Even though my friend Jason's movie campaign isn't done yet, neither is Rick Santorum's, so I thought I had to post this since so many of those following this blog would appreciate the pro-life message inherent in this video on Rick Santorum's family.
http://youtu.be/X7LyoAEIskw
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mysterious ways
http://igg.me/p/35725?a=279852&i=shlk
So I've been thinking more about the MacBeth film that my friend is making in LA for the big screen. Just like I supported my school's campaign for a grant, I feel I should do the same for a friend, so the link is above. For the time being, I intend to leave this link at the top of my page for the duration of the campaign, which is 82 more days. There's no specific Bible passage to relate to this because this is one of those topics that has been dominating my mind and was going to relate no matter what the passage was today. Of course, my intent has been to help others (through God's Word). However, the more time that passes, I think looking back at my posts is going to help me understand myself and my relationship with God better more so than it is going to help others.
God works in mysterious ways in the present that often become clearer with time. I was trying to do a good thing for others and end up doing more good for myself. At least it removed the plank from my eye, so that at a later time I may be able to better help others remove a bit of dirt from theirs through God's words and mine.
So I've been thinking more about the MacBeth film that my friend is making in LA for the big screen. Just like I supported my school's campaign for a grant, I feel I should do the same for a friend, so the link is above. For the time being, I intend to leave this link at the top of my page for the duration of the campaign, which is 82 more days. There's no specific Bible passage to relate to this because this is one of those topics that has been dominating my mind and was going to relate no matter what the passage was today. Of course, my intent has been to help others (through God's Word). However, the more time that passes, I think looking back at my posts is going to help me understand myself and my relationship with God better more so than it is going to help others.
God works in mysterious ways in the present that often become clearer with time. I was trying to do a good thing for others and end up doing more good for myself. At least it removed the plank from my eye, so that at a later time I may be able to better help others remove a bit of dirt from theirs through God's words and mine.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Kindness vs. Honesty
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PU9.HTM
Aside from today's scripture reading, I am also reading "Leading by Kindness" by Baker and O'Malley. Their definition of kindness focused on honesty. It isn't kind to not tell people the truth even if it is tough to hear, although there may be kinder way of addressing it than others. In education, for example, kind leaders look out for their employees, which involves the foresight to see what's coming. So when the Pennsylvania legislature allowed districts to delay retirement payments for five years, plans should have been made to pay off the 35% on time if paying 7% in a particular year proved difficult. Another deal had to be reached paying about 14% over the next 5 years since some districts paid 0% for 5 years and didn't save up 35% to pay later this school year. It would have been better to deny some requests for materials or professional development the past five years rather than taking a hatchet job to those programs now out of necessity. Other district less fortunate than mine took the hatchet to jobs this year out of necessity. That type of irresponsibility was unkind.
Aside from today's scripture reading, I am also reading "Leading by Kindness" by Baker and O'Malley. Their definition of kindness focused on honesty. It isn't kind to not tell people the truth even if it is tough to hear, although there may be kinder way of addressing it than others. In education, for example, kind leaders look out for their employees, which involves the foresight to see what's coming. So when the Pennsylvania legislature allowed districts to delay retirement payments for five years, plans should have been made to pay off the 35% on time if paying 7% in a particular year proved difficult. Another deal had to be reached paying about 14% over the next 5 years since some districts paid 0% for 5 years and didn't save up 35% to pay later this school year. It would have been better to deny some requests for materials or professional development the past five years rather than taking a hatchet job to those programs now out of necessity. Other district less fortunate than mine took the hatchet to jobs this year out of necessity. That type of irresponsibility was unkind.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Weighing on my mind
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPL.HTM
It's early in the morning and there are already a lot of things weighing on my mind. Sometimes I find myself thinking about illegal immigrants because I just took a survey concerning them yesterday and today's reading talks about not oppressing them. I think illegal immigrants should be treated fairly, but I don't think that means giving them a free ride. I can only imagine what it must be like to be an illegal alien, but I feel I would want a sense of respect. I would want to feel I earned what I got. I wouldn't want hand-outs, but I would be open to a hand-up. Show me how I can earn the handouts others offer.
