From new age to new creature: One teacher’s story
In the early ‘80s, I was working in a rural elementary school just outside of the metropolitan area where I lived. I taught with a godly woman named Arlene, one of my early mentors. She and precio de kamagra I would eat lunch together every day and pray for the students and other staff members—including a teacher named Connie.
Connie was the music teacher. She lived a Bohemian lifestyle—she embraced a New Age philosophy and was married to a Muslim from Afghanistan. The Methodist church in the town needed an organist, so they asked Connie if she would be available.
Connie loved music; she loved to play the piano and sing, so she accepted the position and became a fixture every Sunday morning at the Methodist church near the school. Her New Age leanings didn’t bother anyone at the church; and their doctrine didn’t step on the toes of her worldview, so they all made music together every Sunday morning in a tolerance-soaked, symbiotic relationship.
But one Sunday morning as Connie sat behind the organ, the unexpected happened. Sheepishly, and pulling at his collar, the minister of that little Methodist church stepped behind the pulpit, cleared his throat, and apologized to the congregation for what he was about to do.
“I am so sorry—I feel very uncomfortable right now—but I can’t shake this. I know we don’t do this here—I don’t like to make folks uncomfortable—but I’ve got to do something very unusual for this church.”
Connie had stopped playing the organ, and you could have heard a pin drop.
He continued, “Well, here goes. If anyone wants to come to the front to get a closer relationship with Jesus—please get out of your seat and come forward.”
Crickets.
And then, after a long, horribly awkward, tension-wrapped silence, Connie, gripped with conviction of her need for Christ, got up from behind the organ and cialis cbtnyctherapy.com came down to the front and knelt. She was the only one that morning who heeded the call, but as she bowed before the altar, the apologetic Methodist minister prayed for her, and she was gloriously saved.
And who do you think she told? That’s right—Arlene and me, who had been praying for her all along!
So is it a waste of your time to pray for educators who are entrenched in worldviews diametrically opposed to the gospel?
Just ask Connie.
Read MorePraying for educators
God may not be welcome in our school systems, but He cannot be kept out.
A while back I had a conversation with a Christian librarian working at a local public school. She told me about the squeeze being put on her and other librarians concerning the books they stocked on their shelves. Some parents actually came in and counted the number of books with references to Christ, Christmas, and Christianity and compared that to how many books were available containing favorable nods to other religions.
As we parted ways, I was struck with what I believed to be a warning and a mandate from the Holy Spirit. I sensed that now—more than ever—believers were to stand guard in prayer for our brothers and http://frutasprieto.com/ordenar-propecia-en-linea-por-transferencia-bancaria/ sisters in the education profession.
Things have been in a constant state of change within our educational system. Tensions have increased all over the nation. In Ferguson, the opening of school was postponed three times, and finally—nearly two weeks late—kids got to go back to school on the 25th. The resulting anxieties are not isolated to Ferguson, either, as young people grapple with events happening not too far from their homes. Pressure to accept lifestyle choices that go against biblical tenets has ramped up, as well, and is even a key component of curriculum in some places. Common Core, a government-sponsored, nearly nationwide, K-12 curriculum, is in its second year of implementation throughout the U.S. Fortunately, groups of concerned citizens have been gaining steam in various regions, raising concerns about the validity of an agenda that appears to encompass far more than solid academic practices.
Within the ranks of educators exists a strong majority who embrace without question agendas of social justice. In a nutshell, social justice is the philosophy which insists that certain races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations are always the oppressed (the good guys), whereas other races, ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations are known to be the oppressors (the bad guys). Because of this, all laws, regulations, rules, and behaviors must be modified and then enforced to correct the injustice of the oppressors. The lines of distinction in this worldview are rigid and are more dogmatic than the Old Testament ever could be.
And yes, this philosophy is being taught to teachers and future teachers across the nation in universities, workshops, and professional development curriculum. I, myself, sat in on such demagoguery to find out that I, by virtue of being female, was among the oppressed, yet I was also an oppressor—an evil, white, American, heterosexual Christian. Guess they were hoping I would rise up as an angry woman against my male oppressors, while at the same time genuflect and cower at the feet of non-Christian, non-American, non-white, gay folk whom undoubtedly I had so arrogantly oppressed. I spoke out at the time that I was not oppressed as a female, and the leaders of the professional development looked at me with stern pity. “Oh, but you are,” they maintained. “You’ve been oppressed all your life.” I guess my oppressor side had bludgeoned my oppressed side into supposing I was happy and content with life. Go figure! And people wonder why mental disorders, confusion, and depression are on the rise in our time!
This is the philosophy that infiltrates lessons and programs in most public schools and classrooms. It has even quietly sneaked into some private and Christian schools as well, as leaders with a desire to remain socially relevant tweak curriculum to “keep up with the times”.
Into the mix traipse our unsuspecting little ones and youth across the nation. Their minds and hearts are like blank slates upon which others will seek to imprint their agendas.
