CROSSCURRENTS - Larry Whittlesey

THE UNEXPECTED MESS!

This week I got the urge to finally rearrange my office.  I don't know if it's an early bout of "spring cleaning" fever  or simply that I got tired of watching people having to look around my monitor so they could actually  talk to me face-to-face.  Whatever the reason,  I invested a couple of hours on Thursday morning changing the scenery and functionality of my work setting. 
 
What amazes me most when I take on a project like this is how much garbage and mess you end up with on the floor about halfway through the ordeal.   Where does all that stuff come from? There were candy wrappers,  half-eaten cookies,  old emails,  broken pencils, a couple of rouge Diet Coke cans,  business cards,  used napkins,  long-lost file folders,  a couple of my granddaughter's toys,  jelly beans,  and paper clips galore.   I looked around at the chaos and wondered what I had gotten myself into.......and why?
 
    Life is filled with little messy projects like that!  Much of the time those "messes" go unnoticed because they are pushed to the back recesses of our awareness.  We stuff things in the strangest places, fully believing we are going to deal with them later, but more often than not forgetting all about them until we get the urge to do a little spring cleaning.  When we finally do get around to taking care of these things, we're usually pretty shocked by what we find.  The things we've procrastinated in,  covered up,  pushed back to the closets of our lives often become stark reminders of unfinished projects,  ill-advised shortcuts,  an overly rushed schedule, and outright neglect. 
 
When you're talking about moving an office around,  those things are not particularly earth shattering....just a surprising nuisance.  But if the things we've allowed to clutter our lives are important,  such revelations can become moments of panic, embarrassment or pain........perhaps even all three!   What we end up doing with clutter in our lives says a lot about who we are and what's truly important to us. 
 
The end result of my efforts on Thursday morning is that I now get to work in a much more conducive atmosphere.  I've finally put away one more project on my "To Do" list, which gives me at least a temporary sense of accomplishment.  Guests who come to my office will feel much more comfortable sitting down and talking to me without having to revert to gymnastic moves to actually see me.   And, hopefully,  because my "setting" is better,  I should be more effective for God,  the church,and CCS! 
 
Next time you're in the area stop by and say "Hi".  I promise that you won't have to wrestle furniture to get a "face-to-face" with me.  Perhaps this little project will help me remember to pay better attention to the clutter I often allow to pile up in other areas of my life.  God may, indeed, have a few more "desks" for me to move! 
 
  Here's hoping we can all learn the necessity of moving the furniture in our lives on a regular basis to deal with the stuff  that's gone unaddressed before it becomes a real mess!   Happy spring cleaning!! 

THE NEED FOR "SOMEBODY" TO BE THE "ANYBODY"

It's one of the first things you hear if you join the military......."Don't volunteer for anything".  Now if it's time to start going on recon missions,  taking the point on an offensive,  or trying out the effects of some new chemical weapons, that makes perfect sense.  One too many "volunteers" in the military has suffered the consequences of their own willingness to be the guinea pig, prove their machismo, or obey orders blindly.  The caution against volunteering is often based in the harsh reality of what happens to those who volunteer!  
 
   The same attitudes can, at times, also be evident in the life of most organizations.   The "everybody's" think that "somebody" ought to do it, but often "nobody" does what "anybody" could do. Therefore, a small handful of folks end up carrying the vast majority of the workload for the entire group!  There's even a principle that is used in business circles to explain this phenomenon!  It's called the Prato Principle - ”20% of the people in any organization will do 80% of the work". 
 
