Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Entering Manhood

Joshua turns 16 today. If he were Jewish, he would have been considered as entering the adult world 3 years ago. By the way, the shadow on his upper lip is not any indication. What truly sets a man from a boy is putting aside boyish things. Joshua is beginning to show the maturity needed to function in this world for Christ. He knows and regularly shares the gospel. Primarily now with children through Good News Clubs. The Bible is part of his daily diet (man does not live by bread alone). He prays regularly and has recorded God's faithfulness in his journal. Diligent would be the way to describe him in school. I am amazed to see him up early working when he knows that the daily routine will be changed in some way so that he will complete all his assignments. Of course, he is not perfect, hence the title "Entering . . ." above. He needs to develop a system on remembering tasks he finds unpleasant. He will get it done but he needs reminding. He is a very pleasant person with just about everybody but his sisters (at times). He would put the onus on them but I see it as something being instigated by all parties.
All said and done, I am overjoyed with the first 16 and am looking forward to the adventure to come.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Vocal Festival Blooper 2

I'm a little behind my weekly blogging. So instead of making one long blog about the Vocal Festival I divided it into two. During the break I strolled over to Olivia and Emmett Greene. They were both snickering and I asked why. Emmett explained that while Michaela was gone he had switcher her cup with another one sitting there. I quickly decided to hang around to see what would happen. Michaela walked up and instantly suspected something. "What are you laughing about?" she demanded. Before I could think up a good answer she asked, "Is about me?" I could only nod and grin. She shrugged and picked up the cup (we had no clue whose it was) and prepared to drink. Suddenly Olivia shrieked, "NO, NO, DON'T DRINK!!!" All Emmett and I could do was laugh. For Michaela's good fortune she listened to Olivia and didn't drink.

Vocal Festival Blooper

Obviously my sister has left me the task of talking about the vocal festival. They picked a good selection of songs and miracle of miracles we're not singing 'May the Music Never End' this year! Perhaps the funniest thing that happened that evening happened after the Latin song. Mr. Litke (the director) always enjoys silence after a song so he can savor the absolute beauty of our efforts. So we labored through a Latin song and ended up doing a decent job. As we were singing the last note, Mr. Litke raised up his hands and you could tell he was really getting into it. Only one problem. The very second we finished, some sopranos began talking! You can image the horror that spread over Mr. Litke's face. Actually, he was laughing (actually everybody was laughing). We had to redo the last note so Mr. Litke could have his "silence."

Recent Readings

Just this week I finished a book recommended to me by Michaela. I enjoyed it immensely for the challenges and difficulties that were worked through by the author as well as her awe inspiring tenacity to cling to Jesus Christ in word and deed. The book entitled Evidence Not Seen is the story of Darlene Diebler Rose missionary taken captive by enemy forces during World War 11. Her pointed honesty with her trials and battles of the mind and attitude during the very difficult circumstances as a POW on death row results into a riveting story of God's faithfulness to this faithful servant. As you can tell I enjoyed it and would recommend it not only as good reading but also excellent application for personal spiritual growth.

Friday, February 20, 2009

What did I get into?

Tonight I was trying to get my friend Ethan to read our family blog. The more readers the merrier right? Anyway we decided on a switch: he reads our blog, I look at his website. Seeing how I was already up I went to it tonight. Right away my eyes are drawn to words on the page that say Ethan Greene is the leader of a two man team. But of what? Ethan I found after reading is one of those people. When a tornado or storm comes up on the plains he chases it in a vehicle and takes pictures. Not only does he chase he must get right in it's path and the camera takes pictures when it's only 1/4 of a mile away! Talk about excitement! Anyway I hope you get to read this post Ethan and my opinion of your hobby. It sounds very interesting, but I would definitely watch it farther away. Thanks for the tips about hiding in ditches.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Reveiwing the Ten Commandments

At Good News Club today we were asking questions about the story of Esther. I asked why Esther went to the King. My thought was that she went to him to beg for her life. She was having trouble so I said,
"If someone was going to kill you what would you say to them.(Answer: Don't kill me, right?)
She said, "Kill somebody else!" Joshua and I both burst out laughing. We obviously aren't following the rules of always encouraging children, but she eventually got the right answer.

