Honor Society Induction Ceremony Speech

Last night I was given the wonderful opportunity to speak at the National Honor Society induction ceremony. It was a really great event and was a fun time honoring some of the bright spots of LCS. There were a lot of good, inspiring speeches that seemed to fit well together. I enjoyed being there to hear what was said and was amazed at the overwhelming positivity of the night. I can't wait to go back again next year.

I was humbled by the introduction made by a former student and graduating senior - such kind things said about my teaching, my attitude, and my character. I was blown away! Truly amazed that some of my students feel that way.

Anyway, I know some people were interested in seeing what I said when given the opportunity to address this group of fine young individuals and their families. So here are my speaking notes. When I speak, I tend to go a little off script and say things in slightly different ways than how it's written down, so it's not an exact transcription, but this will give you a good feel for what was said.

I'm still amazed at how many people have complimented me on my speech and said that they really liked what I had to say. My thanks to those who helped me flesh out some ideas and confirm some things I had been wanting to say were timely and appropriate as well as proof-reading my speech notes to make sure they were coherent - Thank you to Kathy Mauer, Ben Schultz, Melissa Stroud, and Lauren Hurlburt.

....................................................................

(Greetings and thank you's for the opportunity to speak)

"Honor Society members: We are here to honor you. We're here to honor you for what you have done, and we are here to honor you for who you are."

We're also here to give you the opportunity to act with honor towards others. This is a moment to live up to something that others have seen in you. Don't take it lightly.

To honor is to give special attention to; to recognize.

This organization is called the honor society; it's purpose is to promote and create a culture of honor in a couple of key areas:

Scholarship – shows that we can give or receive honor for accomplishments and achievements. We respect a job well done.

Service – shows that we can give or receive honor for humility. It is good to recognize one's place in life and realize that life is not all about "me".

Leadership – shows we can give or receive honor for ability to get things done. Whether innate or learned, we respect those who can be relied on.

Character – shows we can give or receive honor for values. We respect who someone has chosen to be and what they have chosen to represent.

Citizenship – shows we can give or receive honor for involvement. We respect those who make an effort.

Keys to honor:

1. Honor Authority - because it's right. Teachers, Administrators, Law Enforcement, Parents. They deserve your honor because they've dealt with stuff you haven't imagined and are responsible for looking after your best interests.

2. Honor One another with observable expressions - because the very fact that you're a human being is worthy of honor. Consider others better than yourself. Require honor of yourself to be given freely to others, but do NOT require that others give you honor - even if you believe you're worthy of it. Honor can be expressed simply: be on time, be prepared, do what you say you'll do or what is expected of you, listen, make eye contact, open doors for people, be wary of harsh jokes. Be willing to forgive and offer second (or third) chances.

3. Honor others in the way you receive honor - when you develop a lifestyle of honoring others, you yourself will be honored.

There are no dishonorable people, only people who make dishonorable choices. It is a founding principle of our nation that all people are created with inherent worth and value inseparable from themselves. Honor is an expression of an attitude. Be intentional in cultivating that attitude. Create a culture of honor. Be an honor society.

Thinking.

Technology is an interesting thing. It helps us in so many ways. But sometimes it seems to get away. Like when you're hanging out with friends and everybody's looking down at the screen on the phone. Not that that happened recently. But, I wonder is technology for the best? Or is it for the worst? Interestingly enough, I am actually typing this by speaking into my phone - my new iPhone. Pretty cool right? But if I let this technology get the best of it won't be for good. I want to use this to make it better.

Now, I don't have an excuse that I don't have time to sit down at a computer and write. I can dictate as I think. That is pretty cool. I hope that I can use this technology for the good.

As long as I can use this technology to get my ideas out sooner I think it will be good. I love this new technology is going to give me an opportunity to connect my ideas with others sooner easier. My hope is that I'll start to write more and therefore spend more time thinking using this technology as a mediator. My hope is that I can begin to share ideas and engage with people more. I love to think. I love to share ideas. I love to hear what other people think. But when I don't share my ideas, I don't have opportunities to engage.

So, I hope that this leads to more sharing more engagement more interaction with others. I want to dive into ideas more. I want to share what is on my heart. I want to be real with you. I want to hear what's real for you.

I don't have anything specific that I want to share tonight. But I hope to share soon. I have a few things I've been thinking about - things that I'm working on in my own life. I hope that those ideas will come out soon that we can engage with them and share ideas.

