Public School: The Frenemy?

I have wonderful memories of my time in public school. All the great friends and the handful of caring teachers that were part of that experience. I still remember the lunch at middles school. The fish sticks and the plastic looking cheese on the the fish sandwich. I recall fighting to get the last of the strawberry milk and saving my tater tots till the end. Once in a while we would have ice cream sandwiches. I also remember going to school regardless of the weather. Once, it snowed about a foot and I went to school.

High school was a similar experience, but with a more grown up feeling. For lunch, we were able to go outside. I had some flexibility in choosing my classes, and being part of a team or a club was a right of passage.

For the pass two years I have worked in NYC public schools through a non-profit organization called 20/20 Vision for Schools. We bringing much needed performing arts programs, leadership workshops and school assemblies to underperforming schools. Needless to say, schools are not the same as I remember them. The constant screaming of some of the teachers leaves you numb. The authority issues from some of the students can be daunting. The over all loudness has left me wondering if public schools are a place where I want my daughter to be educated.

With a daughter who is starting middle school this September, I have become more aware of the needs, the failings and the shortcomings of public schools. We have considered home schooling, but I know that unless my wife or I do it this will not be a possibility. We looked into private schools, but the costs are outrageous and this does not guarantee that her experience and surroundings will be what we want.

I am not sure what the answers is, but I know that we will continue to teach her to be humble, passionate, loving, caring, strong, fearless and above all faithful to God. This is something that’s within our control and we intend to use it.

I just read an article on Relevant Magazine, Public Schools Aren’t Our Enemies, which speaks of this as well. Well written by a former teacher.

If you have kids, or if you are a teacher, I would like to hear your thoughts?

Open letter to the church.

In the midst of all the controversy concerning the death of several african american men at the hands of white Police Officers, I have kept silent. First, because I did not have all the facts and I like to talk about what I know rather than to speculate. Secondly, as the days have passed since the latest incident, the amount of voices that have been speaking on this have been overwhelming. Some are hurting, others are angry. Many feel distraught and sad while others are just fed up with the situation. People are feeling a gamut of emotions and rightly so. A life is valuable, precious, worthy of respect. Not to mention those who have lost their lives were fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, mothers, sisters, daughters and belong to a family who is hurting and in mourning. It is a travesty that needs to be confronted and corrected.

This post is not another post to highlight the injustice and oppression that minorities suffer. I believe that many posts have been written on this subject. This post is, however, is a plead to my brothers and sisters who are suffering, to think about their words and actions in the context of The Kingdom of God and it’s implication to us. To take a moment to truly understand their feelings, their anger and frustration and to channel that in the right way. Many, including Lebron James, have said that violence is not the solution. I agree. I will go further to say that the men and women who wear the blue uniform, Police Officers, are not the problem either. It goes deeper than that. This is a systemic problem that goes beyond a rookie cop being unprepared to deal with a situation. This is deeper than a crooked or dishonest official in the court system. Unfortunately, those who are at the front line of receiving our anger, criticism and hate are the same ones who are used by the system to enforce these injustices.

I do have to state that I believe that this systemic injustice is founded upon sin. Robert C. Linthicum in his book City of God City of Satan states that the ills of the city are not rooted in the city itself but “rather, such are manifestations of the underlying sin of the city’s people”. The question is then — Where is God in our lives? What role does He play in our lives? and Where is God in our cities?

As individuals, we need to take responsibility for what is happening. I have to take responsibility for what has happen and is happening in my city. God has called me to be the light and salt of the earth. Therefore if I am salt, I need to have qualities that preserve my faith despite the pulls of the world around me. I am also charge to bring a different flavor, different from the world. If I am light, I have to shine even brighter in this dark world. I do believe that the church is called to do this and it’s pivotal in becoming an agent of change. Linthicum writes “If the church does not deal with the systems and structures of evil in the city, then it will not effectively transform the lives of the city’s individuals”

What would Jesus do? Yes, I know that this might be cliche, but its something that we should ask ourselves. Would he be leading a march? Would he be disrupting traffic? Would he be in Facebook, Twitter or Instagram bashing police officers, officials and those who have taken the side of the cops? Would he see this a purely political struggle?

