The Christmas card scenes of the birth of Jesus of- ten leave me wondering how we got these pictures from the story in the Bible. For example, the crèche scenes depicted with Mary on one side of a manger and Joseph on the other both looking adoringly at the baby wrapped in cloths ‘wearing’ a halo don’t quite fit the reality of the story.
Now I realize that a photographer in that day, [if there had been such a thing] would have had the sensibili- ties to not take the picture of this family right after the baby was born, but my remembrance of what my wife looked like after the birth of any of our children certainly would not have made it onto any Hallmark card. While I think that my wife under all other circumstances is very beautiful and would rival any “Mary,” it simply is not reality to think of Mary without the sweat and exertion of labor and being exhausted. If the baby was lying in a manger, it was be- cause the mother wanted some rest.
Also, what was the baby like? I know that all mothers think that their baby is the most beautiful creature ever to be born. For mothers, it seems like a halo sur- rounds their baby. It is as though their baby is the object of perfection. But newborn babies, after they’ve been washed of all the blood and mess of living inside the womb, often have malformed heads, are dark red and scrawny. They are not often the cherubic, fat-bodied, full-cheeked babies of Christmas cards.
So without being cynical, what did take place in the stable of the inn? Think of it this way: the Creator of the Universe took on the characteristics of a human being. He suffered the indignities of being assigned a body, being confined to a womb, and enduring the pain of being born. He wore no halo, received no crown, and was gazed at in wonder by shepherds mostly because the announcement they had heard said here in this dark, scrawny baby was the long awaited Messiah who was to be the Savior of the world!!
That is the wonder of Christmas. O come let us adore Him!
Monday, December 16, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Post-Thanksgiving Thoughts
One of the things that I am very thankful for at Immanuel Christian School is the teachers. God has brought together a stellar group of people who not only love God but also are excellent educators.
Take Mrs. Kerrick, for example. She is only in her second year of teaching first and second grades and she has already begun establishing her applications of our time- tested curriculum with amazing results that combine fun with rigor in understanding early math and phonics concepts. Miss Rodriguez picks up that early learning and builds on it with a quiet and disciplined atmosphere where students thrive on understanding early grammar and basic multiplication and division. This is no small feat considering that most sixth grade students and up who are applying from other school settings cannot divide. Mr. Boehret, of course, has developed over thirty years of practice in teach- ing fifth and sixth grades and leaves his imprint of organization and study skills which are molded into step-by-step procedures for everything from term papers to studying for spelling.
By the time students get to the third floor, they are well prepared to meet the world of academic learning that Mr. Boston, Mr. Riggall and Mr. Kapuschinsky impart. Mr. Boston establishes the pace with expectations that prepare students for high school. His quiet demeanor and patient explanations give students who do not understand the opportunity to get individual help. Mr. Riggall, with his sidekick, Mr. Bacon, team up to produce a classroom atmosphere where understanding classic literature and movement of history is serious, yet fun. Mr. Kapuschinsky’s repetition of terms gives students the nomenclature of a subject so that they are light-years ahead of their peers. These students understand the “why” of math and science. Of course, Miss Jones gives the foundation for all this in her kindergarten classroom and though in her first year, has taken the task seriously and sees great promise for the year ahead.
I would be remiss to not mention Mrs. Irvin, Mrs. Dallachiesa, Mrs Borgos, Mr. Sappie, Miss Welsh, Mrs. Chernock, Mrs. Tritt, and Mrs. Nerger. Aren’t you thankful that your children get the benefit of all these people?
Take Mrs. Kerrick, for example. She is only in her second year of teaching first and second grades and she has already begun establishing her applications of our time- tested curriculum with amazing results that combine fun with rigor in understanding early math and phonics concepts. Miss Rodriguez picks up that early learning and builds on it with a quiet and disciplined atmosphere where students thrive on understanding early grammar and basic multiplication and division. This is no small feat considering that most sixth grade students and up who are applying from other school settings cannot divide. Mr. Boehret, of course, has developed over thirty years of practice in teach- ing fifth and sixth grades and leaves his imprint of organization and study skills which are molded into step-by-step procedures for everything from term papers to studying for spelling.
By the time students get to the third floor, they are well prepared to meet the world of academic learning that Mr. Boston, Mr. Riggall and Mr. Kapuschinsky impart. Mr. Boston establishes the pace with expectations that prepare students for high school. His quiet demeanor and patient explanations give students who do not understand the opportunity to get individual help. Mr. Riggall, with his sidekick, Mr. Bacon, team up to produce a classroom atmosphere where understanding classic literature and movement of history is serious, yet fun. Mr. Kapuschinsky’s repetition of terms gives students the nomenclature of a subject so that they are light-years ahead of their peers. These students understand the “why” of math and science. Of course, Miss Jones gives the foundation for all this in her kindergarten classroom and though in her first year, has taken the task seriously and sees great promise for the year ahead.
I would be remiss to not mention Mrs. Irvin, Mrs. Dallachiesa, Mrs Borgos, Mr. Sappie, Miss Welsh, Mrs. Chernock, Mrs. Tritt, and Mrs. Nerger. Aren’t you thankful that your children get the benefit of all these people?
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