Now without a proper transition because my thoughts don't transition properly, my friend is seriously making a movie of MacBeth for the big screen. I want to help him, but I don't know if spamming my other friends is best. I'd much rather front an amount of money that I think spamming my other friends would generate to help him out since the donation is tax-deductible. On the other hand, I have never donated money to the arts because I always felt that if I had money to donate it should feed the hungry and teach them how to escape poverty, so they aren't hungry again. Of course, I invest money instead of giving it away sometimes, so I'll have more money to give later, but I don't think donating to the arts will have as great a return to the needy as direct donations or investing in my education would have because I don't think those benefiting from the movie would contribute as much as I do, but I have nothing to support that claim. I don't know if these are generous people or not. I just know that my friend is a good friend, so I think I've talked myself into praying for his efforts, of course. I am also going to pray for guidance for myself, so that I continue to be the best steward of the gifts God has given me as I can be.
It's early in the morning and there are already a lot of things weighing on my mind. Sometimes I find myself thinking about illegal immigrants because I just took a survey concerning them yesterday and today's reading talks about not oppressing them. I think illegal immigrants should be treated fairly, but I don't think that means giving them a free ride. I can only imagine what it must be like to be an illegal alien, but I feel I would want a sense of respect. I would want to feel I earned what I got. I wouldn't want hand-outs, but I would be open to a hand-up. Show me how I can earn the handouts others offer.
Now without a proper transition because my thoughts don't transition properly, my friend is seriously making a movie of MacBeth for the big screen. I want to help him, but I don't know if spamming my other friends is best. I'd much rather front an amount of money that I think spamming my other friends would generate to help him out since the donation is tax-deductible. On the other hand, I have never donated money to the arts because I always felt that if I had money to donate it should feed the hungry and teach them how to escape poverty, so they aren't hungry again. Of course, I invest money instead of giving it away sometimes, so I'll have more money to give later, but I don't think donating to the arts will have as great a return to the needy as direct donations or investing in my education would have because I don't think those benefiting from the movie would contribute as much as I do, but I have nothing to support that claim. I don't know if these are generous people or not. I just know that my friend is a good friend, so I think I've talked myself into praying for his efforts, of course. I am also going to pray for guidance for myself, so that I continue to be the best steward of the gifts God has given me as I can be.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Real Deal
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPI.HTM
So my principal is talking to someone else and refers to me saying, "He's probably laughing at us because he's the real deal. He's probably read the Bible a couple of times and understood it." If I had been prepared, I probably could have added something to that conversation besides smiling politely and continuing on to where I was headed. My thoughts were along the lines of, well, I have read the Bible few times, but each time I read it, I understand it more. I understand it enough to not laugh at someone who is trying to understand it better even if they have never opened a Bible before.
I can't tell how this will come off in print, so I feel the need to clarify that the comment was good-natured. I have spoken with my principal about faith on several occasions. I found out he even used to go to weekday mass even though he was a Protestant because "it was a nice way to start the day." He's a good guy.
So my principal is talking to someone else and refers to me saying, "He's probably laughing at us because he's the real deal. He's probably read the Bible a couple of times and understood it." If I had been prepared, I probably could have added something to that conversation besides smiling politely and continuing on to where I was headed. My thoughts were along the lines of, well, I have read the Bible few times, but each time I read it, I understand it more. I understand it enough to not laugh at someone who is trying to understand it better even if they have never opened a Bible before.
I can't tell how this will come off in print, so I feel the need to clarify that the comment was good-natured. I have spoken with my principal about faith on several occasions. I found out he even used to go to weekday mass even though he was a Protestant because "it was a nice way to start the day." He's a good guy.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Patient and Persistent
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPF.HTM
You are never too young to do what's right. In today's reading, Jeremiah tries to make the excuse that he is too young to do what God wants him to do, but God God naturally convinces him that he can do it because God will be at his side. That is true for us as well. I am still hesitant to speak up at times because I am so much younger than some of my collegues at work. I have gained the trust of some and occasionally share my ideas with them, so that they can share the idea with others who may not consider it if it came from me. It's an effective strategy for me. I always get credit for it in the end. It's just a way around an obstacle that God provided for me. There probably isn't the same way around the obstacles facing you, but God is a way around the obstacles facing you that God is providing somehow. That way may be to wait it out, so be patient while being persistent in looking for the solution God wants you to find. God bless you.
