When Sue and I attended the Old Dominion Association of Church Schools, I had the  privilege and opportunity to speak with Dan Zacharias, Executive Director of ODACS, a few times. On one such occasion he shared with me by stating, “My coach would always tell me not to just run to the finish line, but run all the way through the finish line.” In other words, don’t be satisfied with just completing a task, project, or directive; but go that extra mile by surpassing what is expected or required. So today I pass on those great words of wisdom. As educators for Christ, we must prepare, plan, and execute those daily tasks with excellence. In order to finish well, we can check our motives by continuing to practice doing what we do everyday, as unto God. We must then pass that same baton of excellence on to our students as we encourage them to run all the way through the finish line.

“On your mark, get set, and go pass that anointed baton of excellence, and do it all to the Glory of God!”  When God is glorified, you can rest assured that you have finished it well.

Deidre Hester, Voice I

Finishing a job, assignment, or task can have an entirely different meaning than finishing those things well.  It all depends on each individual’s interpretation of when the job is completed. I would encourage parents, who are their child’s first teachers, to be mindful of the fact that what they accept at home in terms of the work effort from their child, will be modeled outside the home – usually at school and later on the job. The Biblical principle of “finishing well” should be applied everywhere, not only when cleaning a room, washing dishes, or raking leaves, but also in completing assignments, following coaches instructions, and making time for guitar practice. Children learn to give what is expected, so why should we expect less than their best. Parents and teachers are preparing our next generation for their futures. Teach them to work hard and finish well, because ultimately, they will be the ones to benefit.

Sue Whited – Voice II

This week marks a break from the classroom and that in itself is probably enough to make you thankful! I guess the question I’m really asking in the title is: “are you living in a thankful state of mind?” I have come to realize that thankful living is a choice. In the midst of life – which can be demanding, depressing, frustrating, or painful  – there is always something for which to be thankful. During this week of Thanksgiving, I wish for you to be able to find those joys that make you smile, and concentrate on them. Look up and thank Him . . . and let this thankfulness carry into next week.

Sue – Voice II

The question “Are you thankful?” is one of the most important questions we will answer in this life. However, being able to answer with an honest and resounding, “Yes” is even more important because God wants us to maintain a posture of being grateful. The way to do that is to focus on what you do have and practice not complaining about what you don’t have. After all, the Israelites had to wander in a desert and eventually died off in the wilderness for having ungrateful hearts. During this season of giving thanks, I want to encourage you, our readers, to remain grateful beyond a holiday. Wake up and look up everyday and give God praise for another day in which you can serve and continue to discover your purpose in Him. Finally, let us all remain inspired by David and actually proclaim on a regular  basis, “This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will(choose to) rejoice and be glad in it!”

Deidre- Voice I

Good Monday morning to everyone. Deidre and I are resting up from last week’s ODACS conference in Charlottesville, VA. We had a great time meeting other vendors and the convention members who attended. We so appreciate those of you who bought a book, and others who said they would check out our website and blog.

I always enjoy getting together with teachers who are still “in the trenches,” sharing experiences and laughing over the stories only teachers can tell. My prayers are with you all because you have chosen a career that truly makes a difference – you are important in the life of a child! Keep on keeping on!!

Sue – Voice II

Hello all,

It’s another busy week as Deidre and I are traveling to Charlottesville, VA, for the ODACS conference. We are looking forward to being there and meeting more educators. Before leaving tomorrow, we have some thoughts for you.

Have you been following the stories in the news lately concerning the punishments of anyone in a position as an educator/coach or even a student athlete for showing a belief in the Christian God? No one is using a prayer rug, bowing towards the East, or sacrificing a chicken, but anyone who bows, points to the sky, or utters a brief prayer of thanksgiving can now be in big trouble. For example, Joe Kennedy, Bremerton (WA) High School’s assistant football coach received a “cease and desist” letter Sept. 17 of this year from school administration telling him to avoid kneeling, bowing his head, or doing anything that could be viewed as religious or endorsing religion. At the end of October, he was placed on paid administrative leave for silently praying on the 50-yd line following the Oct. 23 game, where he was voluntarily joined by players and their families. This was a tradition he had begun when he was employed in 2008. Now all of a sudden it is unacceptable – why? I submit it is because a small group of people whose atheistic beliefs are insulted by others who publicly display theirs in God are actively working to prohibit any such display. It reminds me how one woman – Madalyn Murray O’Hair – described as an American atheist activist, succeeded in removing prayer from the public schools in 1963.

Another example is Pedro Banda, a top running back from Dysart High School, AZ, who was penalized and ultimately ejected (it was his second penalty) from a football game when a referee threw a flag for his excessive celebrating after a touchdown. His action: a brief look to the sky while he pointed up! Really!!!! It’s time for those of us who are Christians to realize that our time to pay for our religious beliefs has come as the intimidation, harassment, and even, persecution is upon us. As we wrote in our book, “everything is acceptable in this inclusionary culture except anything Christian.”

