Last night, we looked at some responses to Jesus' teaching on prayer found in Luke 17:3-4 which is:
So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times comes back to you and says ‘I repent,’ forgive him.
We also discussed several points we often overlook. Don't we tell our kids to overlook offenses? Jesus told them not to ignore it but indeed to rebuke the brother. I asked if we should forgive if the brother does not repent, noting that Jesus says we should forgive IF the brother repents. We also talked about it's not up to us to believe the repentance is genuine. Here are some thoughts of three eighth grade girls.
"I don't think its possible to forgive someone seven times a day. I don't think you can because some people may have done something intentionally. If someone did something to me and meant to do it, I wouldn't forgive him. I don't get why Jesus should make us forgive someone seven times a day when that person does it on purpose." Ruby
"I think it is possible to forgive someone seven times a day because it depends on what the situation is. If someone murders seven of your relatives in a day, it would be pretty hard, maybe impossible, to forgive that person. If a person lies to you seven times in a day, it may be a little easier to forgive them. It all depends on the person and how strong their faith is. I believe everyone makes mistakes and one of the ways to not carry the burden longer is to be forgiven or ask for forgiveness." Taylor E.
"I don't think its possible to forgive someone seven times in a day because it only matters what people do to you. If it is something simple like making a funny joke about you seven times in a day to embarrass you, then I think I can forgive that person. If someone curses at you, I think I could forgive them because cursing is in our everyday lifestyle, even though it is not right. But if it is something as big as someone telling your biggest secrets, then I could not forgive them even three times in a day. Like I said, it matters what the person did." Cydney
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Seventh Time Charm
This week, my classes memorized Luke 17:3-4, one of Jesus' strongest teachings on forgiveness. Here it is: "So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times comes back to you and says ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”I asked my eighth graders to discuss on paper if they think that teaching is practical or even possible to them. This is a sample of their responses with boys in blue and girls in purple.
"I believe it is possible to forgive seven times in a day. It just seems so far fetched and unrealistic in this life. God wants us to try and be like Him and He knows we are not perfect; He knows we mess up. But He wants us to be the best person we can be and show His Word through our lifestyle. We aren't perfect but we have to strive to be- not as a goal but as part of our spiritual lives." Evan
"To forgive someone seven times in a day is possible, mainly because some people don't know they are sinning until someone acknowledges it. As girls, we forgive each other seven times in a day and don't realize it. For instance, your best friend may say something about you that you don't want the guy you like to know. Of course, you are upset at her but you forgive and move on, right? As many "small" sins we commit in a day, others forgive us without thinking, so yes it is possible." Taylor S.
"I do think it is possible to forgive someone if they sin against you seven times in a day. It would be a lot easier if they were minor sins. But to do this task, you have to have a very humble and clean heart. If you get even the slighest bit angry it will make this task impossible because forgiving someone seven times in a day is hard. You can do it if you are slow to anger and quick to forgive, and just think about this: God forgives us way more than seven times a day." Stephen
"I do think its possible to forgive someone seven times in a day. Just because someone did something wrong to you doesn't mean it was a big thing. It's easy to forgive someone over little things. I know my friends and I forgive each other all the time. It would also be possible to forgive big things. Let's say if someone steps on my phone, hits me with a ball, throws my pen, trips me, calls me a name, draws on my paper, and marks me with a pen, even though that one person did seven mean things to me in one day, I could still forgive them." Jada
"I find that if someone does something to me seven times and it's something I don't like or enjoy, I would find it very hard to forgive them. I don't find myself in those situations often because no one ever bothers to be mean to me so I really don't know how I should react to it. Because I am a Christian, I try to do what God asks but this verse sets super high standards in trying to get some to do their best to try and reach the minimum. It's kind of like a dentist trying to get people to brush more by saying you need to brush four times a day in hopes of them brushing twice a day." Austin
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
"I believe it is possible to forgive seven times in a day. It just seems so far fetched and unrealistic in this life. God wants us to try and be like Him and He knows we are not perfect; He knows we mess up. But He wants us to be the best person we can be and show His Word through our lifestyle. We aren't perfect but we have to strive to be- not as a goal but as part of our spiritual lives." Evan
"To forgive someone seven times in a day is possible, mainly because some people don't know they are sinning until someone acknowledges it. As girls, we forgive each other seven times in a day and don't realize it. For instance, your best friend may say something about you that you don't want the guy you like to know. Of course, you are upset at her but you forgive and move on, right? As many "small" sins we commit in a day, others forgive us without thinking, so yes it is possible." Taylor S.
