They Have a Good Philosophy About Education

Berea College in Kentucky is truly a remarkable school. I believe they have a great philosophy on education:

At Berea, which was founded in 1855 as the first integrated college in the South, all 1,530 students work at least 10 hours a week in a campus or service job, earning $3.80 an hour and four years of free tuition. Eighty percent of the school's operating costs are funded by its endowment and the rest comes from donations.

Instead of hiring workers and spending tons of money, students receive free education but they have to work at the school and maintain it. Obviously there are ways they have to spend money (room, board, transportation, etc.) and there is funding that is given because the teachers need to be paid. But I think this is a great opportunity for many low income families.

Their motto is:

“God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth. Since its founding in 1855, Berea College's scriptural foundation, "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth," has shaped the institution's culture and programs. Founder John G. Fee, an ardent abolitionist, asserted that Berea was founded "in the midst of many privations and persecutions to preach and apply a gospel of impartial love..."

Corrupted Schools

As many of you have heard, the public schools in California are a hot topic right now. Schools have had to drastically cut their budgets, which means that people are going to get fired. In the district that I work at (the Corona-Norco School District) we are cutting a projected $37 million for this school year and the next. Therefore, many teachers are going to receive a pink slip. By law, the teachers are suppossed to receive them by March 15. So as you can imagine, teachers were very scared today and many of them wore pink clothing in order to "protest" this giant problem.

The Point of this Post

My union, the CSEA (California School Employees Association) is updating all of us about the corruption that is going on in the various districts. Well, the Hemet school district is in a mess! While teachers are being laid off, the Superintendent and 7 of his assistants are receiving raises! Their greed is causing others to lose their job.

They will be receiving a two-year compensation package totaling $2,875,726.00 in
the midst of devastating cuts to education funding.

Wow. You can imagine the uproar that is happening. Hard working teachers are losing their jobs, and the big shots are getting raises. Check out a video of one of their intense board meetings by clicking here.

All of this chaos brings one word to my mind: corruption!

Doesn't this situation give evidence that we live in a fallen world?

Remembering Pastor Ralph Arthur

Pastor Ralph is finally home. He finished the race and he fought the good fight. He persevered until the end and did it with such joy that depicted the love of Jesus in such a unique way. Ralph will truly be missed. There are several words that come to mind when I think about him, but I will only mention a few: loving, compassionate, and faithful.

These are the ministries that Ralph served as overseeing pastor :

• Hospital Visitation Ministry

• James 1:27 Convalescent Ministry

• Men's Cancer Support Fellowship

• Women's Cancer Support Fellowship

• More Than Conquerors Disabilities Fellowship

• Simon's Hand Ministry (food)
  

• The Lord Cares Bereavement Fellowship

Wow. Count them! There were 7 ministries that Ralph was faithfully committed to. It could easily be said that he had a heart of gold, but to think about it, he didn't have a heart of gold, he had a heart full of Jesus!

He says in his bio page that he suffered 12 years of drug and alcohol abuse. If any of you knew Ralph, you couldn't even image that happening. This just shows how much the Lord worked in his life by taking his sinful heart and replacing it with His. He said:

Those things that I seemingly could not let go of no longer had a grip on my life. I started attending Harvest and have never looked back, except to give thanks to God for giving me a new life in His Name.

Michelle and I were just talking to him on Wednesday night after the service as he walked by with his usual smile. Man, I am going to miss that. Sometimes I put service projects together for the high school ministry and I would always go and contact Ralph because I knew he would have something for me. Actually, the last time I contacted him was about a week ago. I never though that it would be his very own family that would be the ones who would need help.

I remember one night after Day7 that I went up to the stage after service and asked Ralph if he had any service projects for the high school students. He replied with such joy and excitement and expressed how he was so proud of me for wanting to lead up a service project. He shared how he was excited that a young man wanted to be used by the Lord. It was very encouraging to be lifted up and encouraged by him. I am not sure, but I think he might of prayed for me as well.

He leaves behind his wife and five children. The ministries that he used to run so effectively are all now applicable to his family. May the Lord be with them.

To Recap:

To reflect on his life and ministry: He was a man who made hospital visitations, ministered to orphans and widows in convalescent homes, comforted cancer patients with hope, graciously ministered to people with disabilities, ran a food ministry, comforted those who were suffering the loss of a loved one, faithfully attended Day7 as an extra service of ministry, and always loved those who he came in contact with. I am sure the list could go on and on. I do not know much about his personal life, but I am positive that he was an amazing husband and father.

