Life in the trenches

Posted on April 24, 2012 by timfruth

After spending one of the more incredible weekends of my life at Jeff and Amy Cerar’s wedding, it was back to work. As I left New York and flew into Detroit on Monday, I received word that a student here in Whiteriver had been murdered along with her grandmother who she lived with. Truly a first for me in my 31 years in public education. So what a way to start back at it today. This horrific crime occurred about a half mile from where I live. Supposedly it happened sometime early Monday morning. Rumors run rampant as the FBI and BIA work the case. It is very unsettling to see the big black vehicles and the crime scene tape just a short distance away. Very tragic and troubling as they have yet to announce any arrest.

For the latest info on the incident: http://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/bia-investigating-double-murder-in-canyon-day-victims-identified/article_4de42c62-8d7e-11e1-b4f4-0019bb2963f4.html

I am just sort of numb to the violence and the tragedies that occur. Sometimes you just want to give up but you find another way to keep on going. I often think, “what next?” or “how much more tragedy can I personally endure?” I then try to dwell on the positive which is the many kids I work with that are such great kids who inspire me to continue. So my heart and prayers go out to the family impacted by this senseless tragedy. I also pray for God to give me the strength to give my all yet another day.

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Sunday’s Comin’: An Easter Message

Posted on April 8, 2012 by timfruth

Today, Donovan challenged us about what are we personally going to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Answering that question should be our top priority. So with that challenge I’m going to tell you a story from one of my favorite authors, Tony Compolo. He  wrote a book titled, You Can Make A Difference. It is one of my favorites about young Christians making a difference in the world that we live in. If you have not read it, do, it is a classic. Anyhow he has a great story in the book about preaching a Good Friday message with six other ministers in an African American church. I am copying that story to share with you a classic fun Easter story. So from his book, here goes.

One Good Friday there were seven of us preaching back to back, each us trying to outdo the others. When it was my time to preach, I rolled into high gear, and I want to tell you, I was good. The more I preached, the more the people in that congregation “turned on,” and the more they “turned on,” the better I got. I got better and better and better. I got so good that I wanted to take notes on me! At the end of my message, the congregation broke loose. I was absolutely thrilled to hear the hallelujahs and the cries of joy that broke loose throughout the place. I sat down next to my pastor and he looked at me with a smile. He reached down with his hand and squeezed my knee. “You did all right, boy! he said.

I turned to him and asked, “Pastor, are you going to be able to top that?”

The old man smiled at me and he said, “Son you just sit back, ’cause this old man is going to do you in!”

I didn’t figure that anybody could surpass me that day. I had been so good….But the old guy got up, and I have to admit, he did me in. The amazing thing was that he did it with the use of one line. For an hour and a half he stood that crowd on its ear with just one line. That line was “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” That statement may not blow you away, but you should have heard him do it. He started his sermon real softly by saying, “It was Friday.

It was Friday, and my Jesus was dead on the tree. But that was Friday, and Sunday’s comin’!”

One of the deacons yelled, “Preach, brother! Preach!” It was all the encouragement that he needed. He came on louder as he said, “It was Friday, and Mary was cryin’ her eyes out. The disciples were runnin’ in every direction like sheep without a shepherd, but that was Friday and Sunday’s comin’!” People in the congregation were beginning to pick up the message. Women were waving their hands and calling softly, “Well, well.” Some of the men were yelling, “Keep going! Keep going!”

The preacher kept going. He picked up the volume still more and shouted, “It was Friday. The cynics were lookin’ at the world and sayin’, ‘as things have been so they shall be. You can’t change anything in this world, you can’t change anything. “But those cynics didn’t know that it was only Friday, Sunday’s comin”! 

“It was Friday! And on Friday, those forces that oppress the poor and make the poor to suffer were in control. But that was Friday! Sunday’s comin’!

“It was Friday, and on Friday Pilate thought he had washed his hands of a lot of trouble. The Pharisees were struttin’ around, laughin’ and pokin’ each other in the ribs. They thought they were back in charge of things, but they didn’t know that it was only Friday! Sunday’s comin!”

