PONDERING... Procrastination in Education

Fighting one educational battle at a time...

PONDERING... (Family) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This is the last post in our discussion of topics that distract us from what God intends for our lives. This list was never meant to be all-inclusive, but only an overview. This final post reserves the right to be misunderstood. The writer encourages questions, comments, concerns, and pleas for mercy.

1. The Problem?: Family

Okay, so maybe calling family "a problem" goes a bit against the grain. In fact, as someone who considers family to be a God-ordained institution that could really be a "solution" to many of the problems we see facing the world today, it's hard for me to swallow my own words. Yet, for the sake of blog continuity, I used the same headings as in the previous posts.

Nonetheless, there is something to be said for placing even good things above Christ. Family is important to me. I love my parents and my brothers. I have the best wife and the most amazing children in the world! (My apologies to everyone who missed out :D.) I have incredible in-laws and a strong extended family. My family is great! BUT, my family is not God.

When you love your family, you worry about them. In fact, I don't think I was ever really nervous before I had kids. After seeing them struggle with sickness and wiping many tears, I am a lot more on edge about things. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this--in fact, family should be a central focus--when family becomes the central focus, we have once again misplaced our devotion. 

2. The Bible
The following verse is rough. It is hard to understand, and frequently misinterpreted. However, it is God's Word and speaks a powerful truth.

"26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ... 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26-27, 33 ESV

WHAT! Hate my family?! I thought I was suppose to honor my father and mother? Where did this come from? This must be a mistake. This can't be in the Bible. 

That is the usual reaction to these verses. They are jarring--and meant to be so. Jesus here is addressing a crowd. These statements were made in the context of letting them "know what they are getting themselves into", as well as admonishing them about the kingdom of God. It follows a parable about a great feast. Many were invited, but did not come because of earthly excuses--they had just made a financial investment, or had family issues to contend with. Therefore, the master of the banquet sent his servant to gather in the blind, the poor, the lame, and any who would come. Then he follows up with the aforementioned verses. 

Scholars agree, the idea here is one of contrast. Your love for God should be such that by comparison your love for even that which you cherish most in this world (i.e. family) should appear as hatred. This becomes even more clear when compared with Matthew's recording of a similar statement (see below).

"37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." - Matthew 10:37-38 ESV

Family is a gift from God, but should never become a hindrance to His service. Our love for Him should supersede all else.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

(This was written a few years ago, but somehow I never clicked "publish"... :D)

PONDERING... (Money) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This post will continue to address topics that distract us from what really matters. The writer acknowledges that this topic is HUGE, and his post is...small. He also would like to point out that he has no spare money...in case someone stumbled upon this post while searching "solve my money problem." For more information on the topic of money from a Biblical perspective check out these guys!

1. The Problem: Money

This one is fairly straight forward. We need it, and don't have it. Want want more, and cannot. We have it, and abuse it. Much of our capitalist culture (fear not--this is not an anti-capitalism tirade) is enslaved to money. Because of this, we worry. We worry about not having enough. We worry about what to do with what we have. Yet, the Bible is crystal clear on this point, and I will be brief.

2. The Bible

"24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Matthew 6:24 ESV

You cannot serve both. Period. You are either loving God and trusting in His provision or you are serving money and despising God. There is no middle ground. Money is not evil. God may bless you with much--use it. However, God may give you practically none--trust Him. At the end of the day, we all must ask: Am I seeking to honor God with my fiances or am I allowing my fiances to become my god. 

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

(This was written a few years ago, but somehow I never clicked "publish"... :D)

PONDERING...Teaching and The Class of 2014

Disclaimer: All material on this blog reserves the right to be an incoherent rambling.

As the end of this school year approaches, sentimental man that I am :D, I have been thinking a lot about the Class of 2014. This graduating class was special to me in many ways. Not only were they amongst the most brilliant, creative, ....and frustrating students I've encountered, but they were also freshmen when I began teaching--so we started this journey together. They were my first seminar (4-year advisement group), and my first sophomore English class. Several were in my Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and were officers when they left; a select 30 or so served their time in my seminar; and nearly all of them were either in one of my classes or tutored for me (or both). I watched them grow into young men and women, and the growth was incredible. Along the way, they taught me a lot about being a teacher, and I grew, too. 