His favorite verse was:

I love the LORD, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live (Psalm 116:1-2).

And he did just that, he called upon him as long as he lived, Amen. What a great example that he served. He is truly irreplaceable. May we all learn by his life and legacy.

Swear on the Bible, What Does That Mean?

(In order to understand the purpose of this blog, you must watch the short video)

THIS IS NOT AN OBAMA BASH.

I have read several different blogs concerning our new President. I agree with all that we need to pray for him and our country and also show respect. But, we ultimately need to show respect to God and follow his word.

Anyways, I have been thinking a lot about how Obama was sworn in on Abraham Lincoln's Bible. My thought has been, "Why would you swear on something that you don't even believe in?"




Please watch this video to understand our President's view of Scripture.

I am not talking about any policies he has or what may be changed, I am focusing on how he is supposed to be an honorable man, but yet he is swearing his presidential oath on something he doesn't even believe in. Where is the honesty at? Why swear on it when he admits it is not authoritative? Does this discredit the honesty of his oath?




This is not an Obama bash. I do give him respect as our Commander and Chief, I am just thinking critically and trying to honor the true "Commander and Chief," our King Jesus. His word is above all, yet it is mocked at by the same person who swears by it?


A side note, this is a wonderful day in American history as logical diversity (as in ethnicity and skin color) can finally be celebrated. Amen.

This not only applies to Obama, but to many of our past Presidents and other government officials. Something to think about.

Reality Check

Ron McClelland, the bass player for Story Side B, died this weekend while playing basketball on a cruise ship. He collapsed from a heart attack and was not able to be revived. I read an article that stated that he was a youth pastor before he joined the band. It is so crazy to think about how he is dead; he was just simply playing basketball on a cruise ship. I played basketball today at the gym and the thought of death never crossed my mind. He played at Harvest on New Years and I was working the merchandise stand. I crossed eyes several times with him and he even talked to me for a small bit.

This guy was huge! He was stinkin' buff. It is just crazy to think that he died while playing basketball on a cruise ship, even while being in good shape. This is just a fresh reminder that our days our numbered and that death can strike at any time, even while playing a basketball game on a cruise ship. The Lord be with his friends and family.

Christ Was Sent

"Christmas" means "Christ sent," and that is exactly what we are celebrating: that Christ was sent to the earth to drink the cup of the Father's wrath so we could drink the cup of living water.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).


Henry Morris said, "In that tiny cell in Mary's womb resided all the information not only for Christ's own growth into manhood, but also for the creation, preservation, and redemption of the whole creation."

Wow.

Let us remember that the incarnation (God taking on human nature, becoming fully God and man) did not start at the birth but at the time when Mary first become pregnant. The fact of Jesus being in the womb is a wonderful mystery.

Focus on the incarnation.


Be blessed by B.J. Hoff's poem:

The first time He came,
He came gently on a starlit night,
In a silent hush with no fanfare…


But when HE comes again,
The earth will shake, the stars will fall,
As the trumpets of Heaven
Announce his presence…


The first time He came,
He was ignored and scorned,
despised and rejected and tortured…


But when HE comes again,
All nations will gather to kneel
Before, Him, declaring His glory
And singing His praise…


The first time He came,
He hung on a rugged cross in shame,
Betrayed by His own, to die as a thief


But when He comes again,
He will sit on His throne,
As the universe shouts
In triumphant joy…
And crowns Him everlasting
King of kings and Lord of lords…

Santa or Savior?

Sadly, many Christians are mixing Santa with Savior. I find it difficult to combine the two. Santa is so typical of America: tell your children a lie that they will believe for years, yet try to teach them morality by telling them not to lie. Is Jesus really the reason for the season? Don't let your Christmas be like the following pictures. These are absolutely horrible:

It's about time I show this.

Please, watch this short video and let it change your heart about giving during this Christmas season. Don't be consumed by consumerism.

“Consumered By Consumerism”

Get this and get that.

Eat, drink, and gain fat.

More and more

You’ll return to the store,

Build up your credit

And abuse your debit

Trying to create joy

With a worthless toy.

False giving, true receiving

Already bored on Christmas evening.

Fake commercialized love

Not focused on things above,

A Christless Christmas

Turned into a consumer’s business.

Focused on worthless things

Instead of praise to the King of kings.

Modern Day Job

Below is an e-mail that I received from Pastor Ralph Arthur. I read it and was shocked because I saw the news headline for it earlier but never knew that this horrible situation happened to a brother in Christ. Please read for this is definitely a modern day example of Job.

