’s day just gets worse as he goes to school, finds himself at the dentist, and has to go shopping with his mother. No one looks forward to a day filled with obstacles, trials, and setbacks, but I wonder how often we approach a day in the same way as Alexander. How often do we start the day with a flat tire even before we get into our car? How often do we set our course with a bad attitude and then act surprised when our day falls apart? Even as I write this I am wondering if I should change my line of questioning. Let me ask, how often do you have a great day? What would a great day look like to you? Would you say that it is the norm to have a great day, or the exception?

To me it all boils down to choice. I have to make a choice about my day before it begins. What will you choose? There is no doubt that our days will be filled with events beyond our control. So how are you going to allow those events shape you? Truly, the only area in our lives we can control is our choice in how we react or respond to what happens.

John Maxwell, says this about choices/decisions, “Successful people make right decisions early and manage those decisions daily.” I believe he is saying that the sooner you decide the important decisions and the longer you manage them, the more successful you can become. Persons who neglect making decisions and fail to manage them will often look back on their lives with sadness and regret.

I would encourage you to begin each day with a word of thanksgiving to God. Begin your day with Him and allow Him to change your outlook and attitude about what is to come (Phil. 4:4-9).

May God’s peace reign in your heart and mind. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

“The minute a man ceases to grow, no matter what his years, that minute he begins to be old.” William James

This past Sunday, Fairview church celebrated 102 years of ministry. Amazingly, the Fairview building is also 102 years old. Obviously, the buildings’ age is apparent, not so with the church. It is the difference in building materials. The church is made of people, the building of stone, wood, and paint … lots and lots of paint.

I have been at Fairview since the fall of 1984. I came to Seattle to attend Seattle Pacific University. In 1984, the Fairview Church was known as the Woodland Park Church. In December of that year, the church purchased and began renovating the Fairview Elementary school building. The church started Fairview Christian School in the fall of 1985. In January 1993, I joined the staff of the church, and in 1996 became the school administrator. I have now lived in Seattle longer than I have ever lived anywhere else, and yet I refer to my hometown as east of the mountains. In two short years, the number of years I have lived as a married person will match the number of years I lived as a single person. Every year, I notice that things are changing about how my body works (or fails to work). I do not bend as I used to, nor do I bounce back as I used too.

Have you ever stopped and thought about the biblical phrase “full of days?” Many of the patriarchs died “full of days.” At a cursory reading one might think this just is another way of saying someone or something is old, but a closer more careful reading conveys a message that a person lived a full life—a life of meaning, and purpose—a life of influence.

Jesus died at 33. Yet he was full of days. Stephen, the first martyr, was likely only in his 20s when Paul and his crew stoned him to death. Yet he was full of days.

Being full of days is not about the length of your life. It is about its depth. It is not about numbers of years. It is about abundance. Its yardstick is not the amount of gray hair on your head. It is about the grace and maturity that resonates from a life mirrored after Christ.

As I age, I want full days. I am more and more committed to living the fullness of life that Jesus promised (John 10:10). I want to laugh with more heartiness and weep with greater compassion. I want to say “I love you” more times in a day than anything else, and “I’m sorry” as quick and as often as it is needed. I want to linger with my friends, forgive my enemies, and reconcile with those I estranged along the way. I want to love God with all I have and all I am. I want to love my neighbor as myself. Whether I die soon or late, I want to leave this world full of days.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

“Did you really mean do unto others as they do unto you, because if you did then I’m going to fix my brother.” excerpt from Children’s Letters to God

I was a bit convicted and challenged yesterday when reading one of my favorite books, My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. He writes, “The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening.” This was a great reminder to me that every moment has worth. Every moment is full of potential and influence…especially those moments when we are not in the spotlight, but behind the scenes, out of perceived sight, working and serving when (we think) no one is watching.

Life at times can come pretty hard and happen fast. This past week I have had to be extra careful about my response to life as it happens. A nice way of saying I have been a bit irritable. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but for some reason it has not taken much to ruffle my feathers. Some of you might wonder, “Hmmm, I’d like to see that,” or “I wonder what that looks like?” Thankfully, not many of you will ever see that side of me, and I am not so inclined to make it easy for the rest of you to find out.

We have all had days that we wished had gone differently. No one is immune to making a mistake with his/her words or actions from time to time. This does not make those times excusable, but it is what it means to be human. There was a man that scripture tells us very little about, but what it does say is truly amazing. His name was Enoch. We can read about him in the book of Genesis 5:19-24. All we know about him was that he was born, became a father, and after reaching the age of 365 and walking with God for many years, God took him. That is right, God took him, and he did not die. The Bible tells us “he was no more, because God took Him away.” Amazing! He must have truly been special. In Hebrews 11:5 we read that, it was Enoch’s faith that pleased God and so he did not have to die. Enoch was different because he walked with God. Enoch chose to place himself in an environment that influenced his behavior, his words, his character, his very being. Enoch in learning to keep in step with God was transformed by the very atmosphere of being in His presence, and so he was different. Oswald Chambers continues, “Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him.”

During these times of turmoil in our country’s economy, and the stress that this can have on families, and communities, we would do well to follow Enoch’s example of seeking to be present with God. I am encouraged that the solution to my grumpiness lies in me taking time to walk with God. If we can live in the atmosphere of Christ, the peace of Christ will surely be ours.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.” James Thurber

“Hey dad, can I ask you a question?” I hear this statement quite frequently, and sometimes am bothered by it. I am frustrated when a question is asked and I can tell that there was no thinking prior to the asking. Do you know what I am talking about? I like questions, but my hope and desire is to stimulate thinking both before and after a question is asked. I have this belief that the sooner I can get someone to not only ask questions, but think about them, the sooner they will be able to live in a real world. The road to wisdom is paved with lots and lots of choices, and the act of making a choice requires thinking. It is all part of my selfish desire to help kids grow to be responsible, respectful, and fun to be around most of the time. I say most of the time because I know that I am not always fun to be around, and how can I have an expectation of someone else that I do not have of myself?

So what do you think about questions? What is your viewpoint? This may seem an unusual question, but is there really anyone out there who does not have a question from time to time? Even the brightest person has questions. In fact, I think the more a person reads, the more a person learns, the more questions a person may have. Sometimes questions are simple and straightforward, other times they seem surprising and perhaps even frightening, and they may push us to avoidance rather than discovery. Once in a while I run across a person with no questions. This seems sad. Why don’t they have questions? What has caused them to choose to live without wonder? Someone not having questions makes me have even more questions.

If we want to know the truth we have to ask questions. In fact, to truly pursue the living God, we have to see the need for questions. So, how does your faith do with questions? Do you have room in your faith for questions? Why is this person sick? What is going on? Why did this happen? When will this change? When a person asks questions they are admitting that they do not have all of the answers, which then pushes a person to look outside of themselves for guidance. Rob Bell in his book “Velvet Elvis” states that “Questions, no matter how shocking or blasphemous or arrogant or ignorant or raw, are rooted in humility. A humility that understands that I am not God. And there is more to know.”

