As yesterday was my last day at Sue Cleveland, I thought it would be appropriate to post my final entry from my teaching journal. Some of you will recognize several of these points from my previous "Things Learned" list. I've been keeping it going, and here it is in final form:
Things I've learned through student teaching:
- children will lick any envelope given them.
- two excellent composers of children's choral music: Andy Beck, Linda Spaveck
- all solemn men in paintings are presidents. Most likely George Washington.
- glue guns and Post-it Notes are your friends
- the floors in primary classrooms are tile for a reason: summed up in one word, "moppable"
- the inventor of the laminating machine is worthy of a Nobel Prize
- there's a such thing as a task analysis, and consequences when you forget it
- they're always watching. Always.
- they always copy you. Especially when you hope they WEREN'T watching
- love the secretary and janitor-- they are very important Friends to have.
- your first name is "Miss"
- Squidward plays the clarinet
- explosions and natural disasters are the best motivators for boys starting in 4th grade. maybe before...
- children find routine comforting: if you don't give them a routine, they'll make one, even if it's something as simple as saying "bringit around town!" every time they warm up their bodies for singing.
- children are people. Small, yes. Incomplete? no. They have feelings, backgrounds, opinions, likes, dislikes, fears and hopes just like anybody else.
- kids tune out talking. but they're ALWAYS watching (see previous point).
- "ta ta ti-ti ta" is a universally shushing rhythm
- anything you say in class can and will be used against you :)
- you have the right to remain silent.
- laughing is infectious, and SO much fun
- just like everyone else, kids want to know 1) that you know what you're talking about and 2)that you care about who you're talking to
- no one likes to be shouted at
- teachers ask their kids for a lot of humility and teachability. I need to acknowledge that I'm asking them of them, and model both traits.
- tell a kid a story, you've got his attention; listen to HIS story, you've got a friend for life
- (the core belief of our school's Multi-Age classes:) "Tell me…I forget, Show me…I remember, Involve me…I understand!"
- they say teaching never pays enough, but they also say that no amount of money could buy the influence and reward a teacher gets. I've seen that both can be true... but more than either, I've learned this: a teacher must work for a Greater "well done, good and faithful servant." The kids won't know, can't know how much they should appreciate, and sometimes the burden will be too great to carry and the teacher will fall. Without a Higher Judge, there will be no room for grace, and a huge thirst for thanks that could never be satisfied. I'm aiming for that Greater Smile, and choosing to see it in the face of every student I have.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
It's so me...
My fiancé sent me this, saying it reminded him of me... HAH.
Those of you who knew me freshman year might recall the little music video my roommate and I produced... to a certain song... But I would never analyse a pop song as I heard it, certainly not out loud.
Ok... maybe I would on occasion.
Ok... maybe I do on occasion.
Ok... maybe I should just take out the maybe and occasion.
Ok... I'm a music major, what do you expect!?
Pop songs are musically boring, anyway. All those I-vi-IV-V progressions...
My beloved knows me well. That's reason to grin. =D
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Professional Discouragement
The past two days have been rough. I think part of it is that both Robin & I are going long stretches of time without seeing our significant others. :) I'm slightly used to it by now (not that I like it any better), but she isn't. Today I think I succeeded in finally cheering her up a little. :) I've been "counting down the days." The kids always wonder why there's a giant star on May 18th on Miss Thompson's wall calandar...
Day 43, Tuesday May 8th:
It's wonderful to once again watch Robin teach. I learn so much just watching her, especially now that I've had some experiences of my own. Today was the start of a new instructional week, and I dropped 1st and 2nd grades. [...]
As a teacher, I'm personally discouraged. I feel like I'm getting worse and worse instead of better and better. I'm just so completely tired, all the time, and I think it's affecting my teaching. I honestly don't think it's that I'm not preparing or caring...it's like I can't remember everything when I get in front of the kids all of a sudden. Mentally I sort of freeze. And even getting ready takes me twice as long. Then I have to go back and correct or re-do half of it anyway because in my fatigue I did it wrong the first time. I can't keep functioning much longer on this little rest. I almost wonder if it would be better for the kids for me to just go to bed, and make up whatever we're doing the next day, when I can actually process up to speed. I know I can't do that, and I certainly won't. I think the worst is passed-- everything is done for this week, and next week I'll just be doing K5, and that lesson's already planned. It's so hard to plan lessons, teach all day, get lessons ready, and attend school-related functions, especially when I have to work two other jobs on the weekends and fulfill numerous responsibilities. It's letting me know three things: that in my first years as a teacher under no circumstances do I want to teach full-time and do ANYTHING else; that since the teaching internship consumes the energy of any full-time job, it should be PAID as such; and that planning lesson units (if no more than skeletal outlines) while NOT teaching (summer!) will relieve so much pressure!!
Maybe I'm just being harder on myself as I go, I don't know. I want to do right by these kids, by Robin, and by Furman. ...at least there's only two more weeks to go.
Day 43, Tuesday May 8th:
It's wonderful to once again watch Robin teach. I learn so much just watching her, especially now that I've had some experiences of my own. Today was the start of a new instructional week, and I dropped 1st and 2nd grades. [...]
