Amen: An Endorsement of Praise or Prayer
“Amen,” in both Testaments, could be employed as an affirmation of endorsement as a concluding pronouncement in connection with either praise or prayer. Note Psalm 41:13. “Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen”.

Amen: The Truthfulness of the Inspired Documents
“Amen” was used on occasion at the conclusion of a letter, the design of which seems to have been to emphasize the integrity of the writing. It would be the equivalent of: “What I have written is the truth!” (see Rom. 16:27; Jude 25).

Amen: The Faithfulness of God
The term is used to stress the reliability or faithfulness of God. Listen to the prophet Isaiah. “. . . [H]e who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth . . .” (65:16), or as the New English Bible renders it: “He who invokes a blessing on himself in the land shall do so by the God whose name is Amen . . .”  “He is the God of truth, for in the carrying out of all His promises of blessing and threatenings of judgment, He has been successful and has shown that what He has spoken is true”.

Amen: Spoken by Christ
“Amen,” as found in the Gospel accounts, is employed by Jesus alone. In the Gospel of John, it is always used in the double format, rendered in English by “verily, verily” (25 times). It emphasizes the authority with which Christ spoke, and it takes on the essence of a “thus says the Lord”.

​

One of his greatest contributions to the fledgling nation was to blaze a trail across the Cumberland Gap and bring pioneering and adventurous families into the wilderness.  This allowed for an expansion of the United States into the rural areas of what was then the western frontier.

​Israelites preferred to live in the mountains.  It is where God led them to inhabit the Promised Land.  Why?  Maybe it is because chariots didn’t do well in the mountains.  They were less likely to be attacked by armies of chariots. Read Acts 17:22-28.  We usually focus on God no longer “winking” or overlooking ignorance, but look at verse 26f. God is a boundary around us just as the mountains surround Israel.

As you add the mountain range to your hand-made map, consider that water flows two ways from here - west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Jordan and ultimately to the Dead Sea.  Place those water features on the map as well.

This one's on the other side of the map.  It's the last one for this class session, but it is undoubtedly the most famous (or should that be infamous?).  Now, let's label it:  Nile River.

Some Questions:

• Who did the shepherds tell about he angelic prophecy?
• What is the response of the people who heard their testimony?
• Who is present at the stable?
• What do the words of shepherds mean to Mary?
• What do the shepherds do with the information they have been given?

Let's Think:
These are shepherds talking - probably not the most eloquent of preachers, and yet the reaction the receive to their testimony is pretty remarkable.  "And all who heard it were amazed..."  The passage says the people are amazing by the message of the shepherds; it does not say they were amazed by their excellent preaching abilities.  Even the mother of Jesus beams with pride.  After all, the shepherds are confirming what she already knows (They're not the only ones who have seen angels!).

I am taken aback by the idea that there may be people standing around who are not related to the family in the stable.  It sounds like there are others in the scene, perhaps curious as to the commotion in the stall.  Even these curious bystanders are impressed by the message the shepherds share.  This baby is actually someone important?  That is now confirmed by the shepherds.

And important to note:  the shepherds returned to their flocks, but they are so much more than lowly shepherds in the field.  Now they have become evangelists.  The last item of not for our present purposes is the idea that the shepherds only tell others what they have been told.  They do not appear to add anything to or subtract from the Word of God.

I am always impressed with the amount of work that goes into putting together a 21st Century show choir.  Ms. Reynolds, former music teacher at Cecil Floyd Elementary, makes it happen.  It's also great to be able to reminisce with her about the shows we used to put together at the elementary level - some of the most epic Christmas programs ever performed.  I was even able to be on stage myself, playing Santa Claus in one and Grandma (yes, Grandma) in another.

​On Thursday, the Joplin Show Choirs performed their post-season showcase, and I was thrilled to attend.

The first group to perform was the all girl group, Touch of Class.  I can't believe how energetic and coordinated the group is throughout the show.  Hoggatteer alumni,  ALY, MACIE, and SOPHIE, are in this ensemble and they rock every minute of the show.

New Sounds is the new middle school group.  They have 25 on their team (up from 8, last year), and LIAM is one of only two boys.  They had a cute, fun show.

Two of my boys, JOSIAH and TAYLOR, are performers with Sound Dimension, Joplin's coed show choir.  The special effects, lighting, props, and makeup put this show over the top, and the boys do a good job of dancing and playing to the audience. 

I hope more of "my kids" audition for future seasons.  If they do, I could have seven more years to watch Hoggatteers grow up and cut loose on stage.

