Poem Written by Teen: What's WRONG with Schools; What's RIGHT with Schools

I usually get several inspirational and funny stories in my email Inbox each day, but only once or twice have I actually published/posted it somewhere. Well, this is the third time. It speaks for itself. Both tragic and heroic. 

(How do kids survive in the world we've created for them?!)

 

~~ Laura-Lee

BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID who got an A+ for this entry (TOTALLY AWESOME)! Since the Pledge of Allegiance And The Lord's Prayer Are not allowed in most Public schools anymore Because the word 'God' is mentioned..... A kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer: "New Pledge of Allegiance" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd. If scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all.. In silence alone we must meditate, God's name is prohibited by the state. We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks... They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King. It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong, We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.. We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles... But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd. It's scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school's a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take! Amen If you aren't ashamed to do this, Please pass this on.. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'   WHAT IS WRONG AT HIGH SCHOOLS       Amanda Todd - bullied to death     High School Shootings:         

WHAT IS RIGHT AT HIGH SCHOOLS:

 

( even in most states they're breaking the law, students still meet to pray together and do the yearly praying at the flagpole)

 

This Era's Greatest Warriors for Jesus (are under 18)

 

 

　

　

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, ...

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

(Acts 2:17 and 21)

 

You young people are my heroes. Go forth and love and conquer in his name.

 (Romans 8:37)

 ~~ Love Laura-Lee

God Let Me Down - YUMMY!

If the Lord is the Lord of them

I joined Vancouver Christian Secondary School  (VCSS) about 6 weeks into grade 8. Prior to that my family had been living in the Maillardville district of Coquitlam, British Columbia and it looked like there was no way that I would ever be able to go to a Christian school. During the summer we had seen an advertisement in the TV Guide for Christian Schools in the Lower Mainland. We were brand new Christians, but we put our faith in Jesus to the test and my family (me, my mother and my brother) started praying in earnest that God would find a way for me to go there.

Summer came and went and the new school year started. I had to start at my neighborhood high school and it was pretty obvious that God had completely let me down. But just when it looks like all hope is lost and there is no way that God is going to come through, He answers prayer in a way we would never guess.
In our case, our sleazy landlords rented the little house we were living in right out from under us. Mom was reading the newspaper and came across a Classified advertisement that seemed rather familiar. We all took a look and recognized the home up for rent was where we were currently living! The land lords were 'upping' the rent by $300 and the move-in date for the new tenants was only 2 weeks from that moment we saw the advertisement.
 
We desperately scrambled to find a new place to live,  but very few home owners want to rent to a single mother with TWO teenagers. PLUS a dog. It looked like my little Maltese Poodle, Sweetie, might have to leave our family in order for us to find a place to live.
 I had thought God let me down just because I couldn't go to a Christian School. Then, the rug got pulled completely out from under us and I was starting to question whether or not God even liked me.
But, within 1 more week, we had a new home (much, much nicer than the one we left) and my mother had been offered a new job with a promotion and pay raise.
 
The evening of  "Move-Day" we were tired, dusty, surrounded by boxes and munching on Big Macs.  Suddenly a thought hit me and I quickly got up from my dinner and went into my bedroom.
Mom discovered me about 5 minutes later with the top half of my body deeply submerged inside a very large box. When she asked, "What are you looking for?" I popped my red face out of the box and proclaimed, "I have it!"
In my hand was a map of the city and the little advertisement from the TV Guide listing the addresses of the Christian Schools. As my mother and brother joined me looking at the map, which was spread out on a kitchen counter I said, "I was just wondering if we are any nearer to a Christian School".
I discovered that we now lived only 1 mile away from Vancouver Christian Secondary School and since my mother had gotten a pay raise, we were able to afford the tuition.
That was the first of many times that I have eaten the words, " God let me down."

It says in the Bible, "But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:31-32)

Even when I was angry and hurling accusations at Him, Jesus was working out a surprise for me. I spent all the remaining days of high school at "Vancouver Christian Secondary School" which I graduated from in 1985.

