Dancing in the Eye of the Hurricane!!!!!

LUKE 8:24   The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Friends,

    I apologize for not getting the blog out earlier in the week, but this week was very challenging and I had many battles to fight.  Now, I know that it would probably be appropriate to explain what they were and how I handled them, but I am not going to address them.  I am going to take a different tact instead.
   The first thing I want to do is to thank my guest editor from the last blog.  My friend Amy is an amazing English teacher.  She helped me to elevate my writing to a higher level last week.  She writes extremely well and paints pictures with words that I can only hope to aspire to some day.  Our styles are different, but she helped me to recognize areas that helped me to paint my own word pictures better.  I only hope that I didn't give you nightmares about Zombies in the last blog.
   So, about this last week.  We have had quite a bit of turmoil at our school and in the community.  There is a situation that is beyond the comprehension of many of us that are people of faith.  I have seen good men, brought to tears because of the dishevel.  It is hard to understand people that say one thing, but do another.   As I stood in the eye of the hurricane and watched the turmoil swirl around me, I will confess I got a little too close to the edge of the storm and almost got sucked into it.  Fortunately, with the help of God I began to formulate a plan to stay away from the edge and weather the storm until it dissipates.
    People and kids are looking for a way into the eye of the storm.  So follow me and I will share with you the plan that God has brought to my mind.  Rather than focus on the one bad thing that is going on, I am going to give you a list of the fantastic events that are happening.  To get rid of darkness we must shine a bright light to wipe it away.

LPGA here we come!!!!

• It doesn't get any better than watching my daughter play in her first real competitive golf tournament on a gorgeous spring day.  -  All of you must be doing something to enjoy this awesome spring.
• I can share with you that we just received a $10,000 grant from MIT to develop a water filtration system and bring water purification systems to Yosemite High School.  -  What cool surprise have you experienced lately?
• I am being flown to Boston this summer to pick up the check, with the possibility of getting $20,000 more. - What trips are you looking forward to this summer?
• The first water purification system will be installed at Yosemite this week. - Come by and taste the pure water.
•  Our High School Decathlon and Science Fair teams are competing at the state level.  One of our students even took first place in the Science Fair. - Great work teachers and students.
• Our fledgling FBLA team competed in their first competition and every team placed.  The team made up of freshmen and a sophomore took first place in the Entrepreneur competition.  I will be heading to the state competition with them in April. -  I couldn't be more proud.  
• The EAST (Environmental And Spacial Technology) class was one of 2000 schools in the United States chosen to design the new Vans tennis shoe.  We have a wonderful young lady doing the artwork.  When she is done I will share with you.  I have seen the rough drafts and they are AWESOME!!!!!
• YOSEMITE!!!!!!!!  If you want to get close to God, then go on a warm Sunday afternoon, lay in a meadow facing the sky, close your eyes and let His love pour into your soul.  The Native Americans that lived there were right, when they called it a sacred place.

   If you haven't figured out the plan, I will spell it out for you.  I am going to focus all of my energy on shining the light of good and positive as I lead as many of you that want to follow into the eye of the storm where it is safe.  Once there, we can live in peace and eventually the storm will go away.
  I challenge you to be like Peter and trust the Lord to grab our hands and take us to safety.  Remember, he is our light that leads us out of the darkness.  I thank him for allowing me to be one of the lights that he puts in his hand to help light the way.  One friend mentioned to me that we have already won the war.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded.
   I am going to end the blog this week with a song that has always helped me to get through dark times.  I am also going to put it to a slideshow that will remind us of one of the many reasons we came to live in Oakhurst.

 

The Inmates Have Taken Over the Asylum!!!!

Insanity at it's finest

Exodus 21:28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible.

Friends,

    This week the blog takes on two forms, and they depend on how you look at certain situations in life.  It can either be considered a rant, or something that really makes you think about what is going on around you.
    Two questions came to my mind this week: "When did our standards of society become so low?  When will people quit using the excuses of what happen to them in their childhood to effect what they do as adults?
   The first question arose from the following dialog I had with some kids I was having coffee with at Starbucks.  It went something like this.  "Hey Mr. O, I am really excited."  I answered, "Oh yeah, why are so excited?"  The kid answers, "I am excited, because I am turning 18 next week."  I said, "That is cool, are you going to have a big party?" He replies, "No, not really just a few friends and I are getting together to have pizza."  I then asked, "Are you looking forward to voting or moving out on your own eventually?" Kid, "No, I am excited because I can go apply for food stamps."  I had no answer for this.  I just sat there stunned, and there was a long awkward pause.  I then asked them. "Why do you feel like you need to get food stamps?"  The kids answer was, "It is easier in case I move out and I don't have to ask my parents for money to buy food."  I finally said, "Are you going to get rid of your iPhone 5 and get a cheaper phone?"  Would you be surprised if I told you that he said no.  I will let you contemplate how you feel about this on your own.
   

