Storm said that to Wolverine in the first X-Men movie.
Jeff told an interesting story to the youth tonight and I thought I'd share it with you. Some may find it kind of cheesy, but that doesn't change the message.
Jesus and Satan are in a pasture walking the same direction on opposite sides of a fence. When they see a group congregated near the fence line, they walk up and engage them in a conversation.
Then comes the invitation. Jesus says, "If you come to my side of the fence, it will take a firm commitment. Things won't always be easy. In fact, sometimes, it might be near impossible. However, I promise that I will never leave and I promise that once everything is over with, you'll live forever in Heaven with me."
The group liked the idea of living forever, so many of them started to head over to Jesus' side of the fence, but then Satan spoke up. "Look, everyone. You come to my side of the fence and I won't require any kind of commitment from you. We'll have a good time. Live it up and party hard."
The group seemed split. Some went to Jesus' side of the fence. More went to Satan's.
One person couldn't seem to make a decision. On one hand, he loved the idea of living forever and he might really be buying into this Jesus guy, but on the other hand, it sure was enticing to party hard and go with Satan. For now, he decided that he would just sit on the fence. Dead center. No choice made.
Everyone left him there. Sitting on the fence wondering what would happen next.
Later, Satan came back. "Boy, it's time you came with me now."
"Umm, no. You see, I'm undecided. I'm sitting here right in the middle of the fence. I'm not on Jesus' side where I could live forever, but maybe have it kind of tough and I'm not on your side living it up."
Satan replied, "You don't seem to understand. You're mine now. I own the fence."
Call it cheesy if you want, but I still thought that the point was quite clear. You have to choose. Not choosing is a choice.
I wonder how many people sit in our pews walking on the fence? Doing the whole Jesus thing because everlasting life sure does sound enticing, but not fully buying into it. Still living for themselves.
Now, here's where I note that many of those who will come across my blog in one way or another have made their choice. They have chosen Jesus and they live like they have. There is no middle ground for them.
How many teenagers do I encounter each day who talk of going to church and being a Christian, but obviously don't try to live like they are? Sadly, most of them.
I was talking to a student just today who was mentioning how she would react violently if provoked. I asked her if that was the way Jesus would respond. Before she even thought to say yes or no, she said that today wasn't a "church day." And this was the instant where she caught herself and realized that yes, it is Wednesday, and yes, she did go to church on Wednesdays. However, she made a direct link between living right and talking about Jesus only when she was on her way to church.
It blows me away at the amount of people that I encounter who live like that. We'll be good and straight-laced on Sunday (and maybe Wednesday), but the rest of the week is for me.
These are the people who have chosen a side and don't even realize it. They claim to know Christ. Some can even tell you of a conversion experience that they had when they were in the 7th grade. Some can tell you about the day that they got baptized. But they don't really know Christ. There was never a conversion (implying that something has radically changed). And the baptism? Well, that was just a show, right?
Sadly, these are the people who believe that they have their bus ticket to an awesome afterlife, but, I believe, in the end, Jesus will look at them and say, "Depart from me, for I never knew you (Matthew 7:23)." These are the people who don't really understand how narrow the way and how small the gate is that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). They don't understand that their lives are probably headed down the road that leads to destruction.
So, I ask again, how many people sitting in pews this Sunday are on that road that leads to destruction? I fear that the number is greater than we think.
If they are in the very building built to minister to them, how, then can we get them to walk on Jesus' side of the fence?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
It's An Epidemic!
One thing that has always weighed heavy on my heart is teenagers and sex. It breaks my heart to hear kids walking through the halls of Conroe High talking about things that they shouldn't be experiencing yet. It breaks my heart to see 15, 16, 17 and 18 years old girls walking down the halls about to pop. (Just the other day, I proctored a test and in the room was a 10th grader who just celebrated her daughter's 3rd birthday...I'm 28 and my oldest daughter has yet to turn 3). That's alot of responsibility for a kid to handle.
But it's more than that. It's more than the responsibility that they are forced to undertake. It's the hearts that it breaks. Each others' (when it invariably doesn't work out), any children who might be involved and most importantly, the Lord's.
