Back in the Blog Saddle

As you can tell it has been quite some time since I have posted anything to my blog.  I know that really doesn't impact the world on any grand scale, but I am hoping to use this blog as an opportunity to encourage others in the field of Christian education and their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

So here we go again! 

For a little over a year now I have had the amazing opportunity to be discipled by two godly men that I admire very much.  During this time we have taken an in-depth look into the leadership principles exhibited in scripture of Moses, Joseph, David, Paul, and Jesus Christ.  What an incredible study and privilege it has been.  During this time we have encouraged, prayed, and challenged each other in our faith and commitment to be followers of Jesus Christ.  This past year has been difficult to say the least.  I and so many others lost a dear friend in Wade McLain on August 1.  On March 1, I lost my dad to a heart attack.  Two things I know for sure.  Neither one is still in pain from the physical things that hindered and both men are with their Lord, Jesus Christ.  And because of that I can boast that God is Good all the time.  During this time both of these men and mentors have stood along side me and encouraged me in my faith.  They have helped me to accept the journey that God has given me.  At the same time, they have challenged me.  I won't go into all the details for the sake of not boring those that are still reading this blog post, but I will share that I believe I must do a better job of using the written word to communicate more effectively. 

In the process of working to improve in using the written word, I hope to encourage others to do the same.  There is power in the written word.  There is accountability in the written word. There is value in the written word.  My hope and desire is that through this blog and other avenues that the arena of Christian Education can be enhanced and that ultimately the Kingdom of God can be furthered.

Looking forward to sharing the many wonderful things happening at Strong Rock Christian School and around the world for Jesus Christ.

Pat

Marathon Training

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." I Corinthians 9:25

What does it take to run a marathon? I've read books and magazine articles and talked with several people over the past several months as I prepared to run my first marathon in November. I logged hundreds of miles and spent many hours on the road getting my body ready for the big day. I changed my diet and sleep patterns in preparation. All so that when the day came I would be ready to run the race to the best of my abilities. I knew that I was not going to compete with anybody but myself, and yet the butterflies were there all the same. I did everything that I was told in the way I was told so as to assure myself that I could complete the 26.2 mile course of the Soldier Marathon in Columbus, GA.

The morning was cold, and I was anxious, and to be honest a little bit concerned since I had developed a calf muscle cramp the week leading up to the race, that I had a difficult time getting loose before or during the race. It nagged me the entire way, until mile 16 when it cramped again. After walking it off, stretching, and rehydrating, I was able to finish, but in a disappointing five and a half hours. Ugh! I knew that I could do much better than that so I decided I would try and run my second marathon at the Jacksonville Bank Marathon on December 19, 2010 just a little over a month later. After a month of figuring out that I needed a lot more fluids and calories during the actual run, I felt much more prepared to run. Except for the cold weather it was a great morning and I shaved a full hour off of my time from the month before. I was extremely pleased and now know I can even do better. In fact, a goal for 2011 is to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which will require a three and a half hour marathon time. Whew!

I share those experiences with you because I want you to know what I discovered as simple truths in my training that directly connects to my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. They both need me to be disciplined. I have to stick with my plans to train, when it is cold and wet or hot and humid. When I feel good and when I feel bad. When I want to and when I don't. Same is true in the disciplines of practicing righteousness and holiness. They are not dependent on what I want, as much as they are on what is right or necessary. I also learned that my training cost me time and energy and planning. So does my relationship with Christ. I need and want to spend time in His Word and know His ways more personally. I need and want to make Christ a priority in my life as I train my heart and mind to more like His.

I set out to run a marathon to accomplish one of my lifelong goals. I discovered along the way the enjoyment of running and have found it to be a very personal reminder of how much I want to invest in my relationship with Christ to go the distance and not burn out along the way.

Suffering

Suffering is not a popular topic to bring up when one is trying to encourage others. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves most of us would choose to avoid any and all discussions that have to deal with our own suffering. I don't know about you but I do not find that it is much easier to talk about someone else's difficulties, trials, or set backs either.

So why do I bring it up today? To be transparent with you I have been thinking about suffering a lot lately. And not for the reasons you may assume. It is not my own circumstance or situation so much that has got me to thinking, but rather my observations of some dear friends that have had to endure more suffering than most of us can even imagine.

In John 16:33 Jesus alerted His disciples when He said, You will have suffering in this world." It is not whether or not we experience adversity but how we respond to it. It is the response that makes the difference. It is when we go through trials and hardships that we have the opportunity to know Christ in a deeper and even more meaningful way. How is that possible?
It is during these times that we can either turn toward God and give Him the glory that He is due and grow in our dependence on His power and will, or we can choose to operate in the ways of the world. The world tells us that we are entitled to comfort, safety, health, and prosperity. That sounds nice, but is not true. God knows that as we endure hardship that a greater purpose is served. In fact that is what the Apostle Paul says in II Corinthians 1:3-5.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

I mentioned earlier that my thoughst have been triggered from watching friends as they endure hardships and setbacks. This is what I have observed in them, that is truly a testament to their love and faith in Jesus Christ. They have faithfully shared their journey with so many people as they deal with difficulties, and they have been transparent in their circumstances. However, as I watch them live out their lives in front of so many people, they are sure to give God the glory that He is due as they call on His name and trust Him with the outcome. And just as Paul mentioned they are able to encourage and comfort others through their suffering.

I don't understand the ways of God, but I do know that His purposes are greater than mine, and His will has an eternal perspective instead of my all too often temporal perspective.

I hope that whatever difficulty may come your way that you continue to faithfully trust in God, and allow your circumstance to glorify God and bless those that watch you as you are going. May the peace of Christ comfort you today. I leave you with this from Psalm 125:2,

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Education

What is the role of education? According

At Strong Rock Christia School we believe

Congratulations!!

