my dad has been a coach for a LONG time. i really don't know how many years, but i think it is safe to say about 30 years he has been coaching. he has been a coach at the school i grew up in for at least 20 - at least. but today he was told he is no longer going to be coaching. he was an assistant to the football team and head coach of the softball team. he recently started up with the softball team b/c no one else would help out and he has been coaching football for as long as i have been alive! but apparently Edwards County High School no longer needs his services in the realm of sports. i think its shady, but i'm sure my opinion doesn't matter in this case.
i want to say that while my dad isn't perfect, he is a good role model for high school teenagers and will help both boys and girls learn sportsmanship on and off the playing field. most importantly though - he is a God-fearing/following man who cares about the lives of his students and athletes - that even goes for his co-workers. i have known my dad to invite new coaches to church or help them find a church of whatever denomination they like to attend. i have heard my dad talk about the potential in a student and wish that student would realize it themselves - as well as their parents see it too. i have seen his response when he has learned his athletes have passed away or been in trouble with the law. i'm glad my dad is in the public school sector - as well as my mom.
i say that to say this: these days, i think Christians are opting to stay with the 99 and expect the 1 to come to them (or figure it out themselves)
as stated, i am glad that my mom and dad are in the public school sector b/c that is one area where Christians are starting to bail ship - and establish schools of their own. now, let me just go ahead and say that i don't care where people decide to school their children - public, private or home school - don't care. what i do care about is more specific towards the Christian community and that when they begin to build their own little communities through schools they usually speak ill about other systems in place - such as public schools. they have also been getting more into the sports arena - and there is nothing wrong w/ that either per-say - but i want to know is this: has the Christian community decided to stay w/ the 99, expecting the 1 lost soul to come to them?
Christ cares so much for people to come to know Him, that he gave the illustration of a shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to go and look for the 1 lost sheep until its found! (Matthew 18:10-13) i wonder if we are doing the same thing? or better yet, are we even willing?!
i know public school systems aren't perfect - even teachers in the public school system will tell you that! however, i wonder how many Christian parents get involved w/ their children's classroom or school? how many Christians volunteer for school sports, activities or what have you? how many of us are willing to get into the world around us, instead of cultivating our own communities for people to come and join us, instead of us influencing the communities around us by getting involved with them?
now maybe those who establish schools and sports organizations believe they are influencing their communities and believe they are involved with them - but that isn't the way i see it and i'm writing this from my perspective and how i view this shift. how can we expect to influence the world for Christ if we keep trying to keep to ourselves? we need more Christians in the real world! we have a broken system, that is true - but let us not leave it and expect those who are broken to come to us - let's get in there and share the love of Christ in practical ways! let's leave the 99 in order that the 1 may be found!
i say that to say this: these days, i think Christians are opting to stay with the 99 and expect the 1 to come to them (or figure it out themselves)
as stated, i am glad that my mom and dad are in the public school sector b/c that is one area where Christians are starting to bail ship - and establish schools of their own. now, let me just go ahead and say that i don't care where people decide to school their children - public, private or home school - don't care. what i do care about is more specific towards the Christian community and that when they begin to build their own little communities through schools they usually speak ill about other systems in place - such as public schools. they have also been getting more into the sports arena - and there is nothing wrong w/ that either per-say - but i want to know is this: has the Christian community decided to stay w/ the 99, expecting the 1 lost soul to come to them?
Christ cares so much for people to come to know Him, that he gave the illustration of a shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to go and look for the 1 lost sheep until its found! (Matthew 18:10-13) i wonder if we are doing the same thing? or better yet, are we even willing?!
i know public school systems aren't perfect - even teachers in the public school system will tell you that! however, i wonder how many Christian parents get involved w/ their children's classroom or school? how many Christians volunteer for school sports, activities or what have you? how many of us are willing to get into the world around us, instead of cultivating our own communities for people to come and join us, instead of us influencing the communities around us by getting involved with them?
now maybe those who establish schools and sports organizations believe they are influencing their communities and believe they are involved with them - but that isn't the way i see it and i'm writing this from my perspective and how i view this shift. how can we expect to influence the world for Christ if we keep trying to keep to ourselves? we need more Christians in the real world! we have a broken system, that is true - but let us not leave it and expect those who are broken to come to us - let's get in there and share the love of Christ in practical ways! let's leave the 99 in order that the 1 may be found!
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