"I do think it is possible to forgive someone if they sin against you seven times in a day. It would be a lot easier if they were minor sins. But to do this task, you have to have a very humble and clean heart. If you get even the slighest bit angry it will make this task impossible because forgiving someone seven times in a day is hard. You can do it if you are slow to anger and quick to forgive, and just think about this: God forgives us way more than seven times a day." Stephen
"I do think its possible to forgive someone seven times in a day. Just because someone did something wrong to you doesn't mean it was a big thing. It's easy to forgive someone over little things. I know my friends and I forgive each other all the time. It would also be possible to forgive big things. Let's say if someone steps on my phone, hits me with a ball, throws my pen, trips me, calls me a name, draws on my paper, and marks me with a pen, even though that one person did seven mean things to me in one day, I could still forgive them." Jada
"I find that if someone does something to me seven times and it's something I don't like or enjoy, I would find it very hard to forgive them. I don't find myself in those situations often because no one ever bothers to be mean to me so I really don't know how I should react to it. Because I am a Christian, I try to do what God asks but this verse sets super high standards in trying to get some to do their best to try and reach the minimum. It's kind of like a dentist trying to get people to brush more by saying you need to brush four times a day in hopes of them brushing twice a day." Austin
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Beard
Here is another entry from fellow WCS teacher/coach Nathan Wagner on the topic of facial hair!
This past Thanksgiving I decided to grow a beard. Never in my imagination did I think it would cause the amount of commentary and conversation it did. People ask a lot of questions when you grow a beard. Like, why? I just did it. Or, does your wife like it? She does. But mainly, when are you going to shave?
I grew my beard because I wanted to see how it would look, then I kept it because the soccer season in Texas is cold and windy. Then I decided it would be a good reminder for the race I ran a week ago. It became a impetus to achieve my running goal.
Since Thanksgiving, my beard has become a topic of Biblical proportions: comparisons to Abraham (both the patriarch and president), Moses, and most recently, Jesus. The recent comment about Jesus reminded me of a time I got to play Jesus in a summer camp rendition of the crucifixion. We had gathered the campers in the main lodge for our typical devotional message, but they had no idea what was planned. A few minutes into the devo, shouts erupted from outside and a trial was about to begin. The counselors acted out the final hours of Jesus life--from Pilate to Golgotha. I had a cross and torn up clothes, artistic depictions of bruises and blood. While most of the harsh actions were simulated out of their view, I did have to walk with my cross, along the main gravel road of the camp. And the “Roman guards,” my fellow counselors and friends, made that walk difficult. They through me to the ground, one held my face in the mud, they hit me and threw rocks at me. (College students get easily carried away.) Then they “crucified” me on the cross. Obviously, there are a lot of potential nuggets of insight that could stem from this incident. To experience an infinitesimal fraction of the experience Christ had was heart-changing. To watch the mob mentality that quickly overcomes an audience was insightful. To portray Christ in anything is, in general, a strange feeling. I’ve had long hair for a long time and long facial hair from time to time. The comparisons never end, but it gets a little awkward sometimes.
My goal in life is that people might mistake me for Jesus--not because of the hair on my head or face--but because of the life I live. Better yet, I hope they see him in me. And one day, I want my heavenly Father to see his son in lieu of me on the judgment day. After all, that’s what our new lives are all about.
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1 http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
This past Thanksgiving I decided to grow a beard. Never in my imagination did I think it would cause the amount of commentary and conversation it did. People ask a lot of questions when you grow a beard. Like, why? I just did it. Or, does your wife like it? She does. But mainly, when are you going to shave?
I grew my beard because I wanted to see how it would look, then I kept it because the soccer season in Texas is cold and windy. Then I decided it would be a good reminder for the race I ran a week ago. It became a impetus to achieve my running goal.
