I am in the midst of an interesting situation. I'm sitting in a classroom (AP European History), supervising the students as they do the work left for them by their regular teacher--nothing really out of the ordinary except it's not just "the usual". They're working on a Venn diagram that compares Luther and Calvin and are studying for a test on the Reformation. There is a pair of students discussing their personal beliefs on religion. How you know if religious beliefs are true, where does good living fit it, how they feel about others who try to convert them, and their views on the role of God in their life. This is taking place across from the room conversations about the specifics of Luther's theology and how it is similar to and different from Calvin's.
Listening to all of this going on (and these are sophomores) I don't understand why many youth ministries neglect theological discussions and focus more on having fun. Is it because we don't think adolescents are capable of discussing theology deeply? Is it that we are scared because it might take us into territory we ourselves are not sure of, to a place where we don't have all the answers? Why do we simplify Christianity? Why do we tell young people they have to live one certain way as followers of Christ? That they have to listen to certain kinds of music and not use certain words and only hang out with certain people? We often do not allow them to wrestle with these kinds of questions. We don't introduce them to church history so the only place they learn about Luther and Calvin is if they happen to take a European History class that includes the topic of the Reformation. When a class assignment is prompting spontaneous discussions about theology, that should at least hint to us that young people are capable of much more than we often give them credit for.
just some thoughts.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
hmmm
life. What a thing. Mixed up. Hard. Kind of crazy sometimes. Full of surprises: sometimes good, sometimes just surprising. It's been interesting to see how my life has changed over these last few months. I've moved from believing that my only option was to try to be a history teacher (though I had heretofore been unsuccessful at accomplishing that. I now know why.) to having a whole world of options open to me. I want to make a difference. I want what I do to matter. How can I do that? What does that desire mean for me? Where does that place me? Us? It's hard to know fully right now. Especially looking for something that will start a few months from now. It almost seems too early to really be pursuing anything but maybe it's not. Things in the job hiring world move more slowly than most other parts of life. It's kind of strange that way.
I'm trying to hear God's voice in all of this. To balance doing what I need to relax and being intentional about how I spend my time. Maybe making sure I relax and read books just for fun is being intentional. I don't want to waste my free time. Help me to see my priorities Father and to make sure they are in the right order.
I'm trying to hear God's voice in all of this. To balance doing what I need to relax and being intentional about how I spend my time. Maybe making sure I relax and read books just for fun is being intentional. I don't want to waste my free time. Help me to see my priorities Father and to make sure they are in the right order.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
for your amelioration
I learned something new today. The following information comes directly from the National Hurricane Center website:
"Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The original name lists featured only women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced and they alternate with the women's names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014.
The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it."
Thus, the next tropical storm that occurs will be named Kyle. And after that will be Laura. Isn't learning great?
"Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The original name lists featured only women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced and they alternate with the women's names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014.
The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it."
Thus, the next tropical storm that occurs will be named Kyle. And after that will be Laura. Isn't learning great?
on the way to work
Today was a good drive to work. I was feeling chipper, happy, and enjoying the music. A couple of things came to my mind:
One song was "Revolutionary" by the David Crowder Band. God's love is revolutionary; it really is. It turns the world and people upside down and frankly, seems an impossibility. And that's what we live in...the revolutionary love of God. Amazing!
the next one was "Stars" also David Crowder. It wasn't so much about the lyrics this time but the music sort of created a backdrop for a scene. The scene of a day beginning. The sky brightening the closer to work I get, everyone on their way somewhere. Where are they going? Work? School? The store? Meeting a long lost friend? Everyone has a story. Everyone has something going on. The day is new. God's mercies are new each day. It's a fresh start. Full of possibilities. There was something comforting and energizing about viewing the morning this way. It's almost like things slowed down and I was able to watch it from outside of myself. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it was kind of neat, refreshing.
And that's how my day started. Now I'm at work and there is almost (quite literally) nothing going on today. So I'll have a bunch of extra time. Woohoo. i do have music and a couple of books and the company of my fellow subs so we should be okay.
One song was "Revolutionary" by the David Crowder Band. God's love is revolutionary; it really is. It turns the world and people upside down and frankly, seems an impossibility. And that's what we live in...the revolutionary love of God. Amazing!
the next one was "Stars" also David Crowder. It wasn't so much about the lyrics this time but the music sort of created a backdrop for a scene. The scene of a day beginning. The sky brightening the closer to work I get, everyone on their way somewhere. Where are they going? Work? School? The store? Meeting a long lost friend? Everyone has a story. Everyone has something going on. The day is new. God's mercies are new each day. It's a fresh start. Full of possibilities. There was something comforting and energizing about viewing the morning this way. It's almost like things slowed down and I was able to watch it from outside of myself. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it was kind of neat, refreshing.