As a teacher, I'm personally discouraged. I feel like I'm getting worse and worse instead of better and better. I'm just so completely tired, all the time, and I think it's affecting my teaching. I honestly don't think it's that I'm not preparing or caring...it's like I can't remember everything when I get in front of the kids all of a sudden. Mentally I sort of freeze. And even getting ready takes me twice as long. Then I have to go back and correct or re-do half of it anyway because in my fatigue I did it wrong the first time. I can't keep functioning much longer on this little rest. I almost wonder if it would be better for the kids for me to just go to bed, and make up whatever we're doing the next day, when I can actually process up to speed. I know I can't do that, and I certainly won't. I think the worst is passed-- everything is done for this week, and next week I'll just be doing K5, and that lesson's already planned. It's so hard to plan lessons, teach all day, get lessons ready, and attend school-related functions, especially when I have to work two other jobs on the weekends and fulfill numerous responsibilities. It's letting me know three things: that in my first years as a teacher under no circumstances do I want to teach full-time and do ANYTHING else; that since the teaching internship consumes the energy of any full-time job, it should be PAID as such; and that planning lesson units (if no more than skeletal outlines) while NOT teaching (summer!) will relieve so much pressure!!
Maybe I'm just being harder on myself as I go, I don't know. I want to do right by these kids, by Robin, and by Furman. ...at least there's only two more weeks to go.
Mystified
Again from my journal:
Day 41, Friday May 4th:
The variation in the responses of different children to the same "system" is remarkable to me. One student got a low grade on his assignment, largely through lack of effort, and spent today's class working as hard as he could. Not only did he make up last week's assignment, he also did well on today's and was able to receive his reward-- time on the laptops (doing more work- they just didn't know that's what it was). Another student likewise received a poor grade, but spent the entire class period walking around looking at other people's grades, moping when his was lower than theirs, and doing absolutely nothing productive. Was the difference simply the personality of the child, or maybe each's environment? If one comes from a home with consistant consequences, with appropriate praise and appropriate disapproval, but one does not, that might make the difference. I know that the first student understood that his grade was fair. The other one should have known that, but I wonder if he somehow missed that. I know I would find it quite demoralizing to have to work under circumstances I deemed to be unfair. ...
Most mystifying of all to me were the students who did really well on last week's assignment, yet put forth NO effort to similarly succeed this time. One boy, "Josh" got a perfect score on last week's assignment, but spent THIS class period lying face down on the floor. I answered his questions as patiently as I could (which was difficult!), and after class Robin told me she'd also worked with him twice. What had been the problem? Looking at what he had written, and after talking to him, I think he just didn't want to take the time to erase the first things he'd written (which he then realized were incorrect), and he didn't want to wait his turn to get his work checked by me. It shocked me a little that any student would be so lazy, to his own detriment! I would never have thought of such an attitude at his age! But... all in all the lessons went well today. I love it that we get them to work really hard for a reward of more work! And they love it! :)
Day 41, Friday May 4th:
The variation in the responses of different children to the same "system" is remarkable to me. One student got a low grade on his assignment, largely through lack of effort, and spent today's class working as hard as he could. Not only did he make up last week's assignment, he also did well on today's and was able to receive his reward-- time on the laptops (doing more work- they just didn't know that's what it was). Another student likewise received a poor grade, but spent the entire class period walking around looking at other people's grades, moping when his was lower than theirs, and doing absolutely nothing productive. Was the difference simply the personality of the child, or maybe each's environment? If one comes from a home with consistant consequences, with appropriate praise and appropriate disapproval, but one does not, that might make the difference. I know that the first student understood that his grade was fair. The other one should have known that, but I wonder if he somehow missed that. I know I would find it quite demoralizing to have to work under circumstances I deemed to be unfair. ...
Most mystifying of all to me were the students who did really well on last week's assignment, yet put forth NO effort to similarly succeed this time. One boy, "Josh" got a perfect score on last week's assignment, but spent THIS class period lying face down on the floor. I answered his questions as patiently as I could (which was difficult!), and after class Robin told me she'd also worked with him twice. What had been the problem? Looking at what he had written, and after talking to him, I think he just didn't want to take the time to erase the first things he'd written (which he then realized were incorrect), and he didn't want to wait his turn to get his work checked by me. It shocked me a little that any student would be so lazy, to his own detriment! I would never have thought of such an attitude at his age! But... all in all the lessons went well today. I love it that we get them to work really hard for a reward of more work! And they love it! :)
Grace in Teaching
From my teaching journal. I joke about how I never knew God's grace often resembled a steaming dark liquid until I started teaching. :)
Day 40, Thursday May 3rd:
Today was proof to me that learning, or even successful lesson-flow, is NOT dependant on how well I, the teacher, feel coming into it. I woke up this morning absolutely exausted, not quite sure how I was going to make it through the day on zero energy, much less teach all day! Maybe it was the cup of coffee, maybe it was just grace, but lessons went great. I think I hit on a good way to maximize the time in our class, minimize my talking, let the kids hear their compositions, allow them to revise their first drafts, and force them to compose! The laptops became a motivating tool-- never knew what a handy trick it was to turn an ends into a means! I also liked how this showed the students who didn't take the first assignment (or me) seriously that I DO mean business: the standards of expectations are high, and that their choice to do less than their best had very natural consequences. They were the ones who had to spend the whole class revising rather than going straight to a laptop. But it also gave them a second chance, one they took gladly. Robin gave me high praise on the way I ran the class, with students working on their revision, then coming up to me at my desk to check off their work (or more often, to guide further correction), and then moving to the laptops where they had a "map" (written instructions). It was a bit chaotic-sounding, with kids queuing by my desk, but it was worth it. "Not every class can be that way, but for composing, it really NEEDS to be that way" she said. I think it was learning noise :)... the students seemed to benefit from the individual "conference time" they got when they were up at my desk. I don't know how I would have done it if Robin hadn't been there to monitor those at the computers, though! I said that to her, and she said I'd have recruited some of the students to help. Likely I wouldn't have allowed as much noise, either. Anyway I enjoyed teaching despite my bleak outlook on life in general when I rolled out of bed this morning.
