Teaching NO students?

I heard an excellent lecture recently, which I thoroughly did NOT enjoy. The material was excellent, and the speaker had good communication skills, but something was missing. I am still not totally sure as to what it was, but it seemed like the lesson would have been delivered whether or NOT anyone was present.

It struck me that the lesson was “FLAT”. I am not sure exactly what that means, but there didn’t seem to be enough “energy”. Again, the material was good, there was just something missing it the delivery.

When Jesus taught, he taught people. What alternative is there? Well I think I saw it. My friend taught the lesson, but not people. Jesus engaged his listeners. He used emotion and vivid images in his teaching. My friend didn’t, though he had some good stuff.

Jesus, G^d on earth, didn’t seem overly concerned with CONTROL. I find many today, to be consumed by control. We can’t engage our students because they MIGHT go OFF script and we certainly can’t have that. Jesus taught with confidence, and we so often do NOT.

This raises some questions about teaching. What matters? What changes? What can we control, and what should we control? How do we teach to maximize impact? How do we teach more like Jesus?

Hmm, I wish I knew the answers.

How’s YOUR mission going?

Brenda and I are now full-time missionaries. It’s a good job. BUT, we have always been missionaries- as are you! What? Yes, YOU are a missionary—a good one or a bad one, but missionary—like everyone else.

“Wait, how am I a missionary?”, you ask.

You are a missionary because you are testifying to those around yu about what you really believe, and what is really important to you. The old saying” Actions speak louder than words.” Yes, yes they do.

Let’s take Christianity as an example. If you act as if wealth is tops, that status is key, that you’re looking out chiefly for yourself—you’re a missionary for those things, but NOT for Christianity. And we ALL are missionaries, whether we realize it or not.

Some of us have MORE influence and Impact than others, but we all influence/impact some. So, like that old saying, “I’m a fool for Jesus, whose fool are you?” We can vary that a bit, “I’m a missionary for Jesus, whose missionary are you?”

So How Much Time and Money will I spend Decorating my Hotel Room?

We are often the hardest one to convince. I know intellectually that I don't have many more years on earth.  At my advanced age, I don't even buy green bananas.

I wear a old gray bracelet that used to say "Guest". I found it on the beach several years ago, and quickly donned it to remind me that this earth is NOT my home. The word, "Guest" has long been worn away, but I know what it said.  I needed, and still need, reminding.

We are under ENORMOUS pressure to invest heavily, heavily in THIS earthly life--which is too soon passed. Yet most of us just keep on decorating this temporary home. I have mentioned before in this blog the value of Matt 6:19-21, the heart of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "Lay NOT up treasures on earth...but lay up treasures in HEAVEN... where a man's treasure is, there will be his heart also. You don't really need to know Greek to know what Jesus was saying.

And, as I have shared, most of us lack faith regarding heaven. We KNOW when we've laid up treasure on earth, but that heavenly treasure, we are none too sure about that.

So, how's the decorating going for you?

Assisted Suicide just Around the Corner!

Sounds like a helpful sign, doesn't it?  Having trouble killing yourself, just turn the corner and you're there!  Indeed, I predict that the USA will be seriously discussing physician-assisted suicide in the very near future. So, I wanted to make a couple of pre-preemptive points-- just to get ahead of the game.

Proponents of allowing us to whack ourselves with medical help can create scenarios that sound pretty appealing. People with dementia of one type or another are ripe candidates for whacking. The US healthcare system is staring down the barrel of a wave of baby-Boomers who will overwhelm our resources. That is a safe prediction.

Why not just whack them?  Is a certain solution to be discussed. But let's think about it another way. Let's say that you and I are both pet lovers, with dogs in our homes that we have raised since puppyhood. We have loved our dogs, and, our dogs have loved us in return. In fact, walking our dogs has been a great exercise - both physically and socially and that is how you and I met. Well, sadly, all dogs may not go to heaven (or they may), but they all do die eventually. But, our dogs aren't dead yet, they are sadly suffering incurable diseases of doggy old age. Now, here's the question:
It is FINE for me to pay the veterinarian to put my poor doggy out of her misery, but would it be OK for me, unbeknownst to you, to put YOUR dog to sleep as well?

