Walking to the Buffet

Odd title, I know. However, it represents a great blessing. Each year as the senior class from Faith in Texas comes this way for Senior Trip, they visit Dc and then go to New York for a couple of days. As they travel from DC to NY, they go through the PA Dutch county (Lancaster) and visit Sight & Sound. On one evening they go to the Shady Maple Buffet, the most hugestest buffet you ever did see. We have been blessed to visit with the group last last two years at the buffet, greatly enjoying the time of fellowship with former co-workers, former students, and current friends. It is a time that we look forward to with great anticipation. It is wonderful to catch up with what God is doing in the ministry and in the lives of those we love back in TX. Next year will be really odd, if the opportunity to meet together happens again. That will be my son's class; I still don't believe that he is old enough to be a senior (by this time next week). Of course, he is now driving (with a learner's permit) and working (one day a week). It is amazing how everyone is growing older except me. Soon, all these kids will catch up with me.

God has been greatly blessing the ministry at Emmanuel. We are working through the end-of-the-year events and activities. You can see some of the images at facebook and google+. Some of the events do not yet have pictures posted, but there should be some up soon. Just one (two) more tool to let folks know who we are and what we are doing at EBCA. We have been through two plays, a class fine arts program, K5 graduation, etc. One week of events to go through and then summer is upon us.

This last week reading was in Job. It is amazing to read through the book and to see the interpersonal relationships. The most striking is toward the end when God enters the conversation. He has been talked about earlier, but toward the end when He begins speaking, everything changes. Now Job is no longer under attack and his defense is from God himself. The "friends" who knew so much and we in position to judge Job were placed under the piercing glare of God. He who knows the beginning and the end very definitively set the record straight. It is amazing to read. That same God is our protector and defender, the one that we can trust in each and every situation. As with Job, we may go through tough times, but we can be assured that God is with us. He may not prevent trouble in our lives, but He will keep us from falling when we rely upon Him. We speak of the patience of Job, but we have no idea what he was facing and enduring. We want our lives to be comfortable and peaceful, yet it is in the difficult times when God is most able to demonstrate His greatness, His care, and His love.

And now to go work on the van again. Sooner or later I hope to get ahead of that thing -- just so long as it is stationary and not moving, I guess. Have a great day. Enjoy!

Christian Education Defined (pt.7)

Why Christian Education

Why should we even have Christian schools when, for all practical purposes, public education is free? Are drugs and rebellion the only reasons to place children in a Christian school? I believe that, as in all areas of life, the Bible has the answers within it to govern the education of children. Nobody with any common sense and discernment can deny the fact that secular humanism has gained control of the public school system. The teaching of God and His precepts has been cast out of the public educational system. That is all the reason needed to place children in a Christian school. The problems commonly cited, such as drugs and violence, are no more than the results of secular humanism. One of concerns in regards to Christian education and why people choose it is that the focus is often on what it does not have: drugs, gangs, etc. rather than a focus on what it does offer: Biblical instruction, character training, an emphasis on God. Christian schools should offer protection from the baser elements of society and the elements that seek to destroy our children, but that protection should come through what Christian schools offer by way of a Bible-centered atmosphere.

There is a surprising number of passages in the Bible that relate directly to the education of children. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says quite clearly that the commandments of God are to be taught to young people. Parents are given the responsibility for education, so they must be willing to sacrifice to enroll their children in a school that teaches in accordance with the parent's beliefs.

