St. Paul Cathedral, St. Paul, Minnesota

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist showing the last clip so you can get an idea of the immense size of this structure. I guess you don't have to travel to Europe to see wonderful cathedrals. My sister-in-law feels this matches nearly every cathedral they saw in Europe. So start with this clip and move down through my others and you will move from the outside to the inside of this great church.

One more clip from St. Paul

Vicki is walking up to the front door of St. Paul's.

St. Paul Cathedral, St. Paul, Minnesota

We had the opportunity to see the Vatican exhibit (bone fragment of St. Peter)at the St. Paul History Museum over Christmas break which was amazing. The St. Paul Cathedral across the street is equally amazing and should be on the must see list of church goers regardless of Protestant/Catholic leanings. I apologize for no more clips, batteries died but I would like to get back some day. There was going to be wedding in a side chapel so it was roped off but a person could still walk throughout and soak up the majesty of our Lord. What wonderful, unexpected stops on our Christmas travels to Minnesota. This ranks above the basilica in Dwyersville, Iowa but you really can't compare a large city with a small town.

SNOW!!

Just a little reminder that less than a month ago the weather was a little different. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Sorry, I messed with image.

Christ the King Sunday

The sermon today focused on Matthew 25: 31-46. If you are familiar with Keith Green this passage can never be read without converting it to that pounding piano. What did stop me in my tracks was the statement by our pastor, ". . . this is a story of judgment, not on the bad we do. . . .but on the good we did not do." I always had this nice little picture in my mind of being aware of those in need. A neat, plastic little scene and then in a very matter of fact voice that was all destroyed. What is contained in the "good I did not do?" Volumes! Life is easier if I focus on the good I do and the bad I don't do. Why, if I have to focus on the good I did not do, I will have to actually think about every decision in my life and who is impacted.

The cabin in the picture was probably built by a lot of people who came together to do good for a fellow settler. One person working alone, tending crops, animals, cutting wood for winter, hunting and gathering could never have done it alone. Others seeing a need stepped in and helped get a job completed so the individual could become a contributing member of the community in a shorter time. As your church celebrated "Christ the King Sunday" may you focus on doing good in the days ahead.

What Are You Doing Out There?

There is a wonderful scene in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail in which Henry (Thoreau) has been thrown in jail for not paying his taxes. Waldo (Emerson) is told that Henry is in jail and rushes to Concord to help. Waldo shouts at Henry, "What are you doing in there?" Henry shouts back, "What are you doing out there?" What cause do I deem worthy of jail? Our culture strives to keep us occupied with things that distract us from real life. We don't have time to help others, we can't help ourselves so we look to our government to take care of us. Doesn't matter that they are involved in another "Mexican War" that is as unjust and unnecessary as the first one. Doesn't matter that business experts are corrupt, make poor decisions, bankrupt their companies and then ask the government to bail them out, I won't protest any of these decisions by going to jail. I may complain but I won't take a risk and refuse to be a part. Now the auto manufacturers are lining up with hands out . . . . .help. . . . .help. When and where does it stop, in the cycle of history it is probably time for GM to go out of business, they will be replaced by Kia or another company who will then be replaced in a century or so. We never learn from our past, we just study it. How could it possibly apply to the present? Henry David would tell us to not pay Caesar what he requests while Christ said to, "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." A dilemma? An out? We can continue to live in our big houses and complain? We can demand the latest technology and pay off our conscience? No, Christ has called for the ultimate sacrifice, our lives. He wants us to let the government take its share while we focus on the hurt and pain of those around us. We are to build reasonable homes, drive reasonable cars, limit our debt to a house and spend our resources building an eternal kingdom while modeling the life of Christ. Thoreau and Christ, both would say over and over and over. . . . . simplify. . . . . .simplify. . . . . share with those who have not. . . . . .simplify. . . . . . love those who are unloved. . . . . . . simplify. . . . . . . .follow after His path. . . . . .simplify. Waldo didn't get it. Do you?

