HARMLESS THOUGHTS

I had a doughnut and some coffee for breakfast today. And then I had the same thing for lunch. Is this healthy? I am thinking that it isn't all that healthy, but it sure brightened my day! It was like manna from heaven!

Here are some FAQ 's (Frequently Asked Questions) about Blog Safari . Actually I have never had any questions asked about Blog Safari, but I have always wanted to have a FAQ post! What is Blog Safari? Start by reading this . I started Blog Safari to help in displaying blogs that I run across from time to time. There are alot of really good ones out there, and it is fun to share them with others. Blog Safari also serves in expanding readership of all of the blogs that are involved. Where did you get the idea for Blog Safari? Awhile ago Darren from Living Room ran something called Blogger Idol . I thought that it was alot of fun and I always wanted to do something like it. I have to give him the credit for the idea. I had also been bumping the idea around for awhile because of the blogger "next blog" button. I thought that was a great idea. How do I go on a Blog Safari? One possibility is to click on the Blogger "next blog" button. The proble...

I have noticed that there are literally thousands upon thousands of blogs out there. And surfing through them can be both fun and dangerous. Almost like a Blog Safari! Now, I have been on a few blog hunts myself from time to time, and have found some interesting blogs, blogs that I would like to share with other people. Blogs that I feel are a unique find . But I never had a way to share those blogs with other bloggers... Until Now! If you would like to join in on the Blog Safari, Here is what you need to do: Go on a blog hunt. Write a post on your blog telling us about your exceptional blog find! (You might want to explain to your readers what you are doing and include a link to this page .) Include a link to your blog in the blogger input section of this post, by clicking blogger input at the bottom of this post. Even if you are not a " blogger " member, you can still leave a comment there. Make sure you leave (1)your name, (2)the link to your page, and (3)...

When I came into my room this morning I noticed that on my white board one of my students wrote: We luv U Mr. Harmless *In a none gross way* What does "none gross" mean? That is what I want to know!

Even though I am a Christian School Teacher, I don't think that I have ever blogged about Christian Education. But yesterday, as I was waiting for my microwave meal to be nuked in the teacher's lounge, I picked up one of those teacher magazines. I don't remember which one it was, but there was the title of an article that really jumped off the page and grabbed my attention. It was, Why do Christian School students resent Christian Education? It is an excellent question. It is a question that I have thought of myself. I went to a Christian School myself, and now, as many of my classmates have reached the age where their children are going to school, a majority of them speak so resentfully of their own Education. And refuse to send their kids to a Christian School. It baffles me, it really does. In most of the cases, it wasn't because the school was all that bad, it was because they were bad! I know because so was I! We were rebellion incarnate. It wouldn...

as I was growing up, I always thought that I would be the best dad. I don't know why I thought this, I just did. I loved kids, and usually chose to play with them at family outings and such. I also had two younger sisters, and for the most part I enjoyed playing with them. I was almost 15 when my youngest sister was born, so I was very familiar with the whole thing... or so I thought. I had a sobering moment a couple of days ago. I looked at my children and thought, "all of the bad things they do, they learned from me." It was depressing, but oh-so-true! Now, sometimes, I look at my kids and I wonder if I am any good at this daddy thing at all. If they survive this earth it won't be because of me, that is for sure. It will be because of the grace of God.

This is definitely not a political blog. I think that if you have read this blog at any time in the past, you will notice that I have not at anytime tried to express my own political opinions. I have chosen to keep silent about it, but with the upcoming election, I think that I am going to take a poke at it. First of all, I am not a political person. I just isn't my cup-o-tea. I can't help it, I just don't find politics to be an overly interesting topic. Secondly, it doesn't matter that much to me. I enjoy my freedoms in this country and appreciate them, but that has no bearing on how I am going to live my life or make my decisions. If tomorrow I lost all of my freedoms, I would still be free in Christ, because "... if the Son has set you free, then you will be free indeed!" Thirdly, my citizenship is in heaven. And even though some would consider this to be figurative, I take it to be a reality. I am just passing through this country. So polit...

If you are feeling a little bored, I just thought that I would post something to fill the time. Bubble Wrap

There aren't many things that I look forward to more than Saturday Mornings. Ever since I was a kid I have enjoyed the Saturday morning cartoons, the sitting around, and the eating of unhealthy breakfast foods. And since my wife just bought some Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch, I think that tomorrow moring I will be all set! I usually get up a little earlier than Sam, make myself some Coffee and relax. Once Sam is awake we get some breakfast and plop down at the coffee table to watch some cartoons. I think that my current favorite is called Teen Titans . It is a little weird because it has Robin, from the Batman and Robin Duo. Well, I need to get to bed so I can be well rested for my saturday morning kid time.

I am not alone (with some really cool links) The 27 conspiracy (with some cool links) Properties of the number 27 The number 27 on the Bible Wheel On the number 27 Meditations on 27 (a poem) 27 rationales for war in Iraq 27 articles of T. E. Lawrence Title 27 - Intoxicating Liquors (even though I don't drink) 27 fundamental beliefs of the 7th day Adventist 27 lines on a cubic surface 27 star flag 27 countries had nuclear bombs deployed during the cold war La Generacion del 27 (a famous group of poets and artists called the generation of 27) 27 people involved in the abuse of prisoners 27 in numerology (it shows up and means something 27 in numerology (again) 27 in astrospeak (who knows...) and many more from Google Mathematicians who were born or died on the 27th of... January February March April May June July August (my birthday) September October November December I was born 8/ 27 / 72 , my wife was bo...

devotions ... I don't know if this word means the same thing to everybody, but in many Christian circles the word "devotions" is referring to the time that we set apart to "devote" to God. Ususally some reading of a passage of the Bible, and a little time in prayer will suffice for most of us. But is that really sufficient? I love being able to check items off of my Palm Pilot "to-do" list, but is that all devotions are? Some heavenly "to-do" item, that we are able to check off for the day? Is a simple reading of the Word of God adequate, or is there more that is expected? Or maybe that is the wrong question entirely. Maybe it isn't that we are doing the wrong thing, maybe we are just doing it the wrong way. Could it be that Godly devotion just isn't complete without a heart-felt delight . Consider this Psalm: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit ...