The next topic that came up this week, was that a friend of mine is making some changes in his life based on what happened to him as a child.  How often have we heard this in society?
    So, I got to thinking about it and have decided that if people are going to make excuses for things
in their lives, I am too.  So from this day forward I want money from the federal government for being disabled.  It is their fault that they allowed the dart board manufacturer to produce a dart board that would send a dart backwards into a five year olds eye when thrown.  I also want to be able to go into a bank that was baled out by the government and get money anytime I want, because when I was ten and dumpster diving for moldy pizza, it scarred me.  I feel that it is their responsibility to make me a millionaire.
    I know that the above sounds silly, but I believe these two situations described above are from the nature of our society.  We have become a society of people that are not willing to work hard to become mentally, spiritually or physically healthy.  I don't expect perfection, but Christ does.  We have all made mistakes, but it is what we learn from those mistakes that brings us closer to God.
    Some mistakes are bigger than others, but we still need to learn from them.  After getting hit in the eye with the dart and blinded, I didn't go near a dart board for years.  When my first marriage failed, I went to counseling to make sure that I didn't make the same mistake again.  Growing up poor, I learned that I didn't like it and have worked hard to prevent the same situation from happening to my children.
   

Swan Dive

   For many of these situations I could easily blame my parents.  They could have watched out for me better when I got hit in the eye with the dart, but it was an unfortunate ACCIDENT!!!!!!!  I can look back and see how that incident has shaped me as a person.  I could blame them for being poor and having me out of wedlock, but they were trying to survive and do the best they could.  I even remember the short time that we were on welfare and getting government peanut butter, cheese and powdered milk.  I will never forget how ashamed my mom felt.  Later, my dad and mom worked hard enough to give us a good life and give me the opportunity to go to college.  Finally, I could blame them for some of the things that caused me to get married too soon and to a woman that had some very bad issues herself.  But, the fact is, I am the one that needed to change on the inside and that could not come unless I asked Christ to help me to help myself through therapy.

Yummy!!!

I know that I have ranted a bit and am all over the place this week, but life is hard.  Life isn't always fair.  Bad things do happen to good people.  But can we please quit making excuses for things and get down on our knees and pray.  Benjamin Franklin once said, "God helps those that help themselves." So, as Christians it is our responibility to give our troubles up to God and then make ourselves healthy as well.
  If we don't, the insane are going to take over.  I know this because I recently saw a documentary about this that was very informative.  It was called Zombieland and it scared the heck out of me.

Stupid is as Stupid..........?????????

I wonder if this was like Christ's Temple Square???

Matthew 7:6  “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Friends,

   What a week.  It was so busy that when Friday came I didn't even realize it.  I had a couple of projects that were handed to me at the beginning of the week and was then told that the deadline was Friday.  I can proudly say that I made the deadlines, but there were challenges with a couple of students that tried to derail me.
    My students always bring up interesting scenarios.  Students have a difficult time dealing with the things we have all dealt with in high school.  The decision to use or not use drugs is something they have to deal with.  Trying to be popular and stand out puts pressure on some as well.  I constantly deal with the kids that have lost confidence in their abilities to complete the work given to them.  Some strike out by not really using their heads, and others just give up.
    I do love my job and it is definitely never boring, well maybe during standardized testing it is, but not very often.  I do feel like Mr. Hand from Fast Times At Ridgemont High sometimes.  I tell my kids all the time that I won't put up with rudeness and defiance, but if they ever need me I will be here.  One kid even asked me this week, after one of these incidents, "How do you handle this?"  My answer is, "My job is to help you along the way and to be a positive influence." 

This could be Ridgemont High, Not!!!!

   As always, this type of stuff got me to thinking about my blog.  Sometimes I get frustrated with not being able to influence my kids.  I will never understand why kids or people want to fail.  I bet Christ asks the same questions as well.  But, we live as humans with free will and some people choose to do it the hard way.  It is their right and as much as I want to help, we can't do a darn thing until God touches their hearts, they hit bottom, or they mature to a place where they say enough is enough.
   Jesus tells us not to cast our pearls to swine, but if we are to help people like Christ did, then we need to practice patients.  If my words are not going to work, then maybe living my life as an example will.  It is difficult sometimes and I am definitely not a saint.  I can act like Christ in the temple and start tossing kids out of class, when I reach my limit but it doesn't happen very often, thank God.
   So remember, if we can't change things with our words we can do it with actions.