Since Thanksgiving, my beard has become a topic of Biblical proportions: comparisons to Abraham (both the patriarch and president), Moses, and most recently, Jesus. The recent comment about Jesus reminded me of a time I got to play Jesus in a summer camp rendition of the crucifixion. We had gathered the campers in the main lodge for our typical devotional message, but they had no idea what was planned. A few minutes into the devo, shouts erupted from outside and a trial was about to begin. The counselors acted out the final hours of Jesus life--from Pilate to Golgotha. I had a cross and torn up clothes, artistic depictions of bruises and blood. While most of the harsh actions were simulated out of their view, I did have to walk with my cross, along the main gravel road of the camp. And the “Roman guards,” my fellow counselors and friends, made that walk difficult. They through me to the ground, one held my face in the mud, they hit me and threw rocks at me. (College students get easily carried away.) Then they “crucified” me on the cross. Obviously, there are a lot of potential nuggets of insight that could stem from this incident. To experience an infinitesimal fraction of the experience Christ had was heart-changing. To watch the mob mentality that quickly overcomes an audience was insightful. To portray Christ in anything is, in general, a strange feeling. I’ve had long hair for a long time and long facial hair from time to time. The comparisons never end, but it gets a little awkward sometimes.
My goal in life is that people might mistake me for Jesus--not because of the hair on my head or face--but because of the life I live. Better yet, I hope they see him in me. And one day, I want my heavenly Father to see his son in lieu of me on the judgment day. After all, that’s what our new lives are all about.
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1 http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Back Of The Class
Sometimes, I have my classes turn their desks around and we see things from a totally different perspective. The kids who sit in back are now on the front row and vice versa. It's a good change for me as well. I like to change the physical proximity to the kids. Usually, I sit on the front three or four rows in our Sunday morning worship services. The past several weekends, though, I have sat in the back section to sit with Russell Carr. I teach and coach with Russell and also was honored to preach his wedding to the lovely Shara Martin. Since Russell's nationally ranked WCS boy's team is in its tournament run, I don't see him very much so we spend the minutes before worship catching up. And as happens when we rotate our desks in Room 258, the view and the landscape shift perceptibly.
Michael Edison is a sophomore in my Gospels class, seventh period and a member of my congregation. Michael is bright and hardworking, academically and athletically. He has a dream of making a career in the music business and he is very open to sharing the good news of Jesus with others. Desiree' McGowen is one of our former WCS teachers, Michael's former band instructor, and also a member of my congregation. Desiree' has an exceedingly rare genetic disorder which is robbing her of the ability to control her movements. Her disease is so uncommon that she and her sister, I believe, are two of only a handful of people worldwide with the condition. Because of the relentless nature of her illness, Desiree' can no longer teach but stays as involved in school and church life as she can. This is what I've noticed the past several Lord's Days from my back of the building perspective. I notice that when we take communion, Michael, without any fanfare, moves from his family pew to sit beside Desiree who, because of her wheelchair, must sit on a row with an aisle in front. Then, as the bread is passed, Michael picks the bread out of the tray for Desiree' and helps her participate in the body of Christ. When the cup is passed, Michael assists Desiree' in remembering the blood of Jesus. When communion is complete, Michael rejoins his family. You know, it's not a big deal but I bet it is to Desiree'. I don't think the Lord's Supper can be much more personal than that, than relying on your former pupil to commemorate the sacrifice of the cross. Jesus said it is a good thing for the student to be like the teacher. I can't tell you what instrument Michael plays but I can tell you the best lesson Desiree' passed on to Michael during that year in our band hall. I witnessed another magnificent performance this morning.
Applicable quote of the day:
"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years."
