"It has often been observed that the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. But even those metaphors fail to adequately express reality. The Christian life could better be described as an obstacle course of marathon length. Think of a race course just over twenty-six miles in length. Add to it walls to climb over, streams to forge, hedges to jump across, and an endless variety of other unexpected obstacles. That is the Christian life."
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges, NavPress, 2008, page 186 (emphasis in the original).
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Sunday 24 September 2017
In Which Change Does Not Bother Me
This was the first Sunday in 8 years that Sunday School has been taught and I have been at church and not involved in any way. There were, of course, summers off, vacations, and days when instead of teaching, I was observing other classes or having meetings about Sunday School. There was also the occasional Sunday when we were having a conference and there was only one class so the teachers could also attend.
Today was different. Today I not only did not teach, I attended the adult class as a student. Not only that, I plan to keep doing this. There will be weeks when I'm in the other classes, observing how things are going. For the most part though, this year I will be in the adult class and I will be a student.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but it was very, very good. I loved being in a class, and I didn't miss teaching. The best part was during the service, when I was relaxed and not thinking about Sunday School and the other responsibilities I have on a Sunday morning. Junior Church is no longer my domain (we put the 4 year olds with the 3 year olds and called "preschool nursery"). The library runs itself without me when I need it to. And now Sunday School is going and I can relax about it.
Until I slowed down, I didn't realize how tired I was and how much I needed a break. I didn't realize that I was sitting in church every Sunday, trying to focus but with so much going through my head. I didn't realize how much I was missing of the service and how burdened I always felt. Today was so different from previous years. I think this was a very good idea, and I should have slowed down a year ago.
Also, I really, really enjoyed the adult class. I have been listening to Pastor Mike teach Sunday School for at least a year on-line, but being in class is so much better. Not only is it easier to focus, I can hear what everyone else says (when I listen on-line, there are gaps (some of them long) when other people are talking).
So, despite my dislike of change, this one, I think, will make me very happy.
Today was different. Today I not only did not teach, I attended the adult class as a student. Not only that, I plan to keep doing this. There will be weeks when I'm in the other classes, observing how things are going. For the most part though, this year I will be in the adult class and I will be a student.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but it was very, very good. I loved being in a class, and I didn't miss teaching. The best part was during the service, when I was relaxed and not thinking about Sunday School and the other responsibilities I have on a Sunday morning. Junior Church is no longer my domain (we put the 4 year olds with the 3 year olds and called "preschool nursery"). The library runs itself without me when I need it to. And now Sunday School is going and I can relax about it.
Until I slowed down, I didn't realize how tired I was and how much I needed a break. I didn't realize that I was sitting in church every Sunday, trying to focus but with so much going through my head. I didn't realize how much I was missing of the service and how burdened I always felt. Today was so different from previous years. I think this was a very good idea, and I should have slowed down a year ago.
Also, I really, really enjoyed the adult class. I have been listening to Pastor Mike teach Sunday School for at least a year on-line, but being in class is so much better. Not only is it easier to focus, I can hear what everyone else says (when I listen on-line, there are gaps (some of them long) when other people are talking).
So, despite my dislike of change, this one, I think, will make me very happy.
Friday 22 September 2017
A Story For You
It started with the joke of the week from work:
Question: How do you get a baby alien to sleep?
Answer: You rocket!
I texted it to a friend (just the question, not the answer). She said that her small son (who is not quite 6) thinks you give it a teddy bear. Also, he was considering (and seriously thinking) that I had a baby alien at home.
Where some people hear a riddle to solve, others hear a request for parenting advice.
What I like best is that he completely accepted that I might have a baby alien.
I told her the answer. She and the older son were amused. The little guy didn't get it, so she tried to explain the rock it/rocket idea, but that was a mistake. He became fixated on the rocked and started asking her all about it. She said that conversation went on for too long.
I may have to send her all my jokes so she can try explaining them the her small son.
Question: How do you get a baby alien to sleep?
Answer: You rocket!
I texted it to a friend (just the question, not the answer). She said that her small son (who is not quite 6) thinks you give it a teddy bear. Also, he was considering (and seriously thinking) that I had a baby alien at home.
Where some people hear a riddle to solve, others hear a request for parenting advice.
What I like best is that he completely accepted that I might have a baby alien.
I told her the answer. She and the older son were amused. The little guy didn't get it, so she tried to explain the rock it/rocket idea, but that was a mistake. He became fixated on the rocked and started asking her all about it. She said that conversation went on for too long.
I may have to send her all my jokes so she can try explaining them the her small son.
Sunday 17 September 2017
Sunday Notes
Sunday School started. Last Sunday we had 55 students enrolled. With the last minute enrollments this week, we now have 67 students, ranging from preschool - grade 6. It's a lot of students. I taught the grade 2/3 class; it was fun. I'm looking forward to sitting in the adult class next week, though; I've been teaching for 8 years and have been really looking forward to this break. There will be weeks when I'll be observing the other classes, but for now I'm going to let them get settled and enjoy the adult class.
By the end of Sunday School time, I was exhausted. The service was good, but in all honesty, I didn't focus all that well. I was developing a headache, I still had a dozen things running through my head about Sunday School, and I was tired. I'm hoping that next week I will be more relaxed and able to be part of the worship.
Bible Study starts tonight. Women's study starts on Wednesday. Then everything will be started and routine can start and life will be busy but organized. Right?
I'm so tired right now. Here's a song for you. I didn't check to see if I'd posted it recently. It's a good song anyway.
By the end of Sunday School time, I was exhausted. The service was good, but in all honesty, I didn't focus all that well. I was developing a headache, I still had a dozen things running through my head about Sunday School, and I was tired. I'm hoping that next week I will be more relaxed and able to be part of the worship.
