Teachers

Teachers 

At the end of your life you will groan,

when your flesh and body are spent.

You will say, “How I hated discipline!

How my heart spurned correction!

I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors.

I have come to the brink of utter ruin…”

Proverbs 5:11-14

My chosen profession is teaching, and in one capacity or another, I have been a teacher for more than 40 years: Elementary, Junior High and Senior High school, Community college, University, Seminary, homeschool and Sunday School.  Teaching brings great joy, but it inflicts its share of heartbreak and sorrow as well.  Every school year, there is always at least one student who does not want to learn.

The reasons why kids reject instruction are as varied as the students themselves.  Broken homes, drugs, disabilities, family problems, gangs, homelessness – the list could go on and on.  Often the student tries to grab control of the classroom so that no one else can learn either.  Eventually they are suspended and may even be expelled or sent to an alternative school.  The teacher is left with a feeling of failure and the nagging question – “What else could I have tried…”

As we come to the end of the summer break, teachers around the country are gearing up for another school year – made even more difficult by the COVID19 pandemic.  Please pray for Virginia’s teachers and administrators.  They face a difficult task and are in need of our prayer support.

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It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.

It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.

The United Methodist Hymnal No. 352

Guard Your Heart

Guard Your Heart

Above all else, guard your heart,

For it is the wellspring of life.

Put away perversity from your mouth.

Keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 4:23-24

My father dropped out of school at some point during high school. What he lacked in formal book learning he made up for with common sense and a raft of street smarts.  He loved to read and constantly picked up little quotes that he passed on to his children:

A bird in hand is better than two in a bush

A stitch in time saves nine.

Two can live as cheaply as one, if one doesn’t eat 
and the other doesn’t wear clothes

He who hesitates is lost.

Put your money where your mouth is.

Engage your brain before you put your mouth in gear.

You’re a day late and a dollar short.

There was, unfortunately, a darker side to my father’s words.  He was a world class cusser – swear words regularly embellishing his speech.  He was a life-long Navy man, and could swear like the proverbial drunken sailor.  His three young children picked up the corrupt words along with the homestyle quotes.

I have struggled with my speech my entire life.  My daily prayer always is that God will hit “pause” on my brain before I utter a perverse word – to give me a chance to think carefully about what I say.

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More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Fill my heart with Your desire

to make me more like You.

More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Touch my lips with holy fire

and make me more like You.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2167

A Bottle of Water on Maury Street

A Bottle of Water on Maury Street

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

when it is in your power to act.

Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow –

when you now have it with you.

Proverbs 3:27-28

My daughter and son-in-law live in a neighborhood in close proximity to downtown.  The route she takes to work each day runs through an older, industrialized section of the city that houses several rundown or empty buildings, and a homeless camp. 

She usually calls me on her way home from work, to talk about her day and de-stress from trying to teach mathematics to teenagers.  I keep track of her progress by the noises that emanate from outside her vehicle.  I always know when she reaches Maury Street. She tells me to hold on a minute, rolls down the window, then offers a bottle of water to one of the homeless individuals on the street.  She carries extra water in her car specifically for this purpose.  The homeless camps come and go, but if there is someone there who might need a cool drink, she wants to meet that need.

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Make me a servant, humble and meek.

Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.

And may the prayer of my heart always be:

Make me a servant; make me a servant;

Make me a servant today.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2176

Learning Wisdom

Learning Wisdom

My son, if you accept my words 

and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding,

then you will understand what is right 

and just and fair – every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Proverbs 2:1,2,9,10

My middle daughter was a bug-lover from a very early age.  Dead or alive, if it was an insect, she had to study it, pick it up, even play with it.  She would always want to share her discoveries with anyone who would listen.  As her sisters were definitely not bug lovers, that role was usually mine.

One summer day when she was around three years old, I heard her calling out, “Mommy, Mommy!  Look what I found!”  She came running into the kitchen where I was washing dishes.  I held out a soapy hand, and she dropped her treasure into it.  It took me a few seconds to realize that I was holding a live scorpion – with stinger attached.    With a startled shriek, I threw my hand up in the air.  The scorpion came down in the sink, where he was quickly washed down the drain.

The next few minutes were spent drying her tears (because I didn’t give her treasure back), and imparting some wisdom to her quick little mind as to why we don’t play with that particular bug. Then we whispered a heartfelt “Thank You” to Jesus for His care and protection.  

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Lord, I lift Your name on high;

Lord, I love to sing Your praises.

I’m so glad You’re in my life;

I’m so glad You came to save us.

You came from heaven to earth to show the way,

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2088

Listen, My Son

Listen, My Son

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

About four years ago, a young man walking down my street asked if he could mow my lawn.  He was shy, polite, and probably around 12 years old.  I got out the lawnmower and he went to work.  When he was finished, I thanked him, paid him, and sent him on his way home.  Twenty minutes later when I was sure he was out of sight, I grabbed the mower and finished the job.  He showed up two weeks later and cut the grass again – then disappeared off the face of the earth.