Jacques Barzun
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www. hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Michael Edison is a sophomore in my Gospels class, seventh period and a member of my congregation. Michael is bright and hardworking, academically and athletically. He has a dream of making a career in the music business and he is very open to sharing the good news of Jesus with others. Desiree' McGowen is one of our former WCS teachers, Michael's former band instructor, and also a member of my congregation. Desiree' has an exceedingly rare genetic disorder which is robbing her of the ability to control her movements. Her disease is so uncommon that she and her sister, I believe, are two of only a handful of people worldwide with the condition. Because of the relentless nature of her illness, Desiree' can no longer teach but stays as involved in school and church life as she can. This is what I've noticed the past several Lord's Days from my back of the building perspective. I notice that when we take communion, Michael, without any fanfare, moves from his family pew to sit beside Desiree who, because of her wheelchair, must sit on a row with an aisle in front. Then, as the bread is passed, Michael picks the bread out of the tray for Desiree' and helps her participate in the body of Christ. When the cup is passed, Michael assists Desiree' in remembering the blood of Jesus. When communion is complete, Michael rejoins his family. You know, it's not a big deal but I bet it is to Desiree'. I don't think the Lord's Supper can be much more personal than that, than relying on your former pupil to commemorate the sacrifice of the cross. Jesus said it is a good thing for the student to be like the teacher. I can't tell you what instrument Michael plays but I can tell you the best lesson Desiree' passed on to Michael during that year in our band hall. I witnessed another magnificent performance this morning.
Applicable quote of the day:
"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years."
Jacques Barzun
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www. hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Caleb Hawley Keeps Going On America Idol!
My second cousin, Caleb Hawley, made it through again tonight on American Idol! I was really nervous; I can't imagine what it would be like to be Dale or Vicki, his folks! Thanks for your comments! Dave and I were talking tonight about how much Caleb looks like his dad, who also was more than a decent musician. I don't think anybody ever said I looked like my dad!
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Caleb Hawley- American Idol!
My second cousin, Caleb Hawley, made it though to the next round in the American Idol episode that aired tonight! He also spoke after one of his team members did not advance and they were saying good-byes. Our family is justifiably proud of him!
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Lend To Them.... (Part 2)
This is part two on the subject of donating a kidney to an enemy and if Jesus' teaching to lend to your enemies without expecting anything in return would apply. We based our thought on the Wake Forest baseball coach who donated a kidney to one of his players. Girls' responses are in purple and boys' are in blue.
"My mom always told me to be the bigger person. I try to stay away from confrontations/ problems. Many girls get mad at me for no reason. When I first started writing, I was strongly towards saying no, but my mother would be proud of me and it's not just to help someone. It's about accepting someone in a time of need and showing that even though we dislike each other, I'm there for you. It would be a feeling of accomplishment in many ways. I would feel like a better person and maybe, just maybe, we could connect in a way that we could become friends also, because I am now a part of her!" Julia 10th grade
"Yes, Jesus would want you to give what you can. I personally would not give my kidney to someone who does not represent who or what I am. For instance, what will they do with the new life? As my enemy, I do not have their respect. My enemies are in the military sense, someone who wants to reign death and destruction on what I love and stand for. Then, no, I will not donate. Enemies who were once friends on the other hand are a different matter entirely. I would give them my kidney in hopes that nurtured respect is restored. After all, I know that I am headed someplace better, and this body is not my own." Ian 12th grade
"Yes, I think we should donate a kidney to our enemies because that is the right thing to do. You can never take Jesus' teachings too far if it is for the good of someone elses life. Life is too short to have enemies so you want to make sure you are being kind to everyone. I think we should lend anything that someone needs and we have because this will reward you eternal life. The life here on this earth is not guaranteed so every day you should make sure you have accomplished what you have started. Our bodies are all different. I believe God gave us specific DNA codes to help someone who needs something you have. Sometimes this could be a life or death situation; it is never too far to lend something to someone who hates you. You never know what can solve problems between enemies." Taylor grade 8
"Yes, Jesus would want us to donate our kidneys if we matched one of our enemies. There is no better way to do good to your enemy than to give them something that will save them. That would be the best way to make a friend out of an enemy. However, this is only in the extreme "It's a matter of life or death kidney donation" case. If it were a much smaller matter, such as lending an enemy a small amount of money, I probably wouldn't trust them with it. But if was something that could not be bought, sold, returned, or given back, I would probably lend it to them. Maybe it would make them think twice about how they feel about me." Richard
