Memorial Day May 26th

 

When I was growing up Memorial Day was a memorial day, but not for what it really was intended.  It meant the end of school. The local swimming pool, aptly named Memorial Pool (dedicated to WW2 soldiers) opened for summer swimming. It meant a parade with flags, horses, bands, floats, gun salutes, and then a picnic with family. Everything a young boy wanted to see.

Memorial Day has its roots in Decoration Day, started shortly after the end of the Civil War. There were many national gravesites dedicated. It was a day for the nation to remember their dead and decorate their graves with flowers. It wasn’t until May of 1950 that they officially declared the last Monday of May as Memorial Day.

It was not until I started researching my family heritage that it became more important.

While I was researching the Cross family line, I came across some interesting facts. The first is that the War of 1812 cause us much grief in that most of the records from Maryland where we Crosses lived before moving to Illinois were burned during the war. I can trace my family back to Jacob Cross, born in 1814, but really no further. Even the man who has tried to write an all-inclusive history of the Cross name in America was stumped. I guess my family heritage is just playing “hard to get”. We did find that Jacob and his two sons, William H. Cross and Joshua D. Cross all fought in the Civil War on the Union side. Jacob and William returned home. Joshua, who was in an Illinois Cavalry regiment associated with General Sherman’s campaign in Georgia, was wounded in the battle of King’s Tanyard and taken prisoner. King's Tanyard He died at the infamous Andersonville Prison in Macon, GA on September of 1864.  

It is the many soldiers from the Civil War onward that we remember on Memorial Day. All around the nation there will be parades, flower placements, wreath laying, and times of solemn prayer. Gettysburg, Arlington, The Arizona Memorial, and many more will honor those brave men and women who gave their lives for their country. As you go about you day, take some time to be grateful for their sacrifice. Always remember, Freedom isn’t Free. Rest in peace dear patriots!

 Source: https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Memorial-Day-history.asp

 

Coolidge on Education

 
This is the third installment in the Calvin Coolidge series from his persistence quote.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

As many of you know I have spent the majority of my teaching career teaching at Christian/private schools. One of the mantras in Christian education is that we don’t just teach the mind, we teach the heart. Teaching good moral values can go a long way, but it can only go so far. In science we normally talk about what can be done. Many classes stop at this. I have strived to explain to the students that they are not just scientists who are there to categorize, observe, explain, and in some cases manipulate nature, but also free moral agents who must decide the proper use of what they learn. Science can tell us how, which, when, and why things are or do what they do. It is up to the scientist to determine if the knowledge gained is appropriate to use in a certain situation. There have been many great discoveries that have later haunted the discoverer because they ended up being used in ways unimagined by the scientist. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist who among other things, revolutionized blasting in mining and engineering by inventing Dynamite. Dynamite and the blasting cap made explosives a great deal safer and more predictable. It was a great discovery. Yet when a newspaper article erroneously publishing his obituary after the death of his brother Ludvig stated, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday" he was appalled. It was then that he decided to, after his death, donate most of his wealth to create the Nobel Peace Prize. Was Nobel wrong to invent dynamite? I would say no. It revolutionized mine safety and saved many lives. It was those less educated who applied his discoveries to more nefarious pursuits. I remember one of my professors in Bible College saying that “it was his job to also educate the heart. Otherwise we are just creating clever devils.” The science is great. How you choose to use it is greater. Talent, genius, and education are all important, but what is more important is what you do with it.

That being said, there is one part of Coolidge’s quote that I have some trouble with. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Science has arrogantly exalted itself as the final answer. Frankly, most of the time it seem more like for every new discovery, we make three more new problems. Science is simply a tool that can be used for good or bad. It needs properly educated scientists to use it correctly. Always remember that Jesus is the answer to the human race.

 

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”  - Calvin Coolidge

 

Coolidge on Genius

 

(This is part 2 of Calvin Coolidge’s larger quote on Persistence.)