The following summer, he showed up once, cut the lawn, and again disappeared.  The same scenario for the following summer.  By then I had learned that he is the child of a broken home and is shuttled around from pillar to post.  It is his grandmother who lives in my neighborhood.  But I must say, whatever combination of family has raised this lad, they have done a wonderful job.  He has grown into a charming young man who is unfailingly respectful, polite and hardworking.

This summer he has a cell phone and texts me to set up days to cut the grass.  Somewhere along the line, he has also learned how to mow a lawn, and takes great pride in his handiwork.  Will he still be in town this next week?  I don’t know, but if he is, the mower and I will be here waiting for him.

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In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.

In my life, Lord, be glorified today.

In Your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.

In Your world, Lord, be glorified today.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2150

Clean House!

Clean House!

So clean house!

Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense,

envy and hurtful talk.

1 Peter 2:1 [The Message] 

Malice – an emotion that Webster defines as “…the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm.”  Synonyms: cattiness, hatefulness, hostility, maliciousness, meanness, spite, 

Pretense – the quality or state of trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case.  Synonyms: Affectation, arrogance, grandiosity, self-conceit

Envy – resentment of another’s possessions or advantages.  Synonyms: animosity, covetousness, enmity, ill will, jealousy, malice, resentment

Hurtful Talk (Gossip/slander) – to make untrue or harmful statements that damage another's reputation.  Synonyms:  circulate, defame, malign, insinuate, smear, snitch, tattle, vilify

When Peter called for a clean sweep of the attitudes and actions listed above, he was not speaking from a vacuum, but from experience.  He was not standing as judge and jury, but as a fellow sojourner who had to deal with these issues in his own life.  Kindness and humility are listed as antonyms for the above attitudes.  Peter did not come to Christ either humble or kind; sometimes we are neither, as well.  God’s unconditional love, however, can act as a cleansing broom to sweep our houses clean, transforming our lives.

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At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,

Every tongue confess Him King of glory now.

‘Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord,

Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

 

In your hearts enthrone Him, there let Him subdue

All that is not holy, all that is not true.

Crown Him as your captain in temptation’s hour.

Let His will enfold you in its light and power.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 168

 

 

Run After Peace

Run After Peace

Whoever wants to embrace life

and see the day fill up with good,

here’s what you do:

 Say nothing evil or hurtful;

Snub evil and cultivate good;

Run after peace for all you’re worth.

1 Peter 3:10-11 [The Message]

When I think of the word, "peace," oI am tempted to also think of the word, "impossible."  The daily news media reminds us how difficult peace is, both in concept and in reality.  I do not believe, however, that Peter is speaking about peace in the world.  We could run forever and still be chasing such an elusive dream.  The apostle is speaking, I believe, about peace in our own hearts: the absence of fear and conflict with others, the calm trusting in His mercy that brings peace to our souls.  I wish you blessings in your quest for peace today.

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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 377

The Tyranny of Me

The Tyranny of Me

 Since Jesus went through everything you're going through,

Since Jesus went through everything you're going

through and more, learn to think like Him.

Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that

old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.

Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue

what God wants instead of being tyrannized

by what you want.

1 Peter 4:1-2 

I had to laugh today when I read this passage written by a man who could throw a temper tantrum with the best of them.  Peter was such a rough character when he first joined Jesus' intrepid little band of followers.  He rumbled and blustered and generally thought himself very much "with it" for a man of his stature in the lower echelons of society, and very used to pushing his weight around to get what he wanted.  Yet he came to know that suffering has a way of exposing the selfishness in all of us - our need to control out situation so that we can have a favorable outcome - i..e., our own way.

The longer I am alive, the more I realize that there is very little in life that I can control, and when I try to do it anyway, I end up being shackled to the very thing that was supposed to make my life better.  Peter called it being tyrannized by the things you want.  He had learned that he was much better off under the freedom of God's control than under his own willfulness.  Rather than say, "my way or the highway," I need to follow Christ's example and say, "Thy will be done." 

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I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will.

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O, I need Thee

Every hour I need Thee.

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 397

ALL Things

ALL Things

And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Have you ever made a big mistake - a tragic error, life-changing blunder, unforgivable faux pas, or inexcusable oversight – and in the process of your stupidity, you have hurt people that you respect and/or love?  After your total and complete lapse in judgment, do you find yourself sitting with the broken pieces of your life scattered around you on the floor?  When things begin to look pretty dark: no future, no hope, no nothing – listen to what the Apostle Paul has to say about God’s viewpoint on the matter

There is nothing God cannot help, no circumstance that His grace cannot cover, no situation that cannot be made better by turning to Him.  Now don't get me wrong - He is not some heavenly superglue hero who can wave His magic wand and make everything whole again - returning things to the way they were before your horrible gaffe.  That only happens in movies and fairy tales.  There are real world consequences to the stupid things we do, and part of the learning curve is to taking responsibility and taking your medicine.  That's not an easy thing to do, but Paul assures us that God will be right there with us.  He can turn ALL circumstances into an eventual blessing for our lives.  He has promised, and He means just what He says.