Day 40, Thursday May 3rd:
Today was proof to me that learning, or even successful lesson-flow, is NOT dependant on how well I, the teacher, feel coming into it. I woke up this morning absolutely exausted, not quite sure how I was going to make it through the day on zero energy, much less teach all day! Maybe it was the cup of coffee, maybe it was just grace, but lessons went great. I think I hit on a good way to maximize the time in our class, minimize my talking, let the kids hear their compositions, allow them to revise their first drafts, and force them to compose! The laptops became a motivating tool-- never knew what a handy trick it was to turn an ends into a means! I also liked how this showed the students who didn't take the first assignment (or me) seriously that I DO mean business: the standards of expectations are high, and that their choice to do less than their best had very natural consequences. They were the ones who had to spend the whole class revising rather than going straight to a laptop. But it also gave them a second chance, one they took gladly. Robin gave me high praise on the way I ran the class, with students working on their revision, then coming up to me at my desk to check off their work (or more often, to guide further correction), and then moving to the laptops where they had a "map" (written instructions). It was a bit chaotic-sounding, with kids queuing by my desk, but it was worth it. "Not every class can be that way, but for composing, it really NEEDS to be that way" she said. I think it was learning noise :)... the students seemed to benefit from the individual "conference time" they got when they were up at my desk. I don't know how I would have done it if Robin hadn't been there to monitor those at the computers, though! I said that to her, and she said I'd have recruited some of the students to help. Likely I wouldn't have allowed as much noise, either. Anyway I enjoyed teaching despite my bleak outlook on life in general when I rolled out of bed this morning.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Books Illustrated
It would seem that Jacqui and I have developed a habit of illustrating photographically the books on engagement/marriage which I'm currently reading. And being otherwise random, hehehe...
Here we were imitating the cover of Wilson's book Reforming Marriage. Great book, but the cover leaves one somewhat doubting the book's effectiveness. We hope the couple on the front is in need of a reformed marriage, not the result of one!! They're either so completely bored with each other that they've fallen asleep, or so utterly overworked that they can't sit down without collapsing. Either way...not so much my ideal for marriage! :)
The following could constitute a photographic tutorial in how to subtly show-off a hypothetical (engagement) ring. The ideas are from Dazzled to Frazzled and Back Again, by Ginger Kolbaba. It was a gift from my Mommy, which we have greatly enjoyed, and which I highly reccomend! :)
The famous and effective "Adjusting my contact" technique
"Pondering deeply and often"
"Just tucking my hair behing my ears"
last but not least: "Becoming easily and overwhelmingly excited"
Oh. That's just Jacqui being random. :)
Engagement showers do strange things to you.
Here we were imitating the cover of Wilson's book Reforming Marriage. Great book, but the cover leaves one somewhat doubting the book's effectiveness. We hope the couple on the front is in need of a reformed marriage, not the result of one!! They're either so completely bored with each other that they've fallen asleep, or so utterly overworked that they can't sit down without collapsing. Either way...not so much my ideal for marriage! :)The following could constitute a photographic tutorial in how to subtly show-off a hypothetical (engagement) ring. The ideas are from Dazzled to Frazzled and Back Again, by Ginger Kolbaba. It was a gift from my Mommy, which we have greatly enjoyed, and which I highly reccomend! :)
The famous and effective "Adjusting my contact" technique
"Pondering deeply and often"
"Just tucking my hair behing my ears"
last but not least: "Becoming easily and overwhelmingly excited"
Oh. That's just Jacqui being random. :)Engagement showers do strange things to you.
Friday, May 04, 2007
They're Here!!
A large box awaited me on my return from school yesterday afternoon. One look at the return address and I knew exactly what it contained: invitations. 350 of them. To my wedding.
Talk about a milestone!
I sat down at the table, hesitant to open the box. What if I didn't like them? What if they turned out horrible in the printing? What if there was some mistake. What if Mom hated them? What if... what if... "Mom, I'm a little scared to open these," I said as I put knife to tape. In a strange role-reversal, she said "Just do it!" And there they were within: my name, Ryan's name, our date, our faces... waiting in all their glossy, correctly lettered beauty. :)
"Mom, this is my wedding invitation! ...Oh dear, I better not cry!" She gave me a questioning look. "No it's not that I don't like them- I love them! ...Mom, this is really happening. These are real. People are going to get these and really come to a real wedding-- and it's not for someone else this time! ...This just makes it all seem real...."
Talk about a milestone!
I sat down at the table, hesitant to open the box. What if I didn't like them? What if they turned out horrible in the printing? What if there was some mistake. What if Mom hated them? What if... what if... "Mom, I'm a little scared to open these," I said as I put knife to tape. In a strange role-reversal, she said "Just do it!" And there they were within: my name, Ryan's name, our date, our faces... waiting in all their glossy, correctly lettered beauty. :)
"Mom, this is my wedding invitation! ...Oh dear, I better not cry!" She gave me a questioning look. "No it's not that I don't like them- I love them! ...Mom, this is really happening. These are real. People are going to get these and really come to a real wedding-- and it's not for someone else this time! ...This just makes it all seem real...."
Yay!! I'm getting married! :)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
So Quickly Moving...