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
"My mom always told me to be the bigger person. I try to stay away from confrontations/ problems. Many girls get mad at me for no reason. When I first started writing, I was strongly towards saying no, but my mother would be proud of me and it's not just to help someone. It's about accepting someone in a time of need and showing that even though we dislike each other, I'm there for you. It would be a feeling of accomplishment in many ways. I would feel like a better person and maybe, just maybe, we could connect in a way that we could become friends also, because I am now a part of her!" Julia 10th grade
"Yes, Jesus would want you to give what you can. I personally would not give my kidney to someone who does not represent who or what I am. For instance, what will they do with the new life? As my enemy, I do not have their respect. My enemies are in the military sense, someone who wants to reign death and destruction on what I love and stand for. Then, no, I will not donate. Enemies who were once friends on the other hand are a different matter entirely. I would give them my kidney in hopes that nurtured respect is restored. After all, I know that I am headed someplace better, and this body is not my own." Ian 12th grade
"Yes, I think we should donate a kidney to our enemies because that is the right thing to do. You can never take Jesus' teachings too far if it is for the good of someone elses life. Life is too short to have enemies so you want to make sure you are being kind to everyone. I think we should lend anything that someone needs and we have because this will reward you eternal life. The life here on this earth is not guaranteed so every day you should make sure you have accomplished what you have started. Our bodies are all different. I believe God gave us specific DNA codes to help someone who needs something you have. Sometimes this could be a life or death situation; it is never too far to lend something to someone who hates you. You never know what can solve problems between enemies." Taylor grade 8
"Yes, Jesus would want us to donate our kidneys if we matched one of our enemies. There is no better way to do good to your enemy than to give them something that will save them. That would be the best way to make a friend out of an enemy. However, this is only in the extreme "It's a matter of life or death kidney donation" case. If it were a much smaller matter, such as lending an enemy a small amount of money, I probably wouldn't trust them with it. But if was something that could not be bought, sold, returned, or given back, I would probably lend it to them. Maybe it would make them think twice about how they feel about me." Richard
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Lend To Them....
There was a touching news story last week about the baseball coach at Wake Forest donating his kidney to one of his players. I asked my students if they believed it mattered that the young man was a good player; most did not think that factored into his decision. We then made an application to the teachings of Jesus about our enemies, specifically the four things Jesus taught to do for them: love them, pray for them, do good to them, lend to them without expecting to receive anything in return. I then assigned a short essay, asking them if Jesus would expect us to give a kidney to an enemy if we were a match or if this were taking the teaching too far. Here are some of the responses with boys in blue and girls in purple. Tomorrow, we will look at some much different opinions.
"It would be a very difficult decision for me. While thinking about it, I may remember the bullying or hateful actions he gave to me. However, based on what Jesus said, I would probably give one of my kidneys to them. If they absolutely need it, and if I have two perfectly healthy kidneys, I might as well. If they are young, it will give them hope of a good future with the Lord. It may also change the person. They may still dislike me, but the compassion I showed them may rub off on others. I would give a kidney." Jacob 8th grade
"Jesus said that we need to be good to our enemy. So if I had an enemy that needed a kidney, I know I would feel that I need to give a kidney to them. They may not be kind to me but if God shows them kindness through me, their heart may go to God and find the truth in their hate. If I needed a kidney and the only match was a murderer, I would think hard about the fact that the kidney was there when he killed, that it saw the death of innocent people." Katherine 8th grade
"Honestly, if someone asked me this question without including Jesus, I would say no. I know its bad, but I'm not a hateful person. If I hate a person in the first place, he wronged me in a big way. Once I include Jesus, though, I definitely would. If Jesus can die for me and the rest of the world, I can give a kidney to my enemy. I might do it reluctantly but it's not an easy question. It might also depend on who they are, how old they are, and the circumstance causing us to be enemies. I am not sure my parents would allow it since they care for me so much." Lance 10th grade
"I think Jesus would want us to donate our kidney regardless if the person hated you or not. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all people, whether they accept it or not. The Bible says that we should be perfect as Jesus was perfect and to be Christ-like. As Christians, we should make that kind of sacrifice because Jesus would do the same. We should love and pray for our enemies as we would want them to do for us. As typical humans, it would be a hard choice to make but as Christians, we should think about it and make that sacrifice."