Now, I haven't been employed at many schools...only 3, but the problem of sexual immorality is worse here at Conroe High than anywhere else I've been. In my first two years of teaching, I could count on one hand the amount of students that I had who had children or were about to. At Conroe High, my hands and feet wouldn't be enough to count in this one school year. And that breaks my heart because I know that it breaks God's.
Popular culture has done nothing to diminish this epidemic. Add to that a generation of students who, for the most part, are growing up with no moral code and you have teenagers who grow up believing that "Whatever is, is right (Alexander Pope)."
Killeen had a program called "Worth the Wait." Students would wear shirts that said on the front "I am..." and on the back, "worth the wait!" It takes a strong support system and a school to encourage that kind of behavior and commitment...and yes, it is a commitment.
Even the good kids. The ones who I know attend church and have a strong relationship with Jesus have admitted to me that they have fallen victim to the temptation. I remember one time in class, somehow, we got on the topic of waiting for your future husband/wife. I had one student, who I respect and admire for her relationship with Christ say, "I wish I could do that." It broke my heart. Since then, I always wonder: "Has this kid, who professes Christ so boldly fallen victim to the temptation?" The cynic in me often finds myself saying, "Probably."
It has become so problematic that I know a youth minister once told his youth group that the majority of them would probably have sex before marriage if they hadn't already. How sad is that? Giving the students a prophecy to fulfill because you assume that it's going to happen. Hopefully, he wasn't right.
It's a problem that weighs heavy on me. When I see and hear these kids showing no regard to their purity, it saddens me.
That's why today was so refreshing.
During my conference period/lunch break I had a student making up a test. While she was taking her test, another student came in and sat down, almost in tears. She walked out of her class because all the kids around her were talking about was sex. She said she hears it at church, at school and she's tired of it. And it broke her heart.
How good to see a student who respects her body. A student who loves the Lord enough to stand up and say that she is tired of hearing about it. It's good to know that there are still some who know what God has said about it and are willing to take a stand to wait.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
But it's more than that. It's more than the responsibility that they are forced to undertake. It's the hearts that it breaks. Each others' (when it invariably doesn't work out), any children who might be involved and most importantly, the Lord's.
Now, I haven't been employed at many schools...only 3, but the problem of sexual immorality is worse here at Conroe High than anywhere else I've been. In my first two years of teaching, I could count on one hand the amount of students that I had who had children or were about to. At Conroe High, my hands and feet wouldn't be enough to count in this one school year. And that breaks my heart because I know that it breaks God's.
Popular culture has done nothing to diminish this epidemic. Add to that a generation of students who, for the most part, are growing up with no moral code and you have teenagers who grow up believing that "Whatever is, is right (Alexander Pope)."
Killeen had a program called "Worth the Wait." Students would wear shirts that said on the front "I am..." and on the back, "worth the wait!" It takes a strong support system and a school to encourage that kind of behavior and commitment...and yes, it is a commitment.
Even the good kids. The ones who I know attend church and have a strong relationship with Jesus have admitted to me that they have fallen victim to the temptation. I remember one time in class, somehow, we got on the topic of waiting for your future husband/wife. I had one student, who I respect and admire for her relationship with Christ say, "I wish I could do that." It broke my heart. Since then, I always wonder: "Has this kid, who professes Christ so boldly fallen victim to the temptation?" The cynic in me often finds myself saying, "Probably."
It has become so problematic that I know a youth minister once told his youth group that the majority of them would probably have sex before marriage if they hadn't already. How sad is that? Giving the students a prophecy to fulfill because you assume that it's going to happen. Hopefully, he wasn't right.
It's a problem that weighs heavy on me. When I see and hear these kids showing no regard to their purity, it saddens me.
That's why today was so refreshing.
During my conference period/lunch break I had a student making up a test. While she was taking her test, another student came in and sat down, almost in tears. She walked out of her class because all the kids around her were talking about was sex. She said she hears it at church, at school and she's tired of it. And it broke her heart.
How good to see a student who respects her body. A student who loves the Lord enough to stand up and say that she is tired of hearing about it. It's good to know that there are still some who know what God has said about it and are willing to take a stand to wait.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Combining Things
So many others seem to be chiming in on it, so I figured I might as well offer my cent and a half as well. (Now you're asking yourself, "Why isn't he offering his two cents?" The answer: probably because my opinions isn't worth as much as those of Peter King and the talking heads on ESPN.)
