I am attempting to be more focused on a personal advent this Christmas season. As I was shuffling through the boxes of countless Christmas decorations it seems we have, I really thought to myself that this was the year not to be a grump about all of this. I need to direct my thoughts back to the manager, which seems, to be a fading memory in society as a whole. I need to keep it alive in my heart, not my grumpiness about the work, stress and drama surrounding this season.
This season is driven now more than ever by the merchants who do a whole array of things to create this 'need' for more 'things' in our lives. So I was thinking what is it I need the most this year. I have lost count of how many TV's I have, how many different versions of listening to music I have had over the years (reel to reel, 8 track tape players, vinyl album players, Sony Walkman, portable CD devices, Ipod - only 30 gigs of space, etc)
Really now, do we really, really need more stuff? Really? I guess the economic rebound is all weighed in the balance whether or not you and I purchase more things we don't really need and probably do more damage to us in the long run. Black Friday (though more and more stores are actually hoping you will put down your turkey dinner and show up on their doorsteps on Thanksgiving Day.) to endless email promotions telling me its "Cyber Monday" so get busy buying buddy.
I told Cindy a few weeks ago don't get me anything Christmas. I have need of nothing. It works after 25 years of marriage. If I want something I go get it. The kids can get me the basics like socks to hats to whatever to practice the art of giving.
What I am giving myself this Christmas is the gift of waiting. "Actively waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is the moment."
Henri Nouwen
I desire to be a person who waits patiently for what God has in store for me. To be alert and not numbed into some state of semi conscious missing most of my life as it passes. Paying attention. Not waiting for an empty wish or not to control my future. Gaining a sense of real hope as I wait on God. To focus on the essentials of the season and not get swayed by a twinkling light or stray sale of something I really don't need.
Its a waiting game I am willing to give a go round this season.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Influence
Its kinda of weird to be writing about this. How do you write about an award you have been given? An award of honor yet at the same time humbles one completely to the floor.
Last night I was the receipent of the Educator of the Year award given by the Palos Verdes Rotary Club here on 'the Hill'. I was one of 10 other honorees at this annual event that goes back over 30 years. Every year there is a member of CFOT faculty that is nomianted. I got word of this about six weeks ago and I was floored.
I do what I do because first off God has called me to this. Secondly, others see in me that I have abilities to fulfill this appointment and role for The Salvation Army here at the training college. I never do it for awards or recognition or for a pay raise (inside joke.)
I had a bit of trouble thinking about what to share in my three minutes but the following is the speech I wrote:
Last night I was the receipent of the Educator of the Year award given by the Palos Verdes Rotary Club here on 'the Hill'. I was one of 10 other honorees at this annual event that goes back over 30 years. Every year there is a member of CFOT faculty that is nomianted. I got word of this about six weeks ago and I was floored.
I do what I do because first off God has called me to this. Secondly, others see in me that I have abilities to fulfill this appointment and role for The Salvation Army here at the training college. I never do it for awards or recognition or for a pay raise (inside joke.)
I had a bit of trouble thinking about what to share in my three minutes but the following is the speech I wrote:
The best selling book, The Five People you meet in Heaven, written by sports columnist Mitch Alborn, was turned into a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie in 2004. The book and the visual concepts of the movie have stuck with me for awhile.
When asked what he wanted readers of the book and viewers of the film to get out of the story, Mitch Alborn said he wanted people to be reminded that “there is no such thing as a nobody. Life is immensely significant and that everybody does matter and that everybody does count.”
The story centers on Eddie. Eddie was the maintenance man at the amusement park for decades. Eddie dies a tragic death at age 83. We see how uncertain he was and how terribly worried he became not knowing whether or not he was able to save a young girl from a horrible accident. In heaven, Eddie meets five different individuals who, through a series of flashbacks, show him how he affected the lives of others in countless, amazing ways.
In the last scene of the movie, after Eddie has had his encounter with these 5 people, he walks up on the shore and through the amusement park and there to greet him, was the countless thousands of people whom he had impacted in his life without him being aware of it.
A line at the end of the movie goes like this, “The world is full of stories, but the story is one. Each life effects the other and each life effects the next.”
The education experience is all about influencing people, whether we are aware of it or not. .
My drama teacher Jan Radesky, taught me to have fun on the journey. Dr Bob Ross, a holocaust scholar and head of the dept. Religion of the Uni of Minnesota taught my mission as an officer in the SA has tremendous merit, and my cousin Sister Mary, a school teacher for 55 years reminded me that more teaching is done out of the class room than in, have all been people of influence in my life.
I thank tonight my family, my wife of 25 years, the Principal, the officers and employees of CFOT, my friend Dave Hudson, for all being influences in my life to be the better person I know I can be, to be effective in my teaching.
The So What of it all is simply this: you may not hold any power, but you hold the power of influence. I believe that is the better and greater thing to seek in your role as an educator.