I don’t have all the answers. All I know is that Jesus, in Luke 19:41, wept over the city of Jerusalem because it chose to reject him. The city chose to reject his redemptive gift and this rejection is corporate. Does this not echo our city? Whether in New York, Ferguson or Detroit, our cities have for the most part refused to accept Jesus and have turn to other gods and thus cities are guilty of idolatry. Regardless, God’s love and patience for the city is boundless. He longs to see every city as a city that fulfills it’s purpose, to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

As Christians, we should then filter our actions through the Bible. As Linthicum writes,“God’s people were called to be an intentionally godly presence in the city; they were to be a sanctifying force which would bless the city with their living personification of God.” I am not here to say whether going out to peacefully protest is right or not. I am here to plead with you on our responses to these situation. As believers we should not wish no one harm to make them understand that law enforcement is needed. As believers we should not slam someone else’s character because of a decision they made that cause someone’s life. I am not saying that we should ignore it, but we should not justify our words or hate based on how we feel. We should not be control by feelings since we know that feelings can and do deceive us. If we, as believers, cannot come to the table and speak without having our feelings get the best of us then I have to question our maturity in Christ.

These are the times in which the church, the body of Christ can raise up and pray, comfort, love and have compassion for ALL who are hurting. These includes the victims and their families as well as the accused and their families. If we want to see change let’s start with recommitting our lives to Christ, to lifting his name in our cities, to live out his redemptive power in our lives and to share it with those in our city. If we want to see change then we need to have a unify church, we need to work, pray, praise and love our city as one church. If we want to see change we need to leave our tendencies of idolatry and proclaim Jesus our our LORD and savior. It we want to see change it has to start with me, with you, as individuals and soon the system will change. If want to see change go out and vote, know the law and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. Lastly, if we want to see a change we need to live, speak and give love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

One Thing

What is that one thing that you wish you can change? That one thing you wish you can get rid of, or you can be more like? Maybe your one thing is being a little bit taller, or maybe a little bit smarter. Maybe that one thing is wishing you were a little less… you get the point.

Isaiah 43:18 states –“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”

This word came to the Israelites while they were thinking about their past, their struggles while in Egypt and while crossing the desert in seach for the promise land. God’s message is clear — “Forget the former things…” The one thing that many of us struggle with, that One Thing should be a thing of the past. Verse 19 continues to say – “See, I am doing a new thing!” Once we begin to forget the former things, we are able to see that God is doing a new thing in our lives. I believe that we should live our lives the way we drive a car. The windshield takes up almos the entire width of the car to see what is coming towards us. While the rearview mirror is a fraction of the size of the windshield. In other words we need to look forward to see how God is blessing us. Nevertheless, the rearview mirror is smaller and it should be only be glanced once in a while. This mirror is not used to get our bearing and is not used all the time.

God is doing a new thing!

This is not a suggestion…

Matthew 28:19 is a call for the church, the body of Christ, to go and make disciples of all nations. In other words, to go and share the good news, what Jesus has done and is doing in you life, with the hope that some will come to know Him through our testimony. Many of us hopefully do this locally, while others ventured out and travel to other countries to fulfill this calling. Nevertheless its a calling, a command, not a suggestion. Therefore we should all be engage in missionary work. 

I am responding to this call and for the next week I will posting updates as I, along with many others, share the gospel through love, compassion and deed, in Santiago, Dominican Republic. I can’t promise you moving pictures or picturesque scenes, but I can promise to share with you my impressions, stories, interaction and the work of God in my life and in the lives of those I will encounter.

I do ask one thing. Please keep me and my team in your prayers. May God use us to show love, compassion and bring His peace and hope to children and adults that are looking for something different for their lives. 

I hope that you join me in this journey. 

Whisper sweet nothings.

There are many sayings that have to do with love and beauty. For example, “Beauty is skin deep,” or “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” or “Love is blind.” The truth is that some of these saying are far from the truth and resemble lust more than love. 

