Sunday January 8, 2012



I struggle with the concept of making New Year's resolutions.  I view each day as a chance to decide what's important and what can be a goal for that week.  Now that I've said that, I will share with you a few of the resolutions I've made for the new year.  It isn't a complete list and they will not be in order of importance.
1) Eliminate or lessen the use of conversational preambles.
2) Speak without detailed explanations of what I think or believe.
3) Practice what I read and believe about holistic health.
4) Avoid giving advice unless asked.
5) Once a month sponsor a party for the purpose of having fun.
6) Talk less and listen more when I pray.
7) Be specific in the continual search for God's fellowship.

The End

ATTT

Hey, Jeff!

I once had this student who knew what I was thinking before I expressed my thought in word, look, or body language.  It was scary.  No exaggeration.  Scary.  You're not so sure that this was scary?  Imagine your folks knowing what is streaming through your brain.  Picture the friend that knows you were using a little white lie to avoid difficulty.  Imagine your employees or co-workers knowing in advance what selfish act you were on the verge of inflicting upon them or others.

Actually, we were both able to "guess" (not know) what the other was thinking in differing situations.  Let's call it a extra portion of perception and avoid the concept of scary.  Let's call it fun.  Ya, it was great fun to be able to guess what the other was thinking.  However, with an extra sense of understanding of another individual, comes the knowledge of how to frustrate, or how to manipulate that person.

Looking back I believe we both used this perceptiveness to irritate each other.  It is also true that with the frustration comes a type of appreciation for the one with whom you share a God given gift.  Growing up I never realized the positive potential in being perceptive.

Two weeks ago I thought that I should email Jeff and ask how things were going.  The next day he emailed me first!  I was a little irritated that he wrote first, but was glad to hear he was doing well and continuing with his training.  I'm not sure I ever conveyed to Jeff that I saw his strengths as gifts to him, from God.  Jeff is a light.  He is granted the privilege of seeing and understanding what people need before they speak a word.  He probably knew that sending me the above picture would be a Christmas gift I would enjoy receiving.  He asked that I not share the picture with anyone.  HA!  He knew I would, and I knew he wouldn't care!

Hey, Jeff, celebrate the gifts God has given you, and remember the best way to celebrate is to use your talents to help another person that God places in your daily path.  Merry Christmas!  I miss you!  There's always room for you on one of those expensive classroom couches.

HTBH

Sydney Who?

"Sydney is teaching today," came the yell from across campus.  "Sydney, who?" came the cry back.  I paused for a moment and thought, "Sydney, Who?"  I smiled, "boy I could tell you about Sydney Who!"
Sydney Who came to Orcas Island with her family 12+ years ago.  She was in the 3rd grade (That's my best guess).  When I moved to Orcas to teach at OCS Sydney was in the 6th grade.  I soon learned that Sydney the sixth grader, besides having the best smile on Orcas Island, also could express how she felt on almost every subject.  Knowing what it means to express one's self on every subject, I anticipated Ms. Who and her classmates' arrival into the high school at OCS.

When that first high school day came I found her class to be what I expected: Articulate, cute, and very bright.  Oh, did I mention that they were outspoken?  I should mention that another word for outspoken is opinionated.  Having made the top ten list of opinionated people in the United States, I can spot a class with this trait a ferry away.  I was right about something else, this class was loaded with potential in every area of life.  They could earn top grades, sing, play all sports, speak in front of groups, be great OCS big brothers and sisters, and what I liked most-make you think.  And Sydney Who loved to "make you think."  Her favorite question was, "so what do you think Mr. Worley?" Followed by a, "uh, uh?"

And so the other day when I was looking at the OCS web page I saw Sydney Harris posing with her students, that's right, her students, in  the OCS gym.  I thought to myself, how proud her parents must be when they see her helping kids in the same places where teachers had helped her.  I thought to myself, how proud her church must be when they see her living for Jesus and using her talents to impact the lives of people.  I thought of how proud her teachers were when we saw her return and take on the responsibility of caring for young questioning minds.  How amazing that this 3rd grader has come back and can be trusted to care for the next group of emerging teachers, plumbers, coaches, and youth leaders.

All of this reminded me that teaching and parenting is like seed planting.  You do your best to share information, instruct in how to do things, and try to live the values that are needed on our struggling planet. Then, after planting the seed, you wait for God to care for, watch over, and grow the seed.  God is so far beyond me in knowing what is best.  Just the other day when I needed these reminders about seed planting, Sydney Harris the substitute kingergarten teacher drove into the OCS parking lot. 

