Dads and Daughters

If you are someone a little girl (or not so little anymore) calls "Daddy," read this from Mere Comments. Daddy's make a major difference in the lives of their daughters.

Word Verification On

The title says it all.

Kiki is blogging!!!!

I "met" Kiki through discussions on the Missional Baptist Blog earlier this year. She is now blogging at Sojourner, and I am excited to read what she has to say. I appreciate her viewpoint. When you get the chance, stop by and say hi, you won't be sorry.

Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way!

Sometimes the only time we see what someone else can do is when we can't do it ourselves. I mentioned yesterday that my wife and I aren't feeling so well this week. Our 3 oldest girls really stepped up and made things happen!!

We had turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, yum-yum salad, baked sweet potatoes (yeah, I know, we are weird for having both kinds.....), ranch rolls, pickles, olives, pecan pie, pumpkin pie - a true feast. The only thing that was not prepared by the girls was the gravy!!!

I'm glad we were sick and couldn't do the things we had planned this Thanksgiving. We were forced to get out of the way and let the girls take the lead, and they did a great job.

Thanksgiving 2005

This year I have many things to be thankful for. First, and foremost, the peace of mind/life/etc knowing that I have an assured, positive relationship with the Creator. I have confidence that when I stand in His presence one day, I will stand as His friend because He has made it possible, not because I have done anything to make it happen.

My wife and I both have sinus infections this Thanksgiving!! Joy, Joy. We are not going to my mother-in-laws house (6 hours away) as a result. However, this is giving the girls an opportunity to cook their first Thanksgiving meal!!!! They stayed up late last night preparing, and have been busy all morning cooking. I'm glad they have the opportunity to cook this meal before they get married and are trying to impress their in-laws!!!! I'm sure that time will be stressful enough, without having to learn how to cook everything too.

Many other things to be thankful for this year. It has been a very good year. God has shown up in so many places it would be hard to try to name them all.

I hope you all have a Merry Thanksgiving!!!!

Juicy Teaching Stories - part 1

I've been teaching high school math for the grand total of 3 days so far. With this vast amount of experience, I offer the following analysis.

Teaching is not easy when:

1. some in the class are not interested in learning,

2. some in the class are more interested in talking to other people than listening to the teacher,

3. the teacher doesn't have a clue how to teach in this setting!!!!

4. very little time in the classroom is dedicated to actual teaching!

I have learned a great deal in the great many hours I have spent in the classroom. Enough to make me very greatful that we homeschool our 4 daughters....... I'd forgotten about the attitudes of Junior High boys........ and the one track minds some have in High School. I'm glad our girls are at home, where they can be treated as young ladies.

I have to change my teaching style in this setting. I spoke with another teacher this afternoon who made the following comment - "You are having too much fun." He made it in response to my deserate plea of "HELP!!!" He did give me an idea of what might work - with more to follow tomorrow night. He needed to be in a meeting. More to come from him tomorrow. He has been teaching for 37 years and is willing to help bring me up to speed (or something close).

Be careful, you might have to practice what you preach!

I've been talking to people in the church about serving our community in whatever way they can. The Superintendent of Schools recently spoke to us about the greatest needs in the school district as well.

This past week I received a call from the Principal of the High School. He asked if I would be interested in filling in for one of their math teachers who is going to be on Maternity Leave until the end of this semester. My wife and I talked about the effects on our family and the church. Another friend and I prayed and talked about it.

I spent the day today in the classroom with the teacher who is due to have a baby girl on December 15. It should prove to be interesting filling in for her for the next 5 1/2 weeks or so. I've never taught High School Math before...... but that is where the Engineering Degree should kick in!

I'm sure that there will be plenty of fodder for posting coming up - if I have time to do anything besides study for next Sunday, teach math (both at the High School and home), grade papers (both places), live life with my family, etc.

Veterans Day 2005

Both my brother-in-law and a cousin-in-law both sent this to me today. Click on the Video link to view the video. Check out the rest of the website while you are there.

Both men who forwarded this to me served in the U.S. Armed Forces. One of them was shot down in Viet Nam and to this day has problems with his back. The other served his entire career and recently retired as a Chaplain.

I have a great deal of respect for anyone who serves their country through the Armed Forces. I have several relatives & friends who are currently serving or have served in the past. I don't think that most who serve receive the gratitude that they deserve for their sacrifice.

With that in mind,

David - Thank You!
Neil - Thank You!
Matt - Thank You!
Darren - Thank You!
Alan - Thank You!
Michelle - Thank You!
Justin - Thank You!

I'm sure I have not named everyone I know who either has served or is serving, but you get the idea. Now, go and do likewise.

Old Words for a New Time

Recently I have been reading through The Training of the Twelve by A. B. Bruce. A friend of mine from Seminary highly recommended it and it finally made it's way to my doorstep.

This book on Leadership was first published in 1871. I'm finding that Bruce hit on some timeless aspects of change, specifically with respect to church life and change that bear repeating.

In Chapter 7 - Lessons in Religious Liberty, he presents an analysis of Jesus' response to John's disciples asking about why Jesus' disciples didn't fast, and His further illustrations of old & new cloth, and new wine in old wineskins. The following quote is the final paragraph of the chapter.

Too seldom for the church’s good have lovers of old ways understood Christ’s wisdom, and lovers of new ways sympathized with His charity. A celebrated historian has remarked: “It must make a man wretched, if, when on the threshold of old age, he looks on the rising generation with
uneasiness, and does not rather rejoice in beholding it; and yet this is very common with old men. Fabius would rather have seen Hannibal unconquered than see his own fame obscured by Scipio.”118 There are always too many Fabii in the world, who are annoyed because things will not remain stationary, and because new ways and new men are ever rising up to take the place of the old. Not less rare, on the other hand, is Christ’s charity among the advocates of progress. Those who affect freedom despise the stricter sort as fanatics and bigots, and drive on changes without regard to their scruples, and without any appreciation of the excellent qualities of the “old wine.” When will young men and old men, liberals and conservatives, broad Christians and narrow, learn to bear with one another; yea, to recognize each in the other the necessary complement of his own one-sidedness?

Bruce's analysis has been helpful in my situation. He has not negated the need for change, but does call me to be very wise in the process of change - especially in the church. All of us who are involved in the process of change within our churches need to be reminded of this.