What is in our future

The picture to the left is interesting. On one hand it shows mother and son, it might show a son who is preparing for a future based on living in the wilderness, it might show a mother concerned about the future or it might just show a mother and son on a hike and they found the trail blocked by a fallen tree. The last option was the truth. What did they do? Walked around the tree and went on with their hike. Tomorrow morning we will awaken to a new day, a new president will have been elected and we will set a new course for the future. If your candidate didn't win and you are sure the future holds doom and gloom, prepare, learn to survive in the woods, keep lots of dried food around scatter ashes over your head as you wail. If your candidate did win, be loving to those who supported the other guy. Don't gloat, demonstrate love. Above all, we need to commit to holding our elected officials accountable for their actions or inaction's. Election to any office should not be a permanent post. Twelve years would be great for any representative or senator. If they can't do anything in twelve, they won't do anything in twelve or twenty more. Let's make twelve and out the new cry for all Representatives and Senators. Keep the new blood running in and out of Washington. Even if it's "your guy or gal" vote them out after twelve. We don't need term limits, we need self-control. As we wait for the announcement of the next president, as if anyone is in doubt, remember, twelve is the magic number. 6 + 6 = OUT!

Community

Our church is continuing its series on Intentional Faith Development. Today the topic in service and Sunday School was Learning in a Supportive Community. To live in community means I must be able to give up something I may see as important so it doesn't handicap the entire Body. God gives us all the different personalities in our church so we can become the people He wants us to be. The church must be a place where people are free to be who they are and we respond to them where they are. They may not come with any knowledge of the faith, our practices, or our social status. A supportive community will say welcome, we have just the place for you to begin your journey. We must help all people feel a connection to the church community, we must feed them both spiritually and physically, and this keeps all of us connected to God. No matter what you may think, have read or practice, you cannot be a Christian in isolation, separated from the body. The second century church was known because it helped widows, orphans, and fed the poor. They even took strangers home to give them a place to sleep. The world was no safer in the second century and if you know nothing of Rome in the second century even the U.S. hasn't reached that level of depravity.
But the comment that struck me today was this, "the church has become an advocate of Christian values rather than a place that lives Christian values" (Bias). Our testimony is not one the world can see, we are negative, harsh, unloving, unforgiving but want a bunch of laws passed so everyone will have to live "biblically." If we would live Biblically the world might be drawn to Christ but usually you can't tell our lives from the surrounding culture. We must live differently, act differently, love differently and begin to accept people where they are and help them grow.

Extreme Makeover

Wow! This has been the week to be in Pekin, IL. Extreme Makeover Home Edition has been building a new home for the Grys family. One week, new home. All the whistles and bells to protect young Jake who breaks two to four bones per month. I have been down twice to check on progress and am heading back around midnight tonight to see what has been done. The Grys family returns home on Tuesday to a new house for a family that has taken in more than 200 foster children during their lives. This is a new life, new start, this program represents all the good we can accomplish if we work together for a common goal. Works in the secular world for EMHE, works in the Christian world. As children of Christ we need to be far less focused on denominational issues and more focused on Christ issues. What could we accomplish in a week? Anyone besides me ready for a makeover?

80

Last night Skip Stuber and family celebrated birthday number eight zero. Significant not just because of who was present but because of who wasn't present. A wife, home sick with the flu, a younger brother who passed away, and a son who passed away many years ago. Skip was willing to share significant events in his life, from losing a baseball game to Allentown when he was an 8th grader, to watching Jug Stuber slide right out the gym door during a basketball game in Tremont where too many people had brought slushy snow into the gym making the floor wet, to milk route days where he picked up milk from farmers who had German P.O.W.'s working their fields, to watching his dad heft 100 pound milk cans onto the truck with one arm and a knee. I learned that wealth was not the divider of people that it is today, everyone was poor during the depression. We learned that students havn't changed much except they probably aren't as rough (I have not seen a PCHS student drug around with a rope around their neck.). I learned that families who struggle together and stick together will probably struggle together and stick together throughout life. I learned that faith is the "stick together" in all things. I learned that fighting the good fight in marriage is worth it. Love grows through time and overcoming marriage flaws is worth the fight. If you love someone enough to marry them no matter their weaknesses you later discover, fight the good fight look beyond those weaknesses and grow that marriage to maturity. Faith in a God that cares for us, in good times, bad times, and in times where we aren't sure is essential to making any sense of this existence. As you look at this mini-clip may you think about whether your own family will be this close when you are 80. Will your family walk in the knowledge of Truth and the confidence that God is the purpose of life? May God bless you and yours.