The Bible is filled with stories of real people who asked questions. Moses spends an inordinate amount of time (2 chapters) trying to convince God that He has picked the wrong guy, and with each question it appears that God reveals how convinced He is that He picked the right one. Job certainly asked a lot of questions. Nicodemus couldn’t sleep because of questions (see John 3). And what about Jesus on the cross asking, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Maybe God is looking for people who don’t just sit there and mindlessly accept whatever comes their way. Asking questions is a way of engaging the living God. It is a way of thinking and searching for answers. Asking questions is a way to freedom. Freedom from having to have it all figured out. If we do our job well, your children will have a mind full of questions.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

“Leadership is influence.” John C. Maxwell

We gathered and prayed at the Fairview flagpole this morning. In preparing for our time, I reviewed the story of the biblical character Samuel. One verse stood out and seemed to sum up his life, 1 Samuel 3:9b “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening.” Samuel was a leader of leaders—a chief advisor to the kings and military captains of Israel; a judge and prophet of the people. When he spoke, everyone listened. As a prophet of God, Samuel anointed kings; as the interpreter of the divine Word, he counseled and challenged kings. He served as a judge in Israel prior to Saul’s monarchy.

While Samuel was young, he lived in the Temple. One night God called Samuel’s name, but he thought it was Eli. After this happened several times, Eli realized the truth and told Samuel to go back to bed and if he heard the voice again to respond by saying . . . “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” 1 Samuel 3:9b God did call and Samuel listened. This began a relationship with God that went on throughout Samuel’s life. His commitment and devotion to God is illustrated in 1 Samuel 3:19 where it says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of His [God’s] words fall to the ground.”

Have you ever wondered what gave Samuel such credibility? When he spoke, people listened. John Maxwell in his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” describes this kind of persuasion as “The Law of E.F. Hutton.” Do you remember E. F. Hutton? E.F. Hutton found a brokerage firm in 1904. It became one of the most respected financial firms in the United States and for several decades was the second largest brokerage firm in the United States. The firm was best known for its commercials in the ‘70s and ‘80s based on the phrase, "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen" (which usually involved a young professional remarking at a dinner party that his broker was E.F. Hutton, which caused the moderately loud party to stop all conversation to listen to him). Samuel had the kind of leadership that made heads turn, that drew people to listen. I believe the reason he had so much influence was that he looked to God for direction. Near the end of his life Samuel as an old man addressed Israel saying, “I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand.” The people agreed that Samuel had led them with integrity and honor all his years. It all started for Samuel when he made a connection with God at an early age.

It is tough being a Christian student today. Students are faced with so many choices and they are not always sure which direction to take. Following God in a world that misunderstands Christianity and tolerates its principles less and less all the time is difficult. What if, like Samuel our students made a connection with God, and never let any of God’s words “fall to the ground?” How do you think their lives would be different? How do you think the lives of those around them would be different? The nation of Israel was influenced by the life of Samuel and his choice to listen and follow God. Our time this morning at the flagpole was a great time for each of us to connect with God and with other believers. May we by our example inspire students to say what Samuel did so long ago…”Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

“You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.” Motto, Massachusetts Humane Society

On the island of Nantucket there is a museum dedicated to celebrating the unique maritime heritage of the island. Located next to important shipping lanes running along the East Coast when maritime travel was in its heyday, Nantucket Island saw hundreds of vessels passing by each day—all navigating without the advantages of modern technology. There have been over 700 shipwrecks in the area dubbing it as the “graveyard of the Atlantic.” Contained within the museum are artifacts and stories of those who sailed, and those who risked their lives to rescue those whose ships were sinking. I have never visited Nantucket, but I would like to someday. As I was reading about the museum one story stood out, and I want to summarize it for you here. It is the story of the Massachusetts Humane Society.

Formally established in 1786, the Massachusetts Humane Society was concerned about the needless deaths resulting from shipwrecks and drowning and wanted to find ways to save lives. From the outset, it focused on recognizing the selfless lifesaving rescues and preventing such tragedies. Volunteers would spend hours at a time in huts that overlooked the ocean watching for any ship that might be in peril. They stationed equipment at certain vantage points to be ready at a moments notice to go and attempt rescue. This heroic group of volunteers adopted the motto, “You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.” Soon, other groups like the United States Life Saving Association, and the United States Coast Guard, joined the efforts to save lives. For a while, the volunteers and the paid workers worked side-by-side risking life and limb to rescue, but in time that would change. Barriers would start to form between the groups. The volunteers started to make statements like, “We don’t have the right training, or equipment;” and, “Maybe we should let the professionals do this”; and later, “Why should we risk our lives volunteering when they are the ones getting paid?” This group once dedicated to selfless lifesaving rescues quit watching for ships in peril. They quit going out to help with rescues, and lost their purpose. A few members of the group still meet today, but not to save lives, to have fellowship. It is interesting to me how things change…

This year our school theme is focused upon Servanthood. When we talk about servanthood, we mean more than just doing work for someone else. After all, people who are not connected with Jesus can serve. People can do good deeds for others, but that is not what we mean by servanthood. People can also serve out of wrong motives—to gain self-worth, to call attention to themselves, to alleviate guilt, etc. Serving from wrong motives is not servanthood. True servanthood flows out of a deep friendship with Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit as a result of an abiding in Christ (John 15:5), producing spiritual, eternal fruit in becoming more like Jesus. Yet sometimes barriers stop people from serving. My hope is that we will be able to begin to live 1 Peter 4:10-11 this school year, and that we will not lose our purpose.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5(NCV)

When I last wrote, I began to tell about an exhilarating experience I had this past summer that involved water. Here is the rest of the story. Previously, I had left off with water streaming into the room with only my thumb trying to stop the flow. As I began to yell for help, I soon realized that no one was around to hear me. There are times when being alone is great, this was not one of those times. Water was beginning to fill the room. I had to do something. If only I could get the water shut off, but the shutoff valve was downstairs. I had no choice…I had to make a run for it. I let go of the pipe, and in a split second, water was hitting me squarely in the chest. Startled I jumped up and went for the door. As I ran out into the hall, I shot a glance back into the bathroom. The water jet was so strong it was spraying the wall six feet away like a pressure washer clearing a path. I leaped jumping down our steps nearly crashing through the wall at the bottom of the stair. My middle son met me at the doorway and asked what was going on. All I could say was, “Get the shop-vac!” I turned every valve I could find, but the water would not stop. Ryan immediately started using the shop-vac trying to minimize the mess, but now the water was running under the baseboard through the walls and coming out into the carpet in the basement. Finally, I found the valve that turned off all of the water, but there was still at least three inches of water on the bathroom floor, and who knows how much that had seeped through the walls down into the basement. What a mess that all started with a small insignificant drop of water.