One of the blessings of being a part of Crossroads Christian School is realizing how often we "break" that principle!   Our parents and staff are pretty amazing people!  While it's true that we require parents to put in some "service hours" to help us keep costs down, the reality is most of you would serve whether you had to or not.  In my brief tenure I've been incredibly impressed with the level of dedication of our volunteer force.  In just the last few months we've seen dedicated painting crews transform our classrooms,  parents going on field trips left and right, playground helpers come out of the woodwork,  classroom assistants working with our teachers,  tons of folks working games at our Family Fun Night, and now dedicated of "chilly" crews working on our Christmas tree lot!   Whenever there's a need, we just put the word out and folks raise their hands to volunteer. Obviously they were never in the military!!    :)
 
Some of you have already gone far beyond the call of duty!!   And there are so many others worthy to be mentioned I can't even remember them all! Therefore, let me just say "THANK YOU"  to "everybody"  who decided  they were the "somebody"  that could do what "anybody" could do when "nobody" else was available. My former commanding officers back in my military days wouldn't believe it  -- Volunteers who not only raise their hands, but actually seem to enjoying serving.   It's been a phenomenal blessing to watch you in action and participate with you in service to CCS!   You are the heart of the school and everything that is right about what we do here!  I trust you will be blessed as much as you've blessed us!!

LESSONS FROM OUR 25TH PRESIDENT

    January 29th marks the birthday of our 25th President, William McKinley Jr. Born in 1843,  McKinley was brought up in a devout Methodist family in Ohio.  Converted at the age of ten, his mother had hoped that he would go into the ministry. However, when he was 18,  the Civil War began and changed the course of young William's life.

 

  William joined the men of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and by the end of war had been promoted to the rank of Major.  The exposure to the battlefield and the very real possibility of facing his own death deeply affected him.  His greatest desire, should he fall in battle,  was to be known not only as a good "solider for my country, but also a Soldier of Jesus."

 

  After the war McKinley did not go into the ministry, but chose rather to start a law practice in Canton, Ohio. There he met his future wife, Ida, and began to explore his political opportunities. Eventually William and Ida would marry and begin to raise a  family.  Fate was not kind to the McKinley family. First, there was the tragic loss of their two young children, then shortly thereafter Ida was stricken with a nervous disorder that left her an invalid for the rest of her life. 

 

Over the years William held a number of offices on the local and state level. He achieved national prominence as a Congressman from Ohio, and eventually became the leader of the Republican Party.  In 1896 he ran and was elected as our 25th President.  In his inaugural address his personal faith was clearly demonstrated, both by the quoting of scripture, and his declaration that he would be "relying on the support of my countrymen and invoking the guidance of Almighty God.  Our faith teaches that there is no safer reliance than upon the God of our fathers, who has so singularly favored the American people in every national trial, and who will not forsake us so long as we obey His commandments and walk humbly in His footsteps."  

 

 Until recently I didn't know how much McKinley's faith was reflected in his policies. His Christian morals and convictions were an essential part of his governing.  His believed his primary purpose in life was not to be "somebody" but to represent  "Somebody".....his Lord and Savior.  

 

No time was that more evident than on September 6, 1901 when he feel victim to an assassin's bullet.  During the following week, as he fought courageously for his life,  he publicly forgave his attacker. As the infection spread, he faced his fate with dignity, finally telling his doctors, "It is useless, gentlemen.  I think we ought to have pray."   Saying goodbye to his wife and friends he said,  "It is God's way. His will, not ours, be done."   A few moments later, as he died, he uttered his last words.......lines from his favorite hymn, "Nearer My God To Thee."

 

Earlier today our teachers gathered together to consider how we can implement the Bible and our Christian worldview into our overall curriculum.  Perhaps it's not a coincidence that I wanted to write this story about President McKinley today.  In the midst of the math, english, history, and science we teach the next generation,  it's important that we also teach them about the role of faith in the lives of those who went before us.  Faith is not an "add-in" to life....it is the substance of of life.  The men and women who have changed history for the good over the past 2000 years have most often been people with a sincere faith in Jesus Christ.  I, for one, am grateful that's what we teach at Crossroads.....and we plan to keep doing it every way we can!! 