Martin Luther believed that Satan was a great enemy of his school because it trained children properly (Kepler 1979, 38). Christian education is not simply an escape from trouble, nor is it a pleasant alternative; it is a necessary part of raising children for Christians. The public school system will not train young people to serve Christ, so it must be expected that Christian young people in that system will be more likely to fall by the side than those in Christian schools (Proverbs 22:6). A teacher who cares is important and may for a period of time be effective in giving out facts, but the student learns more at school than the facts presented in the classroom. The overall atmosphere of a school must make it easy to learn and easy to serve God; only then will the student receive a proper education (Smith 1976, 67). An education that does not include a proper perspective of Jesus Christ is fault, for as Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life:   no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Some of the goals of Christian education are as follows:

Christian education ought be based on the Bible principle of glorifying God (Colossians 1:17). Christian education should help to save children from an ungodly society by being a refresh­ing oasis in the world where young people gain strength and nourishment for life (Smith 1976, 28). Perhaps the most import ant goal, or result, of Christian education is the salvation of lost young people (Smith 1976, 26). Most Christians believe that the school is an extension or ministry, of the church, yet the idea of using it as an outreach for evangelism seems foreign to them. If governed properly, the Christian school can be useful for evangelism because it reaches the entire family (Baker 1979, 25). Christ, in the Great Commission, commanded us to reach the lost, yet we often neglect an outreach with unlimited potential.

Ephesians 4:11-12 provides a Biblical philosophy, a pur­pose, for Christian education. It is “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”   This cannot be done in or by public education, so we Christians must separate from it and fulfill the will of God (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

Christian education is necessary in the raising of young people. We are to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Out of that same chapter, verses ten through eighteen provides an illustration for the need of an education based firmly on Bible philosophy, while Colossians 3:12-17 lists some of the character traits that a Christian education ought produce in the life of students

In the introduction, Colossians 2:6-8 were quoted. To conclude, I would like to quote Colossians 3:1, 2, 23, and 24.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Many Christian schools are secular schools name of Christian. Christian education should be different because of its beliefs and teachings That is not to say that every Christian school needs to fit the same mold; however, the Bible should be an integral part of the program, not simply an add-on.  Christian educa­tion does not need to rely on new truth. We have the sole authority to base our philosophy upon, the Holy Word of God. Even as we train our students in math and English, we need to train our young people to serve God, to be good citizens, and to reach the lost for Christ.

Walking with Friends

Well, I started this a couple of weeks ago, but I did not finish it a couple of weeks ago. Oh well.

For the second time in a week (two weekends), we have guests from Texas! Yee haw! Last week, Bec's best friend just popped in -- at least that is the way it felt to Bec, as she was the one person in PA who did not know Tammy (and Clifton) was coming. This week, Irvins came for a weekend visit. What a HUGE blessing. We would love to get back to the Valley to see folks, but I do not know if/when that will be possible, so it is great when the Rio Grande Valley comes to us. This time it was Brie who was unaware of coming guests. She is somewhat like her mother in that her response was not exactly muted. Should anyone else from the Valley want to stop by, just let us know. We look forward to seeing friends.

Life at school has been a whirlwind lately. We are obviously working through this year, but in the office we have next year well underway. Setting fees, planning the calendar, preparing promotional materials and events.... We are staying busy, that is for sure.

• Graduation plans
• End-of-the-year awards
• Achievement testing
• Programs
• Fundraisers
• Promotions
• Yearbook wrap-up

There are just a few things happening at this time of the year. And that does not even reflect what is happening in church an home. Busy, busy, busy.

We celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Emmanuel Baptist Church on Apr 22. It was a big, busy weekend. During the weekend, we broke ground on a new addition to the church complex. It will add a Fellowship Hall, kitchen, and eight classrooms. We hope to be completed with construction before the 2013-2014 school year begins. We shall see; we have little control over the speed of construction.

After the Anniversary weekend, we had a BRIEF respite before we began special meetings at church with Evangelist Rich Tozour. It was a great week, but with all that was happening it sure was tiring. God greatly blessed and we had tremendous services. The messages were wonderful and very powerful.

I have been reading/listening to the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah recently. What a mess most of them were. It did not matter what lessons were taught, they refused to learn. They could see God powerfully judge sin and then turn and do the same or worse. Why not just ask to be slapped around? I wonder how often I behave somewhat similarly. How often do I hear truth, see error judged and then go ignore the truth? I need to remain committed to living the truth of God's Word each day. That alone brings blessing.

Walking One Week at a Time

What a week it has been! Too many projects and not enough time, but God continues to provide as only He can. He is so wonderfully good to us.