Bible Study starts tonight. Women's study starts on Wednesday. Then everything will be started and routine can start and life will be busy but organized. Right?
I'm so tired right now. Here's a song for you. I didn't check to see if I'd posted it recently. It's a good song anyway.
Saturday 16 September 2017
Bits of Stuff
Sunday School starts tomorrow. I think I'm ready. I'm not even teaching this year (except tomorrow, to cover for the teachers who are still on vacation) and I still feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I needed to do to get ready. It's probably best that I'm taking the year off of teaching! I'm actually using the year to train teachers, and to get more structure in the program. The best news is that we have substitute teachers now, so I won't even have to fill in that often.
The other day I was had a small student reading a sentence. It started "The rules..." which he read "The reptiles..."! I stopped him and had him actually look at the word, so he stared at it, and then tried decoding, and came up with "letters". How? How do you get from reptiles to letters anyway? He said that he forgot about the first r in the word.
I am loving the cooler weather. The temperature drops nicely at night, and hovers in the mid-teens during the day. Fall makes me happy.
Today I made soup and a rice-and-sausage casserole. I also made grape juice because the grapes weren't good for eating (they were sweet, but the peel was not nice, and I was not going to peel all my grapes). I need to let it sit over night and then strain it again, so I'm not sure how it turned out.
It is 25 days until vacation. I plan to stay home and relax and maybe get stuff done.
Life is nice right now.
The other day I was had a small student reading a sentence. It started "The rules..." which he read "The reptiles..."! I stopped him and had him actually look at the word, so he stared at it, and then tried decoding, and came up with "letters". How? How do you get from reptiles to letters anyway? He said that he forgot about the first r in the word.
I am loving the cooler weather. The temperature drops nicely at night, and hovers in the mid-teens during the day. Fall makes me happy.
Today I made soup and a rice-and-sausage casserole. I also made grape juice because the grapes weren't good for eating (they were sweet, but the peel was not nice, and I was not going to peel all my grapes). I need to let it sit over night and then strain it again, so I'm not sure how it turned out.
It is 25 days until vacation. I plan to stay home and relax and maybe get stuff done.
Life is nice right now.
Sunday 10 September 2017
Sunday Notes
Life was supposed to settle down now that school is back in session. I hope that happens soon! This past week was pretty crazy, just getting schedules and stuff set up at work, and dealing with piles of paperwork. Next week I'm able to shift back to my regular schedule, so that should help.
I almost have things ready for Sunday School. Registration is done (and I think everyone is registered, although there will probably be a few more when we start next week). Each class has 10 or 11 students, except for the grade 5 and 6 class; they have 14 students. We have 55 students registered (preschool-grade 6), plus whatever we have in the junior high class. This year, the high school kids are joining the adult class, which I think will work best for everyone. There is a huge gap between grade 7 and grade 12, and the class was getting really big. Most people seem pretty happy with the change.
Wednesday morning women's study starts soon as well. Next Saturday is the potluck kick-off, and then the following week is the class itself. For the most part, I'll be taking care of the home school room, where I'm completely happy. Once a month, I'll also teach a counseling class. I did it last year, and it went well, so I'm looking forward to continuing it this year. I have a great group of ladies, and I like that we're training women to counsel women in the church.
That's about it for now. I am planning to blog more, but I'm waiting for the fall church stuff to get organized and going, and then I can relax a bit more.
I almost have things ready for Sunday School. Registration is done (and I think everyone is registered, although there will probably be a few more when we start next week). Each class has 10 or 11 students, except for the grade 5 and 6 class; they have 14 students. We have 55 students registered (preschool-grade 6), plus whatever we have in the junior high class. This year, the high school kids are joining the adult class, which I think will work best for everyone. There is a huge gap between grade 7 and grade 12, and the class was getting really big. Most people seem pretty happy with the change.
Wednesday morning women's study starts soon as well. Next Saturday is the potluck kick-off, and then the following week is the class itself. For the most part, I'll be taking care of the home school room, where I'm completely happy. Once a month, I'll also teach a counseling class. I did it last year, and it went well, so I'm looking forward to continuing it this year. I have a great group of ladies, and I like that we're training women to counsel women in the church.
That's about it for now. I am planning to blog more, but I'm waiting for the fall church stuff to get organized and going, and then I can relax a bit more.
Monday 4 September 2017
Summer's Over
Yes, yes....we have a few weeks before summer officially ends, but whatever. The kids go back to school tomorrow, so summer is over. It's been a really long summer, and I just barely made it to the end this time. Now my days will be free to catch up on paperwork, and I can work set hours. It's cooling off so mornings and evenings will be nice when I'm going to/from work, and without the extra time at work to cope with summer, I'll have time to get other work done at home.
My plan for fall is to up my bogging to twice a week, but no promises there! We'll see how things go.
This weekend has been nice. I had coffee with a new-ish friend on Saturday. We laugh at the same things, so we're on our way to being good friends. Yesterday was church, and Pastor James preached a very encouraging sermon on Psalm 119:41-48 (you can here it here).Today I spend the afternoon with a good group of friends and their children, and that was all sorts of fun.
That's about it for now.
My plan for fall is to up my bogging to twice a week, but no promises there! We'll see how things go.
This weekend has been nice. I had coffee with a new-ish friend on Saturday. We laugh at the same things, so we're on our way to being good friends. Yesterday was church, and Pastor James preached a very encouraging sermon on Psalm 119:41-48 (you can here it here).Today I spend the afternoon with a good group of friends and their children, and that was all sorts of fun.
That's about it for now.
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