Matthew 18:6
The Message (MSG)
6-7 “But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Weep With Those Who Weep
Today's commentary by Luis Palau, in his "Reaching Your World" radio address, likened the act of Jesus washing his disciples' feet at the last supper to helping someone who is hurting.
We are called to stoop down and do things that might be uncomfortable. Mediate. Get our hands dirty. Ask hard questions. Talk about difficult subjects. Make phone calls. Intervene. (I'm glad to see evangelicals speaking up for immigrantation reform, another reason the topic of action is on my mind).
"Simplify. Identify. Rectify." (Kid Rock)
Listening to the needs of others AND acting upon those needs as an act of service is Biblical.
Turning away from a situation because it is awkward, risky, or uncomfortable is...human nature.
Yet another shooting at a community college makes me wonder, did that student-shooter ever reach out to his friends, family, or teachers? Did the people he reached out to favor their own personal comfort over action? Teachers like me sometimes struggle with when and when not to rush to a student's aid.
Romans 12:15...weep with those who weep.
The Bible doesn't ask us to simply "be happy" or to "be peaceful." Instead, we are called to action, like the first responders who ran toward the tragic scene at the finish line of today's Boston Marathon. Instead of running away, looking toward something more beautiful, or "choosing to be happy," they immediately put on a servant's spirit, bent down, and went to work treating wounds and adding calm to chaos.
Who do I know that is hurting?
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Thursday, April 11, 2013
Lashing Out
This is the week in the semester when students who have not regularly attended forfeit their final financial aid check.
The financial aid office contacted me and asked me to verify attendance for three students. I went through my records to be certain that what I was reporting was accurate information.
Sure enough, I heard from all three individuals after they traveled to the Business Office and found that there was no financial aid check waiting.
One was VERY angry with me. She said that I was to blame because I hadn't answered her email in a timely manner. She originally wrote to me on 3/25. I answered on 3/26. I pointed this out. Yet, she kept repeating "but you didn't answer me."
Galatians 4:16
“Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” ~KJV Ad.
Another student was actually quite apologetic. He shared that he had been incarcerated over the last two months and he sent me the link to the newspaper article that told the story of his crime. Oh dear! Too much information! I didn't read the story.
The same day a student in Texas lashed out at his fellow students, stabbing and seriously wounding several people at his community college.
It made me wonder why some people choose to lash out, instead of taking personal responsbility for their choices. Similarly, I wondered how we can help our children and our students to learn to forumlate paths out of seemingly "desperate" situations.
Leviticus 19:17-18 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (ESV)
The financial aid office contacted me and asked me to verify attendance for three students. I went through my records to be certain that what I was reporting was accurate information.
Sure enough, I heard from all three individuals after they traveled to the Business Office and found that there was no financial aid check waiting.
One was VERY angry with me. She said that I was to blame because I hadn't answered her email in a timely manner. She originally wrote to me on 3/25. I answered on 3/26. I pointed this out. Yet, she kept repeating "but you didn't answer me."
Galatians 4:16
“Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” ~KJV Ad.
Another student was actually quite apologetic. He shared that he had been incarcerated over the last two months and he sent me the link to the newspaper article that told the story of his crime. Oh dear! Too much information! I didn't read the story.
The same day a student in Texas lashed out at his fellow students, stabbing and seriously wounding several people at his community college.
It made me wonder why some people choose to lash out, instead of taking personal responsbility for their choices. Similarly, I wondered how we can help our children and our students to learn to forumlate paths out of seemingly "desperate" situations.
Leviticus 19:17-18 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (ESV)
Friday, April 5, 2013
Boundaries
This week the children were on vacation from school for the week. Because I just started a new job, I was unable to take any time off. Mr. WestBerryWorkingDad did take a day of vacation for Good Friday and the whole gang went out to a movie.
It has been difficult knowing that the four are home "alone." I'm grateful that they've attended to the list of chores I leave them daily: dishes, pick up sticks, fold laundry.
They've watched movies and played video games more than I'd like to admit. There was an Adam Sandler marathon during which the youngest, J, picked up some rather inappropriate lines from the movie, "Click." I came home to hear "hoochie house...hoochie house...hoochie house." G-R-O-A-N.
He has stored up several of these phrases to use, but, because he is young, he often uses them in situations that are slightly out of context. For example, we took the children to our favorite European Restaurant for pastries. We explained to them that we used to go there when we were dating, over twenty years ago and J yelled out, "Awkward!!!!"
Movie ratings provide boundaries.
This situation and other events this week made me think about boundaries, personal and physical.
The dog has been jumping over his fence. His very tall, electrified fence. This is a problem.
I now work in a building enclosed by a tall fence, patrolled by security guards. I spend time in "the vault," a room with video surveilance, a glass bullet-proof window, and multiple security codes on the door.
