Something Invisible is Building

A spark of inspiration hit me as I was watching my students take a test:

Something Invisible is Building

Something invisible is building

with every scribble on a piece of paper

with every eraser fixing a mistake

and with every click of a noisy button

Something invisible is building

between the conversations

between the groans 

and between the bits of laughter

Something invisible is building

when they find their seats

when they work at home

and when they come back every day

Something invisible is building

after the end of a class

after a long, hard week

or after a well-earned break

So when they ask "what are we doing today?"

I hesitate to answer

because I want them to know

that something invisible is building

Bible Questions: Mark 14:1-11

I have written these questions based off the sermon "Devotion and Betrayal" by Matt Kennedy

Text: Mark 14:1-11

1. [App] What common elements of the Bible unite the Passover and Jesus’ death?  Use Exodus 12 to assist you if necessary.

2. [v.3] How is Mary’s anointment like an act of worship? What makes this such a beautiful display?

3. [App] What exactly is worship? How do the different parts of our worship glorify Jesus?

4. [v.4-5] Explain/defend the guest’s reactions to Mary’s anointing? Why do they feel that they are right in their scolding?

5. [App] What is the most important thing the church does? Does this most important thing change over the course of time?

6. [v.6-9] Why are the guests concerned about the well being of the poor so suddenly? Is it wrong to be concerned about them?

7. [v.9] What does Jesus’ memorialization Mary’s anointing say about those who worship Him in truth?

A Year of Evelyn in Pictures

It's been a joy to watch Evelyn grow over the year.  Here's my favorite picture from each month.

Month 0: Only a few days out of the hospital, probably her second or third bath.

Month 1: A family visit.

Month 2: Just hanging around.  Probably Andrea doing a photo shoot here.

 Month 3: Also just hanging around.  Looking pretty satisfied with life.

Month 4: Evelyn never really liked tummy-time, but it was a means to an end for crawling and walking!

Month 5: Learned how to sit up and make funny faces.

 

Month 6: First time at the lake and swimming.  Loved both. 

Month 7: Another photo shoot - the first of many in the backyard.

Month 8: Playing in her floater at the lake.

Month 9: Another photo shoot in the backyard.

Month 10:  Backyard with a pumpkin and a cozy sweater.

 

Month 11: Look who's walking (and has teeth!)

 

Happy First Birthday Evelyn!

Bible Questions: Mark 13:28-31

I have written these questions based on the sermon "This Generation Shall Not Pass Away" by Matt Kennedy.

Text: Mark 13:28-31

1. [App] Why is it tempting to skip over difficult passages of the Bible?  What is the best way to approach difficult passages of Scripture?

2. [v.28-29] How can understanding the signs of Mark 13 be a comfort to Christians in the midst of the world’s chaos?  In other words, why is understanding the impending dangers something for Christians to look forward to?

3. [1 Peter 1:3-6] What is the difference between worldly happiness and the Christian’s joy?  Is it possible to be feeling something regarding our circumstances, yet still have a joy about us?

4. [1 Peter 1:3-6] What does it mean when “God guards our salvation through faith” in verse 5. How would you explain this to a child or someone who doesn’t understand Christianity.

5. [v.30] Why do you think God allows the church to be a witness to observe and experience the events of Mark 13?

6. [v.31] If Heaven and Earth is going to pass away, how should we approach our lives differently?  In other words, how should we approach our lives if we truly believe that only God’s Word is endure forever?

2014 Resolutions

I know that it's always a uphill battle when making resolutions, but I'm a firm believer in setting goals - even seemingly unreasonable ones - in hopes that you at least take a few steps in the right direction.  When those goals and dreams and strivings come to fruition, it makes the goal setting process worth it.

Without any further ado...

1.  Read Bible and Pray.  Last year's success of reading through the Bible was an accomplishment, but I don't think I should be satisfied in that alone.  A year or two ago, I asked why I dedicated myself to the Bible and not to prayer.  It was hard enough for me to focus on dedicating a time to be with God; both practices should be cultivated together.  Now with that time established, I want to add on to it by including prayer.  I don't really have a plan, method, a technique or a program to follow.  I think that's okay too.  After a little research, I'll try to write an update on what I'm doing (or not doing) when it comes to my prayer life.

2.  Embrace Change and Be Honest in Relationships.  I know that this year is going to be a whirlwind of changes.  For those who don't know already, I'll be unemployed after this school year ends in June.  It's frightening, but also exciting to think about where our family is going to be 12 months from now.  We might still be here in the Southern Tier, or we could be thousands of miles away, or anything in between.  Either way, it's obvious change is in the winds and embracing it should make acceptance easier.  And for reasons I can't explain, I feel that being honest with the people I interact with at home, and work, and church is inseperable from the aforementioned changes that are bound to happen.  I can't explain why they are connected, but I just feel that they are.  Maybe I'll read this next year and laugh because I'm completely wrong.  We'll see.

3.  Ride that Bike!  Is 300 miles unreasonable?  I hope not.  Evelyn really put a damper on my biking plans this past year.  Here's to many more enjoyable rides.  Also, because I have a habit of running over sharp objects, I'd also like to know how to change a bike tire.  I've been shown how to do it a few times already, but I need to do it with my own hands to learn it.

Here's to a better 2014!

2013 Reflections through Lists

Referring back to this lovely post that I wrote a year ago, here's all the great ambitions I had for the past year:

1. Read through the Bible in a year.  Check!  As I wrote on Monday, I finished this resolution a day early.  However, I was reading this article about resolutions, I wholeheartedly agree that there is certainly an amount of grace you need to allow yourself.  It's okay to fall behind, or miss a day... or even a month... of whatever it is you are pursuing.  Resolutions are not rules that bind us, but should be considers goals to strive for; they certainly don't dictate our value as people and are not tools for judging (read: condemning) ourselves or others.

2.  Gain healthy weight in the form of muscle.  Mega-fail.  The most active time for me is summer, and I barely did any biking this summer.  I didn't work out.  And I probably gained pounds of fat instead.  The problem here was that I dramatically overestimated the amount of free time I was going to have this summer while watching Evelyn.  Oh well.

3.  More blogging.  I only had a meager 26 posts this year, and most of them were Bible Study questions, or favorite verses.  So, I'd say this wasn't much of a success either.

Even if I did only do well with one of my resolutions, I'm satisfied in reading through the Bible (and more) in a year.

Highlights of 2013
1. Evelyn.  Simply put, the birth of my first child is by far the brightest spot of the year.  Of course, she had her moments of frustration - but watching her grow and develop and learn and smile and run and all those other things babies learn to do the first year is an amazing sight.  In particular, I will be fond of this summer that we got to spend together, even if she was only taking 15-30 minute naps most of the days.

2. Spiritual Growth.  I know that I'm growing closer to God's, but some years it is more evident than others.  No doubt through the commitment to read through my Bible, this was a great year for Spiritual growth.  At Good Shepherd, we studied the Gospel of Mark, and we continue to do so.  Personally, I also feel that God has been disciplining me in patience and forgiveness.  I'm blessed to have a Father in heaven who is eager to bestow upon me that discipline, as well as other blessings.

3.  Regents Scores.  After my first year of teaching and performing at beyond disappointing levels, this year's single event of joy was the day I received my test scores - I wrote about it at length here.  To be validated and confirmed in the work that you do is one of the only gratifications people and receive from working.

Tomorrow, I'll roll out my resolutions for 2014.