What to do in a boring lecture

I was cleaning out old class notes looking for some Spanish stuff. I discovered some interesting "side notes." I mean that literally--all the things I did on the side of the page when the class was too boring. Thought I'd share this one with you:

I like Thanksgiving break
Because it's just so great.
I eat lots of turkey.
I prefer it over jerky.
And then I go to bed and get up late.

I won't reveal which teacher inspired that lovely work of literature, but I will say that I tossed most of those notes.

One thing at a time

Well, I've been reminded by several people that I needed to write more here. I keep thinking of things I want to say...then don't write because there's too much to say and I'd rather sit up in the living room.

Two things are going to fix that problem: #1 My Mom now has a laptop that is wireless-ly networked to our desktop. In other words, I'm sitting in the living room right now while changing and posting to my blog. #2 I'm going to give up on the long list of things I want to say. I'll write one thing at a time.

So tonight I'll explain the change in the my blog's title. I read a book some time ago about teaching children to think. (Is your bed still there when you close the door? by Jane M. Healy) The author's point was that thinking is learned by conversation and discussion. She suggested planned conversations with rules that promoted free discussion.

As an example she told about a family addressing the question "What if money grew on trees?" The children involved addressed a number of topics including the probability that trees would be stripped, and the ecologic results of that.

I realized, as I pondered this, that I do something of this sort when I think. I get an idea and start chasing it around to see where it goes. That's how I find myself outlining my "ideal" high school curriculum or the best order of topics in teaching Spanish. It's odd where the thoughts lead at times. To issues of culture, analysis of thought processes, or a great premise for the novel I might actually write someday.

So, for the time being, this will be my place to chase thoughts around. And if you like, you can join the hunt.

I'm back

I guess some of my excuse for neglecting this blog is that I really have been very sick. I just didn't realize it until a week and a half ago.
 
A quick run-down for any of you who haven't heard: I was struggling with chest pain over the last two months. After one ER visit to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack, it was determined I should basically wait it out. The pain got better, then worse. Finally, a week ago Thursday, it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe. I went to see the doctor, and he sent me straight to the ER again.
 
There we found out that I had fluid built up around both lungs and my heart. In fact, part of my left lung had collapsed due to the pressure. No wonder I couldn't breathe! After a week of tests to try to determine the cause, I'm finally on prednisone and doing much better. Let me recount some of my triumphs over the last five days of medication:
 

• I can walk up the half flight of stairs to the kitchen without having to immediately sit down and wait five minutes for the wheazing to stop.
• I can sleep in my bed again (instead of a recliner).
• I left the house for something other than a doctor's visit.
• I actually blew into my flute. (A major accomplishment since a week ago I couldn't get out a whole sentense at a time.)

All in all, I think I'm doing quite well. Now I just get to wait to see the bills. Still, I'm not complaining. I live in a country where we have access to the best medicine in the world. When the doctor wanted me to have a CT scan, he sent me down the hall. Thirty minutes later it was being sent to the radiologist for reading. When a friend in Canada had a serious, undiagnosed illness and needed either an EKG or an MRI, he had to wait months. So while it may cost a lot, we do get what we pay for.

And I'm thankful for family. And thankful that I live with them. Otherwise, best case scenario, I would have ended up in the hospital for a week. This way I could be at home (much more comfortable) with people who love and care for me. They also kept an eye on me 24/7--quite reassuring when you're having trouble breathing. Mom and Jen really pitched in and took care of my chores, etc., so that now that I'm better I'm not starting out behind in everything. And it's just nicer to be with family at a time like this.

So I'll write more later about some of the interesting things I discovered while unable to move. Right now, though, I think I'll get some lunch.

    
 

When did the Gecko start working for Geico?

Ok, I'm going to prove that I do indeed watch TV (mostly very old reruns), but I've been wondering this for some time. There were all the commercials where the Gecko was trying to get people to stop calling him when they wanted Geico auto insurance. Then, suddenly, he got the employee of the month award and has been with them ever since. He seems quite a bit happier this way, but I'm confused!

