I Am Not an Artist

I am not an artist, but I am a teacher and there is an "art" to it.

I cannot imagine what an artist must think of critics.

They labor and work and someone who does not know everything going on, can pass by, look at it and say "eh...it's ok".

That would drive me insane.

When it comes to teaching you can:

1. Rarely miss school.

2. Be on time every day, early even.

3. Teach and give assignments daily.

4. Keep your assignments up to date in your grades and lessons posted online...every single day.

5. You can have good relationships with your students and staff.

6. You can volunteer your time to be a part of the school community.

7. You can support and help students and staff.

8. You can be reliable and steady most every day.

9. And you can follow rules that you might not completely agree with.

And someone can walk in your room....

Look around for a short time....

And figuratively say...

"Eh...it's ok."

 

Master of Theology

For the last 14 months, I have been working on my Master of Theology from Global Grace Seminary.

I submitted my final paper on Sunday and am awaiting the grade which should be just fine, and have submitted payment for my diploma/transcript.

So...it's over.

In the last 14 months, I have changed much in my thinking about this world and the what happens next and I am not sure it has all been completely for the good.

Because I believed that there were no second chances after death, I felt a little more empathy for the "mistakes" done in this life.

Now, I am not so sure that when we die, it is over...there very well could be another chance in eternity to change the way we see and feel about God.

I was against capital punishment, now I am not sure anymore.

I tried to feel sympathy and empathy for people here, but I am losing that because I do not believe this is it.

I am going to look at a couple different ministries to prepare working with/for now and after my retirement as a teacher.

I think what I have learned may have made me a little more cynical about the current state of humanity, but it is because as I learned what the actual love of God is, I can see we do not measure up no matter if He guides, lives in us, and has saved us.

I am sure as time goes on, I will regain that feeling of caring, but my gosh...caring equals hurting and I do not like to hurt.

As I have grown, I have grown horizontally as much as vertically, and I am hoping that growth makes me a better version of myself in helping others in the future.

Stop the Madness

Inbounding vs pressure defense is not that hard if the players execute.

I watch college teams not able to get the ball inbounds and then struggle because they want to dribble against the press.

Their guards start at 3 point line or just inside the half court and cut to the ball...and struggle to get it in because the defense is holding etc.

1. Get your worst two ball handlers as far away from the ball as possible. Put them opposite end of court under basket if necessary. 

2. Some things never change. Have your guards stand on the free throw lane vertically. Bottom guy screens for the top guy. Top guy curls around, if he's open, hit him. If they switch, the bottom guy has the top guy's defensive player sealed and he should be open.

3. Whichever guard gets the ball, the opposite guard sprints to the middle of the floor.

4. If the two long guys cheat up, you throw over top. If they stay back, the cutter should be open. If he's not reverse to inbounder and that passer cuts to the middle.

 Make teams pay for pressing you!

SMH

Trump is liar...so is Biden and his family.

Trump's family has made money off his name...so has the Biden family.

Trump has been accused of sexual assault...so has Biden, and now Harris's husband with physical assault.

Trump says mean things...so do the Democrats.

Trump allegedly paid off someone he had an affair with...so did Bill Clinton.

Trump broke the law, but what was his intent? Hillary Clinton broke the law, but intent was all that mattered?

Trump has said things that can be construed as racist...so has Biden.

I do not like Donald Trump, I have not voted for him, but I am sick and tired of him being held to a different standard than members of politics my entire life.

If he wins the presidency which I do not think he will, the woke Left have no one else to blame but themselves.

Just be "normal".

Please be able to define simple terms that have existed for millions of years.

Please support no discrimination against trans people, but do not allow biological men into biological female places. 

Please support a woman's right to choose, but not up until birth.

Please support immigration, but understand illegal immigration is different.

Please support LGBTQ rights, but understand that not everyone understands what those initials mean.

Please support anti-genocide, but don't support terrorist groups and don't pick and choose which genocide you're going to be outraged over.

And finally, please, both sides for God's sake acknowledge that your side is not perfect and call out the wrongs that they do because when you point out the wrongs of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump and do not call out those same exact wrongs with your "team"....well, I'm not listening.

I've Tried for 10 Years (ish)

About ten years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit in me to be a more consistent person, to be who I was in my best of times.

And it's been exhausting.

As you reach out, no one reaches back.

As you try to help.

No one helps you.

As you try to love.

Love isn't replicated.

For the last year, I've really had a set back in trying to be who I am all the time in my best of times.

I am who I am in my worst of times, I fear...that is who I am naturally.

I have zero patience for two facedness.

I have zero patience for people who never give credit or a pat on the back, but are quick to criticize, heck they don't have to be quick, they just never credit and always even subtly criticize. 

I watch as I'm not invited to events.

I watch as I'm not treated equally.

I watch as I'm critiqued in a different way than others who are doing less.

I watch as I get verbal support or the occasional smile, but always superficial.

I watch and remember being slighted today and from 30 years ago.

And all that is wrong. Because I shouldn't care about those things, but I do.

So, I have been withdrawing.

Being less friendly.

Not gonna be pushed around without a fight.

Feeling like I've been taken advantage of.

Watching wrong doings being rewarded.

Seeing how people's hypocrisies are raring their ugly heads more and more.

Being less thankful.

Less loving.

And there is part of me that hates that I am going through this phase in life.

And there is part of me that embraces that maybe I'm only happy when I'm...not.

Unfortunately, I guess I'm going to act the way you're treating me, I can only be "put in my place" too often before I don't accept it anymore.

Still.

I'm not a complete a-hole.

I'm still here for the right reasons.