But not all instructors are blind adherents of the prevailing worldview promoted in public education. They are men and women called by God to make a difference in the lives of those young ones they teach. These instructors may be in the system, but they are not of the system. Many are Christian; others are deeply patriotic Americans with a respect for traditional values; and all are concerned educators, seeking to right a capsizing ship, throwing out life buoys of honesty, integrity, sound instruction, and high expectations to the young ones under their training.
These educators need our prayer coverage. Pray for the godly and excellent teachers that you know personally. Stand in the gap for them to make wise decisions, to walk closely with the Lord, and to make a profound impact on their students and in their schools. Pray for the other teachers and administrators in the lives of your children, grandchildren, and neighbors. Ask the Lord to move on their lives and hearts to hunger for truth. Pray that these adults will start to see through the philosophy dominating their profession. Pray that they will boldly reject the debilitating stereotypes of victimization. Pray for custom-made laborers to enter into their lives and to minister to them on a deep level. Understand that every case in which the heart or mind of an educator receives light is one more defeat for the enemy. Recognize that every situation in which a believing teacher prays, behaves, and instructs according to the will of God, the purposes of Heaven will be promoted.
God may not be welcome in our school systems, but He cannot be kept out. When the people of God stand on behalf of our schools and their leaders, He will move.
I challenge you to pray for educators and to ask God to move in our schools this year. Through your prayers, I believe that He will frustrate the agenda of the enemy.
Dorothy
Read MorePraying for the peace of Ferguson
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV
I knew about the Watts riots of 1965. I had heard about the riots breaking out in 1967 in places like Newark, Detroit, and Milwaukee. I watched the horror of the violence of 1992 in Los Angeles following the Rodney King assault trial. But I never imagined that my neighboring town of Ferguson would rank right up there among the others—an infamous distinction, indeed.
What do you do when civil unrest and bedlam breaks out in your own backyard? You pray, first of all; and you pray with others, too.
As I sat glued to my TV during the first week of agitation, I prayed. All of my other prayer concerns fell aside as I set my face like flint to defy the darkness descending upon my neighbors. This warfare was not with flesh and blood, but against the enemy of all men’s souls, and I knew that my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had outfitted me with His authority and equipped me to stand in His name. I also knew that I was far from alone in my stand. Multitudes from my region, throughout America, and around the world were taking their stand as well, interceding for the city where I had lunch with my sister just four days before.
Violence continued into the second week. As I took a walk Monday morning after another night of chaos, I felt led of the Lord to walk into a primarily minority apartment complex just off of my normal route. I saw a young woman sitting on her porch as she watched roofers repair old storm damage.
Ask her if she needs prayer, I heard the Lord whisper. I hesitated; but then I picked my way through the roofing supplies to her porch. She didn’t need prayer.
Hmmm… I thought. And then it hit me—was she was concerned about Ferguson? When she responded that she sure was, I asked if I could pray with her about it and she agreed. She gripped my hand firmly as we asked God for the peace and safety of the people in our neighboring town. When I said Amen, she—a twenty-something, tattooed black lady—opened up to me—a nearly sixty year-old conservative white woman.
“These people are just lootin’ and makin’ a mess and don’t care about no one! I’m sick of all of this—it’s the only thing on TV these days! It’s gotta come to an end!”
And thus week two began, and the Lord revealed a new job for me to do—I would start finding strangers with whom to pray for the peace of Ferguson.
I started in my own town.
- Robert and John, two young black men, prayed with me on the Starbucks patio. We formed a small circle and bowed our heads as the two of them held my hands. I peeked and saw that one had put his arm around his buddy’s neck. The intensity of their reverence was striking.
- Darlene, a nearly blind woman, prayed with me—also at Starbucks—while waiting for her bus. After we finished, she told me, “I dreamed last night that I was leaving church to catch my bus when a stranger stopped me to pray with them.”
- Alicia, an older black lady at the Ferguson Wal-Mart, told me after we prayed, “Two families are torn apart—Michael Brown’s and that young officer’s family. I’ve been praying for both of them.”
- Sharon, a woman from St. Louis city, stood with a group of protesters when I showed up across from the fire station in Ferguson. It didn’t take long before we recognized one another as fellow intercessors, and we entered into prayer for our region in the name of Jesus. She told me that none of her friends had wanted to join her, but God told her to go to Ferguson, anyway—He would provide a prayer partner for her. You guessed it—that prayer partner was me.
- At that same location, an ice cream truck pulled up. The driver and his friend (both black) jumped out and shouted, “Free ice cream for everyone!” Smiling ear-to-ear, they handed out the treats to everyone—black and white alike—and then crossed the street to an older white man with a walker, saying, “Sir—this is for you, free of charge!” before racing over to hand a free bar to the lone journalist manning the CNN command site. I felt tears stinging in my eyes.
- At the command center on West Florissant (past the burnt-out Quik Trip), Brian, a dreadlocked young man in his Target uniform, gripped my hand as we prayed. When we finished, he said, “Ma’am, I want to grow old and have kids. I don’t want to ruin my life messing around doing crazy stuff.” I agreed with him, and laying my hand on his shoulder, decreed that God would fulfill all His purposes in Brian’s life and use him as a peacemaker.