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Be not dismayed what e’er betide, God will take care of you.

Beneath His wings of love abide – God will take care of you.

God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way.

He will take care of you!  God will take care of you.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 130

God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise

God Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce,

"Today--at the latest, tomorrow--we're off to such and such

a city for the year; we're going to start a business and make

a lot of money."  You don't know the first thing about

tomorrow.  You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief

bit of sun before disappearing.  Instead, make it a habit to say,

"If the Master will it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that.

James 4:13-15

My father was not a practicing Christian, but Dad was a very good man with little education and a lot of back-alley wisdom.  He had a whole raft of proverbs and sayings that peppered his speech - a habit that he passed on to his kids.  When he announced that he personally, or we as a family, were going to do this or do that, he would always end it by saying, "God willing and the creek don't rise." 

This month I am celebrating my 13^th anniversary of cancer surgery. Every time I go in for my annual appointment, my oncologist reassures me that the cancer is long gone.  I know that her assurances are based on her vast knowledge of cancers in general and my tumor in particular, but the fact is, a cancer-free life is not guaranteed to me or any other survivor.  Cancer has a mind of its own, so I face the future with great hope and a healthy respect for my adversary.  There is still a great deal that I want to do with my life – God willing, and the creek don’t rise!

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I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for the skies may turn to grey.

I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said.

And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows  what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand.

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

Hymns for the Family of God, No. 96

Forgive

Forgive

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:38

Forgiveness should be an easy subject, but it never is.  When someone wrongs us, the hurt is often so deep that the thought of forgiving the other person is repugnant to us.  They, after all, are the perpetrator of the offense, and we are the victim.  Why in the world should we forgive them?

I thought it might be helpful for me if I made a list of what forgiveness is, and what it is not.  

• Forgiveness is not weakness.
• Forgiveness is not condoning or approving the offence
• Forgiveness does not mean that the offence can be swept under the rug
• Forgiveness does not deny that the offence ever took place
• Forgiveness does not make the pain go away
• Forgiveness does not restore trust
• Forgiveness does not guarantee reconciliation
• Forgiveness does not trump justice
• Forgiveness does not let the offender off the hook
• Forgiveness is not forgetting what happened
• Forgiveness is not giving the other person permission to continue bad behavior

On the other hand...

• Forgiveness is a choice
• Forgiveness is based on our attitude, not the other person's actions
• Forgiveness is realizing that the other person may never admit they are wrong
• Forgiveness is letting go of the need for revenge
• Forgiveness is letting go of bitterness and resentment toward the other person
• Forgiveness is replacing anger with compassion
• Forgiveness is a gift of healing for yourself 

 Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds 

on the heel that has crushed it.

-Mark Twain

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God forgave my sins in Jesus’ name,

I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name.

And in Jesus’ name I come to you,

To share His love as He told me to.

He said, “Freely, freely, you have received,

Freely, freely give.

Go in my name, and because you believe,

Others will know that I love.”

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 389

Content with Who You Are

Content with Who You Are

Be content with who you are,

and don't put on airs.

God's strong hand is on you;

He'll promote you at the right time.

1 Peter 5:5b-6

I went to elementary school with a young girl named Judy.  We were both singers and had fairly well-matched voices.  We used to sing duets at recitals, took endless dance lessons, did quite a bit of acting, and performed before the listening public often--I on television and Judy on the radio.  In the confidence department, however, we were as different as night and day.  Judy was naturally outgoing, friendly, self-confident, gregarious, and unafraid to "sell" her talents and abilities, even in 5th grade.  I, on the other hand, was timid, uncertain and quiet.  She became a famous Broadway actress; I became a high school/college music teacher and church musician.  Her temperament was perfect for the stage; mine excelled in the choir room.

Looking back, there are times when I nostalgically wish I had put myself out there more, catered to a wider audience, pushed for the brass ring.  When I am helping others make beautiful music, however, I realize that quiet, less confident me is right where I belong.  I'm needed, and I'm happy.

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More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Fill my heart with Your desire to make me more like You.

More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Touch my lips with holy fire and make me more like You.

Lord, You are my mercy.

Lord, You are my grace.

All my deepest sins have forever been erased.

Draw me in Your presence.

Lead me in Your ways.

I long to bring You glory in righteousness and praise.

More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Fill my heart with Your desire to make me more like You.

More like You, Jesus, more like You.