Chaplain for San Diego County Medical Examiner:

“Please pray for Mr. Yoon who lost his entire family and every earthly possession in his life today in a moment’s time. His wife, mother-in-law (who recently arrived from Korea to assist with the baby), one month old baby and toddler were all killed as they were in their house as an F-18 completely destroyed it and the house next door. Mr. Yoon is a man of faith and desperately needs our prayers for comfort from the only One that can provide it. He will not be able to have a viewing to say goodbye due to the damage from the fire. His pastor was on the way as we left him last night and he does have family he will stay with in Chula Vista .

Joe Davis

Chaplain

San Diego County Medical Examiner

The following is from Yahoo News:

The Marine Corps fighter plane was returning from an offshore training mission when it clipped a tree and slammed into homes about two miles from Miramar. Two homes were incinerated, and three others were damaged. Three generations of a Korean family died in one home.

The family's pastor, the Rev. Kevin Le e of the Korean United Methodist Church in San Diego, identified three of them as Young Mi Yoon, 36; her 2-month-old daughter, Rachel; and her mother, Suk Im Kim, 60, who was visiting from South Korea to help care for her daughter's newborn.

The body of 15-month-old Grace Yoon, Rachel's sister, was found in the home Tuesday, Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque said. No one else remained missing.

Young Mi Yoon's widower defended the pilot Tuesday.

"I don't have any hard feelings," Dong Yun Yoon, 37, told reporters near the rubble where his home once stood. "I know he did everything he could."

Dong Yun Yoon, who left Korea in 1989 and became a U.S. citizen, wondered aloud how he would persevere after losing his family.

"Please tell me how to do it," he said, surrounded by his pastor, sister, brother and church members. "I don't know what to do."

This is a modern day Job. Man, this is crazy. A marine fighter plane crashes into his house and kills three generations worth of his family. Everything and everyone is gone in a second. What if this happened to you? To me? What would we do? The only answer can be found in having the Lord. He is the only one who can get Dong Yun Yoon, a 37 year old man, through this horrible time. We need to pray for this man because he has literally lost everything. Just at the Lord did for Job, may he restore for Yoon everything in abundance.

This is a time where this verse seems to really stick out:

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

Consumed by Consumerism

If you haven't heard yet, a Walmart employee was killed on "Black Friday." As the store opened the doors at 5:00am, the crowd rushed in and trampled the 34 year old man, killing him. How sad is that. A man's life is taken because some people wanted a good deal. America is CONSUMED BY CONSUMERISM!

It is extremely sad that a crowd like this would trample a man to death. As they stepped all over him they thought it would be more important to get a deal than to save a life. Horrible.

Watch this short video from the Associated Press about the worker at Walmart and also a shooting that took place in a Toys R Us:

Interesting

Does it make sense that students are encouraged to heed the words of Confucius: "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others,” during morning announcements?

There is no way that Jesus would ever be able to be quoted during morning announcements at a public school even though that saying is most widely associated with him. You can apply the "Golden Rule" as long as Jesus isn't associated with it. Interesting.

Also, does it make sense to have several books in the library that contain the "F" word in the actual text. Those books are tolerated and yet the students get in trouble for saying the words that they are reading. Interesting.

Democracy

With all the gay protesting going around, it is time to think about a few critical elements on this issue.

DEMOCRACY:

Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power; majority rule.

The people voted and the results came in. The protesters want freedom but they don't understand the foundation to the freedom in America: democracy.

Are the people who voted for McCain protesting the White House? Are the McCain supporters receiving "hate" since their wishes were not granted? No! The same way, homosexuals are not being hated on, nor are they being discriminated against. Majority rules.

Their rights are not being taken away. What will be next? Fathers wanting to marry their daughters? Should we allow anyone to do as they please? Men having multiple wives or people marrying their pets? Certainly not.

As you can see, democracy has been turned into "hate." What they call hate, in all reality, is actually fair.

CTA...GAY?

We truly live in a crazy society. Since I work for the CNUSD and I am taking classes at CBU on education, I am learning that the school district in California is messed up! Did you know the California Teachers Association (CTA) sent $1 million of union dues in order to campaign against Prop. 8? There have been so many teachers that have been fired due to a "lack of funds." Obviously there isn't a lack of funds if the CTA can donate $1 million to support gay marriage. Many teachers that do not support Prop. 8 are angry because the CTA is using their money in this campaign. The sad thing is, I work at a public school and I haven't even heard about this, but I am thankful that my father did. There is only one word that comes to mind when thinking about this: corruption.