From an email conversation regarding the paradoxical, strangeness of feelings that accompanies the end of one's "Senior Year:"
End-of-term is sure comin' up fast! I can't believe I'm about to cross off 'May 2' on my school calandar. Today I have exactly three more weeks here! (and only 16 more days until I get to see my Ryan! =D) I feel like things are progressing so fast that I don't have time to feel strange about being one of 'The Seniors.' I'm just taking it one step at a time, and I know those steps will land me outside the familiar world of Furman, with a new strange title of "alumna." But I don't have time to really think about it, because the next step is coming so fast!!
I'll be so glad to be done with school, to be done with being responsible FOR school (aka student teaching)... and most of all, to be able to take time to enjoy where I am before I'm gone. Nicole got home yesterday -- her freshman year is over! Anna's senior year will be ending at the end of June, and I want to enjoy them both, while we're all together. But so much is happening! My kids sing their closing concert Friday night, and we compete in Carowinds' Choral Competition Saturday. Anna's giving a senior recital soon...Mom & Dad are hosting a Graduation Drop-in for the both of us... End of May also means big party with lots of family comin' in, and Ryan!!!
About that- please pray for me: the distance and prolonged separation wears on me... I'm glad, though, that I have someone so wonderful to miss! :)
End-of-term is sure comin' up fast! I can't believe I'm about to cross off 'May 2' on my school calandar. Today I have exactly three more weeks here! (and only 16 more days until I get to see my Ryan! =D) I feel like things are progressing so fast that I don't have time to feel strange about being one of 'The Seniors.' I'm just taking it one step at a time, and I know those steps will land me outside the familiar world of Furman, with a new strange title of "alumna." But I don't have time to really think about it, because the next step is coming so fast!!
I'll be so glad to be done with school, to be done with being responsible FOR school (aka student teaching)... and most of all, to be able to take time to enjoy where I am before I'm gone. Nicole got home yesterday -- her freshman year is over! Anna's senior year will be ending at the end of June, and I want to enjoy them both, while we're all together. But so much is happening! My kids sing their closing concert Friday night, and we compete in Carowinds' Choral Competition Saturday. Anna's giving a senior recital soon...Mom & Dad are hosting a Graduation Drop-in for the both of us... End of May also means big party with lots of family comin' in, and Ryan!!!
About that- please pray for me: the distance and prolonged separation wears on me... I'm glad, though, that I have someone so wonderful to miss! :)
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Spring!!! :)
"Daisies...they're the happiest flowers, don't you think?"
Hooray for the wildflowers I picked on the way home Friday-- daisies absolutely make my day, and there's a field FULL of them, and blue cornflowers, which I pass every day on the way to school. Mom keeps our yard brimming with primroses and verdena and daffodils this time of year...all in all it made for some lovely bouquets. Praise Jesus for beauty everywhere!
(<-- I picked enough for my Mom, my nightstand (aka my Ryan-shrine ;D, AND my daisy-vase) Somewhere along my life I picked up the line from the old nursery rhyme, "...and she shall have music wherever she goes," and as I gathered these daisies in the glory of an April afternoon, the line changed, quite sweetly, to "...and she shall have daisies wherever she goes." Oh to be so blessed... :)
"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo
Daisies
"Consider the lilies of the field; they neither toil nor spin, neither do they labor, yet I tell you that Solomon in all his splendor was never dressed such as these..."
"Not worlds on worlds, in phalanx deep,
Need we to prove a God is here;
The daisy, fresh from nature's sleep,
Tells of His hand in lines as clear."
Need we to prove a God is here;
The daisy, fresh from nature's sleep,
Tells of His hand in lines as clear."
~John Mason Good ("Naturalist's Poetical Companion")
Daisies on my Table
As Emma Goldman said, "I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck!" :)
Well, I'd rather have daisies. :)
This is my daisy-vase, which I sorely missed in Louisville. St. James Ct. in all its lovliness was only lacking in this one respect: no daisies!
"...and daisy-stars, whose firmament is green.
~Thomas Hood Plea of the Midsummer Fairies
(p.s. the picture is from a painting 'Primavera' by Boticelli-- she reminds me of the Flower-Child in MacDonald's The Lost Princess)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Senior Melancholy
I attended the Furman Singers Concert last night with my parents, and it was strange and somewhat bitter to sit in the audience rather than stand with them and sing. The sounded AMAZING, and as we've had most of this music since Fall, they knew their parts well enough to be able to mix the choir (voice parts interspersed) which inevitably makes a choir sound even better!! Yeah. They're good all right! Anyway, afterwards Dr. Vick called up all the alumni or former Singers to join them for our traditional "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Brown Eyes," and it was fun to join my friends, though I was the only soprano on that side of the stage... I think I may have made up some harmony. I could hear my friend Ryan (c/o 2005) making up words behind me, lol. Afterwards several of my friends --one who's a senior with me, another stood by me in Singers, and another is in my studio-- grabbed me and told me they miss me and what's goin' on and how weird it is to be done with another year... That made me smile. Though in many ways I feel as if I've already moved on from Furman's music dept., it will be sad to make that final break on June 2nd. Here's the Schoonmaker Studios at our Christmas Party (Dr. Bruce is my voice teacher, his wife Gail is another voice prof at Furman and we always do joint studio parties) this past Dec. So much fun!Only a few more "events"... Senior Banquet was last week, Student Teacher Banquet on Mon., Singers Banquet in May, Graduation... then it's the Dispersion! ... It's not that those events are so important in and of themselves, but somehow they stand for something-- what's that called? Part standing for the whole? Hmmm... Time to be thankful for all the good memories, and look forward to the ones comin' up!! :)
--Christina
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
What's In a Name?
