I was on my way to the doctor's office this afternoon and was a little early, so I decided to go by Christian High School in O'Fallon, MO. CHS is a part of the Living Word School District of which I was the administrator during the nearly spectacular growth period in the late '90's and early 2000's. There were several serving, people on the teaching staff at that time and I had the happy privilege of hiring a number of new teachers, many of whom are still teaching there. One of those teachers who touched me in so many special ways was Francie Blackwell. Francie is a cute, vivacious lady who now has children in and considering college. MERCY!
When i walked in the door, she saw me and ran, threw her arms around me and made me fee so special. She talked about those years when we were just getting started and how lives are being changed today because of that work. Francie is always so encouraging and appreciative. What a special servant she is to elementary students.
Several years ago, I took Bill Weber, a friend of mine , to see one of the elementary schools. Francie was having PE in the parking lot and the kids were having a ball. They were exercising to the following:
"Jesus is our strength and power
He'll be with us every hour."
Bill could not believe it. He cried. Here was this gruff. strong man in tears because of the way Francie was teaching those youngsters.
Through the years, Francie has sent me cards at Christmas, Easter, birthdays. She is a thoughtful, energetic, loving, caring kind of lady who comes into one's life all too infrequently.
Since we began Write About Jesus, I have had the privilege of meeting a young lady who personifies the same qualities of Francie. Stacey O'Hara shares her love in so many special ways. Encouraging comments on my blog, checking to see how I feel, obvious love for Christ - all these things spill over into my life and I am so thankful. I have been working on trying to develop "Willing Learners," and Stacey has shared some really good things that help me in that endeavor.
One of the very best things about WAJ is the caring family that has been created. I treasure that and the relationships I am privileged to share.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SERVING
For a few years, Sue and i worked at St. Charles High School. She was a jack of all trades serving as an English, Journalism and Drama teacher. During her stay at SCHS, a strange and funny event took place and she wrote a story about it that was on the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and picked up by the Associated Press and printed in newspapers all across the United States. Indeed, there was a question about it on a syndicated game show.
Jean Mudd, an English teacher at SCHS was sponsoring Mark Twain days and a part of that special event was a scheduled frog jumping activity. Mrs. Mudd anxiously awaited the arrival of the frogs, and as the date for the event drew closer, the frogs had not arrived. It was incredibly cold in St. Charles at that time and it was discovered that the frogs had been left in the outside mailbox over the weekend. In opening the box, 42 frozen frogs were found. They had been exposed to 3 nights of sub-freezing weather.
They were immediately taken to Dan Odom's first hour biology class and his students gathered round as Odom worked feverishly to revive them. Frogs are cold-blooded animals whose body temperatures adjust to the ambient temperature.
Odom immersed the frogs into a cold-water bath and into progressively warmer baths as they began to show sings of movement. Then in an act of rare heroism and servanthood, he applied mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to four of them and the back pressure-arm life method of resuscitation to the remainder.Mrs. Mudd said it was a rare sight to see the 6-foot-5 Odom "bending over all these little limp frogs and coaxing them back to life."
In the end, not one frog was lost and none seemed to worse for the ordeal when put through their paces. Now that was truly a different kind of serving.
The question on the game show was this: "Can you give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a frog?"
By the way, Dan Odom and I were the sponsors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at St.Charles High and we had the largest huddle in the state of Missouri.
Jean Mudd, an English teacher at SCHS was sponsoring Mark Twain days and a part of that special event was a scheduled frog jumping activity. Mrs. Mudd anxiously awaited the arrival of the frogs, and as the date for the event drew closer, the frogs had not arrived. It was incredibly cold in St. Charles at that time and it was discovered that the frogs had been left in the outside mailbox over the weekend. In opening the box, 42 frozen frogs were found. They had been exposed to 3 nights of sub-freezing weather.
They were immediately taken to Dan Odom's first hour biology class and his students gathered round as Odom worked feverishly to revive them. Frogs are cold-blooded animals whose body temperatures adjust to the ambient temperature.
Odom immersed the frogs into a cold-water bath and into progressively warmer baths as they began to show sings of movement. Then in an act of rare heroism and servanthood, he applied mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to four of them and the back pressure-arm life method of resuscitation to the remainder.Mrs. Mudd said it was a rare sight to see the 6-foot-5 Odom "bending over all these little limp frogs and coaxing them back to life."
In the end, not one frog was lost and none seemed to worse for the ordeal when put through their paces. Now that was truly a different kind of serving.
The question on the game show was this: "Can you give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a frog?"
By the way, Dan Odom and I were the sponsors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at St.Charles High and we had the largest huddle in the state of Missouri.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
32ND ANNUAL PRAYER BREAKFAST FOR GREATER ST. LOUIS
Last year at this time, I had the happy privilege of introducing Governor Matt Blunt and Rick Warren to each other at the Greater St. Louis Annual Prayer Breakfast. That was a lot of fun and I suffered from a bit of "Head table Mentality" from that experience. Today, was the 32nd annual prayer breakfast with around 2500 in attendance. It is indeed one of the most attended prayer breakfasts in the United States.
Frank Cusamano, a local TV and Radio sports personality was the emcee and he did an excellent job in that capacity. Included in the program was the Mayor's Welcome, the County Executive's Welcome, Old Testament Reading, New Testament Reading, prayer for Mayors and other community and state leaders. There was also a prayer for our National Leaders, especially President Bush.
