Adventure Specialists' Advice
March 17, 2017
How Many Time Have I Told You?
I have been interviewing social studies teachers since November and have already interviewed at least 6 different people for the position. I've read through many more applications than that. This is actually the position I thought would be easiest to fill, and yet it seems elusive.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
I saw this verse written on the board in a classroom yesterday. How many times have I "learned" the lesson about trusting God and his plans before? Yet here I am again.
So I have no right to be frustrated with kids not learning things the first time. I am not in any position to question why the Israelites kept going back to their idolatry. I need to wait on the Lord and trust Him to send the right teachers at the right time. I need to be much more gracious and forgiving of others, as that is what God offers to me again and again.
Parent Teacher Conferences
- Wednesday, March 22
- 1/2 day for students, 1/2 day schedule
- MS teachers will be in Library for conferences (except 5th grade)
- Conference Room List
- Please keep conferences to 10 minutes; you are encouraged to set a timer
- Conferences are announced from 2-5:30, but you should expect to stay until 6 for those arriving right at 5:30
- Try to balance the positives and negatives in each conference
Important Dates
March 20 - Q3 Grades Verified, Make sure to put in Rarely, Usually, or Always for PIE
March 23 - Parent-Teacher Conferences; 12:30 dismissal, lunch provided for MS teachers
March 25 - April 2: Mid-Semester Break
April 4 - PD Meeting
April 11 - Divisional Meeting
April 14 - Good Friday (no school)
April 16 - Easter Sunrise Service, 7 AM
April 25 - Combined Staff
April 27 - MS Service Learning Day, 12:30 Dismissal, PD afternoon, JSB evening
April 28 - May 1 - Long Weekend
May 2 -5 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3-12 - MS MAP Testing
Greasy Grace?
Last week I wrote about research that shows that one of the major factors for students not sticking with their faith in their young adult years is a lack of internalized understanding about God’s grace through a relationship with Christ. Students who fell away from faith in college had identified Christianity as a set of values, virtues, or duties rather than a life-changing relationship. This week I had planned to write about ways we can help our students to internalize the gospel, but I realized there is another misconception of grace that’s important to acknowledge: a lack of emphasis on holiness. This is a huge problem in the church today; churches around the world are compromising on the truth of God’s Word in the name of love and tolerance. Unconditional love extended to people struggling with sin is what Jesus taught and modeled, but His grace heals and sets us free from sin, which is why He also commands us to “leave your life of sin.” As my pastor said recently, “Grace without holiness is no grace at all.” Bonhoeffer calls this grace without holiness cheap grace. How do we call our students to righteousness without compromising the message of grace?
As I was considering these two views of the gospel, one of works and the other of cheap grace, I realized they’re both rooted in the same problem. On the salvation thorough works side, the research shows that students who leave Christianity behind equate faith with church attendance, rote prayers, and “being good” instead of knowing and following Jesus. On the other hand, those who have embraced the “cheap grace” side have lost hope in life-transformation coming to people who struggle with hard issues. They’d rather tolerate the sin than trust that Christ, who says He makes us a new creation, can actually do what He promises. In both cases, there is a lack of true understanding of the gospel and a lack of trust in the power of Christ to save and transform. It’s so important to help our students internalize the whole gospel, and next week we’ll talk about practical ways we can do that.
Susan Allen