Why My Kids Will Go Public School

You can read a very well-written article here:

http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/09/17/why-public-school-is-the-bomb/

Some of my favorite quotes/points:

"Christians, sadly, tend to believe more in the negative power of sin than they do in the redemptive power of Christ in the lives of His people."

"does the “bad apple” theory really hold sway over salt-n-light? And if so, is avoidance and disengagement the answer? It points to fatalism and a disbelief that Christ really changes anything in individual lives or society."

"But it’s not just about the kids. Adults—teachers, faculty, and parents—have to be an integral part of kingdom-building in public schools...we are trying to find practical ways to reach out to these children and their families. Knowing them, and sharing life together, is the crucial first step."

Thanks for sharing the article, Derek (you know who you are)!

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My wife and I have talked about these things for a while. Not just the school issue, but what it means to really be missional and how it involves our children, our family.

The college ministry I work with hands out burgers and hot dogs outside our building on busy Friday nights. We're on the main bar street in town, and by night I mean midnight until 3am or later. We've talked about when it will be appropriate for me to bring my daughter out to 1. observe and 2. help serve. Some people think this is a crazy, bad idea.

For a long time my understanding of God's grace, love and forgiveness was pretty shallow. "God, forgive me for not being good at quiet times," or "God's grace covers me when I've been lustful or watched dirty movies."

But no, God's grace is amazing. It changes people. Really. It CHANGES people. God's forgiveness isn't just for when we slip up or backslide between Sundays...it brings us back from the depths of emptiness and despair, from death to life. These are extremes. It's POWERFUL.

My kids need to know this.

People might worry about my kids seeing drunk, cussing, obnoxious, lewd college students (this is a stereotype...even most drunk students are nice and thankful for free food). But I think about this: they will know many--too many--kids their own age who go home to this life everyday.

Looking back, I know I did.

How do their friends, who live this life, view reality...God? How will my kids be able to understand and relate to their friends who have a completely different idea of what reality is and what life is all about? What if my kid's understanding of God is too small to meet the needs of their friends? TOO SMALL, really?

God is BIG! I want my kids to know God as He is. A BIG God, capable of loving the hardest to love. Able to change lives...really...change...lives.

But then, of course, I have to believe this, too. I have to live it out. I have to be willing to follow Jesus to the tax collector's house for lunch, agree with him in affirming the prostitute in the midst of the pious, and lay my hand on the shoulder of the leper yet to be healed.

Taking my kids to serve food to college students out late on a Friday night, or sending them to public school--these things are really not very good ideas. Unless, of course, they go armed with the Spirit of God.

So, this is my prayer: God, use me. Help me to follow where you lead. Reveal yourself to me, and to my family. Allow us to be witness to the power you have to change lives, to bring life out of death. Fill us up, and send us out.*

*just a note: I was singing Tim Hughes' "God of Justice" in my head when I was writing this. He penned the line "fill us up and send us out"--which is so appropriate

Oh, and if you haven't watched it yet, go back to my earlier post and watch the video of Frances Chan.

It was late when I wrote this, I hope it makes sense and is true to the heart of God.

Do you feel used?

A few weeks ago I was heading to the Union on campus to see whom I might come across (and get some food). Classes had not started yet and there were very few people on the sidewalks. During the walk I started praying for every person I saw; for most people it was a 'generic' prayer, asking God to reveal Himself to them or something along those lines. However, there were a couple of people for whom I felt I knew exactly what to pray about for them. It opened my eyes in many ways and I try to practice praying for people along my journeys regularly.

Today I was reminded of this 'practice' as I walked to the Union. I started praying for people and very quickly became overwhelmed. The sidewalks were packed and I wasn't even able to process one thought before my eyes fell on yet another person. It led me to feel a real need to ask God to show me where He is moving, to bring things and people to my attention.

It's amazing that we have a God who is involved in every person's life that we pass by everyday--whether they know it or not. God is not overwhelmed, in fact He desires to be even more deeply involved in every person's life. He wants to use US, His people, to plant and water seeds--to be involved in people's lives.

Where have you seen God moving today? How does God want to use you?

Some scriptures (NIV text) that have been running laps in my mind over several weeks:

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and `sinners'?"

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:30-32

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Matt 18:12-14

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. "

Luke 8:14

""I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. "

John 15:5

""What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

Luke 3:10-11

"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

Matthew 25:34-37

Watch it:

http://www.worshipcentral.org/video/global-day-usa-francis-chan