Teacher's Aid - "Budget Cuts"

Why is it that one of the most needed occupations in the world are in such jeopardy?  My wife and I both have a heart for education.  She has an elementary education degree, and I was in the process of pursuing an art education degree when I routed myself toward an exercise science degree.  Every so often we discuss the question that I posed at the beginning.  Along those same lines, why is it that people in college and pro athletics can make an outrageous amount of money, but those who are trying to mold young minds make very little, in comparison?  From working in the athletic field, prior to preaching, I do know a little about the hows and whys of this question.  

In the state of Kansas our education monies are looking pretty bleak. This is causing many schools to really tighten up their budgets.  Some are finding ways to "cut the fat" and keep the meat.  However, if this trend continues, then what?  Will our schools look "anorexic" as we will be trimming so much meat that their health will deteriorate?  I hope not!

I realize that your future is concerning you.  I realize that you may have some sleepless nights. I realize I am not going to be able to prevent either of those two things.  

What I do want you to do is use each day as a new day and a new opportunity to make a difference in kids' lives.  Whether that is one or one thousand, you have the ability to make a positive difference.  I want you to allow the passions you had/have for education to propel you to greatness in the lessons you plan and present.  

If you are having some difficulty with your passion, maybe you can use some of these movies for inspiration (in no particular order)...Mona Lisa Smile, Ron Clark Story, Glory Road, Hoosiers, Facing the Giants, or Coach Carter.  I know I am probably forgetting some.  All of these involve education in one form or another. All of these give me inspiration to keep going if I am ever going through a slump.   

Is the financial state of your school's budget affecting you negatively, to the point that it is distracting?  I cheer you on as you pursue each day looking forward to helping inspire a young mind.  As I write this, I am getting ready to sub tomorrow and am looking forward to the students that will be in the classroom and how I will be able to have a one-day, one-hour opportunity to impress something positive onto them.  

If you are going to have a job next year, count your blessings.  If you are retiring, count your blessings.  If you are not going to have a job in education next year, still count your blessings.  Whether it is in the classroom, on the field, in the office, or anywhere else, you can make a positive difference in someone's life.  Go out and do exactly that!  Have a great rest of the year!

No Victory in Mud Slinging

Complaints are a dime-a-dozen. It doesn't matter if it is a child complaining about what's for dinner, a fan/player complaining about an official's call or lack there of, a customer's dissatisfaction with their food, an actors work in a play/film, the weather, the government, or how a church operates. We find it easy to complain. We want to be satisfied, so when we're not, we don't give second chances, we expect to be pleased, so we let people know about it.

Have you been receiving complaints? I've had my fair share. I once thought I wanted to be a "famous" preacher. However, after knowing all that they go through from skeptics, I thought about it again and do not think I need to be "well-known".

If you have been experiencing some complaints lately, this week's quote is for you. I hope you gain encouragement from it...

If criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it.
Maintain the high ground when you're under fire.
No victory is worth winning at the expense of picking up the mud that has been slung at you and throwing it back. ~ Rubel Shelly

It is easy to throw mud back. There are people out there that will always complain about something I have done. They have slung mud as they were upset. It took a lot to imitate Christ and not sling it back. Though it may make me feel good to throw the mud back, there is no victory found in mud slinging.

If you are thinking about slinging some mud...don't. If you've been slung at...don't sling back. There is no victory in that. Rise above being under fire! You can gain victory in rising above rather than lowering yourself to their level.

Ever trying to maintain the higher ground...with His help...

Ride On...

When I was just young enough to play with "big boy" toys, I remember a toy that was a lot of fun to play with. It was called a "Stomper 4X4". It was battery operated, by one AA battery. It was four-wheel drive. It was designed to be able to go over all kinds of terrain and obstacles. It didn't move fast, but it made it to the end.

Life is not a race, either. We're going to get to the end when we get there. People "cross the line" at different times and some win or lose, at that time. However, we have a lot of obstacles to go over in the meantime. That thought brings us to this week's quote...

Ride on!
Rough-shod if need be,
smooth-shod if that will do,
but ride on!
Ride over all obstacles,
and win the race!
~ Charles Dickens

Ride on! We will come upon some type of obstacle in life...probably today. Maybe you'll get a day that you get the smooth road (those days are always nice). However, be like the Stomper, encounter every obstacle with the idea of getting over it. Use all "4 wheels" to keep going and going until you are over it, don't allow obstacles to get in your way!

May your life be filled with flat roadways, but if it includes obstacles, may God get you over them as you seek to "win the race!"

Riding on...

Unleashed Imagination

One question every American child is asked sometime during childhood is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Some will state the occupation of a parent. Others may say to be a sports star, an actor/actress, or another type of celebrity. What was your answer?

Why didn't we make it to that goal? I think that part of the problem lies in this week's quote...

Nothing limits achievement like small thinking;
nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination. ~ William Arthur Ward

At some point, either you or someone very close to you will start to limit your achievement by thinking small. In the movie "Rudy" there is the transitional scene where the main character, who happens to be the baby of the family, says "Someday, I'm going to play football for Notre Dame." Laughter and doubt comes forth. "Yeah right" are the thoughts. This small thinking and the many obstacles in life didn't stop him from making his dream come true. If you saw the movie you cheered along with him when he accomplished his goal.

What small thinking has limited your possibilities? Financial, doubt, fear, whispers from your conscience, life going in a different direction, jeers, faded passion? What about seeing where you're at and re-routing your direction so you can still expand the possibilities? Don't let things stop you, just use the obstacles as opportunities to be re-routed and see what is around the next bend, but keep on going! Imagination is absent of boundaries. Let yourself dream, then start seeing how you can get from where you're at to that point!

Don't think small, and maybe one day you'll get to "play for Notre Dame" too!

Enjoying imagining...