The NFL Scouting Combine.
Alot of people seem to be coming down hard on the combine and I agree with them.
Alot of people praise the combine and I agree with them.
Hmmm.
For those who aren't in the know about the Combine, it's a 6 day workout session for more than 200 former college football players. They bench press, jump, run, and interview for 600+ NFL personnel from teams around the league.
The knock on the combine? Who cares if Chris Johnson runs a 4.24 40 yard dash? Can he still do it zig-zagging between defensive tackles and linebackers with 25 lbs of pads on? What's the point of knowing how high Michael Oher can jump if he can't move his feet well enough to keep top rated outside linebackers and defensive ends off of his quarterback's blindside?
All valid questions. All questions that I totally agree with. You can't judge a football player by having them run drills that will never translate onto the football field. Chris Johnson will never be running down the straight down the field with nothing but Under Armour on his body. Never will Michael Oher have the need to jump as he possibly can.
Many insiders, I believe, would tell you that the best judge of a football player is watching them on film, playing football. Makes plenty of sense, right? Judge a football player by watching him play football.
So what is the point of the Combine, exactly?
It's at the Combine that we find out just how hard prospects have been working since their college days have ended. Every year we hear about the big names who show up 30 pounds overweight. Usually the fat offensive and defensive linemen. We get to see what kind of personal drive they have and what kind of effect it has on their performance. Personal drive that will affect their long term performance. Their committment to the team.
It's at the Combine where we see how fast guys can run. Wait...didn't you already say that? Yeah. I did.
Even though a guy will never run on a football field wihtout pads, there's still speed there...and everyone else is running with pads, too. Have you seen Chris Johnson run away from defenders? There's a reason I picked him in my fantasy draft when he was a rookie. They laughed at me then. The next year, he was taken in the first round. Speed is still speed. Put the same pads on everyone else and you've got a slower speed, yes, but everyone is slower now.
It's at the Combine where we meet prospects and figure out how smart they are. What do they know about strategy and game plans ? What kind of men are they? Will they cause problems in the locker room? Or worse. Off the field?
So, yeah. The Combine is a big show that draws a devoted crowd. It's a money maker. There's still something that NFL personnel can gain from sending scouts and coaches to see and talk to these guys. There's just not as much to gain as some might think.
The NFL Scouting Combine.
Alot of people seem to be coming down hard on the combine and I agree with them.
Alot of people praise the combine and I agree with them.
Hmmm.
For those who aren't in the know about the Combine, it's a 6 day workout session for more than 200 former college football players. They bench press, jump, run, and interview for 600+ NFL personnel from teams around the league.
The knock on the combine? Who cares if Chris Johnson runs a 4.24 40 yard dash? Can he still do it zig-zagging between defensive tackles and linebackers with 25 lbs of pads on? What's the point of knowing how high Michael Oher can jump if he can't move his feet well enough to keep top rated outside linebackers and defensive ends off of his quarterback's blindside?
All valid questions. All questions that I totally agree with. You can't judge a football player by having them run drills that will never translate onto the football field. Chris Johnson will never be running down the straight down the field with nothing but Under Armour on his body. Never will Michael Oher have the need to jump as he possibly can.
Many insiders, I believe, would tell you that the best judge of a football player is watching them on film, playing football. Makes plenty of sense, right? Judge a football player by watching him play football.
So what is the point of the Combine, exactly?
It's at the Combine that we find out just how hard prospects have been working since their college days have ended. Every year we hear about the big names who show up 30 pounds overweight. Usually the fat offensive and defensive linemen. We get to see what kind of personal drive they have and what kind of effect it has on their performance. Personal drive that will affect their long term performance. Their committment to the team.
It's at the Combine where we see how fast guys can run. Wait...didn't you already say that? Yeah. I did.
Even though a guy will never run on a football field wihtout pads, there's still speed there...and everyone else is running with pads, too. Have you seen Chris Johnson run away from defenders? There's a reason I picked him in my fantasy draft when he was a rookie. They laughed at me then. The next year, he was taken in the first round. Speed is still speed. Put the same pads on everyone else and you've got a slower speed, yes, but everyone is slower now.
