Comments on: Substitute Teachers http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/ Just one man's opinion on Christian Spirituality Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:27:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: David http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-8 David Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:22:40 +0000 http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-8 That's the saying I was trying to come up with. Unfortunately, I flubbed it. That’s the saying I was trying to come up with. Unfortunately, I flubbed it.

]]> By: onbendedkneez http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-7 onbendedkneez Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:15:37 +0000 http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-7 As the saying goes, people don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. That is the philosophy I strive to live by everyday, especially in the workplace(i.e: the classroom of mini-adults who really DON'T care how much I know!) On the other hand, we must always spend time in the Word, "ready in season and out of season." (2 Tim. 4:2) For me, the challenge I face most often is being knowledgable of the Bible "on the spot"! But in this, I take comfort: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15 As the saying goes, people don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care. That is the philosophy I strive to live by everyday, especially in the workplace(i.e: the classroom of mini-adults who really DON’T care how much I know!) On the other hand, we must always spend time in the Word, “ready in season and out of season.” (2 Tim. 4:2) For me, the challenge I face most often is being knowledgable of the Bible “on the spot”! But in this, I take comfort:
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2: 14-15

]]> By: David http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-4 David Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:17:13 +0000 http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-4 By the way, just so it's clear, I'm not particularly good at the "loving strangers" thing - I've just recently come to understand that it is the most important thing we can do. Truth be told, I'm better at speaking/writing about it than actually doing it. Something I hope to work on and fix in my remaining years. By the way, just so it’s clear, I’m not particularly good at the “loving strangers” thing - I’ve just recently come to understand that it is the most important thing we can do.

Truth be told, I’m better at speaking/writing about it than actually doing it. Something I hope to work on and fix in my remaining years.

]]> By: David http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-3 David Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:15:16 +0000 http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-3 I often wonder how much God really uses me. Or if He even wants to. Surely, he can find a better orator than myself? Then it occurs to me - we're placed on this huge, spinning rock to live our lives. Part of that living happens with other people. It's messy and complicated and rarely goes according to plan, but that's the beauty of it. Rather than figuring out what we need to say or do for every circumstance, we live our lives driven by love. Rather than figuring out how to articulate our faith or how to communicate to different people, we live our lives driven by love. I think the church often does a disservice to people by trying to "prep" them for spiritual matters. The truth is, no one will listen to us unless they know we love them. If we can't convey love, then anything else we do is in vain. As you stated, "is there not more that I can do..." - there is, but it's more than just the 7-step process of how to become a "Christian." If a man is hungry, give him food to eat. If he thirsts, give him drink. If he shivers, cover him with blankets. And if he cries, comfort him. Only then will our faith matter to anyone other than ourselves. I often wonder how much God really uses me. Or if He even wants to. Surely, he can find a better orator than myself?

Then it occurs to me - we’re placed on this huge, spinning rock to live our lives. Part of that living happens with other people. It’s messy and complicated and rarely goes according to plan, but that’s the beauty of it. Rather than figuring out what we need to say or do for every circumstance, we live our lives driven by love. Rather than figuring out how to articulate our faith or how to communicate to different people, we live our lives driven by love.

I think the church often does a disservice to people by trying to “prep” them for spiritual matters. The truth is, no one will listen to us unless they know we love them. If we can’t convey love, then anything else we do is in vain.

As you stated, “is there not more that I can do…” - there is, but it’s more than just the 7-step process of how to become a “Christian.” If a man is hungry, give him food to eat. If he thirsts, give him drink. If he shivers, cover him with blankets. And if he cries, comfort him. Only then will our faith matter to anyone other than ourselves.

]]> By: onbendedkneez http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-2 onbendedkneez Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:21:57 +0000 http://brokenburden.com/2007/07/26/substitute-teachers/#comment-2 What a great reminder of how easy it is to become or to be seen as overly spiritual to those around us who don't know the real Teacher. I often find it hard, however, to share my faith with my non-Christian friends who seem to be, in one way or another, truly seeking truth, righteousness, forgiveness,etc... without coming across as overly zealous or "better" than them. Every day I ask God to use me or to speak through me, yet when those few times do come around, I always seem to mess up, miss something, or just not get the right thing across. And then I wonder, is God really using me? Yes, trusting God to do the work is the hard part, but is there not more that I can do for those around me who need Him so desparately? There are so many times when I feel like I am just not doing enough! What a great reminder of how easy it is to become or to be seen as overly spiritual to those around us who don’t know the real Teacher. I often find it hard, however, to share my faith with my non-Christian friends who seem to be, in one way or another, truly seeking truth, righteousness, forgiveness,etc… without coming across as overly zealous or “better” than them. Every day I ask God to use me or to speak through me, yet when those few times do come around, I always seem to mess up, miss something, or just not get the right thing across. And then I wonder, is God really using me? Yes, trusting God to do the work is the hard part, but is there not more that I can do for those around me who need Him so desparately? There are so many times when I feel like I am just not doing enough!

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