The one that comes to my mind when I read this passage was, “Whisper sweet nothing in my ears.” This might sound like a nice phrase to say to your spouse and it might have morphed into something that is normative to this time, but if we really think about it this phrase makes not sense. It is asking someone that knows you, cares for you, loves your and should have the best interest in mind to whisper sweet nothings…nothings in your ear. Words should mean something, especially coming from someone that is allowed to get close enough to whisper in your ear. The questions that begs to be asked is…Who is whispering in your ear?

This Proverbs is not at all difficult to understand. It is not hard to discern what the father is trying to tell the young son. Verse 3 and 4 reads “For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.” In other words, what an adulterous woman might say or do might seem to be very appealing and wonderful but in the end it only brings hurt, pain and dissolution. The sweet nothings that you might be hearing from that person that is not your spouse will be just that…empty words that will leave you empty, bitter, and hurt. 

The father continues to encourage the son to remain faithful and to find his happiness in his wife. To find what he needs in his wife and only in her. Verse 18 and 19 reads “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.” The father warns the son to stay the course and stay faithful, a warning that is much needed today. With the rampant raise of divorce, many due to infidelity, many of us need to be vigilant to the dangers of a wondering eye, a carless thought, and a malnourished heart. Seek your satisfaction in your wife, in the one you fell in love with in your youth, in the one that God led you to and blessed you with. If you keep your guard up and stay faithful, you and your family will be blessed.

Proverbs Daily Devotional Day 2

One day I found myself speaking with a brother from church, and after a couple of minutes he made a reference to wisdom having something to do with the amount white hair someone might have. I am sure that many of us have heard this before, having white hair means that you are wise. If this was the case, I am on my way to becoming a wise man (not a wise guy) at my young age. Scientifically speaking, this is not the case. The cause of white hair is color-producing cells stop producing pigment. Therefore wisdom does not come from the color of your hair, but from another source. Wisdom comes “from the LORD who gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” We all desire to be wise because wisdom can help us out in times of need.

According to verses twelve and sixteen, “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse… Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words,” These verses speak of being wise when it comes to making sure we don’t fall in the path of the wicked and perverse people. Perverse, according to the dictionary, means someone who shows a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences. It is not hard to see that many are living this way. We watch the news and hear of stories of people who commit crimes and atrocities because they so desired. We might have encounter others in our daily walk which fit the description of a perverse person, someone who is obstinate and acts in an inappropriate way based solely because they feel like it. However, Proverbs says that wisdom comes with great benefits.

Wisdom can be the light in the midst of darkness, the life preserver that keeps us afloat in the ranging sea of wickedness. Wisdom will allow us to “walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.” With the amount of sexually explicit images everywhere, it is almost impossible not to be tempted. Nevertheless, wisdom will save us from adulterous people, from the wayward man or woman and their seductive words. Wisdom will help us to know right from wrong, to keep us holy and pure in a perverse and unholy world. Wisdom comes from God, not from the amount of white hairs we might have. Therefore, ask God for wisdom, listen to His words, read the Bible and allow the Spirit to guide you.

Proverbs 1 Devotional

The book of Proverbs is an interesting book that is seldom used in churches to preach with or used for Sunday school lessons. This is partly because at first glance the book of Proverbs might seem like a book full of scattered wisdom, sayings and practical advice. The purpose of this book can be read in the first couple of verses. The book was written by Solomon the son of David for the purpose of “gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.”

The text state that “the fear of The Lord is wisdom,” but “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This sentence encapsulates the purpose of the book of Proverbs. It also highlights the sentence structure which juxtaposes a blessing or wisdom with a curse or consequence or rebuke that is use prominently throughout the book. This fear is not one of intimidation but one of reverence. It’s not the type of fear that we experience when we are afraid of the unknown or of consequences. This fear is more like awe, similar to standing in the presence of someone great, knowing the power and authority this figure holds. Is this type of fear. As we explore this book we will see that many of the passages revolve around a father bestowing his wisdom towards his son. This however, does not mean that the wisdom found here is only for sons. Wisdom is wisdom and it is meant for everyone.