It's at the Combine where we meet prospects and figure out how smart they are. What do they know about strategy and game plans ? What kind of men are they? Will they cause problems in the locker room? Or worse. Off the field?
So, yeah. The Combine is a big show that draws a devoted crowd. It's a money maker. There's still something that NFL personnel can gain from sending scouts and coaches to see and talk to these guys. There's just not as much to gain as some might think.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
It's Lookin' Bleak...
Collecting writing samples that I have to pass on to someone else for a purpose that I don't fully understand is punishing enough. Collecting writing samples that have nothing to do with English is just plain frustrating. I was given a math and science prompt for my kids to use. Those are two subjects that I've spent the last 10 years trying very hard to forget about, so I knew that I wouldn't be much help to them in those areas, but I did my due dilligence and figured out how to explain perpendicular bisectors and angle bisectors of triangles.
We needed 5 samples. The first 3 are past tense narratives. I chose to toss out the science prompt and give the kids a social studies prompt. Simple enough, right? Let's write about the Civil War. I just wanted them to explain the conflicts between the North and South. That's it.
The kids came in. They looked at the prompt on the board. They started their barrage of questions and comments. Questions that made my jaw drop and my tears fall.
"Which war was that?"
"I don't remember anything about the Civil War!"
"Who did we fight in that one?"
Are you kidding me?! These are seniors in high school and they couldn't intelligently tell me what the Civil War was all about.
What a sad day.
On to day two. Bisectors. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know what bisectors were, but when I looked them up...not that tough. Lines that cut lines/angles in half. Wow. That's tough. You'd think that I would've asked them to explain Einstein's theory of relativity.
I see Jay Leno stopping them on a street in New York and asking them who the first President was. And I hear them saying, "Abraham Lincoln!" And then, the rest of America laughs at them.
So, what went wrong? When did our kids stop being able to think for themselves? When did they start relying on other people to do their work? Maybe we just stopped expecting enough from them. I don't know, but it sure is a sad day when 18 and 19 year olds can't tell you anything about the Civil War.
Are you fearing for our future yet?
We needed 5 samples. The first 3 are past tense narratives. I chose to toss out the science prompt and give the kids a social studies prompt. Simple enough, right? Let's write about the Civil War. I just wanted them to explain the conflicts between the North and South. That's it.
The kids came in. They looked at the prompt on the board. They started their barrage of questions and comments. Questions that made my jaw drop and my tears fall.
"Which war was that?"
"I don't remember anything about the Civil War!"
"Who did we fight in that one?"
Are you kidding me?! These are seniors in high school and they couldn't intelligently tell me what the Civil War was all about.
What a sad day.
On to day two. Bisectors. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know what bisectors were, but when I looked them up...not that tough. Lines that cut lines/angles in half. Wow. That's tough. You'd think that I would've asked them to explain Einstein's theory of relativity.
I see Jay Leno stopping them on a street in New York and asking them who the first President was. And I hear them saying, "Abraham Lincoln!" And then, the rest of America laughs at them.
So, what went wrong? When did our kids stop being able to think for themselves? When did they start relying on other people to do their work? Maybe we just stopped expecting enough from them. I don't know, but it sure is a sad day when 18 and 19 year olds can't tell you anything about the Civil War.
Are you fearing for our future yet?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
"Ahhh, the Olympics."
The words of Pheobe Buffay (after hearing the wedding march), "Ahh, the Olympics."
Just in case you missed it, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have overtaken the NBC airwaves. Am I complaining? By no means!
It seems that I never really look forward to the Olympics (probably more so in the Winter), but in the weeks leading up the Opening Ceremonies, I find myself more and more anxious for the games to begin. Perhaps it's something to fill the spot that football has left. Perhaps it's all of the sappy stories that bring tears to my eyes. (ie, the Dan Jensen Visa commercial- promises his dying sister that he'll win gold, he crashes; next Olympic games, he wins and takes the victory lap with his daughter who he named after his dead sister...I know.)
Who knows what, exactly, it is, but there is some amazing draw to any Olympic games.
I just finished watching Apolo Ohno take second place in the 1500 short track speed skating because two Korean racers tried to pass each other and wiped out. Koreans were going to sweep the race. Instead, one Korean gets 1st, USA cleans up with 2nd and 3rd.