He kept on working that one phrase for a half-hour, then an hour, then an hour and a quarter, then an hour and a half. Over and over he came at us, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!

By the time he had come to the end of the message, I was exhausted. He had me and everybody else so worked up that I don’t think any of us could have stood it much longer. At the end of his message he just yelled at the top of his lungs, “IT’S FRIDAY!” and all five hundred of us in church yelled back with one accord, “SUNDAY’S COMIN’!“ (Compolo, 1984, You Can Make A Difference)

Typing this story just gives me goose bumps. I hope you enjoyed it. Happy Easter! He is Risen!

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A short reflection of an extraordinary day in being bold

Posted on April 3, 2012 by timfruth

I could whine and complain about my day as an assistant principal but I viewed each challenge as an opportunity to change lives. Sure we had a student punched in the face by another student but that is extraordinary because that is the first “fight” this spring semester which is now about 12 weeks old. Should I say that no students gathered around since they don’t support those activities anymore. In working with the student who went after another, I was given an opportunity to counsel and discuss appropriate responses to anger and how and where I get my strength to respond differently. May I say, I was bold? It is not about the consequence of the wrong choice but the opportunity to make a difference and change behaviors. It was handed to me and I did not shy away from being bold on how my life is different. Oh yeh, I can say I still get angry but I can also say that I can respond differently then punching someone in the face. So was I disappointed? Sure but did I make difference? Who knows, but I can say with certainty that this young man left encouraged and not discouraged which encouraged me.

In my travels in Payson on Sunday, I had a teacher who is not a friend of mine, just unleash comments about how awful it is at my old school due to what this person saw as a complete lack of leadership. I listened, smiled, and was given the opportunity to tell how my life has been changed working with a group of students and how they have responded in ways I never could have imagined.

Today, I actually got real confirmation of the differences I have helped make and came when I was a bit discouraged. Sitting with a 12th grade young man today at lunch, I had just an amazing experience. This student is such a neat young man and very popular and involved in so many things. He asked me, point blank, how long I was sticking around. I had to tell him that this is it for me as I felt that I needed to be home with my family and to be around my own high school senior next year. He really responded to that and thought that was a great thing. He told me how much the school had changed since my arrival. How students openly drank in hallways and how bathrooms were disaster zones with booze and dope everywhere. He said it was awful. But he said, it sure is different now. You guys have changed this place completely. He added that he was thankful that we had come to his school and how we had made a huge difference. His appreciation was heartfelt and as we pounded the fist and gave the man hug, I was on that proverbial Cloud 9. Maybe it is now called iCloud.

My heart was lifted and my soul began to rise. Wow who could be discouraged after that? To celebrate I ran 4.5 miles at a 9 minute mile pace rocking it with some Third Day. It was my best run in a long time. So to my friends, I say be bold, don’t hide your faith, your beliefs, your reason for life, you will never know when that unexpected blessing will reach out and get you when you least expect it but need it the most.

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Be Bold: In All Things

Posted on April 2, 2012 by timfruth

Reflecting on lessons learned from Sunday morning while watching a National Championship game is challenging. For those of you wondering when and where my next post on Third Day will be, all I can say is it will be done before too long. In other words, I left some notes and stuff behind so I had to postpone but I do have my notes from church.

As we move through life, most of us become passive, logical, rational adults who seldom take real risks. We often just pass through life without stepping out of our comfort zone. In our lesson on Sunday,  we studied from Acts 4:8-13. Key verse is Acts 4:13. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Background was that Peter and John had healed the lame beggar and their legend grew rapidly. They were bold in their comments and actions.

Donovan gave the following as a definition for boldness: Spirit inspired courage and confidence to speak or act without fear in spite of danger or threats. He asked us the hard question of when was the last time someone was amazed or astonished with our boldness? Now obviously we are talking spiritual boldness and our list of times is probably fairly short.

