Michael Vicks is back. Let me state this up front: I have never been so proud to be an Philadelphia Eagles fan as I am now. I stand up and give the organization a loud applause
"Huzzahs" for signing Vick to a contract. As I have discovered in the last few days, I seem
to be very much in the minority - even in my own family. My cats don't care about the
Eagles. They are Bengal fans are therefore are suffering enough unless Palmer puts it
together this year.
Being an Eagles fan where I live is tough enough. I live in Ft Worth, TX. The school I
teach at is just down the road from the new Cowboys Stadium. I see it every day and most
nights when I go to work for the Texas Rangers MLB. I wear a Philadelphia Eagles watch.
So, I do not write what I do lightly here. I am in enemy territory all the way.
So, why am I so glad for the Eagle signing Vick? Simple - I believe in second chances. Mainly, because I have badly screwed up too, and have been given a second chance. Yes - what Vick did was horrible. Notice the tense of the verb though - DID. Vick committed a crime - in the PAST. He was tried, convicted, and did his time. He lost everything he had - including the respect of the majority if not all of his fans. He lost out on a ton of financial income. He went through the experience of jail. He paid a heavy price for what he did. Now, all he wants is a chance to move on from what he did and have a chance to have a life again (his chance for a normal life is long gone). Even then, he will be under constant scrutiny; even more than he
had before he was convicted.
Tell me - who out there could go through this? Who wants to live their life under such an
intense microscope? I know there are husbands out there who think that everything they
say and do is being monitored. Take that feeling and multiply it a few thousand times and
you will get what Michael Vicks is about to endure the next few months at least.
Is there anyone here who has NOT screwed up in some way? Jesus reminded the people
about to stone the woman in adultery to "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
In the same Testament, it is written "Let the one who going to take a sliver out of a
neighbor's eye first remove the log from his own." In the reactions I am hearing and reading
about Vick's signing, I am seeing a lot of people with substantial logs throwing stones right now.
Don't give me this argument that what Michael Vick did was a larger sin/mistake/bad thing than what others did. Sin is sin folks. In man's law there are degrees. In God's eyes - there are not. Paul of Tarsus was a murderer. Peter denied Him - THREE TIMES. Thomas doubted Him.
Chuck Colson helped to engineer one of the greatest cover ups of all time. ALL of these people
changed and lived lives that made this world a better place to live in. President Bill Clinton
committed adulterous acts while serving as President of the USA. He really never did come
clean about it, yet look at what he has been doing since then. His help to bring the two ladies
imprisoned in Korea home was a great act (and this coming from a staunch Republican).
Barack Obama once supported a minister whose diatribes were racist, and even anti-
American. He caught flack for it big time. Now, he is President of the USA. Hilary lied and
exgarreted about parts of her life. Now she is Secretary of State for our great nation.
People can get, and need to have, second chances folks. Don't we want second chances when we screw up too?
Please, don't give me the argument that criminals don't get their jobs back. We give criminals their jobs back all the time - and we call it politics. We call it accepting people back into our
families. We call it friendship. We call it fellowship. Yes - they need to be come clean and
admit their wrong doing (and not all people do and they are still given their old or even better
jobs back, right Bill?). Yes, they need to be held accountable. Micheal Vick will be held
accountable by Andy Reid, by Donovan McNabb, and by the other leaders of the Eagles.
What Michael Vick needs from us is our support so he CAN move on with his life, and have
the chance to truly live it. Again - wouldn't we want the same chance? Yes, it is a risk. But
isn't a risk for a human life worth taking? Or do you need to ask our brave military men
and women serving in Iraq that?
So - as soon as I can afford it - I am buying an Eagles Banner. I probably need two - one for my home and one for my office. Even if they have a bad season, the Eagles are the ultimate winners
for taking believing in a man who wants to move on with his life.
For those who are giving their Eagles tickets away or selling them on Craig's list - give them to
local charity if you really mean it. Or - send them to me. I have family in the Philly area.
I could always stay with them before and after the game. Philly is short airplane ride from
Ft Worth after all.
Fly High Eagles!!!!!!!!!
Keith B.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Here we go again
So, Josh Hamilton has just admitted to "slipping off the wagon" by drinking and being with
"scantily dressed women" last January. He stated he called his accountability partners, his
wife, the Rangers, and MLB to tell them what happened. He is taking full responsibility for
his actions. He isn't blaming anyone else while doing so.
He will still get flamed - but NOT by this blogger. After his long struggle to defeat alcoholism, he realized the battles are won, but the ongoing war against it continues. He messed up, he fessed up, and now he is going to work on fixing the damage it caused.
He will be told by others that his Christian witness is shot. Nope, not at all true. All this does is show his witness to be more valid than ever. He relied on God to help him fight his alcoholism. He slipped - as ALL of us do. He admitted it, and is now learning from it as he turns back to God once again for strength to fight the fight again.
We cannot judge too harshly. We all do dumb things, stop doing them, then slip up. It is part and parcel of who we are. Many people try to explain it away, make excuses for it, or blame others for what is happening. Then we turn around and expect others - especially those who
are famous - to live to a higher standard than we can attain ourselves. I know - I was part of
an organization who's leaders held its members to a higher moral standard than they were able
to live themselves. Before potshots are taken at Hamilton, look to the mirror to see if a perfect
human being is staring back.