Ando now, the women's moguls...in a blinding fog. Exciting stuff.
Things that I would NEVER watch outside of the Olympic moniker. The world's best athletes competing in one city during 14 days. Definitely worth checking out.
What draws you to the Olympics?
Just in case you missed it, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have overtaken the NBC airwaves. Am I complaining? By no means!
It seems that I never really look forward to the Olympics (probably more so in the Winter), but in the weeks leading up the Opening Ceremonies, I find myself more and more anxious for the games to begin. Perhaps it's something to fill the spot that football has left. Perhaps it's all of the sappy stories that bring tears to my eyes. (ie, the Dan Jensen Visa commercial- promises his dying sister that he'll win gold, he crashes; next Olympic games, he wins and takes the victory lap with his daughter who he named after his dead sister...I know.)
Who knows what, exactly, it is, but there is some amazing draw to any Olympic games.
I just finished watching Apolo Ohno take second place in the 1500 short track speed skating because two Korean racers tried to pass each other and wiped out. Koreans were going to sweep the race. Instead, one Korean gets 1st, USA cleans up with 2nd and 3rd.
Ando now, the women's moguls...in a blinding fog. Exciting stuff.
Things that I would NEVER watch outside of the Olympic moniker. The world's best athletes competing in one city during 14 days. Definitely worth checking out.
What draws you to the Olympics?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
And Another Season is Gone
I'll be the first to admit. I wanted the Colts to win. I like Peyton. I wanted to see him solidify his legacy as, arguably, the best quarterback in NFL history. I wanted to say, "I watched him become great." not that I haven't, but, I think, this would have been IT. Now, despite Dustin's hatred for the player, he's still a great quarterback. But today, he wasn't the best in Miami.
I'll also be the first to admit that the Saints played a great game. The first quarter as an exception, Drew Brees was unstoppable. He threaded what had, until tonight, been a highly underrated Colts defense. Tonight, Brees made them look overrated.
The Saints coaching was far superior tonight. Sean Payton (former offensive coordinator in Dallas--just thought I'd throw that in there) was gutsy--that onside kick to start the second half, wow! He found the right matchups at the right times.
So, congrats Who Dat nation. Your team can no longer be called the 'Aints. 3 wins this post-season. 2 in the previous 42 years. That's a team of destiny if there ever was one. Bourbon street will be partying till the wee hours of Thursday morning. Then, there will be a few hours of rest before Mardi Gras begins to rock the streets. This is gonna be a very, very long party.
So now, another football season is over. This year, there's not even a probowl to "look forward to" (in quotations because...who really looks forward to the probowl?). Football is over 'till August and there's only one happy team.
Now...as one of the 31 unhappy teams, my Cowboys can take this away from this season: 3 victories over the Eagles. First playoff win in 13 years AND we beat the SuperBowl champions at home when they were at their peak in the regular season. Definitely somethings to build on.
So this doesn't come out to be about the Cowboys...Again, CONGRATS WHO DAT!
I'll also be the first to admit that the Saints played a great game. The first quarter as an exception, Drew Brees was unstoppable. He threaded what had, until tonight, been a highly underrated Colts defense. Tonight, Brees made them look overrated.
The Saints coaching was far superior tonight. Sean Payton (former offensive coordinator in Dallas--just thought I'd throw that in there) was gutsy--that onside kick to start the second half, wow! He found the right matchups at the right times.
So, congrats Who Dat nation. Your team can no longer be called the 'Aints. 3 wins this post-season. 2 in the previous 42 years. That's a team of destiny if there ever was one. Bourbon street will be partying till the wee hours of Thursday morning. Then, there will be a few hours of rest before Mardi Gras begins to rock the streets. This is gonna be a very, very long party.
So now, another football season is over. This year, there's not even a probowl to "look forward to" (in quotations because...who really looks forward to the probowl?). Football is over 'till August and there's only one happy team.
Now...as one of the 31 unhappy teams, my Cowboys can take this away from this season: 3 victories over the Eagles. First playoff win in 13 years AND we beat the SuperBowl champions at home when they were at their peak in the regular season. Definitely somethings to build on.
So this doesn't come out to be about the Cowboys...Again, CONGRATS WHO DAT!
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