In Whom Do I Trust

This will seem even a bit more rambling than usual. We (First United Methodist Church, Peoria, IL) celebrated our 175th anniversary last weekend. It was a wonderful opportunity for those of us new to FUMC to meet some of the previous pastors, hear their most memorable moments and watch their reunions with people who they have not seen in years. On Sunday morning Bishop Gregory Palmer preached from Psalm 19 and Philippians 4. Points to ponder from that message were:

• we have been created to give thanks to who God is and all He has done
  
• we are to remember that the heavens declare the glory of God
• we must not lose sight of our created state and that as created beings we are to praise and give thanks to our Creator
• the difference between us and other parts of God's creation is that we get to choose who or what we will follow........choose wisely
• it doesn't take much faith to praise God when things are going well, we must remember that our praise is not contingent upon the economy
• we must allow ourselves to be shaped by God into a people of praise, this is really contrary to our very nature
• we must not be a people who only traffic in history, with our knowledge of the past we can look to the future
• THE BIBLE IS FULL OF "CHARACTERS" and yet when a fellow believer steps out of line we jump all over them [I am thankful David isn't running for president, he would make Bill Clinton look like a monk. my thought added]
• we must look at our past as a way to view the future. . .[do we not have the best people running for political office because we get wrapped up in their past rather than their present and future, me again]
• we must see where we have come from so we can see where to go
• we are not to be blinded by our past so we can't see the future
• we can't let our past encumber us in the present and future
• What am I pressing toward? What next can Christ help me do? All our programs should reflect our confidence in the resurrection!

Each of these thoughts is a separate blog but I will allow those who stumble upon this site to examine their thoughts and decide what they need further reflection upon.

Please remember to get out and vote, pray, fast, and then cast your vote. No recommendation from me, no endorsement, just an admonition to exercise your civic duty.

Peace and Grace

Unsettling the Settled

To be totally honest I loved it when our pastor was "unfocused." He spent some time in the desert earlier this year and his messages, while still good, were not the unsettling, challenging, thought provoking messages I had come to expect. I should have known that a man of God will recognize something is amiss and correct it. He has. Last Sunday the message came from Matthew 20: 1-13 and I was all set with my good old western understanding of scripture to hear a standard sermon. Wrong! The parable must address us not we bringing our understanding to the parable. The justice seekers (fairness people), of which I tend to be one, don't like this parable so we try to explain it away. I had to face the fact that I don't like it if someone does less and gets the same. I didn't like it if someone made a death-bed conversion to escape the fiery furnace. That wasn't fair. Those who worked all day should receive more, those who came later should receive less. It's a very simple concept, why does God have to mess it up? I am afraid I had always held the idea that my relationship with God was about my goodness and not His grace. Is God fair? Nope, if He were fair, where would I be? I don't deserve anything, no one does. If not for His unmerited favor none of us would have the hope of eternal life. In Matthew 19, Peter asks about who would be saved? The answer is about the endless possibilities of who will be saved. Am I doing my part? Saying no to this world is the part I must start with. I primarily live to serve myself. May that change in the days, weeks, and years ahead.

Citizens of the King

In the fifth chapter of Matthew the disciples came to Christ and "He began to teach them." He reminded them to be "gentle" (v. 5), to "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (v. 6), to be "merciful" (v. 7), to be "pure in heart" (v. 8), and to be a "peacemaker" (v. 9). If I am bound to Christ these are characteristics that must describe my life in the world. Why? Verse thirteen answers that, "you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?" We have become "tasteless" and need to be made salty. In this election season we must remember that it is not who is the next president because our reasons for who we want to be the next president are probably wrong. One group wants a particular person because they think their economic policies will make them wealthy through a more open market. Woe to you who are investments because you usually are not upright and honest. One group wants a particular person because they believe they will take money from the wealthy and hand it out to those who don't have as much. Woe to you who make mankind dependent upon hand-outs. Where is the candidate who is saying the truth, we have no money, we are not going to continue to borrow at the rate we have been borrowing, we are holding the line here? Why will no candidate speak the hard truth? Of course, they would not be elected. Believers must remember that we are called to serve a Ruler not of this world, we are called to be different and bring a different message. Our message must be one of hope, our lives be lives that are different. My challenge to every believer..........in one area..........housing...........build no house larger than 2100 square feet of living space.........I'll even exclude the basement. Donate the difference between what you were going to build to your local church, for example, you were going to build a 3,000 sq. ft. house, take 900 sq. ft. x cost per sq. ft. = amount to donate to your local church.