In grade 12, about 3 weeks before we graduated, my class started a discussion about the first day I came to school. All those who had been attending the school when I first arrived remembered it (maybe because it also happened to be the day of a field trip). It was very interesting to hear what every one's opinion of me was on that first day. What I remember most about it was how terrified I was. I don't think anyone even knew how scared I was or how much they intimidated me. But as I sat there in grade 12, preparing to  go out into the "real" world and hearing the views of what kind of person I had become, I knew it was greatly because of those who were surrounding me at that moment.

My Science teacher, Mr. Van Oosten, wrote in my last year book, "Blossom wherever you are planted". I've tried to do that, but I know I couldn't have even attempted it unless I had been accepted and loved throughout my high school years. The faith and strength of purpose I had was given to me by the other members of VCSS who had started as friends and somewhere through the years had became family.  
On this Thanksgiving, I remember them with gratitude.

Thanks to all of you for creating a 5 year oasis that allowed me to rest and grow into who I was mean to be. You did it without judgement and by demonstrating Jesus' love to me EVERY day.  You are the "Blessings" I count.

Love Always, Laura-Lee   (Thanksgiving, 2012, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

F.Y.I.: We didn't have to give up Sweetie, either. She lived with us to a ripe old age.

VCSS ALUMNI Twitter Page

Thanks to the Dads I Never Had

So many of you I met when you were only 13 years old when you first came to VCSS.  I still hold most of you in my imagination as you were when you were those young teenagers. But when I meet you all over the Internet, at sites like Facebook, I see photo after photo of all your children. But it puzzles me because I keep thinking, "You can't be a father of a 16 year old boy, you're only 13 years old yourself ?!"  Back in the "olden" days, when we attended high school, I saw the genesis of what kind of men and fathers you would become. And now as I look at you as you are are now, I know one thing very surely, you are a bunch of really proud Papas!

 As many of you know, all the years I attended VCSS I was one of the very few families that didn't have a Dad at home because my parents had divorced. In the 5 years I attended Vancouver Christian Secondary School  I never once set eyes on my father. I mailed him an invitation to my graduation but he never came. He didn't acknowledged my invitation or accomplishment with a phone call, a letter or even a card. Because of the type of person my fathers was, I spent my years with you always watching your fathers closely. I often heard you talk about your fathers, but mostly I heard you complain about them ("My Dad always wants to know where I am and where I'm going!"). The things you had to "endure" from your fathers were the things I longed for. A father who cared where I was, wondered what I did, asked about my grades at school, or interrogated the boys I was dating. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not stating , "Oh, poor me. I didn't have father", because it was just that fact that brought me to my Heavenly Father.  But this Fathers Day, as you look to your own kids who will probably honor you with gifts, phone calls and maybe a few compliments, may I ask you for a favour?  Look to your own memories of your young days, think of your fathers who made you the people and Dads you are now, and (if you are still fortunate enough to have your father around) give them a "thanks Dad" from you. And maybe say it with a little extra 'gusto' from me, who watched your fathers love you and felt the awe and privilege of  being able to see it. Watching them brought me deeper understanding of what it meant to be loved by my Heavenly Father.

"Jesus, bless all the Dads who love their children enough to pass on God's love through demonstrating it and then bowing out so God can increase while they decrease. Amen."

Happy Fathers Day, my friends.
Love Laura-Lee

"The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."  (JOHN 3:29-30)

Here is a video I made last year for my family. It ended up quite good and I thought I would spread it around to a wider group of people that I love this year: all my friends in cyberspace!  And if you think someone else might like it who hasn't seen it yet (I don't even have the email address for everyone who appears in the video) please forward it to anyone you wish.
Merry Christmas  and "Bless You All" my former classmates and extended family members.
"Friends are friends forever , if the Lord is the Lord of them."
Love Laura-Lee