The Banner of Christ Newsletter

“Standing up for the truth is one way to demonstrate the greatness of Courage and perseverance.”  DEM

Courtesy by Mrs. McCain
Courtesy by Ms. Marian Schwartz

LEARNING AND FOCUS
By Dr. McCain

One of the key ingredients to learning involves paying attention and learning to focus.  I am reminded of a photo which was taken during our recent Black Belt Camp. The students seated in the picture are listening intently, to their guest instructor, Master Brad Whitlow.  Their desire to learn and their focus on the subject matter, mingled with the knowledge of the teacher are key factors in their taking home knowledge which could change their lives.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, taught this important principle when he wrote, "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;" (Proverbs 2:2). 

To incline your hear teaches a constant desire to learn, a turning of your head toward wisdom and truth, but it carries the important emphasis of an intention to learn.  To apply your heart to understanding indicates a desire to learn more (a realization that we need to know more).  It strongly infers a teachable spirit and a desire to receive knowledge and wisdom from others.

The Apostle James said,  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).

This reference also implies that we the one who is asking for wisdom, actually sees the necessity for wisdom in his life.  James also tells us the true source of wisdom, the Lord Himself.  We need wisdom to speak, wisdom to act, and wisdom to discern the intentions of life.   PAY ATTENTION to your parents, your true friends, your teachers and educators, and your instructors at Taekwondo.

LEARN all you can, at every opportunity.  ACT based upon the truth and wisdom that you have gleaned from others.  Remember, always apply the Scripture to the situations of life.  If your decision is in harmony with the Word of God, move ahead by faith.  LISTEN to the truth at every opportunity.  Never stop learning.  LISTEN, PAY ATTENTION, LEARN ALL YOU CAN and ACT ON THE TRUTH

Kid’s Corner: Courtesy By Mrs. Barbara McCain

Another one of the tenets of Taekwondo that we repeat every class is COURTESY. Let’s think about what it really means.

The dictionary says that COURTESY is politeness of manners combined with kindness shown in behavior toward others, an act of respect, or a favor. Wow, does that mean that COURTESY is more than just saying “Please” and “Thank you,” and tapping our gloves just before sparring? It most certainly does! COURTESY should be an important part of a Christian’s lifestyle.

COURTESY reminds us of Jesus. You could not imagine the boy Jesus pushing someone out of line at the village well, or knocking His mother, Mary, over in a rush to get through the doorway first, or taking the last piece of fish from the platter on the table without asking if anyone else would like to share! No, of course not! Jesus would have helped the lame little boy that lived down the road to the well and when it was their turn, drawn the water for him, carried it to his house and then gone back to wait His own turn. He would have held the door open for His mother as He smiled happily at her. He would have cut the fish in pieces to share with His family. All those acts would have shown Jesus’ courtesy. They would have shown His character. They would have shown His heart.

What do we think when we see a pushy child or one who is rude to his mother or who always wants his way? We don’t think very highly of his training or his character. In Taekwondo, we learn many lessons in COURTESY that will help us in our life. We take our shoes off before entering the dojang. This shows respect for what is going to happen in class. We don’t track the dirt from our shoes onto the clean floor or carpet. We remind ourselves that we are coming into a special place. If we are late to class, we politely wait at the sidelines until the instructor recognizes us and calls us in. When our instructor talks to us, we say “Yes, Sir” or “Yes, Ma’am.” When we line up in order of rank, we show respect and courtesy to our fellow students in class. All these are examples of COURTESY that we learn in Taekwondo.

But have you also thought of the other examples? When someone is having a hard time learning, we do not laugh or make fun. We kindly try to help them or encourage them with our friendship. When we are sparring with a lower rank student, we don’t try to show off all our moves, but kindly do the moves at their rank and encourage them. When someone slips and falls, we do them the favor of helping them up. All these are acts of COURTESY. When we have done them in our Taekwondo class, we can leave the dojo feeling a happiness in our heart and a freedom from feeling guilty.

But COURTESY does not stop when we walk out of the door of the Taekwondo school The way we are learning to act there should help us to show courtesy in our homes, respect to our parents, kindness to our friends and a heart to do what is right and proper. It also should remind us of how Jesus wants us to act. He does not want us to bring the dirt of sin into our lives. Just like we leave our shoes at the entry of the school, we should ask God to cleanse us from our sins before we enter each day. Each morning, we are coming into a special day that God has prepared for us and we want to do it with respect for His plan for our lives. God’s Word tells us to honor one another, even to prefer one another, or put other people first. (Romans 12:10) It is one of the ways to show the love of God in our hearts. God promises to bless us if we show respect to our parents. (Ephesians 6:1) The Word of God tells us to “be courteous.” (I Peter 3:8) It also tells us to show grace to one another in the way we speak with our mouths as well as our acts of kindness. (Colossians 4:6)

That reminds us that COURTESY is a reminder of God’s grace to us. God’s grace shows His great love for us and His tremendous amazing kindness in sending the Lord Jesus to die for our sins. God is always courteous to us, even waiting outside the door of our heart until we invite Him in. God’s grace helps us to act like we should and to be the person that others will respect.

Are you showing COURTESY to God in your life? Do you respect Him and His Word. Do you act politely when you are in church? Do you quietly wait for Him to speak to you in your heart when you are praying? Have you invited Him to come into your heart and life?

COURTESY is an important tenet of Taekwondo, and it is also an important lesson for our lives!
 

Courtesy and Being a Servant by Ms. Schwartz

We live in an age and culture in which we have been conditioned to expect that it is incumbent upon immediate surroundings to instantly grant whatever it is our whim desires at the moment.

Our sense of individual self-importance has been so promoted that we almost see the rest of the world as a mere appendage to our own existence. That we might have to wait, or take second place, or have some other difficulty in dealing with others fills us with indignation.

Courtesy has been called a pre-disposition to subject oneself to small sacrifices for the benefit, encouragement, edification and elevation of others. Consider how little it costs to wait a few seconds to allow another to go ahead of you at the intersection, or to be patient because another is having some difficulty understanding a transaction at the bank, or to allow another his mistakes, knowing that we have made and will make our own mistakes.

As young students advance in taekwondo and proudly, and rightly so, display the marks of their achievements on their belts, it is not uncommon to begin to see "Stripe Wars" as the class lines up for bow-in. Observe the 7-year-old yellow belts jostling each other in the third row, brandishing the stripe-end of their belts in growing heat of insisting upon the privileges of rank.

We smile at their administration of the letter of the law. They are not wrong to feel pride in their accomplishments. In fact we all celebrate their progress. Nor are they in error in wanting to line up in order. Where we would like to see is a different response in their consideration of one another. The one who cheerfully gives up his place, no matter what his rank, is the one who receives our congratulations for demonstrating courtesy.

Consider this description of One who is worthy to be accorded all honor:

...Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn form the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (italics mine). Colossians 1:15-18.

The obvious claim Jesus has to rank and privilege is inscrutably countered with the following description:

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:44,45

As we consider all that we have because of Christ, and even the stature we may have in the eyes of our peers, let us all the more exhibit Christ’s humility and servanthood, and extend the service of courtesy to others.

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