Cut and dry.

So, my friends, here's what I wrote this morning on my 21st birthday. A friend has recently been asking some questions regarding faith in Christ, and I think that posting this may answer questions that others may have! So, here is the question and my response!

1. Question (paraphrased): Gandhi and Bill Gates dedicated their lives to social justice, equality, and charity, and my Christian friends believe that just because they didn't believe the right thing that they are spending eternity in hell. Is getting into Heaven so cut and dry? Or do you think God chooses in a more sophisticated manner?

This is a question that some Christians would avoid trying to answer because they don’t want to step on people’s toes. I’ll try to answer this the best that I can. This is going to be a long answer! Brace yourself!

At the beginning of creation, Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden and living in perfect unison with God. The Bible says that they walked in the garden with God and talked with him every day. They were literally best friends and companions. God created men in his image, which means that they were perfect and without sin. If God is a holy and perfect being (which I believe he is), he can only be in the presence of righteous, perfect people. After Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (and consequently offered it to Adam), humans lost their perfection. For that reason, God sent them from the Garden, which was his dwelling place on the earth. Since then, humanity has been imperfect. Because Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, humanity is now able to know what God has always known: the difference between good and evil. We had no idea that evil even existed! We were in perfect communion with the perfect creator!

Now, when we think of justice, we think of people working to correct their own misdeeds. When a prisoner is locked up, often he has the chance to redeem himself by working his way back to normalcy. If his behavior is good, he moves to a different prison with less strict rules, and eventually, he may earn his freedom. In this scenario, he is attempting to rectify his standing in society because of the malicious act that he perpetrated. Try applying this scenario to the paragraph above. If Adam and Eve are now prisoners because of their knowledge of good and evil, it is impossible for them to redeem their situation. In this case, they are not rectifying themselves in society because of an act that they committed; rather they would be trying to erase the knowledge that they gained from eating the fruit. They cannot “un-know” the knowledge that they have received. They cannot erase the knowledge that was implanted in them and undoubtedly passed on to their children (and their children, and their children, etc).

It was for this reason that Jesus came. We cannot in any possible “work” our way into heaven.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

God’s love is unconditional. You’ve probably heard that phrase many, many times, but let me explain it a little more than you may be used to. “Unconditional” means that God loves us all equally. When we think of “unconditional,” we tend to think on the negative side. For example, “Even if I mess up and sin, God still loves me because his love is unconditional.” While that is true, the other side is also true. “Even when I do something amazing and praiseworthy, God still loves me the same amount because his love is unconditional.” There is NOTHING that we can do to make God love us less. There is NOTHING that we could do to make God love us more. No misdeed or good deed will enhance our standing in the eyes of the Lord. He already loves us at his full capacity, which is much, much more than we can imagine.

With this in mind, look at Ephesians 2:8 and 9 – “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not of yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works so that no man can boast.” What we see here is that God does not base our salvation upon our deeds. Why? Because his love is unconditional. If we were all judged upon our good deeds, we would all be in trouble. I don’t know about you, but more often than not, by sinful thoughts and bad deeds out number my good deeds by far! I’m so thankful that I am not seen based on my deeds. Verse 8 says that we are saved by grace through faith. Odds are that you have heard this verse, too, so let me explain. Grace is unmerited favor. God has mercy on us, but we (even I!) don’t deserve it! However, the verse also says that this grace comes through faith! By adding “in Jesus Christ” at the end, the verse is a little more clear. By faith in Jesus Christ, I have been saved by God’s favor that I in no way earned. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

Have you ever wondered why he said this? Seems quite exclusive, doesn’t it?

“God made him who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” – 2 Corinthians 5:21.

“Him who had no sin” is Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the first half of the Bible that documents life before Jesus’ birth, God required sacrifices of lambs to cleanse humanity of sin. By sacrificing these sinless creatures, man’s sin was covered temporarily; until the next time that a sacrifice was required. When Jesus arrived on the scene, all of that changed. Jesus, often called “The Lamb of God,” became our permanent sacrifice. No longer would humanity have to sacrifice animals to please God. They simply need to believe that Jesus “became sin for us” and cleansed us from all impurities.

Those who don’t believe that Christ became sin and took God’s wrath have not yet received Christ’s cover. Colossians 3:3 says this: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” When God looks at believers, he no longer sees them as sinful beings. He sees Christ. As a believer, I am literally hidden in Christ so that when I die and God pronounces his judgment on me, he sees Christ and not my “deeds.” It’s fascinating, isn’t it? I am so thankful for that.

So, with that said, I do believe that getting into heaven is cut and dry. BUT, I refuse to believe that God doesn’t grieve over the loss of a soul. The Bible says that God desires that EVERYONE come to know him. “The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God wishes that everyone come to accept Christ as savior.