Pray like your using a Magnifying Glass.

Matthew 10:1

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

My Friends,

    I apologize for the delay of the blog over the last week, but I was in San Diego building a fence for my Mother and Father.  The fence was to give their dog a place to play and help with his wanderlust.  I had a great time working with my brother Mark, Cecelia and my parents.  It took about four days to complete and then I spent the other two days going on dates with my daughters.
   On my date with Taylor, she taught me a lot about up cycling.  We spent awhile shopping in thrift stores for dresses that she could redesign.  Once redesigned she will then sell them on her new website.  You will get an email about it, when it is complete.  It will be called TayOety's Designs.  I then took her to lunch and yogurt.  One special detour we took was to our friend Kent Bry's Adventure Ski School.  When we arrived, we were just going to say hello, but he had a break in ski lessons and tossed Taylor on his ski ramp.  He worked with her for about 45 minutes.  It was a special surprise.  I even jumped on the ramp for a short time.  I could tell that my ski muscles have gotten weaker from not skiing for the last three years because when I say short time, I mean I could only stay on for about 20 minutes.  When I used to teach there years ago, I would stay on for hour after hour teaching lessons.
   The next day I spent a very nice afternoon playing golf with Claire and my Dad.  Dad played nine holes and then Claire and I finished the last holes in a heated competition.  We settled our match with lunch and coffee.  I really enjoy spending time with my daughters.
   Anyway, I do have a point to the blog this week.  Before arriving in the San Diego area, we stopped by to see my brother Michael's son Everest play water polo.  After the match, in which Everest was the star, we went to dinner.
    While at dinner, I had a great conversation with Michael's wife Cindy.  We were discussing my blog and I was telling them about a rough idea I had for the next installment.  I was talking with her about how I have been reading a book called, The Master Key System.  In the latest chapter, the author, Charles Haanel discusses the idea of praying intensely and with unwavering belief.  The book also discusses that their are times when people just think about something and it just happens.  Now bare with me a moment, I am not talking about being psychic or anything.  But it did raise a question.  Is it possible that what we think, is like a prayer?  What if I think about something with unwavering confidence and then it happens?  This would be kind of like the Mustard seed I wrote about awhile back.  The following is a simple example of what I am talking about.
   Cindy and Michael were telling me about this friend that they have that always says that he is going to park in one of the front spots at stores that he visits.  They have been with this friend a number of times and sure enough when he pulls up, there is a space waiting for him.  It has happened so often that they have become real believers when they are with him.  Now, you might think that he just waits for a spot like those irritating people that just sit there with their blinker on, but he doesn't ever wait.  Rather than being skeptics, can't we just believe that he has unwavering belief?
  My mother has told us about a lady that she knows that prays over people while they are in the hospital or sick and they are healed.  She is so successful, that people request to have her pray over them.  She has doubters as well.
   These two examples are totally different and we would consider one more serious than the other, but are they all that different in their intensity to thought and prayer.  Most people would think that the second is far more important, but have you ever tried to get a front parking place at Target during the holidays?  It is a small miracle in itself to just get a parking place at all somedays.  I digress, so let me get back on task.

Intensity!!!

    The final analogy that I am going to share with you from my book is the following.  Imagine you are using a magnifying glass on a sunny day.  You can move it all around and look at things in a larger way, but the true power of a magnifying glass is when we hold it still and allow the intensity of the sun to shine through it.  If you are not careful you will focus the suns energy so much that it will burn whatever you are focusing on at the time.
   The point I am trying to make is that as Christians, we need to practice thinking and praying like we are using a magnifying glass.  Pick a few things in your life that you want changed and focus positive and detailed prayers toward them.  Think about them in a positive way.
   So to bring this meandering topic back to full circle.  I learned from my father years ago, how important it is to spend time with each of your children individually.  When we focus our magnifying glass on them, they are warmed by our parental sun.  I find that each time I do this, special memories are created.
   So, practice praying and thinking with intensity.  If you think about it, it is very much like the way Jesus sent the Apostles out to do miracles.  You can do miracles, remember they don't all have to be about healing diseases or making the blind see.  Isn't the laughter and smile of your kids a miracle unto themselves.
    By the way, I have the same skill Michael and Cindy's friend has.  I don't know what it is, but I find a parking spot as far away from the store every time.  More people need to think like me, because there are lots of spaces where I go.
 