The gospel of John

We've been studying John lately so I've spent more time reading it. Interesting things pop out when you read something thoughtfully a couple times. Today I was noticing the prominence of water in this gospel:

Water in the Gospel of John

Chapter	Description
1	John's baptism (compared with baptism with the Holy Spirit)
2	Jesus turns water into wine
3	Nicodemus: need to be born of water and of the Spirit
-	Mention of baptising by John and Jesus (or his disciples)
-	Questions about purifying (done with water)
4	Baptizing by disciples of Jesus
-	Jacob's well and the living water (which is the Spirit)
5	Pool at Bethesda, used for healing
6	Jesus walks on water
7	Jesus tells all who thirst to come to Him and drink (water is the Spirit)
9	Blind man receives sight when he washes the mud that Jesus placed on his eyes
10	John the Baptist, where he baptized, and his testimony are mentioned
11	Mention of purification (verse 55)
13	Jesus washes the disciples feet

So we'll see if I can make sense of these references at a later date.

Stuck??

Seems like my life is on hold sometimes. You know, when I was young I had all these great plans for what I could do. I always wanted my parents to be more involved in church work. Just think--I actually wanted to be a preacher's kid. Then I was convinced that God was calling me to the foreign mission field. My mom wisely didn't argue even though every mother's instinct in her screamed "No!"

So what happens? I try to move to Denver and God says "No." I can't even relocate to Milwaukee. I only wanted to go to college in Florida and just didn't have a peace about it. The only foreign country I've been in is Canada (although that can be rather foreign). So here I am, living at home in the same area I've been since 7th grade.

But I'm not stuck--although I tell myself I am when I feel like having a pity party. For some reason God has placed me here. I wanted to do big things for Him. He wants me to stay put. Does God really have a use for statues?

On the other hand, it makes sense. If I go off and do great things--well, I is the operative word. I accomplish something. Big deal. But when I'm somewhere where I can't see the big picture...then God starts to work. If I stay where He puts me, He can accomplish something through me.

Besides, if I ran away, who would do my work here? Who would befriend my friends? Who would minister to those I meet each day? Who would teach my students--not just music but all the little things that invariably get taught on the side? Who would be here?

Because sometimes it's just the being that counts. Not being great. Being willing. Being holy. Being present. My just sitting and being--not saying and doing--made one individual so uncomfortable that I was asked to leave. Can God use a statue? If that statue is faithful to Him, yes.

God called Abraham to tend his herds and just believe that 400 years later God would give his decendants the land. He called David to stay in the fields for years. He called Aquilla and Priscilla to keep on making tents. I have a calling, too. (Eph. 4:1) And that's what I'll do.

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”

Chorus:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

by Kittie L. Suffield

Maybe slightly illegal but...

Normally I try hard to avoid breaking copyright laws. I have to respect the rights of the authors to their material. With the state of our country, however, I hope I will find forgiveness if I re-post an article on this site. I'm afraid if I just put the link up, no one will read it. Please do take the time to glance at what follows:

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | New York

In a parallel universe called "What if . . . "

by Kathleen Parker

President-elect John F. Kerry's rise to the nation's highest office came as little surprise following almost four years of remonstrations against President George W. Bush for his bizarre attack on the defenseless people of Afghanistan.

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, was the right man for a nation outraged by the Bush administration's pre-emptive war, which, it now seems clear, was based on highly speculative intelligence that Saudi Arabian-born terrorist Osama bin Laden was planning an attack on the U.S.

Absent absolute proof of such an imminent attack, Bush's Sept. 10 bombing of Afghanistan earned him international condemnation and, in all likelihood, an indictment in coming weeks. United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, appearing last night on Larry King Live, said the U.N.'s International Criminal Tribunal likely would bring charges of genocide against the president.

Bush also faces federal charges at home for his baseless arrest of 19 foreign nationals, many of them native Saudis, whose "crime" was attending American flight schools. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has joined the American Civil Liberties Union in a joint suit against both Bush and former Attorney General John Ashcroft, charging racial profiling, unlawful arrest, and illegal search and seizure.

