Just Yesterday

by Dick Buckingham

Administrator

One of the things we promised you when we began this blog over a year ago is that we would give you thoughts and insights from a broad range of our experiences. Our contributors include Meridith, who just recently was blessed with her fourth girl. She is a young parent dealing with the struggles of being a working mom. Her perspective on family and life is different from Jennie, whose oldest son just entered seventh grade and the often-feared teenage years. These are yet to be tested waters by Meridith. I, on the other hand, am in a much different life stage. All three of my boys are grown and living on their own. All are married - the last, just this past weekend - and I am enjoying the privileges of being papa to two wonderful grandkids with a third on the way.

I have been through (and survived, though not with all of my hair intact) what both Meridith and Jennie are experiencing first hand. Yet I remember these times like they were yesterday. Indeed, they were just yesterday.

This week my oldest will turn 30 years old. It has become a time of reflection for me as his dad. I remember the day he was born - what joy we felt! We were so blessed to have such a beautiful son! But it was not without its challenges. He sustained injury in the birth process and we experienced one of the most frightening times in our lives as he required brain surgery the day after he was born. God was faithful to us and he not only survived, but thrived!

I remember well the significant moments of his life, like his first steps and words. I remember him attending preschool and then on to kindergarten. He was an energetic young lad and we worked diligently to guide and correct his steps. It seems like just a few days ago when he moved from elementary to junior high. Oh, those were the days! Then on to high school and the dalliances of a teenager! We both survived me teaching him how to drive and how to handle himself around young ladies. I remember how proud I was the day he graduated. It was not the first time I wept on his account, nor has it been the last. Then on to college and he quickly demonstrated his ability for working with computers, graduating with honors. Another proud day! In the midst of all of this, he learned what it meant to work hard and to be faithful to a task no matter what. This characteristic earned him a good job at a place where he loves to work. The day he moved out on his own was another day the tears fell from my face. This past Saturday, he took a beautiful wife and he is beginning a life and family of his own.

Yes, I have covered his life thus far in just a few short sentences. I did that with purpose, because from my

perspective, it seems like it went just that fast. It seems like my parenting days were over before they had just begun. If there is anything I would share with Meridith and Jennie, and any other young parents like them, it would be to try to see their lives from this perspective. Sometimes, when you are in the midst of parenting, particularly during difficult times or struggles, you think it will never end. Believe me... it will, and you will look back with a desire to do more. You will think of things you had planned to do, but never did and things you wished you had done. You will second guess if you did the right thing and sometimes wish you had done more. Before you know it, the story of your life as an active parent of youngsters is over.

I would also encourage parents not to put off until tomorrow something that is important when it comes to your kids. I remember when JJ moved out of the house, I panicked because I felt there were so many things I still needed to teach him, that my job as his dad was not complete. Clearly that was an emotional response and I continue in the role as his dad and build into his life to this day, but we never want to look back and say I wish I had done more. Take every opportunity you can to teach, train and direct the lives of your kids. What the Bible says about training up a child in the way he should go is very true. When he is old, he will not depart from it.

Finally, relish in every moment of being a parent. There are times for every mom or dad that are not very pleasant. There are many scary things that happen and you may not know what to do in every circumstance. But look for joy in each situation realizing that even the worst is only for a time. There will come a day, and very soon, when you will look back with longing remembrance on the days when you were the parent.

As for me, Lilly and Isaac, soon-to-be-born Ezekiel, and all the other beautiful grand kids that God blesses me with will have the loving attention of their papa every moment I can be with them. I am going to treat this new stage of my life with all the energy and strength that I can, for I know it, too, will soon be gone. Thank you God, for a lifetime of joys!

Be the 3 you were meant to be!

Faith Christian School went on Fall Break a few weeks ago. In the weeks leading up to the Fall Break, I had

multiple friends and non-FCS teachers ask me, “What are you going to do for Fall Break?” Saying that our Faith teachers would be attending a Professional Development event while the students were off of school was met with some sympathetic expressions. However, the pity was unnecessary. While it would have been nice to have 2 whole days off to do whatever I wanted to do, what I experienced was a refreshing and inspiring time of remembering why I am a teacher and the influence I have on the students I come in contact with.

The Professional Development event we took part in was at an off campus site with 120 satelink sites participating all over the globe. This format was a bit of a change for those of us who have been around a while. These two days used to include live speakers, breakout sessions, and vendor giveaways. But, “times they are a changing”. You know how hard it is to set aside memories of the good ole days, but my goal was to have a good attitude about the changes, and walk away a better teacher and administrator than I was before. I believe I met my goal. 

Since that event, I have thought back quite a bit on one particular speaker who spoke about 3 types of people: 1s, 2s, and 3s.

1s are people who don’t do the right thing even when someone is looking

2s are people who do the right things ONLY when people are looking, and

3s are people who do the right thing even when no one is looking.  

Throughout the course of the session, the speaker explained the characteristics of each—mostly as it applied to students, but also as it applied to teachers. Judging by the laughter, most of the people at the event could personally relate to the examples she was giving and could probably even picture that one student or teacher that fell into each category. We were challenged to be the best teachers we could be by being 3s at all times. We would all certainly expect surgeons to be 3s during every surgery, so why would the expectation of teachers be any less? It's not! Don’t you know that teachers save lives too!

