25.01.2010
Uncategorized
There are times in a Principal’s life when you wonder when this uphill battle will ever pay off. Even though God has proved time and time again that our labor is not in vain, our flesh rears its ugly head and causes us to doubt. Next time, I should simply go to God and ask Him myself because last Thursday, He gave me a great response!
Our student-athletes had planned a fundraiser at the Chandler Chick-Fil-A. The proceeds were to help pay for their athletic uniforms. However, somewhere between the time we established the date and the actual event, an earthquake devastated the country of Haiti. Unbeknown to me, our students were desiring to help but were not quite sure how to go about it. Then it was decided in a meeting with all the student athletes. Why don’t we give a portion of the proceeds to the earthquake victims of Haiti?
Let’s be honest- not every teenager thinks this way. They think about their social status, their cell phone, their hair, and so many other things- but not usually others. This was when God said to me, “Yes, it’s worth it! It’s working!” Friend, remember that “soon this life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
14.01.2010
Uncategorized
I walked into the classroom yesterday and asked my Pre-Algebra students to turn to the lesson entitled “Extracting Square Roots.” This class is unlike many other students when it comes to math. I have never met a group of students that love math! Which makes teaching so much fun and in some ways easier because the student wants to meet you halfway. However, yesterday, faces that normally looked excited now seem exasperated.
For some reason, extracting the square roots of large numbers was more difficult than expected. For forty minutes or so, I labored to explain and demonstrate the proper method in square root extraction. The process can be very tedious. Attention to detail is necessary. Patience is definitely helpful. Yesterday was undoubtedly one of the harder days for this class.
I wonder how we’re doing when it comes to “extracting potential” from our students. It can be frustrating at times, at the very least difficult. Yet like square roots, it can be tedious, attention to detail is needed but our patience will yield our desired fruit! Satan is as a roaring lion, seeking to devour our young people. We must do all that we can, by God’s grace, to show our students that they are loved by God and that He desires to use the potential He has instilled in each and everyone of them.
Today, my students came in with a little trepidation because of yesterday’s experience. I very patiently demonstrated the method again, making sure they understood each step. Then it happened- the light bulb came on! The smile on their faces made my day as they realized where they were stumbling and made the necessary adjustments to properly extract square roots. And that’s just math!
Imagine the eternal impact when we learn to extract the potential out of our students. So don’t delay and start today and witness the effect one young person can have when they wholly yield their life to Christ!
18.10.2009
Devotional Thought
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Because of our busyness today, we have coined terms such as “time management” and “time-saving” which causes us to want a “timeout!” The truth of the matter is we can neither manage time or save it. Managing time is like managing weather- you know it’s there but there is nothing you can do to change it. Time can cannot be saved either. You cannot go down to the bank and deposit some time only to withdraw it later. You cannot say, “I’ll save an hour here so I have an hour later!” We say it, but the words do not match our definition. Just because we saved an hour today does not mean we will have twenty-five hours tomorrow.
There is only one thing you can do with time and that is to spend it. You cannot bottle it up and save it for later. You cannot stop it (though many of us would like to try). It is one of the aspects of life that you cannot correct and everything is tied to it. Think about this: how you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money; financial mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever.
The Psalmist prayed teach us to number our day, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom. Here are a few life-changing lessons about spending our time. But before you start, you will need a piece of paper, a blank calendar (daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly- all of which can be downloaded from the internet), a pencil, and all the other calendars you have in your house (church, school, volunteer, family, etc.)
1. Prioritize. Determine who or what is the most important to you. Actually, as a Christian, that has already been determined. Colossians 1:18 states, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he (Christ) might have the preeminence.” (emphasis mine). All other work is assigned through His Word and by His will (i.e. our family, our service, our jobs, our possessions, etc.). Remember, the Lord wants our precious time, not our spare time.
2. Plan Your Priorities. Don’t be a slave to time by allowing it to dictate what you can and cannot accomplish. Dr. Curtis Huston used to say, “We always have time to do the things we really believe are important.” Paul said in Ephesians 5:15-17, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Have a course of action for your day, your week, your month, and your life. Be specific and detailed- treat them like appointment because they are. (i.e. 6 a.m.- Bible reading and prayer, 6:45 a.m- review my daily and weekly schedule, 6:50 a.m.- make lunches for the kids, 7:10 a.m.- breakfast with family, etc.). Always be aware of what’s coming up, at least a week at a time. Include all personal, professional, and spiritual items on your schedule. Give more time to difficult or detailed tasks. Only use one calendar! Using multiple calendars is like reading multiple books- at the same time. Place all your tasks and events on one calendar. Make copies for the family if you need to. Color code each priority is you can (i.e. red for church, blue for family, yellow for school, pink for doctors’ appointments, etc.)