Jalyn 10th grade
"This is one question I have never thought of. Honestly, yes, God would want us to give a kidney to anyone, whether or not they are our enemy, because it is the right thing to do. If you think about it, Jesus gave His life for all us, including the sinners of the world. We should do the same. He gave up way more than a kidney for those who did not even love Him back. It would be hard for me to give a kidney and risk my life for someone I dislike and who dislikes me, but I would do it because I represent Jesus." Giselle 10th gradeGod bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
"It would be a very difficult decision for me. While thinking about it, I may remember the bullying or hateful actions he gave to me. However, based on what Jesus said, I would probably give one of my kidneys to them. If they absolutely need it, and if I have two perfectly healthy kidneys, I might as well. If they are young, it will give them hope of a good future with the Lord. It may also change the person. They may still dislike me, but the compassion I showed them may rub off on others. I would give a kidney." Jacob 8th grade
"Jesus said that we need to be good to our enemy. So if I had an enemy that needed a kidney, I know I would feel that I need to give a kidney to them. They may not be kind to me but if God shows them kindness through me, their heart may go to God and find the truth in their hate. If I needed a kidney and the only match was a murderer, I would think hard about the fact that the kidney was there when he killed, that it saw the death of innocent people." Katherine 8th grade
"Honestly, if someone asked me this question without including Jesus, I would say no. I know its bad, but I'm not a hateful person. If I hate a person in the first place, he wronged me in a big way. Once I include Jesus, though, I definitely would. If Jesus can die for me and the rest of the world, I can give a kidney to my enemy. I might do it reluctantly but it's not an easy question. It might also depend on who they are, how old they are, and the circumstance causing us to be enemies. I am not sure my parents would allow it since they care for me so much." Lance 10th grade
"I think Jesus would want us to donate our kidney regardless if the person hated you or not. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all people, whether they accept it or not. The Bible says that we should be perfect as Jesus was perfect and to be Christ-like. As Christians, we should make that kind of sacrifice because Jesus would do the same. We should love and pray for our enemies as we would want them to do for us. As typical humans, it would be a hard choice to make but as Christians, we should think about it and make that sacrifice."
Jalyn 10th grade
"This is one question I have never thought of. Honestly, yes, God would want us to give a kidney to anyone, whether or not they are our enemy, because it is the right thing to do. If you think about it, Jesus gave His life for all us, including the sinners of the world. We should do the same. He gave up way more than a kidney for those who did not even love Him back. It would be hard for me to give a kidney and risk my life for someone I dislike and who dislikes me, but I would do it because I represent Jesus." Giselle 10th gradeGod bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Friday, February 11, 2011
Paradoxes, Part 2 (Nathan Wagner)
Here is the conclusion of the thoughts by Nathan Wagner stemming from his week working at a camp for adults with disabilities. Nathan does a wonderful job in tying his lesson together and making us realize how blessed we are.
They had these dance parties at camp. One of them was a Scottish Highlander theme. After helping my campers put on their costumes, I tied my makeshift kilt (aka flannel shirt) around my waste and pulled up my long green socks and headed to the basketball court for the dance party. I wonʼt lie; Iʼm not a dancer. In fact, in high school, I was an anti-dancer. But watching the campers rock out to contemporary Christian, I couldnʼt help but be infected by their pure joy and bliss. And in doing so my life was forever changed. At some point between rocking my air guitar and performing a corrupted version of Riverdance, I realized that the dancing was ugly. Imagine two hundred people with various disabilities--and about 150 “normal” people--trying to dance on a tennis court, to Reliant K. Seriously, it was the ugliest thing Iʼve ever seen. But it was beautiful.
I believe that my faith is ugly. Iʼll be the first to admit that Iʼm a sinner--a habitual sinner, who is fallen, flawed, and far from perfect. I believe that God made an earth that was perfect and beautiful. That it quickly became ugly through our own attempts to beautify it, to fix it. For thousands of years, we tried to make it more and more beautiful and only ended up making it uglier. I believe that what happened to Jesus was ugly. He was beaten, flogged, tortured, mocked, humiliated, shamed, and abandoned by his friends, his family, and forsaken by his Father. He was hung on a cross, exposed to the world. Itʼs was ugly. But the outcome of that was beautiful, for through that pain, ugliness and sacrifice, we were redeemed.