I am hoping for  a resounding "NO!"

I think MOST would agree that whereas I, as my dog's owner, can make that sad decision for my poor doggy.

So WHO owns you? Or more seriously, WHO owns your aunt with serious dementia?

We don't own ourselves!  We have been "Bought with a price" (I Corinth 6:20; 7:23), and a VERY high price indeed. So if your owner, G^d, wants to whack you, He can do so, without even hiring a vet.  And, if G^d wants you to stick around, even with dementia, keep in mind, the Christ bought you, and everyone else, with His blood.

Get my point on Physician-assisted suicide?

Natural Bridge-- Photos

A few weeks back we went up on a Sunday to Florence. On the way, we had to pass Alabama's Natural Bridge.  Many, many years ago, I had taught a young fellow whose family owned the land on which the Natural Bridge stands. We had visited at his invitation way back in the 80's.

Well, as we walk in to the admin area to pay our entry fee, who is there, but my old student, Dennis D, who now is actually pretty old.  It has been a few years, and a LOT of water has flowed down the stream that winds through the beautiful valley beside the bridge.

This is indeed a beautiful spot.  We highly recommend it.  And, if Dennis is there, give him our regards.

Bishop's Laws- no really!

Over these 68+ years, we have developed some guidelines for staying out of trouble, or getting in trouble.  Perhaps the best known law is:

"Never buy something the same day you see it."  A lot of "caveat emptor" mistakes arise from being hasty.  That salesperson is trained to be convincing.  But, "upon further review" can save you a LOT of $$$.  Besides, what difference does ONE more day make?

"Never buy anything over the phone."  I could have saved a few hundred dollars following this law. "Can you send me something through the mail?" is a reasonable request.  If the answer is, "No", there's a reason for that answer, and, you didn't need it anyway.

"If it's worth doing...it's worth OVER-doing!"  Yeah, this one has caused a few problems, but is pretty descriptive. I'm not recommending following this one.

But, perhaps my most famous law is, "Bishop's Law of Opposites", which simply states, "Whatever my FIRST impulse on anything, doing the OPPOSITE is more likely to align with Scripture."  This one is a bit sad, but has proven true on many occasions.

G^d's Laws are BETTER and more useful than Bishop's Laws, and I HIGHLY recommend those laws first, but G^d has given us a bit of insight as part of our Imago Dei. So pay attention.  You might save some money and some regrets.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

We, in the USA have MUCH for which to be thankful, and I personally have a LOT for which to give thanks. I look back at my career and realize how Blessed I was to teach during the era I taught, with the students and faculty I met. We have a very nice retirement, and I thank the L^rd for that too.

We have 4 wonderful children, and 80% success is pretty good! Just kidding, we have 5 wonderful children. The 80% who are married have great spouses and wonderful grandchildren. All of these are healthy and functional. What a Blessing!

Brenda and I both marvel at the world traveling we have enjoyed. How many people have lived in 2 countries outside the USA? We enjoyed greatly our times living in GA, FL, VA (2 cities), RI, MD (2 cities),, NY, and TX (2 cities). We have enjoyed our longest stretch in AL. Thank you G^d.

We both enjoy excellent health, even for our age. We are free, as far as we know, from chronic disease, and not on medications, except for one small one. In general we feel good and get to exercise a couple of times a week. Health is a gift from G^d.

As retirees we have lot of freedom. Our work with Cru Faculty Ministry gives us a lot to do. We are Blessed to be missionaries. We are blessed with many friendships. We are blessed with the opportunity to publish a trade book on Christian wellness, and to see the release of the second edition of the text book. We are Blessed to live peaceably and with good neighbors. Thank you L^rd!

Most of all I am thankful for my dear sweet wife, a true Blessing from G^d! Everyone who knows her loves her, and I have the great privilege of living life with her. She is a true Proverbs 31 woman and I am MOST thankful to G^d for her!

Yes, we have much for which to thank the dear L^rd, much indeed.