Have you ever been caught off guard? Sideswiped? In a position where instead of controlling your thoughts and frustrations you were controlled by them? This was definitely one of those times for me. What do you do when times get the best of you? Max Lucado writes, “Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions. Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s temper tantrum. Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime. Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse. Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery. Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement. Today’s guilt is tomorrow’s fear.” My plumbing problem started as a small drop of water that within minutes turned into a uncontrollable flood. You do not have to be a victim of your thoughts. You have a vote. You have a voice. You can exercise thought prevention. You can also exercise thought permission. Change the thoughts, and you change the person. If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s love? Will standing beneath the downpour of his grace change the way we feel about others? Absolutely! Philippians 4:8 helps me stay focused, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (RSV). Thinking conveys the idea of pondering—studying and focusing, allowing what is viewed to have an impact on us. Fill up on the good things, and take stock of the negative…make it become obedient to the authority of Christ, and those watching will learn to do the same.

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

“The grass is greenest where it is watered...carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be.” Robert Fulghum

How has your summer break? I hope you have been able to enjoy some vacation time. I took some time off and was determined to accomplish a few tasks that I had neglected around our house. Making a trip to the dump, cleaning up around the yard and house was great, and I was happy with the way my tasks were quickly being eliminated. Two days into my stay-cation having already accomplished a majority of the projects, I had in mind; I was suddenly given a new and unexpected project. Accidently, I found a few drops of water under one of the sinks in the main bathroom of our house. Not a lot of water mind you, but whenever you find water in a place it should not be, it is never a good sign. After a bit of investigation, I decided that I would try to tighten the fittings and see if this would solve the problem. The problem appeared to be solved at first, but later that same day I found more water. While attempting to check and re-tighten the fixtures and supply lines, my wrench slipped and whacked the hot water supply line. The 50-year-old line snapped like a twig and my little water problem was now a flood. Water was gushing out of the pipe at a tremendous velocity. I was a bit stunned at first, but quickly realized my predicament as water crashed into my chest and face. I instinctively put my thumb over the hole partially slowing its progress.

Surprise! Do you like to be surprised? I know… it depends on whether you are the “surpriser” or “surprisee.” I think it might be safe to say that we do not mind surprise when it is our doing, but to be surprised by something unexpected is usually not something the normal person enjoys or desires. Surprise often means adjustment (hopefully you were not so surprised that you need to change your clothing). Whenever something changes, it can often push us in the area of trust, and you might find yourself asking many questions like: Why is this happening? Why now? What were they thinking? Why me?

How do you handle change? Change is an essential element of life itself, yet we almost instinctively resist it. During this day and age, change is happening so quickly most people do not have the luxury of adapting gradually. The future belongs to those who anticipate change and have a plan to respond to it. We can never expect to control change, but we can control our response to it. The first thing to remember is that with every change someone experiences a sense of chaos. People experience anxiety with change even with the most thoughtful and careful communication about it. Even if the change is in the best interest of everyone involved. Therefore, a key to remember is to be open and flexible. Cultivate a habit of remaining open-minded and adaptable trying to see the benefits rather than becoming upset and frustrated. Remain calm, take a deep breath, relax, and assess the situation as objectively as possible. This can best be accomplished by asking open-ended questions. The critical issue in dealing with change is having control. Most of our stress and unhappiness comes as a result of feeling out of control. The only thing you have complete control over is your conscious mind. So take control of your thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 12:1-2). Turn your thoughts to focusing on the One who gives peace (John 14:27). Trust in His character for He cares more about you and your situation than you can even realize (Matthew 6.25-34). We are about to start a new school year. We will face many changes, and together, with the Lord’s help, we will face the changes and remain in unity.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23(NIV)

My oldest son will be graduating from high school in less than two weeks. This past Sunday, our church honored graduates, and I found myself emotionally moved as I listened to my son share about his dreams. In a very short amount of time, his plan is to move to Japan and attend the International Christian University. He has a real knack for learning languages, and he plans to study and become a teacher. Recently, he secured his first real job (one where he works for someone other than me). He is a hard worker, and I know that his employer will not be disappointed in the quality of his work.

Do you remember your first job? After having a paper route, and working for a contractor, I took my first “real” job at the age of 15 working for Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor. Do you remember Farrell’s? On the outside, looking in it looked like a fun place to work. Yet once I got inside, I quickly wanted out. The fictional character Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates…” It is amazing how good something can look on the outside, but be so different on the inside. I worked for the ice cream parlor for just a little over a month doing my best to give my best effort, all the while looking for another position somewhere else. My dad is the one who taught me about work. He works hard, and I would say that he perceives his work as a way of truly blessing others.

The value of a strong work ethic goes without debate, but ways to instill that quality in young people continues to be a challenge at times. As we come to the close of another school year, I wonder if our students got it. Sometimes it can look (from the outside) that we are only focused on outcomes and external evidence (grades and awards), and while these are the fruit of working hard, it is not the only or best part of work. What I am hoping is that our students realize that everything they do, everything they say, is an opportunity to glorify Christ. We have been created to worship and glorify God. There is no greater reason for our existence. There are times I am tempted to separate my life into the categories of sacred and secular. Yet in reality, every situation in which a person finds him or herself is a means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit is determined that we have the realization of Jesus in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point repeatedly until we learn. Self-realization leads to self-glorification. Whatever we may, be doing—even eating, drinking, working, or resting—we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. I am hoping that our students get beyond the thinking that there is work to be done and that we must do it, and move towards the attitude that we have the opportunity to glorify Christ in all things.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

“There are many things that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those things." Michael Nolan

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. It contains more than two million stone blocks averaging 2.5 tons each. Every one of these limestone blocks was cut out by hand from quarries sometimes miles away and pulled up ramps of dirt to be stacked one upon the other to a height of 480 feet. One hundred thousand men worked constructing it, and for 3800 years, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.

What an odd use of resources and work force, this building of pyramid tombs. Yet to the ancient Egyptians the work was holy. It expressed the way they understood the universe and so no one questioned the incredible cost of time, resources, and human life.

As amazing as the structure is itself, the treasure that was kept within was truly remarkable. Tomb furniture and household artifacts of gold and precious stones are just the beginning of the story. Jewelry, graven images of gods in the form of men, women, and animals, models of ships and houses testify not only to the wealth but also to the heart of the builder. The ancient history of the Egyptian people as well as all scientific knowledge of the day was engraved on slate pallets and placed within the tombs. All this and the sarcophagus itself, is simply the beginning of a vast treasure sealed inside the pyramids for the exclusive use of the Pharaoh in his journey through eternity. The monetary value of such a treasure is incalculable. Therefore, I am left asking, “all for what?” These things supplied not one thing of real value for any of the men or women to whom they were dedicated. What a startling awakening to them death must have been.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us, “Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust, and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is is the place you will most want to be and end up being.” (MSG) Where’s your treasure and where’s your heart? Even the most spiritually minded of us say, “But I must live; I must make a certain amount of money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.” The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves. Jesus cuts to the heart, and reverses the order by telling us to get the right relationship with God first, maintaining it as the primary concern of our lives, and never to place our concern on taking care of the other things of life. So where is your heart? A very precious treasure of yours is watching.