Few people in the world listen for the voice of God, search for his calling. I challenge you to. At times I feel inadequate and undeserving of the gift of grace. I am. And so are you. We all are, and thatʼs what makes us beautiful. On our own weʼre nothing, but with Christ in us we find everything. That strength in weakness, that hope in despair is what I find beautiful. Robert Browning once wrote: “Oh, but a manʼs reach should exceed his grasp or whatʼs a heaven for.” Life isnʼt about “getting it perfect” all the time. Life is about striving toward that goal of holiness, of living like Christ. Thatʼs why I donʼt care about the past because I want to look forward. I believe you understand that, too, and are striving to be better. Thatʼs why I think you are beautiful. I donʼt want perfection, just progression because that ugly path is beautiful.
They had these dance parties at camp. One of them was a Scottish Highlander theme. After helping my campers put on their costumes, I tied my makeshift kilt (aka flannel shirt) around my waste and pulled up my long green socks and headed to the basketball court for the dance party. I wonʼt lie; Iʼm not a dancer. In fact, in high school, I was an anti-dancer. But watching the campers rock out to contemporary Christian, I couldnʼt help but be infected by their pure joy and bliss. And in doing so my life was forever changed. At some point between rocking my air guitar and performing a corrupted version of Riverdance, I realized that the dancing was ugly. Imagine two hundred people with various disabilities--and about 150 “normal” people--trying to dance on a tennis court, to Reliant K. Seriously, it was the ugliest thing Iʼve ever seen. But it was beautiful.
I believe that my faith is ugly. Iʼll be the first to admit that Iʼm a sinner--a habitual sinner, who is fallen, flawed, and far from perfect. I believe that God made an earth that was perfect and beautiful. That it quickly became ugly through our own attempts to beautify it, to fix it. For thousands of years, we tried to make it more and more beautiful and only ended up making it uglier. I believe that what happened to Jesus was ugly. He was beaten, flogged, tortured, mocked, humiliated, shamed, and abandoned by his friends, his family, and forsaken by his Father. He was hung on a cross, exposed to the world. Itʼs was ugly. But the outcome of that was beautiful, for through that pain, ugliness and sacrifice, we were redeemed.
Few people in the world listen for the voice of God, search for his calling. I challenge you to. At times I feel inadequate and undeserving of the gift of grace. I am. And so are you. We all are, and thatʼs what makes us beautiful. On our own weʼre nothing, but with Christ in us we find everything. That strength in weakness, that hope in despair is what I find beautiful. Robert Browning once wrote: “Oh, but a manʼs reach should exceed his grasp or whatʼs a heaven for.” Life isnʼt about “getting it perfect” all the time. Life is about striving toward that goal of holiness, of living like Christ. Thatʼs why I donʼt care about the past because I want to look forward. I believe you understand that, too, and are striving to be better. Thatʼs why I think you are beautiful. I donʼt want perfection, just progression because that ugly path is beautiful.
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Paradoxes, Part 1 (Nathan Wagner)
Nathan Wagner has filled in for me on several occasions and always has great things to say in a thought provoking style. Nathan is an English teacher and coaches with me at Westbury Christian School. Pictured with Nathan is his wonderful, new bride, Vicki. Tonight's entry is the first of two parts- the other will run tomorrow. I greatly appreciate Nathan's donations!
I believe in paradoxes. Paradoxes are incredible blips in the space-time continuum. Two things or ideas that would never relate to each--yet in some twisted way become inseparable through their hidden meaning and secret truth. My life philosophy could be summed up in two seemingly contradictory words: Ugly/Beautiful. Ugly/Beautiful is all around us--kinda like Love Actually. When a forest fire ravages a sylvan paradise, all that remains is death, destruction, charred reminders of mighty giants, and a blanket of ash. Itʼs ugly. When a leader corrupted by power, pride and greed decides to exterminate a group simply because their noses are shaped differently or their skin has a different hue, the human potential for evil is revealed to be beyond measure: itʼs ugly. When hateful words or labels are thrown about, when pain is caused, my spirit is crushed and what remains is ugly. But what happens next is beautiful--the seeds of life are planted and things re-grow and flourish again. When the most genocide is committed, there are those who arise to sacrifice themselves for justice. Just when the stories of evil make life seem pointless, weʼre inspired by the vastness and potential of the human spirit. Itʼs beautiful.