3. Progress Your Plan. It does you no good to plan something and not follow through. Lost time is never found! It has been said that what you put off today, you’ll probably put off tomorrow. Procrastination is a thief of time. The cry of “I’m just too busy” is sometimes a sign that priorities have not been planned therefore there is no progress. Isn’t it amazing that as Americans, we have more time-saving devices and less time than any other people in the world? Plan your work and work your plan!
4. Perfect Your Progress. Success is not a stationary goal but a moving target. The matter of time constantly changes and the need to reassess and reevaluate is necessary. There were plans last week that you may have to modify this week. There’s nothing wrong with that. But be honest with yourself when you ask these questions: why didn’t it work? did I commit enough effort and resources to it? did I do my best? how much time did I spend correcting the problems? did I pray over the problem? was that my plan or God’s? We already know that time is here and it’s gone. Think about this, if you don’t have time to do it right, how will you find time to do it over? Always be willing to improve and implement methods that have been proven effective. Read books on “time management” and study highly efficient people. We can always learn more!
These are just a few ways you can improve the use of your time. Why is this so important? Time is what life is made of and the quality of your life depends upon how you spend your time. Remember the words of James, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
14.10.2009
Devotional Thought, Sports
Three words described the second ever soccer match played by the GBA Lions- David versus Goliath! As the opposing team warmed up across the filed, it was evident that we were facing a giant. With 22 players decked in their white jerseys and royal blue shorts, they began their organized routine to get ready for the game. It was intimidating for the 11 GBA Lions, who just a few days before made history.
The teams gathered at center field for prayer and the game began. Arrowhead Christian scored two goals- in the first two minutes! The dejection started to set in the team’s faces until Coach Orellana yelled, “Keep your head up! Play your game!” The home crowd cheered and the team looked more determined than ever. For 80 minutes they battled. With a full team on the field, there were no substitutes and all 11 played the whole game!
A slide tackle here, a steal there, and even a body check once or twice. These Lions were not going away, they were not going to just lay down and quit! They played with intensity and a lot of heart. Six times the Lions had a shot on the goal and six times they missed. But on the seventh shot, as Aaron McClure came streaking down the middle, GBA scored their first goal of the game at the 74th minute. Watching them celebrate that well-deserved, hard-earned goal was worth it all!
I am proud of our team for this reason: when Arrowhead had scored so many goals that people on the sidelines started to lose count, it would have been easy to quit. Yet, the team kept on grinding, running, kicking, and yes, even at times, screaming! They never quit! And this quality they’ve learned on one Tuesday afternoon in October will be a characteristic that will serve them well beyond their sport-playing days.
Can you imagine what God can do with Christians who will simply refuse to quit? If they don’t quit their Bible reading, their praying, their giving, their soul winning, their church attending. Imagine what can be done for the kingdom of God! Imagine what the next generation would be like.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20
10.10.2009
News & Views, Sports
Today was a historic day for Gateway Baptist Academy as our school played its first interscholastic game. The soccer match was held at Freestone Park and was attended by a good crowd from our church, as well as the visiting team- Valley Baptist.
Valley struck first, scoring two goals in the first half. After regrouping, the GBA Lions came back with more aggressiveness and energy. With crisp passing, midfielder Aaron McClure slashed through the middle and scored GBA’s first ever goal during the 61st minute of the game. However, that was the last goal the Lions would score as the game ended in a 2-1 score.
Despite the loss, the team demonstrated a great spirit and maintained a godly testimony. It was a joy to see the two teams meet at centerfield and kneel for prayer after the game and I thought to myself, “This is what the sports program is about- instilling in our young men Christ-like characteristics. Learning to win and lose while keeping Christ in focus for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.”
As a principal, I am proud of my students for the effort and character they displayed. I told them this morning that someday, we’ll get old and talk about the memories they made today. And at that time, the energy to play soccer or any other sport will be gone as well. But what we will possess are the biblical principles and precepts we have learned, even in the arena of sports. And if God chooses, as He has laid upon our hearts, to teach our student athletes godly character through sports, then we would have accomplished more than what most school sports programs would offer.