RAMONA represented the Hoggatteers well in last Monday's regional spelling bee on the stage at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School.  That's not to say that she won the competition, but it is to say that she successfully represented the mature, mannerly values of interacting with other human beings.

For all the time I was present (I had another obligation on the same day.), no other fourth, fifth, or sixth grader in the group said thank you to the spellmaster and the judges before leaving the stage, but RAMONA did.  That single, simple moment hit me with a burst of pride.  So much more valuable than the ability to spell tricky words was the ability to express oneself with kindness and respect.  For that, I can be prouder of my former student than even the teacher of the spelling bee champion.

When adding cardinal directions to the map, consider the Hebrew words for the directions.  The Hebrew word for in front of is the word that you’d see translated in the Bible as east.  God even gives directions based on this. The word mizrach (מִזְרָח) comes from the root zarach, which means to shine.  East in Hebrew is the direction from which the sun shines.   Cemeteries still incorporate eastward-facing burials in most cases.

The word achor (מַעֲרָב,) means behind and is a synonym for west.  In Isaiah 9:12, the Arameans are to the east and the Philistines are on the west, which could be translated as “the Arameans in front of you and the Philistines behind you”.

The word yamin (יָמִין) means right (the right-hand side), and it is used as such in the Bible, but it also means south.

Tsafon (צָפוׄן) means hidden, as in the direction in which you will never see the sun.  Another word, smol, means left and is based on the default direction, oriented towards the east.  In Genesis 14:15, the phrase “smol of Damascus” means left, or north, of Damascus.

Stand and face these directions as we hear the explanation:  The Hebrew words speak as if God sits on a throne in the temple or tabernacle looking out the door.  In front of Him is east, behind Him is west, to His right hand is the word south, and to His left hand is the word north.

Fill in the blanks:  “Behold, I go __________, but He is not there, and __________, but I cannot perceive Him; when He acts on the __________, I cannot see Him; He turns to the __________, but I cannot see Him” (Job 23:8f).

When people speak of left and right in the Bible, do they always mean left and right, or do they sometimes mean north and south?

When I was in the second grade, I was given an assignment – to compile my autobiography, the story of my own life.  The title of the assignment was “My ‘Me’ Book”.  In the midst of the crudely-crayoned pictures of my house, my family, and my pets, is an interesting page.  The caption at the top of the picture is “My Wish”.  Below that caption is a seven-year-old’s depiction of himself, standing behind the pulpit in the Lord’s church, preaching.  That’s right: from that early age, I wanted to be a preacher.
​
It’s that seven-year-old’s wish that the church has allowed me to fulfill.  In the last 25 years or so, I have had the pleasure of preaching for congregations of the Lord’s people in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Of course there have been some detours:  times that I wasn’t sure of where my life would take me.  There was that job I took in desperation, working in a furniture warehouse.  There was the job in the tourism industry that allowed me to interact and entertain the public daily.  And of course, there is the position I held for more than three decads – that of elementary school teacher.  For what it’s worth, each grew me, changed me, and developed character.  They, along with the rich influence of my family, have provided me with support and encouragement.  I gained much from each of these positions, but these jobs allowed little time for that old, old desire to be a preacher.

As a part-time preacher, I studied the Old and New Testaments in a way that I have never taken the time for in the past.  Because of the extra responsibility, I’ve developed a renewed purpose in study, and I’ve realized a small amount of the burden that comes with being a spokesman of the Gospel.

You see, to be a conscientious preacher of God’s Word, I believe one must understand the underlying principle outlined by every one of the Old Testament Prophets.  Prophetic books cover over one-quarter of the Bible, yet no section of the Bible is more neglected – even by modern-day preachers.  Every one of the prophets displays a stark warning direct from God Himself.  Every one of the prophets, minor and major, reminds God’s people to remember their bondage, to remember their plight, to remember their oppressors, to remember being lost, and hungry, and cold.

More importantly, the prophets remind the people, over and over again, that they must remember the God Who delivered them from that bondage, to remember being rescued, to remember being fed, and clothed, and protected.  

Those people, God’s people had to be reminded by the prophets of the journey to the Promised Land, just as today the Lord’s people (and others who may walk through the doors) must be reminded of the bondage of sin and the oppression of the world.  Just as today, we must be reminded daily to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…  Just as today, we have to be reminded of the sacrifice of Christ.

