Thoughts of a Children's Minister

The Cleansing Power (A Parable)

2010-12-23T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Cleansing Power
A Parable
By N.E. Johnson

Bailey reach into the kitchen sink and removed three glasses; he asked his friends if any of them were thirsty.
Lydia quickly responded “Yes, whatch got?” her eyes moved from Bailey down to the three glasses.
“Um, you know, I’m really not that thirsty after all…I’ll pass.”
“I’ll take something.” Kyle said. He then felt an elbow jab him in the side, Lydia got his attention. She shook her head no and nodded toward the three glasses.
“Dude! You don’t expect us to drink from those?”
“Why what’s wrong”
Bailey picked up one of the glasses and held it in front of his face, he examined it. The glass, which was normally crystal clear, had a huge water spot and chunks of food where it had been laying on in its’ side.
“I don’t see anything wrong. It isn’t cracked anywhere, it will hold soda.”
“Bailey, are you blind? That glass is filthy!”
Bailey looked closely at the glass again.
“Lydia, you’re right! This glass could use a little cleaning.”
Kyle looked at Lydia in disbelief as Bailey turned on the faucet, took a cloth in hand and washed the glass.
“There. Is that better?”
The glass now sparkled- on the outside.
“Bailey! Are you completely loony? That glass is still filthy on the inside!”
Bailey examined the glass again. Because it was cleaned so well on the outside, when he looked closely, he could see that the glass was even dirtier then was previously thought. Around the little particles of food were fuzzy little spores of blue and green and white.
“You’re right Lydia, this glass is disgusting!”
Bailey once again turned on the faucet and grabbed the cloth, he washed the inside of the glass vigorously.
He presented the glass to his friends and it looked good, it appeared clean. Lydia was not satisfied.
“Soap….You did not use soap.” She continued. “Everything bad that was in the glass can still be harmful to us; it can make us sick and even cause us to die! Bailey, unless you wash the glass in soap it is not properly cleaned and it is useless!”
Bailey sighed.
“Okay. Lydia, if this glass is washed in the soap, will you drink from it?”
“Sure Bailey. It will truly be clean then.”
Bailey put some soap on the cloth and turned on the faucet; he washed and rinsed the glass completely then filled it with soda and handed it to Lydia. The soda was refreshing and full of its’ natural flavor and quenched her thirst.
As for the other two glasses, they were never cleaned and thrown into the garbage while Kyle remained thirsty.

He who has ears let him hear and he who has wisdom let him understand; for knowledge comes by listening and wisdom comes from the God who gave these words.

Why I Teach

2010-09-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:7 offers us a glimpse at some characteristics of a teacher. In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech.

Growing up in a rural elementary school system in the mid eighties I can honestly say that of those who taught me, the majority did not posses those qualities. They did not care about their students or take their responsibilities seriously. They were quick to overreact to the bad students and overlook the good. They were slow to offer help to those who were falling behind and did not take the better students to the next level. They just showed up followed the curriculum for the day and went home.
There was a tension in the classroom caused by the new arrival of minority students in our school system. The teachers were not prepared for this and their discipline styles ranged dramatically from ignore the problems to put the problem in a room by his or her self. The teachers had preconceived negative attitudes towards the other cultures and it quickly rubbed off on many of the students. As the students began to develop negative attitudes towards their peers I started to develop a negative attitude towards all teachers because of the way they mistreated all students, good and bad. I carried my attitude with me all the way through my school years. I had a passion for teachers, I passionately disliked them, with the exception of one.

It was the year 1986 and my 1st grade class was sitting with many other classes to watch an amazing event. The launch of the Challenger Space Shuttle. What made this launch significant was the fact that a teacher was going to space that day and that teacher could’ve been the man standing about twenty feet from us, Mr. Lee. He was a top ten finalist, he wanted to see the effects of weightlessness on arthritis. Before the tv was turned on Mr. Lee was asked to speak to us. He was introduced as “our new celebrity teacher”. I remember his speech almost word for word. “Celebrity, not quite”, he said “I’m just a teacher, it’s what I do, it’s what I enjoy. If I would have been selected for the Challenger mission it would only be because I’ve found my purpose in life and lived it out to the best of my ability. My advise to each young person is to find what you love and reach for the stars.” 10, 9, 8 the countdown had begun. I looked at Mr. Lee standing proudly behind us. 3,2,1. We watched as that controlled explosion hurled the shuttle towards space. I leaned to my best friend and said some day I’m gonna go to space, he quickly replied “dude, you’re already there. At that instant a silence fell over our assembly. I looked back up at that giant tv and all I saw were three streaks of smoke flying in separate directions. I felt a numbness come over my body as I glanced at Mr. Lee, who was no longer standing in his proud position but leaning against a wall with his eyes closed, possibly praying.

