Learn by doing....

Greetings:

The Marshall paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 11:4 goes - "If you sit and wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done."

I know this verse only too well. I have been guilty of it many times. God expects us to do what we can with what we have. Having the best of intentions but never doing is worse than doing something less-than-perfect. We should strive for excellence - however, we will never try, we will never achieve. Doing things less than perfect is how we learn.

Truth is, almost everything we do, we do less than perfect the first time (and maybe the second, etc.). But that is how we learn and achieve. Don't make excellence an idol. Seek to do the best you can - and then work on improving it. Go out today and do what you have been holding back from doing because you were waiting for the perfect timing.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Solomon and the Existentialist Style of Learning

Greetings:

Proverbs 22: 6 (NIV) - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

We have looked at the nine major categories of Learning Styles over several weeks. Today, we will conclude this look.

Do you know anyone who thinks in the "Big Picture" mode? They love deep thought, deep questions. They are strong in metaphysical reasoning. You might even consider them a "philosopher." If you do, this person is probably an Existentialist style of learner.

Solomon in the Old Testament portrays someone who may have been this type of learner. Consider what he says in Ecclesiastes 1: 16 - 18 (NIV) -"I thought to myself, 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.' Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." Deep thoughts? Deep ways of looking at the world.

Jesus would apply this method often with His questions. Consider the question that he placed before His deiciples in Matthew 16 - "Who do men say that I am?" This is much deeper than just a "fact-finding" mission. He was delving into the metaphysical concerns of who He really was.

These are the most challenging students to teach for most of us. They are often much deeper thinkers than we are. Yet, to be successful, consider ways to challenge and teach these students.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Get Healthy

Greetings:

We are fast approaching the end of another school year. If you are like many, you are feeling tired. When we are tired our relationships suffer. Our work suffers. Rick Warren lists three habits from the Bible that we should follow to have strength.

1. Get regular rest. Psalm 127:2 (NLT) - "It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is take a nap (not now, finish reading, please). When we rob our bodies of the rest God designed us to have, we weaken and destroy the great gift He has given us.

2. Eat a balanced diet. Psalm 119:23 (NLT) - "You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands" Modern science tells us that we are what we eat. If we put the right fuel in our bodies, they will work at maximum efficiency. If you put diesel fuel in a normal car -- it will run, but only for a short time and with a lot of black smoke. We need to put the right fuel in our bodies so they can run at their peak.

3. Exercise regularly. 1 Corinthians 6:20 - (NLT) - "So you must honor God with your body." We are made to be active. So ---- get active. Plan to exercise daily. Find something you like to do and do it. It is glorifying to God when we exercise and keep our bodies fit.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go get healthy!

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Who Knows?

Greetings:

In 1962 a recording company executive said, "We don't think the Beatles will do anything in their market. Guitar groups are on their way out."

OK. If the Exec had only been able to look into the future, I am sure he would have signed them immediately. The fear of the unknown kept him back from taking part in one of the world's most popular and lucrative music groups.

We also can't look down the road and see the future. But, as Christians we know Who can. And we can trust the unknown because we trust the Knower. All He wants is for us to live according to His Word and trust Him for the outcome. I love Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) which states, "'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.'"

Who Knows? He knows. Trust Him.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Test Week - Commitment

Greetings:

Since we have been Testing the students at our school this week, we have considered the tests that God gives us. The tests of obedience, trust, reliance, and belief. Today, we will end with the test of commitment.

Mark 2: 14 (NIV) - "As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus told him...."

Matthew was in a very lucrative profession. He was a very rich man. When Jesus calls to him, He is asking Matthew to leave it all. Will he do it?

That verse ends - "14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "...and Levi got up and followed him." He committed to Jesus - and never turned back. God calls us to commit to Him. Will we do it? Can it be said of us - "...and (put your name here) got up and followed Him."

The choice is yours. Will you pass the test? Will you pass the five tests we considered this week?

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Test Week - Belief

Greetings:

Matthew 16:15 (NIV) - "Who do you say I am?"

