CRCT - It's Test Time

I'm a teacher. I'm a coach. I'm an expert.

Do you know how frustrating that can be?

I've spent 150 days this school year dispensing mathematical information for students to absorb into their daily routines of my class.

As a teacher, I've made an attempt to facilitate a safe, fun learning environment. But for some strange reason concepts like exponents, functions, scale factors, and systems aren't too intriguing.

Students jolting from their seats doesn't stem from their excitement in solving math equations, rather, their phones are buzzing from a Twitter feed or a spider suspended from the ceiling.

While I'm trying to help students master the content taught in my classroom, they become more interested in mastering their Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram profiles.

But here's the key driving force behind my persevering commitment to teaching these students: one day, they'll get it! Maybe not today. But one day they will see the value and potential they have to make a difference in someone's life.

Remember the question Jesus asked, "Who do people say that I am?" And then He said, "But who do you say I am?" Peter's bold and accurate response received a metaphorical applause from Jesus that was crushed under the weight of ignorance only moments later. (Matthew 16:13-20).

No sooner than Peter answered so eloquently did he rebuke Jesus when He pronounced His coming death. (Matthew 16:21-23) Really? He claimed that Jesus knows all things then called him out for predicting His death.

Peter went from varsity to JV in a matter of seconds. Peter's brief moment of humble adoration fell victim to the crucible of vindictive arrogance.

But Peter's story didn't end there. After Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter became one of the most instrumental leaders of the early church (Acts 2:14-39). For three years Peter walked with Jesus. But, finally, the day came when he realized that his identity and faith were to be placed in Christ, the real difference maker, and he was never the same.

How about you? Where are you on the roller coaster of life? Have you sunk low in a valley of defeat? Have you topped out with a sense of pride? There's a place in life where Christ wants to bring you to recognize that He is who He says He is and will do what He said He will do. And it just might be that He's calling you to Himself right now to make a real difference in your life. Take heed to His words today!

Easter Cross

Easter bunnies. Easter eggs. Easter baskets.

What about an Easter Cross?

The Easter bunny story embraces the very notion the cross came to destroy: good behavior results in good gifts. If people could be 'good enough' to gain these trinkets and toys, then, why did Jesus have to die on a cross?

This idea of being 'good enough' is placing all of our deeds on a lateral scale of comparison with others. We credit all of our successes as being better than others and our losses make us the victim of others' evil intent.

So many people spend their entire lives trying to maximize their worth through what they accomplish and what they accumulate. But if we're honest, we are never fully satisfied by such trivial pursuits. Why?

Imagine being there on 'Good Friday.' Jesus was betrayed, arrested, beaten, and eventually crucified. Family, friends, skeptics, the religious, and Roman soldiers were all in attendance. They looked with anger, doubt, fear, and cynicism as Jesus' body was crushed under the weight of Roman execution.

Yet, in the back of their minds they must have wondered if there was any merit to claims such as, "I am the Son of God," "I will rise again," and "the kingdom is coming."

You see, we were created to experience so much more than a collection of friends, foes, and fortunes. We were created to experience an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. Our rebellion pushed Him away, but the cross became the ultimate display of God's love, mercy, and grace.

God is love. "For God so loved the world, He sent His son..." (John 3:16). Because God is love, He made a way for us to experience His love eternally through the death of His son.

God is mercy. "Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). Because God is mercy, He did not condemn us in our rebellion but rather chose to let His wrath fall on His son that we may be forgiven.

God is grace. "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more..." (Romans 5:20). Because God is grace, He offers us forgiveness and a life we do not deserve as a gift of His goodness.

As you celebrate Easter, remember it's not about being 'good enough.' Don't weigh your deeds on the lateral scale of comparison with others. We're not bad seeking to become good. We are dead in need of life. And the only way to experience life is to respond in faith to God's love, mercy, and grace.

Entertaining Angels

With recent movies such as Son of God, Noah, and God's Not Dead, I wonder if box office sales have risen among members of the Christian faith.

 

Each of these films have received astounding reviews from both the 'Christian' and 'secular' critics for a variety of reasons; mostly due to misinterpretations of Scripture and superb productions by Christian motion pictures.
 

Consider this: are we seeking to 'Entertain Angels' or 'Entertain Christians'?

 

Are we seeking truth or seeking to be entertained?
Have Christians relented to pop theology in search of biblical accuracy through a masterpiece produced in Hollywood? If so, we are divulging ourselves in an ear tickling, adrenaline seeking production that often excuses biblical evidence leading to the truth.

Are we gauging these movies' success by the plot or box office sales?
If we are concerned with the 'Favorites' & 'Likes' our social media outlets acquire about a well produced film then we are falling short of the vision of such films. Rather than noticing the $ signs, we should engage culture with the relevance of truth where the plots of these movies were developed.

Are we more concerned with our comforts or others' destiny?
If our goal is to see a family-friendly motion picture to appease our own appetite for entertainment above the critical decision of someone's eternal destination, then we have become short-sighted to the mission given to us as believers; sharing a message of hope with eternal implications.

There are two moments in Scripture where heaven is seen celebrating events occurring on earth. There is more joy in heaven over one who repents than ninety-nine who need no repentance (Luke 15:7) and showing hospitality to strangers has led to entertaining angels (Heb 13:2). Neither moment occurs when we self-indulge in entertaining ourselves. The humility required to repent and serve others leads to a celebration of heavenly hosts.

Who are you more inclined to entertain: self or angels? To know the truth we must look beyond culture's attempt to share 'pop theology.' Engage culture with the self-evident truth of Jesus's identity and ongoing mission; GOD'S NOT DEAD. Trust God with others' eternal destiny knowing that repentance and obedience are the ingredients for 'entertaining angels' in heaven.

 

Spring Break(out)

Next week is Spring Break and I will face a montage of decisions: discard an old wardrobe, pick up toys from the floor, unload the dishwasher, clean out the gutters, mow the lawn, straighten up the garage. And the list goes on.

The tension is not which chore to do first. The tension is to work or play. Stay home or travel. Get callouses from work or seeing the sights of new foliage.

"Travel" sounds so appealing and "work" sounds, well, too much like work.

So, what is the purpose of Spring Break?

Here's one suggestion. See the spring, Spring Break, as an opportunity to 'break-out.' Break out of the shell of your own indulgences. Break out of the shackles of self-destructive behaviors. Break out of the string of lies you have come to believe about your past, present, and even your future.

Paul wrote to the church of Colossae about this very idea of breaking out of the ruts and routines of selfish, immoral, and lackadaisical activity. He wrote, "If you have been raised with Christ, then seek the things that are above...Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth." He even created a laundry list of behaviors that we are to put to death in our lives (see 3:5-11). He was stressing this idea that we need to 'break-out.'

But, here's the key: You can't break out without also breaking in. Paul tells the Christians in Colossae to take off a list of behaviors so that they can now replace them with a more compelling view of God in His mercy. Three times he addresses the heart: put on a heart of compassion, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...with thankfulness in your hearts to God (3:12-16).

And he culminates this thought by saying, "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" (3:17).

So, what is the purpose of Spring Break? What will I be doing this week? While the list may or may not be completed, I will make an attempt to do all that I do in His name! Likewise, for you, whatever you do, whatever you say, whatever you think, let it be done according to His plan, in His name, and for His glory!