Just as Joel warns that the day of the Lord is one in which the wicked among God’s people will be punished, the righteous will be delivered, and the enemies of God’s people will be punished…today’s preacher must continue to deliver the harsh message of destruction.

Modern preachers must not lay aside the truth of Habakkuk:  that it’s not the survival of the fittest but the suffering of the best.  The fact remains that sin being self-destructive is a condition of life.

In the manner of Zephaniah’s message, preachers today must help others understand that not only will sin be punished, but through the chastening, blessing will come to obedient believers in the person of the Messiah.

Just as Hosea taught by example about the one-sided love and faithfulness represented the relationship between Israel and Jehovah…the modern preacher must show the unworthiness of the human race and immeasurable grace of God.

Just as Amos preached of the righteousness and justice of God, a preacher in the 21st Century must tell the story of trust and obedience in the sovereign God.

Just as Haggai penned, the contagious nature of the sin of procrastination, today’s preacher must never downplay the urgency and uninterrupted nature of obedient faith.

Just as delivering God’s message was a difficult and deadly task for the prophets and apostles, preaching truth today is difficult because many in the world and in the church do not want to know what God wants them to do, and when you tell them the truth they get angry at the messenger.  There is a huge amount of time and effort involved in preparing and preaching, not to mention special speaking engagements, visiting the sick, shut-ins, those in the hospital, and prospects.

Don Deffenbaugh wrote, “It is no wonder that a preacher is criticized.  His struggle to balance his time between his work, his family, and his own welfare often results in an emphasis not appreciated by some members.  Preachers live in glass houses and must get used to that fact.  They will not please everyone, even as our Lord did not please everyone.”

I suppose we should appreciate a preacher a little more.  May the words of the prophet Isaiah ring loud and true. In Isaiah 9:2, a prophecy cited by Matthew in chapter 4 in reference to Jesus:  Isaiah wrote, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”  What more profound mission could the church have than to be a light on a hill!

Last week, this retired teacher and current supervisor of student teachers became a principal for a local private school with almost 100 students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade.  I had seen some of them in the church setting in the past, and I know some of their parents.  I even chaperoned the high schoolers on a field trip to the Truman Library a few weeks ago but I was unfamiliar with all of the students in the school. 

The week began with a devotional led by the preacher of the local congregation, and afterward, I was up to introduce myself and give some announcements - one of which was to invite my wife who teaches at the school to announce a special activity for the week.

Most of my day was spent observing classrooms and hallways, and I got a pretty good feel for the school's climate. I monitored those things several times in the day.  Naturally, my least favorite times were the moments when students would come to the office, sent by teachers for a time-out or for correction.  My goals were not to give them a knee-jerk reaction, but to let them wait for me.  Once they were in my office, I calmly and quickly coached them through a better way to act or react and escorted them or sent them back to class.  I wanted them back in class as soon as possible.  Not unlike any other school, there is a handful of "frequent flyers" in the school, but I didn't want them to think they could just hang around in the office and be entertained.

Another least favorite hour every day was lunch duty, and may I say this?  Kids are gross.  I didn't have to do too many breakfast or lunch duties in my 32 years as a public school teacher, but I have done enough to realize that it could be the greatest weight loss plan.  Just watching kids eat and be kids can ruin the appetite.  If only they would just come into the cafeteria to actually eat a meal - and save the shenanigans and silliness for the playground - the day could be more pleasant.

It takes a special breed to be a principal, and I would never choose to be an administrator.  I know that if I were in charge, there would be some standards that I would establish and expect (actually demand) from my faculty and students that would change the climate of my school.  The last real taste of administration that I had was in 1995 when I was the lead teacher at Buchanan Elementary School in Oklahoma City.  That's when I handled the situation of a terrorist bomb killing 168 people less than five miles away.  More so, however, the real unpleasantness of the job came when dealing with parents upset at a teacher and coping with disciplinary issues from children in other classes.  It just wasn't the career path I wanted to take - even though it would have greatly increased my salary and benefited my retirement.  And yes, I realize, I wasn't doing everything a principal is required to do either in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or in Neosho, Missouri.

On the positive side of things, being the administrator means that I had more chances to converse with adults.  In OKC, my adult contact was Principal Blevins.  For this last week, I had some meaningful conversations with teachers.  In the Christian school setting, we were able to discuss the Scripture.  In fact, I sat in on some Bible classes for small times and participated in the instruction before heading back to the office to see who needed me next.  Hopefully, I will be invited back to train the teachers in Positive Discipline and Instruction and provide them with some Tolerance Training that can help with student issues.