Tracking

Just read a post by Ross Crockett on the Committed Sardine website and he made an interesting comment about tracking. "Apprenticeships have long been popular in Europe, but workforce--oriented high school training is not nearly as common in U.S. schools. One reason is that such programs sound dangerously similar to tracking--sorting students by ability level, a practice repeatedly rejected in U.S. culture, in which the dominant philosophy is that all students should have opportunity to meet their full potential." I have been teaching in a high school setting for twenty-five years and trying to get an English department to reduce or rethink tracking was impossible until the past couple of years. The philosophy was that we have to track due to ability and not a thought was given to preparing students for the real job world. College does not guarantee a good income but there are apprenticeships (carpenter, electrician, plumber) that do provide good jobs with good income and we need to be preparing students in every subject for these types of jobs. American education is hung up on four years of math (not everyone needs it), four years of English (people will do well without it), two to three years of science (two years yes, more...........no) and two and one-half years of Social Studies (no comment, I'm the department chair so can't be fair). I have built homes for a living, didn't need calculus or trig, in fact I worked with my high school math teacher.....poor guy couldn't apply his geometry to building a house to save his life. This is where the real problem lies, we need to have people teaching math who have used the math in real world experience and can relate the theory and formula to actual situations. Tracking, in the negative, must go and be replaced by preparation for the real world.

Vacation video

This video is of our cabin at Valhalla. We have been staying at this resort in Estes Park over the last 15 years. It is a wonderful location and the owners keep everything neat, clean and quiet. We highly recommend spending time here if you travel to Estes Park. It is also very close to the Dunraven which is an excellent place to eat! Another must do in Estes Park. We also highly recommend the Methodist Church for services and that is not just because we are United Methodists. We were in Cabin 9 which is the original home built in this area of Estes Park, 1904 was the year. The cabin has been updated and would sleep a small army but keep in mind there are only two bathrooms. This was the first of what we hope will be regular family gatherings to celebrate special times (Vicki and I will be married 35 years this June 21) but every time we can all be together is special.

St. Francis

Our pastor started a series of sermons on St. Francis. I never thought I would hear a sermon series in a Protestant church based on a Roman Catholic! That is true progress, believers are believers no matter the church title. We will be examining the ideas found in the prayer of St. Francis even though St. Francis didn't write the prayer (written in 1912??) the writing is based on his ideas. The prayer is as follows:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

I urge you to take time to read over these words and contemplate their meaning in your life.

Reflection

I'm not one who enjoys having a picture taken let alone displayed but this image so captures who I am and what I enjoy that I included it. There is truly nothing like sitting in the mountains and contemplating a creator God who made all this. No random accident could have placed things in such order and something from nothing just doesn't hold water with those who study physics or math. As we continue this Holy Week walk may your thoughts return to the One who made all this and so deeply desires relationship with us that He gave His life that we might, through Him, have eternal life. I encourage all to read scripture in light of God reaching out to us to establish a relationship where all things are made new. May the blessings of this Easter season not be lost because your focus is on a rabbit, new clothes, or finding the right spiral glazed ham for the dinner. May your focus be on the One who makes all things new. God bless!

Estes Park

Great hike to Bierstadt Lake. Temperature was great, sun was out and there were very few people. Ate dinner at the Dunraven Inn. Local place with outstanding food and service. It is truly one the must visit places in Estes Park. We ran into a small herd of mountain sheep just outside the town.

Gem Lake Trail

Hike to Gem Lake (RMNP). Great weather, great day. Lots of snow at elevations where it is usually gone by now. Elk, deer and mountain sheep abound.

Taize'

During Lent our church is having a Wednesday service that is very different from the noise of most Sunday mornings in America. The service is as follows:

Bell (3 rings) calls us to worship.

• Our pastor welcomes us, explains the service and its history.
• First Hymn: Glory to God

Glory to God, Glory to God
Glory in the Highest
Glory to God, Glory to God
Alleluia, Alleluia

• Psalm 139 read responsively, Pastor Phillips reads the odd numbered verses and we respond with the even number verses. (very powerful)
• Second Hymn: It is Good to Trust

It is Good to Trust in the Lord our God,
Trust and Hope in the Lord our God.

• SILENCE for REFLECTION (no noise!, no background music, silence!!!)
• Third Hymn: Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, My Soul,
And Bless God's Holy Name.
Bless the Lord, My Soul,
Who leads me into Life.

• Gospel Reading: John 13: 1-17 (different each week)
• Fourth Hymn: Wait For the Lord

Wait For the Lord,
Whose Day is Near.
Wait for the Lord;
Be Strong, Take Heart!

• Silence
  
• Fifth Hymn: Come and Fill

Come and fill our hearts with Your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are Holy
Come and fill our hearts with Your peace,
Alleluia!

• Prayer
• The Lord's Prayer
• Sixth Hymn: In the Lord

In the Lord I'll be ever Thankful
In the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices,
the Lord is near;
lift up your voices,
the Lord is near.

• Benediction
• Passing the Peace of Christ

Amen.