The comment that our boldness has nothing to do with our personality but rather our spirituality was well taken by me. If we are lacking in spiritual boldness, there is definitely a disconnect in our spiritual life. His added point was to challenge us to act or speak boldly.

There you have it, one can even be bold during a basketball game.

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Pathways to Prosperity Project

Posted on March 27, 2012 by timfruth

Finally finding this report that was published by the Harvard Graduate School of Education in February 2011 has really been a fascinating read. It is clear from the report that we are not serving our students in ways that we should. Many statistics are bantered about but they not only show what isn’t working, they show examples of countries that are providing high quality career and technical training programs for students in upper secondary grades. The report also gives valid examples of some solid vocational education programs in schools and states.

It is evident that vocational training in many states, including Arizona, oftentimes focuses on low paying employment opportunities.  The report is over 50 pages long but should be read by anybody who has interest in providing high skills to young adults so they can be employed in higher paying careers. The report advocates for training programs that offer certificates and it also advocates for students receiving more guidance into community college programs that offer certificated programs. The report clearly states that bachelor degree programs should not be and are not for every student who graduates from high school. It is a very compelling report.

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf

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Third Day: The Journey Continues

Posted on March 26, 2012 by timfruth

My springtime journey in finding out everything I could about this band Third Day was moving forward. In my own life, I was really on a search and find mission of what I was going to do. Working on my educational leadership/principalship classes was keeping me busy and my faith based life was being revitalized. I had always had a real fondness for music and having a student introduce me to the music of Third Day forever changed who I am. 

I loved the EP Southern Tracks and just devoured those four songs. So I just listened to Time for hours at a time and just was blown away by the lead singer’s voice. You might know him as Mac Powell but for me I didn’t know who he was, what he was, I just knew that this guy had a voice like none I had ever heard. Time became a true inspiration for me as I looked for significance in my own life. I listened and listened some more and start to finish the songs really struck a chord with me in my own journey. From the beautiful ballad, “I’ve Always Loved You” to the rocking “Took My Place”, to the haunting “Can’t Take the Pain”, this album spoke to me at a personal level. Then there was this obscure song, “Don’t Say Goodbye” which became a favorite of mine. Written by Mark Lee, I always had a fondness for how personal this song seemed to be. It was a painful story that just works with Mac’s ability to personalize the song through his vocals.

It was clear to me that this band was like no other band. Not only were they musically superb to any “Christian” band I had ever heard, I just knew they had something special about them. In my own exploration of life I had to think, just believe. So their lyrics once again hit me right between the eyes. I truly had to believe.

Believe

Never mind all the things you heard about me
You’re never going to understand it
Every time that I’ve given you the truth
It’s never made a bit of difference
Disappointment takes you
Then the doubt, it breaks you
It’s enough to make you cry

Always looking for a sign
Miracles won’t change your mind
Tell me how much evidence you need
Turning truth into a lie
Hardened heart and blinded eyes
All you need to do is just believe

Never mind what you thing that you had seen
It all can change in just a moment
Here before you is all the proof you need
Why can’t you just believe it?

So I am, a teacher, a student, a father, a husband, and just struggling with the day to day living of life. It is into March and I continued to listen to the music and I’m thinking ok,it is now time to find out more about this band and find out if they get out on the road. That first experience is about to unfold in a way that I could never have imagined. The journey will continue with my first Third Day concert experience soon to come. Stay tuned.

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Third Day: Part One in my journey with a band from Atlanta

Posted on March 19, 2012 by timfruth

People always ask me how I sort of got in with a rock band from Atlanta, GA known as Third Day. I’ve got a bit of a story to tell and will drag you along in how their music has come to play a major role in my life and in my Christian walk. So my story begins and it will have a long run so welcome to my journey as I relate the songs and how they have impacted my life for the better.