Hamilton still deserves to be admired and respected. He still deserves to be given the chance to
play a game he loves. He will face whatever consequences the Rangers and MLB decide upon. He will do it as a man. We still have much to learn from Hamilton and his walk with God. His
witness will become even stronger. His career will, hopefully, go on.
As for this blogger - the Josh Hamilton autographed ball, the posters, the mouse pad I have will continue to be proudly displayed. I will still cheer for him when he gets introduced and each time he comes to bat. I hope others will do the same. He is still an example of what happens when we turn to Christ - we become forgive, still fallible human beings with a strength to fight whatever demons we face while having someone to pick us up when we fall down.
Keith Boepple
"scantily dressed women" last January. He stated he called his accountability partners, his
wife, the Rangers, and MLB to tell them what happened. He is taking full responsibility for
his actions. He isn't blaming anyone else while doing so.
He will still get flamed - but NOT by this blogger. After his long struggle to defeat alcoholism, he realized the battles are won, but the ongoing war against it continues. He messed up, he fessed up, and now he is going to work on fixing the damage it caused.
He will be told by others that his Christian witness is shot. Nope, not at all true. All this does is show his witness to be more valid than ever. He relied on God to help him fight his alcoholism. He slipped - as ALL of us do. He admitted it, and is now learning from it as he turns back to God once again for strength to fight the fight again.
We cannot judge too harshly. We all do dumb things, stop doing them, then slip up. It is part and parcel of who we are. Many people try to explain it away, make excuses for it, or blame others for what is happening. Then we turn around and expect others - especially those who
are famous - to live to a higher standard than we can attain ourselves. I know - I was part of
an organization who's leaders held its members to a higher moral standard than they were able
to live themselves. Before potshots are taken at Hamilton, look to the mirror to see if a perfect
human being is staring back.
Hamilton still deserves to be admired and respected. He still deserves to be given the chance to
play a game he loves. He will face whatever consequences the Rangers and MLB decide upon. He will do it as a man. We still have much to learn from Hamilton and his walk with God. His
witness will become even stronger. His career will, hopefully, go on.
As for this blogger - the Josh Hamilton autographed ball, the posters, the mouse pad I have will continue to be proudly displayed. I will still cheer for him when he gets introduced and each time he comes to bat. I hope others will do the same. He is still an example of what happens when we turn to Christ - we become forgive, still fallible human beings with a strength to fight whatever demons we face while having someone to pick us up when we fall down.
Keith Boepple
Friday, July 17, 2009
Famous Last Words
A friend of mine sent me a short collection of "Famous Quotes". You know, the ones that show just how insightful some people can't be. Below are posted a few of them:
"Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances."
Dr.. Lee DeForest
"Father of Radio & Grandfather of Television."
"The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives."
Admiral William Leahy =2C US Atomic Bomb Project=20
"There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom."
Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics
"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
Bill Gates, 1981
"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered
as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
Western Union internal memo
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay
for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the
radio in the 1920s.
"I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and
not Gary Cooper."
Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in
"Gone With The Wind.
There are many other such quotes I could list, but you get the idea. As I
was reading these quotes, I started wondering what I have said that showed
my lack of insight. Then I started thinking about the things others have
said to me that showed a lack of insight.
One such example of the latter happened at the beginning of this past
school year. As a new teacher on the block, I was given a lot of
advice from some of my new colleagues. Much of this advice was,
naturally, about the students I would be having in the upcoming year.
One student in particular was going to give me trouble I was informed.
I listened to all the negatives my new colleagues gave me (it was quite a bit too).
True, the student being talked about - I'll call him Ralph to protect his real
identity - had some rough edges. Yet, they edges were no where near as
bad as I was lead to expect. In fact, Ralph was one of my hardest
working students, and one of the most supportive students I have ever encountered.
Ralph not only worked hard in my class, but also in the classes of my
co-middle school teacher. He was fun to be around. He is the student I miss
the most when there was no school. He really grew throughout the year
because he made the choice to do so.
What would have happened if I had fully believed what my colleagues had said?
Would I have been as open to Ralph's quirkinesses? Would I have been able to
see past them to truly help him grow as as much as he did? I doubt it.
Like the quotes I started with, I sometimes say things that show how much I
lack vision or hope. While you are laughing at this, remember this: I know
I am not alone this habit. Everyone says things that show how blind we are
to the possibilities that surround us, and show how little we believe
in the potential of people to change. Everyone that is, except Jesus.
When Jesus spoke, He did so each time with meaning, insight, love, caring, and hope.
He saw each person as they were - sinners in need of a Savior. He did not ignore
the wrongs in a person's life or attitude. He called a spade a spade.
Yet, neither did He show a lack of vision or even stupidity in what He said.
He thought before He spoke. He took a moment to think, and I believe even
pray, about what was going to come out of His mouth before He opened it.
Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing too? Yes, we will make wrong
choices and say dumb things. We can't help it - we are too human to do
otherwise. (Anyone in a relationship, especially married men, will say how
true this is.) Yet, if we but take the time to think, and even pray, about
what we say before we say it, we have a good chance of not looking so foolish.