This week the musing is about genius. Genius is defined as: 1. extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity. 2.: a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority. specifically: a person with a very high IQ  Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › genius

It has often been said, “Smart people learn from their mistakes; geniuses learn from other people’s mistakes.” By either definition, there are not many geniuses around.

 Coolidge said “unrewarded genius is almost a proverb”. Throughout history, there have been many examples of very smart people (often called wise men) who have spoken up and still been ignored. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction”. A wise man’s ideas are only useful if they are accepted and put to good use. Some geniuses were shunned because of new and strange ideas. Some were ridiculed because they went against the social norm and even posed a threat to the perceived welfare of the economy. Albert Einstein (the one sticking out his tonge) was once asked what it was like to be the smartest man in the world. His reply was that if you really wanted to know you should go ask Nicola Tesla.

I would consider both geniuses. So why did Tesla die a poor man living in a run-down hotel? Many did not understand his genus. Others seemed to be threatened by it. Now there is no end of conspiracy theories around Tesla, but it was clear that his idea of free electricity for all did not sit well with the established tycoons. He ended up poor partly because he did not want to control the power grid but had a vision of sharing it with all. Others decided to either ignore his wisdom, or misuse it.

Sometimes genius is wasted on terrible people. Without throwing and pasts geniuses under the bus, I can say that many geniuses from the past were less than nice with anyone who disagreed with them. Edison, Newton, and Churchill often come to mind.

So how can we not waste genius? First we need to determine if it is God’s wisdom or man’s wisdom. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 (NIV)

Once we find it, we need to listen and apply it. Enter, persistence and determination from the quote. Genius that is hidden or not heeded is unrewarded and useless.

  “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”  - Calvin Coolidge

Coolidge on Talent

I recently ran across a set of great quotes from Calvin Coolidge, the 30^th President of the United States. This time I won’t bother you with the convoluted trail that lead me to him. He rose to notoriety as Governor of Massachusetts during his cool handling of the Boston Police Officer’s Strike.  His stance during the strike probably lead to the surprise nomination of the Republican National Convention  to be Warren G. Harding’s Vice Presidential candidate. After Harding’s sudden death he was sworn in as President. He was known as keen mind and a cool head.  In fact in 1924, his reelection slogan was “Keep Cool with Coolidge”. In the same year he passed the Indian Citizenship Act, granting Native Americans citizenship. He worked hard to improve their treatment and condition.

He was known as a man of few words. While he was President Harding’s Vice President, a society matron once said at a dinner party, "Mr. Vice President, I made a bet with my friends that I could get you to say at least three words this evening." Coolidge fixed a steely glare on her and said: "You lose." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-and-presidency-of-calvin-coolidge

 

In the next few weeks I plan to muse about the three words, Talent, Genius, and Education. This week is talent. Every so often I hear a high school student say “I’ve got skills”. The question I usually ask is “But do you have the character to use those skills?” Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Think about your high school yearbook. Almost every class votes on standout students. It could be most best smile or best dresser. Invariably, there will be something about most talented, or most likely to succeed. But where are they now. Most did not really stand out. Some ended up mediocre; some even failed miserably. I can’t even count the athletes who claimed they will be the greatest and then never even finished college. I do see many “average guys” and “average ladies” who are tearing it up out there. So talent does not automatically equate to success.

Even Jesus told a parable about it. Yes, I know that the “talent” He mentions in Matthew 25:14-30, is technically about money, but the same principle applies. Without hard work (persistence as Coolidge notes) is a huge factor. If we bury our talent in the ground and don’t practice it, it will gain nothing. Stay with it and don’t quit. In the words of Coolidge, Press On!

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”  - Calvin Coolidge

Pauses

 A pause according to the Oxford Dictionary, means to interrupt action or speech briefly. An expected pause can be great. It gives us a chance to catch our breath and recalculate. It is that button on the DVR so we can take a bathroom break. God paused (rested) after 6 days of creation to just take it all in. It is what gives us our model of resting during the week. Pauses can help us focus on the next step. Unexpected pauses can seem terrible. For many years I helped my father-in-law work on cars in his garage. When you are expecting something to happen, a pause can cause great anxiety. It could be a starter that hesitates, a device that isn’t starting up, or a machine that stops for a second or two, that click of the solenoid and then nothing.  In the middle of a job, it can be downright scary.

