After work yesterday, I had a confrontation with one of the biggest troublemakers in the school. Throughout the day, we both knew that it was going to happen and kept sharing quick jabs at one another. He believed he was better than I and wanted to test his testosterone on me. Well I decided to let him try to step up to the big men's den and so we made the plans to meet up after school. Once we started, he landed the first shot and it was back and forth from there. After a tiring round we decided to take a breather and return in a few minutes to the exciting game of basketball.
The Bad Seed
It was a great and fun time where I was able to give him some pointers and just pal around a little bit. This boy is stepping into a scary world and trying to figure himself out. More than anything, he needs an older mentor to help guide him down the right directions.Yet, some teachers would go as far as disliking this student, giving up on him, and writing the individual up as a lost cause. Even worse is that it is usually the very opposite of the situation. Those students with behavior problems aren't rebelling against authority but are screaming for loving guidance.
Labels: Everyone's Passion
There are many boys out there whom get the stigma as a problem child and never lose it for the rest of their lives. I know as a teacher that it is hard not to organize and classify students on their behavior. It is almost impossible to keep on pace of the curriculum whenever you don't have all the kids understood as ones whom are willing and not willing to learn. The problem comes whenever those who aren't learning doesn't come from an unwillingness, but from not knowing how to learn or behave. These kids grow to think that they are scum and black sheep of society and we are the ones who are responsible for the labels. Us, Jesus followers, teachers, pastors, cousins, big brothers, neighbors, nosy observer all label a child as a lost cause or a blessing to the world. Knowing how we felt growing up with a label pointed on us, we continue in the horrible modern tradition. When will the times change and we revolutionize our interactions with the youth of today?
I suppose we all have one or two or three, but it sure doesn't make them any less embarrassing. Some are addicted to talk-shows vintage Jerry Springer style and others cannot get enough of those annoying little alien Teletubbies, but those both fail in comparison to mine. I do secretly admit to loving HGTV, but that's not my worst guilty pleasure. Ok... I'll come clean... I love reading church signs. Those really disturbing messages about Jesus put in a poser relevant and opposite of humorous way is like dead skin that must be peeled. It really saddens me that millions of people drive by these signs and think that this is what following Christ is all about. In reality, I wonder if the churches really believe these signs are helping them "win" souls for God. On the other hand, I could be just the strange one who is not affected by them.
After all, they always do get my attention. There could be a small sign and church beside a large multistory bank, and my eyes hone in straight to the little "Jesus loves you" sign. This morning, I drove by one that was done in the usual one-liner with a message behind it kind of way. It read, "Be an organ donor, give your heart to Jesus". The message does make me chuckle a little in my head, but on a sign it sounds like a bad car salesman trying to give me a horrible deal on a 1980's Relient K.
Maybe I am the only one with this guilty pleasure, but I doubt it. If you are stricken with this horrible addiction, then its time to come out of the closet and be proud of who you are. Share with all of us, the juiciest message on a sign that you've read.
Yesterday, was the most holiest day of gluttony. Known as Fat Tuesday, many Catholics, Lutherans, spiritual and non-spiritual moochers decided to celebrate in this festive holiday by seeing how much chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or anything else they can shove down their pie hole. The whole celebration is to help in preparation for Lent where an individual fasts from a particular food, beverage, electronical device, game, blogging, or whatever else that is not inherently wrong but does have a strong hold in one's life. One abstains from the object, action that they had chosen for the entire forty day season of Lent.
Sadly, Fat Tuesday totally snuck up on me and I forgot to celebrate it. I had been looking forward to it for awhile, but like a boring college class I just missed it. I'm also having a hard time deciding what I will abstain from this year. My everyday routine involves waking up, getting ready, going to work, come home and play with my boys. I can't really cancel any of those and my work consists of computers so I can't fast from computers. I would stop drinking coffee, but I don't get to drink it but a couple of times a week and the same goes for playing my guitar. I guess my choices really end up being meat, t.v., sex, and listening to music. More than anything, I think I'll learn that I have a boring life this season.
For those of you who lead more entertaining lives tell me what you are fasting and we can help keep each other accountable. I've pretty much decided that I am going to go vegetarian this season.
Tags: lent, fat tuesday, fasting
The Way is a limitless vessel;
Used by the self, it is not filled by the world;
It cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled;
Its depths are hidden, ubiquitous and eternal;
I don't know where it comes from;
It comes before nature -Tao
This morning while stopped at a light, the man in the car next to me got out of his car and went to talk with the car behind him. I was nervous and anxious at the same time because I have never seen any real road rage incidents in my life. Sadly, nothing happened as the angry man quietly strolled back to his car after speaking his peace. The real amazing thing about it was he managed to get back into his car before the light turned green, so he has to get some kudos for that one.