I'd just like to mention that my sister (Anna) and her friends have strange ideas about pet names. Anna just got a fish which they named Harvey. Last Thursday Anners & I went over to Kristen (also a senior at Southside Christian with Anna)'s house to meet her new kitten, which was TINY!! Anyway, it's named Warren. At least unless they determine it a girl. I thought that was a funny name (because the only two Warrens I know are 20-somethings who are completely NOT kitten-like). However, they maintained that it was a great pet name. So there you go.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Reconnecting
Last week, I got a mysterious Facebook "friending" (for those of you who don't know what that means... ask an internet-savvy nerd/teenager near you) from someone... but I didn't know the name, and there was no picture to back it up, and no friends on her page I recognized. So I sent her a message asking how we knew each other. The response was an apologetic "No wonder you didn't recognize me! No pictures and a new last name!" It was my friend Amanda, whom I lost touch with when I moved to Kentucky -- come to find out she's had a year full of even more changes than I have! I was thrilled to hear she's still seeking the Lord, is now quite happily married, living in Atlanta, and doing wonderfully!! She also caught me up on the life of a mutual friend, Kelsey, and it's her blog I'd like to give a shout-out. Kelsey's in Denver, Colorodo, working in a ministry called "the Esther House." This house ministers to women coming out of poverty and destructive lifestyles, giving them not just rehab, therapy and "support," which any "half-way house" can do, but also giving them the one thing powerful enough to set them free: the Gospel. You can read more about it yourself by clicking the links of this post's title, or the link to the left (sidebar). The Esther House is part of a vision much like the one Immanuel Baptist (Louisville, KY) has-- to move into the inner city and reach its community with the Gospel of Hope. Oh for that vision to burn through America's suburban, wealthy "safe" churches!!
It's always fun to 'reconnect' with old friends, especially when you get to become friends with those who were once only acquaintances, or find that old friends are doing well! When you understand and treasure the Sovereignty of God, such meetings aren't happy happenstances, but rather intentionally orchestrated path-crossings of a relational, kind God. Jacqui and I were talking just the other day about how much "ordinary" becomes "miraculous" when you look at life this way: acts of God on behalf of His Kingdom and People, meriting praise and thanksgiving! When God does everything, what exactly does "ordinary" mean, anyway?
Hmmm... it could look "miraculous" for two people living completely separate lives to find that they are being simultaneously caught up in similar visions, in two entirely separate communities. (I'm thinking of Immanuel in Kentucky, and Kelsey in Colorodo) Sort of like Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz both coming up with calculus at the same time, completely independantly of one another. Way too weird a 'coincidence.' BUT on close examination, even if the two didn't ever interact, they were both drawing from the same body of research, and living in a time that encouraged the lines of thinking that led each man to his similar conclusions. I guess we wouldn't call it too strange if two men drew the same picture looking at the same mountain... My point? The Church should be looking at the same Glorious God all the time, and so should beat with a strikingly similar rhythm a remarkably resemblant tune. I love that we're living in a Day and Age where Christ's Kingdom and renown is expanding, and there will be more and more moments of Christians meeting with similar visions-- soldiers under the same marching orders. God in His Sovereignty, is re-connecting all the World with His Order-- let us look and work towards that complete Redemption; a New Creation!
It's always fun to 'reconnect' with old friends, especially when you get to become friends with those who were once only acquaintances, or find that old friends are doing well! When you understand and treasure the Sovereignty of God, such meetings aren't happy happenstances, but rather intentionally orchestrated path-crossings of a relational, kind God. Jacqui and I were talking just the other day about how much "ordinary" becomes "miraculous" when you look at life this way: acts of God on behalf of His Kingdom and People, meriting praise and thanksgiving! When God does everything, what exactly does "ordinary" mean, anyway?
Hmmm... it could look "miraculous" for two people living completely separate lives to find that they are being simultaneously caught up in similar visions, in two entirely separate communities. (I'm thinking of Immanuel in Kentucky, and Kelsey in Colorodo) Sort of like Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz both coming up with calculus at the same time, completely independantly of one another. Way too weird a 'coincidence.' BUT on close examination, even if the two didn't ever interact, they were both drawing from the same body of research, and living in a time that encouraged the lines of thinking that led each man to his similar conclusions. I guess we wouldn't call it too strange if two men drew the same picture looking at the same mountain... My point? The Church should be looking at the same Glorious God all the time, and so should beat with a strikingly similar rhythm a remarkably resemblant tune. I love that we're living in a Day and Age where Christ's Kingdom and renown is expanding, and there will be more and more moments of Christians meeting with similar visions-- soldiers under the same marching orders. God in His Sovereignty, is re-connecting all the World with His Order-- let us look and work towards that complete Redemption; a New Creation!
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, that you love one another... Father, I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me ..." Jn. 13:35, 17:21-24
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Very Interesting...
Funny how randomly you come across things...