 

 

ENTERING THE "BLOGOSPHERE"

I've always considered myself to be a fairly smart guy!  I was the kid who always got "A's", panicked if I every got a "B", and did all my homework on time.  Teacher's loved me and school came very easy!   I whizzed through college, got my Master's of Divinity at seminary, and have always had plans to get a doctorate.... someday (perhaps soon)!   When I was in the military I took a few tests and was allowed to skip "tech school", moving straight to a job in high level cryptography and communications.  I was privileged to own a very early model of the personal computer, long before they became a part of the mainstream.  I started carrying a cel phone when they "bricks" with an antenna,  and I've been on the internet with my account on AOL since they started.  I can write term papers or sermons  in a single session,  have a couple of books outlined,  and can write a newsletter article on just about anything  (like this one!). 

   But  in all that there has been one thing I have consistently avoided until now....blogging!  I've had lots of people tell me over the years that I needed to launch a blog. Afterall, if my email correspondence is an example, I could be prolific!  Yet, for some reason I've always avoided getting started in the "blogosphere".  Maybe it's just the word "blog" that bothers me!  For some reason I've always had the feeling "blog" meant "boring, long, obnoxious grumbling." That certainly described a few of the blogs I've read.  Anyone can get a blog and they can ramble on about whatever they want, whenever they want, to whoever is silly enough to read it. 

  However, despite my avoidance issues, I am now officially a "blogger".  I didn't come into the "blogosphere" overly willing.  The reality is, I do have an abundance of material that I can post on my blog for all to see.  I'm preparing myself even now for the strange comments, grammar corrections, irate rants of those who don't agree with me, and occasional condescending message from someone who shakes their head when reading my blog and says "Poor Larry".

    Why would I do this to myself?  I was asked to by the CCS Board.  The idea is to use my blog to help us market the school through the internet.  Obviously the blog can't just be an ongoing sales pitch for the school, so I'll fill it with inspirational articles, past "Principal's Corners",  excerpts from the books I'm writing, and information about the church and the other various ministries I'm involved in. But each post will include some "tags" that will help connect us the world of the internet search engines.  It is our hope that folks looking for a high quality, affordable Christian school in Portland will be drawn to my blog, and from their to the CCS website or directly to the school.  As the old adage goes, "You can't get them if they don't know you're there."

  I'm not sure what will happen with all this, but I do think it will prove to be a good experience for me.  Besides just forcing me to get some of the things I've written out there,  it will also require to actively think how I can promote and market the school beyond our own little neighborhood, and reach more people with the truth of the Gospel.  The internet is a powerful tool that those of us in church and Christian schools have often been reluctant to use.  It takes time and effort to learn the skills necessary.  I'm sure I have a lot to learn about the tricks of the trade, but hopefully even my initial efforts will help the school and touch someone's life.

    I hope you'll help spread the word about the blog and its' connection to CCS.  If you're one of those dedicated FACEBOOK junkies you'll probably see a few of my posts connected there. Pass them on to your family and friends and let me know what you think. 

 Here's the address:

 http://crosscurrents.typepad.com

 I called it "Crosscurrents" on purpose. My goal is to provide some insights and ideas that will probably go against the grain of much of the accepted norm in our society. That is also the name of the men's minitry I run here at Crossroads Church. 

 Here's hoping we all learn to swim a little upstream and cause a few ripples of our own.  Hoping my blog isn't a real "boring, long, obnoxious grumble",

DON'T MISS THE CCS WALKATHON THIS TUESDAY

Crossroads Christian School Walkathon is this Tuesday February 23rd.   The students and staff all had a great time last year!   It’s a fun, healthy way of raising funds for our school.  It’s not too late to join us….we leave the church at 9 AM on Tuesday morning.  We’re encouraging to students to get 10 people who will sponsor them for at least $5 for their two hour walk -  that’s $50 per student!!  You can help us raise the funds we need too!   Why not join  the fun!  

