Survey for school age kids:

How do you see yourself compared to others in your peer group? How do they see you? Take this brief survey to find out. If you are not a kid, pass on the link. The results of the survey could tell us a lot about the kids we love.

Yeah, that's right, we love you kids, blah blah blah (jk)...now take the survey!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=MU8JWifjqNCwlwwPsaGPcQ_3d_3d

Things I hate about being a teacher...

Things I hate about being a teacher:

1. Cleaning up vomit.

2. Telling a kid he or she failed a test.

3. Dealing with parents.

4. Keeping records.

5. Goodbyes and transfers.

That's what I don't like about being a teacher. Yeah, I hate those things pretty much. On bad days, it's easy to get discouraged because it's not unusual to have all those things happen on the same day.

But as far as I can think, as much as I hate those things, that's all I can find that I don't like about teaching. I mean, sure there are things I'd change, like maybe we'd have a four day week. Maybe we would start school at 10:00am. I also think instead of snow days we whould have 'sun days' and cancel school for them, and only come to school when it snows. I mean, of all the days I want to be with my students, snowball fight days are at the top of the list. And I'd also like to change that thing where you teach a kid in Kindergarten and then the next time you see them they are in college. That one sucks. But all in all I love it.

Here are just a few of the things I love about teaching:

1. The kids.

2. Watching them listen to me like I have something fascinating to say.

3. Witnessing a breakthrough.

4. Being part of that breakthrough.

5. Field Trips.

6. Fun Fridays.

7. Having fun just 'cause we want to sometimes.

8. Introducing the kids to a new experience.

9. Helping with English!! And especially---diagramming!

10. Seeing my students accomplish more than they thought they could.

11. Seeing them accomplish more than their parents thought they could.

12. Journals.

13. Apples on my desks.

14. Speech!

15. Cool pencils.

16. Playing Math Games.

17. Class Projects.

18. School Spirit.

19. Telling a kid he passed a test he had failed twice before.
20. Giving out candy to the whole class in celebration of it.

So, even though I'm tired, and this week I hit five for five of my top ten most-hated list, I guess I will go in tomorrow. After all, it will be Fun Friday. And who wants to miss that?

And the Winner is....

A week ago, I asked you to take part in a poll: "What is most important in a church?" And you said:

DOCTRINE!

Almost half of you said doctrine was more important that any other thing. 45% of you voted that way. I'm a little surprised, this day in age, with so many people who don't know what they believe. However, those people may not be in the demographic that participated in this poll. I do have many well-educated 'old' christians as friends and your preferences doubtless came shining through. This is an interesting thought. I'd like to know more about the people who chose this answer. I would imagine that although many of you have this priority in common, that you may have very different reasons for choosing it. Too bad the poll didn't have place to 'splain.

Tying for second with 18% each was COMMUNITY and STANDARDS. I expected both of these to do very well in the polls, although for various reasons I would likely consider the groups of people seeking these individual traits to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. What do you think? Do you think of those who are separated in terms of being separated from community? Which churches are more likely to focus on standards, small or large? And does size affect community? I'm pretty sure that many of these options would overlap in different ways for different people.

Next in line was WORSHIP with 9%. This one did surprise me. I have heard so many people say something like, "The preaching was good but I just couldn't take the music." Similarly, I have known people to leave churches because the worship service wasn't what they thought it should be. And then it may be possible that this item would have pulled in more votes if the poll had allowed first and second choices. Because, while many people would definitely shy away from certain congregations where the worship service was uncomfortable, those same people may feel that if doctrine is on the ticket, it must certainly take first place. And then again, I may totally have it figured wrong.

MINISTRY and SIZE tied for last place with only 4% each.

PROGRAMS didn't even make a showing. This I am surprised about, having known people to have sought churches based on what they had for their children, teens etc. However, once again, we must consider that these same people, while looking for programs, might have been primarily more concerned with doctrine, and would look for churches with programs only if they first agreed with them doctrinally.

While doctrine did carry the lead, what is interesting to note is that some of you made a very clear choice not to choose it as most important. Maybe it is a big deal to you, but obviously something else was an even bigger deal. 53% of you were willing to place doctrine in at least the second seat to something you deemed more important. It would be interesting to know how doctrinally-broad people would be willing to differ for the sake of having those other needs met in their lives.

I know in my own life, that some of the people I love the most, some of the neatest people I know, believe differently than I do. We are able to have sweet fellowship together. I love meeting with people who can unaggressively discuss different points of view. A meeting of the minds, where personalities and preferences come through, but never at the cost of brotherly love. It is what I imagine Heaven to be like.

Discussion, conversation, Christians meeting and sharing. In a way, it is what has happened here, in this blog, with this poll. Yep, it's pretty heavenly to me.

Thank you for participating!

Where I went to church today....

