Tools are Important
Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears." So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe. The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes. (1 Samuel 13:19-21)
Even when the people of Israel were at odds with the Philistines, they realized the importance of having good tools to work with. Thus they were forced to go to their enemy in order to keep their tools in good working order.
Working the clay soil of Southern Illinois with nothing but a shovel was very foolish, for I needed other tools to insure the land would be ready for the seed, the plants would be cultivated and the harvest gathered.
Even when the people of Israel were at odds with the Philistines, they realized the importance of having good tools to work with. Thus they were forced to go to their enemy in order to keep their tools in good working order.
Working the clay soil of Southern Illinois with nothing but a shovel was very foolish, for I needed other tools to insure the land would be ready for the seed, the plants would be cultivated and the harvest gathered.
Education Applications:
There are obvious tools that every classroom must have: textbooks, writing instruments, workbooks, art supplies, bulletin board supplies, office supplies, technology, and the like.
There are also school supplies that every student must have to insure a successful school year, which are enumerated in the class lists distributed before school starts to the parents, discount stores, office supply stores and any other location for purchasing the required supplies.
Other specialized tools are useful for educators:
There are obvious tools that every classroom must have: textbooks, writing instruments, workbooks, art supplies, bulletin board supplies, office supplies, technology, and the like.
There are also school supplies that every student must have to insure a successful school year, which are enumerated in the class lists distributed before school starts to the parents, discount stores, office supply stores and any other location for purchasing the required supplies.
Other specialized tools are useful for educators:
- Educator’s Conferences: These conferences provide the opportunity to be exposed to the best thinking in current educational trends, concepts, or legal requirements.
- Professional Organizations: Organizations such as Lutheran Education Association; national associations of specialized areas such as music teachers, elementary teachers, elementary school principals, and the like; associations of faith-based education agencies; or other similar type of organizations not only provide an opportunity to interact with educators outside of the local school; but also provide websites, magazines, forums, and other communications for on-going improvement.
- Professional Books: Educators often overlook the specialized tool of professional books on the topics of leadership, team-building, making decisions, management styles, and the like used by business professionals to improve their employee’s performance. Many of these publications provide insights, tips, tools and techniques that can be applied to the classroom, teacher, or administrator.
- Webinars and Seminars: Many organizations provide topical webinars, seminars, or broadcast conferences to grow professionals in various fields. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, Lutheran Hour Ministries and Lutheran Education Association all provide webinars on educational topics useful for the educator or administrator. TED is an organization dedicated to sharing ideas in short talks, usually available on the Internet. Many of these topics have applications to education. Chick-fil-a offers an annual Leadercast event, a one-day seminar simulcast throughout the world with topics and presenters of a national and international scope. These seminars provide opportunities to hear from notable presenters discussing topics that will impact the future.
- Research: Professional research organizations provide a method to keep current on relevent trends, topics and patterns of cultural thought and behavior. Two major research organizations that provide information about cultural topics are The Barna Group and Pew Research Center. The United States Census Bureau provides information about the local or regional demographics. Using the statistics gathered from your website can produce psychographic information for use by the local organization.
- Out of the Classroom Activities: The world outside the classroom offers opportunities to present, review, or reinforce lessons presented in the classroom. Certainly organized all-day field trips or multi-day class trips provide learning opportunities outside of the classroom, opportunities abound in very limited, focused forays such as:
- Visiting local business establishment such as banks, stores, restaurants, and the like to know more about the business and the people who operate it
- Going bowling
- Touring the church building
- Picking up trash on the playground
- Weeding the flower beds of the neighboring residences
- Sidewalk chalk art
- Exploring the cemetery
- Reading a novel outdoors
- A picnic
- Possibilities are limited only by locations, time and imagination
Faith Applications:
There are tools I often are overlooked, misunderstood, or ignored that I now use to deepen my faith walk.
There are tools I often are overlooked, misunderstood, or ignored that I now use to deepen my faith walk.
- Scripture Reading: Every page of Scripture points to the gift of Grace I have been given through Jesus Christ. Daily reading of these pages refreshes and renews. Scripture not only refreshes and renews, but reminds me of how I live my life to be a proclamation of this hope.
- Memorizing Bible Stories: By memorizing the accounts of God’s people in action found in the pages of Scripture I am able to develop a method of sharing God’s message of hope and love to those around me. For example, when I faced with a challenge that seems too big to accomplish, I recall the story of David and Goliath and how a small boy armed with a sling was able to conquer a giant through the power of God working with him. When I encounter someone who is plagued with guilt over a past mistake I can remind them of the story of the Prodigal son. The stories of Scripture speak powerfully to today’s world.
- Memorizing Hymns: Hymns are the pages of the Bible set to music. When I hear the melody and am able to recall the words, I can be comforted, or offer comfort, be instructed or offer instruction. Singing hymns, alone, in the car, on long trips, is a great way for me to travel.
- Meditation: For me, meditation is being still and pondering a verse of Scripture. I find it comforting, rewarding and challenging to make this part of my day, I read a verse of Scripture and then spend a significant amount of time in quiet contemplation. I find it better if I remove all distractions from my environment such as technology, media and anything that would vie for my attention.
- Memorized Prayer: I find that memorized, routine prayers offer me times of connecting and speaking to God on a regular basis. Morning, meals and evening all provide me opportunities to speak memorized words fitting for the time and circumstances.
- Extemporaneous Prayers: Circumstances will often arise leading me to pray, for example, walking on a concrete path on a hot day offered an opportunity to ask God to send a cooling rain (He didn’t), or shade from a cloud (He didn’t), or a cooling breeze (He did).
- Prayer Requests: Asking people how I can pray for them offers an opportunity to connect with my Heavenly Father on behalf of another person. Praying for others provides opportunities to intercede in a special way.
- Pray Without Ceasing: Prayers for strength to do daily tasks, safety in travel, words to speak to neighbors, praise for a beautiful flower are all ways to pray without ceasing.