Thought for the Month - August 2007

Ding-bats and Wallys! - By Pastor Ian Wilson

We have just passed the season of the year for school exams and teachers' school reports. Teachers must be careful as to how they describe their pupils and the language used must be very politically correct.

One school has recently been very embarrassed it is the Howard School for boys, in Rainham Kent. A confidential report was found lying in a street. Incidentally the booklet carried a specific message on its front page “Do not leave lying around". It included the full names of children, plus notes on educational progression, any learning difficulties, socialising between pupils and parental issues.

It was very careless of the school but even worse was some of the terms used to describe pupils. It referred to one boy as a "ding bat" who was "away with the fairies", and another as being a "bit of a wally". One entry also said a particular boy's mother was "quite rough".

The Howard School said, "We very much regret that a highly-confidential document about our students has got into the public domain. The school also said it regretted the incident and was reviewing procedures.

I am sure this is highly embarrassing and yet it highlights an important issue. We are often quick to write people off as being of no value. We can quickly give labels to people and make them feel wholly inadequate and that they are of no value to society.

The word of God doesn’t label people in this way. There are only two distinctions in society as pointed out in the following scripture.

1 Cor 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God"

When we think of those who are saved there are no write offs. God delights to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Notice from the following verse how Peter and John are described.

Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus"

Paul in his writings points out those who God is most likely to use.

1 Cor 1:27 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty"

If you give your life to Jesus, no mater how insignifant you feel you are, God can use you.

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!