Wonder

As God created the Hummingbird for a purpose, so too are we created for a purpose. Watching this little character arrive for nourishment was an amazing opportunity. We sat in comfortable rocking chairs at the Funk's Grove Nature Center reading the paper and waiting for this example of creation to appear. Time and again they returned for a brief moment and then moved on. It was truly an amazing experience.

History

Elkader, Iowa is a wonderful community built along the Turkey River. The bridge in the photo was constructed early in the 20th century by the same methods used in ancient Rome. Wooden arched forms supported the stones until a keystone was dropped into place and filled in the pressure point providing a stable, nearly maintenance free structure. Any community that needs bridges, has access to a quarry at a reasonable distance should consider this method. The bridge was originally built in 9 months but has required almost no follow-up maintenance. We, in the Midwest, typically build using concrete piers with iron beams and a concrete deck which are all constantly hammered by our use of salt, the iron rusts and needs painting, the concrete rots and needs replaced, the taxpayer continues to support the ever growing cycle. Anyway, if you are ever near Elkader, stop and see this bridge.

Thoughts on the Bat

Went to see The Dark Knight, what a thoughtful film. We left really thinking about what could cause us to give up our beliefs? Is security worth spying on everyone? Does spying on everyone insure security? Did the Joker's role put an already fragile individual over the edge? Who do you choose to save? Is a vigilante no different than the criminal?

Blessed????

Faith is a fuzzy thing. We think we see something very clear and we advocate that everyone see the same clear picture. The UMC held its General Conference earlier this year and some interesting statistics were presented:
1. 96% of people living in the U.S. believe in God; 2. 53% of the 96% say it makes no difference in their living; 3. 60% have no Christian relationship; 4. 80% of 18-30 year-olds have no relationship with the church whatsoever. If you think, as many do, that the UMC would intentionally skew their research I would invite you to read UnChristian which goes even further in explaining what a poor job believers do in modeling Christ to our culture.
It sure seems that the evil one has figured out how to lure believers in America to sleep. . . . .abundance. We want for very little, it will be interesting to see how faith surveys change if the "recession" we aren't in hangs around for another year. Abundance does not increase faith, easy lives with plenty to eat, every electronic gadget on earth, the latest car, homes large enough to house the entire extended family, and lives so busy we have no time to build a relationship, a true deep, meaningful relationship with anyone. I am not advocating returning to life in the early 20th century or late 19th century but having visited a culture where relationships are first and foremost does make one think about the direction our country has taken. If all your material needs are met in abundance why would you need to trust the unseen God? I can do all things but it doesn't appear that I need Christ to strengthen me. Adversity seems to bring about deeper faith. I have written about my nephew who is, as I write, in Pittsburgh recovering from major surgery. I have learned more about a deepening faith in God through he and his family as they struggle, not only with the present but with the future, to meet the decisions of the day. They take each day as it comes and are thankful for everything God has done, is doing and will do. To watch the relationship that Daniel has built with his nurses, that is Christ working through us and that is how we will impact the world. The latest praise song may make our heart twitter and our eyes mist but in the end it is how we relate to those around us. It appears that Americans don't really want to do the next step in their faith, the hard step, which is to develop a relationship with someone who may not think like they do on every issue. That is the only way we will change the statistics mentioned earlier.

Pickwick Mill, Pickwick, Minnesota

This 19th century mill really impressed me. The design, the construction, the product and now, the people involved in restoration. If you are ever near Winona, Minnesota the mill is about 10 miles away and well worth the drive. I hope my editing isn't so bad that you can't follow what I am trying to show. Comments are always welcome.
What would have been like to work in this mill? Smells, heat, cold, safety, pay, the hours, benefits, retirement, etc.