Don't Judge Me!!!!!

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Friends,

   I began this last week by being a Judge at the high school talent show.  I felt very honored to be one of three people chosen for this very important responsibility.  It was an enjoyable experience, but a lot more difficult than I expected.  The only disappointing thing about the experience was that they said that I was not allowed to pretend to be Simon Cowell.  I had to do my comments in writing on a score sheet.  The real rewarding part, was watching these young people give their all.  The winners were amazingly talented.

Maybe not using good judgement

    This gave me the idea for the blog this week.  It brought to mind a scene from "The Princess Bride".  During one scene Enigo and his giant friend Fesik are on a ship with a hired mercenary.  The mercenary has kidnapped the princess in order to start a war.  But while on the ship, they are followed by another ship and it is catching up to them.  The mercenary keeps using the word Inconceivable.  He uses it so much that Enigo comments that he is not sure that the mercenary knows the meaning of the word.  I believe the same about people, when it comes to the words Judge or Judgement.
    I get kids saying to me all the time; "Don't Judge me Mr. O."  I always find it interesting that they say this to me, when they have been caught selling or smoking weed, misbehaving or not completing their work in my class.  In the case of the weed, I am not the Judge, they will see one of the professional members of that fraternity soon enough.  But, in the case of misbehaving and not doing your work,  my comment to them is, "Ok I won't judge you, I am just going to profile you."  You know, I am just trying to be PC, like everyone else. Anyway, I do talk with them and tell them a quote my grandfather used to use all the time, "If a spade is a spade, then it must be a spade."  If you don't like being associated as a pot smoker, then don't smoke pot and don't hang around with people that do so as well.  If you don't like being known as a trouble maker, then don't get in trouble and so on.  It seems to me that the only people that don't like their profile or being judged, are people that are outside the norm and have to convince others that they are ok.
    According to Google the definition of Judge is to form an opinion or conclusion.  At The First Tee we use the word Judgement as one of the nine core values and the definition is the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; a decision reached after consideration.
    The reason for my short diatribe is that someone published on Facebook not too long ago a statement from the Proud to be a Liberal site that went like this:  You define your character when you Judge others.  It was put in the context of having an opinion about the way other people live their lives.  So, it got me to thinking and this is my decision based on careful consideration.

Once again, maybe not the best judgement.

    I hope that my character is defined by my good Judgement.  I hope that people identify me as a person that lives by a high standard.  I am proud to be profiled or judged as a white, heterosexual, Christian family man.  I am a school teacher that tries to do my best by my kids everyday, and I am a darn good golf coach as well.  Go ahead and judge or profile me.  I don't agree with the way some people live their lives.  I do think that people that make statements like the one earlier, don't live by the same standard that I live by and want people to agree with them.  My standard is my faith in Christ, and the book I get my guidance from is the Holy Bible.  I can only hope that even though people that don't live by the same standard as myself, recognize when people are causing harm to others with their lifestyle.  Here are a few things that I hope they will Judge others by:  I hope they recognize and judge that it is wrong when an alcoholic is abusing their family and something should be done about it.  I hope that they recognize that if a child is in trouble that good Judgement will be used to help that child.  I hope that they help a woman in distress.  I hope they use good judgement when it comes to being a good samaritan.  
    Christians in particular have been beaten down and are not allowed to have an opinion.  I am sorry, but when you are a Christian, you need to have an opinion and use good Judgement.  It is our job to call each other out and hold each other accountable.  How has it gotten to the point in our country that the majority is not allowed to have an opinion and judge when something is wrong?   We all have things in our lives in which we need to improve and lord knows that I am not perfect, but if you live a lifestyle that is not healthy and you ask my opinion, I am going to tell you.  I think the key to that last phrase is that I was asked.  If there is one thing that I have learned is that I will state my opinion when asked, but I am not going to force it on someone else.
    I am like my brother Paul.  He and I discuss how to save the world all the time and the one conclusion that we have come to is that as Christians, we have humbled ourselves into not saying anything.  I don't know if it is because we are so concerned about Matthew 7: 1-3.  I don't know if it is that we have gotten so caught up in taking the plank out of our own eyes or what it is, but in the current climate of our country someone needs to say when things are wrong.  Currently in the political climate, all of the minorities and liberals get to say whatever they want and get away with it, but if a conservative Christian says anything they are lambasted.  Because people of faith are supposed to live by a very high standard, it is easy to point the finger when they fall.  How easy it is to live without standards and then laugh at those that attempt to try to live by high standards.
    Recently, I was reading a book and one of the statements that made a huge impact on me was, that in order to use more of our brain, it is important to be Mentally, Morally and Physically Healthy.  It took me back a bit.  I had to sit down and really think about each one of these.  I came to the conclusion that the mental part is something that I am always practicing.  Morally, this is always a work in progress, because although I feel like I have a good relationship with Jesus, it can always be better.  Finally, I have slid backward a bit on the physical part and need to kick my butt in gear.  Basically, it is hard to be healthy in all of these areas.  It is very easy to not think about any of it.
    So, to finally get off of my soap box this week.  I want to challenge you to look at the standards that you live by.  According to Jesus, we are always supposed to be pressing forward.  Take a moment and ask yourself the same questions I asked myself and remember, even though we may stumble Christ is there to give us a hand.  Also, remember if you have to judge someone use careful consideration before you make a decision.
   Have a great week.