Hope

This is the sermon that I planned to speak, word for word, the way I wrote it as I prepared.  If you were there with us Sunday morning you will realize that it did not come out exactly this way.  But I think the heart of my script is still very much the same, even if the words are not.  I pray that you will find this a helpful reminder if you were there and encouraging if you weren't.

Good morning.  I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak to you this morning.  For a while I’ve felt blessed by the fact that I hadn’t been asked to speak on a sunday morning except for camp testimonies because when I look around this room, I’m humbled.  I see people who have been walking with God longer than I have been alive, people who have experienced greater levels of His intimacy and glory, people of profound wisdom, unmatched passion, sincere faith; people who are tireless and generous servants.

I have seen true examples of the love of Christ in this congregation - examples which are inspiring; examples that I have tried to learn from.  I know for some of you, the things I have to say this morning may seem simple and basic in light of your experiences.  I am confident that I will miss the depths of what God has revealed to you.  I hope then that this may be a reminder of those deeper truths that you have learned the hard way.  I am humbled, knowing that my own ability, I really have nothing to offer this congregation.  But I trust that by God’s grace, you will be encouraged as I share this simple word.  I trust you will be encouraged by the things I am learning because in so many ways, I am learning these things from you.  But as Kevin reminded us last week, we can rely on God to give us the victory so I will trust Him to help me through this message.

This morning, I believe I have a word specifically for this congregation.  As I prayed for you, asking the Lord what He wanted me to say, I felt led to share what I am about to share.  I feel that God will be doing some serious and wonderful work in many of your hearts this morning, as He has been doing in mine during the 2 weeks I’ve been preparing to speak this message.  We will be studying a passage from 1 Peter chapter 1.  I didn’t start here, but as I spent more time preparing, I felt drawn to this passage.  I spent the first 6 months of this year studying, memorizing and meditating on this passage.  I have grown to love this passage and see many wonderful things in it.  But that which I am sharing with you today is something that has been revealed to me over the last two weeks and I am amazed I’ve missed it for so long.

If you are able, would you stand to honor the Word of the Lord as I read these verses?

1 Peter 1:3-16

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,

reserved in heaven for you

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith -  the salvation of your souls.

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 
To them it was revealed that, not to themselves,

but to us they were ministering the things which have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Thank you, please be seated.

My message this morning is very simple: “Put your hope in Christ.”

Put

your hope

in Christ.

I say this to you with an urgency in my heart.  I pray that you grasp the depth of what this means for your life and its importance.  I know it seems like a simple thing, but I really believe that God means to restore something today - to bring back to life that which has died in many hearts.  I do not think it was by accident that I was led by the Spirit to a cemetery before He began speaking this word to me.  “When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.” In the solitude and silence of that place, I felt God declare hope. He arose from the grave and brought hope with Him.

Before we go any further, allow me to define hope for you:

    hope - the desire or expectation of some future good.

We speak about hope a lot.  People hope for many things:
“I hope we have tacos for dinner.”
“I hope the Bills win this afternoon.”
“I hope it will be sunny tomorrow.”
“I hope we can pay our bills this month.”
“I hope I still have a job after Christmas.”

But what does it mean to have hope?  Why do we need it?

Ultimately, we need hope because hope precedes faith.

Hebrews 11:1 - “Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things yet unseen.”
Most Christians will recognize that faith is a necessity.  We live by faith.  Faith is what carries us through life and guides our actions.  Without faith, what we do is meaningless.  But I would argue that it doesn’t require much faith - conviction or assurance - to hope for tacos.  There are hopes that require greater faith.  Hoping you will keep your job requires a greater level of faith.  The magnitude of your hope determines your necessity for faith.  Its easy to have faith for small things when your hope is small.  We find that faith sustains us, if we have the right hopes. And we find that our hope can inspire and minister to others. Hebrews 10: 23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on…”

Now, let’s look back at the text.  Who is Peter writing to? and what are we to hope in?
If we look at verses 1 and 2, we see that he is writing to people who are being persecuted and have been scattered.  These are people in serious need of hope.  Peter is writing to restore their hope by reminding them of what to put their hope in.  In verse 3 we see “...His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…” - He reminds his audience that their salvation is coming and God is on their side.

Then, in verse 6 - we see the result of His reminder: “In this you greatly rejoice,…” Having their hope in salvation through Christ gives them cause for abundant joy, even in the middle of trials.  Are you stressed out? May you are, maybe you aren’t, but either way - do you need abundant joy?
I say again very simply, “Put your hope in Christ.”

