The Official Site of Andy Boucher

The authors posed the following questions and instructions at the beginning of Part 1 to "When Helping Hurts".  I've answered the questions for myself.  If anyone else would like to join me in answering and disucssing these, I'd be honored.

Instructions:  Please write short answers (one sentence each) to the following questions:

1. Why did Jesus come to earth?
2. For what specific sins(s) was Old Testament Israel sent into captitivity? Do not just say "disobedience."  Be specific.  For example: "The Israelites were constantly robbing banks."
3. What is the primary purpose of the church?
   

A few years ago (2006-7), we were challenged to revision how to teach Bible at CSCS.  In that process, I became convinced that it was not that we need a completely new and regenerate BibleDepartment, but that we need a new and regenerate view of “why Christian education”,“why Bible” and “why we emphasize Spiritual Life” (or Student Ministries as wecall it at our school). This was written as part of that "revision".

I believe that a revolution needs to happen in our perspectivesof ourselves as a school; as individuals at the school; or our students and theirparents; of our position in this city, state, nation and world; and in therealm of Christian education.

The perspective that I feel we need to have can be described ina “we should not be” perspective or in a “should be” perspective”.  I will attempt to project a positive visionof what we could be rather than a vision that appears to be reactionary to whatwe currently are.

Since we are Christian schools weneed to look at things from the perspective of Christ—the One whom we followand are equipping and empowering our students to follow.  Jesus Christ taught us to pray that God’sKingdom would come and His will would be done on this earth as it is in heaven.Our overall prayer for our Christian schools, as institutions and as bodies ofbelievers, needs to be that God’s Kingdom would come and His will would be doneon earth in our day, in each student’s life and in every class that graduatesfrom our schools.  Our prayer andambition in and through our Christian schools is that God’s Kingdom would comeand His will be done in all the policies, operations, budgets, curricula anddecisions at that our schools make so that His will would be done in our lives andin the lives of our students; and that we as individuals and an institutionwould be His instrument through which God’s Kingdom comes and His will is donein our cities, around our states, throughout the country and to the ends of theearth.

Jesus, before leaving this earthgave His followers some instructions on how to see His Kingdom come and Hiswill be done on earth as it is in heaven. He said this:

All authority and power has been given to Me and you willreceive that power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.  You are to go and be My witnesses to all theearth, beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria and ultimately tothe ends of the earth.  You are to preachthe Good News to everyone, making disciples of those who believe and baptizingthem in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to obey everything that I’vecommanded you.  And be sure of this:  I am always with you and will work with youuntil the very end of this age.                                                              A combination oftranslations

I believe that our Christianschool can play a more instrumental role in the advancing of God’s Kingdom andwill on this earth without changing many of the programs, but in rather changingperspectives and filters.  I believe thatif we filter our current policies, budgets, programs, curricula—everything—throughsuch a filter that it will truly make our school distinct in the ChristianEducation community,  in the competitivecommunity of education in the region and in the Kingdom of God.  I suggest that we say the following:

In order that the Kingdom of God may come and the will of God bedone  in our day, in this generation,both in our lives and around the world, we will make disciples of our students andempower them with spiritual programs that are age appropriate, academicallysound, and biblically consistent.  Theywill be taught by biblically spiritual men and women who are academically,relationally and culturally prepared to teach them at each level.  We will then provide complementary programsof excellent education as well as quality athletics, fine arts and training inleadership, service and ministry.  Wewill do this so that upon completion of a students time at our school, ourstudents  will be young men and women whoare skilled, empowered and prepared to continue to advance the Kingdom of Godand His will for them individually and their generation and to the ends of the earth.

1 Strengthen me, equip me for the fight—or better,pull me out of the fight (Your will be done), O Yahweh with these ill favoredhumans of violence.

Guard me and protect me—conceal me—fromthe unjust and violent oppressors.

2 They weavetogether fabricated plots of mischief, harm, and annoyance from the centre oftheir being.

Day after day they gather to engagein war

3 They sharpen theirtongues like snakes

They use their sharp words toinculcate others and deceive them like a snake

Their angry poison like a snake’sis found in their lips.

