Intentional Walk: August 2006

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Purpose

Thanks to everyone for writing about and thinking about the purposes of the church. Of course, it's a loaded question and it's tough to sum up what you may think in a reply. People have written books about the issue. It reminds me of a class I was in last week. The teacher led with the question, "What is the Bible for?" Ummmm...how much time do you have?

The purpose statement for Saddleback Church goes like this:

"To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God's name."

I'm not much of one for mission statements, but I have to admit: that's not bad.

I like how clearly defined that purpose is. I like the progession of it too, that we shouldn't expect maturity from babes in Christ. We need to allow people to grow into their ministries over time.

Barclay says that a man is converted three times. He is converted to Christ. Then he is converted to the church. Then he is converted to the world. Too often, we expect people to jump into ministries or mission work when they are still learning who Jesus is. Is it any wonder people get frustrated and flame out?

Of course, the opposite is true as well. I know far too many people who were converted to Christ and stopped right there. They never decided to be obedient to his call to love and serve his church. I know even more people (probably most of the Christians I know) who were never converted to the world. They love to serve fellow-Christians but seldom give a thought to the lost. It's not that they don't know or care about them, it's just that they never gained that passion for them that Jesus had. They know the verse about Jesus weeping over his lost children, but they can't identify with it. They think of it as "mission work." Worse, they think about it as "somebody else's gift."

The purpose of the church is to glorify God. Yes. Absolutely. But we glorify Him in more ways then giving Him praise. We glorify Him by fulfilling His purpose for us. We glorify Him by loving Him with all our heart. We glorify Him by loving our neighbor as ourself. But we also glorify Him by going into the world and making disciples. It is the most important task He assigned us, and the most often overlooked.

I wish I could get on my high horse about this and point to all of the souls I've helped bring to Christ over the years but I can't. The truth is that I've failed as much as anyone. It's not a matter of fear. It's a matter of neglect.

It's time I was converted to the world.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Today's Question

What is the purpose of the church?

Monday, August 28, 2006

Slammed

The teaching profession is weird. Yes, in general, teachers are weird too, but that's a blog for another day. One of the weird things about the profession is how crazy certain parts of the year are while other parts are almost leisurely. The first couple of weeks are the busiest. While trying to get into the groove of teaching, we must also

check out books
check in new students
arrange desks
make seating charts
decorate classrooms
take inventories

and many, many other things that I'm too tired to think of right now.

When you add to that the fact that I'm trying to make good use of my smart classroom, which means providing a new PowerPoint for every lesson, time can get away from you very quickly.

All that to explain why I didn't blog much last week. We are also trying to get ready for our Fall curriculum at College and DCB and I will be doing most of that.

So, I'm slammed. And tired. And still working through those pesky health issues. (Apparently the CT Scan was clear since the doc never called...I would have called her but I couldn't get off the couch). I spent most of the weekend too tired to do much more than watch the Angels win a series from the Yankees and see Tiger win his 4th tournament in a row.

But I'll catch up soon. I'm anxious to get input on our plans for College for the rest of the year and to share some interesting tidbits from "The Purpose Driven Church," which I'm working through now and hoping that some of you have been through as well.

In the meantime, if you'll excuse me, I'd better get ready for tomorrow.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Principally Speaking

As I said last week, there are a lot of public school employees out there who are doing great things. I am the first to admit that you will find, from time to time, people who are just drawing a paycheck. But that's true of every profession. I have even known some preachers who are in it for the money. Gasp. Awful, ain't it?

My principal's name is Sheryl Weaver and she is, as the kids would say, da bomb. She is a strong Christian and a more than capable leader. Not everybody can say that they hug their boss, but I can and do. She has continued the tradition of making Sunnyside a family and, if we now have a mother at the head rather than a father, well, some of us worked harder for our moms than our dads anyway.

Sheryl is a mom too, in the best sense of that word. She doesn't put up with nonsense. She charges $5.00 for whining. She has the highest expectations of her students and her staff. But she is always encouraging as well. She nurtures and she obviously cares for the people around her. Her door is always open and she always, always has your back.

