What is a Christian to do these days?

I am a Christian. This gives me pause to state in text. I do not like or support what that label has come to mean in our country over the last several years. More accurately I should say, I believe in Jesus Christ. That He is God's son. That He died and rose again. That He is Lord over this messed up world and will return to fix it someday. I believe that His mandate until then is lead with love, live with grace, and humbly remember that we are not God. (Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God.") Why do I start with this assertion? Because all of what follows comes from that kind of a heart and value set. I believe in the sanctity of life and God's sovereignty over it. I DO NOT believe in legislation demanded by Christians to ban abortions and many other issues that are currently represented in a one-sided way and labeled "The Christian View." I believe that the Christian commission is to surround with love. If I were to know a young or old woman who was unfortunately pregnant and in a desparate way, my Christian role should be to offer my love and support to that woman so expansively that she could bare her circumstances without as much fear and pain as she would have felt if a "Christian" wasn't by her side. Whatever the woman did, or did not do, would not be mine to judge or condemn as I would have plenty of my own sins to be atoning for - always. If a child is in need from life in this world without parental support, then I should, as a Christian, step in to offer my own resources (space, time, money, love) to build them up - this is the long game, for the entirety of their life if need be. The young men in our lives could also benefit by a model of love and support for others that would, perhaps, lead them to being gentle and respectful to all women, to all people. Love over legislation is where I come down as a Christian. It saddens me to see the name of our Lord used to judge, condemn and legislate over others; the same Lord who clearly stated to the men about to stone the adulteress according to the "law", "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." John 8:1-11 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” The only way to be pro-life as a Christian is to support the life God creates from cradle to grave with the love and mercy and grace that Jesus showed us and everyone He met throughout the texts of the New Testament.

Fear Not

How many times is "fear not" in the Bible? The terrorists are spreading fear throughout the world and people are wrestling with how to live and be in this condition. Facebook posts rant on the absence of Christian love when Syrian refugees are not accepted into the United States. Someone responds that our fear is making us hateful. Another rejects the comparison to the Jewish refugees that were not accepted during WWII on the grounds that the Jewish refugees didn't come to spread terror. The person who posts the original thought on how Christian we should be is an atheist (at least she thinks she is). A proclamation of prayer for Paris is attacked as if it is a hate act. Fear, with its many faces, seeps up through the very sand on which we stand today. Jesus, his offer of salvation (paid for by his own blood), and his example is all that should matter to a Christian. Jesus washed the feet of Judas with full knowledge that his betrayal at the hands of this particular disciple was imminent. Jesus knelt and served, was crucified and forgave in spite of anything evil in the hearts of those He served and died for. Jesus admonishes us to live abundantly because He gave us that gift. It is overwhelming to even attempt to understand the enormity of His grace. All of us are accountable: those who reject any opportunity to serve humbly those in need, and those who ignore or reject Jesus daily but like to spout His name with finger wagging judgement at anyone who professes to know Him. From a world that rejects Him, this is used as proof of Christian hypocrisy. Jesus is Christianity; Jesus is perfections; Jesus is forgiveness; Jesus is salvation; Jesus is without blemish in His example of love and mercy. None of the rest of us can live up to that standard; he died for us anyway. As a Christian, I will not fear nor hate those who hate me. I desire this to be true, but there is no way that is happening in my humanness. I have to ask for the Holy Spirit to change my heart daily. As a Christian, I will live in this world attempting to shine a light with my service (for God not people) and compassion. I have to ask the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to even be able to see the opportunities to serve, let alone serve well. If I am paying enough attention to my own life's purpose, I will be far too busy to mock or denigrate what other people are doing or struggling to do. If this treatment of my Savior and the Savior of the world breaks my heart, how much greater must be the sorrow of Our Lord.