I wonder how other road rage confrontations made the innocent bystander drivers feel in the moment. If you have any confrontation stories that you would like to share then just leave it in the comments below. I'll post my favorite ones in the days to come.
Do you believe that you are a pushover? Is every stranger, friend, and lover taking advantage of you? If so, then I am here to tell you about my new exciting new self-help plan that helped turn me away from being the pushover to being the pusher.
Nothing like a horrible self-help introductory sentence to make your skin crawl. Then again, I'm sure it made you read this paragraph. On topic now, driving to work made me think of the type of people we are becoming. Whenever I went to the mall, while I was growing up, I would always open the door for the lady behind me. Of course everyone else behind her saw the sucker whom had let someone pass, so then they had to make a dash through the door while quietly mocking my ignorant youth. Everytime this happened, it really pissed me off that no one was willing to grab the door, but I kept on doing it anyway. After many "learning" experiences, I began to develop the right technique to door holding which includes letting the door hit the next able body person to try and steal a free entrance.
I believe most of life is this way. In every avenue, we switch from being the youthful helper into the self-concerned pusher. I do not think that most people do this on purpose. Its just survival of the fittest working its magic in this world.Whether it is letting a driver in front of you, giving a dime to a kid who only needs a nickel for a soda, allowing the person with less groceries ahead in line or unloading a bag into a car from an elderly lady's shopping cart, liife has become so fast that we don't have the time or desire to help out the person next to us. While driving this morning, I saw that the turn signal to the car next to me was flickering. I didn't want to risk making bad time to work so I didn't let the car in front me. I don't know when he was able to get over, but I do know I could've just made things easier by simply tapping my brakes.
I only wonder if I have it better now that I don't get pushed over or was life better when I was a absent-minded youth?
Emergent Voyageurs has a really good discussion every Friday dealing with art. This week is no different and is one that I am always questioning myself about. Should we, as Christians, even participate in art when there are so many more vitally important things going on in the world that needs to be done? As an artist and musician, I have battled with this in both spiritual and professional terms.
Its In the Genes
Music and art has been in my family's genes for a number of generations. My mom is even an accomplished professional artist and I at one point was about to attend either the Ringling School of Art here in the Tampa area or Berklee College of Music in Boston, but couldn't convince myself that either was a worthy career endeavor. In art, you are creating a piece of work that can be hung on the wall like a poster and as a musician you can write a song that can be played through someone's iPod, but neither one will directly affect and change the world in itself. This wasn't suitable enough for me. I want to be able to know that when I die, the world has been changed for the better. Therefore, I decided the best way would be to go into "Church Ministry".
The Drive Inside
Perhaps it might just be the creative gift in me, but I have always felt like God was trying to convince me that I do need to go into a more artistic endeavor. I have always listened to a piece of music or admired a piece of art and always thought that I could've made something similar to it. It drove me crazy and a lot of times I withdrew into depression because inside I really wanted to be creating, but did not feel like it was a worthy enough calling. This was until one day in the past year, when I began to watch other people listening to music. They were so passionate about it that they felt as if the music was telling their life story. A new day formed in my life and I realized that I truly had never listened to or admired a piece of art at all.
The Truth is Different
For the past year, I have began to really allow myself to become vulnerable and enjoy art for its message. Previously, I took a piece and dissected it as a critic digging through another man's work. Without any heart or desire to really hear what's being said, I wanted to know the talent behind it. Thankfully, I'm in a minority about viewing art in this way. Billions of people are changed by art everyday. Not only was I wrong that art doesn't change the world but I was oblivious to the fact that art is one of the largest catalysts for change. The painting on the wall of a large oak tree standing lonely in a dark field could be a window into the souls of many. The poetry sitting quietly behind a large arrangement of guitars and drums could be the movement in your blood. These words laying gently on my screen could be the shoes upon my feet.
The other day I was having a conversation with one of my students about illegal immigrants. He is very opinionated about how a certain segment of them do not need to be here. If they do not even try to learn English or be a civilized member of our society, then they should all be deported back to their country. I do have to admit that I sometimes get very frustrated when driving down the road behind an over packed truck completely disregarding any and all rules of the road or waiting impatiently behind one of them in a shopping line while they try to explain in Spanish to an English speaking cashier about why their out of date coupon needs to be taken. I really do get weighed down on this issue from both angles, and the student feels this way because of personal experiences with them.. One of my closest friends has recently graduated from college and is being threatened to be deported because it is extremely difficult to jump through the bureaucratic circles to become an American citizen.
