I'm still struggling to understand my journey over the past six months. It's not that I should be surprised at how things have gone, but I am. This summer I was very open about my hopes and my frustrations, not because I wanted to rant, but because I wanted to be real with people. In the end, I hope that I was just that.
Since it's now August 24, I'm guessing that finding a job for this school year is out the window. It's a bittersweet feeling. I'm ecstatic to go back to Harrison this year and help educate my beloved students in that district. It hurt to say goodbye to them at the end of the 2012/2013 school year, but it turns out that I didn't have to after all. I'll be back, and this time I'm coaching the offensive and defensive line for the 7th grade football team. Believe it or not, I'm actually more involved with Southwest Schools than I was last year. Yet, it still hurts us not to have a full-time job.
In the end, the problem really is financial. Jenn and I have been waiting on having kids until our finances stabilized. Well, we're getting older, and time is running out. We needed me to be teaching full-time - for full-time pay. That's probably not going to happen. It's going to be another year of us struggling with no guarantees that I'll find a job next year. As it turned out, only two of my friends from Xavier got a job for this school year, and they both teach math. It's a tough market.
Some people might ask me why I chose to go into such a tough field. After all, I brought this all on myself, right? The truth is I've known that I was supposed to teach for years. It's what I was made to do. I'm passionate about my students, I'm passionate about teaching social studies, and I'm passionate about making a difference in their lives. Everything that I've tried to do over the past 16 years has failed to move me off that path. I was born to teach, and instead of fighting it, I put it in God's hands and chose to embrace it.
I have to remember what the Bible says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Now, I have to live out my faith. He has plans for me. I must remember that; I must keep that perspective. There is always, always hope in the Lord.
Other notes:
A. Rams Talk is going well. It's growing daily. We should be able to become an LLC soon.
B. Since things are beginning to slow down, I've started writing more. I keep a chronicle of everything on my Facebook page, and I'll eventually update my website.
C. I started writing a book, finally. I have the unfinished one that's been sitting there for a couple years, but I just don't feel led to work on it right now. I don't know if I'll ever return to it; life has changed since I wrote it. However, the new book, tentatively titled, "Freedom Lost," has me pretty excited. I'm starting off slow, writing 500 words a day or so, but I'll eventually get it up to around 2,000.
D. Jenn and I are still trying to figure out the best way to eat and schedule our lives. We could use some prayers in this area. Gees, just pray for us in general. Thanks!
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
News, Notes, and Other Stuff
Just a few notes from a rather eventful weekend:
A. The shooting in Arizona is disturbing on many levels. Already many citizens complain that our Representatives and Senators are distant from them, and now I have to think that elected officials will be even more concerned about setting up in town hall-like settings. It’s dangerous.
It’s sad that our society has come to this. Now we have mentally unstable people who resort to violence in an effort to get their point across. It happened in 1994 with McVeigh, 2000 with Columbine, and now 2011 with an assassination attempt on a Congresswoman. What can be done to stem the tide? What can be done to stop senseless actions that serve no purpose?
By most accounts, Rep. Giffords has been a good congresswoman for her district, and it’s sad that now she battles for her life. It’s even worse that other bystanders gave up their lives, too. A nine-year old girl? A federal judge? Others whose only crime was simply being there? It’s a sad weekend for our country. I don’t care if you’re Democrat or Republican, Tea-Party or Ultra liberal, moderate or conservative. None of that should matter now. All that matters is the lives lost, and hearts broken by violence.
B. Jenn and her dad did a great job working in the house last week. They managed to paint the big loft-hole up from the living room ceiling to the bedroom and the entry hallway/stairwell in our condo. What makes it particularly special is why she did it: she did it for me. The main reason she wanted to paint was to help make the condo more of a home for me. She wanted something a little more “us.” I’ve yet to take part in the painting itself as she and her dad had things well in hand by the time I’d get home, but they did a great job. They worked hard. I look forward to helping Jenn with the office, two bathrooms, kitchen, and our bedroom in the coming weekends. It’ll be slow with me studying and all, but we’ll get it done.
C. The Buckeyes’ win in the Sugar Bowl last week was bittersweet for me. I’m not one of these people who are crushing the Buckeyes’ football program, but it does disappoint me that the five suspended players were allowed to play. I’m glad they do face punishment, but I don’t like that Ohio State had to throw their compliance department under the bus to protect players that knew better. I don’t like how some people are trashing OSU’s program as a whole. The program itself is not guilty, as far as we can tell, of paying players or paying for players. It’s not guilty of any recruiting violations that we are aware of. Yet I saw some people calling for major penalties to be leveled against the program. Really? Seriously? The players themselves made the mistakes, and low-class mistakes that they were, the OSU football program headed by Gene Smith and Jim Tressel did not commit those mistakes. The mistake I think they did make was allowing the kids to play in the bowl. Still, they are suspended for five games. I hope they all come back to school and keep their word to Coach Tressel, but we’ll see.
D. Great playoff games this past weekend, especially on Saturday.
E. School starts tomorrow. I’ve spent the past couple weeks trying to relax and get my mind ready, but it doesn’t feel like I am. I better get ready in a hurry, though! The next couple of months are going to be tough. The three classes I’m signed up for my first semester at Xavier are ENG 525, Shakespeare (oh boy), ENG 550 Images of America (modern film in literature, which, I come to find out, is not really all that modern), and ENG 672 Modern Drama. This means tons of reading, probably lots of papers, and loads of time. I’m still working full-time so I’ve got a full plate, and I admit it’s intimidating.