This great question that Jesus poses to His disciples that evening is the same one that He poses to each and every person. What do we believe about Him. Is He a good man, a great teacher, a prophet, or the Son of God?

I have always loved C.S. Lewis statement that Jesus never left us with a choice. If we say He is anything other than God, we must totally dismiss Him completely. If He told us He is God, and is lying - we can't trust anything He says. If He thought He was God and He isn't - He is deluded or a lunatic. He only leaves us with the truth that He is Lord.

Lord, Liar, or Lunatic. Who do you say that He is?

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Test Week - Reliance

Greetings:

Jesus has been teaching and performing miracles. A great crowd of people are following Him (most for the wrong reasons). "When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. " (John 6:5,6 NIV).

Notice the phrase, "...He asked this only to test him...." Jesus often asks us questions to test us. He knows the answer before we give it ("...he already had in mind what he was going to do. ") He wants to see if we know what the correct answer is. As a teacher, I ask my students questions, not because I don't know the answer, but to ascertain if they know the answer.

In this case, Jesus was seeing if the disciples (particularly Philip) would rely on Him. We have seen that God tests our obedience and our trust, He also tests our reliance upon Him. Philip's first response is in the material world. Jesus would show Him the full effect of relying upon God.

Today, step up your reliance upon God. Walk with obedience and trust - because you can rely on Him.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Test Week - Trust

Greetings:

Naaman was a leper. He was a commander of the Aramean army. He was a very important person. when he heard that there was a prophet who could heal him, he went to see him. Elisha gave him God's message. Go and dip seven times in the Jordan reiver.

He was totally upset. Bathe in the filthy Jordan? No way. His officers chided him,“Sir,if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” (2 Kings 5:13, NLT). He did and he was.

But, it took trust in a God he was not familiar with. It meant that to recieve the blessing, he would have to pass the test of trusting God. He did.

How about you? Is God testing you to trust Him in some area? Are you? Will you?

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Test Week - Obedience

Greetings:

We are in the Stanford Achievement Tests at our school. This reminds me that God has dealt with us by giving tests. We will consider five different tests that God gives us by looking at some Biblical Characters who also faced these tests.

Genesis 22:1 (NIV) - "Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. 'Abraham!' God called. 'Yes,' he replied. 'Here I am.'”

Today, Read all of Genesis 22. In this account we find Abraham facing his greatest test -- sacrificing his only son. This is a test to ascertain Abraham's obedience level. He passes with flying colors.

God often calls on us to do something hard, maybe even distasteful. He is testing us to show forth our degree of obedience. The sooner we obey, the sooner the test will be over.

Today, is God calling out to test you? Will you pass the test of Obedience?

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

John and the Spatial Style of Learning

Greetings:

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Some students think in images and pictures. They are strong in visual and spatial organization when it comes to learning techniques. They love to visualize, draw, and design. They will become the artists and architects that we need. They are the Spatial learners.

Scripturally we see these learners in the Prophets and particularly John the Apostle. The book of Revelation is vivid with visual images. One cannot read this Apocraphal writing and not be visually affected. The points that John makes come from the images that he vividly paints.

Jesus often taught in visual images. He used parables to paint word pictures for His followers to see. His took Spiritual truths and painted upon the canvas of life images that would help us to come away seeing much more clearly the truths that He taught.

Consider your Spatial learners, and seek ways to include them in your instructional plans in the coming days.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Elijah and the Intrapersonal Style of Learning

Greetings:

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Some students find their strength in learning vested in their feelings, values, and ideas. They are the Intrapersonal style of learner. They tend to think in relation to their own needs and goals. They love setting goals, dreaming, planning. They will be the religious leaders and psychologists.

A Scriptural example of someone like this would be Elijah - following the Mount Carmel victory. In 1 Kings 19, we find him running for his life. He is depressed, and everything is focused on "me." When God seeks to reach him, he uses ways that pertain to Elijah's own felt needs. He meets the needs and discusses the values that Elijah is struggling with to be able to teach and instruct him.

Jesus dealt with a person like this in the Woman at the Well. She needed to be approached in the area of her felt needs and her understanding of values before she could learn or apply anything that God wanted to teach her. Jesus did just this.