My sincere thanks to the Peninsula Rotary Club for this tremendous honor which I am humbled by. God bless you.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thundering Down
Its been difficult the last several days to figure out when its actually morning or afternoon. The absence of the sun, the low cloud overhang, and the drizzle, has made it interesting to decipher. It always leads to one of my favorite lines to use: "Its nice we're having weather." And really mean it.
This morning we had a rare thunderstorm pass through that woke me up. Actually the storm was pretty active most of the morning with numerous lightening flashes and booming thunder taking place over the ocean. We lost power twice in the administration building this morning alone.
My daughter Victoria seems to share my excitement about the weather. She was giddy with delight when she read the email that came from the soccer coach informing me that practice was canceled today. Victoria hurriedly got herself dressed and ready for school so she could watch Mother Nature's light show. While I was working out in the garage, she found a folding chair and sat down for the event. She was asking me question after question about weather, rain, roofs, birds and a host of other things. The rain poured down and she was looking for an excuse to just stand out in it.
It reminded me of when I was little how I would look forward to rainy days at school. I would get to wear my big black rubber boots with the buckles. My yellow rain jacket. I would jump in every puddle I saw. We got to play games inside the classroom. Who doesn't remember 'Heads up Seven up.'? Joanne would touch my thumb as I would peek through my closed eyes and my heart would melt.
Weather has always interested me. I am a quasi unprofessional meterologist. I know my cut off lows from of shore breezes. I know my mirco climates from the dew point. I even got to do the weather on live TV in San Diego one Saturday morning during the early days of our Kroc Center promotions. I got to point out the weather of heaven: 77 and sunny.
Weather happens to all of us. None of us can control it. There is a lot of debate and discussion these days about global warming and green house gasses. Holes in O zones and the warming of the planet. I am not sure where I stand on all of that, call it the Charlie Brown in me. As a theologian I am aware of the covenant that God made with Noah. He said that never again would he cover the earth in its entirety with water. He also promised that the seasons would come and go as scheduled. Not sure if the scientists have read that nor would they believe it?
Jesus said the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust. Bad things happen to good people. My bad thoughts one day don't lead to a tumor falling on me the next.
I do know this God I serve is greater than this creation, greater than any of my self made woes and greater than any burden that may keep thundering down on my soul.
Thanks be to God for His daily amazing grace.
*this was a day late due to power issues at my office. And a lightening bolt actually hit the ground about 10 feet from my home with my daughter as witness. Truly a fun day!
This morning we had a rare thunderstorm pass through that woke me up. Actually the storm was pretty active most of the morning with numerous lightening flashes and booming thunder taking place over the ocean. We lost power twice in the administration building this morning alone.
My daughter Victoria seems to share my excitement about the weather. She was giddy with delight when she read the email that came from the soccer coach informing me that practice was canceled today. Victoria hurriedly got herself dressed and ready for school so she could watch Mother Nature's light show. While I was working out in the garage, she found a folding chair and sat down for the event. She was asking me question after question about weather, rain, roofs, birds and a host of other things. The rain poured down and she was looking for an excuse to just stand out in it.
It reminded me of when I was little how I would look forward to rainy days at school. I would get to wear my big black rubber boots with the buckles. My yellow rain jacket. I would jump in every puddle I saw. We got to play games inside the classroom. Who doesn't remember 'Heads up Seven up.'? Joanne would touch my thumb as I would peek through my closed eyes and my heart would melt.
Weather has always interested me. I am a quasi unprofessional meterologist. I know my cut off lows from of shore breezes. I know my mirco climates from the dew point. I even got to do the weather on live TV in San Diego one Saturday morning during the early days of our Kroc Center promotions. I got to point out the weather of heaven: 77 and sunny.
Weather happens to all of us. None of us can control it. There is a lot of debate and discussion these days about global warming and green house gasses. Holes in O zones and the warming of the planet. I am not sure where I stand on all of that, call it the Charlie Brown in me. As a theologian I am aware of the covenant that God made with Noah. He said that never again would he cover the earth in its entirety with water. He also promised that the seasons would come and go as scheduled. Not sure if the scientists have read that nor would they believe it?
Jesus said the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust. Bad things happen to good people. My bad thoughts one day don't lead to a tumor falling on me the next.
I do know this God I serve is greater than this creation, greater than any of my self made woes and greater than any burden that may keep thundering down on my soul.
Thanks be to God for His daily amazing grace.
*this was a day late due to power issues at my office. And a lightening bolt actually hit the ground about 10 feet from my home with my daughter as witness. Truly a fun day!
Friday, October 15, 2010
The week that was
Its been good getting back in the writing mode. I forgot how threaputic it can be to my soul.
A rewind of sorts is always good. Lets me know where I came from so I can find direction of where I am going. It was an interesting week...