Stopand think about this.

4 Guard me around with a hedge of protection OYahweh, from the powerful hands of these actively bad people.

Protect and conceal me frombeing besieged by the violent people, who are out for unjust gain,

Those who have purposed andcontrived to overthrow and drive me away and trip me up.

5 The arrogant ones have secretly laid a snare;they have prepared to spring a trap to ruin me, a noose to tighten around me.

They have spread a net along mypath—a hook for my nose.

I pause to consider this.

6 I said to Yahweh, You are my Almighty God,

Broaden Your ear to the sound ofmy voice and my earnest prayers of entreaty, O Yahweh.

7 O Yahweh Adonai, the strength, force, andsecurity of my prosperous salvation and victory;

You have covered my head in theday of battle.

8 Do not grant, O Yahweh, the desires of thosewho are morally wrongs and wicked.

Do not let their plot succeed

Or they will l make themselvesproud and act presumptuously.

Pause for contemplation.

9 Regarding the captain of those who surround me,

Let the grievousness and toil oftheir own lips overwhelm them.

10 Let fiery hotcoals fall on them.

Let them be cast into the fire;

Into the abyss so they cantescape.

11 Don’t let one whotalks evil and slander be established and prosperous in our land.

Adversity, calamity, grief, and wretchedness will lie inwait and catch the violent and unjust oppressor and overthrown him—bringing himto ruin.

12 I have observed carefully and have seenthat Yahweh will follow the trial of those afflicted;

Of those who are depressed inmind and circumstances by need and affliction.

And the sentences that arehanded down on those who are in want and destitute.

13 Surely the man that is just, lawful, andrighteous will worship and confess thanks to Your name and renown.

Those who are just, equitable,and righteous will remain and take up habitation in Your Presence.

Matthew 6

31For this reason, you certainly do not have tohave anxious thoughts about whether you will have enough food to eat, or enoughto drink or how you will be clothed.  32(In fact it is these verythings that those who do not know God intensely crave and demand and stressover).  Your Father from heaven, who isabove and beyond this world and its concerns, sees and understands that you arein need concerning all these things! 

33 In fact,if you plot out your life so that it is your chief purpose and of the utmostimportance to you to endeavor to seek out the kingdom of God (all that is inHis realm of influence and control) and the righteousness and equity incharacter and action that comes from Him alone, then absolutely all of theneeds that you usually concern yourself with will be added to you alongside theKingdom of God and the righteousness of God. They will come alongside these things of God like fringe benefits.  34 Because of this, do not beanxious about the next day, because tomorrow will bring its own set ofanxieties.  Each day will have enoughtrouble and depravity to fill it up.

Philippians 4

12b …I have been initiated and have learned thatin all circumstances that I’m in how to have an abundant supply of food and howto be famished; how to have way more than enough to meet my needs and how to bedestitute because my supplies have fallen short.  13 I have the ability to doanything—to live in all these conditions because that strength and abilitycomes through Christ, the Anointed One who enables and empowers me byincreasing my strength! 

14 Moreover, you have done good things byco-participating and fellowshipping with me while I was burdened with theanguish of this financial pressure and affliction. 

17 I don’t say this because I’m demanding a fitfrom you, but because I’m seeking after the credit that will abundantlyincrease for your cause 18b…the gifts you sent us [were] a sweetsmelling fragrance, an approved and propitious sacrifice that is well pleasingto God. 19 Additionally,my  God—the God I serve—will use Hisinfluence to thoroughly furnish absolutely everything that your circumstancesand your business demands require based on the abundant value of His richeswhich are bestowed on us through His Son Christ Jesus—the Anointed One whosaves us.  20 May our God, ourFather, receive glory and praise in perpetuity forever!  May it be done!

Para-lation of the verse given on the way from Miami toSantiago, DR, Isaiah 54:2-4:

2 Broaden and make wide open the space andterritory of your tent—the profile of your habitat that people can clearly seefrom a distance;

Stretch forth the boundaries ofyour shepherds hut.

