I have had a strange thought in the past couple days. I have actually considered -- just marginally, mind you-- taking some Human Resources classes. I have come to realize that all industries have some form of human resources department that is vital to their operation. In the school district I work for, for example, the HR department makes all the hiring and firing (oops... should read "termination of contract") decisions. In doing this, they handle disputes between staff and administration, and they deliberate complaint and grievance issues from parents and students .in cases of alleged employee misconduct. In short, these individuals make decisions that have major impact on everyone in the district.
As I have contemplated possible career advancement the thought of working in this department has intrigued me.
I would love to write several more paragraphs on this subject, but my son is getting restless and will not last much longer on my lap. It's time to pack up the laptop, head out of Panera, and get home. I can almost remember a day when my time was my own.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Bursting the Bubble
No, this posting is not about the "mortgage crisis".
Today was the Nebraska state high school track meet. Among other things, this meant that my school (Omaha Central High) again vied for another state title. You see, we have won 5 state titles in the last 3 years. We have won state basketball the last 3 years in a row, the boys' state track title last year, and the state football title earlier this school year. We were the first class A school in the state to hold 3 major state titles in the same calendar year. This is primarily due to the class of student athletes that have come through the school the last few years.
Early in the year expectations ran high. Would we continue the tradition? Would we win a second boys' state track title in a row? Would we finish out the year winning football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track in the spring? We definitely possessed the talent to pull it off. All but a couple major players from last year's track team had returned this year. In fact, we were faster than ever. Just before track season, though, two of our key components declared that they would not be participating in track. They both signed to play football for Iowa State next year, and they wanted to focus on preparing for that. This made our almost sure state title a virtual pipe dream. We still had speed, but our relay crews were decimated.
In the district meet we did well and a larger than expected group of our runners qualified for state. A glimpse of hope remained. If everyone stayed healthy and really stepped up we still had an outside shot at brining home the title. If nothing else, we looked good to make a convincing run for runner-up.
Day one of the state competition was positive. Our runners did great in the preliminaries. We had good lane assignments going into the finals. We had enough individual and team competitors to earn the points necessary to win the gold.
Day two was beautiful. Clear skies. Sunshine. A light breeze. Then, things began to turn against us. One of our fastest relayers hurt his leg in the triple jump the day before. He also was slotted to run the 110-meter hurdles early today and exacerbated his injury. He was knocked out of the relays for the afternoon. Our other "lock" for event points in the 300-meter dash false-started and was disqualified. We did walk away with several individual wins, but our team points suffered. Our wave of state title victories crashed upon the rocks. Stunned, we packed up and headed home.
Thus another chapter in great high school sports history has come to a close. Yes, I will still look up at the 5 trophies in my office from the last 3 years with satisfaction. But, the expectant conversations of, "Where will you put the next trophy," will not be heard any more this year. We must reflect on what was -- and almost was. And, if you listen closely, you can almost hear the distant din of preparations for next season. A month from now the dormant turf will once again be alive with football camps and endless drills. August will arrive and 11 tough and readied bodies will take the field. The crowd will look with anticipation and dare to dream again. Then you will hear the chant. Faint at first, but slowly growing, "Just like last year... just like last year... just like last year..."
Monday, May 12, 2008
Biblical Interpretation
My Sunday School class is currently going through the Psalms. It has been a very rewarding study. A discussion from this past Sunday's discussion sparked a question in my mind.
First, you must understand that I attend a reformed Baptist church. Among other things, this means that the entirety of Scripture is seen as one unified story that culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. "What is wrong with that?" one may ask. Nothing is terribly wrong with that view. It must simply be recognized that not all Christians have that exact view. Many Christians see the Scripture as the unfolding of God's plan for mankind to bring Him glory. In other words, not everyone views the Old Testament in exactly the same way. Reformed Baptists would tend to read the Old Testament and look for things that point to Jesus Christ. While there are definite passages that do this; those of the Reformed stripe would tend to do this to the Nth degree. (Of course, this is a gross simplification for purposes of space.)