Kerry's campaign mantra - "You go to war because you have to, not because you want to" - clearly resonated with Americans as they tried to make sense of Bush's September 10 attack on Afghanistan. Neither the president, nor National Security Adviser Dr. Condoleezza Rice convincingly defended their actions during the recent "9/10 Commission" hearings, which Congress ordered in response to public outcry.

The commission's purpose was to try to determine what compelled the president to launch a war against Afghanistan. What kind of intelligence suggested that such an act was justified?

The main target of the attack was bin Laden, friend to Afghanistan's brutal Taliban regime, as well as al Qaeda training camps in that war-ravaged nation. Al Qaeda, an international terrorist network, has been blamed for numerous attacks on U.S. interests, including the USS Cole bombing, which killed 17 sailors.

Even though Bush's military campaign was successful in ending the oppressive Taliban regime, bin Laden apparently escaped and al Qaeda continues to flourish.

Some intelligence sources speculate that bin Laden's operatives may be trying to secure weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from Iraq's Saddam Hussein. Even though Saddam continues to send money to the families of Palestinian terrorists and is believed to have programs for developing WMD, Kerry says he is committed to containing Saddam through continued sanctions and the U.N. oil-for-food program.

In any case, experts say that intelligence about Saddam's WMD program are just as speculative as was the intelligence that prompted Bush to attack Afghanistan. The man credited with sounding the alarm on bin Laden and al Qaeda was Richard Clarke, a counterterrorism expert who has served four presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton.

In a January 25 memo to Dr. Rice, for instance, Clarke urged immediate attention to several items of national security interest: the Northern Alliance, covert aid, a significant new '02 budget authority to help fight al Qaeda, and a response to the USS Cole.

At Rice's and Clarke's urging, Bush called a meeting of principals and, after "connecting the dots," decided to wage war against Afghanistan. What did the dots say? Not much, in retrospect. Apparently, the president decided to bomb a benign country on the basis of "chatter" that hinted at "something big."

With no other details on the "big," and by weaving together random bits of information from a variety of questionable sources, Bush and company decided that 19 fundamentalist Muslim fanatics would fly airplanes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon on 9/11.

Under questioning by the "9/10 Commission," Clarke denied that his memo was anything more than a historical overview with a "set of ideas and a paper, mostly." The bi-partisan commission concluded, therefore, that Bush's "dot-connecting" had destroyed American credibility and subjected the U.S. to increasing hostility in the Arab-Muslim world.

Last week, Saddam Hussein and Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat joined French and German leaders in condemning Bush and urging American voters to cast their ballots for regime change in the U.S. Kerry was the clear response to that call.

In a flourish of irony and the spirit of bon vivant for which president-elect is widely known, Kerry gave his acceptance speech from Windows on the World, the elegant restaurant atop the World Trade Center's Tower One.

The bottom line

As has been noted so many times that it's cliché, it often takes difficult circumstances to show us what's really true. For example, how easy it is for us to say, "God is sufficient." But do we honestly believe it? We get distracted thinking we need other things (or people). Then we lose them and find out that God truly is able to supply all we need.

Have you lost family? or have they let you down? He is the Father Who never fails us. He loves us more than anyone else ever could.

Are you single or has your spouse failed you? Ephesians tells us that Christ loves the church as a husband should love his wife. God cares for us as His beloved.

Are you without a church? If you are saved, you are in the Body of Christ--the one church. Are you without a pastor? He is the Good Shepherd and will lead you to green pastures and protect you from the enemy.

Are you without a friend? Then you have a Friend Who does indeed stick closer than a brother.

And when you lose everything, you finally discover the truth. God is, in the end, enough.

When the music becomes part of the musician

I went to an incredible concert/recital tonight. The newest member of the UWEC piano faculty (Alexandre Dossin) was playing. I had heard good things about his playing but had not yet experienced it for myself. It was a wonderful event.

I guess there are two things I noted about his playing. One, the melody was always sparkling above the rest of the music. Every note was under complete control in volume, timing, and length. The keys were his to command and the melody always soared.

