Substituting...Quite the Experiences

Most of you know that I have had the privilege, yes, privilege, of being able to be a substitute teach in the local schools. Practically all the time, it is in the high school. Being there frequently has allowed the kids to get to know me. This allows for me to have a certain sense of respect. During my time, I have not had to give anyone a detention. Part of that is due to that punishment not being that effective, in my opinion. And two, I don't resort to that until they are defying me. Occasional talking, I can handle. Being defiant, I can't.

I think, in the two and a half years that I have been doing this, I have filled in for almost every teacher. The only one I can think of that I haven't filled in for is the driver's ed teacher. This has allowed me to be in a variety of classrooms. Each classroom brings its own sense of challenges.

Last week, I was in the band room. I didn't have to do anything musically with them, but their freedom brought boredom and boredom brings trouble. The school has a cell phone policy. I was never told about what the policy actually is, so I have my own. It is based on me catching them and their honesty. During that period of forty-four minutes I confiscated three cell phones! Kids trying to text because the were bored! In the middle of the week I caught two, in another class. The first one gave up without a problem. The second one didn't want to give up his phone too easily. I asked for it, and he said "no". We visited, but he still wouldn't give it up. I gave him until the end of the hour (about 6 minutes) to decide if he was going to give it up or not. I even started to write a detention slip, and at that point, he gave it up. I drew the line, and he had to decide which side he was going to be on. That is a "secret" to my success, giving students a choice and then sticking with it.

I also do the same with the class, as a whole. Depending on the situation, they have the choice, as a class, to behave or not. Sometimes they want to go to lunch early or they have to read the entire class period. In these two cases, I will put up numbers from highest to zero. These numbers represent how early they can go to lunch or how much free time they have after reading. I tell them that they've already been given a warning. Then, if even one student is not doing what they are supposed to be doing, I mark a number off. They now have less time for free time or to be able to go to lunch early. It is very effective. Kids have the choice and they take care of each other to win the reward. I don't believe in warning kids over and over. I draw the line and they have the choice of where to stand.

Subbing has given me great opportunities to make Kingdom impacts in the community. Much of the time, the community doesn't even realize it. I love to observe what kids are going through and try to help them as they go through. I like to reach out to those who probably never get reached out to. I enjoy seeing them learn. I enjoy seeing them in the community. I enjoy congratulating them on their achievements. I enjoy meeting their parents. I really have enjoyed subbing and look forward to today, when I get another chance to be in the classroom having many more experiences! I could write about so many things, but this was long enough!!!

Things People Don't Forget

Emotion is a feeling that tends to go deep in your memory and go there very quickly. Think about it, when was the last time that you felt hurt? You can probably recall it very easily. What are some of your favorite holiday/birthday memories? You can also recall those very easily. This concept leads us into this week's quote...

People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.
~ Maya Angelou

You may not recall everything that happened in times that you felt good or bad, but you will remember how you felt.

Emotions are important to memory. As a minister, the times that people remember what I taught or preached on are usually because I triggered some type of emotion that helped their memory. They will forget the words I said and if I did something new, but if I can make them feel a certain, purposeful way, they will have a lower chance of forgetting.

After realizing that emotions affect how we feel, apply this to how you make others feel when you interact with them. Did you lift them up, leave them where they were at, or knock them down?

Emotions can run very deep into the memory. May you make an effort to make them feel wanted, valued, and important. Because that is what they will not forget.

Working on how I make them feel...

Monday Mentionings: Words of Wisdom from the Workshop - Part III

Culture...the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time. That is part of Merriam-Webster's definition. Wal-Mart, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, and Starbucks all employ marketing gurus to make sure that they are able to consistently reach the culture. If they were to fail, their sales would drop. Thus, causing their "sails" to drop. In other words, they wouldn't be able to be in the race with their competitors. The church has the same challenge. We are not in the "sales" arena, but we must be willing to do what we can to keep our "sails" up so that we will not get lost at sea.

Yesterday, we concluded the "Words of Wisdom From the Workshop" sermon series. Here are a couple of applications from the two sermons that were referred to yesterday...

1. "How to Get Today's Culture to Listen to the Ancient Gospel" - Jeff Walling - Are there people in your culture that you would have a hard time talking to, based on something superficial about them? I think we would all answer yes. However, one thing that I've come to realize is that God can use us in any situation. Pray that you will be ready to share Jesus in a practical and relevant way to people that you meet. Pray a "stretching" prayer that God will help you move past the comfort levels you currently have so that you may be able to "win some" (I Corinthians 9:22-23). Don't forget to set your cell phones to 3:16 (for John 3:16) or 4:15 (for Mark 16:15) to pray for someone who needs Jesus or that God would lead you to someone who needs Jesus!!!
2. "Praying with Anticipation" - Randy Harris - "What a day that will be" we sing as we think about the day when we get to see Jesus. THE day when prayers will cease because the saved will go "up" and the unsaved will go "down". However, God is able to do supernatural things. So, if He wills the world to be at peace, for pain to be diminished, and/or for all confusion to be nonexistent, then it can be done. May we be praying with the anticipation of that day..."are you ready"? "There's a great day comin'...are you ready for that day to come?" God is good...All the time!!!

You're a part of a culture...Now, go and take part in connecting your culture with Jesus!

Anticipating the next open door ~