We lost some of our innocence in that seventy-three seconds of our lives, a part of us we couldn’t get back. A part we’d spend the rest of our lives trying to find. What we would find is pain, and fear, and loss. We would find that not everybody is meant to reach the stars, some of us were destined to crash and burn.

For five years my class was left to dangle with fears of the future and no hope in sight. It was sixth grade when we would finally find some hope and get some much needed encouragement. We had all looked forward to being in Mr. Lee’s class. It was decorated wall to wall with artifacts, bones and all kinds of neat stuff. He even had a live alligator and two boa constrictors. But what I think we really looked forward to was how he taught. He enjoyed what he did, he believed in us, saw potential in us and gave us hope for the future.

My motivations for teaching partly stem from these events in my life.

My goal is to never let my students lose their hope and to restore the hope to those who have little. Teaching is more than math, English and social studies, even though all are very important. None are more important than the individual. When the foundation of who he or she is, is secure, then you can build with the other skills.

I believe every student has potential. I make it my duty to be different than the majority of my teachers and help students find their purpose. Some stars are billions of miles away some are mere millions. Some of my students may not make it as for as others, but I believe every child can reach the stars and I will be there to lift them a little further.

Free Kids Ministry Resources

2010-09-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

So small it could almost be a miniature elephant

Train up a Child....

2009-10-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it.” This simple Biblical principle applies to every person that has influence on a child’s life. The parents, other family members, the educational system and the church have the responsibility to teach each child the correct way to live and give them the knowledge needed to become successful adults. They need both knowledge and character to achieve any good goal they may make.

Too often children are torn between different teachings. At home they get one example of how to live and gain the knowledge (whether correct or not) that the parents have. At school they may be taught different social behaviors and receive knowledge contradictory to what they have been given elsewhere. The children end up having to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong, many times coming to the wrong conclusions. The ideas of absolute truth get lost in the conflicting feelings; because of this, children begin to form their own truth suitable to what they want to believe and how they want to live.

“Suffer the children unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus shows us the importance of children; to not cast them off as insignificant. Each child needs to know that they are significant and why. They need to know that they have an eternal future and can inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s children can have a good eternal future but they are also the future of our country. It is a teacher’s duty to form the child’s mind to help them determine purpose and significance. Without purpose all the knowledge in the world wouldn’t make any child successful. When children understand why they are important, then there will be a good foundation to build all other character traits, social skills and knowledge on. Through this process teachers can produce highly productive and good citizens.

Servant or Self-server

2009-10-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Today i was listening to 1090 am. Dr. David Jeremiah’s radio show, Turning Point, was on. He spoke on so many things that really hit home; one point in particular. His message started just after Jesus had learned of John the Baptist death; he was tired, sad and wanted to rest. He and his disciples headed to the Sea of Galilee. Word had gotten around quickly that this was their destination. When they arrived there, there was over five thousand people gathered to see Jesus. Jesus looked around and was deeply moved, he saw hurting people in need of hope and a leader; they were sheep following their shepherd. Jesus could have left them there and gone about his rest and grieving, but he did not. Jesus saw the needs of others and put them ahead of his own. On that day he worked a miracle and fed everyone using just a few fish and loaves of bread. How many Christians today will put their own problems and struggles aside and help someone else in need. Too many times we yield to modern Philosophy and focus on ourselves; we get caught up in the mindset of "what will you do for me?" when we should be doing for others. Jesus came to serve not be served; we should do the same for others no matter how bad we think our situation is. Serving, with the right motive, has a healing effect on a soul; you may find things are not so bad after all.
Full Service: Moving From Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood