LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME

LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME

By Dwight Cunkle

This last Friday I ended four weeks (20 days) of teaching a sixth grade class at Kaiser Public School. They didn't have a teacher hired so asked me to come in for the first day, then tried to get me emergency certification to be able to teach  the rest of the year, but were unsuccessful. While I was there I was shocked at the needs of families, teachers and the challenges to our inner city school systems. It almost seems as if an enemy has stacked the deck against broad success for our children. Any wonder parents and teachers who are able to make the sacrifice and adjust their lifestyles resort to homeschooling and private schools. As parents our mandate is to teach and train our children. Unfortunately, many are stuck in the public (or "government run") school system. How do you feel about that? Many Christian teachers are doing all they can to help these children and families. It is a Godly calling and they need our prayers and support. It is much easier to criticize than get involved and help. We must act on the words of Jesus, "Whoever receives one of these little ones receives me." What do we believe and why and how do we live it and share it and what difference does it make?

Karen Gale has lead our Whiz Kid program for 18 years and our congregation has often helped Kaiser school. Karen believes the schools provide the key to reformation and revival in our community. Could the Holy Spirit move within that struggling institution? If God can move hearts in the church He can certainly be at work in the world. The reality is God works where there is hunger and need. That's why Jesus said that the Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness and goes after the one sheep that went astray.

Our family has had the privilege of being involved in education for generations: teaching in and sending our children to both public and Christian schools, homeschooling our children, involved in co-2ops, even using a Catholic High School. I don't know what is next for us as a family or church but like Karen I am deeply involved in our Whiz Kid program and praying for God's kingdom to come in all our schools and families. Karen believes everyone can be involved in some way to help bring the love and wisdom of God through education. How does that make you feel?  

Let us pray and obey and see what God will do. But let us not be content to remain alone in the wilderness of religious life.

A Blind Teacher Can Teach The Blind To See

A Blind Teacher Can Teach 

The Blind To See

by Dwight Cunkle

 

My first piano teacher was blind, Mrs. Fumigalli. Dad bought a piano and wanted we three kids to take lessons while providing a little income for this single mother. On Thursdays we would all eat his version of lasagna or spaghetti and I would try to convince Mrs. Fumigalli that I had practiced that week. She was not fooled. She was hard to understand with her thick Italian accent, and though blind she could not only “see” but correct my mistakes.

It never, ever occurred to me that Jesus could or would heal her blind eyes.

On the other hand, Blind Bartimaeus, on hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me" (Mark 10:47). He lacked eyesight, but he possessed “True Vision.” His experience of bitter darkness did not led him to despair, but rather to look forward to encountering Jesus. 

Bartimaeus refused to measure himself by what was lacking in his life. The fact that he had eyes which couldn’t see was a sign to him that he had been made to see. It filled him with expectations. His insight turned his life into one of hopeful vigilance..

He was looking for God, His Maker and “recognized” him in Jesus Christ when the Lord drew near. His blindness brought him to conviction of faith and action-calling out for healing, for faith is a way of seeing… seeing in a manner that goes beyond the eyes.

Is Jesus passing by? Does faith move us to cry out, "Jesus,  have mercy on me!" Jesus hears your cry. Jesus is calling you to come to him. "Take courage get up, throw off the cynic’s cloak or the prideful mindset that you have to try harder or do better. Ask Him what you will. " Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak sprang up and came to Jesus” (Mk 10:49-50).

Exchange those cloaks for what Christ says and gives you.

(based on an article in “The Magnificat” February 2013)