Man, That Mustard Seed is HUGE!!!!!!

Man, I keep trying to move this thing to my house, but it just won't budge!!

Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

My Friends,

    I wanted to start this week by thanking all of you that read my blog and took the time to comment last week.  Your thoughts make my writing mean something.  It feels good as a writer to know that my writing can help people to think.  As I mentioned in other blogs, I encourage you to write, just as I do.  Now that doesn't mean that you have to start a blog, but get that journal I mentioned earlier.
    This week's topic came from meeting with a couple of parents to talk about goals for their kids.  The ironic thing is that during my quiet time, God brought to my mind the parable of the mustard seed.
    Now, I learned this parable as a young Christian many years ago.  For the life of me I was so confused by it, because as hard as I might try I could not get the local mountain to move.  But as I have matured I have come to understand it better.  I can say that I have moved a few mountains in my life.  Well maybe not mountains, but I did move a 60,000 pound caboose onto our property and turned it into a guest house.  I also graduated from college, which was definitely a mountain unto itself.  With that said have you ever seen a real mustard seed?  It is the tiniest of seeds, but yet it grows into a big beautiful plant that supplies greens and more seeds to make mustard.  Anyway, I am not trying to give you a botanical lesson.  I am just trying to point out that out of tiny things, big things can come.
   What I have really learned about this parable is that as Christians it is important to plant those mustard seeds and then tend them with prayer.  You see, I didn't just tell the Caboose to fly over to my property and set itself where I wanted it.  I planted the seed of the idea in prayer and then nurtured it over and over with more prayer for many weeks.
  I was reading recently in one of my favorite books called, The Master Key System.  It is written by a man named Charles Haanel.  In the book, he states in

Yummy, Mustard Greens!!!

I told you I could move it.  The crane did help.

layman's terms the idea of planting the mustard seed.  His statement is that whatever goal we set, the ability for it to come to fruition is directly proportional to how strongly we believe.  So, plant that mustard seed and believe with every atom in your body that it will come true.
    I believe it is important for us to have goals in our adult lives, just like we had dreams and goals as kids.  Not only does it make life more interesting, but it is a good example for kids and young adults that we come in contact with.  I will be the first to admit that I still have crazy dreams.  The one that I have been nurturing for sometime is to play on The Senior PGA Tour.  Now, you might think that this is a no brainer for me, but the goal isn't just to make it.  My dream gets crazier.  Not only do I want to make it on the tour, I want to be the professional that plays in the group with one of my daughters if they are chosen to play in The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.  How awesome would that be?!!!!!!
    The one thing to remember before I finish for this week is this.  Even though we can have goals and dreams, remember they have to go along with God's plan for us as well.  Sometimes the goals I have made do not come true.  I planted the seed a few years ago to retire from teaching when I turned 50.  Well, that happened while I was in China last year and I am still teaching.  I could get upset about it and be depressed, but God has given me a new excitement for teaching and my daughter is going to be coming to the high school next year.  I guess he is just not done with me yet.
    So, go out  this weekend and get some mustard seeds.  Plant them in some soil in your garden, but identify each one as a dream or goal.  Then spend the next few months tending them with prayer and water and see what happens.  If nothing really comes from it, at least you have some really nice mustard greens.  They are very nice sauteed with garlic and lots of butter, Yum!!!!!!!

I'm Soooooo Confused!!!!!