F. Jenn and I both have re-committed ourselves to eating properly and managing a good healthy weight. We both have marathons to plan for this year, and she has her Ironman race in November, so there is a lot of work to do this year. Here’s to making dreams come true.
A. The shooting in Arizona is disturbing on many levels. Already many citizens complain that our Representatives and Senators are distant from them, and now I have to think that elected officials will be even more concerned about setting up in town hall-like settings. It’s dangerous.
It’s sad that our society has come to this. Now we have mentally unstable people who resort to violence in an effort to get their point across. It happened in 1994 with McVeigh, 2000 with Columbine, and now 2011 with an assassination attempt on a Congresswoman. What can be done to stem the tide? What can be done to stop senseless actions that serve no purpose?
By most accounts, Rep. Giffords has been a good congresswoman for her district, and it’s sad that now she battles for her life. It’s even worse that other bystanders gave up their lives, too. A nine-year old girl? A federal judge? Others whose only crime was simply being there? It’s a sad weekend for our country. I don’t care if you’re Democrat or Republican, Tea-Party or Ultra liberal, moderate or conservative. None of that should matter now. All that matters is the lives lost, and hearts broken by violence.
B. Jenn and her dad did a great job working in the house last week. They managed to paint the big loft-hole up from the living room ceiling to the bedroom and the entry hallway/stairwell in our condo. What makes it particularly special is why she did it: she did it for me. The main reason she wanted to paint was to help make the condo more of a home for me. She wanted something a little more “us.” I’ve yet to take part in the painting itself as she and her dad had things well in hand by the time I’d get home, but they did a great job. They worked hard. I look forward to helping Jenn with the office, two bathrooms, kitchen, and our bedroom in the coming weekends. It’ll be slow with me studying and all, but we’ll get it done.
C. The Buckeyes’ win in the Sugar Bowl last week was bittersweet for me. I’m not one of these people who are crushing the Buckeyes’ football program, but it does disappoint me that the five suspended players were allowed to play. I’m glad they do face punishment, but I don’t like that Ohio State had to throw their compliance department under the bus to protect players that knew better. I don’t like how some people are trashing OSU’s program as a whole. The program itself is not guilty, as far as we can tell, of paying players or paying for players. It’s not guilty of any recruiting violations that we are aware of. Yet I saw some people calling for major penalties to be leveled against the program. Really? Seriously? The players themselves made the mistakes, and low-class mistakes that they were, the OSU football program headed by Gene Smith and Jim Tressel did not commit those mistakes. The mistake I think they did make was allowing the kids to play in the bowl. Still, they are suspended for five games. I hope they all come back to school and keep their word to Coach Tressel, but we’ll see.
D. Great playoff games this past weekend, especially on Saturday.
E. School starts tomorrow. I’ve spent the past couple weeks trying to relax and get my mind ready, but it doesn’t feel like I am. I better get ready in a hurry, though! The next couple of months are going to be tough. The three classes I’m signed up for my first semester at Xavier are ENG 525, Shakespeare (oh boy), ENG 550 Images of America (modern film in literature, which, I come to find out, is not really all that modern), and ENG 672 Modern Drama. This means tons of reading, probably lots of papers, and loads of time. I’m still working full-time so I’ve got a full plate, and I admit it’s intimidating.
F. Jenn and I both have re-committed ourselves to eating properly and managing a good healthy weight. We both have marathons to plan for this year, and she has her Ironman race in November, so there is a lot of work to do this year. Here’s to making dreams come true.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Confession
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,'and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
It's sometimes troubling that when asked about the Christian faith people struggle to believe that all they need to do confess that Christ is Lord and that He died on the cross for their sins. However, it's written in God's word numerous time that all we need to do is confess and believe in Christ. It's that simple. So what's the problem? I just think that we can not wrap our minds around something this simple. Sometimes we just can not get ourselves to believe.
In other news and thoughts:
A. Jenn and I are still on vacation. Last weekend we backpacked in the Smoky Mountains and we spent this week with her friend in South Carolina. It's been fun getting to know them a little. Tomorrow we are heading north to Shenandoah National Park for a day of hiking and camping, and then we are heading into Virginia and Maryland to meet up with some old military friends. We'll do some touring in Washington and catch a Nationals game.
B. We caught an Atlanta Braves game this week with an old friend of mine. It was the first time I'd seen her in 15 years. It was great for her to meet Jenn. The game was a blast. There is blog forthcoming on that one.
C. I've been struggling a bit with people taking my words out of context or simply just twisting them. It's frustrating when I'm trying to do the right thing to have my words turned around. Very frustrating.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
It's sometimes troubling that when asked about the Christian faith people struggle to believe that all they need to do confess that Christ is Lord and that He died on the cross for their sins. However, it's written in God's word numerous time that all we need to do is confess and believe in Christ. It's that simple. So what's the problem? I just think that we can not wrap our minds around something this simple. Sometimes we just can not get ourselves to believe.
In other news and thoughts:
A. Jenn and I are still on vacation. Last weekend we backpacked in the Smoky Mountains and we spent this week with her friend in South Carolina. It's been fun getting to know them a little. Tomorrow we are heading north to Shenandoah National Park for a day of hiking and camping, and then we are heading into Virginia and Maryland to meet up with some old military friends. We'll do some touring in Washington and catch a Nationals game.
B. We caught an Atlanta Braves game this week with an old friend of mine. It was the first time I'd seen her in 15 years. It was great for her to meet Jenn. The game was a blast. There is blog forthcoming on that one.
C. I've been struggling a bit with people taking my words out of context or simply just twisting them. It's frustrating when I'm trying to do the right thing to have my words turned around. Very frustrating.
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