Who Do I Blame?
While I might have conflicting viewpoints tugging at me, I do think there is another question that needs to be asked about the whole illegal immigrant situation. How are they able to afford to live in this overpriced country? I do not know Which way you believe about this issue, but I do not think we should blame the outside government for the huge conflict. Most illegal immigrants work quietly under the table for major corporations. Hell, here in Florida there are many working for Florida's Natural and other orange companies. They work hard manual labor for less than minimum wage and help keep the juice prices competitively low. If you want to put blame on this issue look at the boxes in the grocery store and the hangers in the department stores. There are many people willing to complain about the situation, but I wonder if anyone is willing to do anything about it. This is truly something that we could do something about by simply not buying any of the products. While I do get frustrated with many of them, I can only look to my past Irish lineage and admit that my family was in the same boat barely a century ago. I, personally, do believe that their children will be raised and become contributors to society. Then again, if I decide that they are wasting away all of our tax dollars, I shouldn't complain until I stop buying my groceries, clothes and cars.
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"The truth is a trap: you can not get it without it getting you; you cannot get the truth by capturing it, only by its capturing you." - Soren Kierkegaard
Quick Note: Who is Kierkegaard (Skip if you don't care)
One of the men who had a large influence in today's evil secular postmodern society is Soren Kierkegaard. If you so boldly choose to read any of this philosopher's books, you will find the truths of which most people believe in today. The entire war between Christianity and today's world is about relative truth and subjectivity, which is most supported by this man. This man, Soren Kierkegaard, whom persistently questioned the struggles in life and through it all devoutly followed after Jesus Christ wrote that only by a subjective experience captured by truth can we know when something is true.
Firstborn Son
Before my first son was born, I couldn't wait for the day when my wife would go into labor. It seemed as each day passed in August time passed slower and slower. My being had almost been completely eaten away by anxiety. In reality, I was extremely nervous about the entire situation because I had no idea what I was getting into. Then it happened. Erica went into labor and after a hard day's work, Addison Levi Miracle was born. The truth that I had a son whom I instantly loved quickly overwhelmed me and left me to tears. I sought to have feelings for him before he was born, but they were almost manufactured and came from fear of not having any. I wasn't worried that I wouldn't love him, only that I hadn't yet. It was only after being captured by the experience of holding him and looking at him helplessly crying in my arms that the truth was I love this boy.
Thought on Truth
What I love about the above quote is that it is not saying that experience creates truth, but only through some kind of experience can anyone know truth. It reminds me of times when I was a boy chasing after squirrels. No matter how hard I try, I just couldn't catch one. It wasn't until I became tired and laid quietly that the squirrel actually came curiously up to my nose. In so many times, we have all tried to find any truth by searching for it. Maybe instead of searching for truth, we should be waiting and listening for the truth whenever we read, watch a movie, listen to a friend, laugh, relax, go out, cry, wait in line, go shopping, make love and meditate.
quote from Wikiquote.org
Tags: love, truth, soren Kierkegaard, labor, search for truth
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Scott McKnight over at Jesus Creed has put up a commentary post on his blog about Psalm 119. In it he is equating God's protection not as a parent guarding a child, but as the one who keeps us from becoming evil and immoral. When we are surrounded by the rich who rob from the poor, the beautiful woman who seduces the married man, and the hypocritical religious fanatics whom lie to gain self-worth, God will shield us from falling victim to their trappings.
From His blog entry...
First, God is “my refuge” — the place where the psalmist hides.
Second, God is “my shield” — the place where one is protected from attack.
Third, it appears that his refuge and his shield are found in God’s Word (114b).
Fourth, therefore, since God is protecting him, the psalmist exhorts his opponents to keep their distance.
Tags: commentary, God, Psalm 119, protection
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I heard a great quote this morning from a fellow educator whom was speaking in front of the student body. Michaelangelo once said that he looks at a piece of clay, sees an angel inside and then becomes compelled to release it. Adding to the quote, this teacher said to the students that she looks at them, sees their greatness and becomes compelled to help reveal it. At that moment, something clicked. I began to look around the room and see the same thing. Every child in the room was being molded into the person that they would become in some part because of me.