Easter was last week. It is often called The Great Pause. It was a screeching halt to what the disciples thought was to be the Kingdom of God on Earth. Imagine the looks of fear and confusion, the sadness and despair. Now to be honest, they hadn’t been listening properly, but still, the silence must have been deafening. Even though the disciples wouldn’t have chosen it this way, I think it was necessary to give them time to process what Jesus really said. They had time to search the scriptures, to review His words in their minds. Soon they would be fully convinced and literally turn the world upside-down.

Be thankful for pauses. They give us time to reflect and enjoy life. Expected or unexpected, they are part of life’s rhythm. Just like in music, pauses can magnify the notes or events that follow. Without them, it would be a solid droning sound.

“The pause is as important as the note” — Truman Fische

 

"The Breath Between: A Poem on the Power of Pause"

I pause, I breathe, I come to rest,

A moment to reflect on what is best,

To gather my thoughts, to find my way,

Before I venture forth into the fray.

I signal the end, the finality,

Of a thought, a sentence, a reality,

I give it weight, I make it clear,

That this is it, the end is here.

I bring closure to the words we speak,

I give them shape, I make them complete,

I am the punctuation mark of pause,

The moment of silence, the gentle applause.

I'm a moment of calm, a moment of peace,

A chance to reflect, to ponder, to seize,

I help you to breathe, to take a break,

To find your center, to be awake.

So embrace me, use me, let me be,

The punctuation mark of your destiny,

For I am more than just a simple dot,

I am the full stop, the final thought.

 Camvickbee  

https://poetizer.com/poem/1991879238

Weeds

 

Last week I was weeding around the house. For some reason, the dandelions are especially plentiful this year. I hate using any kind of weed killers because I want to help any butterflies that come along, but I must balance that with the fact that my wife does not want our yard to look like we live in a backwoods village somewhere. I'm not sure where that even is, but still, I try to avoid it. So I weed. I scrape them out of cracks. I try to pull them up by the roots. And for the most part, I keep a fairly clean lawn & garden area. Still, It got me thinking. What is a weed anyway? A quick search gave me these quotes.

• ·       A weed is but an unloved flower" - Ella Wheeler Wilcox
• ·       "Weeds are nature's graffiti" - J.L.W. Brooks
• ·       "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• ·       "A weed is just a plant that's determined to be where it's not wanted." – Unattributed

I recently found out that I can feed dandelions to my bearded dragon. I tried a few, and he loved them. So just like that, dandelions went from a hated yard weed to a edible flower cultivated in a pot for one of my animals. In this case, it was just a flower in the wrong location. Honestly, they are pretty, and the early spring pollinators can't get enough. Could it be that they have received a bad rap?

Have you ever felt like a weed? I have. Maybe you work with a nice group of people but you don’t feel part of the group. Maybe you think differently than everyone around you and feel kept on the outside. Don’t dismay, the inner circle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be anyway. Possibly someone has told you “you’re just not a fit”.

It’s very possible you are just the right person in the wrong place. I remember being told “it’s just not a fit” at one of my teaching positions. It’s discouraging, demoralizing, and depressing. Yet shortly after I went to another school who hired me and thought I was a real blessing.

I think in the wrong place at the wrong time, any decent flower could be a weed. In the right place, at the right time, weeds turn into a wildflower garden. Trust God to put you in the right place, and when you get there flourish. Even weeds can be beautiful.