Early in the spring of 2000, I had a student, Aaron Dahir, who told me that I should listen to this band that played music with a strong Christian influence. I sort of blew it off and he kept after me insisting that I take his cd’s home for a spin. I grew up where “Christian” musicians were sort of second rate and weren’t too talented. So I was quite skeptical about this group called Third Day. Aaron knew me to like that southern rock music and he kept after me. Well I took home two cd’s, Time and a companion cd Southern Tracks. Oh my, my life was about to change. First Third Day song I listened to was something called Long Time Comin’. The song totally blew me away as did the whole ep Southern Tracks. From there it was on to Time and I could not believe how good this band was musically and how much I enjoyed their sound and lyrics. That first song Long Time Comin‘ was something that the lyrics foretold for me.

Well I’ve been taking
It all for granted
Everything that I, have been givin’
Now it is the day, to start my mission
It’s been a long time a comin’

There are many, searching for answers
Tell me who am I, to keep it to myself?
I’ve grown weary of my own fears
It’s been a long time a comin’

Chorus:
Well I’ve been running just like an outlaw
And I am willing and able
To give you something that you can believe on
It’s been a long time a comin’

True believers,
Have been staring, up into the sky
Waiting for your return
And I know one day
The clouds will roll down
It’s been a long time comin’

That line on that day, of “now is the day to start my mission” “its been a long time comin’ really describes the beginning of my journey into something that has been–well a long time a comin’. More to come as I drag you along on my journey.

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Good vs Evil Part 2

Posted on March 18, 2012 by timfruth

Today was our second installment of Good vs Evil. Nice, cold, snowy morning but I was glad to make it to church. Pastor Donovan led us through the lesson on how we are going to respond to the evil that is done to us. There will be evil acts committed against us as long as we live life. There are two things that we should do in handling evil that occurs against us.

  1. We must change our perspective.
  2. We must change our response.

Changing Our Perspective

The first thing we looked at was Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 

We have two ways to look at things:

The first way is a short and narrow perspective on the act that we cannot see the long range plan. The second way is is to have a long and wide perspective.

Most of us naturally respond in a short and narrow perspective since our fist inclination is to fight evil with evil. There is always pain but we must recognize that good can come from it. There will be roadblocks, setbacks, and obstacles but they are just detours in the road. We can not see the end of the road, but we must stay the course. As in last week’s lesson, Joseph stayed the course through many roadblocks and because of evil done to him, he was able to accomplish great things in Egypt. Instead of a short and narrow perspective, we need to have a wide and long perspective. It reminded me of the Beatles’ song “The Long and Winding Road.” Life throws up roadblocks but in keeping a wide and long perspective, we have the ability with God’s help to turn evil into good.

Change Our Response

Romans 12:17-21. 17  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We should not let somebody else’s evil produce evil in us. We have got to not let evil have power in our life. It is clear that the old adage of killing somebody with kindness is very scriptural. Verse 20 makes it clear that we should really love our enemies and not seek to do evil against those who have done evil against us.

Life’s lesson are tough ones. For me I’ve had to reflect on my response and must admit they haven’t always been the best. Donovan told of a simple story of having somebody in a car cut you off or whatever and they yell obscenities at you and how that quick impulsive reaction is to respond with our own evil. Ouch, been there done that.

To finish up the lesson, a short film was shown of members of Expedition that had evil done to them and how they had struggled in their response but had overcome the evil with good. Very cool film and I think probably caused all of us to think how we respond to acts of evil that have been committed against us.

Once again in my own personal reflections, I have to show growth by looking at life from a wider and longer perspective and to respond in a much more positive manner. Not easy but I will continue to work and grow in my own walk.

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Good vs Evil Part 1

Posted on March 17, 2012 by timfruth

On Sunday, March 11, 2012, our lesson of the day was Good vs Evil. We focused on the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph. Joseph as you should recall was the child that his brothers were quite jealous of. He told his brothers this outrageous to them dream of how they would be bowing down to him. Anyhow they sold him into slavery and told the father that he was killed by wild animals. He falls in and out favor in Egypt and eventually back into favor and continues to be the interpreter of dreams. Famine hits and eventually his brothers come to Egypt not knowing him. Joseph helps them out and the key scripture was Genesis 50:20. “As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept as they are today.”