I believe that hope and salvation are nearly interchangeable - you can read this passage exchanging “hope” for “salvation” and “salvation” for “hope”.  Our hope is in the salvation of our souls through Christ’s sacrifice.  When we keep our hope in His salvation we find strength.  This is our primary hope.
Yet - somehow we still end up with hopelessness at times.  What causes this?  How do we handle it?
We experience hopelessness because we are forced to deal with time.  As creatures who experience time differently than God, we struggle to understand and act through the eternal nature we were created for.  We get impatient and we choose secondary hopes that are meant for this life and we sometimes have to wait a long time for, if we ever get what we hoped for. We should be careful to hope for those things which God has promised us.  Sometimes it is by His grace that we don’t get what we hope for.  But when our secondary hopes are purely motivated and are a promised to us by God, what then?  Proverbs says “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the promise comes it is a tree of life.”  Sometimes our faith starts to wane as we wait for our promised hope.  We loosely know that eventually we will find that tree of life.  Hope is the seed that grows into faith and faith will eventually produce a fruitful harvest.  But often we don’t realize that even the dormant seed has life within it.  It often springs forth unexpectedly.  The work of hope occurs in secret. 

But what do we do in the mean time?  We see a great example in David (3 different times in Psalms) - “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.”  David tells himself to snap out of it and reminds himself of what really matters.  Notice - David doesn’t try to restore his faith, but his hope.  He understands that faith follows hope.

Peter echoes David’s example.  In verses 13-16 he makes three statements.  It is interesting to me that (at least in the New King James version of the Bible) these three statements the statements are connected by a semi-colon, meaning that the idea continues but is restated in a different way. First, Peter advises, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”  He’s saying that you have the power to act - and that the place to focus your effort isn’t on having enough faith, but on having enough hope.  So Peter is saying, “Put your hope in Christ.”  In his second statement, he really does repeat himself even if it doesn’t look that way at first - “...as obedient children, not conforming to the former lusts, as in your ignorance…”  What Peter is saying here is “Stop putting your hope in things other than Christ.  Let go of your desires for things that are less than the good God has for you.  Let go of your hopelessness.  Put your hope in Christ.”  And then finally, he repeats himself again: “but as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy as I am holy.” - He’s saying one last time to put your hope in Christ and the salvation, glory, and perfection that is to come to you - you WILL be holy. So put your hope there. 

Before I conclude, I want to encourage you to take time later today or this week to re-read this passage and to pray and meditate over it.  I believe that God will strengthen this word within you if you give Him the opportunity to.

Let me close on a personal note.

For a while I have been experiencing a growing awareness of hopelessness in my life.  I have doubted my abilities as a teacher, questioned God’s timing and plan to bless me with a wife, struggled with confidence in my ability to play guitar, and more.  I had been getting frustrated because I had lost hope.  I had stopped expecting anything more or different.  I was becoming complacent.
But recently, God spoke two things that are changing all that in me.  It got my attention when God spoke because it was the most direct He’s been with me in a long time.  but His words to me have changed something in me that is restoring hope in every single area of my life.  And quite honestly, He is exceeding the deficit I had perceived and putting in my heart a well-spring of hope.  Is the work done yet? by no means.  But God is doing a significant work in me.

One night a few weeks ago God spoke an unmistakable declaration that has sparked hope within me.  He said, “I love you so crazy freaking much.” and then, very simply, “It’s time.”

I don’t know what it’s time for yet - but I don’t really care.  The God of the universe loves me - and he has a plan for me that is in action as we speak.  It may not always make sense to me.  And I believe there will still be trials testing the genuineness of my faith.  But I have hope.  My hope is in God.  My hope rests soundly on the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the revelation of His glory in me and in the earth some day.  Some day I will be holy, just as He is holy.  And He is beginning that work here and now.  My faith will be informed by my hope and will inspire my actions.

He loves you deeply.  And He has a plan for you that is in action as we speak.  He has a plan to give you a hope and a future.

May you find yourself humbled and sobered.  May you let go of hopelessness. May you take hold of the hope before you which is in Christ and His resurrection. Put your hope in Christ.

Ask God to breathe hope back into your life.  He is faithful.  Go and have a blessed day and week. 

Flux

I know its been a while since I've blogged.  What brings me to the blogger tonight is really a need to process some ideas. Writing always helps me process.  So while I invite and encourage you to read this, I write mostly for my own good.  I hope you find something of value and benefit to you, but that is not my ultimate goal tonight.

Quick disclaimer: some of what I will be writing about is the kind of thing people tend to want to offer positive moral encouragement regarding.  I appreciate your inclinations, but they are unnecessary.  Hopefully you will see why as you read.