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.” Alfred A. Montapert

I was reading a recent blog entry by Mark Buchanan that stirred my thought process. He was describing a law of the human condition called the Law of Unintended Consequences. This law, similar to Murphy’s Law (“What can go wrong, will”), is not a law of nature but an accepted condition of being a finite being. The law of Unintended Consequences states that an act will often produce unforeseen results that are harmful to, sometimes the exact opposite of, what we intended. Many parents have seen this law in effect when raising children. Have you ever witnessed that it is when you are in a rush that for some reason your child moves more slowly? It is as if the words, “Hurry up!” flip a switch in their little brain that says, “Slow down” the exact opposite of what was wanted.

In Genesis 25, one can read of how this law can have long-term effects. Abraham’s wife Sarah had died, and so he marries a woman by the name of Keturah. He has many sons with Keturah. However, in order to protect his son Isaac, and the promise made to him about his future, Abraham cuts his other sons out of his in heritance and sends them away (Genesis 25:6). This action accomplishes what he intends, but with the unintended consequence of creating many of the enemies, the future Israelites will have to face. For example, several generations later Gideon and his army of 300 have to battle against the Midianites (a people group established by one of Abraham’s banished sons). Abraham was able to protect Isaac in the short-term, but unwittingly subjected his descendants to harm on a much larger scale. In effect, so that one son would not be inconvenienced during his lifetime, many sons suffered grievously for many lifetimes.

So what is your Isaac? What is it that you are trying to protect? Could it be that by doing so you have actually put it at risk? So often, as parents, we want to spare our children from pain. This is not a bad thing. Except for when we shelter our children from making choices that they are perfectly capable of making. My friends at the Love and Logic institute have illustrated this idea with “The Science of Control.” It goes like this, when we share the control we get our share. When we hoard the control, we soon lose it all. A parent who understands what it means to share the control is more likely to have good results by giving choices (giving a child the opportunity to think – with the unstated message “ I believe you are smart and capable of making wise decisions”), rather than demands (doing all the thinking for the child – which sends the message “You are weak, fragile, and not very smart – let me help you.”). For example, the parent who offers their child the choice, “Are you going to wear your coat or carry it?” knows that when a child feels the cold they are smart enough to put on the coat they are carrying without being told what to do, and or how to feel about it. The child who chooses not to bring or wear a coat can benefit from the adult who uses thinking words like, “I’m so glad I brought my coat.” Some might mistakenly say that this is cruel or manipulative, but the reality is that the child who faces the temporary consequence of cold most likely will make a better choice in the future. Rather than trying to make the child feel bad, it would be better to model for them how we take good care of ourselves and thus stimulate their thinking. I hope you find this helpful. My best to you as you seek to raise up a responsible child. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,” Psalm 42:5a

Since hearing the news of the most recent natural disasters, I have been thinking about how we talk with children about tragedy. The media bombards us with so many pictures and videos of devastation that I have felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of these tragedies. As a parent, I wonder how our children cope with these catastrophes? In this information age with all of the media coverage, it is likely that only the youngest of children are sheltered from seeing or hearing information following natural disasters. In my opinion, what is shown is often more frightening than informative. Parents can play a vital role in helping their kids cope. To help you help your kids, I have borrowed some ideas from Jim Burns (President of HomeWord) that I hope you find helpful.

1. Be willing to discuss natural disasters with your kids. Helping your kids cope with the natural disasters starts with being willing to talk about the tragedy with them. Children, particularly younger ones, may be frightened by tragedies, wondering if something similar could happen to them. Talk with them, in an age-appropriate way, about what has happened and help to answer their questions and calm their fears.

2. Tell them the truth. Honesty is the best policy. Yet, honesty does not mean that you need to share every gruesome detail of the devastation with your kids only causing them to become frightened rather than informed.

3. Shelter your kids from graphic video and pictures. In our "24/7 live" news coverage from around the world, be aware that the graphic, often disturbing video and pictures being shown. These images do not need to be part of conveying the "news" of what is happening - to your children. My advice is that when natural disasters strike, especially in the immediate aftermath; keep the television news programs off when your kids are around.

4. Reassure your kids - as best you can. Since we do not have control over natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, as parents, we should not promise a child that we will protect them from any harm that a catastrophe may bring. Our job here is to reassure them as best we can. If kids are worried about something bad occurring, we can reassure them, "Mom and dad will do everything we can to always make sure you are safe from harm."

5. Don't ignore the spiritual issues. If you have ever wondered about what your kids think about God or faith in Christ, you will probably find out in the wake of a disaster. Be prepared for questions about God and life (like "Why did God let so many people die?") that you may never had heard from your child before. Kids really do want to talk about theological issues. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring those questions to the forefront. Be ready. Do not be surprised. Moreover, if you do not have all of the answers, that is okay. Work to help your kids (and maybe even yourself!) search for the answers.

6. Look for signs of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" in your kids. It is not uncommon for kids to suffer in varying degrees from "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD) after such large tragedies. Changes in your child's behavior such as regressing to more childlike behavior, acting out, withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, fear of a specific disaster may all be signs that your child is suffering from PTSD. If these symptoms do not resolve themselves, seek the help of a professional Christian counselor.

7. Pray for those whose lives have been impacted by the disaster. If your family does not have a regular family prayer time, I would encourage you to start one. Focus on praying for all those whose lives have been impacted by the tragedy. Praying as a family for these people also reinforces with your kids your own belief in God's love and His power to care and heal those who have been hurt.

8. Give. As a family, find a way to give something - anything - to help people in need. Giving to those in need is a spiritual response. The call to Christ is the call to serve. Giving helps, your kids learn to cope with tragedy by serving and helping those in need. Giving gives them some tangible way to respond. Your giving does not have to be limited to money. Typically, following a natural disaster, all kinds of supplies and food are needed.

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

“God will not permit troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.” Peter Marshall

There is this story about a man who found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared in the cocoon, and so he watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. At one point, it seemed as though the butterfly had stopped making progress. In fact, it appeared as though it could go no further, so the man decided to help the butterfly. He snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. However, it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man expected that the wings would enlarge and expand to support the body, which would contract in time, but neither happened. Instead, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never flew. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon was God’s way of forcing fluid from the butterfly’s body into its wings, so that it could fly once free form the cocoon.

