Things that go together

I’m sitting here this morning working on my lesson plans for the upcoming school year.  I’ll be teaching Algebra I, High School Bible, Health, some remediary mathematics, maybe Geography, and Physical Science. 

Right now I’m working on Physical Science.  The first chapter is designed to set the stage for everything we talk about in the upcoming year.  It answers the question: How does science fit in to the Christian worldview?  The title on the very first section of the book is “Lose Your Place, Lose Your Life”.

The book talks about both the Bible and science being maps that help us understand the world around us.  Science can lead to life-saving medicines, resource efficiencies, etc.  The Bible answers questions like where we come from, why we are here, and where we’re headed.  When there’s something we don’t know or can’t see, it’s like a dark spot.  We need to shine light on it so we can make sense of it.  The Bible and science help us do that.

So I’m studying and reflecting on this, and listening to music at the same time (because I’m 41 years old and I can if I want to).  Then this song started playing and the idea of needing the light of God in my life fit right into what I was looking at on the page.  And I thought to myself, I should share this.  So here it is:

YOU DESERVE

What is this love given to us?
Received my life through selfless sacrifice.
Although we fail, the Cross prevails.
Forgiveness stands. You take me back again.

You’ve shown me life.
You’ve opened my eyes so I give you my praise. 
Yeah, I give you my all.
You’ve shown me life. 
You’ve opened my eyes to the truth that there’s no greater love.

Now in the darkness God’s light shines, Christ forever glorified.
So come on, come on, sing out to God now with all we’ve got.
We live for you, our God.

Salvation’s strong in Christ alone.
The Saviour King alone in victory.
I step aside, give you my life for you to know:
Do what you wanna do.

I can’t imagine life without you, without you,
‘Cause it’s all for you. Yeah, it’s all for you, God.

(Hillsong United)

That’s cool

I was playing knock out (basketball) with 4 of the kids Friday. After I was knocked out and as I was taking in the scene, I realized I was playing with kids from 4 different African countries: Zimbabwe, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa. I thought to myself, “That’s cool.”

Ping Pong Madness

I know videos like this are usually more fun for those who were there than those who were not, but I thought I’d give everyone a chance to decide for themselves.  I hope you enjoy!

5 Ways I know I’m not in Indiana

1. My ears pop on the drive to work.

2. The magnolias have bloomed and are fading.

3. Ours were the only pipes in town that burst this winter.

4. Below zero means 31.

5. It has rained so much the streets are rivers and the fields are lakes … wait … never mind …

Giving it all

I was impressed this week with our students who participated in the e’ desperto na escola.   This is an annual area-wide cross-country running event for kids from 5th grade through 12th grade.  It was cold and windy; it was muddy.  One of the girls said the track felt like quicksand.  

It would have been pretty easy for any of them to say “I’m not running, not today.”   But each one in turn took their place in their short sleeve shirts and shorts to run their race.  They had to stand in the cold (the high for the day was about 45 F and the winds were probably about 15 mph) for 10 to 20 minutes waiting for their turn at the starting line. 

The young lady pictured here placed 3rd in a field of 40 to 50 girls, and got a nice medal to take home.

All this race running was amazing.  Some of these kids ran a LONG way.  Not one of them gave up.  They may have slowed, they may have gasped and they may have thought about stopping, but they didn’t.  Then when they came around that last turn and they could see the finish line they gave it that little extra.  They persevered to the end, no matter what place they came in. 

Several of the students had run to exhaustion and had to go to the tent for some attention.  One had a pretty nasty scrape on his knee where he fell and two others got sick.  There was no doubt in my mind that they had given everything they had to finish the race.

Paul the apostle taught us about finishing a different race in Acts 20: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. “  I pray, Lord, that you will help me to give everything I am and have in this race, for your glory only.

Prince of Peace

This past Friday our school had its Christmas program.  The theme for the evening was Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  The school was separated by age into 4 groups, each responsible for sharing one of the names of the child.

The High School and Middle School students were given Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  It was a great opportunity to share the gospel with many who may have never heard.  We received a lot of positive feedback on the message and the presentation.  The students shared a series of readings from Scripture, some poetry set to music, a video and even a song (“You’re my Prince of Peace”).  A couple of excerpts are included below.  Wish you all could have been there!

 

We started with the question:  “Where is Peace?” 

 

 

Like a River Glorious
by Frances Ridley Havergal

 

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller everyday,
Perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way. 

 

Trusting in Jehovah, hearts are fully bless
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest

 

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. 

 

Every joy or testing comes from God above,
Given to his children as an act of love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do-
Those who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. 

 

Trusting in Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest

Happy Thanksgiving, Eveybutty!

What She Said

Recently uttered by the middle child: 

“Why are we staying so long in Portugal?” (whine implied)

         Later that same day (same child): ”I really like Portugal … so far.”

A Day in Lisbon

We had a scheduled day off from school last week and Isaac still was able to attend his program, so the rest of us took the train into Lisbon for a little sightseeing.  I think the girls enjoyed chasing the pigeons more than anything, but a good time was had by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t Blink

I’ve taught Sunday School, etc. to many different ages from Kindergarten to Adult, but, generally speaking, the people in these classes were believers or had been around church and the Bible.  In these classes someone might ask a doozie-of-a-question, but usually any questions were pretty tame.

I didn’t know that I would be teaching Bible class when I agreed this summer to come to ICSC.  Some days I have to think fast.  I get some seriously challenging questions from my students who are predominantly non-Christian.

Here’s a sampling of some of the questions I’ve fielded in the last 6 weeks:

• Is the theory of evolution false?  How did creationists come up with the age of the earth being less than 10,000 years?
• So if Hitler accepted Christ before he died, he would go to heaven, but a good person who didn’t believe in Christ wouldn’t?
• If God is all-powerful and loves us, why does he cause or allow wars and stuff?
• If the Jews believe in God and they believe that he wrote the old testament, why don’t they believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
• If God is unchanging, why does he change his mind (e.g. the flood, Israelites and the golden calf, etc.)?
• When someone sins in order to do some good (Robin Hood scenario), why does God consider these sins?

I think I could spend a week preparing to answer any one of these questions.  I usually have just a few seconds.  Some I have said we will come back to.  Some I have opened up for class discussion while I prepare my thoughts and pray for wisdom and words.  Whatever strategy I employ, I try never to blink.