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Made To Count-Thanksgiving Message

by:Bob Reccord 

Challenges, discouragements and difficulties are equal opportunity aspects of all of our lives. They make no discrimination as to who they attack or whose life they attempt to undermine. They are something we all wish we could avoid at all costs, but which seem too often come with significant “costs” to our lives…and usually at the most inconvenient of times. And often they involve people…people with whom we live, work, are related to or with whom we share a meaningful shared experience (like church, a ministry, or a social club/organization). People can disappoint us, betray us, undermine us, or abandon us and we can’t simply take the posture of “the more I know people, the more I love my dog!”

You’ve probably been there before. I know I have…and not too long ago. And that’s when you really find out who your friends really are. As one modern leader in the midst of heart ache declared, “You don’t know who you friends are when you are on top of the world. You know who they really are when the world is on top of you.”

A while back when going through a very trying time, watching people too often distance themselves, I found myself in a particularly lonely place. It was then that a friend who I had known for years stepped to the forefront and stepped up in a huge way for me. When I asked him what motivated him to do it, I’ll never forget his answer: “Bob, a friend is someone who, when every one else is walking out, walks in…pull up a chair and says How are we going to get through this…together?”

So who is a friend like that to you? Just as importantly, are you a friend like that?

by:Bob Reccord

For too many years I spent way too many hours per day, week and month working and meeting goals and tasks that were often self imposed, or at worst, other-generated. There seemed to be too much job at the end of most days. Most of my married life I failed to take all of the vacation available to me in any given year…a fact I do not see as a bragging point in retrospect.

But I’m finally starting to get my act a bit better in order…better late than never, right?! I just got back from going turkey hunting with a great friend where we spent 2 days hunting together and never got a shot. But we had a great time together. We laughed…shared…prayed…enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation…felt the warmth of the sun on our face…watched nature wake up…and fell into our beds absolutely exhausted at night. It was great!!! So why have I missed it for so many years?

Because I forgot a simple truth that Jesus taught his disciples where He took them “apart” to Caesarea Philippi, ( a resort of that day) from the hectic schedule of demands of their ministry. To quote Vance Havner of years ago, “Be sure you take time to come apart, or you will come apart.”

Why do so many of us run to the edge of coming apart? Maybe because we take the job’s demands, people’s expectations, crammed schedules, and our own passion to “make a difference” too seriously…and our balance, relaxation, and pacing not near seriously enough.

So do you need to do some readjusting?

By: Eric Buehrer, president, Gateways to Better Education

For years, a secular mindset among educators and school officials has pushed legitimate education about the Bible and Christianity off to an ever-shrinking portion of a public school student’s life. The bias against appropriately teaching about this aspect of history and culture comes largely from educators who either think it’s not legally allowed or that, even if allowed, it’s not proper or culturally sensitive to do so. This bias is often most apparent during the holiday season. However, teaching students about Judeo-Christian history, thought and values is important and legitimate for our public schools.

Academically expected

A quick look at state academic standards from around the country reveals a number of ways state officials not only encourage educators to teach about the Bible and Christian thought, they expect it. Here are a few examples:

• In California, sixth-grade students are to “Note origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament, and the contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the definition and spread of Christian beliefs (e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation).”
• In Colorado, educators are instructed by state school officials that “Because religion plays a significant role in history and society, study about religion is essential to understanding both the nation and the world. Omission of facts about religion can give students the false impression that the religious life of humankind is insignificant or unimportant.”
• In Texas, students are to “explain the significance of religious holidays and observances such as Christmas and Easter, Ramadan, and Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah in selected contemporary societies.”
• In Massachusetts, seventh grade students are to “Describe the origins of Christianity and its central features. A. monotheism; B. the belief in Jesus as the Messiah and God’s son who redeemed humans from sin; C. the concept of salvation; D. belief in the Old and New Testament; E. the lives and teachings of Jesus and Saint Paul.”

Even the National Education Association agrees. The union’s 2000-2001 resolution E-7 states: “The National Education Association believes that educational materials should accurately portray the influence of religion in our nation and throughout the world.”

Legally supported

In the Supreme Court case of Abington School District v. Schempp, Justice Clark, writing the majority opinion stated: “It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.”

It is common for public schools to forbid or discourage the singing of religious Christmas carols. However, this may come As a surprise to the Supreme Court. In the case of Lynch v. Donnelly, involving the public display of a nativity scene, the justices commented that during Christmas, “people are taking note of the season with Christmas hymns and carols in public schools.” The Court assumed school children were singing religious Christmas carols! In the Federal court case of Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, the ACLU was twice defeated in its attempt to have the school district’s policy on recognizing holidays declared unconstitutional.

Teaching students about Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving offers a wonderful opportunity to teach important topics thematically. The approaching holiday can be used to teach a character education unit on gratitude. It can be used to teach a cultural lesson on America’s Judeo-Christian culture. Or it can be used to teach a civics lesson on the President.

Here are some classroom activities for all grades that teach about the annual Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Print and share with the students a copy of last year’s Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation Each year, the President issues a proclamation just a few days before the holiday (which makes it a bit difficult to use the current proclamation unless your lesson is the day before Thanksgiving!).