- Clarissa, a young black woman, was sitting in a motorized shopping cart when we prayed. After the Amen, she confided that she had been terrified and needed someone to pray with her. I zeroed back in on her in prayer and loosed the protection and peace of God to surround her for the duration of the unrest and for the rest of her life.
- Floretta, another young woman—who, like Clarissa had been dealing with overwhelming fear—welcomed my prayers for her protection, wisdom, and direction. This granddaughter of a pastor was smiling ear-to-ear as we parted ways.
- Darryl was the only non-black person with whom I had prayed up to that point. This tattoed, young Asian man was on a smoking break in front of the hair shop he owned. I told him I was praying for the peace of Ferguson’s people and businesses and then asked him if he believed in God. “No—I’m an atheist,” he replied. I asked if I could pray for him and his store anyway. He agreed, and there we stood, heads bowed, as he puffed on his cigarette and I prayed for God to reveal Himself to Darryl. I prayed just as vigorously for the protection, wisdom, and guidance of this young atheist as I did for all the rest. As I finished, he thanked me.
What do you do when civil unrest and bedlam breaks out in your own backyard? You stand in the gap; and you pray for the ones caught on the front lines of the warfare. And you refuse to let up until your backyard becomes a praise in the earth.
Stand strong,
Dorothy
Tomorrow: Praying for public schools.
Read MoreTaking a respite
Hi! With the events still unfolding in my neighboring town of Ferguson and my commitment to continue to pray for the people involved, I will be taking a week away from the blog to rest, seek God, join with others in prayer, and regroup.
In my absence, I’m leaving some sites I visit frequently. (Yes, I was a school teacher; these are sub plans.) The links are various daily devotionals from different denominations and perspectives. I have found gems on each site.
I don’t endorse everything on these sites, including the ads. Nor do I necessarily agree with everything I read in each entry. However, I believe that you, my readers, have discernment, Bible understanding, and wisdom sufficient to “have as much sense as an old cow—eat the hay and spit out the stubble.”
As it stands now, I plan to return to the blog in a week on Monday, August 25.
Dorothy
- My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: http://utmost.org/
- Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/devotions/classics/charles_cowman.html
- God’s Word for Today, Gospel Publishing House (Assemblies of God): http://ag.org/top/devotional/index.cfm
- Eagles’ Wings, published by the Free Presbyterian Church: http://fpcna.org/fpcna_daily.asp
- Jentezen Franklin’s devotional blog: http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/blog/
- Devotional by Smith Wigglesworth: http://annointing.wordpress.com/smith-wigglesworth-devotional/ (This site has listed every page of Wigglesworth’s Devotional. Click the month and then scroll to find the day. Every month is a PDF file.)
- World Challenge, founded by David Wilkerson (of Cross and the Switchblade fame): http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/view/devotions If the devotional doesn’t pop up first, find SERMONS in the headings across the top, and scroll down to DEVOTIONS and click. The daily devotional should show up—sometimes it’s an archival writing by David W. (who passed away in 2011), and at other times the devotion is written by his son Gary (a wonderful man of God) or another minister.
- And if you want, you can always scroll back and check the archives right here at www.FirstOfAllPray.com. And remember to check back with me on Monday, August 25.
Weekend update: Stand
…stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand, stand firm… Ephesians 6:13b-14a
Another evening of protests in Ferguson turned into another nightmare for the community as looters and vandals took advantage of heightened passions stirred by further police disclosures. As I watched the footage of lawlessness and the contrasting video of the citizens of Ferguson and neighboring towns cleaning up the damage and offering other assistance to store owners this morning, I couldn’t help but notice a sense of defeat and hopelessness in both citizens and reporters; and it threatened to seep into my soul as well.
As I mulled over the situation, comparing the difference between events on the ground and the outcomes many of us are seeking to obtain by prayer, I sensed the still small voice of Comfort Himself reminding me, “Just stay in the gap.”
Stay in the gap. Keep your position in prayer. Stand. Just by doing that, you are being used by the Spirit of God to make a difference in the spiritual atmosphere over the conflict. If you don’t know what to pray, that’s OK. You standing in the gap brings the presence of God to the ripped-open hole created by darkness, and as you stand there, knowing that God is God and chaos is not, you proclaim the Lord’s rule and reign. By standing in the gap during the most dismal reports, you are preparing the way of the Lord to move in, dispel darkness, and bring deliverance, salvation, and healing to a ravaged community.
Obviously, there are other spiritual job responsibilities besides gap-standing. But when the hedge has been ruptured and torn open for anything and everything to pass through unhindered, more gap-standers are needed to make up the hedge.
Here’s my encouragement to you: As you go about your day, remember that Jesus is Lord over this crisis. Just mutter that truth to yourself when hopelessness or defeat attempts to grip your thoughts. Listen for Scripture verses coming up from your spirit; think on them, let them permeate your heart and mind, and then pray them out over this community.
And by doing just that, you are a gap-stander. As you and others like you simply stand and refuse to budge from the truth that Jesus is Lord and that His will shall prevail, you will be part of the miracle poised to pour out over the region—and the world.
God bless, gird, and guide you as you stand in the gap.
Dorothy
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable… 1 Corinthians 15:58a
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9