The speaker for today's prayer breakfast was Mr. John Aden who is Senior Vice President of International Operations for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. It was obvious that Mr Aden is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His message suggested that each of us has a "God-Sized Hole." In order help fill the hole, we must recognize that God created us to Love Him. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" is more than a one time event. It is not just accepting Christ as Savior, it is a growing event. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" turns us to others. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" will lead to the real thing. That is a spirit-filled life.
Aden continues to be a very successful business person. He always starts the day in "The Word." He and his family have grown through the book "Experiencing God." After studying that book, his entire family and extended family have moved from being religious to committed lives dedicated to Jesus. In the final analysis, isn't that what God desires for all of us?
Frank Cusamano, a local TV and Radio sports personality was the emcee and he did an excellent job in that capacity. Included in the program was the Mayor's Welcome, the County Executive's Welcome, Old Testament Reading, New Testament Reading, prayer for Mayors and other community and state leaders. There was also a prayer for our National Leaders, especially President Bush.
The speaker for today's prayer breakfast was Mr. John Aden who is Senior Vice President of International Operations for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. It was obvious that Mr Aden is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His message suggested that each of us has a "God-Sized Hole." In order help fill the hole, we must recognize that God created us to Love Him. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" is more than a one time event. It is not just accepting Christ as Savior, it is a growing event. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" turns us to others. Filling the "God-Sized Hole" will lead to the real thing. That is a spirit-filled life.
Aden continues to be a very successful business person. He always starts the day in "The Word." He and his family have grown through the book "Experiencing God." After studying that book, his entire family and extended family have moved from being religious to committed lives dedicated to Jesus. In the final analysis, isn't that what God desires for all of us?
Sunday, March 2, 2008
KINDERGARTEN - A PLACE TO CREATE
I feel I had a good start in school. I began kindergarten at Greenwood Elementary School on the campus of Missouri State University. We had 30 students in our class, 15 boys and 15 girls. Greenwood was not a private school, but you had to enroll early to be admitted. I believe my mother enrolled me when I was three days old. Miss Dora Henicke was my teacher and she had a great room in which to teach. We had a jungle gym, a storage locker for your shoes and other items, work benches with vices, an area carpet and a real opportunity to learn. I wish I would have become a "Willing Learner," but I as grateful for my year in kindergarten.
The first kindergarten in the United States began in the public school system of St. Louis, Missouri. Today, the district is plagued with so many problems that many corporate leaders in the city have given up. The district has been taken over by the state of Missouri. The present superintendent, Diana Borisaw (sp?) is a godly lady who really wants to do some special things to create a new climate for education in city schools. She has involved the clergy of the metropolitan area and making progress. Sadly, however, she is not going to continue as the leader of the district (By the way, she is a SERVANT-LEADER).
My friend, Ed Watkins and I, along with MOHELA are endeavoring to develop a program that will change, not only St. Louis, but the state of Missouri and the United States. It is strongly felt that we must begin in kindergarten and create "Willing Learners." Being a "Willing Learner" is not a natural thing, but they can be developed and we want to make sure that happens. I have some ideas, but need help in this endeavor.
Last Friday, I was in Springfield meeting with Arthur Mallory. He is a special friend and by far the BEST Commissioner of Education the state of Missouri has ever had. Several years ago, he began one of the best educational programs in the world when he created "Parents as Teachers." He gave me the name of the lady who is head of that organization and she has already e-mailed me so we can begin conversation on how that organization can help is in our kindergarten effort.
Meanwhile, if you have any ideas on how to create "Willing Learners," please let me know.
Sue came home last night at 8:10 pm. It is now 2:10 pm the next day in St. Charles, and she is still sleeping. I am looking forward to hearing all about her trip to the far east.
The first kindergarten in the United States began in the public school system of St. Louis, Missouri. Today, the district is plagued with so many problems that many corporate leaders in the city have given up. The district has been taken over by the state of Missouri. The present superintendent, Diana Borisaw (sp?) is a godly lady who really wants to do some special things to create a new climate for education in city schools. She has involved the clergy of the metropolitan area and making progress. Sadly, however, she is not going to continue as the leader of the district (By the way, she is a SERVANT-LEADER).
My friend, Ed Watkins and I, along with MOHELA are endeavoring to develop a program that will change, not only St. Louis, but the state of Missouri and the United States. It is strongly felt that we must begin in kindergarten and create "Willing Learners." Being a "Willing Learner" is not a natural thing, but they can be developed and we want to make sure that happens. I have some ideas, but need help in this endeavor.
Last Friday, I was in Springfield meeting with Arthur Mallory. He is a special friend and by far the BEST Commissioner of Education the state of Missouri has ever had. Several years ago, he began one of the best educational programs in the world when he created "Parents as Teachers." He gave me the name of the lady who is head of that organization and she has already e-mailed me so we can begin conversation on how that organization can help is in our kindergarten effort.
Meanwhile, if you have any ideas on how to create "Willing Learners," please let me know.
Sue came home last night at 8:10 pm. It is now 2:10 pm the next day in St. Charles, and she is still sleeping. I am looking forward to hearing all about her trip to the far east.
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