Elkport Part II

We have stopped at the abandoned part of Elkport, Iowa. I really can't explain the feelings that go through your mind when walking the neatly laid out streets but only a few buildings survive. This area is in a flood plain and the recent floods in Iowa have caused much damage to the areas we are traveling through. Just like my first trip through here on a bicycle I am drawn to the remaining buildings wondering who lived here, who went to school here, who read these books. What stories could be told by those who once called Elkport home. It was interesting to drive about one-half mile further and see the "new" Elkport, a little higher and safer.

Dyersville

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is." Lao-tzu

We are retracing the bike trip that Tom and I took in early June. We rode past this basilica in Dyersville but didn't stop. This time Vicki and I went inside and it is beautiful. Even though we are not Roman Catholic the interior is beautiful. The stained glass is amazing and while I would struggle worshiping here on a regular basis it was a great place to stop.

Life As He Knows It

Spent a couple of days with this young man in Tijuca, Brazil. He lived in the house right next to where my hammock hung. His family has acquired land by "homesteading" in the Amazon jungle. The U.S. did this in various areas and I actually think Alaska still has some areas where homesteading goes on. You get a parcel of land, jungle land, to clear, build a house, find a water supply, acquire some animals, plant some crops, keep yourself healthy, consider ways to earn money and all this is done without electricity, no internet, blogs, cell phone, etc. I watched this little guy work our team for food, candy, and "stuff." (The worst effect of Adam's fall was that every human wants more "stuff." ) He knows how to survive, would I? A teacher walks into his "community" each morning for a few hours of school. He is learning to read, write and cipher. A church is being built and Naldo comes and holds formal services once or twice a month. How different his world is from mine. I struggled during the two days we were in Tijuca. It is America of 150 years ago and knowing the errors we made I am always a little depressed to see the same errors being made in the Amazon region. What errors? Clearing the land for cattle and grassland to feed the cattle, not replanting enough trees, not making sure erosion is kept to a minimum, sanitary water, education, we gave away toothpaste and one little guy ate most of the tube before we could explain that it was cleaning your teeth not eating. Killing every creature that is a pest. I know big snakes are scary and dangerous but they don't always have to be killed. Access to health care along the river seems to be a definite need and more "circuit riding" ministers like the Methodists of yesteryear. Consistent spiritual guidance is needed, it helps control our sinful nature, it reminds us that others are important, it also reminds us that God gave us dominion over His creation and we must take care of it. It doesn't mean we were given free reign to do whatever we please, we are caretakers for His garden and we have made a mess of it. Sinful nature coming to the fore....sorry. In many ways life is very simple for little guy and in many ways life is very difficult. Our lives are anything but simple and because we have made them so complicated I think they are difficult. Lord, how did we stray so far from your Truth? Your simpleness, righteousness, and love? Forgive my arrogance and my ignorance, refine me, shape me to Your will, continue the cleansing of this world from my priorities so that I am able to see Your priorities. Silence the noise of this life so I may hear Your voice. Amen.

Amazon Lumber Part III

As you probably noticed in Lumber Part II not all the land is cleared of brush. The adventure really begins as you tote this heavy chunk of wood down a narrow path and then cut through the weeds toward the one meter hole dug earlier. In this final video on post holes I have captured the guys carrying another large post but on much clearer ground.

Amazon Lumber Part II

Amazon Lumber

This video clip was shot at Tijuca. It is a small community about a 3 mile walk from the Xingu River. Our team hiked in to help Pastor Naldo mark out church property lines, sink one half of an 8' section of tree at each corner, and then sink all the posts for a new church. Most Americans have never hefted wood quite like this which is why you will usually see at least 3 guys, not small guys, but young men, hauling these pieces of wood and dropping them in the standard 1 meter deep hole. Just to give you a taste of the density, this wood sinks when it goes into water. The grass they are walking through is kind of nasty stuff, it hides critters which makes Americans like me a bit nervous. The house you will see the guys walking past sold us a pig and prepared it for us. Rural Amazon butchering methods are not quite like the U.S., I knew to stay away. That night the starving dogs ate really well, you see, in rural Tijuca the pig is not cut into any recognizable piece of meat, a machete simply hacks it into something and that something is put into a big bowl and served. I think I tasted pork but 99% went to the dogs who loved it. I had mostly fat and bone which the starving dogs loved.

