A Straw bed and a thorny crown

From a straw bed to a throny crown…

Our church’s Christmas Eve services really emphasized, for me, the connection between the birth and death of Jesus.  Without the birth of a Holy child, God could not redeem us.  Without the shedding of blood, with Jesus’ death on the cross, the birth meant little to anyone but the family. 

Christmas seems to have pushed us into a Santa trap - we tend to concentrate on what we can buy that would “impress” someone with our generousity and insight.  Granted, there is much of our time and energy that is spent on giving to others, but we really tend to forget that there would NOT be a Christmas without Christ - the first of two Ultimate Gifts.

On the other side of the equation is Easter.  It is both a horrible and a wonderful story.  We are Easter People (thank you, Pastor Randy Cross for that.)  What we have is that second Ultimate Gift - forgiveness for sins and Eternal life.  That means we have Hope - no matter what the present circumstances in which we find ourselves.  We can rejoice, even in death of a loved one, when they have chosen to put themselves in the arms of Jesus in life - making Him Lord of their life.  Jesus proved that there IS life after death - something each of us should look forward to.

May each of you Easter People have this blessed perspective on this Christmas Season!

That offends me

I guess I missed the memo.  Who passed the law / edict / vote / gave the direction that says that people have a constitutional (?) right to NOT be offended?  What happened to the "live and let live?"  "You go your way, and I'll go mine."  That's all gone by the wayside.  Now, if anyone screams that they are offended by something, many times people / agencies will bend over backwards to react to that so they won’t be offended.**  

I certainly won’t go out of my way to knowingly offend anyone, but you can hardly do anything now days without someone being offended.  So often, we’ve let the minority dictate for the majority, based on an assumption that it was “the right thing to do.” (whatever that means...)

I eat meat.  I wear leather.  I have done so all my life.  That involves raising and killing animals.  It might even - God forbid - require the use of some weapon!  Animal rights advocates will claim that this offends them because, in their opinion, no animal should be killed for food or for their pelts.  Celebrities pick up this mantra and cast it far and wide, “clearly” proving that only the most evil people will have so little concern for their animals that they would slaughter them and then eat or wear them.  I guess their celebrity (which they only have because WE gave it to them) makes them philosophers, too, and those who bow at the altar of celebrity will just fall in line without question.

Stores have, for decades, broadcast holiday music that ran the gamut from the cartoonish Frosty and Rudolf to the traditional Christmas themes with which we are all familiar.  There was something for everyone.  Then, one person or group says they are “offended” by any music that even remotely mentions the true meaning of Christmas, and the store then “sanitizes” the music list.  No more of “that” music is heard. There is no longer something for everyone.  What you hear has been dictated by a minority with a heightened sensibility and an agenda. 

Churches, Synogogues, Mosques, and other houses of religion have historically openly displayed the symbols of their faith - Crosses, Menorah, statuary, prayer rugs, ornate domed buildings covered in gold, stories in stained glass, etc.  One can only describe these as beautiful works of art.  They display a tangible history, one that should be studied and reflected upon.  It should be appreciated by everyone.  Instead, groups are crying foul if there are any symbols of religion even visible from public areas, streets, or parks.  Better remove them - someone might be offended.

Countless locations on any map you pick up are likely named for historical figures, like Lewis & Clark, Custer, Lee, Jackson, Harney, and so forth.  Groups are now calling for many of these to be renamed because they are “offended” if the person or event for which it was named was against them or their people.  Maybe we should start calling them Point A, Point B, or Point C.  It would look great on a map, and is very unlikely to offend anyone!

This whole area is accentuated in the world of education.  The community of people from which any school draws will likely represent a wide range of sensibilities.  People from different religions, ethnic backgrounds, lifestyles, and political leanings.  The diversity this represents is what makes our country so rich in heritage and culture.  Those fortunated enough to live in or near military installations get a wider view of the world’s diversity than the more traditional, lower mobility communities.  But, whatever you do, you have to be careful about being sensitive to what these people bring to us.

Extend this concept to names for sports teams and their chosen mascots.  These have been increasingly in the news as offensive to one group or another.  Face it - you can hardly turn around with out gettin’ busted on something.  I guess it will not be long before everything will be so watered down and milk-toast that one would have to go out of their way to find something offensive.  Won’t that be fun?