• The house He provided
• at the price we were requiring
• in the exact neighborhood we desired
• only minutes from work for both of us
• The ministry opportunities available to us
• at church
• at school
• The recreational activities around us
• Visiting historical sites
• School field trips (Mount Vernon, in a couple of weeks)
• Williams Grove Speedway (literally 10 minutes from the house)

And the list could go on and on. He has shown Himself to be more than loving. Not only does God provide for our needs, but so many seemingly insignificant thing are provided for us that make life so enjoyable. Going to the races last night was not a need, but it sure was an enjoyable blessing. Justin and I were going to go and then we invited Pete and he was able to join us. It may not seem like much to most people, but it was such a blessing.

There are so many projects in the works at school, many of which are related to promotions. I am working on a new newspaper ad; we are planning/preparing for an Open House; posters, flyers, and brochures are being redesigned. At the same time the normal class schedule rolls on.

Through the week I have been reading/listening to the account a David prior to His ascending the throne. To see how God directed and provided for Him -- and that same God is my God. David is such an interesting study. He was no where near perfect and yet when confronted with his sin, he sought forgiveness. May that be my desire -- to seek God's forgiveness when I fail Him.

If I need to to plan for the next month at this exact moment, it would be absolutely overwhelming; however, when I can take a day or a week at a time, I am able to accomplish what He has before for me to do. God continues to provide the the strength and ability to fulfill His will.

Walking with a Different Focus

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. Col 1:18


This verse helps us to maintain a proper focus. Our world is incredibly selfish and self-centered and it takes work for us to not fall into that mindset. Col. 1:18 tells us that Christ is first, both in time and in position.

• Time: Christ is not a created being; He is before all things. He is the son of God, indeed, He is God. He is ever-existent. He has no beginning and no end. He is before all things and He has the preeminence.
• Position: Jesus Christ has the greatest position. He is first in order of importance, first in priority. He stands supreme over all mankind, over all creation. He is far above even the angels. He is God.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:6, 7

If we have been redeemed, God expects us to act like it. Unsaved man will act like unsaved man; Christians should act like Christians. Unfortunately, we often act more like unsaved man that we act like Jesus Christ.

• We do not simply accept the teaching of Christ, we accept Christ Himself. The work of redemption is not acquiescence to a creed, it is a complete, radical, change of being. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (II Cor. 5:17). 
• A change of heart ought result in a change of life. When I truly accept Jesus Christ, I want to please and obey Him. I surrender and submit my will to His. In order to do His will, I need to know His will. That will only happen as I spend time studying His word.
• We are to be firmly rooted in the scripture as a tree planted by the rivers of water (Ps. 1) Being in Christ gives us life and that life gives us the strength, the roots to stand in this world amid the troubles and difficulties we encounter.
• Being in Christ gives us a firm foundation on which to stand in this world. We can not build a house that will endure the storms unless we set a firm foundation. It is God's word (both living and written) that gives us the ability to stand in this world and serve our God. We are not only rooted, we are built up in Him. We have a house built on the Rock.
• Redemption also makes us stablished in the faith. We are confirmed; there is no doubt, no wavering. We can have absolute certainty that He is the one true God and that He is worth of our trust.
• Paul often comments that his readers were taught, now they need to practice. Indeed, that is where we live. It is not that we do not know what to do; we need to practice what we do know.
• We should be abounding with thanksgiving. Are we honestly thankful for all that God has done for us through the work of redemption? I am afraid that often we take His gift for granted. If we are not thankful, do we really value His redemptive work on the cross as we should? Is it simply one more thing that we "believe," but that has not really affected us to the point of change?

If we are going to walk in Christ, we need to value Him above all others and be firmly established in our faith so that the cares of this world do not sway us. Even in scripture, we see examples of those who had Paul, or even Christ Himself, as a teacher and still they turned from Him and followed the path of the world. If we are going to walk Christ-like, we need to commit to Him and submit to Him.Today, again, I want to walk in Him and I trust that you do as well. Make Him the highest priority in life and do ALL to serve and please Him.