Practice Defines Priorities

Job 31:16-40 is quite a list of deeds that Job says is common to his life. He describes himself as being quite aggressive with carrying these things out. Reading this passage made me wonder what I am aggressive at getting done.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

How I Spent My Valentine's Day

For the 20th straight year, my New Dawn Singers have delivered singing valentine's for a fund raiser. I was at the Dillon's store in Salina from 4-8pm sending my students out to brighten someone else's day with a box of chocolates, a mylar and some of the best singing money can buy in Salina. Not to mention that we were doing it yesterday from 8am-6pm because people much prefer to embarass a loved(?) one in a public place such as their place of employment. I used to send Velda one every year until she said I could stop. Next year is the once in about 7 years that Valentine's Day is on a Sunday which will allow me to stay home because we don't deliver on Sundays.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Happy Valentine's

To all my family and friends may you have a wonderful day full of fun suprises and the reminder that we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Day of Rejoicing

This last Good News Club was definitely something to rejoice about. First, we had the most children we have ever had in a long time. We had six girls one of whom had never come before. Those who had come are starting to remember last weeks lessons very well. They remembered stuff I didn't even remember. When Ms. Harder gave an invitation, three of the girls went back with Michaela. Each one of them accepted Christ. That day the angels were rejoicing in heaven.

So Much More

How often I have heard this story but how differently it hit me this time. In my daily Bible reading when I saw that we had to read this certain book here is my first thought. "The beginning and the end are interesting but not the middle." Job was a man who went through intense suffering. Here are some things that jumped out at me:
"Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!" Well they are now.
"For he (God) is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." Jesus is the only one who can claim to be entirely human and entirely God, but unfortunately for Job he hadn't come yet.
"But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding." "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." God is the only ultimate source of wisdom.
References: Job 19:23, 9:32-33, 28:12,23.

Teaching 101 - Proximity

I had developed some behavior problems in one of my classes over time that were vexing because I was not able to solve them. Some students were participating poorly or not at all. What I didn't realize was that I had become stuck behind my podium. One day I decided to venture out in to the class while students should have been singing and, "lo and behold", I saw students scrambling for music that they should already have had in their hands. I noticed some of the same students singing with a little more gusto than before as well. I recalled one of the basic tenets of teaching called "Proximity". Simply put, students' behavior can improve in a way that is inversely proportional to the distance to the teacher.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Midnight!

Slowly and solemnly the clock strikes twelve,
It is Midnight.
Everything seems to be under a spell,
It is Midnight.
Everyone is sound asleep.
It is Midnight.
Out of my covers do I peek,
It is Midnight.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

P E

While Michaela was languishing without wisdom teeth, Grace and I went to P.E. This P.E. was my favorite . . . BASKETBALL!!! (I must have got this love from my mom). We got to do an interesting drill, we had to touch lines on the court while dribbing a basketball. Then, we got to play a game (my favorite part). I had great joy that day and got really sweaty. The next day I got sick and sat around all day. Oh well, I got my homework done.

Crunch Time

This week I will be involved in the production of The Music Man at South High. This is the culmination of a lot of long hours since around Thanksgiving. The final stretch involves the most amount of hours and stress. I'm not a rookie at this but it always is a relief when it is over, especially if it goes well. At this point, as usual when we're at this point, there seems to be more work that needs to be done that we have time to do.

Opossums


Tonight, as we were driving home from prayer, we saw an opossum.( Daddy said it's pronounced possum.) Anyway, at first I thought it was a cat but I realized it was an possum, because it was so low to the ground. We've had nightly visits from possums before. They usually at cat food or bird seed. I now see why possums become road kill so often they are low to the ground and hard to see without a street light. That is my insight for today remember our lesson be careful driving at night, so less possums become road kill.




Over and Out
GRACE