We’re also making a huge push for enrollment for the next school year.  Check out our website for more information  -  www.ccscougars.com.  There’s a special $400 incentive offer for new students that enroll before March 31st and a bonus offer for re-enrolling students!  Call the school office if you have any questions  -  503-254-1431 

Follow upcoming updates on CCS, CrossCurrents Men's Ministry, the Parkrose Minstry Network, and Crossroads Church on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter (ccs_cougars). More connections to come. Lots going on so keep in touch!

ENROLLMENT PUSH BEGINS AT CCS

  This past week we launched our enrollment campaign for the 2010-2011 school year at Crossroads Christian School.   What an incredible privilege it is to be involved at a school like CCS ( www.ccscougars.com ).  Our dedicated teachers consistently prove the value of a private, Christian education.  Not only do our students excel in academics, but they are taught in an atmosphere that stresses value education and spiritual development.  Our motto  says it all  -  ”….planting seeds of faith, character and knowledge.” 

  Next month look for our display ads in Metro Parent,  Portland Family,  Christian News Northwest, and the Mid-County Memo.   Our new A-Frame signs are out, the re-enrollment packets have been sent home with our current students,  and a brand new banner will be in place by next week. A new website will be launched before March 1st.  However, our best marketing tool is the word of mouth of those who believe in CCS! 
You can help us by spreading this word to your own networks and friends.  CCS offers some of the lowest tuition prices in the Portland area, yet we do so without compromising on quality.  Our students all enjoy challenging academics, PE classes, a strong music program, competitive athletics,  use of our computer lab and small teacher/student ratios.   You’d be hard pressed to find a better value for the investment.

   Over the next two months we hope to see our enrollment increase by 25% for next fall.  Despite the difficult economy,  we offer parents in the Portland area a very affordable alternative to public schools or more expensive Christian schools for their Pre-K to 8th grade students.  A special incentive program has been set up for those who register before March 31st.  I’ll tell you more about that in a future post.

   We’re incredible grateful for the support of Crossroads Church, who stands with us financially and continues to encourage the ministry of the school on every level.  The new building currently under construction will be the home of many of our future programs at CCS. 

   We hope many of you will help us create some momentum this Spring.  We believe the future of CCS is very bright because we have the privilege of working with folks just like you.  Thank you in advance for all you’ll do to help us get the word out now.

LITTLE GRAY SHEEP!

  He’s the cutest little “gray” sheep you could ever see!  I bought him for myself last Christmas season. The store had some little “black” sheep, which I bought for a couple of my grandkids, and even a few “white” ones.  But I purposely chose the “gray’ one….it reminds me of ME!

    I was never the “black” sheep of the family….my brother earned that honor.  He was the one who was  most likely to get into trouble or need a “stern talking to”.  He and my dad’s belt became well acquainted while we were growing up!  

   Unfortunately, I also have never been the “white” sheep…… the one who seems to always do the right thing!  I was a pretty straight-laced kid, but I wasn’t  any “Mr. Goodie-Two-Shoes”. 

    I am a “gray” sheep…I am now and always have been.  Unless I miss my guess, most of you are too!   I relate to what the little gray sheep represents.  Gray sheep are good “most of the time”, but they have their moments!! I’ve had more than my share of those “moments” – moments that call for a confession,  restitution, or repairing a damaged relationship.  I saddened by the fact that there is so much “gray” still left in me!

    I told the teaching staff this morning that my gray sheep reminds me that I still need God’s grace.  Thankfully He continues to work on me…..as he does you and your children.  Perhaps we should start an organization where all of us “gray” sheep could support one another.  Oh wait, there already is one….it’s called “The Church”!
    From One Gray Sheep to Another!

MODELING CLAY AND MOLDING LITTLE BOYS!

    It's one of those projects that ever parent dreads, but every kid relishes.  I  was assigned the task by my 5th grade teacher of creating a display depicting  the geography of the State of California.  It had to include the Sierra Mountains,  the San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay, and Death Valley!  It was a challenge that I was more than happy to take on because it meant working with molding clay,  paint, and all sorts of other messy things!  There's nothing a 5th grade boy likes better than making a mess! 
 