“If you see a dandelion as a weed, you’ll spray it. If you see it as a flower, you’ll draw it close, turn it this way and that, and become lost in the colossal burst of slender golden petals that spew sunshine into the darkest of souls. And so, how many things have we sprayed that could have illuminated our souls if we would have let them be more than what we let them be?” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough

Help My Unbelief

In Mark chapter 9 a man brings his son possessed with an evil spirit to Jesus. He said that His disciples had not been able to cast it out. After another convulsive spell and a short conversation about how long it had been happening, Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The man’s immediate response was, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

How can someone believe and yet have unbelief? When I was younger, this really used to confuse me. I thought that, well, you either believe or you don’t. It wasn’t until I was having a conversation with one of my sons that it started to make sense. We were discussing about God providing a need that mostly concerned him. I mentioned that God had always taken care of us and that I wasn’t too worried about it. We have always tried to share with our kids how God has provided through the years. He confided that he knew that God took care of my wife and I, but that he wasn’t sure He would do it for him.  

I think that was where this man was. He had seen, or at least heard about all the healings that Jesus had done. Maybe he was already convinced that He was the Messiah. He believed that he could; I think the unbelief was that he wasn’t sure that Jesus would do it for him personally.

One of the greatest walls our children will face is whether they believe in God because we told them, or because they have experience Him themselves. It’s not new. Jacob had to make the transition from the “God of my father” to calling Him “Lord”.

So how does one make this transition? It begins with a small step of faith. As we draw closer to God and walk daily with Him, He draws near to us. Our faith grows. As we struggle through trials, we learn to trust more. As we experience God’s provision, He becomes more personal to us. It doesn’t happen overnight, but before you know it, things that you thought were insurmountable, now don’t seem so big. He helps our unbelief.

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Please God, Not Today!

 

Have you ever gotten to the point where you wanted to say, “Not today God, please not today.”? It’s when stuff keeps coming at you, a never-ending stream of “this broke”, “that doesn’t work”, and “I can’t find it anywhere”. You feel you’re at your wit’s end and one more thing will break you beyond repair. I think we’ve all been there.

I was there just last week. What I really wanted to do was to just crawl into bed and turn out the lights. Fortunately I don’t stay there long. Some of it is just my personality. I don’t stay depressed for long. Some of it is having a faithful wife and companion at my side to help pick me up. But mostly it’s is the memory of the many time that God has been faithful in the past.

I’m no spiritual giant by any means. But I have learned a few things that help sustain me in the tough times.  Some are from experiences; some are from advice of trusted friends. But the most encouraging words come from God himself.

1. God is Faithful - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

2. God is in Control - "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

3. God has Our Back – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22

4. God Want The Best For You - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

5. God Know What it Means to Suffer – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

 

Other Helpful hints:

1. Eat wisely, Eat healthy. Good food means a healthy body. Enjoy dessert, but don’t overdo it!

2. Know your body – get rest you need, even if you need to leave things unfinished fro a day.

3. Get out and be active. Exercise is not only good for the body, it’s good for the mind.

4. Find someone else to help. You will be surprised how it will bring things into perspective.

5. Talk with a trusted friend. Many times a solution will come to us while we are talking it through.

Be encouraged! God is with you in the good times and the bad times. If we trust in Him, He will be faithful!

A Better Way

 

We have five children. We have nine grandchildren. Although I teach high school, I’m still fascinated with toddlers and lower elementary. Now don’t get me wrong, I do not want to teach at that level. I don’t think I have the energy to keep that up continually. I just like observing.

My wife has a gift of helping and ministering to younger mothers. She has many friends at church with children in the elementary ages. There are many mothers of my junior high students or my fellow teachers that also have younger elementary children. I have been watching. There is one young mother of three that has intrigued me. She has quite a mix of intelligence, energy and cuteness on her hands. But it is the way that she corrects and redirects them that fascinates me. Well, fascinates me and causes me to reflect inwardly.

I like to think I keep an organized & orderly classroom. But sometimes you have admit that even though things seem to be going well, there may be a better way. It’s one of the curses on teachers; you really are never good enough. There is always room for improvement.