Secondly, it was as if these pieces had never happened before. He played as though the thought of this music had just occurred to him. The music was in the moment, happening as we listened. I thought about this and wondered if that can only happen when the performer has so absorbed the music that it becomes part of him. He is not repeating another's ideas. They have become his ideas. Then he can state them with all the freshness of originality.

And I also thought about the difference between learning in such a way that you can recite your teacher's ideas. Whether you have memorized a catechism or just spent a long time studying someone's ideas, the result is often the same. You sound like you are puppeting another's work and teaching. But when you absorb the teaching into your thinking, analyze and accept or reject each tenet, it becomes your own. You speak it in your words, your personality--and from your heart. The ideas become fresh and gain power. There is life in your words.

And then there is the ultimate Teacher with the perfect Textbook. What better way to fill our minds than with the Scripture itself. But we don't want to recite verses in a preachy way or flippantly. Have you ever known someone who was so steeped in the Bible that the words flowed naturally from his mouth? Someone who has spent so much time in God's Word that he has begun to actually think like God? I have met those who are growing in this way. (We won't "get there" in this life.) And when I do, my heart is immediately connected to these brothers because we share intimate and personal.

Enough of my contemplating. I have been meaning to get on here to add a couple good brothers to my list. I debated how to handle this since both are named Andrew. I was introduced to both as Andy, but one does use Andrew at times. So Andy is Paul's roommate and Andrew is the one I've attended church with for the last 3 years. Got that? lol

Go visit Andrew's blog now. He's got a good entry about vision. I get on that topic from time to time. And "Be Thou My Vision" has long been a favorite song. Thanks, brother.

Then you can check out Andy's blog. He hasn't written in the last week and a half, but he's also in school. Now what is my excuse for not writing since I'm not in school?

Enough for now. Maybe I'll blog about Scottish whistle music next time, but I'd need to put in the cd and listen while I wrote.

Fan(atic) clubs

While I'm on my pop culture spiel, let me relate the gist of a conversation from Bible study last Friday. The topic came up of people who are obssessed with a particular work of fiction. Of course in today's culture, the first to come to mind is LOTR. (The fans have been there since the books came out, but the movies greatly increased their numbers.) We all know what Trekkies are. And Dungeons and Dragons (with all the RP games that followed) has enjoyed an equal degree of fanaticism.

Now, many people ask "Why on earth would anyone devote so much time and energy to a game/book/movie/etc.?" That's not my question because I have found the tendency to be obssessed with fiction inside myself. It makes sense to me that someone would learn Tolkien's made-up languages. Explaining the phenomenon is another matter, however.

I think that to a great extent we find our own lives mundane, boring. There is in us a desire for something bigger, more heroic. We want to explore strange lands, fight evil, or just have greater power than we experience in everyday life. There is a spiritual aspect as well. All these stories deal with unseen forces and things that cannot be scientifically measured.

Here, then, is the real question: Why do we as Christians not become equally "fanatic" about our God and the very real spiritual saga going on today? It's a story that's far from mundane--complete with temporarily "deposed" King (or, rather, One Who has the position but has not yet subdued all powers for reasons of His own). We have the opportunity to participate in truly heroic ventures, saving souls, enriching lives, and thwarting a more evil being than any dreamed up by man. It satisfies our need to be involved in the spiritual world. And the whole thing is real.

So why can so many speak knowledgeably about the Balrog, elves, Klingons, and the Prime Directive, when often Christians are less capable with the real-life things of God? The best answer I can come up with goes back to LOTR. You can't talk about it, you can't "live" in Middle Earth, unless you've read the books. All of them. Several times. And studied the appedices.

So maybe that's where we need to head in our churches. Let's work harder on getting to know the Book.

[Note: This is not directed at any one church in particular. And I know of many churches and individuals who do know the Book and are as passionate about God as any Trekkie is about Star Trek. But there are trends in evangelical/fundamental/general Christianity that stray from a burning desire to know God's Word. So I got on my soapbox for a while...]

