First and foremost, don't forget to come to Apologetics on Wednesday. Everyone that is a Christian is welcome. We'll be discussing whether baptism is required for salvation.
Today I taught Sunday school. I did a lesson on the Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament. I put together a power point presentation for it, which kept me on task. That's good and bad. I was planning on using this one lesson for two weeks, but because I stayed so on task, I finished the whole thing. It's alright, however, because I'm planning on expounding upon Daniel chapter 9 verse 20 and following by popular request. I only had about ten minutes to cover it and it's a hefty section. So, I'll do a power point for it by itself.
In other news, college classes are coming to an end next week and I'm finished with all the work for one of the online courses. I had to write a survival guide at 1,200 words. I simply sat down and did it all yesterday. So, all I have to do now are my German classes and my communication class. That's good, because next week will require me to spend a considerable amount of time planning my Sunday school lesson. No problem, because I love doing it. It won't be terribly easy though. I have German class on Tuesday, apologetics on Wednesday (YES!!), German class on Thursday, and Friday must be spent with my family. So, Monday and Saturday will be busy.
Well, I need to go help my little wife put together a Cobb salad for lunch tomorrow and the next day. Take care all. Thanks and good night.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Libertarian=Revolutionary
German class, Communication class, and Information Technology class are coming to an end next week. It's so sad, but I'm looking forward to it. It's been a lot of work losing two nights a week. I'll immediately be starting up two new classes with Axia (University of Phoenix), but I'll have more time for those classes without two nights a week taken up by them. So, I'm excited to finish German. I'm also excited about my two Axia colleges being completed because I'll have six units done in only nine weeks. That's really awesome. The time went by really quick.
So, I confronted my co-worker on his disappointed hinting concerning my vacation. He apologized for how he came off and insisted that he didn't mean for me to take it that way. I believe him, because it's difficult to tell if he's joking a lot of the time.
In other news, Maggie and I went out to dinner with Mike last night. It was a lot of fun and he and I ended up talking about his ideal form of government. He claims to be a libertarian. In my view, libertarians are idealists whose concepts cannot be looked upon seriously as far as our country's government goes. I say this because the ideas they promote are revolutionary--not revolutionary in a good way. I mean that it would actually take a revolution for the libertarians to do what they'd like to do. It's fun to speculate, but ultimately impractical in the reality we're faced with. We have to look to changing the system we have through its own channels and avenues lest we become anti-Americans advocating the downfall of our government and the drafting of a new constitution. Our work is slow, but bloodless.
Anyway, that's all for now. Thank you and good night.
So, I confronted my co-worker on his disappointed hinting concerning my vacation. He apologized for how he came off and insisted that he didn't mean for me to take it that way. I believe him, because it's difficult to tell if he's joking a lot of the time.
In other news, Maggie and I went out to dinner with Mike last night. It was a lot of fun and he and I ended up talking about his ideal form of government. He claims to be a libertarian. In my view, libertarians are idealists whose concepts cannot be looked upon seriously as far as our country's government goes. I say this because the ideas they promote are revolutionary--not revolutionary in a good way. I mean that it would actually take a revolution for the libertarians to do what they'd like to do. It's fun to speculate, but ultimately impractical in the reality we're faced with. We have to look to changing the system we have through its own channels and avenues lest we become anti-Americans advocating the downfall of our government and the drafting of a new constitution. Our work is slow, but bloodless.
Anyway, that's all for now. Thank you and good night.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Vacation Is A Right
So, we (Maggie, me, and her parents) are going in June, from the 23rd to the 3rd of July, out to Oklahoma. We'll be visiting Maggie's uncle in Haskell. Unfortunately, he's been diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer. He's enduring chemo therapy right now. We've been challenged in many ways. First, we wanted to arrive during a time when he would be in good health and able to visit; that turned out to be every other week. Second, we needed someone to watch Sandie. Nobody could do it, but we found out that Maggie's sister Becky was coming out and staying at her parent's house, so we asked if she could watch her. She's able, but will be leaving two days before we get back. That's as of yet unresolved, but I'm sure we'll figure something out. Finally, there was my co-worker.