In classroom discipline, I tend to get right to it. You might hear, “Please stop.” or, "Are you finished so we can go on?”.  It works, but it sometime lacks that outward compassion element. It’s something I’ve been working on. I’m sure we’ve all seen lists and memes that help to give better responses. A teacher named Mr. Mizrahi has a list. Here are just a few:

·         Let’s remember gentle hands     (“No Hitting” “Stop Fighting”)  

·         Outside is a good place for being loud     (No Shouting Inside the House!)  

·         Let’s try to breathe through these yucky feelings    (Calm Down, Stop Crying, No Whining)  

·         Let’s use kind words, please     (Don’t say that, don’t talk like that)  

·         Shoes are for your feet, remember?   (Stop throwing your shoes around the house)  

https://mrmizrahi.blog/2021/01/21/positive-phrases-to-use-instead-of-stop-no-dont/

These are all great, but sometimes they are hard to remember in the moment. It takes a lot of practice to break bad habits. That’s why my observations with this mother were so amazing. It caught my attention so captivatingly that I keep coming back to them.

I remember the first time I saw her struggling to get her child, the one with unlimited energy, to stand still so she could get done whatever she was doing. (I believe she was putting a jacket on. No one would have faulted this mother for saying, “Hold still!”. Instead I heard, I really appreciate your energy, but now it’s time to help mom do what she needs to do.” The child stopped and held still so mom could adjust their jacket. What a kind way to correct & redirect! I saw many more examples like this. It challenged me to look for better ways to kindly redirect in my classroom, especially with the 7^th graders. Now, don’t be deceived; I am still a work in progress. But I do hear myself giving more compliments while I’m correcting. Who’d a thought you could teach an old dog new tricks? Never keep looking for a better way. They are out there!

National Medal of Honor Day

 

This coming week, on March 25^th, we will celebrate National Medal of Honor Day. It honors members of our US military who, according to the Department of Defense, “distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty”. It is our nation’s highest military award for valor. It was started in 1863 to honor 6 Members of Andrew’s Raiders for their participation in what is called The Great Locomotive Chase during the civil war.

Although I do not know anyone personally who has received this medal, my heart is still stirred when I read the various account of bravery for each recipient. There are awardees from virtually every war and conflict since 1863. It is important that we don’t forget their sacrifice to keep our country and the world free.

At present, there are over 3500 recipients, some of which have received the medal posthumously. There are sixty-one members still living. According to the National Park Service, there has only been one woman receive the award, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. She was the first female Us Army surgeon. She spent four months in a Confederate prison when she was captured and charged with spying.

Here are some ways to celebrate National Medal of Honor Day.

• ·       Fly the U.S. Flag: Display the flag with pride at your home or business.
• ·       Visit Memorial Sites: Pay a visit to local memorial sites or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
• ·       Support Veteran Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with veteran service organizations.
• ·       Learn About Medal of Honor Recipients: Research the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and share their bravery with others.
• ·       Attend Events: Some federal, state, local, and military organizations may hold events recognizing Medal of Honor recipients.
• ·       Use Social Media: Share information about National Medal of Honor Day on social media using the hashtag #MedalOfHonorDay.
• ·       Adopt a Medal of Honor Gravesite
• ·       Attend a "retreat" ceremony honoring the fallen with "Taps" and the lowering of the flag
• ·       Attend ceremonies honoring living MoH recipients

You can read about the many brave recipients of this medal on the Congressional Medal of Honor Society web pages found here. 

https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/overview

https://homeofheroes.com/medal-of-honor/medal-of-honor-recipients/

Sources:

https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/honors-for-valor

https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/blog/what-is-medal-of-honor-day-and-why-does-it-matter

Comparisons

 

Comparing things is a way of life. When we go to the grocery store, everything becomes a matter of comparison. This mango looks fresher, bigger, and nicer, than all the others. This package is a better deal according to price per unit. Sometimes we compare generic to brand name to see which we prefer. This line is shorter so it might be (ha!) faster. My advice for lines is, get in any line that I’m not in. I have a way of choosing the longest line – no matter what I do!