The ultimate reality show

The other day I was at our local athletic club, working out. The TV was tuned into one of the latest "reality" shows. Thankfully, the sound wasn't on so I didn't have to listen to it. I really don't care for any of those shows. Why do people want to watch them? An even bigger question is why anyone would agree to be on one. I guess between the desire to be famous and "count" for something, and the curiousity of the everyone else who is dying to know what goes on when the show (supposedly) isn't scripted, this style of television is going to be around for a while.

It made me think of an something a friend wrote me recently. I had wondered if some information had been shared too freely. I certainly did not want to offend this dear friend. The response I got was "...am I not a Christian? Therefore it is no surprise that my life is not my own, nor is it hidden. I'm a fish in a fishbowl!" I laughed.

But then I had to agree. I have grown up with the idea that people were watching me. My parents had left their families' respective churches so we were the "black sheep." We homeschooled at a time when no one knew what it was and our churches even didn't support us. I always knew others were watching to see what we did.

But I don't mind. Am I not a Christian? Isn't that what living for Christ--or rather, His living in me--is all about? It's His life, not mine. And the point is that other people are watching. How else will they learn about Him?

But then the responsibility is mine. I must not bring unnecessary offence. I cannot judge my actions by those around me because I am not called to be like this world.

Am I a fish in a fishbowl? Maybe more like a light on a hill. It cannot be hidden--may it never flicker or smoke.

Homiletics 102

Since I'm posting this on a Friday, I don't think anyone will suspect that it was inspired by Sunday sermon's quality. I thought once about what I would say if asked for advice by someone who was about to preach. (Not that anyone would ask my advice. I guess that's why I imagine the scenario--it's the only way I'll ever experience it! lol) Here is what I would say (I think):

1. Have something to say.
2. When you are done saying it, quit talking.

There. Now preaching can't be that hard if you just follow those rules. Just don't ask me about how uptight and nervous I was when I had to teach a class Monday night... =)

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, Jen and Terry! Sorry we couldn't do anything special today, but maybe we can make it up on the weekend. Love you both.

New blog

Well, he just calls it an online journal, but it's the same thing. Roger Bennett is keeping a blog through his fight with leukemia. For any who don't know this great guy, he's the pianist for Legacy Five, a fantastic Southern Gospel group. He's been battling cancer for years and will now be receiving bone marrow transplant. His testimony has greatly blessed me in the last 4 years and the music's great too! So check him out.

Why I don't write more

I was thinking about why I don't write on here that often. There are a couple reasons, but one big big one is this: What is often on my heart is often not appropriate for public consumption. Too many times I sit down to write and can find nothing to say to the world in general. Too many times I can't even say it to individuals (outside my own family). Too much of the time there are heavy burdens on my heart and nothing I can do or should say.

But, yes, brother, I have smiled today. I smiled when I saw a student for the first time in a month. She always makes me smile. I smiled as I joked about creating mother/daughter conflicts by showing her a way to practice that doesn't sound like practicing. Her mother laughed at me.

And I smiled last night after working out while listening to Michael Card. The physical exertion clears my emotions, and the music clears my mind.

But even when I'm not smiling, I have something better--the joy of the Lord. The only thing that can sustain me when I feel lonely, stranded, or just lost. I can't explain it. I guess it comes down to faith. I choose to believe God. I believe Him when He says He knows what's best. I believe Him when He promises that He will reward faithfulness, not successes. I believe Him when He tells me that if I choose His Way, I will never regret it.

And beyond that there really is nothing more to say.

So we don't write enough, eh?

Someone says we don't write enough. I think I mostly write too serious of stuff. Maybe that's because when I finally get the chance to write, I'm burdened by something. Or maybe I just need to spout off at someone outside of my family and this is the only way to get anyone to listen. lol

I'm not goofy tonight, but here's something else. I'll post the opening to a novel I'm going to write sometime. Had a 10-year-old critique it for me once. She was tough! I'll see if the rest of you are as demanding.

Kalya glanced at the murky waters below as they crossed the drawbridge. There was a kind of dark life in those depths that crept into the very stones of the castle. Despite the lack of comforts on the road, she would miss the late autumn sunlight and clean air. Now as she and Dahy, her sole companion, escort, and guard on this journey, passed through the gates, Kalya imagined they were actually sinking into the moat. The stones were cold and dank and smelled of being in one place for too long. Even the sun struggled to pierce the thick shadows of the courtyard.

