Tenderness No comments yet
“Pain is the crucible in which one is made tender.”
Brennan Manning
The Wisdom of Tenderness p. 126
Life Review No comments yet
This struck me today:
“The next time you pause to review your life and examine your conscience, you might find it beneficial for spritiual growth to move beyond the Ten Commandments and address the following questions:
- Have I failed to take the initiative in alleviating fear, anxiety, and heartache in my home, my neighborhood, and the local community?
- Have I had contempt for others: the less educated perhaps, or people of different ethnic, racial, economic, or religious groups?
- Have I dismissed senior citizens as anachronisms and not tried to make them feel their worth and dignity?
- Have I in any way stifled the personal development of another?
- Have I sought to be respected without respecting others?
- Have I often kept others waiting?
- Have I carelessly forgotten (or simply not kept) an appointment or a date?
- Have I been difficult for others to reach, feeling too busy to put myself at their disposal?
- Have I not paid attention when someone is speaking to me?
- Have I kept silent when I should have spoken out?
- Have I responded only to those whose friendship might prove profitable to me?
- Have I blackened the character of anyone by harmful remarks, whether false or true?
- Have I betrayed a trust, violated a confidence, or involved myself in the lives of others through indiscreet words and actions?
- Have I concentrated on what’s in it for me rather than what’s in me for it?
- Have I failed to appreciate what is because of might-have-beens, should-have-beens, and could-have-beens?”
Brennan Manning
The Wisdom of Tenderness p.119-120
February Break in Italia 1 comment
In Austria all schools get a week’s vacation in February for something they like to call Energy Break. Usually I just chill out at home for most of this break, but this year I got a cheap flight to Italy and traveled down to an area called Cinque Terre with 3 other teachers. Cinque Terre is a series of 5 old fishing villages connected by scenic trails and a train if you’re not up to walking.We were traveling during an off-peak time, so there weren’t a lot of people around, and at times it felt like we had the place to ourselves. I suppose the downside to being there off-peak is that most of the locals were on vacation and we had a lot of trouble finding even places to eat.
The scenery was amazing and it was nice to have a break from city life, if only for a few days. I had a great time, though I may hesitate to travel with three women again. 
One thing I do know is I would not make a good Mormon. I mean, seriously. I can’t even keep one woman happy. What would I do with three?
For more photos from the trip click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kleinwelt/sets/72157600277903331/
Happy Birthday to Me No comments yet
Originally uploaded by kleinmat4103.
Last Friday, May 25, I turned the ripe old age of 29 for the first time. It was a festive evening filled with good food and good friends. One of the highlights of the night was a homemade pinata with the Mets’ logo on one side and Tim McCarver on the other. It was hard to know which I wanted to hit more. You can see some action shots on my Flickr site in the “My Birthday” set. If you forgot to buy me a present, don’t worry, I do accept late gifts.
Win Win Win Day 1 comment
All week at school the staff(well some of us) has been celebrating Pleated Pants/Short Sleeve Button-Down Shirt Appreciation Week. Yeah we’re a little weird, but it works.
Today we capped off the week with Win Win Win Day. Why Win Win Win day, you ask?
Let’s start off with a lesson in fashion. Whenever you’re wearing a tie, you always have to ask, “What wins?” Does your shirt win or your tie win? Which one is more dominant? One needs to win. Win Win Win Day is about everyone winning: The shirt, the tie, and you. Win win win.
Pictured are just a few of us demonstrating how to win win win.
After being shown our picture the 3rd grade class was instructed to tell us, “Heiße Beine”(“Hot legs” auf Deutsch), whenever they encountered any of us in the hall. This accounted for several hilarious incidents involving the entire 3rd grade class.
Also, the quote of the day was, “You guys put the schön in fashion.” Yes. Yes, we do.
For those of you still a little hazy on the origins of Win Win Win Day, the below video should help.
"Grace always precedes call." No comments yet
I’m reading the book The Wisdom of Tenderness by Brennan Manning. I’m always thankful when I read or hear Brennan Manning. I’m thankful that God gave him a way of thinking and understanding that speaks so clearly to me.
What struck me today was a story he was telling about an evangelist named Robert Frost. I have no idea if it’s the poet Robert Frost, or someone else entirely. But, the story was about how he didn’t go to seminary for a long time because he was afraid God would send him to Africa. Only years later after attending seminary and building a ministry did he discover a love for Africa that caused him to ask God to allow him to go. This illustrated the point Manning wanted to make, which was, “Grace always precedes call.” God will not call us to serve without first placing a love in our heart for those we are serving.
So, this brings me to my point. I came to Vienna because I have a love for missionaries and a love for international kids. I have the opportunity here for an amazing ministry to both of these communities. Yet, lately, I don’t want to go to work. It takes all my energy to get out of bed in the morning and go serve the people whom it is my passion to serve. There are quite a few contributing factors in this, but I think what I’ve realized is that God placed a passion in my heart, then sent me to serve, and Satan hates that. He is doing everything in his power to thwart God’s plan, and I seem to be letting him. The question now is how do I get back to the passion, back to where I wake up ready to do what God has placed it in my heart to do?
Kleine Paparazzi No comments yet
I mentioned before that we had Spirit Week at school, and we ended it on Friday with a school dance. Now this dance had a Hollywood theme, and what’s a Hollywood party without the paparazzi, right?
So Gardner and I led the way, assaulting incoming kids with dumb questions and large cameras. The kids enjoyed getting some real Hollywood treatment, and we enjoyed harassing them. So it worked out well for everyone involved.
And there is only one word you can use to describe this picture: Classy.
Shin Guards in the Outfield No comments yet
As I’ve mentioned before, playing in a softball league in Austria is pretty entertaining. Last year, we saw a man playing in lederhosen and this year we played a team whose Center fielder was wearing shin guards to start the game.
I’m not really sure what his line of thinking was. Maybe there was a hole in his glove and he was afraid of a sharp grounder to the outfield. Or maybe he was expecting our offense to be a little more “aggressive.” Yikes!
Whatever the reason, it was fun to watch, and it’s always helpful to know beforehand who to try and hit the ball to.
Will I be destroyed like Edom? No comments yet
Tonight we studied the second half of Obadiah. It talks about how Edom is going to be destroyed both because of their pride and the fact that they stood by while Israel suffered. The verse that stuck out to me was verse 12:
“You should not look down on your brother
in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction,
nor boast so much
in the day of their trouble.”
I have been struggling so hard with the desire to see God teach lessons to others that I believe have something to learn. Of course, there are a plethora of verses to warn me against this, but this is the one that is making an impact at the moment. Why do I desire to see others learn hard lessons? Why do I take delight in the thought of another person being brought to their knees? Why does it make me so angry at God when I think someone needs to change and I don’t see it happening?
I feel that the only thing I can do now is pray that whatever lesson the Lord has for me in this is a lesson I learn quickly and learn well. I pray that what I learn is grace for others and trust in God to deal with each of us in the way that He knows is best because only He knows the best way.