In reality, there’s nothing wrong with being “choosy” about our purchases. In fact, in some ways it involves being a good steward of our hard earned money. It gives us a sense of satisfaction to have not just settled for the “this will do” things in life.

Unfortunately we do the same thing with people. Here’s where we get into trouble. It causes division, racism, fights, division, anguish, and all kinds of depressive disorders due to comparison caused low self-esteem. Unfortunately, most of what we are doing is simply averaging, hoping to just end up better than someone else so we don’t see ourselves on the bottom.

Comparison, to be justified, needs a usable standard. As teachers, we go through several evaluations throughout the year. They may be scheduled, or just impromptu. They both serve the same purpose. The teacher is scored according to a set rubric that show categories of achievement. The skills desired are listed and defined. There's always room for growth, but you desire to be toward the top. I think teaching is one of the only occupations where you are never really good enough. Oh, well, it's part of the job.

For life it’s not so easy. There are many different standards and little agreement among them. Some just try to do more good than bad; some just try to be as good as the next guy. Others claim there are no absolutes, so do what you think is right. Then there is the group that has just given up.

As a Christian, the Bible say that our identity (and our worth) comes from a relationship with God himself. If we seek to please Him, we will have no need to compare ourselves to others. It doesn’t mean we will always measure up the metric, but leaving it the hands of the Just Judge can help take away the debilitating fear of competition we often face. If I please God, what else matters? What someone else thinks becomes less and less important. I am not saying that our friends shouldn’t give advice or help at times, but the focus needs to be on pleasing God, not men. It is the “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” as found in Matthew 25:21 that I am looking for.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.

When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves,

they are not wise.   2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

 

What Are You Hungry For?

 

In our last teacher’s meeting one of the young ladies in our Extended Care program challenged us to go deeper. We have been in a “rebuilding” year and have been praying for God’s provision and direction. She challenged us to join in several voluntary 3-day fasts at specific times during the rest of this year’s school year.

I am not foreign to fasting, but I cannot say I practice it regularly like many other of my friends. Many groups (religious or otherwise) practice fasting at various times of the year, often in association with prayer or meditation. Some people fast as a way to lose weight. Fasting can help you focus on your goals or desired outcomes that you would like to see accomplished. The main idea is to do without something (often food) for a specific period of time. During that time, if you think about what you are fasting from, you are encouraged to pray/meditate about why you are fasting. Since our times are voluntary, we also get to choose how we fast, and from what to fast. 

Several common fasts that I an associated with are:

• ·       Partial Day - No food until 10:00 AM or skipping 1 or more meals
• ·       Daylight Fast – waiting until sundown to eat
• ·       Water Only Fast – no food, but regular water intake
• ·       Juice Fast – no food, but fruit juices are ok
• ·       Daniel Fast – Fruit & vegetables only, no sweets, no meat, no caffeine
• ·       Social Media Fast – giving up all social media apps

So what kind of fast should I do? There are many kinds, each with its benefits and drawbacks. (Note: If you have any underlying medical conditions, I encourage you to check with your physician first.) Normally I would not share what fast I am on. I think it’s a personal thing between you and your Creator.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)

However, since I’m blogging about it, I will share my choice for the next 3 days. For the first time, I have chosen to do a 3 day social media fast. I spend way to much time scrolling anyway. (Facebook I can easily avoid, but no Pokémon Go? (Ya, that’s gonna leave a mark.)  I plan to replace it with listening to scripture and praying for the needs of the school. I haven’t decided what I am going to do for the other times.

So what are you hungry for? Maybe fasting can help.

 

Take these as they are – possible helps. I have not read everything but they looked helpful.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-christians-need-to-know-about-fasting-and-prayer.html

https://www.crossroads.net/media/articles/what-are-the-types-of-spiritual-fasting

https://www.health.com/fasting-8620781

Find the Way Out!

