Tag Archives: education

Opening Paths to Understanding

Lent

March 17, 2023

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Sleeper, awake!
   Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’

People in the USA, the world probably, seem to be bogged down in unfruitful works of darkness. There is so much need in our country and in the world that calls to be addressed, but we seem to be caught as a nation and state in issues that are really none of our business as we strive to address the Common Good, for example, Making private health decisions outside of medical advice.

Also, much time and energy are being invested in what books children should read in school with the concern that some sinister group is trying to indoctrinate students into a defined way of being. It appears to me that the only people trying to indoctrinate anyone are those complaining–teach their way or ban the books. School librarians have been selecting age-appropriate books for children to read for years. One of my aunts dedicated her life to that. She nor none of her co-workers would ever have done anything to bring harm to a child. She did work hard at doing things to encourage children to read, which is particularly important for disadvantaged students whose primary opportunity to learn more about the world is from books.

As advocates for justice, we are called to protect the rights of children to fulfill their potential, as God created them, not to fulfill our personal belief systems.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. –2 Timothy 2:15

Prayer:

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise*. Amen.

First verse of Hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier see at https://hymnary.org/text/dear_lord_and_father_of_mankind#Author

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Passing the Mantle

Elijah being nurtured by GodLiving in the Spirit
June 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. –2 Kings 2:9-14

Much of our lives is spent preparing the next generation to continue the work set before us as children of God. I watch the children run down the aisles of the church as they come to the steps of the chancel for the children’s sermon. They are full of energy and comfortable with the recognition that this is their time this is there place.

I also recall sitting next to my mother as she lay in bed in the waning days of her life. We had wonderful conversations, ones I still cherish. Mom and I never worked well together. My sister and she could. Early on, Mom and I realized that more got done, if we sort of went our separate ways. I now think that may have been because we were so much alike and also because I am left handed. But while we could not weed gardens or pick peas without discord, we shared many common concerns about the world and could probe them with great discussions. I am my mother’s daughter, just as Elisha was Elijah son in the service of God.

We are failing our children by being unwilling to provide them with education tailored to their needs, the gifts of the knowledge we possess and the curiosity to explore new things, and the foundation they need to make this world all God intended it to be.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to provide a positive education for all your children in all aspects of life. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, 
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Does It Pay to Work?

A living wageLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
September 21, 2014 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. — Matthew 20:1-2

For many people in the United States, work does not pay and that is not right. I discuss this in my book, Houses Divided, and I will call your attention here to one segment of that book:

Let us say you and one other family member, most often now a minor child, are earning $13,922.55 [Minimum wage in 2012 minus Social Security and Medicare] per year, $1,160.21 per month. How are you going to make ends meet? You will most likely have to rely on food stamps, Medicaid and a child care subsidy. If you every get a raise, it will be deducted from those supplements until eventually you will max out on eligibility and totally fall off an economic cliff, potentially leaving you in worse shape than when you got the job in the first place. It is a bleak existence.*

This cycle of poverty will never be broken unless we enable our children through education to achieve a higher entry point in the world of work. Children living in poverty need a little extra help at all levels to make the move from poverty to earning a living wage. We as a society need to also assure that everyone earns a living wage.

Oklahoma Fact: in 2013, Oklahoma ranged 40th in education outcomes in the United States.**

Prayer: Grant that we might be a people who share in the blossoming of our children into the fullness of their potentials. Amen.

*Marilynn Knott, Houses Divided: A Letter to the Churches of the USA on Church and State, Archway Publishing, 2013, Page 94.
**2003 KIDS Count Profile: Oklahoma. Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, www.oica.org.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

The Destruction of Illiteracy

LiteracyLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
September 19, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:21-30

 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.  — Philippians 1:27-28

I feel pretty certain my mother read to me when I was in the womb. Since I am the youngest of three children, I might have just been overhearing what was being read to my brother and my sister. I honestly cannot remember the inability to read. My dad also loved to read but what I remember about him is my reading to him. If he were still alive, I bet he would like audio books. With that background, I must admit, I was stunned by today’s Oklahoma Fact (below) and my heart goes out to those parents who are not experiencing the joy of reading with their children.

Part of the explanation is that 6% of our adult population reads at less than a 9th grade level and 20% less than a 12th grade level*. Our educational failures beget educational failures. Part of the explanation is that a lot of parents are working two or more jobs to make ends meet and have little time to spend with their children. Seventeen percent of the children at the school with which my church has a relationship, are English as a second language students whose parents may be literate and may read to their children in their native language but do not read English.

In our scripture today, Paul encourages us to strive side by side with others and not be intimidated by our opponents. Illiteracy is an opponent that needs to be destroyed. Helping parents learn to read will help them qualify for better employment, but just as important will help them help their children learn to read.

Oklahoma Fact: in 2013, 13% of Children ages 1 to 5 had family members read to them less than 3 days per week**

Prayer: Rabboni, teach us to teach others so that all may know the fullness of your Kingdom on earth. Amen.

* http://www.odl.state.ok.us/literacy/statistics/

** http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5108-children-ages-1-to-5-whose-family-members-read-to-them-less-than-3-days-per-week?loc=38&loct=2#detailed/2/38/false/1021,18,14/any/11545,11546

 

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Nurturing Children

Living in the Spirit
June 29, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42

and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ — Matthew 10: 42  

When you read this scripture notice the tit for tat that Jesus weaves through his instruction:

Welcoming Me—Welcomes God
Welcome a prophet in the name of a prophet—receive a prophet’s reward
Welcome a righteous person in the name of a righteous person—receive a righteous person’s reward

But note, the last one is different:

Give even a cup of water to a child in the name of a disciple—the children will not lose their reward

We are all as Disciples of Christ called to take responsibility for nurturing children and the reward for doing that is the children themselves. Water in some form or another is the one thing that is absolutely necessary for life. Children are the one thing that is absolutely necessary for the continuation of humanity. Yet:

  • 22% of children in the U.S. live in families that are considered officially poor.—National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, nccp.org
  • Of all the 4th graders in the US, 1/3 could not read this sentence proficiently.—studentsfirst.org
  • A child is abused or neglected every 47 seconds. –childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/2014-soac.pdf
  • 8.2% of youth 12-17 experience depressive episodes each year.—childstate.gov

This is just a brief list of statistics. For more information see the various websites that are noted above.

We need to take Jesus plea for children to heart and give our children lives worth living.

Prayer: You sent your son into the world as a tiny baby and entrusted him to Mary and Joseph to nurture and love. Following in their footsteps, make us nurturers of all the children of the world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.