The summer after I graduated from college, I worked at a camp for people with disabilities. My term was called “Adult Friends” for all the people over the age of 18 to give their parents--yes, parents--a break from taking care of them. The night before the campers arrived, I was terrified at the unknown. What would they be like? What disabilities would they have? What if I have to take them to the bathroom? What if we canʼt communicate? I didnʼt sleep, to be honest, I probably cried. All the next morning, my anxiety grew as we lined up, and I waited for my camper to arrive. It would be up to me to provide them with the “best week of their life.” I went in to the week thinking that I had nothing to learn and everything to pass on. I learned that Iʼm an fool, and in the process discovered my life philosophy.
My greatest fear about this camp was that I would discover that Iʼm prejudiced against people with disabilities. I was afraid my face would twist into a mask of disgust or pity when I made eye contact with one of the campers. I was afraid I would be paralyzed by my ignorance and inexperience. All those fears and anxieties were washed away the
moment our eyes met--and for the first time in my life, I got “it.” I went through the ugliest, most humbling experiences of my life that week. I wish I could tell you all those stories; I wish I could remember all the stories. I helped a man use the bathroom, I helped someone ten years older than me shower. I brushed teeth and shaved the beards of men. And I made eye contact while I did it. And we talked. And everything was normal. They had no shame, they didnʼt let a disability ruin their lives. And for the first time, I realized I was the one who should be envious of them.
If you would like to contact Nathan about his post, his e-mail is:
nwagner@westburychristian.org
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
I believe in paradoxes. Paradoxes are incredible blips in the space-time continuum. Two things or ideas that would never relate to each--yet in some twisted way become inseparable through their hidden meaning and secret truth. My life philosophy could be summed up in two seemingly contradictory words: Ugly/Beautiful. Ugly/Beautiful is all around us--kinda like Love Actually. When a forest fire ravages a sylvan paradise, all that remains is death, destruction, charred reminders of mighty giants, and a blanket of ash. Itʼs ugly. When a leader corrupted by power, pride and greed decides to exterminate a group simply because their noses are shaped differently or their skin has a different hue, the human potential for evil is revealed to be beyond measure: itʼs ugly. When hateful words or labels are thrown about, when pain is caused, my spirit is crushed and what remains is ugly. But what happens next is beautiful--the seeds of life are planted and things re-grow and flourish again. When the most genocide is committed, there are those who arise to sacrifice themselves for justice. Just when the stories of evil make life seem pointless, weʼre inspired by the vastness and potential of the human spirit. Itʼs beautiful.
The summer after I graduated from college, I worked at a camp for people with disabilities. My term was called “Adult Friends” for all the people over the age of 18 to give their parents--yes, parents--a break from taking care of them. The night before the campers arrived, I was terrified at the unknown. What would they be like? What disabilities would they have? What if I have to take them to the bathroom? What if we canʼt communicate? I didnʼt sleep, to be honest, I probably cried. All the next morning, my anxiety grew as we lined up, and I waited for my camper to arrive. It would be up to me to provide them with the “best week of their life.” I went in to the week thinking that I had nothing to learn and everything to pass on. I learned that Iʼm an fool, and in the process discovered my life philosophy.
My greatest fear about this camp was that I would discover that Iʼm prejudiced against people with disabilities. I was afraid my face would twist into a mask of disgust or pity when I made eye contact with one of the campers. I was afraid I would be paralyzed by my ignorance and inexperience. All those fears and anxieties were washed away the
moment our eyes met--and for the first time in my life, I got “it.” I went through the ugliest, most humbling experiences of my life that week. I wish I could tell you all those stories; I wish I could remember all the stories. I helped a man use the bathroom, I helped someone ten years older than me shower. I brushed teeth and shaved the beards of men. And I made eye contact while I did it. And we talked. And everything was normal. They had no shame, they didnʼt let a disability ruin their lives. And for the first time, I realized I was the one who should be envious of them.
If you would like to contact Nathan about his post, his e-mail is:
nwagner@westburychristian.org
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
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