Anyway, we were studying Psalm 16 this past Sunday and we were asked how that psalm applied to Christ (or if it did apply to Christ). One of my fellow classmates asked an interesting question. He asked if David -- who wrote that psalm-- would have "seen" Christ in the words he was writing. His point was that Psalm 16, like any other OT passage, had a real and imminently applicable meaning to those who originally received it. It was commented on in class that during the Middle Ages it was common to view Scripture as having several dimensions of meaning: Literal, Spiritual, Mystical, etc. The downfall there was to not know which "meaning" was accurate. My classmate wondered if by seeking to "read between the lines" to find references to Christ if we could fall into a similar trap. He reminded us to start by simply reading the Bible as it is written and not to be too quick to find "deep" meanings in the text.
This is one reason why I truly enjoy this class. There is a spirit of openness and a freedom to challenge each other. Needless to say, the discussion was very interesting for the remainder of the class.
First, you must understand that I attend a reformed Baptist church. Among other things, this means that the entirety of Scripture is seen as one unified story that culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. "What is wrong with that?" one may ask. Nothing is terribly wrong with that view. It must simply be recognized that not all Christians have that exact view. Many Christians see the Scripture as the unfolding of God's plan for mankind to bring Him glory. In other words, not everyone views the Old Testament in exactly the same way. Reformed Baptists would tend to read the Old Testament and look for things that point to Jesus Christ. While there are definite passages that do this; those of the Reformed stripe would tend to do this to the Nth degree. (Of course, this is a gross simplification for purposes of space.)
Anyway, we were studying Psalm 16 this past Sunday and we were asked how that psalm applied to Christ (or if it did apply to Christ). One of my fellow classmates asked an interesting question. He asked if David -- who wrote that psalm-- would have "seen" Christ in the words he was writing. His point was that Psalm 16, like any other OT passage, had a real and imminently applicable meaning to those who originally received it. It was commented on in class that during the Middle Ages it was common to view Scripture as having several dimensions of meaning: Literal, Spiritual, Mystical, etc. The downfall there was to not know which "meaning" was accurate. My classmate wondered if by seeking to "read between the lines" to find references to Christ if we could fall into a similar trap. He reminded us to start by simply reading the Bible as it is written and not to be too quick to find "deep" meanings in the text.
This is one reason why I truly enjoy this class. There is a spirit of openness and a freedom to challenge each other. Needless to say, the discussion was very interesting for the remainder of the class.
31
I turned 31 earlier this month... Actually, a week ago today. This didn't seem to phase me until about two days ago. I was listening to a Ravi Zacharias broadcast and he was telling the story of a missionary to India that translated the New Testament into 3 Indian dialects before he died at the age of.... you guessed it -- 31.
What a humbling thought when I look back on my life and evaluate what I have accomplished with the time I have been given. I have definitely not translated large portions of the Bible into several languages. In fact, I have none but a minutely crude grasp of one language beyond English.
When I consider all of my "best" accomplishments -- the ones I list on my resume and brag about at a job interview-- they appear almost meaningless next to the accomplishments of so many others. This is a humbling thought. Yes, I will still "sell myself" as I strive to attain a larger sphere of influence in my career field. But, I will also remind myself that only what is done for Christ will last.
If I am blessed with 31 more years what will be accomplished? Will it be said of me that I had influential career as a well-respected educator? Or, will it be said that I was a man that sought after God?
What a humbling thought when I look back on my life and evaluate what I have accomplished with the time I have been given. I have definitely not translated large portions of the Bible into several languages. In fact, I have none but a minutely crude grasp of one language beyond English.
When I consider all of my "best" accomplishments -- the ones I list on my resume and brag about at a job interview-- they appear almost meaningless next to the accomplishments of so many others. This is a humbling thought. Yes, I will still "sell myself" as I strive to attain a larger sphere of influence in my career field. But, I will also remind myself that only what is done for Christ will last.
If I am blessed with 31 more years what will be accomplished? Will it be said of me that I had influential career as a well-respected educator? Or, will it be said that I was a man that sought after God?
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