When they entered the palace, a heavy oak door slammed in the face of what little sun had slipped over the wall. A few flickering torches clung to their perches on the wall, but the shadows traveled freely along the corridor. The news of their arrival raced through the dark corners. It jumped from guard to servant. Soon the whole palace would know about it. Of course, knowing a thing and being able to do something about it are entirely different.

Kalya could almost hear the whispers preceding them down the hall. The travelers would be received immediately by the king. Anyone coming from the Great King at Altara would not be kept waiting. As the guard accompanying them opened the doors into the king's hall, they were met by a blast of warm air laden with the scent of bread, roasted venison, and hot cider. Suddenly, she felt an odd mixture of homesickness and comfort. Thoughts of a hot meal that did not include travelers jacky and a bed without rocks or stray tree roots made her smile. Life in the castle was not so bad. Her feelings of dread were for the task before her, not her new abode. Raising her head, she drank deeply of the warm air, tried to still her pounding heart, and followed Dahy into the hall.

That's all for now. I'll try to be funny soon.

Running, running, and I can't catch up.

My work piles up, and my life falls behind. My life piles up, and this blog falls behind. Well, here's an attempt to gain some ground. (Winning this race has not proved viable. I'll settle for not being annihilated.)

G-man, you're blog is a stitch. It's great to see you in such a good mood.

My Birthday
We celebrated my birthday last night. The day took place while we were gone to South Dakota. My sisters and mom brought a gift along, and everyone sang to me (although they didn't make me play for myself this year!). Still we have a "real" celebration here at home. Mostly that consists of a special meal and the rest of my gifts.

We were going to celebrate today (Sunday), but when everything was ready yesterday, Mom said, "Why not tonight?" So we had chicken and wild rice soup with tomato basil squares. That latter item is from a recipe we got with a baking stone from Pampered Chef. It's got a scrumptious crust that's covered with a cheese and basil mixture and tomato slices. Yummy! For my cake I had a mocha toffee torte that's always a hit. Anyone hungry yet?

Sunday School
We've been going through The Purpose Driven Life in Sun--excuse me, Adult Bible Fellowship. We're currently covering the chapters on temptation. He gets it all right with his evaluation of what causes temptation. Our desire and doubt opens us up to Satan's deception. The result: disobedience. All of this has Scripture to back it up. He even managed to alliterate (note the ds).

I wasn't as impressed with his solutions, however. They weren't terrible, but they didn't have the solid Scripture behind them and they didn't address the problems of desire, doubt, and deceit. And they didn't alliterate.

So I started making my own list. Problem was, I could get 3 ts or 3 fs, but not 4. Terry helped me out with another t, but I sometimes liked the other term better. So I guess I'll use a mix.

Adjusting Desire
Where is desire formed? Christ says, "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:20-21) There's the t-word: treasure. When we put our value in heavenly things, when we do God's work and reserve rewards for eternity, something in the temptation starts to lose power over us. Paul says, "Set your affection [mind--NKJV] on things above, not on things on the earth." (Col. 3:2) Our focus is the key. If we're looking one way, we don't see what's going on in the other direction. How can we be distracted by what we don't see?

Combatting Deceit
I know--I'm doing these out of order. This makes more sense to me. What causes doubt but belief in a lie? So how better to fight deceit than to fill one's mind with the Truth? If I am in God's Word, dwelling in the truth, how could I fall for a lie?

Tackling Doubt
After investing in eternity and finding out the truth, there's only one thing to do. Trust. Have faith. It all boils down to a choice. Will you believe what God says?

Defeating Disobedience
So if we deal with the root of the problem, then the result should be triumph, faithfulness. And it will be. That's the secret of God's grace. We don't win by working harder, avoiding temptation, following some magic list of rules. We win by giving over to God. We focus on Him. We fill ourselves with His truth. We choose to believe Him. And He wins the battle for us.