I came across this thought provoking blog-entry because its author commented on another friend's blog...gotta love linkage (there's to you, Toto). My friend Lisa is in Indonesia right now, learning the language, and bein' a nanny for some other friends of mine, Andy & Emily Morris. They're in Indonesia learning the language as well, looking to be church-planters there. Anyway, she writes well, takes great pictures, and will encourage you if you read them.So neither here nor there, here's an excerpt I found quite thought-provoking. I've noticed a problem with some of my guy friends drifting from church, and also bemoaned the lack of godly encouragement between men that I know, even if they do go to the same church. You can access the full article by clicking on the date below. Thoughts?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I understand your sentiment about the shot clocks and about the "drive through" church. but what if someone were to come here that normally wouldn't come to a "normal" church like you and i attend. whatif they came and were so intrigued that they began to change their life and began to worship God in the way that He wants us to and then joined in fellowship with a "real" church? there could be some validity in this process. just a thought. -brandon
... Amen, that is exactly what is happening at Church for Men. I am one of the organizers. Men are coming who have not been to church in 9 to 11 years. They are not only finding Godly men and encouragement. They are finding home churches. -Mike Ellis, Church for Men Florida [...]
here is their website if you would like to look around.
the website addresses a concern that i myself have had for quite awhile. the content of much of the modern "praise and worship" movement filled with language of a dating relationship that if a non-believer were to walk in, it would be unclear if we were singing about god or our boyfriend/girlfriend. this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
so with the "church for men" i can stand in agreement with this.
i also think it is a valid concern that so many men who call themselves believers do not attend church with their families. again, i can stand with the "church for men" on this.
the website poses these "big questions"• What is it about modern Christianity that is driving men away?
why is that that our church rolls are three times larger than the actual attendance? why is it that those who call themselves believers or identify themselves as christians don't live like it? what does the church need to teach and do to hold its members accountable?
• Jesus was a magnet to men, but our churches repel them. What’s changed?
• Why do rival faiths inspire male allegiance, while ours breeds male indifference?
• What can we do about it? [...]
all of this to say that my concern with "the church for men" is less with the questions that they are asking, but more with the solutions being provided. as stated in the news article, the church for men says that men aren't going to church because they are "bored stiff" [...]
is this a valid excuse?
our first question must be, why go to church?
it is for the worship of god that we go to church. [...] the new testament is clear that it is the teaching of the scriptures that holds prominence, and everything that is done when a church meets is ultimately done for god.
if we have to be coddled and convinced and accommodated before we go even once a month, are we even going for the right reasons?
men are supposed to be the spiritual leaders of their family. what kind of leadership is it that goes to church by itself once a month to a church that does things his way? [...]
the church, we often forget, is (biblically) made up of believers. the gathering of the saints is for worship by believers. however, in our pragmatic society, we have gotten things backwards. our church services have gone from the biblical model of the gathering of believers to worship and hear the word of god in order that they be taught, reproved, corrected, and trained in righteousness (just read paul's instructions to timothy and titus), to focusing on getting the lost into our churches and doing whatever it takes to keep them there with the hope that they will be converted.
this is a concern that does need to be addressed. of course a church should welcome all who want to come, but the church is made up of believers! the church is to train the believers who come in all matters of the faith, including evangelism, so that as these members go out to work, school, and the community, they are witnessing and sharing the gospel.
the church in the new testament was not an evangelistic gathering. it was a gathering of believers. [...]what i am saying is, a church that focuses, develops, and directs its corporate worship to a gathering of non-believers is neglecting the people the church exists to benefit.
i am all for organizations making an effort to evangelize and spread the gospel to non-believers. there are many groups that do this. [...] but they are not churches....
the unifying purpose of the church is the glory of god, and that is something all christians have in common. there is something to be said for "dying to self", even in the context of how we order our worship services."
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Easter Break
You'd think I've been offline awhile, judging by my activity on my blog, or lack thereof. I've been "online" for sure, but online applying for jobs, registering for tests (yet another Praxis, urg), answering emails, filling in lesson plans (I HATE LIVETEXT), and...catching up on Facebook. ;)
I set off Wednesday before Easter (after a lovely breakfast with my Mommy) for the beautiful state of Kentucky, to (YAY) spend a few days there, seeing my favorite person in the world (Ryan, duh), and also my beloved Shueys! I spent the nights in my old apartment, #3 on dear 1463 St. James Court with my summer roommate Ashlea. We got to do the girly giggle thing-- she's one of the best people to talk to in my book, because she lets me go on about Ryan, and joins in freely :) -- and I got to make her breakfast, and spice up my coffee with the creamer she always keeps stocked. Louisville in Springtime is glorious!