I work for God.  I plant the seed.  He grows the seed in just the right way, in just the right time.  My Father knows best!  "So, What Do You Think, Ms. Harris? Uh, Uh?"

CNAF

Gina Stopped By



Gina stopped by today.  Gina is about 5'4 and weighs 280 pounds.  She stopped by yesterday and asked my brother, her neighbor, if he would like her to come to the house and perform a cleansing with sage.  "It's a meaningful Native American custom," she said.  She continued, "I can go through the house with the sage (burning incense), cleanse and bless your home."  I turned away thinking of something I was trying to finish in the living room.  I heard my brother say, "sure come by tomorrow."
I turned around, waited for her to leave, and screamed at my brother. 

My brother's wife died less than two weeks ago. Cleanse with sage!  An old Native American cleansing!  I got over it quickly because I was there to support my brother not to stop people from supporting him.

Gina stopped by the next evening.  We followed her from room to room.  Then downstairs until we entered the room where my sister-in-law died.  "Should we do this room?" she asked.  My brother said yes, and we proceeded to gather near the room we wanted to avoid.  She had filled the entire room with the smell of sage and then turned to leave.  My brother said wait, and then embraced her with a hug of thankfulness.  We weren't converted to any new strange belief.  However we were touched by this act of kindness and this symbol of closure.

Gina Stopped By-And I'm Glad She Did.

LTL

Paradise

                                                                

Jesus said to the man hanging next to him on the cross, "Today, you will be with me in paradise."  It's easy to argue over the grammar used in the translation of Jesus' words.  Perhaps it's not so easy to see the thief on the cross hearing those words.  What good thing had he done?  Not much good is reported about this man.  He was a thief.  How real was his repenting?  Doesn't sound like he repented.  What theology did he follow?  We're not sure he knew any theology.  What "hermeneutic" was the driving force behind his study of scripture?  Doubtful he new such a thing as a "hermeneutic?" 

So what did Jesus see in this man that he would offer him paradise-on that very day?  One thought is that the story revolves around not what Jesus saw in the man, but rather what the man saw in Jesus.
Maybe that thought holds the key for the thief, and perhaps that thought holds the key for me in living with and for Jesus.

When I can see that Jesus is the center of my faith and not my accomplishments, perhaps then I'll be able to see Jesus as my daily rescuer, my companion, and my friend.

And what a friend he is!

HTBH


He seemed to know Jesus.  In his travels he probably had heard of this man who offered hope and acceptance to everyone he met.  He seemed to sense this person hanging next to him was different.  He thought he could tell there was hope for him.  Then he did the unthinkable.  Then he took a step that was as difficult as the one Zacchaeus took when he climed the tree to see Jesus.  Then he did what would be hard for me, maybe all of us.  Then he asked Jesus to be a part of his kingdom.  There was no waiting to ask this question.  Time was running away from him.  There was no time to formulate the words.  There was no time
wonder if it was the right thing to do.  He simply said, "Lord, remember me in your kingdom."


Often we refer to Orcas Island as paradise.  "Just another day in paradise."  Orcas is cool, but to be remembered by Jesus is beyond description.  I'm glad he will remember the thief on the cross, and I'm glad he will remember all of us!

Writing Revelations

Interesting how something can take your thoughts in a new direction.  When the blank rabbit said writing
styles differ, I began to wonder why.  I also wondered if I could change mine enough that it would seem fresh and like someone else was blogging for theocs360.  Not sure if this brain teaser will stay with me.  However, it must be like personalities.  Not famous people, but the personality that has been developed over time, including the one with which we receive at birth.
Never thought of changing a writing style.  Where to start.  The Apostle Paul wrote more than half of the Bible's New Testament.  His writing style was so predictable that the New Testament book of Hebrews is assumed by many Bible scholars to be written by someone other than Paul.  The theology is not the problem, but rather the writing style is significantly different than Paul's other letters (books).
Can I do it?  Can I blog and leave the impression that it isn't roger worley?  How do I begin this quest?
Stay tuned-particularly you blank rabbit! (We don't know his color or what kind of rabbit he is-this is a tough time for all of us at theocs360)

rabbit chaser

Times Are Changing

As we kickoff the year, we're looking at new options.

An idea we proposed was to stick with this blogging website, and create a YouTube account in order to upload videos. However, we also considered other outlets of creativity. We thought we'd check out some other blogging websites. One of these, Blog.com, ended up being exactly what we needed, without every capability we needed to be able to use on the iPads (curse you Adobe Flash Player!!!).

TBC...