Ultimately, this is not just a challenge for teachers, but for everyone.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Everything we do should be to the glory of God and that requires us to do the right thing even when no one is looking.

It’s not like we wake up each day and say, “You know what. I think I am going to be a 2 today.” Sometimes we just get lazy or overwhelmed or stressed or just plain tired of doing the right thing--especially in a world that tries to blur the lines between right and wrong. However, Galatians 6:9 reminds us,  “ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

I hope you are challenged as I was to never tire of doing good. No matter where you are or who is watching, be the 3 you were meant to be!

The Road Less Travelled

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Property of Fred Bruner Photography, 2013

My dad has always been a gifted photographer.  My mom recently showed me one of his latest which displays some of the fall colors here in Arizona.  Yes, contrary to critics, we do have fall colors in Arizona!


This photo reminded me of my favorite Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken."

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Whenever I have the opportunity to teach this poem, I compare what Jesus said about two roads.  "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).  Robert Frost found two roads and "took the one less traveled by..."  I'm unsure if Robert Frost was a true believer, but he hit on something that has resonated with me through the years.

The road we walk as Christians is rough - we stumble, we fall, we encounter bumps, and even great mountains stand in our path. It can also seem lonely as we walk with only a few who have found it.  But Robert Frost says it best...."I took the one less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference."   We can't travel both roads.  Frost says he looks down one path and sees as far as he can see and then decides to take the other one.  We must make the choice.  Although the road is long and rough, I would not want to walk on any other path.  Because it is only on this narrow road that I can walk with the only One who makes all the difference.

What is Worship?

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

This is a question one of our international students asked me the other day. A very good question! A question to which the answer is often assumed and often incorrect. Too frequently we equate worship to something we do on Sundays in our churches when we gather together with other believers to sing, pray and hear the Word preached. In reality, our weekly gathering with other believers is meant to be the crescendo of worship in our week.

So what is worship?

I answered this student by stating worship is a way of life. Rom 12:2 tells us we are to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship.” Worship doesn't simply involve some of the activities we do like singing and preaching the Word, it involves all the activities of our life. Everything we do that is consecrated to the Lord and to His glory is worship. Thus every act that we do, every word, every deed can and ought to be an expression of worship. Thus our work or study, when done to the glory of God is worship. When we seek to honor God in our relationships, it is worship. When we consecrate our words, thoughts and intentions to the Lord, it is an act of worship. If the manner of our lives is characterized by thankfulness, it is worship. If we look for the hand of God in the difficult times we face, it is worship. When we trust and do not fear, it is worship. When we seek to obey even when it is difficult, it is worship. Worship ought to be who we are at all times, circumstances, and places. When we gather with the saints on Sunday, we are simply joining together and encouraging each other to keep on living lives of worship.

What are some of the ways that you see the characteristic of worship in your life? If you arrested for worshiping the one true Creator, would there be evidence to convict you?

Be Intentional

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As I read Jennie’s blog last week, I was struck by the deep and special relationship that she and her grandmother shared. I fear that relationships such as these are becoming rarer and rarer as we go through our lives in a hurried frenzy. Unfortunately, death is what often forces us to examine our relationships and recognize the importance of taking the time to invest in people. This was never more real to me than when I lost my oldest sister in a car accident in 2001 and then my dad a few years later to heart failure. How quickly we recognize the opportunities that can be lost forever in just a few moments. We all know that life is busy. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we often feel forced to let things fall by the wayside just to stay afloat. Unfortunately, the casualties of our busyness are often our relationships. 

What’s interesting is that most of us fully recognize that relationships are important. Most would also firmly agree that they WANT to strengthen their relationships with people. And yet, we find ourselves saying, “We should get together sometime” over and over again without ever following through. We may fully intend to make that call to a family member, or set up a night out with the girls, but I’ve come to realize that my good intentions will never turn into action without BEING INTENTIONAL. 

How much time does it really take to send a quick text to let someone know you are thinking about them? While you are skimming your Facebook feed to keep up-to-date on the latest happenings of your friends, how often do you actually write one of them a quick message? Maybe a quick email? Believe me. I’ve heard the excuses . . . actually, I frequently make them. “I just don’t have time.” 

Really? There are 24 hours in my day and I can’t spare 1 minute of it to tell someone I care? 

Let’s face it. Hour-long conversations with each of our friends would be wonderful, but most of us can’t commit to taking that much time. That doesn’t mean that we need to give up all together though! Take baby steps—even if that means programming the calendar on your phone to remind you to contact one friend a day or even a week. I have recently found that I can have events repeat on my phone for up to 50 years! It may seem ridiculous to have to take such extreme measures, but it is being intentional. It is saying, “Relationships are important and I am going to be intentional about letting people know I care about them.” 

God did not create us to be alone. We were designed for relationship—first with Him, but also with others. I know what you may be thinking. “I am surrounded by people every day!” While this is true for most of us, I would venture to say that most of us rarely take the time to intentionally invest time in those people. What a blessing results when we do though!

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

 

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Of course you will still have relationships that will never go deeper than the surface. That’s okay.  But are you thinking of someone right now that you’ve been meaning to connect with? Do it! Send the text. Send the facebook message. Send the email. You will be glad that you did! And the person that receives it may need the encouragement more than you will ever know.