A few weeks ago I received a handwritten note from Mrs. Weaver. It was simply to say that she hoped my summer had been good, that my house didn't have any more holes in it, and to show encouragement that this year would be better than last (and if you have no idea about how last year went, check the archives...ugh). It was a simple gesture that served to remind me how special my school is. Not many principals take the time to do something like that with well over 100 teachers.

I have spent the day meeting my new students. They are used to staying up until 3:00 am and getting up at noon. They have had more than two months off and are now trying to get back in the groove of moving at the command of the bell. But they are smiling and friendly and at least a liiiiiitle glad to be back. They like being part of this family as much as I do. That tone is set from the top.

I have had a dozen or so principals during the course of my career and the last two have been, by far, the best. It is quite a blessing to work for a very good boss...you only have to work for one bad one to appreciate how great that blessing is. I'm very grateful for Sheryl.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Catching A Few Winks

In his comment on yesterday's post, Cecil mentioned how funny it would be if a teacher decided to catch a few winks in the middle of class. It really cracked me up because it made me think about a guy I used to work with who did just that.

Not only did T. fall asleep in class with great regularity, but he actually had a cot in his room. Now, while the kids were there, he did all his sleeping at his desk, but after hours that cot got a lot of use. I shared a (very thin) wall with the man, and I could always tell when he had fallen asleep. It got very...very...quiet.

It turns out that T. had some very shrewd students. They knew full well that if they got loud, he'd wake up! No, they chose to be as quiet as they could for as long as he was out. That way, they weren't bored by interminable lectures and, better still, didn't get homework.

I know what you're thinking. Narcolepsy, right? No, as it turns out, T. just stayed up all hours and got his sleeping done during work time.

Okay, I know what you're thinking again. Public education! Ack! Hey, I'm the first to admit that in an enormous system such as we have, there are going to be some clunkers that sneak through. And T. was by FAR the poorest teacher I have ever worked with. 99% of my colleagues have been good to excellent, people I would be happy to see teach my son. But, like in any job, there are always some teachers who lose whatever desire they once had and simply run out the clock.

And now, I pledge to spend some time telling you about some of the amazing people I work with who go way above and way beyond. Sunnyside has plenty of them, so I have fodder for dozens of blogs.

And before anyone asks...well...yeah...I got a kick out of pounding on the wall when T.'s class got quiet. Once I'm pretty sure I heard him fall out of his chair. Ain't I a stinker?

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Workin' For A Livin'

From Steve Rushin's consistently excellent column in Sports Illustrated:

"I enjoy what I'm doing," said Patriots Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour, glazed in sweat from the 95 degree heat.

Tattooed on Seymour's considerable left biceps is Philippians 4:13, which reads, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. On my (slightly smaller) biceps should be 2 Thessalonians 3:11, a perfect description of the motley press corps. It reads, THERE ARE SOME WHICH WALK AMONG YOU DISORDERLY, WORKING NOT AT ALL, BUT ARE BUSYBODIES.

All of which to say: How can I be working my poor patootie off, getting ready for the first day of school, while other teachers are playing solitaire on their laptops?!?

There is so much to do getting ready for the little buggers to invade us on Monday (that last phrase being a tip of the hat to any of you who have read "Ender's Game.") And, as you sit in meeting after meeting, all you can really think about is that long list of things that absolutely must be accomplished by Day 1.

I stole some time this afternoon and put all my desks up. Then I moved 170 books from my neighbors classroom into mine. I'd put some things up on the wall, but I'm pretty sure I'd fall off the desk. No, it's much safer sitting here and typing.

Yesterday one of my colleagues said, "Well, this year I'm actually going to teach on the first full day of classes." To which I wanted desperately to reply, "What HAVE you been doing?"

To each his own. I can do all things. But even God rested.