Matthew 18: 15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

I am really confused about fruit on the towers of a chapel

 Hello my friends,

    This week was one of those weeks in which I was presented with a situation that stumps me completely.  Let me describe to you what happened.

I don't understand how an emperor can make people do this

    I was with a colleague that I have been working with over the past few years having a normal discussion, when out of the blue he shares with me that he is getting ready to have a surgery that will change him forever.  The surgery that he is going to have will change him from a man to a woman.  Needless to say I was unusually speechless, and as most of you know that is difficult to do.  After my initial shock, I was very polite and didn't say much except to ask basic questions about when the surgery was going to be and how long the recovery would take.  At times like this I always remember a saying that my friend Randy Guista used to say.  The saying is, "Love the person and not their actions."  Now, I may not agree with what he is doing, but we have been colleagues and friends for sometime.  I will continue to respect him as a teacher and will support him in the classroom.
   Later, I was asked by a couple of my teacher friends what I thought.  I told them I had not really established an opinion as of yet.  The only thing I could say, was that I did not understand it.

I don't understand this, but probably could eventually

    So, you may be wondering why I am confused about this situation.  The reason I am confused, isn't so much that he is turning into a she, but that this man used to be one of the spiritual leaders on our campus.  Before we left to live in China for the year, he was the man that spent time with students leading prayer around our flag pole.  He would bring up at staff meetings students or people that needed prayer.  He has been a great man of God on our campus.  Now, I am not saying that he won't be able to take on this role as a woman, but the question that keeps nagging at me is this.  If we as Christians, have faith in God and are supposed to trust him, how is it that a person of faith can say that God made a mistake and change what God made?  I don't get it.  This is totally beyond my realm of comprehension.
    Understand, this topic is not about judging a person.  This is about trying to cope and understand how a brother in Christ can change so much.  I guess it falls into the class of, do we really know the Christians around us.  Have we lost community so much that we don't know what goes on in each of our lives?  Remember what Jesus said, “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. If he does it again then take others along to confront him.   This is great if you are in a faith community together, but if you don't pay attention, then that is as bad as a plank in your own eyes.
    I believe it is our own faults as a faith community for closing ourselves off from one another. Because in this case, I for one cannot judge or confront because I haven't been in his social circle in order to really get to know him.  Also, we have gotten so good at hiding the dark parts in our lives that many Christians look good on the outside, but are very troubled on the inside.  How often have we heard people say, when they find out a neighbor has done something out of the ordinary,  "He seemed like a normal guy, he didn't seem like the kind of guy that would do ........................".
    Sometimes I think that I make myself so busy that I don't have time for others.  I need to do a better job of listening and paying attention to other people.  I spent the week during my quiet times praying that I may be more aware of what is going on with people around me.
    My challenge to you this week is to take a look around and try to identify someone that is walking in the shadows, and ask them how they are doing.  You might be surprised what you get for an answer.

Sometimes, Normal Isn't So Bad!!!!

Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul

God being Extraordinary

Hello my Extraordinary Friends,

    This week I want to start off by stating that when I am talking about ordinary,  I mean it in the manner of doing typical daily things.  The reason why I mention this is because while I was listening to a sports radio talk show this week, they were discussing the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.  The discussion was in regards to a football coach that considers himself, just one of the fans.  So he just considers himself an ordinary guy.  The talk show host's premise was that this coach claiming to be just one of the guys, has created a football team that is just ordinary and does not excel.  The talk show host used another coach, that he considered extraordinary to be the kind of coach he prefers because his teams tend to be of championship quality.  In the long run the host's premise was that generally he prefers people that choose to be extraordinary.  Another example he used was that of a surgeon.  Do you want the surgeon that is extraordinarily good or just one that is ok to do your open heart surgery?  Do you want the best pilot flying the jet that you are on or the guy that barely passed his test?  I think most of us would agree that when it comes to any service that humans are involved in, we want the best.
    So, it got me to thinking about the title of my blog and when I discuss being ordinary.  If I haven't mentioned it before, but my goal is to be like St. Francis and do the ordinary things in life as extraordinarily as possible.  Just keep in mind, that from now on when I talk about being ordinary, as Christians we can do live simple routine lives, but when you do it in an extraordinary manner, people will notice.