Each child in our country has about eighteen years to prepare for living in the real world outside of the home and school. During these years, the child is allocated a certain number of experiences, which serve as teachers. These experiences include consequences, which can at times be somewhat painful. The pain attached to these natural consequences causes the child to remember and reconsider the decision made at the time. As these memories pile one on top of the other, they form a memory bank, which guides cause-and-effect thinking. Often the struggle we face as parents is the temptation to step in and rescue the child, robbing him or her of the chance to learn from an experience when the price tag is small. For example, young children, who make poor decisions, usually pay the price of being cold for a short period, being hungry for a little while, getting a reduced grade on a homework assignment, or have difficulty with their peer relationships. I would like all the kids who have any association with me to have as much practice, and the benefit of as many “real life learning experiences,” as possible while the price tags are still affordable. Here at school, we build these experiences into the daily program, by establishing a number of rules, which force the children to think and make decisions in advance. Allowing children the opportunity to solve their own problems, guiding them through these experiences with empathy and natural consequence, helps them develop habits regarding problem-solving and decision-making that sets them up to become butterfly’s in the future.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong and we could never fly!

I hope you find this helpful. May you find encouragement this week from the Lord. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you. Worry that they are always watching you.” Robert Fulghum

We have almost completed a week of formal testing. This week makes everyone a little nervous which seems kind of funny to me in that we use tools everyday to measure learning. The learning process is an amazing event. There are many ways to try to understand why and how we learn from Learning Styles theory to Gardner’s theory on the Eight Intelligences. Each has a perspective that gives insight into a particular niche of truth about the process of development. Yet with all of this information, one technique above all others seems to be the most effective in training—that being by example or the effect of being a role model. We all learn from models, examples of how it is done. When engineers design a prototype, they often make a model to see if their idea works. Models are used everyday as an attempt to explain and bring understanding to the world and events around us. Most times, we do not even realize that someone is watching. It is only later, when we are watching the one who previously was the “watcher” as they act out what they saw us doing or saying that we are delighted, surprised, or saddened.

Jesus, when teaching His disciples said to them, “Come, follow me…” meaning don’t just trail after me, but do what I do, be what I am, become like me. He showed them how to love people regardless of their cultural background, occupation, or tarnished lifestyle. He gave them an example of a suffering servant. We would do well to remember that there are eyes watching what we say, and what we do. They are learning how to live, by watching the very example of living that we represent.

So, who is your model? Who is your mentor? What do you believe that your children’s children will know about you? It is not about trying to be perfect. It is about realizing that what you do and say lives beyond the now, and knowing that if you point to truth the path will be clear for those who follow.

I hope you find this helpful. May you find encouragement this week from the Lord. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

“As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.” 2 Peter 1:3

Do you ever wonder when you will be caught up? It seems after the completion of one event that there is always another one just around the corner demanding more energy, creativity, and enthusiasm. Sometimes having events one after another is energizing. It is like a constant flow of adrenalin that pumps you up and keeps you going. Yet at other times, like a person crossing a great desert without water desperately looking for the next oasis, a busy schedule can leave you feeling drained and used up.

It is at the dry times that I try to remember a few key things. First, I remember, “I belong to Him.” I belong to God. In Ephesians 1:4-5 it says, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure (NLT).” What an awesome fact that God chose me...He chose you as well!

The second thing I remind myself is that “He is in control.” God is in control. Psalms 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him (NLT),” and Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (NLT).” What a wonderful promise to know. Everything is God’s and He desires to work things in such a way as not to bring harm to anyone, but so that His plan is accomplished.

The last thing I tell myself is taken from Romans 8:35-39, and can be summarized in the statement, “Nothing can separate me from His love.” This brings me great comfort in times when I am frustrated, confused, or discouraged.

I want to finish with a quote from Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China. He said, “Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little, and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and His presence to be with them.” Just as King David, who said, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47), we too need to understand that Jesus is our Source, and we can be directly connected to Him. May you know God’s peace, power, and love in your life!

I hope you find this helpful. May you find encouragement when you wait upon the Lord. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

“Do not fret—it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:8b

I hope last week’s break was great for you and your family. My family and I did something a bit unusual in that we took a “stay-cation” (a vacation at home). I turned off my cell phone, and the computer and took a break from the hectic schedule I have been working lately. It was great! Basically it was a week of Saturdays. I worked mainly in my yard and on our house. While pulling weeds, and cleaning gutters, I found myself musing over Psalm 37. If you are in need of encouragement, I would point you to Psalm 37. If you are in the place where you are feeling the compulsion to conform, or the temptation to compare yourself with others, or facing some kind of crisis or tough decision then you most likely could benefit from reading and digesting Psalm 37. David brings sound teaching and perspective that helps one to avoid the mistakes of reactionary thinking and decisions.

“Trust in the Lord and do good” (v.3). How great it is to reaffirm God’s sovereignty, recognizing that He is in control. There is nothing beyond His ability, and we need to do what is right despite what others do and or say.

“Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness” (v.3). Cultivate a faithful practice of spending time with God. It is in knowing God more deeply that we can face the difficult times with victory. We need to know His character so well that we will not allow the circumstances around us to confuse our thinking. Refuse to move quickly through your relationship with Him. It is when we spend time waiting upon the Lord that we find renewed strength, courage, and vision. He alone is the one who can feed us with the food that will satisfy (John 4).

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (v.4). Make God a priority in your life. Seek His values, and the promise is that He will reward and satisfy you in the end.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (v.5—6). We are charged to confide and depend upon God. When we do this, we can trust that He is in control of the results.

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when others succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (v.7). Essentially, it is when we are quiet and patient in the Lord’s presence that we can gain a healthy perspective. When we fret, or compare, it often can lead to inappropriate motivation or action.

Lastly, “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth” (v.8—9). So often anger is not dealt with correctly and it leads to offense. When not worked out anger leads to undesirable results. Place your hope in God trusting that in His time, He will guide and use your decisions.

I hope you find this helpful. May you find encouragement when you wait upon the Lord.
Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21

Have you ever struggled with your words? It seems funny to me how often a person can be more polite and kind to strangers than with their own families. Life never ceases to give us opportunities to test our patience and or our maturity. Wise parents know that strong family relationships and good parenting are far more powerful and longer lasting influences than peer pressure. Despite all of the power other kids can have over our children, we (as parents) are still the most influential people in their lives! If we work hard to establish a strong bond with our kids, and don’t sabotage the relationship we have with them by fighting about things we really can’t control—like who they choose as friends—they end up being more like us than they want to be! It’s true! Despite their valiant attempts to be different from us, kids who love and respect their parents eventually wake up (sometime in their late 20’s early 30’s), look in the mirror, scream, and say, “Aaaaarrrghh, I’m just like my dad (or mom)!”

Unfortunately, many well-meaning parents unintentionally force their kids to make poor decisions about friends. They do this by trying to control whom their children like, and with whom they choose to spend their time. This is a battle that is fairly easy to control when your child is young, but as they get older and more independent much more difficult with which to deal.

