Why?
“Why O Lord do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1 ESV
“O Lord, you will strengthen their heart…so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.” Psalm 10:17+18
Our nation witnessed another horrible shooting spree in a school. Those few minutes changed the course of hundreds of lives effected by the actions of a clearly disturbed young man. Why didn’t law enforcement act on the signs so evident to many? Why would a boy who was expelled from a school for threatening behavior be allowed to buy an assault rifle? Why did God permit this evil to inflict such widespread pain? When something horrible goes wrong, we like to figure out the “Why?” King David was among those who often asked “Why?”
Now politicians, law enforcement authorities, psychologists and myriads of other experts will weigh in on how to fix this. While these efforts may be noble and even necessary, it really does not get to the heart of what really occurred that day. It is the result of a broken and imperfect world blanketed in sin.
While we all pray that this type of evil never happens in our school, there is no way that we can avoid the consequences of sin. Gossip, lying, jealousy, and pride yield chaos in our lives. The only way to fix this is through the sinless sacrifice made on the cross by Our loving Father. The real “Why?” is not why does evil exist? Rather the real question is why would God let His only Son die on the Cross for us?
An ex-Muslim friend of mine, Tarek, told me once that when he learned that God willingly gave up His Son, so that by faith, Tarek could gain heaven; he wanted to be a part of that kind of love. His baptism sealed the fact that he could never return to Saudi Arabia where he would face death for leaving Islam. For some, faith truly can cost them much. And this is growing increasingly true in our country today.
Never take for granted the love that God has for you through His Son, Jesus Christ. Daily renew your Baptismal promise that God has planted that saving faith in you. And while the chaos from sin runs rampant all around you, look for ways to share the only solution to the human dilemma of original sin - Jesus Christ.
God’s peace,
Mike
Discussion Questions:
- Why are humans prone to figuring out why bad things happen?
- When did you experience something good that came out of a tragedy
- How might you share the hope of eternal life with someone who does not yet believe in Jesus?
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Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with the community.
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CONFERENCES - MEETINGS - EVENTS
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Focus on Crisis Management Plans. The next Early Childhood meetings will be held in April. They will focus on how Center’s can create and implement Crisis Plans.
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How is Your Crisis Plan? Check Out This FREE School Safety Conference
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A free school safety conference will be held Wednesday, April 18 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bristol Palace, 828 E. Rand Road, Mount Prospect.
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Important Date Change - Fall Teachers' Conference
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CUC has notified us that their Fall break has changed. PLEASE NOTE the “Save the Date” change FROM October 12 TO October 19 as the new date for the 2018 NID Teachers Conference.
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If you are working on or have already presented a draft for next year’s calendar, please make sure the date gets changed to October 19. You may also find updated information at
nidlcms.org/2018-teachers-conference.
Call for Proposals
The Northern Illinois District 2018 Teachers' Conference Committee is seeking presenters for its October 19, 2018 Conference, to be held at Concordia University Chicago, in collaboration with LEA.
The hope is to gather outstanding presenters to cover many content and skill areas that span grade levels (Early Childhood through 8th grade), special education, administration, personal growth and development, athletics, theater, music, admissions, and other areas of professional growth. If you would like to provide our attendees with a wonderful opportunity for growth, inspiration, and professional development by leading a 45 minute sectional, please click on the
google document link to find out more details regarding sectional times, stipend and other benefits and to fill out an application.
All submissions are due by February 28, 2018. You will hear if your application has been accepted by April 20, 2018. If you have any questions regarding presenting, please contact Katrina Kloess at
kkloess@tlcs.org. If you have questions about the conference itself, please contact Julie Klopke at
jklopke@fulllifeinchrist.org.
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2017-18 NLSA Powerful Practice Webinars
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All live National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) Powerful Practice webinars are held at 4 p.m. CST and are later archived on the
LCMS School Ministry YouTube page
for on-demand viewing.
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Additionally, previous NLSA webinars are available as a resource and are made available through the same School Ministry YouTube page at
www.luthed.org.
Looking ahead: February 27, 2018, Gifted, Talented and Enrichment Program, Concordia Lutheran School, San Antonio, Texas.
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Combine Writing Skills AND Life Issues
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Download the 2018 Lutherans for Life essay contest protocols around the theme “From Age to Age the Same.”
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A great way to help Lutheran school students learn how to articulate their faith on life matters. Essays and the Teacher/Pastor information should be submitted digitally using Microsoft Word to
lakamps@gmail.com by March 15, 2018. All entries become the property of Lutherans For Life.
Print information and rules.
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Empower Illinois Scholarship Applications Opened February 27
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The launch for student applications for SGO scholarship assistance opened Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Follow the Empower Illinois website for real time updates at
EmpowerIllinois.org
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Where Will Our Next Leaders Come From?
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Planning Ahead
St. John Lutheran School, Lombard, will be hosting a MAP refresher course in early August. All NID schools are invited to attend, at a cost, to come and be trained on all the new material. Watch for details. For information, email
Aaron Landgrave.
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What People Are Reading
- The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon: 10 Rules to fuel your life, work, and team with Positive Energy.
- Super Hero Educator by Dr. Steve Gerner. How to teach with superior skills and success.
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Check Out these Grants from the Memmic Foundation
Grant #1: Meemic Foundation Traditional Grant
Grant #2: Meemic Masterpieces Art Contest & Grant
- Art work themes: Kindness to Others, Diversity, or Anti-Bullying
- Winning students receive a Chromebook
- Nominating teacher receives $300 to spend at Quill.com for supplies
- Deadline: 03/31/2018
- www.Jannusik.com/Masterpieces
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School Support Fund Invoice
Please consider contributing at least $1 per student for the NID School Support fund. This helps offset the many services which cost the district but are provided free or greatly reduced to schools. Some have asked for an invoice to provide for accounting purposes.
Print invoice if needed for accounting purposes.
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Ready for a New Call? Or Looking for a New Teacher?
If you have wondered if God may have another ministry place in store for you, then first get in the Word and seek His will. But also remember to update your Commissioned Minister Information Form (CMIF).
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Lutheran Ethos Training for Non-Rostered Teachers?
The decrease in Synodically trained teachers has led some schools to hire non-Rostered teachers. Often these teachers have varied understandings of the ethos of a Lutheran school classroom. If those teachers are Lutheran we hope they consider Colloquy.
But sometimes the teachers are not Lutheran. This leads to the need for a different type of support for them. Concordia Seward has recently begun a training for non-Lutherans who are teaching in a Lutheran school.
Print flyer
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Report Staff Retirements Here
To report any staff retirements occurring at the end of the 2017-18 school year email Lois at
lois.stewart@nidlcms.org. Please let us know if you would prefer we not publish any names.
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Church Workers:
Update Your Contact Information Online
. All rostered and non-rostered church workers are asked to please update their NID contact information when there is a change of email, address, phone, etc., or if new in the district.
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LCMS Northern Illinois District
2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162
Phone 888-708-LCMS
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Wish to stop receiving the School Newsletter? WAIT!
Don't unsubscribe below!
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