Do not hold anything back,

Make the ropes you tether your tent with longer;

And seize hold of the states ofyour tent, and fasten them obstinately sothey will be secure and fortified against the elements.

3 For you will burst forth and be compelled tospread out to the right and to the left (to the south and to the north);

And your children and yourposterity will occupy and posses the nations;

And they will establishthemselves in the dying and abandoned cities they find there.

4 Do not be frightened and caused to be indread, for you will not be caused to be pale with shame or with disappointmentor because of delay;

Neither will you be wounded bythe taunts and insults or confounded and bewildered by conflicting situationsand statements that are made,

Because you will not be causedto be shamed or reproached or brought into you confusion.

For you will be oblivious of the shame and confusion ofyour adolescence,

And the rude and hurtfulexpressions meant to reproach and shame you that came as the result of yourwidowhood will no longer be bookmarked in anyone’s memory or even mentioned.

1 I will stroll around for eternity as aminstrel singing songs about the beautiful kindness and good deeds that Yahwehdoes!

I will verbally observe andrecognize the firm security of Your fidelity to all generations.

2 I have attested to the fact that the beautyof Your kind deeds will continue to be built up forever;

You have erected and prosperouslyestablished the firmness and security of Your fidelity in the heavensthemselves.

3 You have said, “I have made a covenant andan alliance with the one whom I have selected.

 I have sworn (repeating it 7 times toestablish it) unto David, My bondservant:

“I will fix and prosperouslyestablish your posterity for all time and I have surely given you children tobuild up your throne for all generation.”

Stop the music and think about what I’vesaid.

5 Let the heavens above revere and worshipYour marvelous and miraculous deeds with extended hands, O Yahweh;

And the firm security of Yourfidelity as well in the assembled company of Your holy ones!

6 Who is there among the celestial bodies whocould set themselves up to compare with Yahweh?

And who from among the gods caneven be likened to Yahweh?

7 Our god is to be abundantly dreaded and tocause others to shake terribly

In the council of the heavenlyhosts

In the council of the gods

And is reverenced anddreadfully feared by those who surround Him.

8 O Yahweh, the God of all the armies of Heaven,

Who is as strong and mighty likeYou, O Yahweh?!

Your firm, secure, fidelityencircles You on every side.

 15 How blessed and highly favored is the tribethat knows His battle cry from experience, who cry out with joy for Him,

They shall walk about, O Yahweh,

And be conversant in theluminance and clarity of Your Presence.

16 Who spin around in the violent emotion ofjoy because of Your name, honor, and the reputation of Your character all day,

Who are lifted up and exalted inYour prosperous rightness, rectitude, justice, and virtue.

17 You are our glorious strength and ourhonorable force, and the majesty of our praise;

And it is Your delightful favorand good pleasure that exalts our strength and power.

18 For Yahweh is our shield and protector(Yahweh gives me a thick skin),

And the superior Eminent One ofIsrael.

19 In the past You arranged things to speakYour oracles in dreams and visions to Your saints, those who are godly,declaring and certifying:

“I have adjusted things in orderto bring aid to those who are valiant.

I have raised up and promotedthe young men from among the people.

20 I caused David to be brought forth; Ibrought forth David My bondservant;

With the richness of My consecratedoil I have anointed him,

21 In order that My powerful hand or means anddirection will be fixed on him rendering him sure and prosperous;

And My outstretched arm as wellwill confirm him and establish him with obstinate strength and courage

22 His adversaries and those who hate on himwill not torment him or treat him cruelly with taxes or by exacting dues fromhim;

Neither will those who are theproducts and builders of iniquity and perverseness unjustly look down on him,browbeat him, or try to chasten him or deal hardly with him to hurt his prideor to weaken him.

23 I will bruise and violently strike thosewho trouble him, who are opposed to him, and who try to create a place toonarrow for him to live and walk, causing them to loose their composure and tobe crushed into pieces before his eyes;

And I will trip those whopersonally hate him and who consider him to be odious and will make themstumble.