Have you ever struggled with some of the decisions that your child chooses, maybe in particular in their choice of friends? Charles Fay, from the Love and Logic Institute, writes what I believe to be some helpful advice for parents on the subject of friends.

He states, “Rather than fighting a losing battle over who our kids choose as friends, we’re far wiser to focus on upping the odds that our youngsters will make good decisions, even when their buddies don’t. Listed below are three quick tips:

Send strength messages.
"Hanging around Joe is going to get you in trouble," sends the message that your child is too weak to think for himself.
"It’s a good thing that Joe has a friend like you who makes good decisions," tells your child that he can think for himself.

Talk about the friend’s behavior rather than the friend.
Talking with your child about how "bad" a friend is implies that your child is bad for choosing them. Wiser parents talk about the types of sad consequences a friend’s irresponsible behavior might bring about.

Allow your child to use you as the "bad guy."
Experiment with saying: If your friends ever pressure you to do something you don’t think is right, feel free to blame me for your not going along with them. You might just say, "My dad is so crazy, you never know what he will do."

I hope you find this helpful! Have a wonderful Spring Break with your family!

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

“Faith in Jesus is important, but what about Jesus’ faith in us?...Jesus has faith that you can follow him and that you can be like him.” Rob Bell

Have you ever wondered why it seems as though some people have lives filled of incredible story, while others have no more than a humdrum type of existence? Some around us appear to have lives filled with interesting anecdotes of adventure, stories of family heritage, courage, strength, and even some with tales of miraculous events while others seem to have ordinary run-of-the-mill, not much happens kinds of lives. One person lives in Mayberry and the other in New York City. I was thinking about the biblical character, Jonah this past week. What an unusual existence he had. His life was filled with drama and action much of it caused by his choices. He heard the voice of God, spent time at sea (a tremendous learning experience), had the opportunity to speak before thousands, and saw many lives changed. Have you ever dreamed of having such a life—a life where you hear God speaking, asking you to do something incredible?

I am the sort of person that truly wants to believe the best about everyone. I realize that there will be times when this sort of belief will leave me disappointed, but I would rather err on the side of living believing in the positive about people, rather than the opposite. I suppose this is why I have the viewpoint that at some point in a person’s life he or she becomes concerned about purpose. What is it all about? Why am I here? Where is this leading? How is what I am about making a difference? I do not know about you, but I believe that in some way we all desire to make a difference in the world, to make a “dent,” or leave a mark so to speak. The issue might boil down to a matter of whether we believe we can make a difference. So often, we loose faith in someone or something because he or she, or it, lets us down. Nevertheless, I have good news for you. Someone believes in you regardless of what you may have done, or said. This same person, who created you, thinks you are great and wants nothing more than to see you succeed. Jesus, when selecting the disciples, chose grown men who had washed out of the Jewish school system. They were intelligent, but they were not the best of the best. He picked a team of “not-good-enough’s” and put them on the varsity team. They were his star players. He believed that each of them had what it would take to carry forth the vision and mission of God. Amazing...ordinary guys—guys that no one else believed in, doing extraordinary things! I am of the impression that Jesus believes you and I can do and be what is good, pure, and lovely, and thereby our destiny is to leave an incredible legacy.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or be afraid.” John 14.27

When I was in the First grade, I thought, “If I only had some Converse low tops, white with a red stripes, then I would be the fastest kid on the playground.” The shoes were so cool, and only the fastest kids had them. I remember when my mom gave in and allowed me to purchase a pair. I wore them at the end of the year race. It was a warm and sunny day - a great day for a race that is if you have the right shoes. Forty kids all lined up. The race was not long. We were to run out to the center of the playground, around a pole, and then race to the finish line. We lined up, I could feel my heart beating, and then the principal yelled, “Go!” I had a good start. All I wanted was to be first (who doesn’t?). I was so convinced that my shoes made a difference and nothing was going to stop me from winning. I was one of the first ones to make it to the pole, now for the sprint to the finish. There was only one other kid just slightly ahead of me. I pushed hard making my legs and arms work. In the end, I came in second, but I was still thrilled to have done so well!

So many times, I hear others, and even feel it myself, say if only I had this or that, then I could have peace. There are times in life when the peace we feel is based simply upon our own ignorance. However, when we become aware of the realities of life, true inner peace is impossible without the intervention of Christ. In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you…” He is able to create this peace within a person, when that person embraces His righteousness. Peace is so often confused with Truce. Truce making stops the fighting, but does nothing to address the real issues at hand. The only way to have true peace is to yield to God and acknowledge our desperate need for Him. So often when we are in turmoil, we wring our hands, worry, and fret about what we to do. All the while, the God of peace waits for us to seek after Him. I think this is the very reason troubles come into our lives. God promises to comfort us in our troubles, then asks us to share that comfort with others. In 2 Corinthians 1:2-4, Paul praises God for His mercy and comfort, and also moves us to use that experience to comfort others. It is always good to remember that we cannot give away what we do not possess. We are to pass on what God gives to us. We do not receive as an end in itself, but as a means to an end. We are to empower others with the power God gives us. I believe that there are at least six gifts we can offer to others in an effort to share our comfort with them:

1. The gift of Accountability: Helping others keep their commitments to God (especially through difficult trials and troubles).

2. The gift of Affirmation: Speaking words of support and encouragement (not a Pollyanna outlook, but sincere compassion and empathy).

3. The gift of Advice: When sought by the person in trouble words of wise counsel and direction can be a soothing balm.

4. The gift of Admonishment: Offering words of caution, rebuke, or correction.

5. The gift of Assets: Sharing tangible resources to help others.

6. The gift of Acceptance: Providing unconditional love, regardless of the recipients’ identity.

May you know and share the peace of God with those around you. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

This past week a friend was sharing from Jeremiah 29, and I remembered a time in my life when verses 11-14 became very real. It was July 1996, though in some ways, it seems like it was just yesterday. I had just finished another day of looking for teacher candidates for the coming school year. This was my first year as Administrator of Fairview Christian School, and I needed to fill four full-time teaching positions. A task that seemed not too terribly difficult in May, but now in July seemed overwhelming. To say I was frustrated would have been an understatement. I was praying, asking many questions, and feeling more than just disappointed. Everything I tried, everywhere I looked seemed to come up empty.

I left Fairview, and was on my way home to play tag-team parenting with my wife. It was almost time for her shift at the hospital and it was my turn to take care of our two boys (Jeff was not born until 1997). As I walked in the door, she was busy preparing to leave. She gave me some last minute instructions what I could make for dinner, who had just had a nap, etc., I listened, but all the while, I was lost in thought; perplexed by the obstacles that stood before me.

Oswald Chambers states, “It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.”

