Discipline

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."  --Philippians 2:1-2

 Jesus, me, and.....others.

There is a praise chorus that we sing here in South Korea that I just love.  It is a peppy, fun and joyful song, yet I find myself deeply moved and on the verge of tears each time I sing it.  Here are the lyrics:

When I think about the Lord, How He saved me, how He raised me, How He filled me, with the Holy Ghost. How He healed me, to the uttermost.

When I think about the Lord, How He picked me up and turned me around, How He placed my feet on solid ground.

It makes me wanna shout, Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus, Lord, you're worthy, of all the glory, and all the honor, and all the praise... 

by James Huey

At times in my job as the assistant principal here in the high school I struggle with some of the "rough" spots in my job description, specifically.....discipline.  Most of the time when students are called to my office it is because they have done something wrong--they are in trouble.  No one likes to be disciplined and not many have "warm, fuzzy feelings" about the one who doles out the discipline.

I don't especially enjoy being the "disciplinarian" of the school, but I do it.

 When I talk with kids and deal with discipline issues I often put myself in their place--in the "hot seat."  There but for the grace of God go I.  God knows the many times that I have blown it and He knows my potential for blunder.  God disciplines, guides and directs me but He does so with mercy, grace and.....love.

In the midst of the lectures, detentions, parent phone calls, and suspensions I try to be loving, understanding and caring towards the students.  Sometimes disciplining and being disciplined doesn't feel very "Christian".  I wonder at times, if there is any good that can come of it all.

Below is a precious email that I recieved from one of my students named Chris.  Chris had his struggles, and he and I went a few "rounds" together, but over time we also had a few good laughs and some meaningful talks together.  Chris ended up leaving our school because his parents were concerned about his discipline record.  I was sorry to see him leave.  Here is the email he sent me:

Hello, mr roberts how are you doing? is it a bit boring without me causing all the trouble?? Ha Ha Ha.  I just wanted to say hi to you and say that you were really good to me and that i really did respect you and appreciated you for all the things you did for me.  I know i was quite a pain sometimes getting in trouble and all.  so i really wanted to apologize for all the things i did to cause you stress.  I think that the school and me just didn't get along, but i think that if i did a little better on my attitude and my temper i would've gotten into much less trouble.  However, there was a good part about me getting in trouble so many times... i got to know you! (even though the way i achieved it wasn't very good...)  I always wanted to become friends with a principle.  I'm doing fine right now and i really changed.  i had some weeks of therapy and my temper have reduced alot! and i'm really into studying now and i have a big big big goal for me to accomplish.  mr. roberts i'm not going say that i'll be missing being in your office, but i am going to miss you and the whole school.  Well this was your student Chris reporting his status Sir!  OVER AND OUT~~~ BYE

PS: next time when i see you let's hope that i don't see you in your office with a frown, but with a smile ^

You never know do you?  This email serves as a reminder to me that my actions and interactions with other people matter.

Jesus lived in the real world and so do we.  We have to deal with real world issues and challenges.  We have to deal with things that are messy and difficult.  We have to deal with things that are hard--like discipline.  We have to deal with people.  If we have any fellowship with the Holy Spirit we can, and need to deal with all of these things and people with tenderness and compassion....

Just like Jesus deals with you and me.

"Be kind and compassionate with one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  --Ephesians 4:32

Comments

[Chris Johnson]

I was running with Glenn and JC this morning and we came upon a man walking the trail with three dogs. He heard us and commanded his dogs to stop. As we ran by, the dogs faithfully obeyed and simply watched. As I often respond to opportunities, I asked what Godly application can be associated to the incident. Since I had presented Psalm 27 to a study group on Thursday, I mentioned wait on the Lord as the dogs were waiting for the next command from their master. Glenn said, discipline, the dogs showed great discipline and modeled the training they had recieved. We talked about this for the next few miles up the trail. How much joy do those well trained dogs bring to their master when they obey and venture out with him. As encounters occur along the trail and trials of life they respond without resistance. Moreso, those well trained dogs bring respect and appreciation from those along the path, even if we don't like dogs and don't want to be in the dog fellowship, we have admiration for how they behave. Am I a well trained and obedient follower of my Lord? Do I acknowledge Him as I cruise the trails of life? Do others see me as a wild, uncontrollable, selfserving man or as a man of God?

[Ryan]

Chris,
Thanks for your words. I like your comment regarding the dogs' behaviors, that the "...well trained dogs bring respect and appreciation from those along the path, . . . "

I know that Christ never promised His followers respect, adulation and appreciation from the world but He does say that we are to be the aroma of Christ, salt and light to the world, ambassadors for Christ, and a lamp on a hill.

These traits don't come from being "good" or "flashy" or "popular" or even "right." We are to be obedient to the Father and leave the rest up to Him.

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."