24 My firm security and the stability of Myfaithfulness and the beauty of My favor and kindness will accompany him,

And based on the authority of Myname and My reputation he shall rise and be promoted in strength and power.

There is a saying goingaround that proclaims “now more than ever”. I agree with that sign—especially in a new way after a recent lesson andchallenge in church. 

• Now more thanever leaders in Christian educationneed to be training their students for ministry.
• missions should bean imperative and integral part of the prerogative of Christian education, nowmore than ever.
• Now more thanever the Church needs Christianeducation to be functioning as a servant partner[1] to local churches thatprovides biblical not-denominational training so that our common students aresolid in the tenents of our common faith, strong in their personal faith andbelief in Jesus Christ, and well equipped and trained for their service of thelocal and global church.
• Now more thanever the church needs to rise up andbring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Over the history of the church, the population of the world hasoutstripped the growing Christian population[2].  There are more unsaved and unreached peoplein the world now more than ever in history.
• The 4.5 billion people in the world who don’t know Jesusand the 2.7 billion who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ needChristian education now more than ever to stand up and train students to advancethe Kingdom of Heaven more that than need Christian education to be aboutstandardized test score, academic rankings, comparative Christian school sizes,or state championships.
• Now more thanever Christian education needs toplay its true role in the fulfillment of the Great Commission by beginning atthe youngest ages to build a biblical mindset about evangelism, the Kingdom ofGod, and international missions.

K-12 Vision

• I have a visioninvolving the entire K-12 student body in a progressive missions emphasis program that begins withage appropriate missions, service, and outreach teaching andactivities that culminates with student voluntarily leading their own missions trips in their Junior andSenior years in high school.
• I envisionpartnerships with organizations like the Springs Rescue Mission, Camp Elim andother local ministries to progressively build a passion and habit of missionsand outreach[11]into our student body.
• I envision CSCSgraduates who consider the Great Commission as their number one calling and avocation as a vehicle by which to live out that calling.

Leadership Training Program;

• I envision amissions training track as a combined partof the Bible and Student Ministries Internship programs that specificallytrains students to think philosophically,theologically, and practically about planning missionstrips.  This track would be the capstone of ourmissions emphasis for those who desire to focus onleading missions trips and would have the emphasis on student led trips.
• In order to do so,our long term vision is to establish long-lasting domestic partnerships withwhom we can develop the concepts of missions and service that are ageappropriate as well as enduring relationships with a foreign missions programfor our fundamental missions experience as well as.  We are looking for foundational foreignprograms that:
• give our students atrue and meaningful experience working in a needy country;
• provide a safe, aswell as socially, emotionally, and spiritually challenging internationalexperience;
• provideopportunities for students to explore missions beyond high school;
• have a staff andsystem that is sympathetic to our missions training vision and our passion forstudent led-leadership;
• are desirous topartner with us and our missions vision.

[1] Philosophy of Youth Ministry in a ChristianSchool abridged, Andy Boucher, 2008, p. 5, paragraph 2.

[2]

Year Estimated Christian Population Estimated World Population Estimated Unsaved People Estimated Unreached People Groups

100 AD 1,000,000 (.0055%) 181,000,000 180,000,000

60,000

1000 AD 50,000,000 (18.5%) 270,000,000 220,000,000

50,000 (220 million never heard the Name of Jesus

1989 AD 1,700,000,000 (32.6%) 5.200,000,000 3,500,000,000

12,000

2010 AD (www.JoshuaProejct.net) 2,200,000,000 (32.8%) 6,720,000,000 4,500,000,000

6,838 (2.74 billion people haven’t heard the Name of Jesus) (40.8%)

13 Any and all people who possibly call uponor invoke the Name of the Lord will be saved and delivered [from eternaldeath].

14 In what way willthey call upon Him if they have not put their faith [in Him]?

And how is it that they will put[or entrust] their faith in Him if they’d never heard of Him?

