I felt simply awful last night and have felt tired most of today, so I neglected to write my thoughts after yesterday at Enterprise MS. By the way, there is nothing quite like a good bout of the flu to remind me how much I take health for granted. But I digress.
In my last period I showed a video about Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people. The movie starts with a scene of two Nez Perce men (a young man and his aged father). A settler comes upon them and accuses them of stealing his horses. There is a short interchange as they deny it and he extends his hand as if to say, "Sorry to trouble you." Yet, as he shakes the hand of the older man, he raises his rifle, shoots him in the stomach, and kills him.
Later in the movie that young brave kills the man who killed his father (along with other settlers), and even later the friends of the killed settlers take revenge on the Nez Perce people.
Now, the truth is that the Native American/Anglo-settler conflict is complex and muddy in many ways, but as I watched the movie, I kept thinking about how this was a great picture for the futility of revenge. It made me frustrated to think about how the cycle of revenge kept perpetuating itself and dragging more people down with it!
I realized that this was the message I wanted to highlight -- revenge, though sweet going down, is always bitter in the end. This is truly a kingdom principle. Leave room for God to revenge. Don't take it upon yourself. Who has hurt me recently that I want to take revenge on? Am I currently trying to get back at anybody? Good questions for me to ponder.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Elementary PE
I was really hoping to get called today by Enterprise Middle School since I had such a good experience there on Friday. However, the call never came and I really wanted to work today. As I looked at the 5-6 job opportunities, the one that grabbed me most was PE at Jefferson Elementary. I like games. I like kids. Sounded like a winner.
And it was. I had classes of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th graders. We played with the very large parachute and it was fun to get kids excited. I had one boy who was removed from the class for behavior issues (it's hard to manage the behavior issue and keep the class moving well). I also had a girl with a bloody mouth at one point (she lost a loose tooth during the class).
However, overall it was just a great day. How good is the Lord to me? I thought several times that I wanted to bring the Kingdom of Jesus to Jefferson today. I think my call is to go above and beyond what subs would normally be expected to do. When I got done with my PE I went to the office and asked if I could do anything else. They sent me to the library and I shelved books. When my day was done at 2:20, the office woman asked if I could take over for an ill teacher. That was good.
When I left the secretary said she hoped they could have me sub again and that was encouraging. I really hope people see the life of Christ as servant in me. I figure that shows the Kingdom better than just about anything else.
And it was. I had classes of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th graders. We played with the very large parachute and it was fun to get kids excited. I had one boy who was removed from the class for behavior issues (it's hard to manage the behavior issue and keep the class moving well). I also had a girl with a bloody mouth at one point (she lost a loose tooth during the class).
However, overall it was just a great day. How good is the Lord to me? I thought several times that I wanted to bring the Kingdom of Jesus to Jefferson today. I think my call is to go above and beyond what subs would normally be expected to do. When I got done with my PE I went to the office and asked if I could do anything else. They sent me to the library and I shelved books. When my day was done at 2:20, the office woman asked if I could take over for an ill teacher. That was good.
When I left the secretary said she hoped they could have me sub again and that was encouraging. I really hope people see the life of Christ as servant in me. I figure that shows the Kingdom better than just about anything else.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Trusting in God
What a great day today was. For the past 2 months I have really not taught in any preaching/teaching setting. About two weeks ago a local pastor contacted me and asked if I might be able to preach in his stead while he was away this weekend. As I prayed about it and asked the Lord if He wanted me to teach anything in particular I recalled a message I taught at Bethel in April about the Greatness of God. I sensed the Lord saying, "Tell them how great I Am." That sounded much like the Lord and I really enjoy doing that, so I agreed to preach today.
Before preaching, I attended Bethel's West Pasco campus. I found that the singing time was very stirring to my heart and particularly the song, "I Am Not Skilled to Understand." The part where I sang, "My God He was, my God He is, my God He's always gonna be" was a strong statement from me to the Lord about how I trust in His faithfulness to me in this time. I have seen His faithfulness so many times in the past, see it even now in many ways, and I declare that I know He will be faithful (regardless of how I feel in the future).
So, after that service I drove to the other church and had a chance to meet with that body of believers. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing a bit of their story. After having not taught in 2 months, it was such a joy to have the privilege of speaking the Word to them. Before I spoke, however, we sang some songs. The one just before the scripture reading? "I Am Not Skilled To Understand." Again, it was so good to affirm to the Lord that He has been, is, and will be Faithful. I declare that of Him.
I spoke out of Numbers 20:8-12 as a jump off spot and basically just tried to lift up God and connect His New Testament salvation with the events of the OT. The main themes were:
God CAN be trusted
God REALLY is good
God has my best interest in mind
The God of the NT and OT are the same God
To close the service, the worship leader had picked the hymn (last Tuesday) -- "Like a River Glorious" whose words say, "Those who trust Him fully, find Him fully true. Trusting in Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest." I felt this was a wonderful capstone of the day for my own heart that God is fully trustworthy in this time (again, regardless of whether my circumstances feel like it or not). I felt highly energized after speaking and am so grateful for God's kindness to me during this time.
Before preaching, I attended Bethel's West Pasco campus. I found that the singing time was very stirring to my heart and particularly the song, "I Am Not Skilled to Understand." The part where I sang, "My God He was, my God He is, my God He's always gonna be" was a strong statement from me to the Lord about how I trust in His faithfulness to me in this time. I have seen His faithfulness so many times in the past, see it even now in many ways, and I declare that I know He will be faithful (regardless of how I feel in the future).
So, after that service I drove to the other church and had a chance to meet with that body of believers. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing a bit of their story. After having not taught in 2 months, it was such a joy to have the privilege of speaking the Word to them. Before I spoke, however, we sang some songs. The one just before the scripture reading? "I Am Not Skilled To Understand." Again, it was so good to affirm to the Lord that He has been, is, and will be Faithful. I declare that of Him.
I spoke out of Numbers 20:8-12 as a jump off spot and basically just tried to lift up God and connect His New Testament salvation with the events of the OT. The main themes were:
God CAN be trusted
God REALLY is good
God has my best interest in mind
The God of the NT and OT are the same God
To close the service, the worship leader had picked the hymn (last Tuesday) -- "Like a River Glorious" whose words say, "Those who trust Him fully, find Him fully true. Trusting in Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest." I felt this was a wonderful capstone of the day for my own heart that God is fully trustworthy in this time (again, regardless of whether my circumstances feel like it or not). I felt highly energized after speaking and am so grateful for God's kindness to me during this time.
Friday, October 24, 2008
John as a Substitute Teacher
Today I substitute taught at Enterprise Middle School for 8th grade Language Arts and 7th grade World History. No, I don't have an education degree. Yes, you can sub without one -- it is called an emergency substitute certificate and I am grateful to Kathy Billow for alerting me to this possibility. The funds it supplies combined with the flexibility are really a wonderful combination. I'm still technically on "vacation" from Bethel, but that ends on 10/31 so this is a God-send. It was a little nerve racking at first, but the day went pretty well I believe. I am hoping to sub again on Monday. Tonight I will be at a wedding rehearsal for a wedding that I am officiating, and the couple has a great story about God's goodness and their great obedience. I'm looking forward to that.
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