And that's how my day started. Now I'm at work and there is almost (quite literally) nothing going on today. So I'll have a bunch of extra time. Woohoo. i do have music and a couple of books and the company of my fellow subs so we should be okay.
Monday, September 8, 2008
"If I hide myself wherever I go, am I ever really there?"
As I journeyed to work this morning, I was struck by this particular line in the song “For You” by the Barenaked Ladies. This was already one of my favorite songs of theirs but it seemed to resonate more than in the past. One of many things I have been wrestling with lately has been the idea of finding out who I really am. Not just titles or roles I play—wife, teacher, friend, sister, daughter—but deep inside of me, in my heart, who I am. I struggle with this because I harbor a fear that if people really see me, they won’t like me; that they will be scared away or won’t think I am worth getting to know. That’s a scary thought for me. As a result, I like to hide myself—from others and from myself. But if I hide it, am I there? Have I really been living life or just pretending? What would it be like to live life fully engaged and open? Not open to the point of sharing everything with everyone but at least willing to be vulnerable and honest about myself with others, whether I like what I see or not and whether they like what they see or not. It seems to come down to a matter of trust: trust that people will like me, do like me, and want to get to know me. And to be okay with the fact that not everyone is going to be my friend. I can’t control how people react to me or what they think and that is okay. All I can be is me. However, in order to be myself, I need to know myself and therein lies the struggle. I want to know me. That’s hard to do. It hurts sometimes. It’s pain like I have never experienced before. But it’s a good pain because I know good things will come from it ultimately. I feel exposed. I feel bruised and broken. But I feel safe. I feel taken care of. And that makes it okay. So I get up and carry on. And still search. And still yearn. And seek to really be there.
As I journeyed to work this morning, I was struck by this particular line in the song “For You” by the Barenaked Ladies. This was already one of my favorite songs of theirs but it seemed to resonate more than in the past. One of many things I have been wrestling with lately has been the idea of finding out who I really am. Not just titles or roles I play—wife, teacher, friend, sister, daughter—but deep inside of me, in my heart, who I am. I struggle with this because I harbor a fear that if people really see me, they won’t like me; that they will be scared away or won’t think I am worth getting to know. That’s a scary thought for me. As a result, I like to hide myself—from others and from myself. But if I hide it, am I there? Have I really been living life or just pretending? What would it be like to live life fully engaged and open? Not open to the point of sharing everything with everyone but at least willing to be vulnerable and honest about myself with others, whether I like what I see or not and whether they like what they see or not. It seems to come down to a matter of trust: trust that people will like me, do like me, and want to get to know me. And to be okay with the fact that not everyone is going to be my friend. I can’t control how people react to me or what they think and that is okay. All I can be is me. However, in order to be myself, I need to know myself and therein lies the struggle. I want to know me. That’s hard to do. It hurts sometimes. It’s pain like I have never experienced before. But it’s a good pain because I know good things will come from it ultimately. I feel exposed. I feel bruised and broken. But I feel safe. I feel taken care of. And that makes it okay. So I get up and carry on. And still search. And still yearn. And seek to really be there.
For Fun?
I came across this quiz today.
Challenge yourself and see how well you do:
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there?
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What 6 colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What 2 letters do not appear on the telephone dial?
6. What 2 numbers do not have letters by them on the telephone dial?
7. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg?
8. How many matches are in a standard pack?
9. On our flag, is the top stripe red or white?
10. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
11. Which way does water go down the drain--counterclockwise or clockwise?
12. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
13. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
14. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on?
15. On a NY license plate, is New York on the top or bottom?
16. Which way do fans rotate?
17. Whose face is on a dime?
18. How many sides does a stop sign have?
19. Do books have even numbered pages on the right or left side?
20. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
21. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
22. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
23. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
24. On which playing card is the cardmaker's trademark?
25. On which side of a venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
26. On the back of a dollar bill, what is in the center?
27. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
28. How many curves are in a standard paper clip?
29. Does a merry-go-round turn clockwise or counterclockwise?
Good luck!
Challenge yourself and see how well you do:
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there?
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What 6 colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What 2 letters do not appear on the telephone dial?
6. What 2 numbers do not have letters by them on the telephone dial?
7. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg?
8. How many matches are in a standard pack?
9. On our flag, is the top stripe red or white?
10. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
11. Which way does water go down the drain--counterclockwise or clockwise?
12. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
13. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
14. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on?
15. On a NY license plate, is New York on the top or bottom?
16. Which way do fans rotate?
17. Whose face is on a dime?
18. How many sides does a stop sign have?
19. Do books have even numbered pages on the right or left side?
20. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
21. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
22. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
23. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
24. On which playing card is the cardmaker's trademark?
25. On which side of a venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
26. On the back of a dollar bill, what is in the center?
27. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
28. How many curves are in a standard paper clip?
29. Does a merry-go-round turn clockwise or counterclockwise?
Good luck!
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