TIPPS » Leadership

City On A Hill

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:54:00 +0000

It was early Monday morning and I was having one of those days already. I was tired from staying up late; fighting a cold and school was the last place I wanted to be. I could sense that I was being short and not too friendly to anyone, but I did not really care I was just in one of those moods. I was patrolling the hallways moving students along to class when I kept noticing signs hanging the number 514. I did not really think about it, our hallways have things hanging all over. Finally while exiting the second floor there was that sign again I was walking right towards it and could not help but read it. It was a sign for a new bible club in our school. It was called Club 514. The 514 was in reference to Matthew 5:14 which reads, “ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
Wow! How I needed to be reminded of that. It is easy sometimes to forget that as a follower of Christ we are to carry ourselves a certain way. As Christians we are like that city on a hill, everything we do is seen and magnified at times. My entire drive to school I keep telling myself I was going to hid out and keep to myself, but God makes our plans. His plans for this day were for me to venture out of my office and see that sign!

Blog written by Justin Aaron Foster

Heroes for Today

admin — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:39:00 +0000

I see heroes as people that devote their entire lives to helping other people. I see heroes as people who overcome insurmountable odds to inspire others to do the same. I see heroes as people who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to save another. True heroes are missing in today’s youth culture and schools. Whether you are a teacher, parent, or student, the Dr. Ben Carson story is an inspiring story of how a young man overcame the pressures of gangs and boyhood, to become one of America’s greatest doctors. Take time today to watch this inspiring video with your children and students. Plus, Dr. Carson is a strong man of the faith, and he is a great role model to inspire students to do their best in school. This video is perfectly safe to show in your classroom or to students to motivate them to achieve and succeed.

God can use the story of “Gifted Hands,” the Ben Carson story to change the lives of young people.

God Bless,

Bill

Mission Possible

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:10:00 +0000

So many times it seems that it is mission impossible leading someone to Christ; however, this summer I had the opportunity to lead over 50 people to Christ in a four day span. For me, leading someone to Christ became Mission Possible. This summer I experienced one of the most life changing events in my entire life. I went with a group of teens from my church on a missions to trip to South America. This trip to Ecuador was an evangelistic trip; one where we went door to door sharing the gospel and telling others about Christ. WE used a tool called the evangecube to share the plan of salvation. My team led 190 people to Christ in a week’s time and we trained the nationals how to share their faith with their neighbors. As a principal in a public school, I believe that a missions trip to a foreign land is one of the best lessons that your child can ever learn. Check out these photos of our team sharing the Gospel with the people of Ecuador. The group of teen boys standing together all accepted Christ after we shared Godl’s life changing, liberating message with them.

Exercising Respect

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:47:00 +0000

I truly wish I could be surprised by that fact that I just finished reading a news report detailing how a 51 year old woman was beaten to death by two teens for an X Box game system. I wish I could say that I just can’t imagine how two people one 14 years old and the other 15 could do this but I honestly am not surprised. I don’t know these young males personally, that is not why I am not surprised but I do know teen culture and having worked with teens for almost 13 years now has led me to where I am with my feelings. I see teens daily in my role as a public high school official who have no idea what it means to show respect for others. Now some may say the lack of respect for human life the two teens showed in the X Box beating is a long way from say showing disrespect by cursing out ones parents or teachers but I beg to differ, it is not that far off.
Having respect for others is a way of life, in the same way say exercising is. Some people exercise five times a week others maybe just once. We all must whether we are Christian or any other faith exercise respect for others daily. It is critical for the health of a society. More and more of our young people are just not exercising that respect. Parents, teachers, and any others who have vested interests in the young people around us must demand that respect be shown at all times. It can be a battle but one I am always ready to fight.

Just like working out once a week is not going to do very much for our bodies, showing or exercising respect just when it suits our needs is not going to do anybody any good.

Posted by Justin Aaron Foster
The Dean’s Corner