Living overseas has a way of making you quit pretending… …and, honestly, I’ve been struggling with my faith for several years. What follows is like a journal entry about wrestling with my faith as well as the sweet way the Father is meeting me where I am. Over the past several years, living in Atlanta, […]
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The Real Spirit of Christmas
Tomorrow marks my first Christmas spent an ocean away from my family. I miss them, and they miss me. Even so, in this season of life, I’m learning the truest expression of the spirit of Christmas. There are many things I won’t get this Christmas. There won’t be any of my grandmother’s dressing, and Bing […]
How to Write Songs: Notes on Creativity from Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman
Here are some practical tips from Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman on songwriting: Write from your own need for God. Others engage your song if they are able to relate to it. Give yourself a deadline. You’re never really finished with a song, and it’ll remain in a nebulous state until forced out. Perfectionists will […]
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Millennials (Pt. 4): The Happiness Equation
Happiness = Reality – Expectations. Let’s talk a little more about the “Why Millennials are Unhappy” article by Tim Urban, which starts out with this premise. You read the article and accept it at first, but I’m going to critique it and say that’s not QUITE true. Let’s look at this equation. Like I said in […]
Millennials (Pt. 3): Passion Tea and Passing Trains
This generation—we’re all on a train, really. The conductor on the intercom said the next stop is Destiny . . . but mile after aimless mile meander by the window, and the passing grass looks browner every minute. Well, while we’re both seated here, let’s talk. Okay, barista, I know working at Starbucks is not […]
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Madman or American Hero? (Part 2)
Continued . . . A man who attacked Harpers Ferry? Yes. A madman? Perhaps. A radical, Violet abolitionist? Yes. It’s easy to see where this man’s reputation comes from—first, the part you’ve heard. John Brown felt the federal government wasn’t doing enough to in slavery, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. […]
What’s Your Life Shaped Like? Thoughts on the Universe, Part II
To introduce our unit on cells and mathematical powers of ten, I showed my class the 1977 video “Powers of Ten.” The film shows the relative sizes of objects ranging from galaxies to protons and electrons. It’s astounding—Charles and Ray Eames created such a good film that it’s still relevant almost forty years later. In […]
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Psalm 91 Instrumental
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Pareto in the Classroom
I’ve noticed some trends in my class. About 10% of the class will do the right thing no matter what. About 10% of the class will be off task no matter what. About 80% of the class will follow the momentum of where the rest of the class is. It’s my job as the teacher […]