Reflections on "Expressions of Concern"

An interesting week as various parents have come to me with "expressions of concern"... no, that's not a euphemism for criticism as they really have been expressing concern about a couple of chapel messages in particular, and asking questions about what their child(ren) reported back to them. Through this I'm reflecting on a few ideas...

1) I am grateful that the parents are coming directly to me when they have concerns about what their son/daughter is learning in chapel. I am the one "responsible" for inviting the speakers we have in chapel and so I'm glad when there is concerns or criticism that the parent comes to me directly.

2) I am also grateful that students are talking about what they are hearing in chapel with their parents. This means a) they are listening and thinking about what they hear in chapel, b) they are talking to their parents about their day and c) they are talking about spiritual matters with their parents. Our mission at Prairie Christian Academy is to "partner with parents to educate students to think and act Christianly, constructively and critically in order to know Jesus Christ..." Apparently this is happening! Thanks be to God!

By the way, this is not an excuse for having "shoddy" chapel messages just so students can take feedback to their parents about "junk" they hear in chapel. In fact, from my perspective, both messages were in fact quite solid - practically challenging and biblically accurate. This leads to the third learning concept.

3) We do not all hear the same "material" when a person speaks. Each person has presuppositions and we hear things through a pre-existing grid that we may or may not be completely aware of. Even though a speaker may verbally say the content s/he means to communicate, it will be heard differently by each listener... and then interpreted differently by each hearer also. So as a speaker, one must regularly seek to repeat a point or concept with similar phrases in order for the intent of the message to be communicated.

4) And last but not least... anytime we are communicating the Word of God we must pray often that GOD will speak to people's hearts, speak His Truth to each heart, and that our human words will not get in the way of God's message.

Caleb's First Birthday Party

Just a couple pictures from Caleb's first birthday party this past Sunday, March 8.

pic #1) Digging into the special birthday cake mommy made!
pic #2) Surrounded by many fun presents and many loving people.


We have been so blessed by the Lord to have such a happy, content and active boy! And to have so many encouraging and praying family members to support us.

Disappointed in Obama's leadership

Although I agree with Rick Warren's recent article emphasizing that culture is influened by God's Holy Spirit changing hearts and not be change in laws, I must admit to being deeply disappointed thus far in US President Barack Obama's "law-making"... or more accurately law-rescinding... abilities. While I still believe Obama in an intelligent and thoughtful man and a compelling orator, he so far has shown little policy uniqueness. He has rescinded the Mexico City Policy, and today he removed the restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research. Again, I was/am not a big fan of the Bush administration or the policies on most things, but it seems as if Obama is setting policy (or more accurately rescinding policy) simply by choosing the opposite of Bush. Is this really "a new way to do politics?"

While as a new leader it can be tempting to show how different you are to your predecessor by "doing" something new or undoing the previous leader's mistakes, wise leadership usually takes some time to gain some perspective, understand some of the reasons decisions may have been made that to others look foolish, ignorant, or (insert your own adjective). You may still need to develop new policies or revert back to former procedures, and then a clear explanation for the changes needs to given, even if the popular opinion is that such-and-such was a poor policy in the first place. I don't think I have ever seen politeness or courtesy to previous leadership be wrong, even if there was much unlikeable or wrong about the predecessor's leadership. One does not need to be rude and condescending to be truthful and progressive. A new leader can still be kind and gracious without affirming mistaken or wrong policies/practices.