The first exhortation in the book is to not follow the invitation of sinful men. Verse fifteen and sixteen reads,“my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.”

How easy is it to do the wrong thing. How easy is it to join in on something that we know we should not do. It is easy to justify our actions “because everyone else is doing it,” finding nothing wrong with our actions and how it might affect others. How easy is it to laugh at an inappropriate joke, or lend our voice to criticism, course joking or “white harmless” lies. Nevertheless, there is a warning for us if we go along. If we follow those that are doing this, if join in, calamity will come to us and we will surely share the same fate found in verse eighteen, “These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!” In other words they will rush into their own destruction. If we are to be wise we need to heed the advice and wisdom written in this book, for if we do we “will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

My question to you today is, are you following those that will lead you to the path of destruction? or is your life characterized by peace and without fear? Are we not only tolerating the sin around us but being complicit to it? or are we making sure that we live holy and righteous lives?

Take time to examine your life, your actions, your surroundings and those who are around you. Let’s take stock in what we are holding on to and what we are doing. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is anything that is not pleasing to Him and allow God to cleanse you. The promise is that we will live in peace…I want to live in peace. Do you?

A half a step closer to Jesus

Since the series on the Bible came out about a year ago there has been a wave of attention and interest in Christianity, or rather elements of Christianity. The latest example of this is the ABC series on the Son of God. I have seen some of their teaser posters around the city NYC with the line

Did I really die? #ABCSonOfGod

I think is half a step on the right direction in opening a dialogue about Jesus, His life, ministry and impact. Why half a step? Because I think that though His death is a big part of the Christian belief the central question and the linchpin of Christianity is His resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ marks his victory over death. This victory sealed the promise and the hope we have in Jesus of an eternal life. If He has succumb to death then His promise of His return, of the rapture of the Church and of eternal life for all believers would have been nullify. If we survey the most common religions we can see that their spiritual leaders have died including Jesus, but only Jesus is attached to the resurrection.

It is great that people are conversing about Jesus, the Bible and most recently the story of Noah. I hope that this will continue and many will come to know, understand and ultimately decide to have a meaningful and intimate relationship with Jesus.

One of the hardest things to do…

One of the hardest things I have had to do as a youth leader is to let go. In other words, after four years of walking, teaching and spending countless hours with students there come a time when we need to give them space to make their own decisions, but sitting in the sideline is hard to do.

Being a youth group leader is similar to being a coach. There are long hours at the office followed by long hours of training, conditioning and making sure that they are ready. During this process it is inevitable to become attached to your students, especially if your youth group is not too large. After their time has come and they graduate from High School, some go away to college while others stay, find a job while going to school. This is Prime Time, they are on the field and they are playing for keeps. As a coach, your remind on the side lines while they are in the field. As you see the plays unfold you cringe when they make a mistake. You want to run out into the field and help them up, get them back in the game. You want to run out and review the play book with them just like you’ve done countless times in the past, but you know that you have to remain on the side line. You cheer when they succeed, when they made the right choice, when they accomplished to get ahead, but still you remain in the sideline.

This is all part of the growing process, the maturing process, a part of being a youth leader, but none the less it’s hard to be in the sidelines. This will happen once again next year, and it will be one of the hardest things I will have to do again.

The Power of the WHY

Language can be very powerful. It can be used for good or for evil… (mmmmwwwwahahaha)!

Anyway, one of the best tools a youth leader can use is the power of questions. There are several ways in which one can ask a question. There is the how which deals with the process of things. The where question denotes location. The when highlights the time,  but the most powerful one is the why?

Why? (pun intended) because this question leads to a deeper discussion on the motives rather than on the outcomes.

Why questions can and usually open various avenues of communication, especially with students who are not too keen on sharing. Why questions or open ended questions which lead to more questions and a huge part of youth group is to get the students sharing. Why questions, asked in earnest can give you an insight into the life of a student which in the long run will help you understand and minister more effectively.

So next time you find yourself on a one to one conversation with a student use why questions… and see what happens.