You are never too young to do what's right. In today's reading, Jeremiah tries to make the excuse that he is too young to do what God wants him to do, but God God naturally convinces him that he can do it because God will be at his side. That is true for us as well. I am still hesitant to speak up at times because I am so much younger than some of my collegues at work. I have gained the trust of some and occasionally share my ideas with them, so that they can share the idea with others who may not consider it if it came from me. It's an effective strategy for me. I always get credit for it in the end. It's just a way around an obstacle that God provided for me. There probably isn't the same way around the obstacles facing you, but God is a way around the obstacles facing you that God is providing somehow. That way may be to wait it out, so be patient while being persistent in looking for the solution God wants you to find. God bless you.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Time-Outs
Of course, you should do what's right because it is the right thing to do, whether you could get away with doing the wrong thing or not. It's easier for us as parents to do that than it is to make our kids do that. My girls, who are 6 and 4 often do what they are supposed to because they will get a time-out if they don't. Time-outs will used with our one-year-old when she turns two. Nevertheless, it's important for parents to instill what's right in our children, using punishment when necessary, because the rewards that come from doing good usually gets them doing the right thing for the right reasons as they get older.
It seems like God treated earlier generations like children, relying on punishments much worse than time-outs because that's what they could understand. As civilization got supposedly more sophisticated, he gave us Jesus to encourage us to do what's right out of love for him. Today's reading from the old testament reflects that truth.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__P9L.HTM
It seems like God treated earlier generations like children, relying on punishments much worse than time-outs because that's what they could understand. As civilization got supposedly more sophisticated, he gave us Jesus to encourage us to do what's right out of love for him. Today's reading from the old testament reflects that truth.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__P9L.HTM
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Continued
The same theme of taunting continues in today's reading from Isaiah 37:21-35. Naturally, the first thing that came to my mind yesterday was personal attacks. Today, with Open House tonight, I am thinking about professional attacks. I teach 7th-8th grade math to students that struggle, whether it be because of a learning disability, mental retardation, autism, or some other reason. I have worked with a lot of great teachers over the years. Not every special education teacher is so lucky, nor is every student for that matter. Education comes under attack from some parents, some politicians, and others. Whether it is calculated or just out of ignorance, it is still upsetting that most of the accusations are unfounded, yet take time away from teaching because they still have to be addressed, especially when they come from the Governor of the state. I feel like saying, "I don't know what else to do, but pray," but I should say, "At least I know what to do: pray."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Taunting
Today, in 2 Kings 19, those who taunted are discussed. They couldn't see a way to be saved from the taunter, but had faith that they would. That's hard to do, especially for kids. I used to get upset a lot, but I don't have to any more because I have an inner confidence that doesn't rely on what peers think. I've also come to consider people that are rude enough to taunt beneath me and not worthy of the term "peer" whether they are my age or not. That inner confidence again isn't mine, but it comes from God and is available to anyone who seeks it from him...even you if you are reading this and don't think you have what it takes. I don't have what it takes either, but God gave me the strength that it takes and can do the same for you.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
This confidence of yours
"On what do you base this confidence of yours?"
-2 Kings 17:19
There's a fine line between arrogance and confidence that the confident walk and that the arrogant fall across. At my last confession, the priest asked me if I struggled with pride. Without much thought, I answered, "I am good at a lot of things, but I know all good things come from God, so he deserves all the credit for it." I usually regret speaking before thinking. Fortunately, this must have been divinely inspired.
-2 Kings 17:19
There's a fine line between arrogance and confidence that the confident walk and that the arrogant fall across. At my last confession, the priest asked me if I struggled with pride. Without much thought, I answered, "I am good at a lot of things, but I know all good things come from God, so he deserves all the credit for it." I usually regret speaking before thinking. Fortunately, this must have been divinely inspired.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Welcome back
I haven't posted here in a while because I wanted all visitors to see my post about my school's grant campaign and vote. However, we were not among the top ten vote-getters. So that campaign is done...and these posts return.