Lost Dreams

It has been a long time since I blogged, but recent events have stirred so many thoughts that I want to sort through that I am anxious to write them all down. Of course school takes up so much of my energy and mind, and our district has been through something of a battle of late. Living in the school district in which I teach makes my perspective unique. What to some is a profession, to me feels more like a calling - I truly want to serve God as I serve the kids and community, AND my own children are involved, so my mother's heart is in all my opinions.
Let's just start with thoughts about teaching. There is a lot of talk about school as a "business" and teachers not spending enough time with kids - many feel that they are not getting what "they pay for" when a teacher has too many prep periods or "time off" exceeds what one feels is comparable to their work day. I teach English; and, to feel prepared and inspired to teach 14 year olds about the benefits of reading and writing and communicating, I have to believe in, practice, and learn about literature, writing, and communicating in my life. I often am overcome with guilt if someone finds me alone and reading - I am certainly not being productive if I am not "doing something real." What are these two concepts saying? Teachers are caught between trying to set an example, to be prepared to lead students in their learning, and in trying to meet the expectations for the perpetual motion of "productivity" that overwhelms the American concept of work. My ultimate teaching example, Jesus, often went off in solitude to pray/think/gain wisdom to then impart to the masses. I love being in the classroom with my students, interacting with them. I love being one-on-one with them, encouraging and helping them. I cannot do either of those things well, if I have nothing to share about my own reading, thinking, or learning because I have never been away from them. There is an underlying distrust that teachers might actually want to prepare well for their profession. I do not find that to be the case, but ponder how teachers might change this perception. Much of what I want to discuss with people about education these days seems to fall on deaf ears if I am not talking about numbers like test scores, or dollars spent in the budget, or minutes "working." I read once that a Native American belief, from a tribe I cannot recall, is that if a people stop dreaming or pursuing quiet time for visions to come to them that their society will fall apart. I am feeling the need for some dreamers to step up and inspire us all, but they may be busy on the treadmill at the moment.

Kick in the Butt

I was convicted tonight by friends who live out their faith in very tangible, miraculous ways. "Don't be a lazy Christian. Don't let the little pebbles in the way stop you from God's will. Don't wait for a "Yes." Instead, wait for God to say, "No." The truth in this conviction is palpable. The Bible tells us what to do as Christians. We, meaning me, find millions of ways to be so busy that we convince ourselves that we are doing God's work. How do I really know when my mission/calling is less spectacular than relief work in Haiti - raising my kids to know the Lord and working on being the wife that God wants me to be and going to work teaching kids every day? How do I know? How do I know what other path might be God's will when the other tasks take all my energy? I feel like I"m in the right place. At least, I'm happy with my life, really happy and grateful for all that I have. I have to pray to hear God's still small voice every day, every minute of every day... Dear Lord, hear my prayer.

Prayer for people working to help in Haiti.

Watching the news out of Haiti, I am in awe of those people who just jump in and help. Financial assistance is all we can offer, and we are thankful that God has provided that for us to share. Those whose gifts are talents of nursing or building or flying or organizing or ... are the ones who really make a difference.

Please God, be ever present, providing safe travel and work for all those who are physically working to help the people of Haiti. I pray that your strength will be their strength. I know you will work all things for good, Lord. Help us to be patient and strong as we wait. Help us to be brave and faithful as we act. Help us to be yours in all things. Amen.

Thank you, God, for vacations

This is the first Monday of our spring break week. I have never been more grateful for a week off from the job that I love. The week before break was full of tragedy and craziness in our school community, and I am thoroughly enjoying the happy laughter and zany humor of my own children. I am hugging them a little tighter - thankful for every day that the Lord gives me to be with them. More than one death and a personal trip to the ER makes one reflect on this precious gift of life and love. I love my own kids so much, and I love the kids that I teach as well.

Success

I have successfully managed to create a wikispace that will work in my classroom. Our first challenge is to create a manual, of sorts, for incoming high school freshmen on how to be successful in high school. My ninth grade English students will create the page together. I only hope to find that all students will find stronger voices and with their voices will discover that they have something important to say.