Today - watch for those students who need instruction based on thier feeling, values, and ideas. Make some room in your lessons to help them learn.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

Jonah and the Naturalist Style of Learning

Greetings:

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

The learning style that we want to ponder today is called the Naturalist. These students strengths are in the area of learning from field trips, animals, and the subtle differences in nature. They tend to think through nature and natural forms. These are the students who love pets, gardens, and caring for planet Earth. They tend to grow up and become the biologists, animal activists and nuturalists in our world.

Jonah is an example in the Bible. Jonah needed to be taught by God, and it took weather and marine life to get through to him. God first sent a terrible storm, and when Jonah still didn't fully learn, God had to give Jonah a field trip - in the belly of a great fish. After all of this, Jonah learned the lesson that God wanted him to - complete obedience.

Jesus would reach out to these kind of learners by making references to the "lilies of the field," "the birds of the air," and other natural commodities.

This week, seek ways to incorporate nature into your lessons to help these kind of learners succeed.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

David and the Musical Style of Learning

Greetings:

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

We have talked about four of the different modalities of Learning previously, this week we will consider four more. Today, let us consider the Musical style of Multiple Intelligences.

Briefly defined, the Musical style of learner shows strengths in music, rhythms, and patterns. They think via rhythms and melodies. They have a love for singing, humming, and other forms of rhytmic patterns. They are the type of students who learn best by singing their alphabet or remembering rhymes like "In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean blue." These type of students become the performers and composers of the world.

Our Scriptural example of such a learner is none other than the sweet singer of Israel - King David. He expressed things through the Psalms. His poetry in the Old Testament brings us into the very Throne Room of God, and into the depths of despair. The Psalms allowed many to learn and remember information about God through the use of poetry and song. The 23rd Psalm is a beautiful example of learning the many facets of God through song.

Jesus also utilized this method of teaching through repeated patterns. Take for example the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5. His constant repetition of the phrase - "Blessed are the..." Even His teaching on prayer - the Model Prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 - contain a rythmic pattern to help us remember.

Today, seek out ways to incorporate rhythms and patterns into your lesson plans for those who are of the Musical bent.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

How about me?

Greetings:

Luke 19:37 and 38 - "When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'"

Luke 23: 21 - "But they kept shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'"

What a difference a week makes. The same crowd on Sunday shouting praises on Friday is crying Kill Him. Boy, are they fickle. I can tell you I wouldn't have done that.

Right. We are no better than the crowds at that time. We do the same today. On Sunday we sing praises - and on Monday we live like the devil. Can others truly see Jesus in us? Do we really stand against the crowd? Do we have a voice that speaks on God's behalf.

This Sunday - when you are in church celebrating Palm Sunday --- think about the following week. Will you be strong and stand for Him? Will I be strong and stand for Him?

This is something to think about.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

"NE"

Greetings:

Mark 10:17 - "As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'"

You may know this account from the confrontation of the Rich Young Ruler and Christ. In this account we find the problem with most of man's attempts to be right with God. It is found in the young ruler's question.

He asks - "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Emphasis mine). The whole issue is "I." For most of us, we want to control the circumstances. We want to be in charge. So - it is "I."

The rich, young ruler wanted to do something. The majority of people today want to do something to be right with God. The whole point at Easter is that it is not what I do - but what He has done. Someone once said salvation was based upon "ne". Not what I do, but what He has done.

Today, share with someone what has been done, and invite them to accept the finished work.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc

The Resurrection

Greetings:

John 11:25 - "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;'"

It is that time of year when we focus upon the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord. Jesus taught his disciples over and over again about the importance of His death - and He taught that He was the One who would Resurrect us in the end times.

The account in John 11 is about the death of Lazarus. The whole event allowed by God to show the power that Jesus has over death. He has conquered man's most feared enemy. He has the keys that controls the live and death of man. During this season, meditate upon the truth of the resurrection of our Lord in your life - have you accepted His free gift of Salvation? Are you a part of the family of God?

Help others to find this relationship also.

For Kingdom Education,
Doc