Work wise - meeting with a recruitier for entering a possible Phd program. My secretary prepping for a 4 month hiatus from the office as she goes on maternity leave next week. Meetings. Teaching - in the middle of Exodus. Grading. Lots of grading bible studies and using digital grading methods now makes it interesting. I enjoy my job. Oh, and filling out that annual survey...should I stay or should I go. Reading the letter stating I am to be awarded the Rotary Educator of the Year from the PV district in early November. I think they got the wrong professor.
Family wise - helping my son find his way on his own to film shoots and auditions. Google visual maps and lots of patience helps. Helping my daughter get her car repaired and driving a tiny red Chevy compact that drives like a tank. Helping my wife literally heal her wounds from various out patient surgeries on her back and toes. And wrestling with the news of her latest medical woe that I can't share here. Becoming a social studies tutor to my youngest child as she is struggling her way through 8th grade history and the revolutionary war. Trying not to get too mad seeing the illegal amount of home work this school district pours on these kids. Keeping my dog Max healthy with his asthma and allergies. Getting my finger bit by a guinea pig that I am sorely tempted to feed to the red tailed hawks that circle my home on a daily basis.
Soul wise - the Lord has been challenging me with my leadership skills and quick thinking situations. Its very difficult to put into words all that happens inside of me but I feel these days a sense of holy confidence coming over me. Its not cockiness but rather the assurance that I am on the right path and I need to keep at it.
Finally, I believe one of the reasons this blog is coming alive again is frankly, because both my wife and my good friend MMorton remind me, there lies a book within me. I doubt it would ever get published but before I die, I got to get it out. I actually lined out ten chapters today and will begin a process of writing the Kroc tale. I did approach the powers that be in the SA editorial department a few years ago on the subject and there was limited if any interest. But I realize for the sake of my soul and what we have done with others on this, its time to put pen to paper.
Its been a good week. My SF Giants are in the playoffs. The weather is cooling off. My father turns 83 three I believe tomorrow and I am grateful he is still around in my life. Happy birthday Dad.
Enjoy.
T
A rewind of sorts is always good. Lets me know where I came from so I can find direction of where I am going. It was an interesting week...
Work wise - meeting with a recruitier for entering a possible Phd program. My secretary prepping for a 4 month hiatus from the office as she goes on maternity leave next week. Meetings. Teaching - in the middle of Exodus. Grading. Lots of grading bible studies and using digital grading methods now makes it interesting. I enjoy my job. Oh, and filling out that annual survey...should I stay or should I go. Reading the letter stating I am to be awarded the Rotary Educator of the Year from the PV district in early November. I think they got the wrong professor.
Family wise - helping my son find his way on his own to film shoots and auditions. Google visual maps and lots of patience helps. Helping my daughter get her car repaired and driving a tiny red Chevy compact that drives like a tank. Helping my wife literally heal her wounds from various out patient surgeries on her back and toes. And wrestling with the news of her latest medical woe that I can't share here. Becoming a social studies tutor to my youngest child as she is struggling her way through 8th grade history and the revolutionary war. Trying not to get too mad seeing the illegal amount of home work this school district pours on these kids. Keeping my dog Max healthy with his asthma and allergies. Getting my finger bit by a guinea pig that I am sorely tempted to feed to the red tailed hawks that circle my home on a daily basis.
Soul wise - the Lord has been challenging me with my leadership skills and quick thinking situations. Its very difficult to put into words all that happens inside of me but I feel these days a sense of holy confidence coming over me. Its not cockiness but rather the assurance that I am on the right path and I need to keep at it.
Finally, I believe one of the reasons this blog is coming alive again is frankly, because both my wife and my good friend MMorton remind me, there lies a book within me. I doubt it would ever get published but before I die, I got to get it out. I actually lined out ten chapters today and will begin a process of writing the Kroc tale. I did approach the powers that be in the SA editorial department a few years ago on the subject and there was limited if any interest. But I realize for the sake of my soul and what we have done with others on this, its time to put pen to paper.
Its been a good week. My SF Giants are in the playoffs. The weather is cooling off. My father turns 83 three I believe tomorrow and I am grateful he is still around in my life. Happy birthday Dad.
Enjoy.
T
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
They are at it again
http://christiannightmares.tumblr.com/post/1306799574/red-alert-warning-from-william-tapley-aka-the
Ok. My blood pressure is rising. Of course "the third eagle of the revelation" has spoken to the world reminding us that today is the start of the end of the world, with WWIII ready to start. Somewhere between now and Nov 29 God is taking the faithful 'protestants' up to heaven leaving everyone one else to fend for themselves.
I am not sure what it is but fall always seems to be a popular time for Jesus to be coming back to make things right. I stumbled across this link today while on my twitter account - ChristianNitemare. Its a blog that posts up some incredible strange and stupid things people are doing in the name of Christianity. This one caught my eye since it was telling me its a 'red alert warning.'