What I don't think most people realize is that everyone has some role in shaping an individual's life. The real challenge comes not when one chooses the red or blue pill and shapes someone elses life, but what form will take shape when we begin to sculpt. As educators, pastors, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors we need to always be mindful of our actions and speech. It is the great poet John Mayer who said it best, "Girls become lovers who turn into mothers so mothers be good to your daughters too." I suppose everyone has the choice to help mold an masterpiece, disaster or an half-assed work of carelessness, but as I follow in the steps of Jesus I have no choice but listen to his words quoted from Deuteronomy, "Love your creator with all your heart... and care for the individual beside you as you take care of yourself".
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I found an amazing piece of poetry on Danwilt.com's blog. I have conversed with him on forums and I love his use of words. The simple and elegant phrases that he crafts together truly add inspiration to any reader. This following poem was not written by him, but you can see some of his inspiration in the words.
(definition: A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or
evoking daybreak)
Here we stand,
Friends and fathers,
The whisper of things to come around our ankles.
We face the dawn,
Sing into being a break in the night,
See beyond the black a world lit white with promise.
Here are our dancers, our poets, our lovers,
Here are a million stories,
... [read more]
Tags: poetry, inspiration, God, faith
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My wife and I were watching the news this morning and a segment was dedicated to the now passed away race horse Barbarosa. If you have been in a hole for the past year, Barbarosa was a horse that won the Kentucky Derby (One of those big races) and in one of the following races broke his leg. After an incredible recovery, he broke the other leg and was just put to sleep. I do not know much about horse racing, but watching the segment had me feeling compassionate about the horse. It might have been because I grew up with horses in our backyard or it was just a very well put together piece.
Barbarosa... My Hero
Once the segment was over, my wife screamed out, "It's just a horse!". I was flabergasted. How dare she say such things. I bought into the story and she needs to understand that horses are part of God's wonderful creation and need just as much respect. Of course it wasn't worth an argument, so I quickly closed my gapping mouth. But when she further elaborated, alot of it did make sense.
What About The Tents?
The reality is that Barbarosa is a horse whom won a race and eventually had to be put to sleep, but here in the Tampa area, there is an enormous homeless situation that everyone is in an uproar about. There are at least dozens, maybe hundreds of people without homes, that have put up tent in the St. Pete/Tampa area. Known as Tent City, the situation escalated when the local police department went in and destroyed every tent. The people stink who then drive away business to their surroundings, the city doesn't provide any "safe" alternatives, the people have no where to go or anything to buy, and we do not desire to provide employment to a person who does not dress well to a job interview. In reflection, I do not believe that my wife had a problem about the news reporting the segment about Barbarosa, but all the letters which were sent to his wealthy owners when we haven't heard about one being sent to the men and women who had their personal property destroyed by the city.
Final Question
I do not want to sound like an idealistic activist, because I haven't done anything. Also, most of the letters to Barbarosa were sent by little girls who daily dream of owning a majestic stallion. It would probably have been just as sad if the horse's owners didn't receive any touching letters. Maybe the real question is how do we balance being real about human crisis and everyday touching stories?
Tags: Barbarosa, Tent City, News
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Awhile back, someone was searching for a good plan of salvation to put on their website. Something similar to Roman's Road or the four spiritual laws. Now I don't think any plan that we make will be perfect, but they do have their advantages. They make it easier for some people to share their faith and understand our faith. Well on the thread I mentioned that a good one might be where you can show redemption through the words of Jesus. After a lot of procrastination here is my take on it Way to Life14:6 - I am the way, the truth & the life, no one can come to the Father but through me.6:38 - For I have come down from heave not to do my will, but to do the will of whom has sent me.4:23 - Yet a time is coming & now has come when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit & in truth5:24 - I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words & believes Him who sent me has eternal life17:3 - Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, & Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.8:51 - I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death17:20-26 - My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me & I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. - Jesus (quotes from the gospel of John)
Yesterday when I went for an interview at a Baptist Christian school, the administrator was talking about all the missionaries they send out throughout the world. Then he began talking about the missionary in Vermont and how hard it is up there. I said, "wait a minute... you have missionaries here in America?" I became stunned, but in a good way. I've always thought about sending missionaries to a foreign land, but why send one here. What we send in America are church planters... Are church planters the American equivalent to Missionaries? I think we presume that they are, but then when investigated they have two very different purposes. The church planter's purpose it to build a church, and it is best built within a Christian context. On the other hand, a missionary's purpose is to bring Jesus to the area. Once that Jesus has been penetrated to a few people then the church begins to form.Vermont is not wildly known for being a spiritual hotbed, let alone a Christian hotbed such as North Carolina. If we send our church planters out there then no one will attend the church. On the other hand, if we send missionaries to plant the daisy seeds. Then the church can come and manage the garden.