I enjoy saying hello to the guards every morning and evening.
On the international boundary side of things, my best friend Yuko, who lives in Tokyo, is very concerned bout the propect of having Caroline Kennedy assigned as Ambassador to Japan. Because, she notes, the country expects more earthquakes.
There's definitely something comforting about boundaries.
It has been difficult knowing that the four are home "alone." I'm grateful that they've attended to the list of chores I leave them daily: dishes, pick up sticks, fold laundry.
They've watched movies and played video games more than I'd like to admit. There was an Adam Sandler marathon during which the youngest, J, picked up some rather inappropriate lines from the movie, "Click." I came home to hear "hoochie house...hoochie house...hoochie house." G-R-O-A-N.
He has stored up several of these phrases to use, but, because he is young, he often uses them in situations that are slightly out of context. For example, we took the children to our favorite European Restaurant for pastries. We explained to them that we used to go there when we were dating, over twenty years ago and J yelled out, "Awkward!!!!"
Movie ratings provide boundaries.
This situation and other events this week made me think about boundaries, personal and physical.
The dog has been jumping over his fence. His very tall, electrified fence. This is a problem.
I now work in a building enclosed by a tall fence, patrolled by security guards. I spend time in "the vault," a room with video surveilance, a glass bullet-proof window, and multiple security codes on the door.
I enjoy saying hello to the guards every morning and evening.
On the international boundary side of things, my best friend Yuko, who lives in Tokyo, is very concerned bout the propect of having Caroline Kennedy assigned as Ambassador to Japan. Because, she notes, the country expects more earthquakes.
There's definitely something comforting about boundaries.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A Great Commute
One thing I enjoyed, when I was driving to the amusement park daily, was the commute. I drive by two of my favorite restaurants, my favorite butcher, and "cheap" gas on the Indian Reservation.
The boys' child care center is on the way.
I go by a truck stop, a winery, and a cheese shop. I also pass the junk store, a complex full of antiques and discarded treasures.
It isn't a short drive, but it is an enjoyable commute.
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Saturday, March 23, 2013
Waiting for the Harvest When Spring Wont't Come
Galatians 6:9 ESV / 135 helpful votes
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
In this part of the country, we are very hungry for Spring to arrive. I suppose everyone is looking forward to Spring, but winter's grip seems especially fierce here. We are currently under a snowstorm with bitter cold and more...ice and snow.
The large plastic bin that holds our hats and mittens has been sitting in the entry way since October. I want to put it away.
One of our lambs died in the cold this week. She was fragile and the mama ewe avoided nursing her.
The calendar says that Spring should be here. It's March 23rd, for goodness sake.
I'm eager to plant snow peas, spinach, and lettuce seeds.
But God is trying to teach me *more* about slowing down and being patient. I'm sure of it.
It took ten long months to land my dream job. He saw us through that long *winter* in amazing ways- gift cards that appeared in the mail just when I needed groceries, an unexpected refund from overpayment of property taxes...
I dreamt this week that I hit someone while driving on the road past a group of pedestrians. I had slowed down, but not enough. I woke up with the nagging feeling that "I should have slowed down more. Or just stopped."
I wonder what He would want me to do now, during these last weeks of a long, cold, snowy winter? In what ways can I be more patient?
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
In this part of the country, we are very hungry for Spring to arrive. I suppose everyone is looking forward to Spring, but winter's grip seems especially fierce here. We are currently under a snowstorm with bitter cold and more...ice and snow.
The large plastic bin that holds our hats and mittens has been sitting in the entry way since October. I want to put it away.
One of our lambs died in the cold this week. She was fragile and the mama ewe avoided nursing her.
The calendar says that Spring should be here. It's March 23rd, for goodness sake.
I'm eager to plant snow peas, spinach, and lettuce seeds.
But God is trying to teach me *more* about slowing down and being patient. I'm sure of it.
It took ten long months to land my dream job. He saw us through that long *winter* in amazing ways- gift cards that appeared in the mail just when I needed groceries, an unexpected refund from overpayment of property taxes...
I dreamt this week that I hit someone while driving on the road past a group of pedestrians. I had slowed down, but not enough. I woke up with the nagging feeling that "I should have slowed down more. Or just stopped."
I wonder what He would want me to do now, during these last weeks of a long, cold, snowy winter? In what ways can I be more patient?
Friday, March 22, 2013
"You've Arrived at Your Destination"
I had to take back roads to work this week so I used my phone's GPS. Upon arriving at my campus, Mrs. Maps announced, "you have arrived at your destination."
It's hard to miss our college campus; I recognize it when I arrive there.
But with respect to my new job I'm in such a state of disbelief that I feel the need to pinch myself.
I've arrived. I'm home.
It was a long journey, ten months in fact.
There were pit stops and bad weather along the way.
Now it's time to step put and stretch a little.
I've arrived!
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