We might even look like intelligent people; maybe even visionaries.
I wonder what our lives, our world, would be like if we did that?
Keith B.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Reposting some Old Blog Thoughts
Well, you take the time to move into a new home in a new town; take care of all of the paperwork; send out change of address cards; work two or more jobs to pay for it; and then find out that you haven't had time to blog for about 3 months. Funny, now I can't access my old "Just My Thoughts" blog spot to add anything new to it. So, here I am, being persistent and starting over. The first thing I will do is cut and paste my old blog entries into this one so people can catch up. After that, everything will be new.
Blessings on everyone.
Keith Boepple
When we arrived, we saw a large group of people all dressed up in VERY nice suits (the guys) and dresses (the ladies). As we walked past these nicely dressed people, my wife started hanging back a bit - somewhat embarrassedly. It wasn't due to how we were dressed (we were both in business casual). I think it was just being nervous as to not knowing what was going on. Me? I was in my determined mood. I had come here to see a buffalo, and daggumit, I was going to see a buffalo. (Hey, as I said before, it was a long, stressful day).
As we stopped not too far away from the buffalo pen (Mo the Buffalo is the corporate symbol for the Plains National Bank Corporation), I told my wife we should ask someone what was going on. Why all the very well dressed people? I received my answer in a way I wasn't expecting - for out from the crowd I heard my name shouted. Turning to the source of the voice I saw someone making a beeline towards us - a pretty young woman who gave me a good hug while having a big smile on her face. Suddenly, my moment of seeing a buffalo turns into a moment from a Dan Fogelberg song (think SAME OLD LANG SYNE from 1980).
Heather, the young woman's name, is a good friend who helped me get through my communication classes at University of Texas - Arlington - UTA (where I received my Teacher's Certification). I hadn't seen her since the last day I attended school there over a year ago. Yet, she was someone who I thought of often. She had met my wife during my time UTA and was a confidant, study partner, and generally a friend in need at a time I was struggling with parts of my life. I would have never made it through UTA without her assistance and that of the other people we normally hung out with. To see her again, to have the chance to catch up, was a big morale booster for me. It was wonderful to hear her marriage and her career were going well. We talked for a few more minutes, then it came time to depart.
As I got into the car to go home, I started feeling envious. Here I was - a 47 year old man who is struggling to find a job that will pay me more than $100 dollars a day, who is trying to start a business as a Public Speaker/Motivator, fighting to keep his family's financial head above water let alone move forward - talking with someone who is much younger than me who has a well paying career being the HR Generalist/Staffing Specialist. It just hurt that after all of these years, I felt like I was watching my friends move forward while I was standing still. It hurt for a few minutes.
After a while of wallowing in my self pity party, I started hearing a small still voice in my heart. The voice reminded me that God doesn't work that way. I had just received a huge blessing - and I wasn't seeing it. I came to see a buffalo, and ended up seeing someone who thought so well of me that she shouted out my name in a crowd and took the time to talk with me. She is someone who thought well enough of me to give me a hug. At a time when I'm struggling - God gave me a reminder that I have touched some lives in a positive way, and now those people are my friends. They are my friends even when I don't see them for awhile. As I saw that aspect of all of this, my soul warmed up.
Okay, this is a bit sappy - maybe. But then - sometimes God gives us the sappy moments to remind us that being sappy is okay. It is human, and it is a gift that we can feel uplifted when we let others remind us that they think we are special to them. We need these moments more than we care to admit I believe. Think what you want - I'll take this sappy moment for what it was to me - a blessing, a moment of uplifting, and a great chance meeting to see someone who is the type of friend all of us need and need to be.
Mr. Keb
Blessings on everyone.
Keith Boepple
Fear Mongers
Fear Mongers. You know who they are and what they do. They work hard to get people to be uneasy, to be afraid, to hate someone/something by trying to convince others to be frightened by whatever it is they are talking about. They have been around for thousands of years. Oog the caveman was afraid of fire, so he tried to get others afraid of it too. Hitler convinced many people to be afraid of the Jews. The KKK tries to convince people to be afraid of African-Americans, Gays, and whoever else is on their hit list. Liberals tried to get people to be afraid of G.W. Bush. Conservatives tried to convince people to be afraid of Liberals. Now, there is a group joining into the fray of Fear Mongering - Christians.
Let me say I am NOT talking about all Christians here. After all, I am a Christian and I am appalled by the actions I am writing about here. Yet, there is a faction out there using the Internet, E-mails, Print Media (Newspapers) and even the Pulpits of their churches to spread fear about our current President. Let's take a look at a couple examples I have received in my in box this past week.
First, I get one with a "Tombstone" of the USA stating the date of birth as July 4, 1776, and the date of death as Nov. 4, 2008. The article goes on to say (and I quote):
"If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's (sic) and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years."
Another example is one that states that what President Obama is doing "Scares the h*** out of me", and goes on to accuse the President of turning this country to socialism, being a lover of Muslims as a bad, evil thing, and other such ideas.