Sina & Dave threw us an engagement party, with the most amazing assortment of GLUTEN-FREE goodness this girl has ever seen. Mocha Cream Pie, Apple Spice Cake, Chocolate-Pecan Pie, and coffee! ...yum!! Rob let me steal a little bit of his pies that I hadn't tried. It was wonderful to get to talk to people from Immanuel I hadn't seen since November, especially talking to them WITH Ryan. I love having shared friends with him! Lauren came, too-- my first Louisvillian friend (Ken & Raegan can't count). Ryan & I had dinner with his college roommate Josh, his wife Jessica, and their beautiful twins Alli and Caitlyn-- I've heard so much about them, and I'm afraid Josh's probably had an earful about me. Like so many others, they went to Boyce (the undergrad college of Southern BT Seminary), came to Immanuel, and now are somewhere else... [All those goodbyes aren't something I look forward to, by the way. But if it's for the sake of the Kingdom expanding, I'll be glad in it.] At first, it was pretty hard for me to not have many shared friends and memories with Ryan-- we've spent over 20 years building separate lives. But as we've persevered, and made efforts to blend our lives, I've come to see that we have twice as many opportunities to be blessed this way, AND that there is no lack of memories to be made together! Early in our relationship Ryan wrote me a note about building a memory coloring book, of pictures of all sorts of memories we color in. I thought that was a fun way to put it. :)
This Easter Ryan and I drove through HEAVY snow across the Alleghenies to Abingdon, VA to spend Easter weekend with his grandparents. I got to meet them, and his aunt Karen and two cousins Kasey & Kelly. Ryan's grandma gave me a photo album full of family pictures. That blew me away-- I love it! There's one picture of 2-year-old Ryan in Mr Potato Head glasses that I think is hilarious. I wished SO hard I had a camera through all this! Then I could add literal pictures to reinforce our "memory book." Oh, well. (Jessica and Grandma, if you have any copies of the pictures you took, and could send them, I'd be THRILLED!!) Our memories are full of GORGEOUS scenery-- there couldn't have been a more beautiful week for me to spend 24 hours in a car, or a more beautiful route-- Kentucky, Tenessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas are all absolutely breathtaking this time of year. Though we would've appreciated better driving conditions Friday night (the road was hardly visible through the dark and falling snow at times), all the frozen waterfalls and hanging icicles along the highway were beautiful. And cold weather is great for snuggling. ;D
A fun "page" we added was...the time Ryan and I were registering at Target on his lunch break before I drove back to Greenville, aka this Monday. It was still chilly, but warm enough that Ryan took off his jacket and decided to leave it in the truck. As he's drilled into my head, I locked my door before closing it. He got his wallet and phone out of his jacket pocket, and tossed the jacket in. Just as I closed the locked door, he said "wait!" Too late!! Keys in pocket, locked in truck... my purse, with my keys (needed for me to drive home!) was locked in there, too. "I said wait..." "But it was already closing..." "Ok, so we mutually locked our keys in the car." We both laughed quite heartily-- he looked at me and said "Christina, we are now "that couple"" HAH! Don't worry, Target sells screwdivers, and Ryan was able to force a window to get everything out ok... and we registered (that gun is fun!). I had to hurry my intended past the videogame aisle, though...
More later. Time for kindergardeners!
--"Miss Thompson"
I set off Wednesday before Easter (after a lovely breakfast with my Mommy) for the beautiful state of Kentucky, to (YAY) spend a few days there, seeing my favorite person in the world (Ryan, duh), and also my beloved Shueys! I spent the nights in my old apartment, #3 on dear 1463 St. James Court with my summer roommate Ashlea. We got to do the girly giggle thing-- she's one of the best people to talk to in my book, because she lets me go on about Ryan, and joins in freely :) -- and I got to make her breakfast, and spice up my coffee with the creamer she always keeps stocked. Louisville in Springtime is glorious!
Sina & Dave threw us an engagement party, with the most amazing assortment of GLUTEN-FREE goodness this girl has ever seen. Mocha Cream Pie, Apple Spice Cake, Chocolate-Pecan Pie, and coffee! ...yum!! Rob let me steal a little bit of his pies that I hadn't tried. It was wonderful to get to talk to people from Immanuel I hadn't seen since November, especially talking to them WITH Ryan. I love having shared friends with him! Lauren came, too-- my first Louisvillian friend (Ken & Raegan can't count). Ryan & I had dinner with his college roommate Josh, his wife Jessica, and their beautiful twins Alli and Caitlyn-- I've heard so much about them, and I'm afraid Josh's probably had an earful about me. Like so many others, they went to Boyce (the undergrad college of Southern BT Seminary), came to Immanuel, and now are somewhere else... [All those goodbyes aren't something I look forward to, by the way. But if it's for the sake of the Kingdom expanding, I'll be glad in it.] At first, it was pretty hard for me to not have many shared friends and memories with Ryan-- we've spent over 20 years building separate lives. But as we've persevered, and made efforts to blend our lives, I've come to see that we have twice as many opportunities to be blessed this way, AND that there is no lack of memories to be made together! Early in our relationship Ryan wrote me a note about building a memory coloring book, of pictures of all sorts of memories we color in. I thought that was a fun way to put it. :)
This Easter Ryan and I drove through HEAVY snow across the Alleghenies to Abingdon, VA to spend Easter weekend with his grandparents. I got to meet them, and his aunt Karen and two cousins Kasey & Kelly. Ryan's grandma gave me a photo album full of family pictures. That blew me away-- I love it! There's one picture of 2-year-old Ryan in Mr Potato Head glasses that I think is hilarious. I wished SO hard I had a camera through all this! Then I could add literal pictures to reinforce our "memory book." Oh, well. (Jessica and Grandma, if you have any copies of the pictures you took, and could send them, I'd be THRILLED!!) Our memories are full of GORGEOUS scenery-- there couldn't have been a more beautiful week for me to spend 24 hours in a car, or a more beautiful route-- Kentucky, Tenessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas are all absolutely breathtaking this time of year. Though we would've appreciated better driving conditions Friday night (the road was hardly visible through the dark and falling snow at times), all the frozen waterfalls and hanging icicles along the highway were beautiful. And cold weather is great for snuggling. ;D
A fun "page" we added was...the time Ryan and I were registering at Target on his lunch break before I drove back to Greenville, aka this Monday. It was still chilly, but warm enough that Ryan took off his jacket and decided to leave it in the truck. As he's drilled into my head, I locked my door before closing it. He got his wallet and phone out of his jacket pocket, and tossed the jacket in. Just as I closed the locked door, he said "wait!" Too late!! Keys in pocket, locked in truck... my purse, with my keys (needed for me to drive home!) was locked in there, too. "I said wait..." "But it was already closing..." "Ok, so we mutually locked our keys in the car." We both laughed quite heartily-- he looked at me and said "Christina, we are now "that couple"" HAH! Don't worry, Target sells screwdivers, and Ryan was able to force a window to get everything out ok... and we registered (that gun is fun!). I had to hurry my intended past the videogame aisle, though...