I actually came to Christ as the result of a gospel tract proclaiming the end of the world. That was in 1978. And here I am. Still. Those self proclamied dates of His glorouis return have come and gone. Since then of course there have been others that have come along, tossing out dates, while all along ignoring what Jesus said himself: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angeles in heaven, nor the Son but only the Faither." Matthew 24:36
Its pretty clear folks. When Jesus says no one knows, I think he does know what he is talking about. Yet the spiritual amongst keep at it, figuring it all out before the angels or the Son of God get any clues.
Amazing.
For me, I am enjoying this life while I still have breath. Too many wonderful things to see and do and experince. Too many people to help, to comfort, to aide, and to bring hope to.
Some may choose to believe this guy's words. I don't. I simply choose to 'occupy until He comes.'
Be assured, I found a new funny place that will certainly engage more thoughts from me. I may be considered a 'false prophet' but I think I am closer to interpreting God's word than this guy is.
Lord, save me from your followers.
Ok. My blood pressure is rising. Of course "the third eagle of the revelation" has spoken to the world reminding us that today is the start of the end of the world, with WWIII ready to start. Somewhere between now and Nov 29 God is taking the faithful 'protestants' up to heaven leaving everyone one else to fend for themselves.
I am not sure what it is but fall always seems to be a popular time for Jesus to be coming back to make things right. I stumbled across this link today while on my twitter account - ChristianNitemare. Its a blog that posts up some incredible strange and stupid things people are doing in the name of Christianity. This one caught my eye since it was telling me its a 'red alert warning.'
I actually came to Christ as the result of a gospel tract proclaiming the end of the world. That was in 1978. And here I am. Still. Those self proclamied dates of His glorouis return have come and gone. Since then of course there have been others that have come along, tossing out dates, while all along ignoring what Jesus said himself: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angeles in heaven, nor the Son but only the Faither." Matthew 24:36
Its pretty clear folks. When Jesus says no one knows, I think he does know what he is talking about. Yet the spiritual amongst keep at it, figuring it all out before the angels or the Son of God get any clues.
Amazing.
For me, I am enjoying this life while I still have breath. Too many wonderful things to see and do and experince. Too many people to help, to comfort, to aide, and to bring hope to.
Some may choose to believe this guy's words. I don't. I simply choose to 'occupy until He comes.'
Be assured, I found a new funny place that will certainly engage more thoughts from me. I may be considered a 'false prophet' but I think I am closer to interpreting God's word than this guy is.
Lord, save me from your followers.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I am back!
I am not sure where my blog went or why I stopped writing. I have numerous journals that have these wide gaps - sometimes several years of no entries. I thought I had over come that with this new fan dangled way of posting to the world, but alas, it has not been there.
Since I last wrote of course lots of things have occurred in my life. I will spare the details other than to say my health is good, my mind is sound, I am still in love with my wife, my family and of course, my God.
I need to get back to writing some things about my journey. Things I have been observing, thinking about.
A big issue I am wrestling with at the moment is 'to do or not to do.' I am sorely tempted these days to keep my brain engaged and have been actively looking into furthering my education by entering a PhD program. So much so that I have active applications open but something is causing me to just not jump through the hoops yet. It may be the commitment of time that is involved. It may be a little hesitation of the thought that I could even consider entering some sort of brainy-aic venture. I haven't been this undecisive since who I was going to vote for in my first presidential election way back when. I am sure I have more thoughts on this that perhaps posting in this blog will help.
But for now, I want to discipline myself to not write about my sniveling, whiny complaints or nagging thoughts. I do want to write and describe what things God is teaching me through this journey.
Thanks for following. I hope you can gleam something from what is upcoming here and you will be able to engage with me on this journey.
T
Since I last wrote of course lots of things have occurred in my life. I will spare the details other than to say my health is good, my mind is sound, I am still in love with my wife, my family and of course, my God.
I need to get back to writing some things about my journey. Things I have been observing, thinking about.
A big issue I am wrestling with at the moment is 'to do or not to do.' I am sorely tempted these days to keep my brain engaged and have been actively looking into furthering my education by entering a PhD program. So much so that I have active applications open but something is causing me to just not jump through the hoops yet. It may be the commitment of time that is involved. It may be a little hesitation of the thought that I could even consider entering some sort of brainy-aic venture. I haven't been this undecisive since who I was going to vote for in my first presidential election way back when. I am sure I have more thoughts on this that perhaps posting in this blog will help.
But for now, I want to discipline myself to not write about my sniveling, whiny complaints or nagging thoughts. I do want to write and describe what things God is teaching me through this journey.
Thanks for following. I hope you can gleam something from what is upcoming here and you will be able to engage with me on this journey.
T
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