These are just two of the many examples I am sent by fellow Christians. Now, I have no doubt of these people's faith. Many of them I worship with, pray with, and even teach their kids in my Sunday School class and Children's Church. Yet when I have one of my kids ask me how God can love everyone, yet why does God hate Obama (they say this because their parents told them this), then it is time to raise the flag and my voice and say "ENOUGH".
Why are Christians so afraid of this man? Okay, don't agree with his policies on abortion or gay rights or the economy. Fine. This is America, where we can disagree with each other. But to send on anything that advocates hatred, fear, and even disloyalty is not the way God would want to be.
The Christian Bible, in 1 John 4, tells us "My dear brothers, we must love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves others is God's child and he knows God.
Fear comes from Satan, and when we help to spread it, we are doing Satan's work. THAT is not a side I want to be on.
For me, while I disagree with some positions President Obama has, I will pray for him. I will hope he becomes a great leader. I will state my case with positive messages. THAT is, I strongly believe, what God wants us to do.
Let me say I am NOT talking about all Christians here. After all, I am a Christian and I am appalled by the actions I am writing about here. Yet, there is a faction out there using the Internet, E-mails, Print Media (Newspapers) and even the Pulpits of their churches to spread fear about our current President. Let's take a look at a couple examples I have received in my in box this past week.
First, I get one with a "Tombstone" of the USA stating the date of birth as July 4, 1776, and the date of death as Nov. 4, 2008. The article goes on to say (and I quote):
"If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's (sic) and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years."
Another example is one that states that what President Obama is doing "Scares the h*** out of me", and goes on to accuse the President of turning this country to socialism, being a lover of Muslims as a bad, evil thing, and other such ideas.
These are just two of the many examples I am sent by fellow Christians. Now, I have no doubt of these people's faith. Many of them I worship with, pray with, and even teach their kids in my Sunday School class and Children's Church. Yet when I have one of my kids ask me how God can love everyone, yet why does God hate Obama (they say this because their parents told them this), then it is time to raise the flag and my voice and say "ENOUGH".
Why are Christians so afraid of this man? Okay, don't agree with his policies on abortion or gay rights or the economy. Fine. This is America, where we can disagree with each other. But to send on anything that advocates hatred, fear, and even disloyalty is not the way God would want to be.
The Christian Bible, in 1 John 4, tells us "My dear brothers, we must love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves others is God's child and he knows God.
But anyone who does not love others does not know God, because God is love." (verses 7-8)
Further on in the same Book and Chapter, it reads: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (Verse 18). We are told numerous times not to fear.
We are commanded as Christians to concentrate on what is good, right, and true. Fear does not fit into this description. Yet, there is - for all the world to see it. No wonder so many people are not coming to church.
Fear comes from Satan, and when we help to spread it, we are doing Satan's work. THAT is not a side I want to be on.
For me, while I disagree with some positions President Obama has, I will pray for him. I will hope he becomes a great leader. I will state my case with positive messages. THAT is, I strongly believe, what God wants us to do.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Obama has brought about change
Throughout his campaign - Barack Obama promised us he had change we can believe in. Thousands of people believed him. I was skeptical. So I watched very carefully what Obama has done since Jan. 20. I listened to his words carefully. I waited for the reactions to his actions to be seen. Well, lo and behold, I am a skeptic no longer! I have seen that since he was inaugurated as the President of the great nation of the United States of America - Barack Obama has brought about change. It is change I can believe in.
Am I talking about the economy? No. Am I talking about his position on stem cell research? No. Am I talking about what he has done concerning the planting of a food garden in the Whitehouse lawn? No. I am talking about a change that can be taken as monumental in scope. It is a change that hasn't been covered by any of the media. It is a change that I came to realize after a comment by my wife (who often supplies ideas to me - sometimes intentionally).
What is this stupendous change? It is this: The Conservatives have changed their minds about something. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, HurWHAT? "Wait a minute!" some of you are saying. "Wait just a Rush Limbaugh minute. Conservatives changed their minds about something? When did this happen and why didn't I get the memo?" Sorry if you didn't get the memo I sent about it. I'm a nice guy - so I'll explain what I mean. Follow me here.
Remember when George W. Bush was President (what some of you would call the "Good Ol' Days; others would call "The days of h-e-double toothpicks"). Remember when there would be an attack or denigration (perceived or real) on one of GW's policies or statements? What did the Conservatives say? "We should not attack or denigrate the President of the United States of America. That is unpatriotic. We must support the President in EVERY decision he makes. To do less is to undermine the office. We cannot allow this. It is the lousy liberals who are doing this evil thing." Yes, that is an actual quote one of my Conservative friends sent to me (and later stated almost word for word later on). Well, that was a strong statement. I was told, again by my friend, that many people held on to this view. I thought they would always hold on this view; and they did hold on to it. Until....... Until January 20, 2009.
January 20, 2009. Obama becomes President of the USA (some of you would call this "The day of freedom." while others would call it "The day the USA entered into a time of h-e-double toothpicks"). Since January 20, my Conservative friends have seemed to change their tune. Now, from the e-mails I receive and conversations I have with them, it seems to be patriotic to attack the President for everything from his economic policies to his religion to his wife's choice of the gown she wore at the Inaugural Ball. "WOW!" I thought. What a change. Under GW, it was unpatriotic to attack and denigrate the President. Under President Obama, it is "....unpatriotic if we do not stand up to his misguided policies and decisions." What a change of heart.
I am in near tears as I write this (sniffle, sniffle). Where are the Kleenex and Rose Colored glasses I occasionally wear? My conservative friends have changed their minds. I honestly did not think it was possible. Now, I see that it can happen. This gives me hope. If a Conservative can change their mind about one thing, they just might be able to change their mind on other issues. Oh rapture! Oh joy! If this can happen, I might even begin to see my Liberal friends be more open-hearted. Think how the world would be a better place if both changes really happened. I'm about to break out in a sappy, Lennonish or Manilowish song. Nah!
Mr. Keb
Am I talking about the economy? No. Am I talking about his position on stem cell research? No. Am I talking about what he has done concerning the planting of a food garden in the Whitehouse lawn? No. I am talking about a change that can be taken as monumental in scope. It is a change that hasn't been covered by any of the media. It is a change that I came to realize after a comment by my wife (who often supplies ideas to me - sometimes intentionally).
What is this stupendous change? It is this: The Conservatives have changed their minds about something. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, HurWHAT? "Wait a minute!" some of you are saying. "Wait just a Rush Limbaugh minute. Conservatives changed their minds about something? When did this happen and why didn't I get the memo?" Sorry if you didn't get the memo I sent about it. I'm a nice guy - so I'll explain what I mean. Follow me here.
Remember when George W. Bush was President (what some of you would call the "Good Ol' Days; others would call "The days of h-e-double toothpicks"). Remember when there would be an attack or denigration (perceived or real) on one of GW's policies or statements? What did the Conservatives say? "We should not attack or denigrate the President of the United States of America. That is unpatriotic. We must support the President in EVERY decision he makes. To do less is to undermine the office. We cannot allow this. It is the lousy liberals who are doing this evil thing." Yes, that is an actual quote one of my Conservative friends sent to me (and later stated almost word for word later on). Well, that was a strong statement. I was told, again by my friend, that many people held on to this view. I thought they would always hold on this view; and they did hold on to it. Until....... Until January 20, 2009.
January 20, 2009. Obama becomes President of the USA (some of you would call this "The day of freedom." while others would call it "The day the USA entered into a time of h-e-double toothpicks"). Since January 20, my Conservative friends have seemed to change their tune. Now, from the e-mails I receive and conversations I have with them, it seems to be patriotic to attack the President for everything from his economic policies to his religion to his wife's choice of the gown she wore at the Inaugural Ball. "WOW!" I thought. What a change. Under GW, it was unpatriotic to attack and denigrate the President. Under President Obama, it is "....unpatriotic if we do not stand up to his misguided policies and decisions." What a change of heart.
I am in near tears as I write this (sniffle, sniffle). Where are the Kleenex and Rose Colored glasses I occasionally wear? My conservative friends have changed their minds. I honestly did not think it was possible. Now, I see that it can happen. This gives me hope. If a Conservative can change their mind about one thing, they just might be able to change their mind on other issues. Oh rapture! Oh joy! If this can happen, I might even begin to see my Liberal friends be more open-hearted. Think how the world would be a better place if both changes really happened. I'm about to break out in a sappy, Lennonish or Manilowish song. Nah!
Mr. Keb
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
TEKS, TAKS, boy I'm Tired
It has been awhile since I have written. I blame it on the TAKS test. Yep, that wonderful, creative, innovative way the state of Texas has created to make sure teachers do not have the time to really teach.
For those readers not familiar with the terms - TEKS is Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These are a series of guidelines for every subject that is taught in the Texas Public Schools. Applying to all grade levels, they are truly a great framework to build lesson plans and goals upon. The TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills - is its ugly offshoot. This is where the state gives a standardized test to see what the students are learning. Now, if a schools population does well on these, fine. However, if the student population does not do well on these tests, then the state takes away money from the school and other punitive measures.
Currently I am teaching at a school in which the students MUST show improvement (test scores going up). So, instead of teaching toward the TEKS, I have been spending all year teaching the students how to pass the TAKS test. The stress level at the school is HIGH. The administration feels it, the teachers feel it, the students feel it. With TAKS testing just a couple of weeks away - every teacher is being asked to put emphasis on making sure the students are prepared for the exam. One of my colleagues was told she cannot teach Social Studies to her students because her students have shown they need help in math skills. Huh? So she has to emphasize Math to her elementary school kids so they can pass the test? This is teaching?
TAKS as an evaluation tool is fine - but it has become more than that. It has been used as a way to punish schools for a mere microsecond of a student's life. Students cannot graduate or move up to the next level if they are below the state set standard for passing the TAKS. This in spite of a students high level of work throughout the year and/or their school career. This is teaching our children?
Okay, as the title implies, I'm tired. I came into teaching to make a real difference. To teach students about the joy of communication in its myriad forms. Now, I am basically doing review so my students can pass a test. I like the school I'm at. I love my students. I love teaching. I'm looking forward to when I get back to it - teaching, really teaching that is. Until the TAKS is redone, removed, replaced, really a tool to help teacher - I am not sure if that day is coming anytime soon.