Monday, August 14, 2006

1 Down, 184 To Go

Most teachers will tell you that the first week back is the hardest. This is mostly due to the fact that we're not used to waking up at 6:00 and having to sit in meetings all day. But my day started with good news, so it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Three of my Calculus students passed their AP test last May! That might not sound great, but it's a terrific improvement over the zero who passed the year before. At least now I know that it can be done. So, Robin...KCee...Lilian: great job! Thanks for helping me realize I'm not a complete waste.

After all the meetings, I met with my dermatologist and found out that, sure enough, that spot on my back was just a spot. He assured me that I'll get more but the biopsy was negative so that was more good news.

I'm still waiting for results of the CAT Scan. I checked today but they told me to call back in two days. It's an odd sort of system when they say that they will call you only with bad news. In other words, if you hear nothing, you're fine. I'd like to know as soon as possible that I'm fine!

Even more good news: Lisa is at the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw concert and I didn't have to go! What a great way to start the school year. It's all a little scary...sort of like getting a birdie on the first hole. There's nowhere to go but down.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me. I got through the sermon and the biopsy. It looks like I might be okay after all. I know, I know, "okay" is a relative term, but you know what I mean. Now there are just 184 working days left until SUMMER TIME!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Golf etc.

I think I've decided I'm not very good at golf. My problems seem to be in the areas of driving straight, hitting good iron shots, my short game, and putting. Generally, it seems that I have no idea what is going to actually happen when I swing a club and try to hit my ball with it. I think my course management is good...I have great ideas about what I intend to do. Really, the problem is in the execution of those ideas. I chalk all of this up to a complete lack of athleticism.

Take as an example the way I played the 14th hole yesterday, a relatively straightforward par 5 at the Riverside Golf Course. My tee shot started out beautifully. Somehow the ball decided, at its very apogee, to turn right. Thus my second shot was from behind a tree. I hit out into the fairway and grabbed my trusty 3 wood. I like to see where I'm going, so my eyes were firmly on the faraway green while my clubhead was attempting to make solid contact with the ball. This, they tell me, is improper form and it was justly rewarded with 25 yards of a bouncing ball. Happy that this saved me from having to choose a new club, I walked up to my ball and repeated my previous swing. Since I only have to learn a lesson twice, I hit my next shot looking straight down at my ball. My body took this as a sign to pull the ball into the trees on my left which, fortunately, saved me from going out of bounds. I hit out again (5 and counting) and examined my approach shot. I had 150 yards to the center of the green. I chose my iron. I took my time. I visualized the end result. I recited my mantra. I took two perfect practice swings and three deep breaths. I kept my head down, swung easy, hit down at the ball. I shanked it way off in front of me. I smiled and whistled as I returned to my cart (I did! I Did! I DID!!) and drove off after my ball. From there it was a simple matter of rolling into the bunker, hitting out of the bunker, chipping onto the green from the other side, putting, putting, and putting for a par 12.

I'm sort of ready to get back to work.

After golf I showered up and headed out for my CAT Scan, giving myself permission to say the oldest line in the book: Hey, I had a brain scan and they didn't find anything! Ba dum bump! (sound of cymbals) All of this biopsying and brain scanning has me curiously unconcerned. I would like to have fewer headaches but I'm not sitting by the phone waiting for bad news. I have the greatest Healer in the world working on me.

I'd write more today, but I still don't have a single thing on paper for Sunday's sermon. I've been rolling the text around in my head for a few weeks and I know a few places I'll go. But I'm still missing that vital word on what the central message is. Time to pray and focus.

Hey, maybe if I quit golf the headaches would go away. Just a thought.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Thinking Thinking Thinking

As I thought, my blogging bit the dust last week. Lisa left early Wednesday morning for a conference in Minneapolis and didn't get back home until yesterday afternoon. James and I had a great time together, but I didn't have many opportunities to put any thoughts down. Nor did I have too many thoughts worth putting down. My concentration is split about four or five ways right now and that's not good for blogging.