I have also decided to leave facebook for an indefinite period of time. I used to post links to this site on my wall, but that was all I was really using it for. This makes the communication process better for me by not replying to comments in two places and better address what I feel is my target audience: you.
Not all of my friends appreciate my faith. They have been told about the Good News from me and countless others, but reject it. These posts have never been intended to convert as much as to encourage. They were not to encourage those I already know (and already encourage in other ways), but to encourage those that I felt God was telling me were out there and needed to hear what I felt he was telling me write.
On that day the Lord called on you to weep and mourn, to shave your head and put on sackcloth. But you feast and celebrate. You eat meat and drink wine: "Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" This reaches the ears of the Lord - You shall not be pardoned this wickedness till you die, says the Lord.
-Isaiah 22:12-14
One of my good friends, who does appreciate my enthusiasm for my faith, told me I go deeper with my reflections. The problem with that for me is that I see things as simply as I put them. I don't have any deeper to go. My faith is accurately reflected in my actions.
Deep debates surround a lot issues between Catholics and Protestants like whether Mary was the mother of God or the mother of Jesus. Catholics prefer the mother of God, while Protestants prefer the mother of Jesus. Either way, it doesn't change how I live my life.
I believe you should do what God tells you to do. If he tells you it is time to mourn, you should mourn and not party. I realize parts of scripture use figurative language and are not to be taken literally, but other parts are to be taken literally. The Church fathers and Biblical scholars can provide more thorough reasoning for why it should be interpretted one way or another, but my reflections, as simple as they may be, don't contradict what they have to say, but provide a bridge for those unfamiliar with such sources.
I wish I could be all things to all people like Paul, but that's not my role to play. Others have deeper insights that are necessary for their faith journey and others' journeys as well. There may come a time as I mature in my faith that those deeper insights will be able to fill a void that I don't even realize I have in myself right now. In the meantime, I feel I have been given a gift of putting things simply and bridging the gap from where some are to the next step they are to take.
I have also decided to leave facebook for an indefinite period of time. I used to post links to this site on my wall, but that was all I was really using it for. This makes the communication process better for me by not replying to comments in two places and better address what I feel is my target audience: you.
Not all of my friends appreciate my faith. They have been told about the Good News from me and countless others, but reject it. These posts have never been intended to convert as much as to encourage. They were not to encourage those I already know (and already encourage in other ways), but to encourage those that I felt God was telling me were out there and needed to hear what I felt he was telling me write.
On that day the Lord called on you to weep and mourn, to shave your head and put on sackcloth. But you feast and celebrate. You eat meat and drink wine: "Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" This reaches the ears of the Lord - You shall not be pardoned this wickedness till you die, says the Lord.
-Isaiah 22:12-14
One of my good friends, who does appreciate my enthusiasm for my faith, told me I go deeper with my reflections. The problem with that for me is that I see things as simply as I put them. I don't have any deeper to go. My faith is accurately reflected in my actions.
Deep debates surround a lot issues between Catholics and Protestants like whether Mary was the mother of God or the mother of Jesus. Catholics prefer the mother of God, while Protestants prefer the mother of Jesus. Either way, it doesn't change how I live my life.
I believe you should do what God tells you to do. If he tells you it is time to mourn, you should mourn and not party. I realize parts of scripture use figurative language and are not to be taken literally, but other parts are to be taken literally. The Church fathers and Biblical scholars can provide more thorough reasoning for why it should be interpretted one way or another, but my reflections, as simple as they may be, don't contradict what they have to say, but provide a bridge for those unfamiliar with such sources.
I wish I could be all things to all people like Paul, but that's not my role to play. Others have deeper insights that are necessary for their faith journey and others' journeys as well. There may come a time as I mature in my faith that those deeper insights will be able to fill a void that I don't even realize I have in myself right now. In the meantime, I feel I have been given a gift of putting things simply and bridging the gap from where some are to the next step they are to take.
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