Only a few months prior had I discerned that God wanted me to stay at Fairview. I felt led to take on this new unexpected assignment of ministry, and to wait patiently for Him to work in and through me, but now I was feeling at the end of my rope. Where were the resources that He promised? Why would He ask me to fill this position and not provide? It was one of those times, when I felt as though everything was going to come crashing down around me. It sure would be easier I thought to go and do something else. Let someone else solve these problems, face these challenges – I must have heard God wrong. It was not supposed to be like this!

As I sat in our rocking chair, praying, my son Ryan toddled over and indicated that he wanted to be held. I placed him on my lap facing forward, and held him close as I continued praying in earnest. Suddenly, he turned and stood up on my lap. I really did not pay much attention, but just then, he stretched his small arms around my neck, rested his head on my shoulder, and began to pat my back with his little hand. It was exactly at that moment that the words from Jeremiah 29 came ringing into my head. It was an incredible moment that I will never forget. God had sent encouragement to me through my little three-year-old son. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I gave praise and thanks to God – my provider. By the middle of August, I had filled the last position I needed. Once again God had come through – praise the name of the Lord.

I do not know all the challenges that you face in your life. I do know that there is one who can and will make a difference for you and your family if you let Him!

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution...No, in all these things we are conquerors…” Romans 8:35,37a

A friend of mine told me once that as soon as the car reaches 61 miles per hour, the angels fly off. Funny to think about, but have you ever wondered if God has taken His hand away from your life? Troubles...everyone has them from time to time. Sometimes they are things that happen to us, and sometimes they are things that happen to those we are close too. Troubles are exhausting. They do not just take your energy, but can cause a person to trade joy for despair, and even push one to question God’s very character and nature.

Paul talks about the things that might seem likely to separate a believer from the love of God. However, the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and His child. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. Nevertheless, none of these things is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a believer on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Christ; a love that is a free gift that cannot be earned. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are champions whose joy comes from experiencing the very things, which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.

For example, huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. How can this apply that to our own circumstances? The things we try to avoid and fight against—adversity, pain, suffering, and persecution—can be the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things” not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A believer does not know the joy of the Lord in spite of trouble, but because of it. Paul said, “I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” (2 Cor. 7:4).

The abundant overflow of joy in a person’s life is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. Moreover, the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

“Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need.” Voltaire

How was mid-winter break for you? I hope you were able to take time to rest, relax, and have some fun. I spent most of the break in a cold medicine induced stupor. It was one of those times in my life where I felt as though I was just watching as things happened around me wondering if they were real. Have you ever been there? Watching? Not much fun, I like being in the story rather than just watching. A person who is sick spends part of their time in a somewhat coherent state, and the rest of it hoping that they don’t do, or say something that will haunt them for weeks, or years to come. I seem to pray, and think more when I am sick, but the problem is I don’t remember much about those prayers or thoughts.

I’m the kind of person that likes being busy. I feel good most of the time and I really like making mental checkmarks on my mental clipboard of different tasks I have accomplished or completed. I also like helping others. I seem to always find a way of getting involved and helping even with activities that have nothing to do with my goals, dreams, or desires. I think that my tendency towards staying active was something that was instilled in me by my parents. When I was growing up my brother and I were assigned chores by our parents. Not too unusual. These “chores” often included: taking out the garbage; cleaning-up the dog mess in the back yard; mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, cleaning the basement or garage, etc. As my brother and I got older the list got a little longer and naturally more difficult. I’ll never forget one learning lesson of scraping the siding of our house to prepare for paint. Our house had what looked like wood siding, but if sanded it enough you soon found out that it was more like compressed paper. Well needless to say, I sanded a bit too far in one or two locations creating a couple of very low spots and some divots in the boards. Everyone who got close to the front of our house could see my handiwork – oops.

I don’t hold any animosity or grudge towards my parents for assigning me jobs around the house. In fact, I am truly thankful that they instilled in me the importance of work and the joy that comes from working hard. Chores have great value and teach some very important life lessons. When a child is given a chore they are given a sense of importance in the family. They are being trusted to complete a task that is needed. When a child is given a chore, they are given the opportunity to gain a sense of accomplishment through struggle. Likewise, the use of chores can condition children to believe that their parents are the loving authority figures of the home (providing clear boundaries, demonstrating levels of trust, providing inspiration in giving the “can do” message). Chores can also be used as effective consequences for time invested in working with a problem that the child has created. A statement that I like to use with my kids that I learned from the folks at the Love and Logic Institute goes something like this: “I had to spend a lot of time worrying about your behavior, and trying to figure out what to do. When I do this, it drains my energy and I can’t do my own work around here, but if you do the work I missed, it will all even out. Here are the jobs you need to do. Thank you.” Don’t worry if you think you might have given a chore that may be too difficult, work with your child on the task (teamwork and confidence building). Resist the temptation to just do it yourself, but look for ways to encourage their participation and thinking. If you are doing all of the thinking, then you are working too hard!

I hope you have a blessed week!

Mr. Madsen

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

“Praise be to God...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may comfort those in any trouble..." 2 Cor. 1:3-4a

This time of year can really be busy, and it seems that I am always trying to add one more event to my schedule. I am a forgetful person; I say to myself, “How hard can it be? It will be easy to do.” There are times when I get to the place where it feels like if I add one more thing that I will pop. How about you? Have you ever felt this way? The sad thing is that every time I add something new to my schedule I have less time for something else. And, it is one thing for me to add to my schedule and it is another for someone else to add to it. Sometimes things get added which really are not ours to deal with. Do you know what I am talking about?

Some of you know that every year in the fall, I facilitate a course entitled, “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent.” I’ve found some great insight and results in practicing the “Love and Logic” approach of discipline. One of those insights is the shift in my thinking about my children’s problems. It used to be really easy for me to make my kid’s problems mine. This really does not work and can be a disservice to my kids’ learning how to solve problems, and ends up just frustrating me (and them). Charles Fay, one of the spokespersons for the Love and Logic Institute, wrote a short article that I want to share with you here this week: “‘Staying Calm When Your Kids Aren’t’

I once heard that the mark of a great leader is the ability to stay calm when others aren’t. Since great parents and teachers are really the same as great leaders, it makes sense that this would apply to our daily lives with kids. But...how do we do it?

People who meet this challenge think much differently than those who don’t. When the going gets tough, those who lose their cool are led astray by thoughts such as:

My kids should never misbehave.

This is horrible for me.

I’m a lousy parent (or teacher)!

I can’t help but get mad about this!

People who keep their cool are comforted by much different thoughts: They’re sure going to learn a lot from this mistake!

This is pretty sad for them.

Now I get to use my new skills!

It’s okay for me to be happy even when my kids aren’t.

The great news is that each of us has the power to choose how we think!”