Touch my lips with holy fire and make me more like You.

The Faith We Sing, no. 2167

Weary and Burdened

Weary and Burdened

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me,

And ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

Saturday night my stomach decided to have one of its meldowns that kept me up all night with no relief until Sunday morning.  I ended up missing work and sleeping most of the day.  Yesterday I had two recording sessions for the upcoming A Time to Sing program, then emails to send and an orientation for the virtual Handbell Seminar this weekend.

Today?  I can barely put one foot in front of the other.  I don’t “feel bad” exactly, but I have the energy and motivation of a slug.  My whirling brain keeps saying, “Get up!  Get going!  Get moving!  Get with the program!”  My body says, “Sorry.  Not today.”

When stress threatens to overwhelm me, I remember this invitation that Jesus extended to the disciples, His followers, and the world.  “Come to Me, ALL who labor and are heavy laden.”  Within His arms of love, we will find peace, relaxation and rest.  All we have to do is turn to Him.

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Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

And all these things shall be added unto you.  Allelu, Allelujah.

Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find;

Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.  Allelu, Allelujah.

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word

That proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.  Allelu, Alleluia.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 405

The Gift of a Challenge

The Gift of a Challenge

Consider it a sheer gift, friends,

when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 

You know that under pressure,

your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 

So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. 

Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed,

not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-4

When I purchased my home, I knew that I would have to completely remodel the main bathroom.  I scheduled the project knowing that there would be inconvenience involved, but I had a tiny half bath in my bedroom that would ease the suffering.

Unfortunately, when the contractor removed the drywall adjacent to my half bath, he discovered black mold on the drywall of the small bathroom, requiring the infected wall to be removed.  I gave the go-ahead for them to remodel the half bath as well.  The decision was the right one, but it left me with a bit of a quandary:  no functioning bathroom in my home.

After reading today’s text from James, you might chuckle at my thought that my bathroom situation was the kind of trial that the apostle was talking about.  But I believe that anything, small or large, that challenges our patience and our politeness is just exactly that – a chance to grow and mature in our behavior and attitudes.  Three days into the remodel, my contractor friend broke his big toe, slowing down the process a bit, but hey – life happens.  His toe was his trial and my bathroomlessness was mine. We take so many things for granted in this life, and when we are deprived of them, it is a wonderful lesson in being thankful for even the smallest blessings.

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Come, thou fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy praise.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount!  I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 400

Say It Again, Sam

Say It Again, Sam

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a

good game is self-deceived. 

This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.

Real religion, the kind that passes muster

before God the Father, is this:

Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight,

and guard against corruption from the godless world.

James 1:26-27 [The Message]

After studying the Bible for many years, I am convinced that God never says anything just once.  It might appear that way at first, but the more you read the Scriptures, the more you know you’ve run across that thought before.  In the passage above, James’ definition of real religion rings similar to the words of Jesus:

Guard against corruption = Love God with your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Reach out to the homeless and loveless = Love your neighbor as yourself.

The Father knows that the first proclamation of truth might go in one ear and out the other.  His gentle repetition helps us to stash that thought safely in our hearts.

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More about Jesus I would know,

More of His grace to others show,

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

More, more about Jesus.

More, more about Jesus.

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

Hymn of the Family of God, No. 477

Kindness

Kindness 

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of scripture:

"Love others as you love yourself."

Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the

Rule that sets us free.  For if you refuse to act kindly,

you can hardly expect to be treated kindly.

Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

James 2:8, 12

Kindness #1

Leaving a store, I returned to my car only to find that I’d locked my keys and cell phone inside. A teenager riding his bike saw me kick a tire and say a few choice words. “What’s wrong?” he asked. I explained my situation. “But even if I could call my wife,” I said, “she can’t bring me her car key, since this is our only car.” He handed me his cell phone. “Call your wife and tell her I’m coming to get her key.” “That’s seven miles round trip.” “Don’t worry about it.” An hour later, he returned with the key. I offered him some money, but he refused. “Let’s just say I needed the exercise,” he said. Then, like a cowboy in the movies, he rode off into the sunset. - Kentucky

Kindness #2

Last December, before work, I stopped at a deli and ordered a bagel with cream cheese. It was toasty warm, and I couldn’t wait to dig in. But as I left the store, I noticed an older indigent gentleman sitting at the bus stop. Knowing it would probably be his only warm meal of the day, I gave him the bagel. Another customer from the deli offered me half of her bagel. One way or another, we were all looking out for each other.  – Arizona

Kindness #3

Children were playing at the recreation area of an IKEA store when my five-year-old granddaughter motioned for a small boy to stop. She knelt down before him and retied his flopping shoelaces (she had only just learned to tie her own). No words were spoken, but after she finished, both smiled shyly, then turned to race off in different directions. – Louisiana

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It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it.

You spread His love to everyone,

You want to pass it on.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 572