HARMLESS THOUGHTS

Yesterday we spent some time with the President I was thoroughly impressed with the life of this President.  His honesty, integrity, and dedication to a cause.  He is most definitely my favorite president. I was also impressed with the quality of this museum , and the craftsmanship of the artists that created some of these statues. If you live anywhere near Springfield, IL, you should swing by for a visit.  If you do, you just might get sucked into it like we did!

It's official. At 8:00pm, Thursday evening, after the parent-teacher conferences were officially over... Spring Break started!  Two of my students decided to leave me a little sign on the white board. As usual for me, my Spring Break will have plenty of Spring , but not too much Break .  I will finally get to devote some serious time to the house, especially because I was thinking about moving in at some point next week. At the same time I would love to give some time to the planning of the Easter Service at Church.  I also need to work on my truck and my car.  And I was hoping to spend some good quality time with the kids.  Then, before I know what is happening, it will be time for school again.  I already have the chalkboard ready for the little buggers!

I just added an " About "  page and a " Contact " page that show up as a tabs right under the title of this blog. This is another new feature that Blogger is offering. If you would like to know more about how to create stand-alone pages in Blogger or what these pages are, then click here .

I finally tried out the Blogger Template Designer . It was easy to use, had great options, and it may have made my blog better! Well, I can't vouch for the content, but it looks nicer. I chose a salt background because I am currently preaching though the Sermon on the Mount at Church . Here is a screen shot for all of you people reading through a reader . Click on through and check it out... Here is a little video for the template designer.

Finding people interesting... This is so true, and so applicable in the school. Taking a moment and listening to a kid can mean SO much to them. Here is a short video adding to that thought: [HT: The Blazing Center ]

Josh Harris is posting some really good quotes today. This one is from J.C. Ryle: "What is the true cause of self-righteousness? How is it that such a poor, weak, erring creature as man can ever dream of deserving anything at God's hands? It all arises from ignorance. The eyes of our understandings are naturally blinded. We see neither ourselves, nor our lives, nor God, nor the law of God, as we ought. Once let the light of grace shine into a man's heart, and the reign of self-righteousness is over. The roots of pride may remain, and often put forth bitter shoots. But the power of pride is broken when the Spirit comes into the heart, and shows the man himself, and God. The true Christian will never trust in his own goodness. He will say with St. Paul, 'I am the chief of sinners.'-- 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Tim. i. 15 ; Gal. vi. 14.) - J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Luke, Vol. 2 (pp. 229). [HT...

I just read an interesting article on Christian Week, which I found via Tim Challies ' weekly " A La Carte " post. It is by a guy names Michael Krahn and has to do with the affect that technology has had on singing in the church. Here is an excerpt: I see a parallel between the lack of confidence in singing and the world of visual images in tabloid and fashion magazines. Photoshopped images create unrealistic body expectations. In the modern era of music autotuned recordings give us unrealistically perfect sounds. The end goal of both processes is the same: the appearance of perfection. Whether we are trying to look as perfect as a picture we've seen or sound as perfect as a recording we've heard, we are destined to fail. All of this has led to a crisis of confidence. Autotuned recordings have robbed average singers of confidence in the quality of their voices. ( read the rest of the article here )

"My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God's word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes--many times--my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens--and it happens every day in some measure--I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth. That's the way I live my life every day. I hope you are with me in that battle." - John Piper, Finally Alive , pages 165-166 [HT: Josh Harris ]

The first paragraph of John Wesley's sermon titled Free Grace : First. It is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in man; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in anywise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything he has done, or anything he is. It does not depend on his endeavors. It does not depend on his good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God; they are the streams only, not the fountain. They are the fruits of free grace, and not the root. They are not the cause, but the effects of it. Whatsoever good is in man, or is done by man, God is the author and doer of it. Thus is his grace free in all; that is, no way depending on any power or merit in man, but on God alone, who freely gave us his own Son, and "with him freely giveth us all things. ( read the rest of the sermon here ) [HT: Challies.com ]

Check out this amazing site that can really put things into perspective: Cell Size and Scale  (From the University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center) Once you get to the site, use the slider at the bottom of the picture to go from coffee bean size to a carbon atom. The site where I snagged this link posted this phrase, " God's creation is beyond comprehension! "  I couldn't agree more.

Did you know that today is National Goof Off Day ? Unfortunately for me... my students just found out. They announced it during the school news. What were they thinking?!?

"I love you so much..." trying unsuccessfully not to sound cheesy.