For those readers not familiar with the terms - TEKS is Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These are a series of guidelines for every subject that is taught in the Texas Public Schools. Applying to all grade levels, they are truly a great framework to build lesson plans and goals upon. The TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills - is its ugly offshoot. This is where the state gives a standardized test to see what the students are learning. Now, if a schools population does well on these, fine. However, if the student population does not do well on these tests, then the state takes away money from the school and other punitive measures.
Currently I am teaching at a school in which the students MUST show improvement (test scores going up). So, instead of teaching toward the TEKS, I have been spending all year teaching the students how to pass the TAKS test. The stress level at the school is HIGH. The administration feels it, the teachers feel it, the students feel it. With TAKS testing just a couple of weeks away - every teacher is being asked to put emphasis on making sure the students are prepared for the exam. One of my colleagues was told she cannot teach Social Studies to her students because her students have shown they need help in math skills. Huh? So she has to emphasize Math to her elementary school kids so they can pass the test? This is teaching?
TAKS as an evaluation tool is fine - but it has become more than that. It has been used as a way to punish schools for a mere microsecond of a student's life. Students cannot graduate or move up to the next level if they are below the state set standard for passing the TAKS. This in spite of a students high level of work throughout the year and/or their school career. This is teaching our children?
Okay, as the title implies, I'm tired. I came into teaching to make a real difference. To teach students about the joy of communication in its myriad forms. Now, I am basically doing review so my students can pass a test. I like the school I'm at. I love my students. I love teaching. I'm looking forward to when I get back to it - teaching, really teaching that is. Until the TAKS is redone, removed, replaced, really a tool to help teacher - I am not sure if that day is coming anytime soon.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hulu and Faith
Okay - I'll admit it. I am hooked. I am hooked completely on Hulu.com. If you have yet to visit the website (and that would be a handful of people from what I understand), I highly recommend you do so. The site is a pure treasure trove of old television shows. Over the past few weeks I have relaxed by watching LAND OF THE GIANTS, TIME TUNNEL, FALL GUY, BABYLON 5, and REMINGTON STEELE. Some of the best shows ever are on this site. Why, I've even watched episodes of HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (decent messages, great theme music).
Maybe my love for Hulu.com comes because I simply like TV. I think it goes deeper than that. I like the old time shows for the fun they were, for the messages they gave. But then, I have always been in love with the old time messages. To be more precise - I've always loved the old time message.
What old time message? You know - the one that has been around since the creation? The one that states "God loves you."? The one that states that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. That whoever believes in Him will not die, but have everlasting life." Yeah, I've been hooked on that message since I was 22 years old. The funny, and great, thing about this "Old time message" is the more I hear it, the more I study what it means - the younger I feel. The more I read the words around the Son that was sent, the better, the more alive I feel.
There are times I simply watch shows on Hulu because they help me to unwind after a long day. The "Old Time message" helps me to unwind too, while renewing my spirit for the day that ahead. Only the true, living God could use a computer website to remind me how deeply I need His words each day. That is a living message, and one worth following everyday.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Keb
Maybe my love for Hulu.com comes because I simply like TV. I think it goes deeper than that. I like the old time shows for the fun they were, for the messages they gave. But then, I have always been in love with the old time messages. To be more precise - I've always loved the old time message.
What old time message? You know - the one that has been around since the creation? The one that states "God loves you."? The one that states that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. That whoever believes in Him will not die, but have everlasting life." Yeah, I've been hooked on that message since I was 22 years old. The funny, and great, thing about this "Old time message" is the more I hear it, the more I study what it means - the younger I feel. The more I read the words around the Son that was sent, the better, the more alive I feel.
There are times I simply watch shows on Hulu because they help me to unwind after a long day. The "Old Time message" helps me to unwind too, while renewing my spirit for the day that ahead. Only the true, living God could use a computer website to remind me how deeply I need His words each day. That is a living message, and one worth following everyday.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Keb
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Good Day - Feb 14, 2009
Ahh, Valentine's Day! A great day to remember the wonders of being in love. This year, I had the chance to celebrate being in love with 3 of my favorite aspects of life - being married, being from the state of Arizona, and my favorite sport. Let's take them in that order.
1) Being Married: I always thought that if I was married to the right woman, life would be so much better. Well, I was right. That does not mean it has been easier. An easy life is for wimps anyway. No - being married has taken my life to higher levels than I thought possible. It has changed me in ways I did not realize I needed to be changed in. I'm fortunate and blessed. The woman I married - Sara - is a gifted, beautiful, and intelligent woman. That she married me and stays married to me proves the miracle I am blessed with in her. We were looking as houses today. While doing so, I realized again how much I look forward to growing more mature with her over the next few years. After nearly 18 years of marriage, we have much growing yet to do. The joy is - we get to do it together.
2) Being from Arizona: In the year 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the United States. The alluring aspects of Arizona are to numerous to name in this post. The deserts, the snow covered mountains in the north, the unique culture along the border - the state is filled with wonder. While I enjoy living in Texas now, I know that who and what I am has been shaped in positive ways by growing up in Arizona. I spent a lot of my early years in New Jersey, but it was in Arizona where I learned who I was, what I could do and be, and learned I could reach for whatever star I could see in the vast open sky I saw above me each night. A great state to be in, a great state to live in, a great state to have called home. A part of my heart will always be there.
3) My Favorite Sport: In places throughout Arizona and Florida, catchers and pitchers officially reported for the beginning of Spring Training. It is time for Baseball - the best sport in the world IMHO. There is some much to love about the sport. I should write more about it in this blog sometime. Suffice to say I could sit and watch the game everyday. I love the sport so much that one of my great blessings in life is to work as a Customer Service Representative for the Texas Rangers. At almost every home game (and some non-home game days), I can be found in my uniform helping fans as they come into The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. There are grand times to be had at each game. I look forward to each chance to be out there. I work with caring people who help me grow in many aspects of life that go beyond the work I do at the games. What a thrill it is to be at my favorite ballpark, working for my favorite team and watching the best sport in the world. An added blessing is when my wife is able to come to the games.
I hope everyone has a great Valentines Day. Most important of all: Remember that God loves you, and always will. That is the best kind of love out there.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Keb
1) Being Married: I always thought that if I was married to the right woman, life would be so much better. Well, I was right. That does not mean it has been easier. An easy life is for wimps anyway. No - being married has taken my life to higher levels than I thought possible. It has changed me in ways I did not realize I needed to be changed in. I'm fortunate and blessed. The woman I married - Sara - is a gifted, beautiful, and intelligent woman. That she married me and stays married to me proves the miracle I am blessed with in her. We were looking as houses today. While doing so, I realized again how much I look forward to growing more mature with her over the next few years. After nearly 18 years of marriage, we have much growing yet to do. The joy is - we get to do it together.
2) Being from Arizona: In the year 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the United States. The alluring aspects of Arizona are to numerous to name in this post. The deserts, the snow covered mountains in the north, the unique culture along the border - the state is filled with wonder. While I enjoy living in Texas now, I know that who and what I am has been shaped in positive ways by growing up in Arizona. I spent a lot of my early years in New Jersey, but it was in Arizona where I learned who I was, what I could do and be, and learned I could reach for whatever star I could see in the vast open sky I saw above me each night. A great state to be in, a great state to live in, a great state to have called home. A part of my heart will always be there.
3) My Favorite Sport: In places throughout Arizona and Florida, catchers and pitchers officially reported for the beginning of Spring Training. It is time for Baseball - the best sport in the world IMHO. There is some much to love about the sport. I should write more about it in this blog sometime. Suffice to say I could sit and watch the game everyday. I love the sport so much that one of my great blessings in life is to work as a Customer Service Representative for the Texas Rangers. At almost every home game (and some non-home game days), I can be found in my uniform helping fans as they come into The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. There are grand times to be had at each game. I look forward to each chance to be out there. I work with caring people who help me grow in many aspects of life that go beyond the work I do at the games. What a thrill it is to be at my favorite ballpark, working for my favorite team and watching the best sport in the world. An added blessing is when my wife is able to come to the games.
I hope everyone has a great Valentines Day. Most important of all: Remember that God loves you, and always will. That is the best kind of love out there.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Keb
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Frustrating Dreams
Now that the Super Bowl is over, I can officially say I feel just like the Cardinals do. To come so close, to think you have it won, only to lose it in the end.
I wanted the Cardinals to win, though I am not totally unhappy to see the Steelers take it either. Still, it would have been a great story to see a franchise with a perpetual losing history take the whole thing.
I did not watch the game. I was working on things I needed for my job - which leads me to what I am writing now. As I write this, I am doing a job I really do not like all that much. I am a Reading, Writing, and Social Studies teacher. I love the teaching aspect. It is a blast being able to touch the lives of my students; to show them they can be better than what they are. Yet, my heart is not fully into it as I am teaching in areas that are ok, but are not my passion.
When I received my Teacher Certification in Speech Communication in December, 2007 - I really thought the world would be open to me. I spent all summer looking for a place that would let me teach in my field. There was some interest, but nothing really firm. A Christian school put an offer on the table, took it off, then put it on again. I had to say "No" to it because I could not feed my family on what they offered me. So, I ended up taking a position with a school that pays me as a sub, but works me as a full time teacher. It is valuable experience to be sure. Still, it is more than I had bargained for.
I have been dragging my feet to add the certification in Reading and Writing because the more I teach those subjects, the more I miss teaching Speech and Communications. I always believed that when God gave you a passion for something, He would open the door for you to live out that passion. I am discovering that is not always true.
I admit, some of my current situation is my own fault. If I had pushed harder to take the exams needed for additional certifications. If I had studied a different subject area in school. If....if....if.... Those "ifs" only add to the frustration, the pain I now feel and have been feeling for a few months now. Why can't I teach what I love to teach? Why can't I find a job that will let me use the skills and knowledge in the field of communication? What am I doing wrong now?
There are days I just want to cry - this being one of them. Just like the Cardinals - I can see the dream being lived by others, but I can't seem to taste that dream myself. It hurts. I feel sad, I feel angry, and I feel trapped.
It is not a good place to be.
Mr. Keb
I wanted the Cardinals to win, though I am not totally unhappy to see the Steelers take it either. Still, it would have been a great story to see a franchise with a perpetual losing history take the whole thing.