He wasn't really a challenge, but a small trial. I put in for time off during the same days that two other co-workers put in for. Unfortunately for them, I put in for the approximate time I'd need to be off a month and a half ago, I requested officially before they did, and I have senority over both of them. One of the guys wasn't really worried. He got one of his days off, but not the other. He didn't think it was a big deal. The other guy, however, didn't seem alright about it. Now, he never said anything directly, but he hinted that he was quite inconvenienced by my move to take the time off over him.
Alright, now it's my time to rant. It has been four years since my last more-than-a-weekend vacation. Four years ago I had a honeymoon in Catalina. I took off something around two weeks. It was awesome and memorable. I haven't felt so relaxed as I felt walking around Catalina with my new wife so far from work. So, four years without taking more than five days away from work has passed and not quickly. I'm finally taking this opportunity, although an opportunity that is less than desirable because of Maggie's uncle's cancer, but still an opportunity to have a vacation. We're spending a week touring the country between here and there, visiting with family, and then touring the country between here and there till we get back.
I think that a vacation is much deserved and I refuse to feel badly about taking time off for it. I've been working at my job a year longer than the next in senority from me. I get treated like a dirty, sweaty sock all the time and now it's time for me to take a break from it. I'm going to be a refreshing sock that's just come out of the dryer and smells like Bounce. So, if anyone else feels the need to place a damper on our vacation, go suck on a jelly dohnut covered with ants. No one's going to make me feel bad for indulging once in four years.
Thanks for your time and have a good night.
-Sometimes it takes work to relax-
He wasn't really a challenge, but a small trial. I put in for time off during the same days that two other co-workers put in for. Unfortunately for them, I put in for the approximate time I'd need to be off a month and a half ago, I requested officially before they did, and I have senority over both of them. One of the guys wasn't really worried. He got one of his days off, but not the other. He didn't think it was a big deal. The other guy, however, didn't seem alright about it. Now, he never said anything directly, but he hinted that he was quite inconvenienced by my move to take the time off over him.
Alright, now it's my time to rant. It has been four years since my last more-than-a-weekend vacation. Four years ago I had a honeymoon in Catalina. I took off something around two weeks. It was awesome and memorable. I haven't felt so relaxed as I felt walking around Catalina with my new wife so far from work. So, four years without taking more than five days away from work has passed and not quickly. I'm finally taking this opportunity, although an opportunity that is less than desirable because of Maggie's uncle's cancer, but still an opportunity to have a vacation. We're spending a week touring the country between here and there, visiting with family, and then touring the country between here and there till we get back.
I think that a vacation is much deserved and I refuse to feel badly about taking time off for it. I've been working at my job a year longer than the next in senority from me. I get treated like a dirty, sweaty sock all the time and now it's time for me to take a break from it. I'm going to be a refreshing sock that's just come out of the dryer and smells like Bounce. So, if anyone else feels the need to place a damper on our vacation, go suck on a jelly dohnut covered with ants. No one's going to make me feel bad for indulging once in four years.
Thanks for your time and have a good night.
-Sometimes it takes work to relax-
Monday, May 15, 2006
Discussion Question
My online college classes ask me to write out discussion questions, so, of course, I do. I decided that I'd share one of my answers with you here. It's got a funny little story in it that you might enjoy.
The question: How would you describe your personal style of learning (how you learn best)?
When I was young, my teachers thought I was a very difficult student. I recently shared in the Com 120 forum about my kindergarten teacher. She called a meeting with my parents because I was performing poorly in school. During the meeting, my parents found themselves sitting at a little children’s table with the teacher. My parents were, like most parents, very unconditionally loving. The words that they needed to hear would not be easy to swallow, but they didn’t hear the words they needed to hear. The teacher, prefacing with the words, “I don’t know how else to say this,” dropped a bomb on my parents when she said, quite brazenly, “Your son is stupid.” The comment hit my dad like a firecracker was under his twelve inch tall chair. He stood up in a fury so quickly that he nearly flipped the children’s table over. Now, even though I wasn’t there, I have a great picture in my mind of what went on. My parents eventually told me the story and what was said. My dad first pointed at her and told her, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” then, pointing to the chalk board where the word “Febuary” was written, he yelled again, saying, “You don’t even know how to spell February! Don’t call my son stupid. You’re the one that’s stupid!” After his remarks, the teacher stood quite adamantly and sought out her dictionary while arguing that “Febuary” really is the correct spelling of “February.” She was ultimately proven wrong.