**So, how about me?  So far, the only group that no one if afraid of offending is the Christian.  Offense targeted at the Christian community is not only tolerated, it seems to be actively promoted on many fronts.  In the name of “separation of church and state,” there will soon be so little of the church left tolerated in society that it may be hard to recognize.  

I am offended daily with exclamations of “Oh, my God” and the plethora of words that were once taboo, and which have now become commonplace.  I am offended when someone disparages people of other religions and faiths.  I am offended that children are subject to much of the language and filth that has crept into the public square.  I am offended that any of these words are now used for titles of movies, lyrics for songs, professional (?) entertainers and groups, and even on billboards for all to see.   I am offended that I can only listen to Christmas or Christian music in places where no one around me will possibly be offended.  Yes, I am offended, but when I say something about that, I am told that I am just being overly sensitive, and to just forget about it. 

Maybe they are right.  Maybe I’ll have to quit being sensitive and forget about it…

The Wheelchair Minister

Speaking in tongues

If you ever want to start a heated theological discussion, just bring up the subject of “speaking in tongues” and there will likely be no lack of conversation.  It can be very controversial.  To discuss the merits for or against the Biblical concept of tongues is NOT the subject at hand.  I merely want to start your thinking for what is below.

This week our pastor was talking about a visit he made early on in ministry.  The visit was to a facility that cared for the severely disabled. He wanted to see it because he had heard such good things about their care for people who could not care for themselves.

A good number of the residents were bed-ridden, or at least limited in their mobility.  Many of them required constant care throughout the day.  That was their life.

The administrator who was conducting the tour relayed a story of one wheelchair bound resident.  This person was non-verbal except for some unintelligible sounds.  But he had a routine that he performed every night.  He would start at one end of the facility and visit each resident’s room, place his hand on their arm, and make those gutteral sounds for about 30 seconds, then move on to the next room.  This was his way of connecting with each person there.  The administrator said that he had most likely learned this from a visiting chaplain sometime that had done this for him.  It must have made such an impression that it started this “ministry” to the residents.

Neither the staff nor the resident  visited ever knew what was being said.  And I won’t try to convince you that this was a “prayer” in the traditional sense.  But, just the same, this man confined to a wheelchair was doing a service for each one of his housemates.  It was his way of bringing them comfort.

Speaking in tongues?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  

But it does make one think, doesn’t it?  If this person of such limited ability can provide this example of love for others, how much more could we do with our abundance of abilities.  It humbles me to think that I do even a fraction of what he is doing for his neighbors.  

1 Cor 13:8 says “Love never fails.”  May it be so with me.

Searching for Janet or William Schulz

Need some help here - in an investigative way.  I'm trying to deliver a long lost letter.  But in order to do that, I need to locate either one of the people below.

Here's the story.  I purchased a used book in a bookstore (Exodus, by Leon Uris if it makes any difference) several years ago.  In the book was a letter that had been written but never mailed.  The only date was 16 Sep, no year given.  All it said on the envelope was Miss Janet Schulz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The Air Mail postage was 10 cents, so it likely was 1980’s or earlier.

It appears to have been written by her brother, Bill (very likely William Schulz) a First Lieutenant on special duty in the military and probably stationed overseas.  He may have been (?) in a protocol position,  maybe embassy duty even, or maybe any unit when he just "drew the short straw" as he talks about setting up an itinerary for a General Officer visit.  He expected to make Captain in Feb.  I don't even know which military service this would have been.

There are references to a Volkswagen (Janet’s, maybe).  Janet may have been teaching at the time. 

I did a whitepages search on the internet for both of those people, and could find nothing linking them together (known associations, etc.)  And, Wisconsin may have been only a temporary thing for one of both of them.  I don't really know.

That’s about all I’ve got.  Any help from anyone here? 

Reply to @computer7th on twitter, or leave a comment below.

(Lack of) Accountability for the Judicial Branch

I wonder sometimes where we are headed - as a country, I mean.  From the perspective of a country-boy growing up in the 1950's until today, I see such changes that literally boggles my mind.