First let me define flux (I'm a teacher, remember?): "constant change"; "a process of flowing" - not the physics definition you might normally expect from me regarding such a physicsy word.  Right now, I feel like I am going through a process of change in my attitudes, perspectives, and habits.  I feel like God is doing something in me. 

Ok, so I started reading through the book of Acts recently and kept thinking how very different the life of the Apostles looked from mine.  They stood out in boldness.  They faced up to persecution, trials, and hardships with joy.  They walked according to the Spirit in ways that led to miracles.  They sacrificed freely for the good of others.  They saw fruit in their ministry.  I lead a normal, and pretty comfortable life.  I am kinda shy when it comes to matters of faith.  I haven't seen (m)any miracles as a result of my prayers or actions.  I haven't seen (much) fruit as a result from my labors and efforts to minister to others and have never led someone who wasn't a Christian to the Lord. I honestly started looking at my life and feeling like there are lots of other non-Christian people who do at least what I do.  I know teachers at school who coach and seem to have a much greater impact on my students than I do.  There are lots of non-Christian people who do amazing things for various social causes or needs that I don't come close to as far as impact on the world. I don't mean to come across as thinking non-Christians can't have a positive impact on the world.  But I kinda feel sometimes like I'm not much more than a professional chaperone.  (This is the part I meant earlier,...hold on to your encouragements here please,...allow me to explain.) 

My life does not look like the new testament Christians I read about in Acts.  I think it is ok and good to admit this.  It is a simple fact.  At first I found this really distressing.  I was really tempted to doubt my status as a Christian.  I started to seek encouragement and reassurance from others.

But.

The verse that has been on a running news ticker in my head is Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Be transformed.

I want my life to look different.  I was called  to be transformed. What is it going to take?  A renewing of my mind.

So what mindsets do I have that need to be changed?  Well, I tend to think:

• that I don't have enough faith to see miracles
• that fruit of ministry must be immediate
• that things like acts of healing or prophetic words are more important than other gifts of the Spirit
• that there are other way more spiritual people that God should be using instead of me
• my Spiritual effectiveness will be obvious
• that how well I'm doing spiritually will affect God's call on my life and His ability to use me
• that I don't stand out because in everything I do I see other people who are way more talented than me
• other things that I need to change but haven't identified yet

So I need my mind to be renewed - "to be made new again". God will renew my mind.  He's been challenging me to do so.  I'm not there yet.  It needs to sink in still.  This is the part that I always feel like I'm getting into the way on.  It seems like my tendency is to hang on to things longer than God does.  I think he moves on with life sooner than I tend to.  But He sees the bigger picture.  And getting His perspective is the only way I can experience the transformation I need. 

Here's what I'm working toward:

• Miracles? Faith of a mustard seed (small) is all it takes.(Luke 17:6)
• Immediacy? Seeds need time to take root and nourishment before they produce fruit.
• Ranking gifts? One body has many parts each with unique purpose - should the elbow despise the armpit (or whatever the scriptural body part example really is)? (1 Corinthians 12)
• Comparing myself to others? The potter makes some things for noble purposes, others for ignoble.  Isn't it the potter's choice to determine which is made for which purpose?  (Romans 9:21-23, 2 Corinthians 4:7) The bible says Moses was "mighty in word and deed" and then a little later we see him telling God he is not the right man for the job. Hmmm...What God saw in him wasn't quite what he saw in himself... (Acts 7:22, 35)
• Obviousness of effectiveness? "I was hungry and you fed me,..." "...Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,...?" (Matthew 25:35, 37)
• My mistakes affecting God's use of me? Have you read Hebrews 11?
• Determining my value based on others' opinions? God alone is who I will have to give an account.  His opinion is the only one that matters.  He is my audience of One. He is the only one who gives me peace.  In Him and Him alone is my value determined.  "For God so loved ME that He sent His one and only Son..."
• Um,...there are lots of Bible verses and songs/hymns and other stuff I didn't incorporate into this list yet,...when I figure out what else God wants to change in me (and no, I don't need your suggestions right now, thankyouverymuch) I'm sure He will direct me to the appropriate items.

My mentor has said to me a couple times over the past week that everything I need is in me.  I just need to let it out.  The Spirit of God is living within me.  I just need to let it out. 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our [intimate] knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

It will be impossible to see growth in any of these areas unless I take action - start taking steps that move all the stuff that I think-know (the stuff in the list I just made) to being stuff that I act-know.  Without action there is no need or opportunity for faith.  "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says." James 1:22

Time to be transformed.  Time to let my mind be renewed. 