I hope this is helpful to you this week! Thanks for reading and God bless!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;" John 15:5a (NKJV)

Lately, I have found myself reading and thinking about the Gospel of John 15:1-17. The passage describes the relationship between a gardener (God), the vine (Jesus), and the branches (the followers of Jesus). Each has a specific task to accomplish. The gardener cares for the vine and the branches by providing the best in all that is needed for the branches to be fruitful. The vine supplies the nutrients and the very essence of life to the branches, again in order to benefit the branches fruitfulness. The branch is to be fruitful, and all the branch has to do is “remain” in the vine in order to accomplish its’ task. As long as the branch “remains,” fruitfulness is a guarantee.

According to this passage there appears to only be two kinds of branches, those that bear fruit and those who do not. It also indicates the plight of those that do not bear fruit—they are drastically pruned back and destroyed.

So, why would a person choose to be barren? It does not make sense that a person would willingly choose to be barren. I suppose that is it possible that a person could feel that it is a mistake to trust the gardener. If a person felt that the gardener was not truly a caring, loving, giving, gardener than they would try to find someone or something to provide what they need. When a gardener prunes a branch he does so with the best in mind for the branch. The idea of being cut and pruned does not sound pleasant or helpful in the short term, but it is the only way to ensure a healthy branch. A careful reading of John 15, yields an understanding that it is the one who “remains” that is fruitful, and that the one who lives apart from the vine (15:5b), is the one who can do nothing. We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. It is only when we break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him that we understand His true character and His desires for each of us. Only by investing in a quality relationship with Him will we come to understand what it means to be fruitful.

One of the unique and wonderful things about Fairview is that everyday our staff and faculty invest in students and families. Everyday we pray that the gardener would do exactly what needs to be done in order to have a fruitful harvest. Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

“For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6

There is no question about it; we live in the age of information! We are continually being bombarded with words, images, thoughts and ideas. Computers, cell phones, ipod’s, PDA’s, and televisions are just a few of the ways in which information is shared and conveyed. Some research done by a group at the University of California Berkeley in 2003 estimated that currently the world’s total yearly production of print, film, optical, and magnetic content would require roughly 5 exabytes of storage (the prefix exa means one billion billion). To try and understand the amount of information we are talking about would be the equivalent of 37,000 libraries the size of the Library of Congress which holds roughly 17 million books containing about 136 trillion bytes of information. Wow—that is an incredible number to think about!

The impact of information and knowledge upon our lives, however, no matter how intelligent we may be, no matter the ease with which we assimilate all data, means nothing without wisdom and understanding. What choices do I make given the facts I know? On what foundation are my values built? Where or to whom do I go to make sense out of all the jumbled bits of information that press in on me each day? How do I sort out that which I should retain and that which I should discard?

The Bible says that God alone gives wisdom. He alone makes plain the incomprehensible and sets our priorities straight. His “Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” May you find your way through the maze by first seeking His wisdom.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others." 2 Corinthians 1:4a

Do you remember the game “Hide-and-Seek?” We used to play a version of it that included a tin can and the phrase “Olly olly oxen free.” I could not find a historical reference for the phrase, though it might be from the German, ‘Alle, alle auch sind frei” or literally, “Everyone, everyone also is free.” Adults do not play hide-and-seek anymore - at least not for fun.

We would try and get every kid in the neighborhood to play. It was a blast. First we filled the tin can with a few rocks so that it made even more noise when kicked. There were hiders and one seeker. The one seeking would try and find the hiders. When a hider was found, they would have to go and wait by the can. If a hider could sneak up and kick the can undetected by the seeker, then all those who had been found could go hide again. We would play for what seemed like hours during the long and warm summer nights in eastern Washington. There was only one thing that seemed to ruin the game and that was the one kid who hid so well that he/she could not be found. We were sure that they had violated the rules and gone inside for some ice cream or something. Sometimes even after the “Olly, olly oxen free” phrase was shouted this kid would refuse to come out. This eventually led to an argument where the person who was not found would be called a cheater and accused of playing unfairly and threatened to be branded eternally “it” if they could not play fair. Many wished that the kid would just get found so that the game would not be stalled. So often this meant our game turned into “Hide-and-Seek-and-Yell.”

Lately, I have been reminded how well people can hide, and how easy it is to overlook the people around me. There are probably many reasons why people choose to hide. Especially when life has been hard, lonely, or when difficult circumstances have brought hurt, sadness, and pain. There are those who often prefer to be overlooked, unseen, hoping to go unnoticed. These are the kinds of people I wish could get found.

I know a few people who are dealing with some tough experiences right now, and sadly they keep the secret. Some marvel at the strength of the person who keeps it going and bears the burden alone. Others are sad and disappointed because they can offer help and are not allowed for these people hide too well. Getting found would force them to stay in the game. Hide-and-Seek grown-up style - wanting to hide - needing to be sought - confused about being found. “I don’t want anyone to know.” “What will people think?” “I don’t want to bother anyone.”

It is time to change the game. Let’s move on from hide-and-seek to sardines. Sardines is a game where you go and find a person and then hide with them. I think God is a sardines player. He wants everyone to be free so that when “Olly-olly-oxen-free” is in the air everyone gets found.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

“When he (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”” Luke 5:4(NIV)

Happy New Year! I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas break. Most of the time off was enjoyable to my family and me. We had a great time playing board games, going to the movies, spending time with family and friends. There was only one catch. I needed to work a few days over the break. Just take care of a few items and prepare for some extra duties. During one of those days I spent between 6-8 hours preparing some work that in the end was fruitless—A big waste of time. The information that I was working with was outdated and useless. I felt sick. Have you ever felt like you worked hard on something and then got nothing in return?

In Luke 5:1-11, there is a story about some fishermen who had been up all night working hard and in the end felt shortchanged. These men were on the shore cleaning their nets when Jesus approaches with a crowd of people following. The passage tells us that the people were “pressing” Jesus for more of the Word. They were hungry for a connection with God. Jesus asked one of the anglers, Simon Peter, to allow Him to use his boat. After teaching the crowd, Jesus asked Peter to take his boat out to the deep water and to let down the nets for a catch. Just in case you do not know, the kind of fishing that Peter and the others did was done in shallow water in the evening or early morning. Their equipment and technique were not suited for deep water fishing during the day or anytime. Even though Peter relays their previous unsuccessful attempts to Jesus, he complies with Jesus’ request and is surprised at the catch. In fact, so many fish are caught that it took two boats to bring them in, and the boats almost sink in the process. After this event, the men end up becoming Jesus’ disciples.

Sometimes we have the best plans, and even after much work, things do not work the way we think they should. This time of year is unique in that it is one of the few times that many people become contemplative about the past and the future. What thoughts, challenges, opportunities await you in the coming year? How are you preparing yourself to meet them? I would encourage you to make 2008 the year that you go into deep water with God. Allow Him to reveal to you new ways of living your life. I promise you, you will be amazed at what He can do!

with expectation...