I'm thinking a lot about getting back to work. We start back on Monday and I'm trying to refocus on teaching. I don't think I gave it my absolute best the last few months of last year and anything less isn't good enough.

I'm thinking about what's going on at College, particularly my role in all of it. Two brothers stopped me after services yesterday, wanting to talk about the changes we are going through. Both had their own ideas for what should be happening and wanted me to, I don't know, champion their causes...or at least agree with them. I listened, added my own two cents, and ultimately referred them both to the elders who are actually making the decisions. In other words, I did what a minister would do in the same situation. I missed going to class because of the length of the conversations and neglected my son in the meantime, all of which is on me. I missed out particularly because I had pegged yesterday as my day to hear Brady talk about his mission work. After these two discussions, I met an elder on my way out and listened to him as he explained his own frustration. We commiserated as two volunteers whose passion is for the church and whose reward, for the moment, is ingratitude. In short, I left feeling far worse than when I arrived. Sadly, that happens all too often.

Before everyone starts miming violin motions and putting the backs of their hands to their heads in the universal "Woe is me" gesture, let me explain that I am confident in the long-term health and spiritual welfare of our current direction and our leaders. I am equally confident that God has me in this place at this time for His reasons. I'm just saying that it isn't always easy and yesterday was, most decidedly, not.

In addition, there is the sermon I need to write for Sunday, the fall series which DCB and I are putting together now which will take us to December, and the current goals of the worship committee to revamp some things.

I'm also thinking a lot about all the "doctor things": the headaches, the change in diet, the biopsy, the CT scan tomorrow, etc.

The Angels are also three games back, which doesn't help.

So, all in all, today's blog is just a big list of debits. I could (and should) write a much longer list of credits. But for right now, there is an overall sense of, as my mom would say, "bloppiness."

Here are a few of those "credits" to tide everyone over:

I got hit in the side of the face yesterday by a crumpled up Visitor's Card. The chucker of said card was Randy. His wonderful wife sang next to my sister on the praise team. It was really good to see them both.

My incredible niece sang "her song" yesterday in what will be her last time at College for a while. She leaves for school next week. While that could be a sad thing, I truly take it as a credit because I so envy the journey she is to embark on. Plus, she sang good.

James and I built a kick-butt Hot Wheels (tm) track while Lisa was gone. It starts at the top of the bookcase, down to a couple of tables where it turns 135 degrees, goes through a supercharger, turns 90 degrees, another 90 degrees taking it up over itself and off the table, down through another supercharger and into a loop-the-loop, finally culminating in a sweet jump off a lifted ramp. James stayed at my mom's house Friday night while I had some guys over to play cards. It took us awhile to get around to the cards.

Brisco County, Jr. is now in my library of DVD's.

That alone makes up for a lot of the other nonsense.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I'll play more catch-up on Wednesday.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Wes

When I think of the best men I know, or have ever known, Wes Schmidt is one of the first names to come to mind.

I never heard him say a single bad thing about anybody.

I knew him to make countless visits to people who were hurting.

He gave when he had a lot, and he gave when he had a little.

He was a mentor to some of the finest people I know, including my friend Mike, my friend Brady, and my sister.

He treated family like friends and friends like family.

He was one of the patriarchs of my church. He was a teacher. Not only was he an elder, he was one of the few "full-time elders" we have ever had. His door was always open, in fact, he was seldom behind it. I have no idea how many hundreds of people he counseled.

We celebrated a memorial for Wes today, who beat us all home. Brady already wrote about him, but I needed to add my two cents.

During the dark days following my divorce, I wasn't a pleasant person to be around. I spent a lot of time in my black hole of an apartment. I didn't go out much, and very few came to see me. But Wes did. I don't remember a single thing we talked about, but I remember that he didn't allow any wallowing in misery. And I remember that the place was brighter after he left.

Wes had these words underlined in his Bible:

"Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."

I'll miss Wes. I can't wait to see him.

Hit Counters

Intentional Walk