Waking (Walking), While Going Nowhere

It is amazing how sometimes God forces you to stop and taste the coffee.  According to Robert Burns, “The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew.” To that I say, “Amen, and amen.” 

The last few days (weeks actually) have been choreographed commotion. Spirit Week & Homecoming, house prep and then moving, planning and prep for the BJU Teacher Recruitment Conference. It has been absolutely non-stop, but all of the pieces were fitting together nicely. NOTICE: “were.” 

We moved to the new casa on Saturday, I taught Sunday School on Sunday morning and let immediately for Baltimore to fly to Greenville. HA HA HA! I made it to BWI, the first leg went fine and I was in Philly. Then came the wonderful news that the Philly-Greenville flight was cancelled due to maintenance. After examining the options, I decided to fly early Monday to Charlotte, NC, take a car from there to BJU and still have plenty of time to get set up w/o being rushed. An airline that shall remain unnamed (US Airways) put me up in a hotel, I arranged a 3:30 wakeup call and proceeded to rearrange all of my arrangements (housing, rental cars, etc.). 

I awoke on time, got to the airport, got my flight and completed a rather uneventful flight to Charlotte. Upon landing, I hustled to baggage claim only to see much nothing happening. Finally, the belt began to move and my suitcase was the first bag off. Things were looking great. All I needed was the tabletop display for the school and I would be on my way. Then the belt stopped. And stayed stopped. One bag. The airplane carried one bag?! I went to the baggage office to check and sure enough, my display was on the next flight in from Philly (cue 3:30 wakeup call here). Remember, I am in Charlotte only because I could arrive, get a car, drive the 100+ miles to Greenville before a flight with room for me would arrive in Greenville. The unnamed airlines (US Airways) is willing to fly the bag to Greenville (arriving sometime before the turn of the century) and deliver it to BJU (when they get around to it), so here I sit in Charlotte waiting for a display because I still think I am faster than a plane (at least faster than some unnamed airlines [US Airways]). So back to the coffee. At least Starbucks was on the correct side of the security checkpoint.

I guess if I regularly tell folks that God is sovereign over everything, I must allow Him to control travel details. He knows what is best and does all things for His glory, even when I do not understand. I must simply trust His ability to govern the affairs of man. So here I sit, coffee cup in hand. Enjoy!

Walking in Fellowship

I have lately been listening/reading to the book of Leviticus. It is interesting to me that so much of what God has told Israel in the book is not about them, but about Him. The various commands and laws are not necessarily intended to limit them, but to cause the people of Israel to know that God is separate and different -- He is holy. He wants the best; nothing less shall be in His presence. Then we see that He has made a way that allows us to stand in His presence. I love reading in Hebrews (especially ch.4) that we have the right to go before Him and enter boldly into His presence. He can even ask of Him to have needs meet.

• He is a holy God, far above man.
• He cannot allow sin in His presence.
• We have little/nothing to offer. We are sinners.
• He made THE way that allows our sin to be forgiven.
• He allows imperfect, sinful man into His presence that we might have the forgiveness of sin.
• He seeks regular fellowship with us.

At first glance, one would think that we had no hope, yet He has chosen to love us and we reap the benefits of that relationship. Sometimes we think that everything is about us -- how does the "guideline" impact me? Really, the question should be what does the "guideline" reveal of my God? When I go to someone's home, if they ask that shoes come off, I probably comply. If a holy, yet loving God, asks me to do something I would not usually do, why should I not comply? The only reason would be if I place too great a value on myself and too little value on my God. Otherwise, obedience is such a little matter. There is no inconvenience when I value the fellowship that obedience makes available.

In Colossians, and elsewhere in His letters, Paul makes a statement similar to this: If you have received Christ, walk like you have. My daily life should reflect the God I claim to love and follow. If I truly value Him, I will seek to love and serve Him. Simple enough, yet difficult indeed. So today, I shall seek to live in a way that reflects a love for my God. Life is not about me; it is about Him.