Anyway, like I was sayin', crow is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it. Dey's uh, crow-kabobs, crow creole, crow gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple crow, lemon crow, coconut crow, pepper crow, crow soup, crow stew, crow salad, crow and potatoes, crow burger, crow sandwich. That- that's about it.

I love Stonegate Fellowship. In spite of what you may have heard or thought about me. And in spite of what I may have said or been like in the past. I love Stonegate.

I'll write more on 'why' later. Just for now know that I am smiling. And "I'll be back."

http://www.stonegatefellowship.com/

What is most important in a Church?

Excited about my first blog-poll!!!

I'll admit I'm a litle surprised by some of the answers, but I'll refrain from commenting until the poll closes. You have one more day, so if you haven't taken it, please do so here -------------------->

I'd also flip if you left me a comment! Thanks

Because You're Right

In school I once wrote an essay titled "Because You're Right." It was all about taking a stand for what you believe and being true to your convictions.

I used to be right about a lot of things. Not anymore. It's kind of a relief.

When I was 'right' i felt kind of obligated to 'share' that with other people. You know, to help them. Pray for them. To convince them so that they too could see the light and live the glorious life that I....well, anyway.....I wanted to convince them for their own good. I was nice about it though. It wasn't like I was pushy. Some people just can't see the truth. I felt sorry for them and continued to pray for their enlightenment while we remained friends. I never estranged myself from people because they believed differently than me. Although, as you realize, I could never be as close to them as I might have liked if only they had believed correctly.

It can be tough when you are standing for what you believe. All that time, I might not have had any deep relationships or close friends but I did have the peace of knowing that I was right.

What a consolation that was!

I wonder what I was thinking. I wonder what I thought Heaven was going to like when all those people were there? Did I think that even there I would receive an extra crown for carrying my torch?

Is there any spiritual blessing for being right? I'm just wondering. In the Bible we see a lot of examples about forbearance, judging, and hypocrisy. Jesus had a lot to say about the Pharisees, who by the way, were doing it by the book. But all in all I'm not seeing a lot of commendation coming from the Lord toward anyone for the sheer recognition of someone's being right.

But maybe I'm wrong on that. I'm sure you'll let me know. Or maybe you'll just "pray for me."

What would you search for in a church if in fact you searched for a church?

Have you ever given any thought to why you like your church? What makes it special to you? What about your church would make it difficult to leave?

If you found yourself without a church home tomorrow, (maybe due to a move or something) what would you look for in a church? I know, I know. You probably already have a church home and you're not anricipating a move. But it still might not be a bad idea to make a list of what you would want your church to be like. It could kind of keep you on the ball, making sure you know where you are on things. (And where your church is on things.) A little introspection and an honest look at things is seldom a bad idea.

Would you sacrifice believing identically to find real Christians living in community? Would you sacrifice your worship-style preferences to find a church with programs to raise a family you're struggling to raise on your own? Would you sacrifice ministry opportunities to find a church that teaches godly living? Yes, these are difficult questions. Maybe it's time to take an honest look at what's most important.

In the meantime, PLEASE take a moment to take my poll on the right ------------> It is completely anonymous. So now is your chance to tell the truth about what is important to you, even if you don't think your priorities are in order.

Maybe it's time to set those priorities straight. Maybe it's time to come to some hard conclusions about your spiritual state or that of your church. And maybe it's time to just say a big "thank you" to the Lord because you find out He's got you exactly where He wants you.

So what is important to you in a church? Maybe it's time to think about that.

Hey, but aren't you supposed to....?

I just realized that we didn't get a gift from church yesterday for being a first-time visitor. Wait a minute. That's just not right. Or is it?

There was also an obvious lack of a written program. In visiting churches, some things have just come to be expected. Others are not.

Yesterday the passages used were not displayed on a big screen. The pastor encouraged us to turn in our Bibles, for what reminded me very much of a sword drill. Twice during the service my son asked me if it was raining before we realized it was the sweet sound of the tiny rustlings of thousands of pages turning the leaves of God's Word.

Sweet.

2:29

Cool stuff, this sitemeter gadget I added to the blog. I found out a bit of interesting trivia today:

The average length of stay for a reader is 2 minutes and 29 seconds. I seriously hope that wasn't thrown off by someone who forgot and left the browser open while they went to lunch!

You know, if this was a paper copy, I may start to think that my blog is only being read in the.....naw! And then used for.....certainly not! (Note to self: This is why you must never publish book. Or if you do, publish Kindle version only.)

So anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the 2:29!

(Outhouse photo was taken in Mason County at an old school site. This is the girls' facilities. The boys' is down the lane. The old school has been torn down, but as the song goes, 'the outhouse is still standing'. This picture was taken mere moments before we realized the outhouse was occupied--by a skunk!)