Top Ten Fears

Greetings:

I was thinking about fear. I had just opened an older book of mine that I had written notes in, and there was a list of the top ten fears of people. Curious, I thought I would Google this idea and see how the lists would compare. I was surprised to find that in under 30 seconds, Google had produced 12,600,000 different selections.

One sight called the Phobia List - listed over 530 different identified phobias out there. People are afraid of a lot of things. I hope that none of you have Didaskaleinophobia.

God has often in His Word encouraged us not to fear. (The following sampling is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible)

• Psalm 56: 4, 11 - "...in God I trust; I will not fear."
• Psalm 112: 7 - "He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD."
• Isaiah 35: 4 - "Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God"
• Isaiah 41: 10 - "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God."
• Zephaniah 3: 16 - "Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak."
• 1 John 4: 18 - "There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear."

So, God wants us to live a life free of fear. Stand up, step out, and trust Him who cares for us.

By the way, that fear I mentioned earlier - is the fear of going to school.

Have a good day in the Lord.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

[The website for the Phobia list is - http://phobialist.com/index.html]

Captive or Captivated?

Greetings:

Exodus 3: 2-3 (HCSB) - "Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn't the bush burning up?"

God captivated Moses' attention that day. He dis something astonishing, something awesome to capture Moses' attention. Once God got his attention - then He spoke.

When you have captivated your student's attention, they are committed to what you have to say. They are surrounded by invisible walls that hold them in. They find it difficult to escape the content that you are teaching.

Do you have a captive audience in your classroom because of the daily schedule and requirements? Or, are they a captive audience because you have sought to arrest their attention and to hold it in prison to your lesson?

Closely observe your classes this week. Captives, or Captivated?

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

Fireproof

Greetings:

Yesterday my wife and I were able to go see the new film Fireproof. I can't say how much we both enjoyed this film. Even after being married 36+ years we both found it highly motivational. As my wife says, it doesn't matter if a person was married for just a short time - or for a long time - you got truth from this film. I would even encourage those who are contemplating marriage to see this film.

I loved the firehouse scene with Hot sauce (not gonna spoil it - go see it). We could hear laughter and tears all through the theater.

We can't wait until it comes out on DVD - gonna be one of the first to buy it. If you can see it -- go!

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Use your good Senses!

Greetings:

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings.... And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.... Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth [with it]...." Isaiah 6: 1-7 (HCSB).

Count the sensory experiences that Isaiah went through while God was teaching him. (1) "I saw" - sight. (2) "One called to another" - hearing. (3)"Doorways shook" - feeling. (4) "Filled with smoke" - smell. (5) "Touched my mouth" - taste.

When God teaches a lesson, He uses many of our senses. Not always at the same time - but He knows that we learn through our senses. God doesn't only use the spoken or written word. He communicates through our senses to reach the whole person. The more senses we incorporate in our lessons, the more a student will retain what he is learning.

This next week - experiment with as many ways as you can to teach your students using their senses.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

Unrivaled

Greetings:

"Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea.... 'Lord, if it's You,' Peter answered Him, 'command me to come to You on the water.' 'Come!' He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.... And beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14: 25 -31 (HCSB).

Think Peter forgot that lesson? Well he might have strayed a few times, but he remembered who saved him that night.

Question for you: "How many times do you include something that students will never forget because it was unique?" You and your students are unique. Are your lessons? Dag Hammarskjord is quoted as saying, "What you must dare is to be yourself."

Synonyms for unique are incomparable, matchless, unparalleled, unrivaled, sole, and only. Do we teach in an unrivaled fashion? Are our lessons matchless? Do students find your class incomparable (in a good way, I mean)?

My daughters still speak about Mr. Peer's swivel chair demonstration in Physics. (Ask him about the details.) It was unique and they still remember it.

Plan a unique learning experience for your students next week. Try it out. Make an impact.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

Visuals

Greetings:

"He saw heaven opened and an object coming down that resembled a large sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners." Acts 10:11 (HCSB).

In this account, Peter is being taught by God about the inclusion of Gentiles in His plan of salvation. He could have lectured, He could have commanded, He could have given Peter a research paper to complete. In this particular lesson, He used a visual aid.

Close your eyes while watching a movie or a TV show. What did you miss? Colors, expressions, shapes, movement - the whole realm of visual stimuli that is built into the medium. Now - since we are working with students who are deeply engulfed in a high-tech, media bombarded world - what do you think they are missing in your lesson?

The old adage - "A picture is worth a thousand words," was coined many years ago. Someone today has said, "Due to inflation, a picture is now worth a million words."

When you plan your lessons - give them a visual nail to hang their hat upon.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

The Element of Surprise

Greetings:

"Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she asked Balaam, 'What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?'" Numbers 22:28 (HCSB).

A teacher gave the ending of the Three Little Pigs by shouting "The wolf leaped over the boiling pot and ate all three pigs!" The 2nd graders all sat up and responded - "No! That's not what happened." They had heard the story so often that they were tuning out - until the teacher surprised them.

So many thing in life are predictable. Ever watched a mystery on TV only to be disappointed that everything was so predictable. The ones I like are the ones that get me saying - "Wow - I never saw that coming!" Frank Perretti has a book entitled "Monster." It has a double twist at the end of the book - so that just as you figure it out, you have to change your perspective - and then do it again. I totally enjoyed that book.

God got Balaam's attention by shocking him with a talking donkey. Not a scary shock - an arresting one. One that got his attention and focused him.

Today - try something totally unexpected in class - and get ready for some shocking results!

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

Memorable

Greetings:

Genesis 9: 16 (HCSB) - "The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh on earth."

In earlier posts, I began to consider some of the Teaching Concepts that were a part of the Teaching With Style seminar that I attended in the '90's. Let us consider some more of what they presented in this seminar.

We as teachers need to see how we can help people enjoy what they are learning. I joke with people who are laughing in the school and reprimand them for "having fun in a school." Yet, we as the teacher should make the class such that students want to learn. God is a great teacher and we can learn a great deal by studying Him.

First, God's style is memorable. He associated events and information around ways for us to remember. When He promised not to flood the whole earth again - He gave us the rainbow. When Jesus was approaching His death, He associated it with concrete items - the bread and the wine. He taught pointing the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. Sights, sounds, emotions, rhymes and repetition are all used in the Scripture.

The more effort you put into making content memorable, the more students will remember.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

From WTB Teaching With Style (c) 1994

Hogpen Theology

Greetings:

He also said: "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living...." [Read Luke 15: 11-32]

We recognize this as the beginning of the parable about the Prodigal Son. Take a moment and read the entire account. As I mentioned yesterday, God cares about the individual. We saw a shepherd concerned with one missing sheep out of 100. Before this parable, Jesus spoke of a woman who had lost one of her 10 coins. Now, we have a father who has lost one of his two sons.

God is pictured in this account as a loving, patient Father who waits for His child to return. God has a heart that longs for the lost ones to find Him. He seeks them, searches for them, and then patiently waits for them to come home.

If God's heart is for those who are lost to come to Him - shouldn't we also be seeking to lead others to find Him? I know that I don't want to be like the other brother in this account - however, I must admit that by my actions often I am more like the brother than the father.

Today - help others by showing your concern for them - even if they smell like the hog pen and look like one too. A friend of mine used to say that God loves to hug dirty kids. Maybe, we should too.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

One Sheep

Greetings:

"So He told them this parable: "What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!' I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need repentance." Luke 15: 3-7 (HCSB).

This is one of three parables that Jesus used to teach the importance of a lost soul. The sheep, the coin, and the Prodigal all show the concern that God has for one person. One out of a hundred, one out of ten, and one of two - all important to God.

I have always enjoyed these parables - because I am that one. Jesus cared enough for me that He came and sought me. And that was accomplished through a loving Pastor that I had when I was young. An adult who cared enough to challenge, encourage, convict, and lead me to find the One that I needed.

Today, start walking with others that you can be the one leading to the One. Reach out and help someone see Jesus through your heart, hands, and head.

Oh, by the way, when they come to accept Jesus - God throws a party!

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Jesus Ministry

Greetings:

At the start of His public ministry - Jesus read from the book of Isaiah the following passage - "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...." Isaiah 61:1 (NIV).

Jesus ministry was first introduced as healing, binding up, and bringing to freedom the captives, the oppressed, and the sick. From this He was able to teach the full impact of His being here upon the earth - to provide salvation to lost and dying men.

As we reach out to those outside of the faith, and touch them where they hurt - we too are able to lead them to the one who can repair all the damages that this sinful world has inflicted upon them. We earn the right to share Jesus by the way that we treat those we come in contact with. The people who have come into contact with you - do they see a Jesus that they want to know?

Today - bind up the wounds, teach others about true freedom, and help to release those who are stuck in bondage to a world that cares little for them. Reach out and touch someone today that needs to feel the hand of Jesus. Be that hand.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Servant Leadership

Greetings:

Earlier this month, I was privileged to be a part of the Middle School Leadership Retreat at Camp Wabanna. I was scheduled to speak to the 7th graders about Servanthood. I chose to speak from Mark 10 - where Jesus challenged His disciples to live above the worldly way of thinking.

"Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'" Mark 10: 42-45 (NIV)

He made it clear through the four bolded words above the importance of serving others. Want to be the prime one of importance (great) - then be the servant (diakonas) - the waiter, servant, deacon. If you want to be the #1 guy (first) - then you must be the slave (doulos- bondslave) of all.

The greatest role in life that you can play is living a life in service to others. Not the modern mindset by any means - but the heavenly one with great rewards.

Today - try to outdo each other in serving one another.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

The Least of These

Greetings:

Matthew 25: 34-40 states: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

We need to be concerned particularly about those who are in need. I am reading a book about the HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa. It will tear your heart out to read about these young children - who through no fault of their own - are now sick, thirsty, hungry, and in great need.

Yet, there are those near us who are in need. Do we care? Do we look the other way? Is it someone else's problem? Even some of the young people in our school struggle with needs. Do we get disgusted with them? Do we think that God has called us just to work with the gifted and talented?

Today, seek out those who are suffering and in need - and then do something about it.

For Kingdom Education,

Doc

Love your Enemy

Greetings:

Matthew 5:44: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...."

I saw a book once that was entitled, The Hard Sayings of Jesus Christ. When we think about it, the truth of the matter is that living the Christian life is hard. No, let me rephrase that - it is HARD.

I ave been around Christians who say that once you get saved it is easy to live the Christian life. I have been around those who said that they are totally sinless in the way they live their lives because they have accepted Christ. [By the way, they usually lie about other things too.]

Truth is - living a life modeled after our Savior is hard. The passage above tells us that we are commanded to love those who we feel are our enemies. We have no options. No excuses. Love 'em. Plain and simple. Not hard to interpret. No side roads, no possible misconceptions. "Love your enemies."

This includes those outside looking in.

If they don't know Christ and they abuse, refuse, persecute, and flat out mistreat us - love 'em. If they speak evil about us - love 'em. If they get us fired - love 'em. If they cheat us, steal from us, (and one that hits me) cuts us off in traffic - love 'em.

We show the world our Savior - when we love 'em. Today, find as many ways as you can to love someone outside the Family of God.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Humilty, Justice, and Mercy

Greetings:

Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah cuts to the chase, and gives us from God the requirement of our daily walk with Him. Those who are on the outside looking in should see a person that has a humble daily walk with God. Our lives should be ones of humility before God and man. How often (and particularly in today's society) do we "toot our own horns." Ever been around a "name-dropper?" Why, if I don't brag on myself, no one else will. Not God's way. No way, no how. [Ahh, come on Doc - quit meddlin'].

Those around us who do not know Christ, need to see a real believer - one who can humbly walk with God, and connect others to God. They need to see Christians who believe in justice, seek justice, and are just in their dealings ---- while believing in mercy, seeking mercy and are merciful in their dealings.

The late Dr. Frances Schaeffer used to say, "Pagans act like pagans because they are pagans." I believe the opposite of this is "Christians act like Christians because they are Christians."Pagans are consistent in their walk - are we?

Today, seek to humbly treat those you come in contact with, with mercy and justice. And, do it humbly before your God.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Spendthrift

Greetings:

Isaiah 58:10: "[A]nd if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

Someone once said, "God must love the poor, He made so many of them." To which someone else replied, "God didn't make them that way, the IRS did."

We know that we have a world inhabited by many, many ,many poor people. No matter how poor we may think we are, we can always find someone who is in worst shape that we are. The Bible teaches us that we need to have a concern for those less fortunate than ourselves. The passage above challenges us to "spend" ourselves on their behalf.

We often donate our leftover clothes and items to Salvation Army or Goodwill and try to convince ourselves that we have gone above and beyond in helping the poor. Few of us are really like Mother Theresa. Jesus would say that "[We] gave out of [our] surplus." (Mark 12:44 paraphrased). When we need to give all of ourselves for the needy.

Today, consider how you might give of yourself to someone in need - not from your excess, but from all that you have.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Make me a Channel of Blessing

Greetings:

Genesis 12: 2-3: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

We recognize this as the promise of that God made with Abraham when He called him out of Haran to the Promised Land. God made this specifically to Abraham. however, we can take some lessons from this.

God has called us (believers) out of the world and into His Promises. I believe that as He has called us, He also expects us to follow. In turn, if we are following Him, we will be a blessing to others around us. He wants our lives that we live to bless those we come in contact with.