    The topic for the week is about enjoying the things in life that we make as a habit or routine.  With my wife recuperating well, things have started to come close to what they were before the incident with her tumor.  After making it through the last six weeks of numb.  I have started to realize that having a daily routine that you enjoy can be very satisfying.
    My days typically start at 5:00 am with Yoga or P90X, depending on how motivated I am that day.  Even though the Yoga might sound calm, it is the P90X yoga, so it is anything but easy.  As a matter of fact I tell people that I have a love/hate relationship with my yoga.  It makes me feel really good when I do it, but I don't look forward to the painful poses.  I can't say that Right Angle pose with my arm twisted behind my back is my favorite.  Sometimes I don't appreciate feeling like a pretzel, even though it is good for me.  They say that cod liver oil is good for you too!!!
    Anyway, after my workout, I sit in my sauna to have my morning meeting with Jesus.  After being invigorated by that meeting, I then shower, have breakfast and make lunch, all before I leave for school at 7:15am.  I then head for school and teach until 3:00.  In the fall, I would typically go to the golf course for golf practice until 6:00pm.  This time of the year, I still go to the golf course about three times a week, but only practice until about 4:30 or 5:00.  Now before you think that I live a charmed life and go to the golf course just for the heck of it, I have a crazy dream that I am chasing and I believe it is important to keep my game going well in order to be an example for my players.
   

Coming Home after an routine day

    I then head home and hang out with my wife and girls. Usually this entails doing Algebra homework and helping to get dinner ready.  Around 8:00, Cecelia and I typically have a cup of tea and then head for bed around 9:00pm.  That's it, nothing spectacular.  Occasionally a meeting or small home fix it project of some kind will get thrown into the mix.  So, as you can see there are no world changing events in my life.  Nothing like, trying to win wine contests with my struggling vineyard.  Nor, creating some new kind of tomato with our weed infested garden.
    In the past, it seems like I would have something going every night of the week during the school year.  I would burn the candle at both ends, and in the middle, and then rest when school got out in June.  But, then again that isn't necessarily the case either.  We would typically try to pack in as much travel and adventure as we could during what is usually a very short summer.  If you want a long winded example, you can read the first entry in my blog, "The O's Odyssey to China".
    What I guess I am trying to say this week is that having a routine is a nice thing to have, and I am trying to be very good at it.  I also think that it is important to take a moment and think about your routine and appreciate the little things.  You know, the things like having a job, seeing your family, a good friend, having a place to live, food to eat, even the computer to read this diatribe.  After that, take a moment to pray and thank the Lord for all those little things, and then pray for people that don't have the ability to have a routine.  I am blessed with the opportunity to take the time and to thank God for normal, because after you go through an ordeal in which your life almost changed drastically, you learn to appreciate some of the routine in life.
    This week do your routine very well and be extraordinary.   Put your name in the following passage;  God did extraordinary miracles through _______________!!!!!!!!   You'd be surprised what extraordinary things God can do through you.

I Can't! I Can't! I Can't

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

Hello Ordinary Christians,

    This was the first week back from the Christmas vacation.  I always look forward to starting the second semester, because it is a fresh start for my students.  Those that didn't do so well have an opportunity to do better the second time around.  So with that being said, I began a new unit.  As I began to get ready to teach a new lesson, I got a comment from one my students.  Her comment was,  "I hate math and I can't do it."  She was really down on herself and was dreading math. This was pretty sad, because I had not even started the lesson yet.
    This lead to me having a class discussion about where we come from and what causes many of my students to have gaps in their math education.
    You need to first understand the demographic that I deal with in my classes.  I have all the students that have struggled with math in the past.  The Algebra that I teach is at a much slower pace and has less work than the typical class.  Many of my students are not bad at math, but lack confidence.  So the first question I asked for our discussion was, "How many students have moved at least once since they have been in school?"  Most of the class raised their hands.
    My next question was, "How many of you have changed schools since entering school?"  Most of them raised their hands.
    Finally, my last question was, "How many of you felt like you were behind, when you began your new school?"  No surprise here, most of them raised their hands.
    The young lady that made the comment, had moved three times in the last year.  That meant three new schools for her.  No wonder she felt frustrated.
    The reason I asked all these questions is because, there are usually good reasons why some of my students don't do well in math.  There are extenuating circumstances that help to cause the problems, so they need to give themselves a break.
    My kids were then surprised to find out that I wasn't very good at math in high school.  I was good early on, but then the moving thing happened me.  I found myself behind after a move my freshman year and I just never recovered.  As a matter of fact, when I was in Jr. High I won a math award.  In college, I decided that I was tired of being unconfident in math and  I started taking an independent study class that helped me increase my abilities.  I also told them that my mother laughed until she cried, when she found out I was a math teacher.