A few of my students are in a multimedia class at the school and they are trying to win a contest... Please consider helping them out by going to this site and voting for Video #6 .

This blog, which started in September of 2003, just reached its second highest month in its recorded history. 1278 visits! I switched from a different stat counter to Google Analytics early in 2007.  Since I switched, I hit my record of 1291 visits in October of 2008. I don't know why I am posting this.

A just added a few more Teacher Resources (from my teacher site). The first one is printable paper from a site called... well... Printable Paper . The second one comes from me. If you use McDougal Littell Geometry in your classroom, I have typed out most of the Postulates and Theorems from that book. I have them broken down by chapter accumulations (chapters 1&2, chapters 1-3, chapters 1-4, etc.). If you use this book in your Geometry class, feel free to copy, download, print. Check it out . Thirdly, I have some printable graph paper of my own.

I just re-started reading through some of Spurgeon's Sermons. It is a set that I received as a gift from my wife several years ago. I read this yesterday, and thought I would share it. First, to whom does God tell us to look for salvation?  O, does it not lower the pride of man, when we hear the Lord say, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth?"  It is not, "Look to your priest, and be ye saved:"  if you did, there would be another god, and beside him there would be some one else.  It is not, "Look to yourself;" if so, then there would be a being who might arrogate some of the praise of salvation.  But it is "Look to me." How frequently you who are coming to Christ look to yourselves.  "O!" you say, "I do not repent enough."  That is looking to yourself.  "I do not believe enough."  That is looking to yourself.  "I am too unworthy."  That is looking to yourself.  "I cannot ...

I only need one more!

With TRON on my mind, I felt the need to re-find the best TRON Light Cycle game that I have ever played. I found it, downloaded it, installed it, and played it. Still loads of fun. Check it out !

Already love this phrase... Now I love the video.

A video of one of my boys getting the "Best Sportsmanship" award at the Upwards Basketball Awards night. I was extremely proud of him through this season. Especially as he got to that final night of play. Their team had not won a single game, but there was always a positive spirit about the whole thing. In fact, there was one Sunday during testimony time that he said, "I am really enjoying Basketball, because it isn't about winning!" When they got to the final night of the games, he had been sick all day, but wanted to keep his commitment (very proud of that), so we went to the game. He managed to make it through the first game, though he looked really tired. In the second game of the night (Yes, they had two games on the final night!) He was passed the ball in the final seconds of the game, and he made a break for it... he shot... and he scored in the last two seconds! He was so excited! Anyway, he received one of the two most coveted awards (at le...

Here is the video from my Grandfather's funeral. (My fingers are in the way at the beginning...)

In the Adult Sunday School class at church we just finished the book, Lord, Change My Attitude, Before It's Too Late by James MacDonald. It was a good book and everyone in the class really enjoyed it. In fact, a couple of people mentioned that we should do that same book again! They felt like the book had opened their eyes to some attitudes that needed dealt with. Well, we thought about doing the same book again, but instead decided to do another James MacDonald book from a similar category. This time we will be using the book I Really Want To Change, So Help Me God . I mention this for three reasons. The first reason would be that those of you who are Christians that read this blog might simply take a moment and ask ... That you would ask that God would be involved in our Sunday School Class in a real way. That His Spirit would fill our minds and the teaching that is done in that room. The second reason for me to mention this class and the books we are using is for...

I used to love the movie TRON! They are finally coming out with a sequel!

[HT: Without Wax ]

I just got my first voicemail from my nephew and thought I would share it with you.

Google Gravity I found this one on the Chrome Experiments page.  Play a trick on Grandma and tell her that she broke the internet!  Let her tap the top of the screen before it happens.  The "gravity" doesn't set in until your mouse moves over the screen.  (Make sure you search for something and watch the results fall down as well.) Google Sphere This is another fun one.  Watch all of the other links swirl around the Google logo as you move your mouse. Google Disappearing OO's After the page loads, click anywhere on the page and after 5 seconds the "oo" in Google disappears.  Click again and they reappear.  If you rub your fingers on the screen while the "oo" is disappearing, it adds a nice little affect.

Your browser does not support iframes. From Chrome Experiments . I suggest going to the site and doing this experiment full screen .

I predict that at the end of LOST, Jack will take Jacob's spot and Sawyer will take the other guy's (man in black... smoke monster guy) spot. So... There you go. That is my (unfinished) theory.

Here is a reading of my favorite Seuss book: Marvin K. Mooney (Read by me!) (I just learned that this book was released the year that I was born!) And here are some of my favorite quotes: