Dear to me.

Last night at bible study, we were going through the second chapter of first Thessalonians. There is a part in that chapter where Paul is addressing the church as a father to a child. He expresses how dear the brethren there at Thessaloníki are to him and his traveling companions.

Out of this passage, a discussion arose about how it is unusual for men to share their feelings as such. It is not often that you hear a man tell his friends that they are dear to him. I am here to rectify that.(at least on my part)

I just want to let all of my brothers and friends (and especially Nessy) know that you are dear to me. Though I am not permitted conversation as often or for as long as I would like with each of you, I carry you in my heart and think of you often. I thank you for your friendships, and can't wait 'til the next time we see each other.

I passed!!

The praxis exam is a nationwide exit test for college graduates that has recently been adopted by the State of Washington.

Soon I will be joining the ranks of folks with a piece of paper that certifies that I indeed have been through four years of school. Not only will I have completed four years of study, but I will also have fulfilled the requirements of the university and the state. The consummation of these requirements, realized through my course of study, approve me to be entrusted with the education of young minds who are dependent on the public school system in our state. But it is not enough to obtain this piece of paper. It is not enough to have gone to an accredited institution, completed an accredited course of study, and compiled a 3.8 grade point average in my combined major and minor areas of study.

On top of the thousands of dollars already invested to acquire an education, there is an exit test that covers what I have already proved that I know well, as evidenced by a 3.8 GPA. The test, which cost $190.00, is actually two tests, one testing my major course of study, and the other my minor course of study.

It was a pain(it took up a whole Saturday), completely unnecessary, and outrageously expensive, but I passed both tests, and even received a certificate of excellence. I don't know what good that certificate will do, because it holds no value other than telling me that I know what I know that I know.

Just another piece of paper to file away. Glad to have it out of the way.
I'm tired of all these hoops, just let me teach already.

Do you like green grass?

This weekend while at a wedding, I heard a very good insight into attitude and perspective. The minister was speaking on the sanctity marriage and how these days people seem to have the attitude that says, "I'll stay in this pasture until I find greener pastures." He referred to the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side," noting that so often in life we are looking for that greener grass.

Then he said something profound. He said, "the grass is only as green as we are willing to make it."

In order to have a gorgeous green lawn, you have to work diligently at it. It is a dedicated process that requires a concerted effort in order to achieve the optimum result.

I thought to myself, "Self, that is so true." So many times we look for "hand-outs" when we have the resources and responsibility to do for ourselves what others have done for themselves. If the "grass" is greener on the other side, then it is because we are focusing on the end result of someone else's labor instead of focusing on the task at hand, and diligently seeking to make our own "grass" greener.

I really liked this illustration because that saying, that the grass is always greener in somebody else's yard, is so often said in various situations, but there is never any context as to why the grass is greener somewhere else. By putting the saying in context, we are empowered to do something to make our own "grass" greener, whatever that "grass" may be.

Muy Caliendo!

The other night my wife, sister in law and I were all introduced to Frank Caliendo by our friend Eric. This man does an awesome John Madden, and a funny George W., Enjoy!

GO Colts!

I am one-hundred percent rooting for the Colts today. Da Bears are good, but not good enough (I hope.)

Good luck to all you Colts fans!

To all the rest of you, I hope you lose.

Kiri Davis

My brother posted a news clip about this. Here is the actual documentary. It is seven minutes long and very shocking to me. I have never thought of people as being bad or good based on the color of their skin, but I do know that I have grown up as a Hispanic American in an Anglo-American society. I realize after reflecting on this video that I too grew up with a negative self-image that I still struggle with even today. I think it is even more blatant for my dad, but I admire the way he handles himself and does not take a victim mentality. It is clear from this video that many children are very much put down systematically by the very culture they live in. This is not a black and white issue, it is much bigger than that. Issues of this magnitude are hard to deal with because we are all guilty in some form or another. We would like to think, or at least I would, that we have nothing to do with this. I think if we examine ourselves very closely, we can all eventually see that this is not the case, but instead we have perhaps subconsciously accepted these beliefs as the way things are. This is earth shattering! It seems we believe this stuff to some degree otherwise these kids would not act in such a manner.

In the documentary Ms. Davis conveys that this has been going on for quite some time, but it is even longer than she alludes to. The apostle Paul in the book of Galatians wrote "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul ,the apostle, addressed the very same issue 2000 years ago! It's amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. I believe that this does not have to be, but it takes a purposeful effort to bring about change. Change cannot and will not happen on its own. We have to want change. We have to encourage it, and we must purpose it. I encourage us to examine our attitudes and thoughts, however subtle, and purpose to change them and more fully align them to the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Want some taco sauce with that?

Taco Bell is not a place I go to often, in fact I haven't been to Taco Bell since before Thanksgiving. I don't really eat fast food much, and if I do it is usually Wendy's, but Taco Bell's sauce packets are kind of funny. Here are two of my favorites.

In reference to the second sauce packet, "Sometimes it's just your time, little buddy."