Times back then were relatively simple.  Everyone knew generally what to expect from each other, and from those who were put into power to make decisions for us.  Citizens were given arguments - sometimes very heated ones - and then the vote decided whose argument held the most weight. Once decided, our elected and appointed officials would pretty much toe the line to fulfill those decisions.  Any Constitutional issues were most likely detailed up front for consideration BEFORE the vote.

Back then, the citizen's vote really meant something.

Two of the three branches of our government are subject to election by the voters.  Every two, four, or six years, voters are asked to "tell" their elected officials how they are doing, and either vote them back in or replace them.  Whether you agree or disagree with who is ultimately elected, you have a voice in every election.  There is some accountability, at least once in awhile.  If someone REALLY messes up, accountability can be more swift, but instances like that are rare.  That two thirds of the government will ebb and flow, but still are relatively responsive to the citizenry.

The Judiciary branch of government, however, appears to have NO accountability to it's citizens.  What's up with that?   They become an extension of the other two branches, which makes them isolated from the people they are meant to serve.  Whoever wields the most power at a given time can put in place like-minded people in the courts - and they stay there.  The problem is, though, they don't listen to the people.  They do whatever they want, and answer to NO ONE. 

We are constantly hearing stuff like 

     “Oh, so most of you think marriage is only a man and a woman - Sorry - not going to happen.”  and “What - you want gender specific bathrooms?  Why would you possibly want that?”  

     “Ten Commandments? That might offend someone.” 

     “Constitution?  I don’t care how it’s written, I interpret it THIS way!”    

Then, once it’s been said (establishing a precedent,) it’s there to stay.  That precedence becomes the rule by which everything later will be measured.  It is much akin to introducing a pollutant into a water supply - it’s easy to get it in but it’s a devil to get back out!  

So, where’s the “hook?”  How do we pull the "stooge off the stage” when we don’t want to watch his / her performance any longer?  Term limits?  Periodic reconfirmation?  Make each one subject to Election?  That’s a tough one, alright.  

Whatever the method, we need to find a way to turn this situation around!  It’s only going to get worse.  Somehow, we need to make the Judiciary branch accountable to the people, as our founding fathers surely intended.    

I wonder what the courts would say about that????

A Mission Statement for a School District

To give credit where credit is due, this is based on http://www.gktw.org/about/mission.php

I was visiting the site because our grand daughter (3 years old) just took benefit of their generosity during a "Wish Trip" to Orlando and the Disney Park.  The family stayed at "Give Kids the World" resort located there.  I was impressed with their mission statement, and it made me think about how it could be applied to me and my role as an educator.

Note that with only a few select changes, this works well with what we do in education.  What a template for a mission statement for a school district!

Replace “Give Kids the World” with your school name

Replace guest with student

Replace corporate partners / supporters and donations with families and tax dollars.

At Give Kids The World, we have adopted the following core values to help guide our everyday actions as we strive to fulfill our mission. Our core values are upheld by the entire Give Kids The World family, including our staff members, volunteers, and corporate partners. We put first priority on the needs of the children and their families. We reach out to all of our guests to make them feel like members of our family and help create magical memories. We do whatever it takes to provide a joyful and quality experience for every guest. We always do our best, individually and collectively. We earn and maintain the complete trust of our corporate partners. We use all donations effectively and efficiently to achieve our purpose. We protect the interests of all supporters. We always try to do the right thing. We are honest and straightforward with each other and with our sponsors. We admit mistakes and do our best to correct them. We focus our energy and resources on the children we serve. We help each other and feel collectively responsible for achieving our mission. We are individually accountable for our roles and commitments. We ask for help when we need it, and provide help when needed.

Recalculating

RECALCULATING…

I don’t know about you, but when I hear my portable GPS navigation unit saying that over and over, I get really tired of it.  Sometimes it is right on the money because I didn’t turn when I should have.  Other times, even if I know I are on the right track, and can see the destination, if it’s not the way that the GPS thinks it should be, it will yell at me.  My recent visit to Airzona reminded me of how much this gets under my skin.  Why three right turns when one left turn would do the same thing? Why tell me to go 200 more feet and turn left when I’m in the parking lot of the place to which I wanted to drive?

