HARMLESS THOUGHTS

I have this sheet of paper that I hand out to all of my students at least once a year called, Student's Work Ethic . I originally received this handout from Mrs. Smith, a mentor teacher from the first school that I taught at. She was never officially my mentor, but when I first became a teacher, she took me under her wing and was always there to encourage me and assist me whenever I needed it. Anyway, she handed me this paper when I was working with a certain student who wasn't doing their homework on a consistent basis. I knew that if this student would just start doing their homework, their grade would increase dramatically. Once I saw this handout, I knew that it would be something that I could use for a long time. It started with this slightly adjusted paraphrase of Colossians 3:22-24, (Put your name in the blanks:)     Student, obey your teachers about everything, not only when the teachers are watching _________________ work, as people-pleasers do, but rat...

Here is another unique car commercial. I know that I saw this on another blog, but for the life of me, I can't remember whose it was. I just got the link again today from a friend's e-mail. Well, here it is . Enjoy.

(I know...I know...Most of you are loyal Matt readers but I ask for your patience as I don't at present have a blog of my own and I like to post for the family! -Charity) My friend Anne has taught me a saying in the last year and a half. She smiles at me with that familiar twinkle in her eyes and announces, "Make new friends...Keep the old. Some are silver and some are gold!" I have to admit that I love it when she says it to me. I grin because I know that while I am currently her "silver"...Someday, maybe, I might be a "gold". I'm confident that she is in this friendship for the long haul and that is reassuring in a world and in my own life where not much seems stable. Around nine months ago, Anne invited me over to her house for dinner on a Thursday night. She was having some of her friends over in a need to fulfill her cooking obsession (I don't know how I attract these people!) and she was pushing to get me to break out and meet some n...

Christ and Your Problems by Jay E. Adams This book is only 30 pages long, but it is packed full of valuable insight. (As are most of Jay Adams' books.) Summary: This little book is based on I Corinthians 10:13, which says, There is no trial that has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able to endure, but with the trial also make a way of escape in order that you may be able to endure it. Talk about a verse that has many practical applications. In the book, Jay breaks down each part of this verse and makes it applicable, by simply explaining the meaning of each word and phrase. We are all going to have problems, but they will never be too much. My Thoughts: Usually when I have seen this book, it is handed out to those who are entering into Biblical Counseling. It is a great book for that purpose, because it is short and to the point. It breaks down those arguments about things like, "...t...

I have seen this commercial mentioned on a couple of different blogs now. It is a really cool concept, but I mostly just like the music. In fact, I added this guy to my froogle wishlist. (Which, by the way, if you were feeling like getting me something, feel free to browse my wishlist. I try to add things to it all of the time.) Here is the commercial: Sony BRAVIA - The Advert

My oldest son is about 7½ years old, and he finally lost that first tooth. It has been loose for a long time, and it finally popped off (with a little help from dad). He was so excited. He had just told me, right before it happened, "Daddy, I really want to lose that tooth because all of my friends have already lost at least one, and I am 7½! So I should have already lost one! And I haven't, so I hope this one comes out..." Next thing you know, in a moment of bravery, I gave it a little push and *pop* out it came. He said, "wow." I said, "it's about time."

Just got a link for the top 10 time wasting internet activities, and thought that I would share it with you. Here you go . I haven't tried them all, but the first one is slightly entertaining.

I think that it is amazing how God brings certain scriptures into our paths just at the right time. Recently I have been reading through a book by Jay Adams called, Counsel from Psalm 119. This book breaks down each verse of Psalm 119, and explains its application from a counseling perspective. I haven't been reading this book very consistently, so it is taking me a little longer to get through it than I had originally thought. But as I continue reading, it seems that I am getting through it at exactly the right pace. The pace that God is wanting to use these verses in my life. For example, I read this verse the other day: Remember Your Word to Your servant Upon which You have caused me to hope. (Psalm 119:49 -- Translation by Jay E. Adams) This is one of the few passages that I memorized in highschool that I actually still remember. I had to memorize one section of Psalm 119 for a Bible class, and this is the section that I had picked out. I can remember that in order to mem...

This was sent to me in an e-mail, and I thought that I would pass it along to you. Teaching Math In 1950 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? Teaching Math In 1960 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit? Teaching Math In 1970 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? Teaching Math In 1980 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20. Teaching Math In 1990 A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds an...

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. (NIV) This verse is full of meaning. First of all, the Valley of Baca , is probably figurative, referring to a desert like place. The word Baca could mean weeping , giving the idea that the Valley of Baca was a place of hardship and trial. But remember in verse 5, how these are pilgrims that are on their way to the dwelling of God? How do the pilgrims respond to this valley of hardship? They respond by making it a place of springs . Now a pilgrim cannot make a spring, only God can do that. But it makes you wonder... were the springs already there? Do they make it a place of springs because they are seeing this valley clearly? The word Baca can also mean palms. The Valley of Palms sounds much better than the Valley of Weeping . Maybe when some traverse this arid plain all they see is the heat and despair... the weeping. But a pilgrim sees it more clearly. No, there ma...

This is his best Jack Nicholson. The eyebrows must be a genetic thing or something.