Teachers have known for years that we must choose our words carefully if we work in a public school. Christian teachings could promote peaceful co-existence, forgiveness, and the Golden Rule, but mentioning the Bible, from which these ideas come is not allowed. The Gideon organization, which for many years gave away New Testaments to fourth graders, is not allowed to do so in many school districts today. Believe it or not, I still have mine, many years later. When we retired and moved back to rural WV, I was so pleased to see Christmas concerts advertised on school reader boards. That had not been the norm for a long time back in Hampton Roads, VA, with “Winter holiday music” listed instead. When I taught, I found a way to teach about Christmas in my social studies classroom because I added many other religious holidays to the study. I have always respected my students’ ability to make informed decisions once they have been provided with objective information. So my eighth-graders learned about Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the Chinese New Year – in that order! Today I would probably be banned from teaching about the birth of the Christ child. What a sad situation! Be blessed this week as we move towards the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, which are so much more than cultural celebrations.

Sue – Voice II

THINK IT NOT STRANGE. The two incidents Sue described are just a miniscule representation of the many cases across America where it is not popular or even safe to openly display your Christian beliefs or your enthusiasm regarding salvation. Each week  at The Potter’s House International Ministries in Jacksonville, Florida, my pastor offers a Tuesday “lunch” Bible study for anyone desiring to grow in God’s word by sacrificing lunch or their normal noon-day routine in order to feast on God’s Word. We have been studying the book of ACTS which is so appropriate to help us understand the times in which we are currently living. Throughout the book of Acts, you can read how repeatedly the boldness of Peter, John and Paul (later on in that same book) caused all three men to suffer persecution, beatings, and get put into prison because of how they taught and used the name of JESUS. Eventually, they did all die for the cause of Christ. Today, we are also  forbidden to use the name of Jesus which supports and demonstrates the fact of just how powerful that name really is.

Christians began losing their rights to proclaim the Gospel from the very beginning because there is no other name whereby we can be set free from the penalty of sin. When Peter and John declared in Acts 4:20, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard,” it made people of authority and position angry because it revealed how powerless a finite man is when compared to the only infinite God. Likewise as current day Christians, our testimony must compel us to share the love of God and His plan of salvation with every person possible no matter what the cost is to our personal agendas. “For God I will live, and for God I will die” are no longer words we simply sing in a song. For every believer those words are the badge of courage that we wear daily and proclaim them as our way of life! When we proclaim Christ by how we live and act, the world will hate on us unto death. Are we really willing to die for the cause?

God’s plan for mankind’s redemption will never cease to grow, succeed or exist. His remnant, a few good men and women who will continue to obey Him regardless of what the masses are saying and doing, are here. It all has been demonstrated and  witnessed throughout history. Of course today, is no exception.

With each new event of Christian persecution or death, that never-ending list will continue to expand. The proverbial line has long been drawn in the sand, but it is getting wider and deeper with each new day! Christians must choose and make the courageous decision to stand for Christ or they will inevitably fall. Without a proper understanding of who and whose you are, you may not be able to recover and get back up to a stable position.  It is time for every determined child of God to speak up to Him with a sincere heart and mind in order to proclaim,  “Here I am Lord, send me!”

Deidre – Voice I

This past week was a whirling blur as the Two Voices made their first appearance as authors at the Florida Association of Christian Colleges & Schools (FACCS) convention in Orlando, FL. Needless to say, after driving from West Virginia, unloading and setting up our booth, staying busy for ten hours the first day, and seven the next, Mickey Mouse was totally forgotten and ignored! We met some wonderful people as we handed out bookmarks and business cards, and discussed our book with some of the many people passing by our area. We shared the basic premises of our work: “People are more alike than different, you can’t judge a book by its cover, and Christians need to take a stand for God and His Word NOW to help return our country to the principles on which it was founded, and leave a positive legacy for our children.” Of course, in a Christian conference, we were “preaching to the choir,” but it was so encouraging to listen to the comments of others and to place our work into the hands of those who purchased a copy. Listening to the incredible vocals of Veritas was an added bonus. If you haven’t heard this five-member group of three tenors, a bass, and a baritone – you are definitely missing something!!

However, the highlight of the conference had to be reconnecting with a former eighth-grade student who had expressed interest in seeing us again. We let her know where we were and she drove over with a friend to give/receive hugs and purchase a book. What a blessing it was to see April again! We had come full circle as one of our “kids” from the classroom came to encourage us as an adult.

Moments after walking her to the car and waving good-bye, it was time to pack up and leave this very first event. All the exhaustion and work was worth it . . . we knew we had made a difference in the life of this one student, now an adult with a handsome husband and three beautiful children of her own. God is indeed good! In another eight days we will drive to Charlottesville, VA, for another conference – the ODACS gathering. It will be time for the Two Voices to experience another venue with perhaps more blessings. I can’t wait!

Sue – Voice II

What more can I say? Absolutely nothing – Sue has said it all so well. It was an exhilarating time, like planning and anticipating a prom or another big event; so much preparation . . . and then, it’s over. Now on to the next!

Also, I wish to thank all my colleagues from the Potter’s House Christian Academy and everyone else for all their encouraging words and supporting our book ministry. Thank you so much.

Deidre – Voice I