Hello everyone,
After just recently reading Dan Kimball's Emerging Worship and Eugene Peterson's new one, I have come to a couple of forward questions about pastors in the emerging culture. In the times of the megachurch and the consumerist culture, pastors were shepherds to the ministries. They were innovator's, developers, organizers and arrangers of the ministry to the building church. I wonder if there could be a new paradigm for the role of pastor, priest, minister, reverand or father. Dan Kimball suggested to allow the congregation to have more of an added role in the formation of the church. They could plan and lead the worship gatherings, outreach events, or any other modern pastor role. This was very exciting and unsettling at the same time and it wasn't because I knew I could be out of a job.
It was exciting because the fact the church could become a unified, communal and biblical church. The gathering could be led by numerous people at the same day all on their own. This would be any pastor's dream, but there is just something that kept on tugging at me. In this context there wouldn't be a need for any modern paid pastors, and that is accurate. What we need now is new kind of a pastor/a postmodern pastor. This is where I find the first snippets of this in Eugene Peterson's new book Subversive Spirituality. He explains that in the church he planted and pastored, he did not attend the elder meetings or anything along those lines. He hated doing this, and it gave freedom to members of the church to lead the church. He focused on what he was called to do, care for the spirituality of its members, providing the spiritual food for the people. He was not the head of the church, but just the one to help support the church. As I am writing this, I think wow what an exciting thought. Instead of being the head of the church, the pastor now has a role of being the spiritual servant to the church. I know throughout the 20th century the pastor being a servant was taught, but it was hardly practiced. Eugene Peterson showed an instance where the pastor's role is to really serve the church.
This is where I find a new beginning or paradigm for the pastor in the 21st century. The role is not necessary in the life of the church. Without the pastor, the church could still function and somewhat live. But the emerging church finds a pastor so that the pastor might be supported in his purpose from God.
The new pastor would be always in the thought of spiritual workings. He or she would study the history, methods, theology, and disciplines on spiritual matters. They would be like a professor at a college always working on the knowledge of their discipline. The professor would be continually learning, and growing in their given fields. In the same vein, the pastor will be always seeking to grow and learn in spiritual matters.
It is in this continual spiritual growth that pastors will be able to give back to the congregation that supports him or her. He can provide in the daily life spiritual counseling, leadership, and teaching. Also during the weekend gathering, he will be able to provide some spiritual guidance to the congregation.
This is where the old formula has changed. Before, churches paid pastors to lead the church in its walk. Now, churches will support the pastors in their pursuit in spiritual growth. Because of this, the pastor will be a servant to the church and will provide spiritual guidance to the church that supports him. He or she is now a servant guide...
I just finished reading McLaren's newest in the series. I am quite confused on where he comes out on the end about hell and eternality (new word if not allready), but other then that it was a great conclusion to a journey that has been one eye-opening experience for me. Whereas the other two books were thick with depth and loose on plot, this one became flipped around: thick on plot and little more loose in its theological depth.
Don't get me wrong here, it is still deep with insights, but done in a different fashion. The previous two were primarily based on the conversations, but the insights gained in this last one was through the lives of the characters and the plots throughout it all.
In the end, it is not as eye-opening as the first two books, but it gives a comforting conclusion. Through all of the deconstructing done in the first ones, I suppose it is important to end with one that could be a groundwork for future construction...
Whatever, it was an awesome read with a great story, I highly recommend it, now I have to go and re-read it..
Here is a song that I wrote. It is pretty self-explanatory: we are in a world where everything has been theoretically explained to the most minute detail. This is also including God, which must be above us. This was my plea to take me into the the darkness of life, where I cannot be sure of anything. I want to be in a place where I can only rest on having faith and hope in God, not knowing my surroundings. Of course, this will lead to extreme fears being unearthed...
Lord’s Darkness
Chorus
Lead me into your darkness
May I feel the night
Guide me to your mystery
that is beyond my sight
vs. 1
The city that I stay
lights up and all is seen
No shadows on the inside
florescent’s always beside
Gates surround the city
locks off any through
May I find an escape
from the lights masquerade
vs 2
Through a hole I crept outside
to an uncovered way of life
In this I walk with humility
but to the light I am now free
vs 3
In this newness that I stand
that lives inside Your ways
My knees become weak
this moment in your mystique