As Christian Believers, how have we blessed those outside of the faith? What have we done to be a blessing to those who may not know Christ yet? Is our lives consistent with our speech? Do we live a life that is different than those around us?

Today consider your walk - does it match your talk - and does it bless those you come in contact with.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Greetings:

I recently read a challenging book by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. The title was unchristian. My son-in-law Kevin read it and loaned it to me to read. I found much of it very challenging thoughts on why the Church is often not effective today. Chapter 12 of this book dealt with the topic "From Unchristian to Christian." The authors believe that many of the negative perceptions that people hold are a symptom of a church that has lost its heart for the lost. Periodically, we will take a journey through the Bible to see how it encourages us as Christians to show concern for those outside of the Faith.

They gave a list of Scriptures to consider. I am going to share these with some of my thoughts from time to time this year. The following days this week, we will look at four of these passages. Join me in searching my (your) heart as to how I (you) stack up to Scriptural ideas of concern for those outside.

I remember the Newsboys' Shine. They chorus went -

"shine
make ´em wonder what you´ve got
make ´em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let´em see good works, and then
let ´em glorify the Lord."

Join me as we seek to restore a mindset and heart for those who do not know Jesus Christ.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Improving Your Style

Greetings:

For the last two weeks we have thought about teaching style. Next week we will consider some ways that the Bible encourages us to cultivate concern for others.

Philippians 4: 8,9 (HCSB) states: " Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you."

It is always a challenge to enter a new way of doing things. Studying new information will help with understanding. But, the only way that new skills are developed is by practice. Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Practice what you are thinking. And - don't give up.

Diamonds are chunks of coal that underwent enormous pressure. They were molded into something precious. The pressure that you feel today in attempting to teach with style will eventually help to make you a precious gem.

Today you are a diamond in the rough - tomorrow you will sparkle and shine in glorious settings.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc
From WTB Teaching with Style (c) 1994

Adjustments

Greetings:

One writer has commented that teachers should live by O'Toole's Law, not Murphy's Law. More on this shortly.

In Acts 23: 2-5 Paul needed to quickly change styles. Paul was called before the Sanhedrin, was roughed up, and confronted them harshly. When he learned he was speaking to the High Priest, he softened his tone to one of respect and humility.

Often when we look at the students, we are facing a stony, glassy-eyed group. Why? Because we are not fluid enough to change up the style to entice them into the learning environment with us. If the response is not what we are seeking from the students ----- adapt. Change styles. Change methods. We need to plan alternative methods so that if one fails, we can switch and recover the losses.

Oh, Murphy's Law states, "If anything can go wrong, it will." O'Tooles says, "Murphy was an optimist."

For Kingdom Education,
Doc
From WTB Teaching with Style (c) 1994.

Boundaries

Greetings:

Paul would always adapt his message to conform to the culture of his audience. Acts 21: 40 - 22:1 displays this. Take time to read this passage and notice the language he uses, the dialect he chooses, and the physical position he took.

Have you stopped to asses your audience? Have you made lesson preparations based upon the subject you are teaching, the size of the class, and the classroom physical setting, chances are you are failing in keeping attention and imparting wisdom to the students.

Make a chart with three columns labeled: SUBJECT, SIZE, SETTING. Under the column marked subject list you topics. Under the other three columns make notes as to how to present the material based upon the size of the class and the physical setting you have or can make.

Again, no subject in and of itself is boring - only the presenter and presentation. Take time to consider how to improve your communication techniques and see a radical difference in your classes.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc
From WTB Teaching with Style (c) 1994.

The Role We Play

Greetings:

We have considered that style is delivering the subject to the students, it our responsibility to make the class exciting, and that we are responsible for our style. This week we will consider a few more basic points.

1 Corinthians 9: 19, 22 - "For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people....To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some." Paul speaks about "playing different roles" in his work of ministry. We also have roles we play.

First, to be a teacher, we need to understand that it is a role that we fulfill. I have the roles of husband, son, father, grandfather, friend, minister, administrator, and a host of others. Each require a different way of behaving - or acting out that role. I am not the same with my Mother as I am with my grandchildren. I am different as an administrator and as a friend.

When we step into the classroom, we are "playing the role" of a teacher. We need to see that we set the tone for the class - and as we play out our role as a teacher well, it encourages the student to play out their role as a learner.

Today, pray, "Lord help me fill my role as teacher." and then see Him work it out in your life.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc
From WTB Teaching with Style (c) 1994.