So, referring back to the part where I said that God does not judge us based on our deeds, rather, he looks at whether we are hidden in Christ, let’s talk about Gates and Gandhi. I do believe that Bill Gates and Gandhi are amazing men. However, if they are not hidden in Christ, they will not be spending eternity with him. Gandhi specifically was raised in a country where Christianity was not the main religion. One could assume that he may have never had the opportunity to hear the message of Christ. That may be true, and it may not be. Either way, God says that he reveals himself to everyone and provides him or her opportunities to discover him. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” Romans 1:20. This means that even though Gandhi may not have been directly told of the power of Christ to save, he is without excuse because God has revealed himself through creation.

God is patient with YOU, not wanting you to perish, but to come to repentance. He wants you to accept Christ as your savior. I hope that this has answered your question and spurred something inside of you. Remember that there is NOTHING you could do to make God love you less (or more)! He LOVES you. He desires that you know him, and so do I.

Mr. Kangaroo and Mr. Emu

Well folks, I did it. I managed to complete my entire undergraduate coursework with a 4.0. It feels pretty good, and I'd say its a pretty redemptive experience because of the 3.96 I graduated high school with. (Yeah... one B... and it was in Driver's Ed.)

In just a few short weeks, my entire life will change drastically. This hot-off-the-press 21 year old Spanish teacher will be stepping into the three story building that houses the largest and most diverse population of students in Wichita (name omitted purposely) to student teach. There are issues with gangs, daily fights, and large numbers of students that don't graduate. This terrifies me.

Or, at least I guess it would. But, for the most part, I won't be dealing with those students. I'll be with the "advanced" students. These students are set apart from the rest of the school. They have a different schedule and different expectations. Part of me wants the real experience that I will surely have in the near future as a full-time teacher, part of me is excited to really push the students to grow and explore the language. I've promised myself to give this experience everything that I've got, and today, I've been dreaming.

My friend Megan recently told me of her wish to get an emu tattooed on her arm. I had no idea why anyone would want that horribly ugly bird permanently implanted into their skin, but after her explanation, I got it.

You see, the emu cannot walk backwards.

Fascinating isn't it?

With a little googleizing, I discovered that the kangaroo also has difficulty moving backwards.

This has sparked an idea in my head. The mascot of my classroom will be either and emu or a kangaroo.

It sounds stupid, but I think that the students will really take to the idea. As of now, I'm leaning towards the kangaroo for a couple of reasons. First, there are several species of kangaroos, from the giant leaping ones that are featured in movies to tiny ones that fit in your palm. Second, mother kangaroos house their "joeys" in their pouches until they are ready to face the world. Third, kangaroos are so apt to adapt that they have been known to live in the desert, near the icy peaks of mountains, and even on golf courses. Fourth, a large group of kangaroos is called a "mob." Fifth, much like cows, kangaroos have several stomach chambers that allow them to digest large amounts of food. And finally,like I mentioned, kangaroos do not move backwards easily. In fact, they can leap fantastic distances at high speeds.

The amount of species represents the diversity of the classroom. Each student in the room has a history. Each student is different. Each has struggled in some way or another to get to where they are now. However different they are, they are still kangaroos. And in the long run, they'll always be accepted as so.

The fact that mothers house their young in their pouch represents the family environment that I will promote in the classroom. My students will look out for each other, and when they feel they're ready, they will be free to step out on their own.

Third, the kangaroo's ability to adapt represents the flexibility that I will require of my students. The best way to reach each student is by making each week, each day, each lesson so drastically different from the last one that they are engaged and on their toes. My students will need to be flexible and willing to adapt to my teaching style.

Fourth, the name of the large group, a "mob", symbolizes the unity that I expect between my students. I wish to instill a sense of pride in them. I want them to be proud of their work and of their efforts. I want them to encourage the efforts of the rest of the "mob" and rally around them when they most need it.

Fifth, the kangaroo's stomach, as one could anticipate, represents the amount of work that students will successfully "digest." I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the majority of students desire to learn. My goal is to make learning so enjoyable that the students don't even realize that they are learning and digesting large amounts of information.

And finally, the kangaroo's inability to move backwards personifies the continual forward motion that will be characteristic of my classroom. I believe that a student should not only grow a student in knowledge, but that they should also help a student discover their true selves and pursue their passions. Yes, I expect my students to leap like kangaroos in knowledge, but more than that, I hope that they make huge gains as an individual and global citizen.

I don't know about you, but I definitely want to be a kangaroo.