Every single one of us will be subjected to evil. How we respond is critical. Will we ever get better or continue to be resentful. We can encounter evil and triumph over it. God’s goodness always triumphs over man’s evil. Donovan left us with four truths and questions to ask ourselves. I have answered the questions from an agonizing personal perspective.

  • God is sovereign over everything, including people’s evil.

Question: “Do I believe God is still in control of this situation and am I acting as though I believe it?”

I have for the most part figured this out. Yeh, God had to be in control and he placed me where I needed to be. Easy, heck no. Challenging, beyond what I thought I was capable of. I do believe that he is in control

  • Evil done to us is no excuse for us doing evil.

Question: “Am I repaying evil with evil or am I remaining faithful to be who God wants me to be and to do what God wants me to do?”

I think sometimes people misinterpret my actions as repaying evil with evil. I can sometimes let my sarcasm come out when it shouldn’t it. I have clearly poked fun and attempted to expose what I see poor decisions but I can do it because I truly believe that somebody has to expose things that are going wrong at Payson Schools. I truly believe that I am doing what God wants me to do with my work with kids in Whiteriver. So can I still be a critic without being seen as repaying evil with evil or should I let those insane decisions by inept individuals go unchallenged? Tough one.

  • Evil sometimes ends a good thing, but God turns it into something better.

Question: “Am I believing and trusting that God can use this evil to bring about something better in my life that I didn’t even know was possible?”

He has without any doubt as I believe I have answered the call and literally changed lives forever. I never knew it was possible when I first started but I do now. My life has improved financially, emotionally, and professionally, and to a great sense, spiritually.

  • God can use evil to bring about the growth in our lives.

Question: “How might God want me to grow as a result of this evil?”

Without a doubt, God wants me to grow and I have grown and stepped out my comfort zone to work in what most would considerable an uncomfortable job. I have grown into who I really am as an individual and have revisited what my gifts are.

This lesson really spoke to me at a very personal level. I really believe that I was the recipient of evil in my ending at Payson Schools in April 2010. In asking these questions of myself, I have reflected upon how I respond to evil. Through the process of moving to Alchesay and working there for my second year I think I can reflect on how I have handled it. Oh was I bitter and resentful. That part still pops up once in awhile but I have for the most part come to grips with it.

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Game turns into Brawl

Posted on March 6, 2012 by timfruth

I was going through this old scrapbook put together by my father-in-law and came across some interesting tidbits. Back when I was just a youngster, I coached girls varsity basketball at Payson High School. In an article published on December 15, 1982, I discovered I was quite harsh on officials.  The title of the article, Game turns into ‘brawl’.

The author wrote the following:

I don’t know what the authorities in charge of officials in Arizona are thinking when they send two so called professionals to officiate a game when they don’t even know the rules. I’m not sure that one of the officials even knew what was the basket and what was the ball……..varsity coach Tim Fruth was given a technical for telling the official to blow her whistle (which got a real rise from the crowd), neither official knew where to stand on the court, etc., etc., etc….

The game became a farce and began to get very physical. I think Fruth summed it up best by saying, “You cannot play good basketball when you don’t get good officiating.” (one of the players is quoted in article) “You can’t control your game when the officials don’t control the game.” Junior Varsity Coach Patty Delp said, “I’m all for women officials, but its officials like that that give us a bad nam.”

I’m with her. What I don’t understand is why I’ve never seen such inexperienced officials in charge of a boys’ game……sometimes you will get a bad official, but this one woman didn’t know anything. What happened to ratings?………

I was thinking to myself, what would happen today if a coach, an assistant coach, a player, and a newspaper criticized the assigned officials like this from 1982? Just saying that this was truly a fun read from 30 years ago and yes I was on the other side that dark side called coaching.

 

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