I don't know what it is about a camera, but when one is in my room, I just can't "pretend" like it isn't there. I have to pose! What kind of pose is this anyway? When would a math teacher ever need to display the board like this? It's ridiculous, I know. I just wish that they would have added all of the pictures of me "helping" students with some questions, or looking intently at the ceiling whilst I thoughtfully stroke my goatee. One of those pictures would have been great, but instead I look like some alternate universe Vanna White displaying correct answers for the math class contestants. In reality I am posting this picture because of the recent requests for a current picture of my hair . I know that most people who see this picture will think, "man, that isn't long!" But c'mon ! It is long for me, so cut me some slack! Take special note of the long sideburns... never had those before! My wife thinks I am going...

twenty-seven

God Wrote a Book , by James McDonald James McDonald is one of my favorite authors. He writes in a very understandable fashion, and seems very down to earth. Summary: The Bible is God's word. Really . This book gives a brief, but very educated view of the Bible. It is written in such a way that a person who is totally "unchurched" could read it. In fact, I think that it is written specifically for that audience. It covers topics including, evidence for the Bible, a short history of the Bible, and the message/purpose of the Bible. My Thoughts: I loved this book. I read it in one afternoon. I would absolutley recommend this book to anyone who is interested in solidifying their belief that the Bible is the Living Word of God. But I would also recommend this book to anyone who is doubting the validity of the Bible itself. If anyone is thinking, why not the Koran, or some other book... Here is an excellent explaination. It is written in such a way that any non-b...

I just finished figuring my grades. It is always such a relief when I get that done. I think that most teachers would agree that if they could eliminate one thing from teaching, it would be the paperwork. Even if those other teachers don't agree... I would eliminate it! I am just happy that I am done. Next thing is to deal with all of those parents that don't think that their little Johnny Boy deserves the grade that he received. Oooh! It just hit me... I wonder if I am going to get a progress report from Sam's teacher? Oh great! Now I am on the other side of it. I wonder what kind of parent I am going to be???

I know that this may not seem very important to all that many people, but I've gone and done something to my hair. Actually I guess I should say, I haven't done something to my hair. I haven't cut it. Now I know that to most people this may seem quite insignificant and a little silly, but for me that is different. I haven't gone more than 4 weeks without a haircut in probably 20 years. (holy cow, that looks like a long time now that I have typed it!) But now I haven't had a haircut in almost three months! Yesterday one of my students actually said, "Mr. Harmless... You have cool hair." Wow, for an old guy, that is pretty amazing! I don't know when I am going to cut it. Maybe another month or so, maybe not at all...

Another one is on the way. I know that I have no room to gripe, especially considering how others have suffered... But that last hurricane flooded our laundry room. And for two days we didn't have anything to cook with because all of the pots and pans were being used to catch the water leaking in through the roof. I am so happy that I am not a homeowner, at least not yet. The thought of repairing a roof could depress me. But I did enjoy the cascading waterfall in the laundry room. It's tinkling drips lulled me to sleep two nights in a row.

fun game or dangerous word Compatibility. In the last week I have crossed paths with this word more than once. Most recently, I played a game called Compatibility. It is a game that was made for couples, and in this game you get to find out whether or not you are "compatible" with your partner. Each player is given a deck of cards that is composed of various pictures and words. During each round of the game you are given a word and the players have to pick out 2 to 5 cards (depending upon the place in the game) that they feel best suit that word. They initially place their cards face down and then each couple will reveal their cards in order to see how "compatible" they are. It can be fun to play, mostly because it is always entertaining to hear why people picked out certain cards for certain words. I also ran across the word, compatibility, in a book that I am reading. It is called Christian Living in the Home by Jay E. Adams, and in the book there i...

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren I know that I haven't posted about this book in awhile. I obviously wasn't trying to fulfill the challenge at the beginning of the book (to read through the book in 40 days). It was one among several books that I was trying to read at the same time, and this one made it to the back burner while I finished up some of the others. So I picked it up again today, and since my students are taking a test right now, I thought that I would make a quick post about it. (previous posts can be found here and here .) I read it early this morning and this one paragraph just jumped out at me: Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way,they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, and I'll tell you what you will be in twenty years. We become whatever we are committed to. --Rick Warren I don't know about you, but when I read something t...

I love both of my sons equally. I don't want there to be any question about that. But more and more, around the house, Josiah is being referred to as "my child." It isn't that my wife has decided to disown him or anything like that. It is just that there are certain Josiah-like characteristics that are also Matt-like characteristics. For example, from birth, Josiah has been a very laid-back kid. Doesn't take much to entertain him. A couple of hotwheels, a marble, and a little dirt and he is set. I totally understand. My mom used to say the same thing about me. My third grade teacher even put in my report card that I could make an entire circus out of a couple of paperclips. Even now, give me some new little present, and I am lost for days. Now I would also like to think that it is because we share such an excellent sense of humor. Those that know me best know that I love to have fun and be funny. But there aren't many things that I enjoy more than li...

If you haven't checked it out, you need to take a peek at my wife's blog, A Day With Daisy . It's look has been updated, and she has gone with a theme. I have always loved reading her stuff, but it just keeps getting better.