I just spent one of the most memorable nights of my life with 30 special students, their families, friends, faculty and school board at the inaugural graduation at Strong Rock Christian School. What an amazing group of young men and women. They have been accepted to over 60 colleges and universities and received over $1,200,000 in scholarship offers with more to come. But do you know what really stands out about these students is the obvious bond that they have as a class. I watched them respect one another and encourage one another along this journey called high school. I had the honor of seeing them succeed with grace and deal with hardship with compassion and love for one another.

As I was sitting on the stage last night and watching them as the night progressed it was an amazing testament to their love for one another. I listened to students spur on their classmates to honor God with their lives and to remember the foundation that their parents have instilled in them. I was also reminded of a familiar and powerful scripture as one of the graduates shared the following as one of their life verses, and how it reflects their relationships with one another.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13: 4-8

I know that I still have a lot to learn about what it truly means to love like this. It was extremely refreshing to watch these 30 seniors as they displayed a deep love for one another and their families and friends.

I hope that each of us can be challenged to love as God's Word defines love. I will miss seeing these student in the hallways next year, but I am excited to see how the next class will follow in their footsteps and lead next year.

Congratulations to the Strong Rock Christian School Inaugural Class of 2010! Go Patriots!

Running on Empty

Have you ever had one of those days when there simply is not enough caffeine on the planet to keep you going or you simply just can't get enough energy to keep moving. I had one of those days a couple of days ago, and it just came out of nowhere, or so it seemed at the time. However, looking back on the day a few days removed now, I can attest to the simple fact that I was running on empty. I had just had a long day, few hours of sleep the night before, skipped lunch for an unscheduled meeting that ran a couple of hours, went to Home Depot to buy supplies to do some work in the basement, got busy taping and mudding a room in the basement and the next thing I know it is after midnight. There was a time, and I hate to admit it now, but it was quite a few years back, when I could have survived a day or two in a row like that and found the energy to go skiing all day and night and still make it to Dr. Allen's Psychology class at 8:00 a.m. However, those days are long gone for this old boy.

Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we run ourselves into the ground, not sleep enough, or eat properly and then wonder how we got sick and run down. I believe one reason is that we think we have to go, go, go. Do you remember the days, not that long ago I might add, when someone would call you on the phone (ok, that does age me) and ask you a question, and you were actually not expected to give them an answer for an hour or two or maybe even a day or two. Do you remember when you actually were given time to pray about a decision and seek counsel from others that had gone down a similar path before, and you were not considered lazy or slow, but wise and mature.

I must admit that I miss those days. That is what I remembered the other day. I miss those days. So today I am puting a stake in the ground of my life of almost 45 years now, and I am taking claim of my schedule, my family time, my time with friends, time at my church and working to help those less fortunate in our community and the world at large.

Why do we get tired and find ourselves running on empty? Priorities! If my hope is in God the Father, and Creator and Savior, and not on peoples expectations to define me, I find that I have much more to live and work for in my daily routine.

If I aim to please the Father, then I will find peace and joy and fullfillment in all that I do. In the New Testament in the book of Matthew, at the end of Chapter 6, we are reminded that,

God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all of these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So what do we do when we are running on empty? Stop and seek after God and his ways. The truth is that when we focus on pleasing God and caring for others we find that we are blessed and have been given much to be thankful for. Recognizing that we are blessed is plenty of fuel to energize us through each and every day. We will find renewed strength and energy when we put others needs before our own.

Thirsty?

"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37

I have spent the last couple of days with my mom and dad visiting from Florida. It is always great to get to spend time with them and just hang out. This year however, dad and I have also been hanging sheet rock in the basement for a little added fun. It is great to work side by side with my father, but hanging drywall is exhausting work. We are thirsty most of the time.

I have been reminded of a different kind of thirst that comes with all of the labor, and lifting, and dust. I don't think I have been this thirsty even after finishing a triathlon. It reminds me of the time that Jesus stood amongst the crowd and said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." What a strange picture that is, and yet what a beautiful image of a caring and loving savior who wants to bring us hope and peace. I have thought several times the past couple of days, please anyone bring me some relief for this thirst, and as soon as I get a sip I am good for awhile.

So back to what Jesus says, if we are thirsty come to Him. What does that mean? I used to just think of it in terms of relief from pain, suffering, difficulties, and burdens. But it is so much more than that. Relief does come, but so does healing. What kind of healing comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ? Complete healing. Does that mean we will never suffer or have pain again? Most likely it does not mean that. However, it does mean that if we spend time with Jesus Christ through prayer, time in scripture, worship, fasting, and pursuing righteousness that we will receive spiritual, emotional, and even physical healing. It may not mean the cancer is totally removed or the arthritis is gone, but it does mean that through Him and by Him all things are made complete. His ways are not our ways, and we can rest in the knowledge that He cares and desires for us to know Him as Lord and Savior and Master. He wants us to be healed, but more importantly He wants us to know Him. Our time on earth will one day come to pass and that is when we will either be with Him forever or seperated from Him forever. In the meantime, Christ has offered us assistance while we go through this life. What a big life He has given us. So many options, choices, decisions

Jesus also said, "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6.

What is it that you thirst for? Is it fame, fortune, popularity, or comfort? I think if we are honest with ourselves we will discover what we really long for is peace and a hope for a brighter today. Jesus tells us that it should be righteousness in order for us to be filled. Isn't that really what it is that we want? We want that void in our lives to be filled. We want that longing to be relieved. Jesus tells us that if we thirst we should come unto him.

My prayer for my family and friends this coming year is that together all of us will seek to be filled by the Holy Spirit as we pursue a deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God and Risen Savior.

Happy New Year!

Pat