Holes

Since 2004 I have been involved in several hundred feet of trench digging and the digging of numerous holes. Septic holes or tree trunk support holes, I've watched them all being dug by young men and women both Brasilian and American. I worked with some of the nicest human beings, some of the lazier human beings, some with wonderful homes, some with not so wonderful homes, some who know the Lord and some who don't. Digging is a great equalizer, wealth doesn't matter, physical strength helps but isn't essential, what seems to count is whether you have the mental perseverance to stay the course. When you are only 3 degrees off the equator it gets hot and when it gets hot your mind starts to work on you. I have been fortunate to watch lots of young people work through the heat and overcome the misery quotient that wants to beat you down. Enjoy the clips!

Apprenticeships

This particular clip shows Isaac and Zach being trained in the fine art of plastering. It is a short clip since they didn't really last long. I think Marsiu was being kind in allowing them to "help."

Tunnel Vision

The photo was taken at the Hotel Vila Rica in Belem, Brasil. I was headed to breakfast after a very late arrival (actually early morning arrival) and noticed this walk to the "lake." It is a very direct path, no side trails to distract you from your goal. This is the path!
Many of us seek a life like this, we set a goal and nothing will distract us from achieving that goal. My concern is whether I have allowed God a part in deter- ming my goal. My plan is usually centered around a path that will allow me to accumulate wealth so I can have a better house, cars, vacations, etc. I think God wants our journey to be variable enough to allow for His guidance to lead us on side trips. His plan and our plan, no matter how we may feel, can be totally different. My prayer is that I am always seeking His path.

Come and Look for America

This photo was taken on my recent bike trip. I'm not sure of the location but I think it was western Illinois, back-country road. The guy lived in the trailer in the background and was out working on something when Tom and I stopped for the photo shoot. The power and strength symbolized by this vehicle so reminds me of America. We too, were once powerful and strong, the envy of everyone around the world. Our focus on greed is rusting and leaving us a shell of our former self.

Must Listen!

http://michael.susens-schurter.com/files/355.mp3

The link above is a must listen from NPR's This American Life. It is an easy explanation of the mortgage crisis. If these people were poor and doing this they would end up in jail.

Day 2

These are photos from day 2 of my recent bike trip. They were taken in Petersburg, Iowa which is really an intersection in the road. I think the population of the town is around 50. I thought the contrast between the church (on the west side of the highway) and the store (on the east side of the highway) were amazing. Being a Dr. Pepper fanatic I couldn't resist including the whole machine and cutting off a little of the competition. The pictures say a lot about life. On one side of the coin people have strength, structure, organization, answers, and hope. The other side of the coin has a combination of solidity, weakness, disorder, order, needs, wants, questions, hope and answers. Across the street from the Dr. P. machine to the north is The Detour cafe, on my last trip this is where it suddenly ended. Not this time, my trip partner, the wonderful Mr. G, rode on like a trooper. We followed the rise and fall of the land. We saw, smelled and marveled at the Iowa countryside as the miles rolled on. It is one roller after another but the views are great and the people provide the soul with restoration. This was a great way to conclude another school year. By the way, read On The Road.

Bike Trip

School ended and the next day I was off on an adventure with Tom, my team-teaching partner in American Studies. On Saturday we spent 70 of 79 miles riding into a steady 20 mph headwind. I have never ridden so hard for so long. We ran into great people along the way, people like the clerk at the Sherrard Casey's who came out and got our water bottles to fill them with cold water because she takes care of bicyclists. As cynical as one can become in our modern era, a trip through the heartland of America can remind you that some things are going well with our country. There are many people who will go out of their way to help. Anyway, we arrived in Muscatine, Iowa around 5 and just laid on the bed of our Super 8 thankful for a safe trip. More later.

Misc.