So many names and faces jump into my head now--awesome memories. I pray I never forget those hours of essay writing, motivational talks, free advice, book clubs, after school Bible conversations, and laughs...a lot of laughs. They were the class that voted for my pathetic beard to win the beards for babies competition, chose me to be taped to a wall during an assembly, took joy in hiding my water bottle, and turned my daily gallon of drinking water...into Kool-aid. And, they were a class I was proud to watch last week walk across a stage. They stole their way into my heart and really seemed to take me into theirs, as well. It was a great four years, and I will miss them.

They are why I teach. These crazy kids, and those like them, are not just my profession (though I could not do this without them...literally), they are my calling. He sent me to serve Him by serving them.

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." James 3:1 ESV

Students are both the greatest challenge and chief reward of teaching. They can lead to near insanity, premature graying, and uncontrollable face twitches that cause others to stare. Yet, they are why we do this, right? With few exceptions, one would be hard pressed to find a teacher who did not enter this field because they cared about students. 

Unfortunately, some lose sight of that over the years. I have actually been admonished by several experienced instructors (none with whom I am employed) not to "hope I'll make a difference in lives", or not to "teach to impact students". That kind of thinking, apparently, will only lead to disappointment. My experience has been very different, and I believe it is a difference of purpose. Colossians 3:23-24 teaches, "23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (ESV). If it's all about Him, it's never really about me...or my recognition, glory, acclaim, happiness, acceptance, swag...etc. It's about doing what He's called me to do. I don't teach to make a difference--He does that.

There are disappointments, frustrations, and general "crazies" in every walk of life. That comes with living in a fallen world. Yet, we are called not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of our minds so that we "may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2 ESV). God's calling, His will, for every believer will always be the same. Only locations will differ. We are to love God, and love people (which should naturally imply sharing God's message of hope to those people). Wherever He's sent you, do that.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31  The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." -Mark 12:30-31

End of ramble.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch-Out

As always, feel free to comment below... in the section that reads "Post a Comment".

PONDERING...Finals

Disclaimer: All material on this blog reserves the right to be an incoherent rambling.

As a high school teacher, this time of the year means finals. That word strikes fear into the hearts of most. Therefore, I spend much of my time assuring students that they will do "just fine". However, in this modern day of technology, these reassurances have taken to multiple formats. Now, a student can shoot me an email or comment on a document. Their fear is unbridled by social conventions. Thus, I am tasked with distributing peace as much as knowledge (possibly more) almost constantly. Today, I received one such email. The student wanted to know "what the final would be like". Knowing this student to be one of good humor, and inspired by a spurt of creativity, I responded with the following poetic message.

Dear Student,

What will the final be like? 

by Mr. Upchurch

A student once asked me, "What will the final be like"
Oh, the excitement--an adrenaline spike!
A chance to use similes and rhymes to describe
Is this real life, or only a gibe?
If truly, you yearn for the "what like" within
Let's get right to it! Let the similes begin!

Like a breath of fresh air
Like a cool morning's breeze
Like a soft teddy bear
Like a cold-cut with cheese
Like a glass of ice-tea in the middle of May
Like a cup of hot coffee on a winter's day

Like a strong handshake
Like a buzzer shot
Like a birthday cake
Like a bestowed yacht
Like a hammock nap in a freshly cut yard
Like a history teacher who is also a bard

Like a "you're great" stamp
Like a last day's bell
Like a fun summer camp
Like a giddy child's yell
Like a "Surprise! It's a Spider-man double-feature!"
Like a chance to be taught by an incredible teacher

All these things, and so much more
Are what, dear student, you have in store!
Enjoy the final...because it means last
And it will soon be a thing of the past

Sincerely,

​Mr. Upchurch
​​English Language Arts Instructor
Website for All Classroom Materials

(P.S.-- Your final will be a reflective essay. Have a great day and make wise decisions!)

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch-Out

As always, feel free to comment below... in the section that reads "Post a Comment"