One of the new fads in team building and just general recreation is the escape room. They seem to be popping up everywhere. I for one have not, and unless monetarily coerced (meaning my boss is making me and he/she is paying for it) will not be attending. I have zero desire to participate. I mean, isn’t life itself one big escape room? We face choices and temptations of all kinds each and every day and hopefully choose the right decision. Why do I need an enhancement on that?

I have never been really competitive. Video games are not my thing, especially the ones that are timed. In fact the only game I play (not counting Pokémon Go which I started so my grandson and I had something to do during Covid) is FreeCell. One of the things I like about it is that each game has a solution. The other plus is that I can play it at my own speed. I have decided to not let a game go until I solve it. It may mean restarting multiple times, but it helps me struggle through the process. I think my highest is 10.

So how does all this relate to real life? Like I mentioned earlier, life is a continuing series of choices. Last week I needed to get some mice for the snake in my classroom. With things being so tight in this economy, I did not want to ask for it out of the budget at home. (The school budget is just as bad.) I was amazed at the different scenarios that rambled through my head. Some were entrepreneurial; others were a mix of minor theft, embezzlement, and or other petty crimes. It’s not that I really seriously contemplated misappropriating cash from somewhere, but the thoughts were there none-the-less. As I faced and rejected each one, I remembered the verse that talks about a way of escape. I remember praying and asking for God to show me that escape route. Turns out we had a little extra money, and all I had to do was ask in the first place.

Most of us would not even think about robbing a bank (at least I hope not!). But borrowing a little from “Peter to pay Paul” might be a bigger temptation. Maybe it’s not money; maybe its food, online shopping, or little white lies. It doesn’t really matter what it is. We all have those seemingly little temptations that we face on a daily basis. The scriptures say there is a way of escape. We just have to find it.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthian 10:13

Focus

 For many years, February has been one of my least favorite months. It has a kind of sad, somber tone to it. I have always been glad to get through it. The strangest part is that for a long time I was not really sure why. It wasn’t until I broke it down into good/bad lists that I understood my feelings.

For me, it contains some of the worst days of the year. It’s traditionally the coldest month of winter.  It’s the month I usually sit down and figure out how much taxes are gonna cost me this time. It’s the shortest month. And it’s the month in which my father passed away.
Oddly enough, it also contains some of the best days of the year. There are two, four day weeks, a special treat for school teachers. Valentine’s Day is the anniversary of our first date.
Two of my precious grandchildren and my youngest son were born in February. The days are starting to get longer, and I’m starting to plant indoors in anticipation of spring. In Arizona, spring training is in full swing. All in all, February is a decent month. So what gives? Why do I sometimes feel it’s a bummer?

I think the key is focus. When we are using microscopes in my Biology class, we often like to use “deep well” slides. They are slides with a slight dished-out area in it. They allow you to see things that are a bit bigger without squishing them flat. The problem is, because of the depth of field it gives, you have to know where to focus. You can focus on the top of things, on the bottom, or somewhere in-between. One part will look perfectly clear. The other parts will be blurry or even nonexistent.

 Focus in life, is all about what I spend my time thinking about. If I continually dwell on the negative, it will drag me down. If I focus on the cold, loss, and taxes, I will trudge through the month head-down, hoping for it to end. But if I look to all the great things I’ve been given in February, I can gratefully smile my way into spring. Now that I think about it, February is not all that bad. No butterflies yet, but they will be here soon. Yes, I choose to focus on the best of February. Time to put on some warm socks and go to some birthday parties!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV

Do Something Good!

 

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, a time of love and adoration. But why only one day? The Bible tell use to “love one another” and love your neighbor as yourself”. Surely that means daily, every day, the whole year through? Doing something good for someone else for no reciprocal reason is the ultimate expression of selflessness and love. It’s what we are called to.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.

The Strong's Concordence says this about that word works: 2041 érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish") – a work or worker who accomplishes something. érgon("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose). Think about that. God already has a list of good things he wants us to do. All we have to do is join him. So how do I find out which “good works” are on my list? Well, some are obvious. Obey His commands. Trust in God. I’ve already mentioned, “Love one another” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”.  That should keep us busy most of the day. Then when we have extra time, we can look for projects that are suited to our talents.