The proverbial Train

    In my classroom I have a saying from one of my favorite authors and sports psychologists hanging on the wall.  His name is Dr. Bob Rotella and the quote I like is this, "By and Large, People believe what they think about themselves."  When I point out or share this quote with my students I always get the Huh?, look from them.  I have to go on to explain that it basically means that if you believe you are not good at math, then you are not going to be good at it.  If you think you are not smart, then you are going to behave like you are not.  I tell them that change is hard, but a good start is to not focus on the negative and give themselves a chance.
    This topic carried over for the rest of the week and many of my kids that didn't do well last semester, at least started off in a positive direction.
    As Christians we tend to focus on the negative and our sinful nature instead of the positive things that Christ has done in our lives.  Now,  I am not saying that if you have a particular issue that you are dealing with, to just ignore it and it will go away.  By all means lift it up to the Lord and ask him to help you.  I am just saying that if we continually beat ourselves up about being sinners, then we are  just going to be a sinners.  If on the other hand we put our focus on being children of God and focus on doing the best we can each day, we will become more like him.
   The fact is that we are sinners by nature, but that doesn't mean that we have to act like it.  Remember God says that with man this is impossible, but through him everything is possible.
   Take Dr. Rotella's advice and go start believing in what God tells us.  He has given us a second chance to do better, so let's go give it a try.
   Finally, if problems like the following scare you?
            Train A leaves the station at 7:00 am doing 225 km/h and Train B leaves 30 minutes later doing 325 km/h.  What time do they serve dinner in Copenhagen when the second train catches the first?
   Remember, all things are possible with God, even math miracles.
 

Dishes On The Counter

Philippians 3:13,14  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!
 
    This week was very busy at our home.  My wife continued her recovery and I worked on home improvements.  Most days I was starting at around 6:30 am and finishing well after dark.   The focus has been on running 90 ft. of 3/4 inch gas pipe so that we can hook up our new tankless hot water heater.  Oh, the thought of endless hot water is driving me to work like a leprechaun looking for gold.  Anyway, I digress.

I dreamed that this was my lunch!

    So, before you give up reading and thinking that you made your way to another home improvement blog, I do have a point.
    As I was diligently working, I asked Cecelia if she could heat me up some soup for lunch.  She happily agreed.  Not only does she love me, but it was her small contribution to endless hot water in her jacuzzi tub.

    About a half hour later, she called me to come in because my soup was ready.  I went inside for a short break and devoured the Lobster Bisque she had prepared for me.  Who says you have to have only Chicken Noodle?  Anyway, after finishing I got distracted and walked back out to work on my project.  Being the Attention Deficit person that I am, I had inadvertently left my bowl unwashed on the counter in the kitchen.  Unbeknownst to me, this gesture would come back to me later in the day.
    I continued to work very hard and finished my gas line just before dinner.  I was happy that I accomplished my goal for the day and could come in out of the cold.

The Never Ending House

    After dinner I sat down with Cecelia to watch some television.  I could tell that something was bothering her, but she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.  We went to bed about an hour later and I asked her again what was bothering her.  In the end, the issue revolved around leaving my soup bowl on the counter and not being a very good listener.  (What, me not being a good listener while I am in the middle of a project.  Listening is my best character trait.  YEAH RIGHT!!!)         My first reaction was to get upset and bring up that I felt unappreciated and that I was working my butt off.  I felt like I needed to be perfect for her, but one thing she said really hit home.  She said, that it wasn't really about leaving the soup bowl on the counter, but that she has been struggling with the girls doing the same thing and that I need to be an example to help her out.  Her comment took the wind right out of my unappreciated sail boat.  I told her that I would try and do better, but it isn't enough to say it, I must do it.

The Man at Work

    The next day while I was having my quiet time, I started thinking about our conversation the night before.  It brought to mind, that as a Christian it is my job to work hard to represent Christ.  Even though perfection is unattainable, I can still strive toward getting as close as possible.  It isn't enough to tell him we are going to do better, but to live our lives as examples and do more.  So, my challenge to you this week is to do something extraordinary.  It can be as simple as buying someone a cup of coffee or feeding the homeless once a month.  Whatever you do, remember Christ will appreciate it.
    By the way, my wife did notice that the next day I rinsed off my dishes and put them in the dishwasher.  She did also tell me how much she appreciated how hard I work.
    MAN, ISN'T IT GREAT THAT WE GET SECOND CHANCES TO MAKE IT RIGHT????!!!

ONE LAST NOTE.  I HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO LEAVE COMMENTS.  FEEL FREE TO COMMENT.