And how is it that they shouldhear of Him except there is a herald or crier [who proclaims Him]?

And how is it that the criershould proclaim Him if the criers are not set apart and sent out on the mission[of proclaiming Him]?

15 For it has been written:

“How timely and profitable and what a beautiful sight are the feet ofhim who announces the good news of prosperous peace and who declared thearrival of good things.”

33 Aim my life, O Yahweh, that it will flowalong the course of the customs and laws you’ve enacted,

And I will guard them, maintainthem, and protect them to the end as a great reward

34 Give me the ability to distinguish andunderstand with diligence, cunning, and eloquence and I will keep Your Law byguarding it, protecting it, and maintaining it, obeying and preserving it!

It is true! I will becircumspect, and take heed to its instructions and their consequences, and obeythem with my whole heart.

 35 Pointme like an arrow in a bent bow down the beaten path of Your Divine Law.

I am pleased and delighted withthem because I am inclined to them and have a bent to favor them.

36 Stretch my heart and bend it (from the verycenter of my being) toward the record and evidence of Your Laws,

And not to seeking plunder, unjustor dishonest gain.

37 Redirect my eyes (which are the fountain ofmy thoughts) so that they may be alienated from gazing on and visually experiencinguseless and ruinous things of evil and idolatry and the skilled deceit that goeswith these vain things.

Revive and restore me to life inhow to tread Your road, and living life according to Your course, and acting asYou desire.

38 Make the things You command clearer andabiding to Your bondservant, ordain and perform these things to me so that I may exceedingly fear and revere You because of the confirmation of them!

39 Fend off and help me escape the reproach,shame, disgrace, and contumely (rude expressions intended to hurt or offend)that I dread.

40 See how I have longed for and desired Yourmandates.

Revive me and restore my life throughthe prosperity of Your rightness, rectitude, justice, and virtue.

1 When, at the beginning of all things,Elohiym selected, cut and formed, and created the heavens above and the earthbeneath out feet. 2 the earth beneath our feet was a wasted,desolate and worthless thing, an undistinguishable vacuum.  Darkness obscured its surging mass ofwater.  When it was in this condition,the Spirit of Elohiym, the unsubantiatable breath of God brooded over thiswatery void.

3 And Elohiym declared:  Light!

And illumination—bright and clear—appeared.  4 Elohiym observed Light and sawthat it met His satisfaction.  Then Heseparated the light from the darkness.  5And Elohiym addressed Light as “Day”, and the darkness He addressed as“Night”.  There was an evening and amorning and together they became the first day.

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24 And Elohiym declared: dry ground, bringforth breathing creatures of various kinds and species, strong, fresh, andalive!  Bring forth large animals—quadrupeds—likecattle and such; and reptiles and things that creep; and various breathingcreatures of the earth in their various kinds and species.  And it was so.

25 Elohiym made all the breathing things ofthe earth in their various specifies of quadrupeds, and all the various kindsof creeping things and reptiles on the earth, and Elohiym saw it all andobserved that it was all done well.

26 And Elohiym declared:

We will make human beings in ourresemblance as a representation of us. An illusion to resemble us in ourcharacter and natures.  they will havelegal power and authority over the fish of the seas and the birds that fly inthe sky above, and all the animals, and over absolutely all the earth and overabsolutely all reptiles and creeping things that swarm, glide, and crawl on theearth.

27 So Elohiym crafted and formed the humanspecies as a spirit or phantom to resemble Him and represent Him, patterningthem after Himself, Elohiym fashioned and created them.  He fashioned them as male and female.  28 And Elohiym blessed them andgave them these instructions:

Bear fruit, increase, multiplyabundantly so that your children will fill the entire earth and by doing so canconquer it.  Your rule extends over thefish of the sea and over the birds in the air, and over every breathingcreature that glides, crawls, swarms, and creeps on the earth.

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31 And Elohiym saw absolutely everything thatHe had made and observed and behold, it was wholly good—excellent in every way[NLT].  And there was sunset and sunriseand they together were the sixth day.