One of my pet peeves when teaching karate is when parents expect me to give every kid an award. I don't believe in giving awards that are not merit based. For example, when I give a kid a stripe it is because he earned it by learning a certain technique(s) and demonstrating it with skill. I like to give prizes such as Student of the Day to the most well behaved, enthusiastic, hardest working, or most improved kid. I like to award stickers for kids who put forth above average effort or excel in a certain area. I believe that the kids who don't earn the award should try harder next time. An important lesson that kids have to learn is that they cannot win all the time. But some parents would rather keep their kids from ever losing because they see it as a horrible thing. But losing is not a bad thing. People can learn a lot from their failures. Sometimes the kids that benefit the most from competition are the ones that lose. They end up working hard and achieving far more than the kid who wins.
As I told my brother, I don't want to run a communistic dojo where kids get the same award whether they try their best or not. Instead, I want to run a dojo where kids are rewarded for their hard work and diligence.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Healing
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
I have heard people quote this verse many times and tell me that we are healed from all ailments and injuries. I have heard someone say that God healed us 2000 years ago when He died on that cross. I have seen people take that verse and and tell me that I am healed of scoliosis (curvature of the spine). That Isaiah 53:5 is a promise that God will heal sickness and disease.
But I think a lot of people miss the whole point of the verse. He was wounded because we sinned. We are healed from death, sin, and destruction. Our hearts are healed when He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. This healing is a lot more appealing to me.
Last year I spent a lot of time praying that God would straighten my spine. But He has chosen not to. I realized that my focus was off. I don't want to gain a straight spine yet lose much more. Instead of praying for my back I started to pray that God would change my heart. I asked God to heal my heart of all the hurt and sin. I found out that the more important thing was my soul and my relationship with Christ. I am only going to use this body for a few more decades, but I will have my soul for eternity. Christ is the only thing that matters.
My neck has been sore for the past couple of weeks. Sometimes it is quite painful and stiff. I know that God has created my body to heal itself and that He is helping me through the pain. But I would be willing to suffer this neck pain for the rest of my life if it would bring me closer to Christ.
My prayer is not that all sickness gets wiped from the face of this earth. My prayer is that all people might come to know Christ and experience His love. My prayer is that people would repent. My prayer is that people would forgive each other. My prayer is that my brothers and sisters in Christ would be free from sin. My prayer is that Christ's body would be united.
One thing that I have learned this year is that heartache is far worse than any pain that I have experienced.
May God bring healing to your heart, soul, and body.
I have heard people quote this verse many times and tell me that we are healed from all ailments and injuries. I have heard someone say that God healed us 2000 years ago when He died on that cross. I have seen people take that verse and and tell me that I am healed of scoliosis (curvature of the spine). That Isaiah 53:5 is a promise that God will heal sickness and disease.
But I think a lot of people miss the whole point of the verse. He was wounded because we sinned. We are healed from death, sin, and destruction. Our hearts are healed when He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. This healing is a lot more appealing to me.
Last year I spent a lot of time praying that God would straighten my spine. But He has chosen not to. I realized that my focus was off. I don't want to gain a straight spine yet lose much more. Instead of praying for my back I started to pray that God would change my heart. I asked God to heal my heart of all the hurt and sin. I found out that the more important thing was my soul and my relationship with Christ. I am only going to use this body for a few more decades, but I will have my soul for eternity. Christ is the only thing that matters.
My neck has been sore for the past couple of weeks. Sometimes it is quite painful and stiff. I know that God has created my body to heal itself and that He is helping me through the pain. But I would be willing to suffer this neck pain for the rest of my life if it would bring me closer to Christ.
My prayer is not that all sickness gets wiped from the face of this earth. My prayer is that all people might come to know Christ and experience His love. My prayer is that people would repent. My prayer is that people would forgive each other. My prayer is that my brothers and sisters in Christ would be free from sin. My prayer is that Christ's body would be united.
One thing that I have learned this year is that heartache is far worse than any pain that I have experienced.
May God bring healing to your heart, soul, and body.
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