To read previous Presidents’ Thanksgiving Proclamations, visit Gateways for Better Education

Use the ideas below in age- and grade- appropriate ways:

1. Show a picture of President George W. Bush and talk about what a President does.
2. Ask students why the President issues a Thanksgiving Proclamation each year. Suggested answer: It’s been a tradition since the founding of our country for Presidents to ask Americans to join him in thanking God for the blessings we have received as a nation in the previous 12 months.
3. Vocabulary Race. Divide students into groups of equal size. Have each group make a list of vocabulary words from the Proclamation and exchange the list with another group. The lists of words should be equal to two words per student in the group. At a signal from the teacher, each group works as a team to find and write the appropriate definitions of the words. The first group finished is the winner. The group must read aloud its definitions to prove they are correct.
4. Read the closing paragraphs of the Proclamation to the class and ask students to list the things the President asked Americans to do on Thanksgiving Day.
5. Ask students to write a paragraph about how they each can do the things the President asked them to do.
6. In small groups, have students create a “found poem.” Have students read the document and underline phrases (not sentences) they think are most important. Each student then chooses only two phrases as the most important and writes each phrase on a separate strip of paper. The group then arranges the strips of paper to create a free-verse poem. Have a spokesperson for the group read the poem to the class.
7. We often speak of “owing” someone a debt of gratitude. Have students list things they have for which they are thankful (categories could be possessions, experiences, special events, opportunities given) and to whom they can be thankful for providing them
8. Teach students the social skill of expressing gratitude. Have the class create a hypothetical situation in which one person gives a thing or an opportunity to another person. As a class, discuss and list three or four steps to showing gratitude. For example: 1) face the person, 2) look the person in the eye, 3) say “Thank you,” 4) continue by saying “I appreciate that you ____________” and explain why you are grateful.
9. The Roman lawyer Cicero once wrote, “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, it is the parent of all other virtues.” Conduct a class discussion with students about what they think he meant. Have them brainstorm a list of virtues as you write them on the board. Why is gratitude the basis for those virtues? Can they give examples?

Educators have an obligation to teach the truth. They need not and should not draw the drapes and close the blinds and pretend that right outside their schools the American people are celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays. It is both legitimate and desirable to teach public school students about Judeo-Christian history, thought and values – and the holiday season offers many opportunities to teach this aspect of American culture.

by: Cheryl Reccord

Over 35 years ago, I met Bob Reccord. I have watched him to be a leader of vision, courage, and charisma, and I have had the rare privilege of walking alongside him to watch as he has placed his relationship with the Lord above all else striving to give himself in total surrender to his Lord-while loving his family with complete abandon.

When we began our relationship at IU, one of my sorority sisters commented about Bob, “There are lots of guys you can date; but Bob is the kind you marry, because you KNOW that you can trust your life to him.”

I found her words to be true. I have watched my husband in the best of times, and in the worst of times. He has not wavered. I’ve been blessed to have a husband who always does the right thing; the unselfish thing; taking that action that benefits and lifts up those around him rather than thinking primarily of himself. He walks with the type of commitment and integrity that continue to fill me both awe and the certain knowledge that our Lord is pleased. He is my spiritual leader, my confidant, my lover, and my best friend..

by: Bob Reccord

• Am I doing enough to make you feel adequate in our relationship and assuring you that I see you that way?
• I know it’s important for you to feel honored and affirmed. Do I make you feel that way, and what can I do to improve?
• Do I express my appreciation and admiration for who you are and all that you do?
• How can I help you best succeed at your work as you provide for the needs of our family?
• Do you feel that I know and understand what your greatest dreams are for the future?
• Do I make it easy or difficult for you to be the leader of our home? What could I do better to support your leadership in our family?
• Am I doing anything that would ever lead you to be tempted to compromise in any area? If so, what could I do to change?

by: Bob Reccord

• Do you know that I truly love you, and do I make it obvious? If not, what can I do to improve that?
• Do you feel that I express my love to you enough in front of the children so there’s no question in their mind of my love for you? I not, how can I improve that?
• Am I treating you as the most important person on earth to me? What could increase that feeling in you?
• I promised to cherish you. Do you feel that way and what could I do to strengthen that?
• What is your greatest concern about our family, and have you felt free to express it to me? I you’ve expressed it, have I listened?
• Do you feel that I’m helping you fulfill your God-given potential? How can I improve that?
• Am I doing anything that would ever lead you to be tempted to compromise in any area? If so, what could I do to change?
• Would you tell me your most significant dreams about the future?

In a 2005 article, by British psychologist David Lewis reports that shopping is hazardous to men’s health. He tested volunteers (22-79 years old) by sending them out Christmas shopping. He recorded blood pressure rates that “you’d expect to see in a fighter pilot going into combat.” According to this same test, only one in four women showed any significant signs of stress from shopping - just one of many gender differences in America today.

The question has been posed: “What would have happened if there had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?” The answer: They would have asked directions immediately upon commencing their trip, which would have allowed them to arrive on time; they would have helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought cute little outfits that baby Jesus could have worn on his trip home.

Those who attended Amazing Grace Adoptions Annual Fundraising Banquet on October 26, 2006 were blessed to hear the powerful testimony of Dr. Bob Reccord. Bob Reccord’s testimony affirmed God’s beautiful plan of adoption. He Dr. Reccord challenged each attendee to trust God in their giving to support the ministry of placing children in Christian families.

This years giving exceeded any previous year©to God be the glory! One couple in attendance stated that they were loved this years banquet speaker and were so happy to see Bob Reccord’s excitement as he delivered his testimony.

Donnas Kinton, Director of Amazing Grace Adoption Ministries, Raleigh NC

Bob Reccord was our keynote speaker for this year’s fundraising banquet.

He has a unique ability to speak directly to the issue that we’re all about–not just around the issue. That’s a hard thing to do. After the event, we only heard positive comments from those in attendance. God used Bob Reccord’s message coupled with our program to provide an overwhelming response both financially and through other support for our center. We highly recommend Bob Reccord.

Michelle Osborne, Director LaGrange (GA) Pregnancy Resource Center