That set me to thinking about how God often looks at us.  He has created a GPS for us - in the form of the inspired Word of God.  We go about our daily lives and, even if we try hard to follow the things we know God wants, we often end up on the wrong path.  We think we know what’s right, but sometimes it’s only close, and other times it’s WAY OFF THE MARK!  I often find myself too far off the mark to even think I can ever get back.

RECALCULATING…

That’s what I would expect from God if he were audibly speaking to me throughout my day.  I’m sure I’d hear that A LOT!

Think about the times we know of that the God of the Ages has “recalculated” for our benefit.  In the Garden of Eden, God had a perfect plan - perfect, except for that little thing called free will.  Adam and Eve took it upon themselves to do what God had specifically told them not to do.  And they got caught.

RECALCULATING…

When things got so bad that God considered wiping it all out and starting over, one faithful soul listened to God and built an ark for his family and animals.  God made a plan to save Noah and his family from judgement.  In essence, God was 

RECALCULATING…

God promised to never wipe out the world like that again, but that didn’t mean that people did not still sin.  God chose Abraham to raise up a nation, then provided guidelines for them through Moses, which created a way for them to be acceptable despite their sin.  But people, because of who they inherently are, continued down that same path that started in the Garden.  

RECALCULATING…

God then made one more way to redeem us - to make us acceptable in God’s eyes.  He sent His only Son to live a perfect life and then die for us - in our place.  We can now become as his adopted children, simply by believing in Jesus as the Christ and the Messiah.  As Jesus said on the Cross, “It is Finished.”  No more

RECALCULATING…

wait for it...

Have you ever said, or heard someone else say something like "I can't wait until..."  or "It seems like I'll die before..." (insert here birthday, Christmas, a trip, or anything that comes with anticipation.)

Americans are impatient.  That's all there is to it.  From the time we are old enough to hold the remote, we know that even the toughest of impossible situations can be solved in an hour, including commercials - two hours if it's a special.

A few weeks ago, our sermon at church was on being patient.  The pastor used several references in the Bible of times when people simply needed to wait.  Patience is not something that is easy to learn.  It is always a struggle.  The sermon was a tough one for me to hear, as you will see below.

Here's just a sample of some of those who waited.  Noah and his family fled catastrophe by being sheltered from the flood in an ark designed by God.  How long?  They stayed for 40 days before they found any dry land.  During that time, they could not do anything but wait!  When Moses went up the mountain, he left the Israelites waiting for him to come down for that same 40 day period.  They were not, as you remember, quite as faithful as Noah during the waiting period.  Jesus was in the desert being tempted for a similar 40-day period.  Unlike the Israelites, Jesus did not falter.  Even though all these were the same period, there are many examples of shorter (or longer) periods.  Jonah waited for three days to be delivered; Saul of Tarsus was blind for three days before he received back his sight; the Israelites wandered for 40 years, and that after captivity for 400 years.  Ouch!

Remember, asking for patience can bring some difficult times, and really press you to the limit.  I don't remember asking for patience, but God has been, and is doing, a work in me to learn patience.

The initial "waiting trial" I can remember is when our first granddaughter was born.  Everything was fine up to delivery, but then she immediately went into respiratory distress.  She had to be put into a drug-induced coma and placed on life support, only to be flown at 3 hours old to Denver.  No warning; just waiting.  Parents and grandparents waited for that first month of life to see whether there would really be a baby at home.  That was tough.  That baby survived and is now a healthy teenager with brilliance and energy to spare.

We are currently going through another "waiting trial" - again with a granddaughter, this one with leukemia.  Diagnosed at two and a half years old, one can hardly conceive of the amount of chemicals and care that it takes to get someone cured of this.  And it's not over until she is declared cancer free, which will likely be another 15 months from now.  She seems to be on the right track, which we pray will continue to be the case.

How are your "waiting" skills?  Are you able to trust God for whatever time He determines is right?

It's like God is saying to us "Would you just wait!  I know what I'm doing!"

"They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

Final Note:  Parts of this blog were very hard to write - they bring powerful memories, not all of which I like to think about.  AB