I can't believe it. I just found out that a good friend of mine ( Dan Meyers ) is listed as one of the artists on the album, Life Is Precious: A Wes King Tribute . I have known Dan for quite awhile now, but I never get to see him, because he is always on the road. He travels all over the world, ministering to our troops wherever they are stationed. On Monday, January 17th, he is going to be recording his live album. They are also going to be recording a DVD at the same time. I am really excited for Dan, but I am also excited, because it is just another excuse for a date night! If you haven't heard of Dan Meyers, you have been missing out. He is an excellent musician, and song-writer, and he really has a heart for God. Check out his site here . You could also check out his blogs here and here . He doesn't post on them often enough, but I feel a little connection to them, because I helped him set them up.

"And I will delight in your commandments, which I have loved." Psalm 119:47 (translation by Jay E. Adams) God's commandments should be a delight. They should not be a drudgery. We should love them and seek after them. Especially because of what they mean for us. We have the keys to life and joy: Eternal life and Eternal joy! Why would we not seek after these truths with whole-hearted effort? Jay Adams says of this verse: "How dreary for a Christian to know that in this Book (The Bible) is contained all that he needs for a life of joy and happiness, a life of freedom and opportunity, but neither to know what the book says nor to be living according to it." I most definitely agree. It is truly a tragedy when you have a person who has access to these words, yet does not seek after them with delight. Check out the book, Counsel from Psalm 119 by Jay E. Adams

Well, Google is at it again. They have now put out the Google Pack . it is a compilation of different software packages, that with their powers combined will take on the evil overlord, Count Microsoft! Anyway. Here is what comes with the pack: Quite a combination of components, if you ask me. I am mostly interested in the Norton AntiVirus. I have been using a free one for quite some time now, and to be able to get Norton, is quite a nice addition. Any of the components can be deleted off of the list if you don't want them, or if you already have them. It also comes with a Google Updater, that will automatically check to see if each of the components are up to date. Anyway, I thought that I would pass this along to you. Enjoy.

I have been running another blog on the side for quite some time now. It is called, Let Me Not Wander . It is a daily Bible reading blog. I decided to take a few weeks off from that blog, because it is a daily endeavor. But it is officially up and running again, so check it out!

(Special thanks to Jungle Pop for this link.) According to The Washington Times , military chaplains are being told that they cannont pray, "in Jesus name." One of the Chaplains began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House. Here is a short excerpt from the article that I found to be quite interesting: Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic chaplains are likewise told not to pray in the name of Allah, in Hebrew or in the name of the Trinity, he added. But the Rev. Billy Baugham, executive director of the Greenville, S.C.-based International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers, says restrictions on other religious expressions have "yet to be tested." "No Islamic chaplain has been refused to pray in the name of Allah, as far as we know. Neither has a rabbi been rebuked for making references to Hanukkah, and no Catholic priest has been rebuked for referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary." I don't know why we always act surprised when things li...

The other day I asked my son what his favorite part of Christmas was. His first response was the computer game set that we bought for him. It is called Fun for Boys, and it includes 4 games: Hotwheels Velocity X, Tonka Monster Trucks, Extremely Goofy Skateboarding, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Then he sat there for a moment and looked contemplatively at the ceiling. Then he said, "Actually, my favorite gift was getting to spend time with my family." I am not sure if he was just saying that because he was so happy about the game and didn't want to spoil it by too happy and having the wrong focus. I think that he has been around here long enough to know that if anything gets in the way of what is right, that thing usually ends up in the trash. But I would like to think that he really did love the spending time with family element. A couple of days later I overheard my wife asking him a similar question. She asked him to draw a picture of something from Christmas that...

"And I will walk in a broad place, Since I seek Your commands." Psalm 119:45 (translation by Jay E. Adams) Some people believe that God's commands are restrictive; that walking the Christian walk will inhibit us from having a free life. Some people believe that if you follow after God, then you will miss out on what "could have" been. That your potential will be lost in the midst of this godly pattern of life. Some people believe that they are "better people" when they are apart from God. They believe that their horizons are broadened and their minds are opened when they discard the Bible. Some people believe these things. I, on the other hand, do not believe these things. I believe that in keeping God's commands, we are free! In the words of Jay Adams, "What God's commandments do for a Christian is to enlarge his thinking and his lifestyle - not shrink and restrict it, as the world seems to think." Or maybe I could echo the words of...

Story told to me by another teacher: "Since Great Britain is an island... If you drill down far enough, will you reach water?" Yes, Great Britain is an island. And yes, if you drill down far enough, you will probably reach water (it is called a well). But how are these two subjects related?!? Upon further questioning, it seems that this student thought that all islands floated. hmm... Student Quote -- #3 Student Quote -- #2 Student Quote -- #1

One of my favorite TV days of the year is the now traditional SciFi Channel's Twilight Zone New Year's Eve Marathon . I never actually get to watch the whole marathon, for obvious reasons: children, responsibilities, life, etc. But I always want to watch it. One of these years I will actually sit down and watch the whole thing. This year I filled three 8-hour tapes, hoping for a chance to sit down and watch some of them at a later date. I just finished watching one of my favorites. It is called A Stop at Willoughby . It starts off with this guy in a business meeting and everyone is just pounding him. Pushing him to work harder, to dedicate more. Everything is going wrong with the tasks that he is responsible for. And then while the commands are whirling around him, he snaps. Enter Rod Serling: "This is Gart Williams, age thirty-eight, a man protected by a suit of armor all held together by one bolt. Just a moment ago, someone removed the bolt and Mr. Williams' protec...