More later. Time for kindergardeners!
--"Miss Thompson"
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Quick Update from the Tower Cafe
Tuesday over already? It's gone so fast...I must've hit the ground running...
Indeed.
It's beautiful here (at Furman)! Springtime around this campus always is. Wedding plans (and lesson plans) are coming along... Ryan & I got a good deal done towards marriage prep: we registered (one down, two more stores to go), finalized our invitation design (and will order them hopefully by the end of the week!), looked at two house possibilities, and discussed everything from attendant gifts to reception menus to questions I - II on "The List" we have.
My mom said the wedding dress store called this morning and said The Dress is in and beautiful! I can't wait to pick it up...when they turn the fountains on here at Furman I'd like to go ahead and try to get portraits made before it gets hot. Looking at HOUSES was weird! To think that a boy and I are talking about colors and kitchens and what kind of furniture and flooring we want, and it ISN'T wishful thinking or jumping the gun... it's so unreal, and so much fun! We've found two we like, and Ryan's meeting with all sorts of people to discuss options this week. I'm so blessed to have a fiance that's been disciplined in his savings and lifestyle, so that buying a house is even an option right off the bat! That's SUCH a blessing...one I do NOT want to take for granted! Same with my parents and their provision for paying for a wedding.
I'm kicking myself because I didn't take any pictures while I was up there. I want to take a trip at the end of the month with one of my sisters to pick out color schemes and all that... As far as wedding plans being hard, yeah, there've been some snags lateley- differences of opinion all around, disappointments and compromises. I was a crying mess last night. Poor Ryan...oh!! I miss him!
Pray for me-- I don't want to be divided! Pray for us all. When four sets of ideas come together (and no, that's not me, Mom, Nicole & Anna as Victor Abarotin joked-- but me, Ryan, my parents, his parents), there's bound to be conflict, even if it's as amicable and low-level as it has been for us. Ok... better go tweak my 1st-2nd grade lesson plan ...it just didn't work ideally today.
--"Miss Thompson"
Indeed.
It's beautiful here (at Furman)! Springtime around this campus always is. Wedding plans (and lesson plans) are coming along... Ryan & I got a good deal done towards marriage prep: we registered (one down, two more stores to go), finalized our invitation design (and will order them hopefully by the end of the week!), looked at two house possibilities, and discussed everything from attendant gifts to reception menus to questions I - II on "The List" we have.
My mom said the wedding dress store called this morning and said The Dress is in and beautiful! I can't wait to pick it up...when they turn the fountains on here at Furman I'd like to go ahead and try to get portraits made before it gets hot. Looking at HOUSES was weird! To think that a boy and I are talking about colors and kitchens and what kind of furniture and flooring we want, and it ISN'T wishful thinking or jumping the gun... it's so unreal, and so much fun! We've found two we like, and Ryan's meeting with all sorts of people to discuss options this week. I'm so blessed to have a fiance that's been disciplined in his savings and lifestyle, so that buying a house is even an option right off the bat! That's SUCH a blessing...one I do NOT want to take for granted! Same with my parents and their provision for paying for a wedding.
I'm kicking myself because I didn't take any pictures while I was up there. I want to take a trip at the end of the month with one of my sisters to pick out color schemes and all that... As far as wedding plans being hard, yeah, there've been some snags lateley- differences of opinion all around, disappointments and compromises. I was a crying mess last night. Poor Ryan...oh!! I miss him!
Pray for me-- I don't want to be divided! Pray for us all. When four sets of ideas come together (and no, that's not me, Mom, Nicole & Anna as Victor Abarotin joked-- but me, Ryan, my parents, his parents), there's bound to be conflict, even if it's as amicable and low-level as it has been for us. Ok... better go tweak my 1st-2nd grade lesson plan ...it just didn't work ideally today.
--"Miss Thompson"
Friday, March 30, 2007
Congratulations!!
Once again, I get to follow my friend Ashley in doing something, this time in congratulating a beloved sister on her engagement to a God-seeking man-- :)
This is a quote the very same girl gave me years and years ago:
I- and so many others with me- rejoice with you at this new grace poured out on you both. Such a sweet romance is indeed an echo of Heaven, when we will be with our Pursuer and Bridegroom forever, and the marriage feast will begin! I love you, Ashley, and can't wait to give you hug and tell you so.
Craig, you're a living example of the truth in God's word, that "good things come to those who patiently wait"!! I'm so thrilled for you! Jesus must really love you! I love that I love both of you; so it's like I'm twice as happy, because TWO of my friends are getting wonderful gifts; a godly spouse who will be grace upon grace to them. It's what I've prayed for for you both. :)
--Christina
Congratulations, Ashley and Craig!!
This is a quote the very same girl gave me years and years ago:
"Grace is glory begun, the earnest and assurance of glory." --Matthew Henry
I- and so many others with me- rejoice with you at this new grace poured out on you both. Such a sweet romance is indeed an echo of Heaven, when we will be with our Pursuer and Bridegroom forever, and the marriage feast will begin! I love you, Ashley, and can't wait to give you hug and tell you so.
Craig, you're a living example of the truth in God's word, that "good things come to those who patiently wait"!! I'm so thrilled for you! Jesus must really love you! I love that I love both of you; so it's like I'm twice as happy, because TWO of my friends are getting wonderful gifts; a godly spouse who will be grace upon grace to them. It's what I've prayed for for you both. :)
--Christina
Monday, March 26, 2007
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