( I sketched these today. It says, "The mascot of our classroom will be either a kangaroo or emu because they do not move backwards.")

An Autobiography of Sorts...

As a young child I loved school. My mother often reminds me of how I would beg to go to school, even on the weekends throughout the summer. Something about the collision of the social and academic aspects was extremely appealing to me then, and the same is true now. Many educators have inspired me to pursue a career in education.

My first exposure to an educational environment was in my home. My mother worked for several years as a childcare provider and was constantly teaching the children under her care, including my siblings and me. We constantly read together as a family and even had mini spelling bees between my brother, sister and I. Her time was well spent and her instruction translated to immediate success in the first years of my schooling. The first teacher to impact me was Mrs. Reutter, my first grade teacher. An elderly woman, Mrs. Reutter was sweet, genuine and caring. She used friendly competition to encourage us to read and treated me to a coke at the local burger shop when I read the most pages. Her personal interest in my success is etched into my mind.

Although my middle school years were mostly uneventful, one teacher inspired me to pursue my personal interests. After a school-wide photography contest, Mrs. Colborn, my sixth grade teacher, praised my work and asked that I work with her on the yearbook staff. A professional photographer herself, Mrs. Colborn taught me so much about pursuing my passions because she hired me as a part-time employee for her new business. I began by following her around on photo shoots and altering lighting, but soon graduated to taking candid photographs of weddings and senior picture sessions with her second camera. She was also the director of the sixth grade play and gave me a lead role in the show, spurring my passion for drama and theater. Mrs. Colborn would go on to be my high school theater director and forensics coach, guiding me to several lead roles and many league and state titles throughout my career. My personal interests in photography and theater spurred from her encouragement and personal interest in my life.

Unlike my time in middle school, my high school years were anything but uneventful. I enrolled in advanced placement courses and soon started an accelerated course in order to graduate a semester early. While I performed well in the sciences, fine arts, and language arts, I struggled to find a discipline that captivated me. All of that changed my sophomore year when I began taking Spanish classes with Mrs. Moore. While other students followed along with her instruction, I made leaps and bounds as was quickly at the top of the class. Mrs. Moore allocated extra work for me and encouraged any venture that I wanted to attempt. Because of the small size of my high school, only Spanish One and Spanish Two existed. After speaking with administration, Mrs. Moore fought to establish a Spanish Three, a class with one student: me. The fact that Mrs. Moore negotiated to begin a class for me meant the world. I will never forget that Mrs. Moore desired that I be successful, and for that reason, I was successful. She inspired me to study Spanish at the university level.

I would be a fool to say that I made it through my career at Friends University alone. One professor, Dr. Jerry Smartt, has been my biggest fan, greatest encourager, and most earnest advocate at Friends. Her passion for the Spanish language is infectious. As a junior in high school, I visited Friends and met with Dr. Smartt to find out about the Spanish department. She spoke with such conviction and urgency, convincing me of the need for more Spanish speakers in the country. Before I even left her office I had already decided to pursue a Spanish Education major. At one point in my education I became so frustrated with the education program that I abandoned my dream of being a teacher and settled for a bachelor of arts in Spanish. When Dr. Smartt found out, she called me into her office and begged me to reconsider. When I couldn’t see the teacher in myself, Dr. Smartt did. Upon her request, I picked the major back up. The next semester I had an independent study with Dr. Smartt for the Spanish Methods and Practicum for Grades Pre-k through 6. During this course, I thought I did not have what it took to become an educator. I called Dr. Smartt, a nervous wreck, and she met me on campus, on a Saturday, even. That morning she spoke to me with the same conviction and urgency as the first time I met her and convinced me again that I would undoubtedly succeed, and even more, be great. Dr. Smartt is one of my biggest fans, and she reminds me on a weekly basis. I would not be the person or the educator that I am without her influence.

Looking back at the life-changing educators that I mentioned, one might notice that all of them are women. There is a serious lack of men in the public school system today. Many men have assumed either the roles of a laborer or a businessman. The lack of a male presence in my educational career has also spurred me to become an educator. Children need a positive male role model in their lives on a daily basis, and I see myself filling that position for many children who may lack one.

I think I have learned something about the education field through each of the afore-mentioned teachers. From Mrs. Reutter, I learned that a genuine and caring demeanor wins the love and trust of students. From Mrs. Colborn, I learned that a teacher does more than just promote success in their own discipline; they inspire their students to pursue their passions. From Mrs. Moore, I learned that fighting for a student’s success is never a lost cause. And from Dr. Smartt, I learned to never let a student doubt himself or give up on his dreams. I know that by following the example of the most incredible educators that I know, I will, as Dr. Smartt said, do more than succeed. I will excel.