I remember the look on my dad's face when I told him what I had to do.  Dutifully he found me a nice flat piece of plywood to serve as the base of my masterpiece. Carefully I pulled out my textbook and drew out the state on the board, noting the areas where I would  build the mountains, paint the green valleys, and outline the various bays and inlets on the coast.  I'm no artist, but Leonarda Da Vinci would have been proud of me! 
 
Next came the modeling clay. It was not as easy to work with as I had thought.  My mountains looked more like a badly misshaped hotdog than the majestic peaks of the Sierras.  The SF Bay had this weird resemblance to a kidney, and the entire Southern half of the state looked a bit off kilter. Still,  I did the best I could  and created something that sort of looked like the maps I was using as a reference. It was not beautiful, but I thought painting would help?   
 
It didn't!  The green of the valleys spilled over into the blue of the ocean, and the grey and white from the mountains kept dribbling down into the valley  (although my dad did say that was kind of like the snow melting...).   In the end I was completed covered with paint and my model looked like something a pre-school class might have thrown together.  I was less than proud of the final outcome, and a bit embarrassed to bring it to class the next day!   As far as I was concerned I had failed miserably!

    Incredibly,  my teacher did not immediately gag and excuse herself from the room when she saw my project.   Rather, she actually seemed to be impressed by my efforts.  "Was this women blind?"  I thought to myself.  She complimented me on my effort and encouraged me later to explain what I had created to the whole class.  I actually got a decent grade and left that day feeling much better than I felt when I came in that morning. 

  It was only much later that I realized what that teacher had done for me.  She had not looked at the "outcome" of my project, but rather the "effort"  I had put into it. She certainly couldn't have thought I had actually done a "good job", but she knew I had taken the time to learn what she wanted me to learn and had tried my best to depict those things in my model.  I didn't do a very good job with the modeling clay and paints, but I had learned where the mountains, valleys, and coastal inlets were......and that was the point of the project.
 
Sometimes I wonder if that's not how God looks at us.  He wants us to  learn things about Him, the world He's given us, and the people we share it with.  At times we can make a real mess out of things....perhaps to the point of feelling like we'll never get it right!  But perhaps the secret is not in the temporary results of our efforts here!  He's working on a much bigger project in our lives.....a project where honest effort and sincerity are more important than the actual results we may achieve. 
 
At CCS,  and in your families, we share the opportunity to speak into the lives of your children.  Let's make sure we're more concerned with the ultimate outcome rather than the temporary messes.  After all,  life is just messy sometimes.....even for those of us who call ourselves adults.

HOW'S YOUR REPORT CARD?

It’s one of those weeks kids either seem to love or hate…..report card week!  As a fairly good student myself I used to love report card day. Like many parents my mom and dad used to give us a bonus on our allowance if we brought home a good report card.  I used that to my advance to clean them out…..well, as much as you can when your base allowance is $2 a week! With an extra $1 for every “A” I could buy enough red licorice and “Pixie Straws” to last me for weeks!  Perhaps that’s why I look like I do today! 

Report cards are meant to help us determine a student’s progress in their overall education.  It’s certainly not a perfect system because every child is different, but it’s at least a useful tool to help us evaluate what is and what is not getting through. Whether the grades are good or bad, they are both just indicators of how students are learning to apply themselves to the task of studying and how much they are actually absorbing. 

I think we need to establish a report card system for adults too!  Perhaps we need that bit of extra motivation and accountability to address the issues that are most important in life.  Am I spending enough time with my children?  Have I paid my tithe regularly?  Did I tell my wife I loved her every  day this week?  Did I give my employer an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay?  If you think about it, a quarterly set of “grades” on how we’re progressing might do us all a world of good.  If nothing else, it would give us some extra motivation to stay on track so we don’t have to explain a bad grade.  The rewards may change…..unless you’re like me and licorice is still a motivation…..but the goal is the same…..PROGRESS!  Here’s hoping your “report card” is looking good!