Back in the classroom full time. It is amazing how much a teacher can accomplish when you don't have to teach full time. I have had a great student teacher and it was difficult to see him go. It was also difficult watching another department member have a miserable student teaching experience. We have a small problem in our teacher preparation process in America. Universities want to grow their departments which increases the need for professors which makes the university look good. We have a local private institution that is well known for its engineering program but is struggling in its History Education program. After accepting nearly 100,000 in tuition/room/board it is difficult if not impossible to tell the student they have no business becoming a teacher. It must be even more difficult to tell them before their junior year that they should change majors because the problem continues. What is our higher education system to do? They worry excessively about fulfilling NCATE requirements on paper but fall totally flat in reality. They have the program down on paper; interestingly, that is the most consistent result of NCLB. NCLB has made our education process one bureaucratic nightmare, not making AYP, write a new plan, hire a new consultant, pay for outside tutors, write more plans, hire more consultants; wait, what isn't being mentioned here? Work with parents??? Few schools can be effective without parental involvement. Parents dropped out, are struggling to make ends meet, had a child out of wedlock, chances are good that the child will follow the model. We must find a way, besides testing, to intervene in the at risk families. We need to work with the parent(s) to teach parenting skills, job skills, an interest in education and then we must create opportunities for the parents to use these new skills. You don't hear the presidential candidates discussing NCLB. You don't hear Republicans talk about it because it is contrary to everything that a conservative would stand for, bigger government, more government intervention and less local voice. I am all for holding myself accountable for my instruction in my classroom but could we consider doing the same across the board? Elected officials can't manage our tax dollars and run a balanced budget, after 7 years out the ALL go! Elected officials can't keep their hands off the Social Security Surplus (about 2.2 trillion) out they go, that money should have been left in Social Security to grow over the years, I think we would have one less worry. Oh, all members of Congress involved in approving that theft, out you go. One more thing, schools that have not met AYP and are going to be taken over, why not tell them what you are going to do at year 3 or 4 so they can make the changes and avoid the process. HINT, there is no plan, NCLB will be "adjusted" each year because they can't find enough teachers to replace all of us. Who would ever go into a profession where keeping your job depends upon someone else passing a test when there is no penalty for not passing the test. HELP! VOTE FOR RALPH! We must dump this failed two party system.

Contemplate this

"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church's prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament." Soren Kierkegaard

We want cheap grace. We want easy faith. I'm sorry, I just returned from visiting my nephew in the hospital. He has holes in his intestine that will not heal. He is 15. I am past 50. In the midst of his weakness he provided joy to me. His model of Christ was amazing, in this young man's weakness I saw tremendous strength. In my sister-in-law's loving care I witnessed hope. They have forgotten everything else except what is necessary in that hospital room at that moment. If I could only live my daily life being Christ to those I meet. Providing what is necessary at that moment.

Tremont

Living in Tremont, IL you can become comfortable in your faith. We don't have homeless people, our poor keep quiet and so don't bother us enough to do anything special. We have good middle class churches who train up good middle class children, provide them with good mission trips led by good middle class people like my wife and I. But I wonder if I could do an inner city mission trip and live with a homeless person for two or three days. Could I eat what they eat, sleep where they sleep, or feel what they feel? Jesus was homeless, he never owned a home, had a yard to mow, a roof to shingle, dusting to do or cat boxes to clean. Am I missing something? With all my daily concerns am I missing a deeper relationship with Christ because I have sold myself to my culture? I am thankful for a community where friends abound. I am thankful for a community where faith abounds. I pray that I would never take advantage of those blessings. The church doors are from TUMC where I was raised, the cross comes from the bridge south of Tremont on old route 121. Memories.
God is good.

Back Again

Wonderful week in Estes Park. It was difficult to return to the "normal" grind of school. Rainy days help the kids focus as we adjust from winter into spring. Will continue to post some photos as time goes on.

Great Day

Wonderful hiking day! Lots of snow, almost no people, what more can you ask for? That is ice in the background of the group photo, it is frozen in little waves, looks just like ripples on a lake except that we are standing on the lake. The camp jay wanted a snack. It is fun to praise God in His sanctuary, for He doeth ALL things well. God truly is good, all the time.

Estes Park

Here we are! Neighbors are quiet, friendly and hungry. Ate a late lunch at Poppey's which is always good. Weather was sunny but extremely windy. Tomorrow we head into the mountains.