Survivorman trip!

I am survivorman.

I've never actually seen the show,...but I have seen Michael Scott try to survive (Season 4, episode 7 y'all).

I went camping for one night (a little over 24 hours camping is better than a little over 0 hours).  I went to a state forest called Rattlesnake Hill, near Dansville, NY.  Yes, it is appropriately named, there have been rattlesnake sightings in the more remote sections of the forest.  Yes there are bears in the forest.  But its ok, I have keen knowledge of bears:

So I had nothing to fear.

"You don't have to know what you're looking for,...you just have to start looking." - ancestry.com commercial

I have never gone camping alone before.  But it was good.  I had no plan, no agenda.  I explored.  I napped.  I sat and watched.  I brought a few books and read.  I prayed, and met with God.  I feel refreshed to the depths of my soul.  I cannot remember a time when I had such an incredible moment of clarity about what matters in my life.  I am excited for what is to come and feel prepared.  Something within me has risen up.  There were moments of challenge and frustration, but I feel like they were necessary in developing the things that came out of this trip.  Every great story has conflict, right?  Its hard to have conflict with just one person if nothing goes wrong. But I overcame and found some things in myself in the process.

All that is not to say that there aren't things I will do differently next time.
Lessons learned:

• pack a compass
• pack a map
• bring your glasses and a contact case
• bring enough stove fuel that your hot chocolate gets warmer than 80 degrees (although when its 35 degrees out, anything is an improvement).

So wherever you go, may you find joy, adventure, freedom, and strength.  May you find that you too, can call yourself survivorman.

Have we grown too fond of technology?

/**I found this unpublished post waiting...just waiting to be shared...I wrote this a few weeks ago, but never got around to posting it. Here it is!**/

Before you read anything else, let me say: I am guilty.  I am sorry.

I sometimes like to listen to a radio podcast of a show called "Science Friday" (don't make fun of me).  If you're unfamiliar with the show, they have experts come on the show and talk about a topic, then field listener calls/questions.  Recently they had a segment of the show where they talked about this very question: "Have we grown too fond of technology?"

You should listen to this. (click the listen button in the upper left corner) I think its about 25 - 30 minutes long.

The expert on this segment studied the ways that technology has affected our culture and specifically focused on the way it is affecting the children who are growing up in this world.

Some things that come up in the interview:

• Kids are afraid of having phone or face-to-face conversations and would rather text because "too much might show"
• We've seen a shift from "I have a feeling, I want to make a call" to "I want to have a feeling, I need to send a text". This shift shows that kids are becoming dependent on others to develop their own feelings and independence.
• We are so busy communicating that we don't know how to be alone with ourselves and its crippling us.
• Like food, the answer is not to remove it and avoid it, but to develop a healthy relationship with it.
• Children are complaining that technology is their competition for their parents' attention.

I find it frightening that a scientist is saying that we as a culture have "been seduced".  I don't think anyone is surprised by the problems we are seeing and noticing in kids/teens already.  I also don't believe that it is a situation beyond hope.  But its going to take a real commitment and decision to see cultural change.  I believe that this is more important than we realize.

One of my favorite quotes from BT Roberts says, "Popular sins are, to say the least, silently tolerated."  Let me break the silence.  It is not right when we allow ourselves to be distracted from communion with those who we are physically near us.  It is not right when we ignore whats happening around us because we are worried about what is happening elsewhere.  It is not fair for us to be so dependent on others for our emotional state.

If you consider yourself a healthy and emotionally secure person, please do us all the favor of shaking off the distraction.  Engage with the world around you and the people you are with.  Show love and care to others by giving them your attention and by showing interest in them.

The blog is not dead...

Hey friends,...

I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten about the blog.  I have been unbelievably busy lately.  Its all been good things.  Just taking a lot of time to do other things.  A lot of good, time consuming things.

Truthfully, I kinda miss blogging.

I have found this year that blogging has been a way for me to process through some of the things that God is doing in me and then release them for any who cares to take an interest in them.  Its been really helpful and beneficial for me to spend time writing.  I hope that in some way it has been helpful and beneficial to you too.

I have some good ideas for things I want to post about.  Hopefully I will get an opportunity to write more about them soon.  If you have thoughts or ideas,...I love mulling over things other people have to say or things they are thinking about, so please share with me.  If there is something I have written about you'd like to hear me elaborate on, please share that with me too.

Until another opportunity to share arises, be blessed and encouraged and filled with peace. :)