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USA Today reported this week [October 1996] the results of a recent survey. 1004 adults age 18 or older were asked the question: "Which profession do you feel provides the most benefit to society?" The overwhelming winner? You could probably guess: 57% chose the teaching profession as the most beneficial to society. Yet when the same group of 1004 adults were asked the question, "Which profession would you most highly recommend to a family member?" the answer was very different; and you could probably guess it as well. The majority chose the medical profession as the one they'd most highly recommend to a family member. Only 23% chose teaching this time. Experts remarked on the survey by pointing out that even though teaching is "the one profession which makes all others possible," teachers suffer from a lack of respect and a lack of proper compensation for their work.
The moral of this story? Simply that all of us know which work's the most important but very few of us want to be the ones doing it. Because there's other work that offers less stress, more respect, and more rewards. After all: We know right away when someone's got a doctor in their family but when was the last time you bragged to friends that you've got a teacher in your family?
When God sets our assignment, we must be prepared for the reality that God may very well decide that we're not going to be the equivalent of a doctor or a lawyer or a CEO in the kingdom of God. We may end up being the equivalent of an eighth-grade English teacher, doing the low-respect, low-reward work that God knows is absolutely essential for the furthering of the kingdom on this earth. And despite that knowledge we must be willing to let God call the shots anyway.
Source: USA Today online
"The bulwark of religious training is vital if the line is to be held against the forces of corruption, crime, and disloyalty. I believe that men imbued with spiritual values do not betray their country. I believe that children reared in homes in which morality is taught and lived rarely become delinquents."
— J. Edgar Hoover
Source: "12,000 Religious Quotations," ed Frank Mead, Baker Books, p. 482.
Topics/Tags: Young people; Teaching; Morality
There's a story about a volunteer working with young children at a summer Christian camp. All the kids had grown up in church, and they all knew inside-out all the church songs, church cliches, and religious words.
Now, there's a long-time running joke about young people's church camps like this, that if you're ever asked a question that you don't know the answer to, just answer "Jesus" and you'll be right most of the time. Well, this group leader decided that he would loosen up his group of kids on the first day and get acquainted, so he said, "I'm going to ask some questions and you answer them." The kids didn't flinch. They had heard all the questions before, so they were ready.
So the leader glanced outside at a tree, and then blurted out, "What's small and gray, has four legs, climbs trees, has a big bushy tail, and hides nuts for the winter.?" Not a word came from anybody in the room. Nothing. A few frowned, looked at each other, but no one responded. He asked the same question again. Again, no answer.
Finally, one brave little girl in the back raised her hand, and in all seriousness answered, "I think it's a squirrel, but I'll go ahead and say 'Jesus.'"
Can you believe that a child could have a head so full of religious words and "church talk," and yet not be able to connect all that information to the real world in any kind of sensible way? Parents and Christian teachers, one of your major contributions is to be able to help your family make those connections.
Source: Charles Swindoll, "Growing Wise in Family Life"
Topics/Tags: Young people; Bible; Parents; Teaching
Every year park rangers in our national parks are forced to put several deer, bears, and other wildlife to death, for no other reason than the fact that these animals have become dependent on human food. Well-meaning individuals who ignore the park regulations against feeding wildlife regularly give these animals handouts; as a result, the animals lose the skill (or never develop it to begin with) of foraging for their own food. As a consequence, they either starve to death or kill themselves eating food which they cannot digest (such as plastic burger wrappers, straws, paper cups, and anything else which suggests "human food").
Parents, even as you imitate the heavenly Father in providing "daily bread" for your children ... make certain that you are also giving them the opportunity to learn what it means to finding reasonable provisions and making reasonable decisions, for themselves.
Source: Zeke Moore
Topics/Tags: Teaching; Equipping; Parents; Dependency
Here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods:
*On Sears hair dryer:
"Do not use while sleeping."
* On a bag of Fritos:
"You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside."
* On a bar of Dial soap:
"Directions: Use like regular soap."
* Some Swann frozen dinners:
"Serving suggestion: Defrost."
* On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box:
"Fits one head."
* On Tesco's Tiramisu desert:
"Do not turn upside down." (Printed on the bottom of the box.)
* On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding:
"Product will be hot after heating."
* On packaging for a Rowenta Iron:
"Do not iron clothes on body."
* On Boot's Children's Cough Medicine:
"Do not drive car or operate machinery."
* On Nytol (a sleep aid):
"Warning: May cause drowsiness."
* On a Korean kitchen knife:
"Warning - keep out of children."
* On a string of Christmas lights:
"For indoor or outdoor use only."
* On a Japanese food processor:
"Not to be used for the other use."
* On Sainsbury's Peanuts:
"Warning: contains nuts."
* On an American Airlines packet of nuts:
"Instructions: open packet, eat nuts."
* On a Swedish chainsaw:
"Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands."
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: Instructions; Teaching
Knowing the Living Word is the Key to understanding the Written Word.
--
Gary Heard
Melbourne, Australia
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: God, word of; Prayer; Communion, with god; Teaching
CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
=================================
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.
(Author unknown)
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: Teaching; Children; Influence; Influence, bad
"A full belly is deaf to learning."
— Russian proverb
_____
Often, we must set aside comfort and contentment in order to be truly teachable by God.
Source: Illuminating Wit, Inspiring Wisdom: Proverbs From Around the World, Wolfgang Mieder, ed. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall Press, 1998.
Topics/Tags: Contentment; Comfort; Teaching; Learning
"A load of books does not equal one good teacher."
— Chinese proverb
_____
Have you taken time to learn, not just from books, but from the Teacher?
Source: Illuminating Wit, Inspiring Wisdom: Proverbs From Around the World, Wolfgang Mieder, ed. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall Press, 1998.
Topics/Tags: Jesus, the christ, wisdom of; Teaching; Teachers; Wisdom
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation.
31. Don't bring up the past. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
Source: Joe Bradford. In "Illustrations_Clergy" email discussion list.
Topics/Tags: Instruction; Wisdom; Teaching
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