Wondering

My American Studies class has finally reached the "Roaring 20's"! The twenties sure parallel the late 20th and early 21st century. Women have entered the work force, increased demand for "labor-saving" devices, huge credit spending sprees, a stock market that won't quit, everybody is following the eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die philosophy. That awful Monday in October came when Groucho Marx lost everything followed by another drop and then another drop and the world crashed. Wow, sounds like recent American history.

Do evolutionists study history? I thought that if we were evolving we might get a little brighter along the way. It sure seems, after teaching history for a year or two, that we are no different then the people who were around ten thousand years ago. We follow the same patterns of greed and self-destructive behaviors that people have followed forever.


Read, Dinner With A Perfect Stranger. Excellent book. Buy it on e-bay, buy two and give one away. Remember our Lord this Friday (remember Him each day but particularly this Friday) and give thanks on Sunday. We can have confidence. No other religion provides this confidence. Other religions tell you do good things and you might be rewarded. Jesus asks you to enter into a relationship with Him and eternity awaits. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Brasil, 2007

So much for keeping up

It is impossible to keep up with the blog. I will update when possible. I am curious if anyone else has had a similar experience. On January 31 my wife and I purchased 9 tickets to Brasil (z for Americans) through Travelocity. We waded through the lengthy process of picking seats, etc only to find they would not accept our credit cards, invalid number is what the site reported. We spent another 35 minutes making a second attempt, failure again, called the help line and were told to try again. We carefully entered all information a third and fourth time getting the same response, invalid credit card number. We called back to the help line and had to book through an operator, for this service we were charged a total of $249, I made it clear that this was theft, the same credit cards that were invalid on-line magically worked when they could charge us the extra fee. Protests have been filed with my credit card companies who both felt this fell under the word theft. I do wonder if others have had this happen. Let me know.

Random Thoughts

Do the majority of evangelicals in America want a theocracy? Is it really true that gay marriage and abortion "require government action" while poverty can and should be addressed "locally." Are not all of these products of a fallen world? Are they not all situations that require believers on a local level to become involved? If this post makes no sense please go back and read the comment posted in response to my Random Thoughts on 2007. They are great thoughts and cause us to pause and reflect. Did Christ attempt to legislate anything? Did Paul circulate petitions for laws to stop the carnage of the Roman games as he made missionary journeys?
As Micah writes, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" How much prison time for an abortion? In the case of abortion, what is justice? What is kindness? Do my answers reflect a humble walk with my God?
I love this, musing, questions, and thoughts. This I believe, God is not Republican or Democrat and those who believe He is, are missing the point. Islam is a theocracy, is that really the direction we should go?

NCLB Conference 2008

Just returned from the 2008 NCLB conference in Chicago. Great conference, only have time for some quotes.

"your future view determines your future" roekle
"if the horse is dead, get off" roekle
"if we could teach by telling, it would be wonderful, but they don't stay told" andrews
"it takes a bucket full of knowledge to teach a thimble full of skills" andrews
"you don't learn by doing, you learn by thinking about what you are doing" andrews

I will attempt to get back to a somewhat regular posting schedule if I ever get caught up with my daily job.

2008

Home from visiting family in North Carolina. O and Huck have won the Iowa caucus contests. I have learned that my frustration with politics is that no one in recent years has provided a "vision" for America. I believe the O man won because he discusses vision. Hillary discusses more programs that we all know can't be paid for no matter how good they may be but she never provides a "vision" for America. She is of the "us vs them" generation that our nation cannot allow to continue for another four or eight years. We will have had sixteen years of that type of leadership and it must end. O discusses it, Huck alludes to it, can either pull it off? We need a president that is willing to sit down with world leaders and discuss solutions, how do we get fresh water and electricity moving throughout Africa, how can we work together to reduce tensions in the Middle East, how can we get fundamental education available to all people, how can we work together to reduce the number of preventable disease deaths, how can we reduce American dependence upon oil. . . and the list goes on. The big question is how do we move away from conflict and war and work for peaceful solutions to disagreements? Anyway, our visit to North Carolina was wonderful. . .the video is from the parks just outside of Hendersonville. Enjoy.