I did not watch the game. I was working on things I needed for my job - which leads me to what I am writing now. As I write this, I am doing a job I really do not like all that much. I am a Reading, Writing, and Social Studies teacher. I love the teaching aspect. It is a blast being able to touch the lives of my students; to show them they can be better than what they are. Yet, my heart is not fully into it as I am teaching in areas that are ok, but are not my passion.
When I received my Teacher Certification in Speech Communication in December, 2007 - I really thought the world would be open to me. I spent all summer looking for a place that would let me teach in my field. There was some interest, but nothing really firm. A Christian school put an offer on the table, took it off, then put it on again. I had to say "No" to it because I could not feed my family on what they offered me. So, I ended up taking a position with a school that pays me as a sub, but works me as a full time teacher. It is valuable experience to be sure. Still, it is more than I had bargained for.
I have been dragging my feet to add the certification in Reading and Writing because the more I teach those subjects, the more I miss teaching Speech and Communications. I always believed that when God gave you a passion for something, He would open the door for you to live out that passion. I am discovering that is not always true.
I admit, some of my current situation is my own fault. If I had pushed harder to take the exams needed for additional certifications. If I had studied a different subject area in school. If....if....if.... Those "ifs" only add to the frustration, the pain I now feel and have been feeling for a few months now. Why can't I teach what I love to teach? Why can't I find a job that will let me use the skills and knowledge in the field of communication? What am I doing wrong now?
There are days I just want to cry - this being one of them. Just like the Cardinals - I can see the dream being lived by others, but I can't seem to taste that dream myself. It hurts. I feel sad, I feel angry, and I feel trapped.
It is not a good place to be.
Mr. Keb
Friday, January 23, 2009
Mo the Buffalo meets Dan Fogelberg
"There's a buffalo at the bank Honey. Wanna go see it?" Well now, that's not a line you hear everyday - or every year for that matter. Yet, such was the line I heard from my wife as she called me on her way home from work. After laughing a bit, I said "Sure, why not." It had been a long, stressful day at school and I needed something unusual to get over the funk I was heading to. Seeing a buffalo at a bank sure fit the bill for being unusual. So, when my wife came home, off we went to the Plains Capital Bank building just down the road.When we arrived, we saw a large group of people all dressed up in VERY nice suits (the guys) and dresses (the ladies). As we walked past these nicely dressed people, my wife started hanging back a bit - somewhat embarrassedly. It wasn't due to how we were dressed (we were both in business casual). I think it was just being nervous as to not knowing what was going on. Me? I was in my determined mood. I had come here to see a buffalo, and daggumit, I was going to see a buffalo. (Hey, as I said before, it was a long, stressful day).
As we stopped not too far away from the buffalo pen (Mo the Buffalo is the corporate symbol for the Plains National Bank Corporation), I told my wife we should ask someone what was going on. Why all the very well dressed people? I received my answer in a way I wasn't expecting - for out from the crowd I heard my name shouted. Turning to the source of the voice I saw someone making a beeline towards us - a pretty young woman who gave me a good hug while having a big smile on her face. Suddenly, my moment of seeing a buffalo turns into a moment from a Dan Fogelberg song (think SAME OLD LANG SYNE from 1980).
Heather, the young woman's name, is a good friend who helped me get through my communication classes at University of Texas - Arlington - UTA (where I received my Teacher's Certification). I hadn't seen her since the last day I attended school there over a year ago. Yet, she was someone who I thought of often. She had met my wife during my time UTA and was a confidant, study partner, and generally a friend in need at a time I was struggling with parts of my life. I would have never made it through UTA without her assistance and that of the other people we normally hung out with. To see her again, to have the chance to catch up, was a big morale booster for me. It was wonderful to hear her marriage and her career were going well. We talked for a few more minutes, then it came time to depart.
As I got into the car to go home, I started feeling envious. Here I was - a 47 year old man who is struggling to find a job that will pay me more than $100 dollars a day, who is trying to start a business as a Public Speaker/Motivator, fighting to keep his family's financial head above water let alone move forward - talking with someone who is much younger than me who has a well paying career being the HR Generalist/Staffing Specialist. It just hurt that after all of these years, I felt like I was watching my friends move forward while I was standing still. It hurt for a few minutes.
After a while of wallowing in my self pity party, I started hearing a small still voice in my heart. The voice reminded me that God doesn't work that way. I had just received a huge blessing - and I wasn't seeing it. I came to see a buffalo, and ended up seeing someone who thought so well of me that she shouted out my name in a crowd and took the time to talk with me. She is someone who thought well enough of me to give me a hug. At a time when I'm struggling - God gave me a reminder that I have touched some lives in a positive way, and now those people are my friends. They are my friends even when I don't see them for awhile. As I saw that aspect of all of this, my soul warmed up.
Okay, this is a bit sappy - maybe. But then - sometimes God gives us the sappy moments to remind us that being sappy is okay. It is human, and it is a gift that we can feel uplifted when we let others remind us that they think we are special to them. We need these moments more than we care to admit I believe. Think what you want - I'll take this sappy moment for what it was to me - a blessing, a moment of uplifting, and a great chance meeting to see someone who is the type of friend all of us need and need to be.
Mr. Keb
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