So, why do I tell this story? I tell it because, though that teacher would have never thought it, I wound up with the ability to learn. My parents were very involved in my schooling. They moved me to a better school. I never showed up to school without my homework. I was forced to study for tests. I was made to read and even came to enjoy it. And I emerged from being a disinterested floater to become a proactively interested learner.
I don’t remember whether it came from a tutor, a teacher, or a parent, but I do know that I picked up a great concept along the way: the only way I could learn was to make myself interested. I could have easily been slapped with ritalin as an attention deficit child. I couldn’t carry on conversation very well. I couldn’t stop moving. And I was just plain annoying. But, I eventually changed and gained an understanding of how to control and even channel my energy and attention. I took up writing and won a few awards and continue to write today. I love to read everything from fun fiction to in depth informational journals and books. I even enjoy reading and researching history and people for fun. So, I believe the question asked was how I’d say I learn best and my answer would be just as I said. Finding that point in literature that peaks my curiosity, like the tremendous amount of thought behind a sonnet; or discovering the small and intriguing elements of history, like an unscathed George Washington with bullet holes through his clothing; or the biology lessons on how simple yet complex the nature of a cell actually was; those things gave me that much needed interest and led me to a yearning to learn more. I’m glad to have figured out such a wonderful technique and I continue to use it today.
The question: How would you describe your personal style of learning (how you learn best)?
When I was young, my teachers thought I was a very difficult student. I recently shared in the Com 120 forum about my kindergarten teacher. She called a meeting with my parents because I was performing poorly in school. During the meeting, my parents found themselves sitting at a little children’s table with the teacher. My parents were, like most parents, very unconditionally loving. The words that they needed to hear would not be easy to swallow, but they didn’t hear the words they needed to hear. The teacher, prefacing with the words, “I don’t know how else to say this,” dropped a bomb on my parents when she said, quite brazenly, “Your son is stupid.” The comment hit my dad like a firecracker was under his twelve inch tall chair. He stood up in a fury so quickly that he nearly flipped the children’s table over. Now, even though I wasn’t there, I have a great picture in my mind of what went on. My parents eventually told me the story and what was said. My dad first pointed at her and told her, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” then, pointing to the chalk board where the word “Febuary” was written, he yelled again, saying, “You don’t even know how to spell February! Don’t call my son stupid. You’re the one that’s stupid!” After his remarks, the teacher stood quite adamantly and sought out her dictionary while arguing that “Febuary” really is the correct spelling of “February.” She was ultimately proven wrong.
So, why do I tell this story? I tell it because, though that teacher would have never thought it, I wound up with the ability to learn. My parents were very involved in my schooling. They moved me to a better school. I never showed up to school without my homework. I was forced to study for tests. I was made to read and even came to enjoy it. And I emerged from being a disinterested floater to become a proactively interested learner.
I don’t remember whether it came from a tutor, a teacher, or a parent, but I do know that I picked up a great concept along the way: the only way I could learn was to make myself interested. I could have easily been slapped with ritalin as an attention deficit child. I couldn’t carry on conversation very well. I couldn’t stop moving. And I was just plain annoying. But, I eventually changed and gained an understanding of how to control and even channel my energy and attention. I took up writing and won a few awards and continue to write today. I love to read everything from fun fiction to in depth informational journals and books. I even enjoy reading and researching history and people for fun. So, I believe the question asked was how I’d say I learn best and my answer would be just as I said. Finding that point in literature that peaks my curiosity, like the tremendous amount of thought behind a sonnet; or discovering the small and intriguing elements of history, like an unscathed George Washington with bullet holes through his clothing; or the biology lessons on how simple yet complex the nature of a cell actually was; those things gave me that much needed interest and led me to a yearning to learn more. I’m glad to have figured out such a wonderful technique and I continue to use it today.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Good, Quick Read
I was reading Alton Gansky's blog, which gets read by me more frequently than any other internet spot, and I followed a link he provided. It led me to a site featuring the writings of a Garrison Keillor, a writer previously unknown to me. I was very entertained and even provoked to thought. I'd recommend you read it as well.
Educationes
I've become a full time student at the University of Phoenix. I'm due to receive my Associate's degree in June of next year. I'm heading for a Business Management degree. I should have my bachelor's degree by 2009. I haven't looked into my master's or PhD yet though.
The classes I'm taking are 100% online. There is no physical classroom to speak of; talk about how far technology has come. I simply log in and all my class materials, assignments, and everything is right there. This makes it especially nice if I ever have to go away on vacation or something, because my curriculum and everything is always accessible from any computer. We communicate through a forum with each assignment given its own thread.
I'm still taking two German classes at VVC, which is challenging. My teacher, however, is working with me to make it much easier. I'm glad I haven't dropped the classes because I have too much fun with my classmates.
Today I've been working on my assignments almost all day. My brain's about ready to explode. So fun.
The classes I'm taking are 100% online. There is no physical classroom to speak of; talk about how far technology has come. I simply log in and all my class materials, assignments, and everything is right there. This makes it especially nice if I ever have to go away on vacation or something, because my curriculum and everything is always accessible from any computer. We communicate through a forum with each assignment given its own thread.
I'm still taking two German classes at VVC, which is challenging. My teacher, however, is working with me to make it much easier. I'm glad I haven't dropped the classes because I have too much fun with my classmates.
Today I've been working on my assignments almost all day. My brain's about ready to explode. So fun.
Friday, March 10, 2006
BL-X
The Blessed X is ACTIVE.
My friend and I were talking about an annoying administration of fear technique he's seen used to convey the gospel message: the fear of burning hell is used to convey the urgency of salvation. He also mentioned that a certain arrogance was a deterrent. Now, from my experience, some Christians forget how they sound to those that are not Christians.You might ask, "So, just answer the question. Is there really this burning hell that all non-believers go to if they simply choose not to think that your Christianity is right?"Let me be upfront: the answer is yes. There is... (Click Here to Read the Whole Blessed X Article)
My friend and I were talking about an annoying administration of fear technique he's seen used to convey the gospel message: the fear of burning hell is used to convey the urgency of salvation. He also mentioned that a certain arrogance was a deterrent. Now, from my experience, some Christians forget how they sound to those that are not Christians.You might ask, "So, just answer the question. Is there really this burning hell that all non-believers go to if they simply choose not to think that your Christianity is right?"Let me be upfront: the answer is yes. There is... (Click Here to Read the Whole Blessed X Article)
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Apologetics Apologies
It's been so long since our last apologetics. I posted on The Blessed X. Go read it.
I keep getting emails detailing the pathetic hit count on the site. Take a look:
The Blessed X
-- Site Summary ---
Visits
Total .......................... 556
Average per Day .................. -
Average Visit Length ............. -
This Week ........................ 0
Page Views
Total .......................... 813
Average per Day .................. -
Average per Visit ................ -
This Week ........................ 0
I keep getting emails detailing the pathetic hit count on the site. Take a look:
The Blessed X
-- Site Summary ---
Visits
Total .......................... 556
Average per Day .................. -
Average Visit Length ............. -
This Week ........................ 0
Page Views
Total .......................... 813
Average per Day .................. -
Average per Visit ................ -
This Week ........................ 0
Pathetic...that was an accurate descriptor, wasn't it? Well, my master plan is to stoke the apologetics fire and build it back up again. I posted over there at the Bl-X and gave some thoughts concerning it. I want to pay more attention to that site, since it is built to equip Christians.
It's a tough thing, keeping up on a site like that. If it had more contributors, I think it'd be better. Posting something of meaning there involves study and work. I give thoughts backed with scripture and that takes time to find. I often start with a thought that I know is a biblical principle, but don't know where my supportive evidence for that thought is, and then I go find that evidence in the scriptures. It winds up taking a lot of time. It's fun and helps my walk, but it's almost impractical to think of posting at least every other day. Without the misery of college and it's accompanying homework, I'd be more apt to go about such an undertaking.
Anyhow, go take a look. Leave some thoughts if you have any.
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