For my wife and me, God has lead us into helping the poor, homeless, and otherwise needy. In summer months, we make “goody bags” with water, snacks, some kind of clothing item like socks, a New Testament, and a card we made with the Gospel message. When we can afford it, she likes to put $5 Dollar Tree gift cards in. In the winter months it may contain a scarf or hand warmers. I know that the common thinking is that all homeless are just drug addicted bums, but we have found this to be a great oversimplification. Although this is not uncommon, there is also a large element of mental illness involved. Some are homeless or addicted because they are mentally ill; others are mentally ill or addicted because homelessness has taken a great toll. In any case they are still someone’s son, daughter, and family.

So this Valentine’s Day, by all means let that special person know they are loved. But take some time to look around. Is there someone in need who’s all alone? Be their valentine also. A hot meal, a warm coat, or a gift card with a note of encouragement can go a long way.

Years ago my daughters loved to listen to a group called Avalon. I leave you with one of their songs that has grown on me over time, and often brought me to tears. The chorus says,

For as long as I shall live, I will testify to love

I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough

With every breath I take, I will give thanks to God above

For as long as I shall live, I will testify to love

 

Songwriters: Henk Pool / Robert T. Riekerk / Ralph Van Manen / Paul Field

Testify To Love lyrics © Universal/mca Music Holland B.v., Emi Music Publishing (wp) Ltd

 

Mistakes Happen!

 

Mistake are a fact of life. No matter how we try to avoid them, they happen. Sometimes we get so worried about making mistake that we may make the situation even worse. How we react to those mistakes is what shows our character.

Many years ago when I was a beginning teacher in the Escondido, CA area, the salary was not enough to carry us through the summer. I had to work other jobs to help meet the needs. One summer, I worked for a man named Al Keiffer. He and his son John ran an electrical contracting business. They we both exceptionally talented and were well known in the area. I’m sure I made them laugh more than once when I fried screw drivers, dropped things, and generally slowed them down. They both trained me patiently, although John did enjoys sending me up ladders as often as he could get away with it. I do not enjoy ladders, but that is another story.

One job I will never forget is wiring a set of gas pumps at a station that was being renovated. It was technical & challenging because there were very rigid specifications for the way things were to be done. One day Al ask me to cut off a pipe that was sticking down in the way. He reminded me that it was right above the fiberglass pipes that transport the fuel and admonished me to be slow and careful. I grabbed a hacksaw and carefully started cutting. I even positioned my foot under the pipe as a cushion. Because of the pipes position I had to adjust my angle to finish the cut. I moved my foot. With a last draw of the blade the pie was free and gracefully slid out of the grasp of my glove, dropping squarely onto the pipe. I can’t say my life passed before my eyes (I mean I was only 24 at the time) but it was one of those slow motion moments that one does not forget. There on the pipe was a cloudy spot that was the tell-tale sign of a crack. I looked around. There was no one in sight. I’m ashamed to admit that the temptation to just cover it up with pea gravel and forget about it was a viable option at that moment. Knowing what I should do, I went to Al and told him that I may have just spent my whole day’s wages. He looked at it and said that he would ask the foreman of the pipe fitters. A few minutes later he came back with a slight smirk on his face and told me, “You have no idea what you have done.” It turned out it was a vent pipe. They can be easily patched. If it had been a delivery pipe it would have needed replacing. Basically, no harm, no foul. But what the foreman said next was telling. “Where do you find employees like that? Even my one men would have just covered it up and we would have had to go searching for the pressure leak. Al got to tell him that we were Christians, and that God requires honesty. He just walked away shaking his head. Al smiled and said “Thank you. You know who he will call for the next job.” Mistakes happen. Face them, tell the truth, it’s the right way – its God’s way.

The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;

whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
 who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.    Psalm 15:2-5