Meine Klein Welt

From the Land of Cheesesteaks

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img_0005.jpgI'm going to be doing some retro-blogging over the next day or two before I head out to England. So check back often for more posts.

I just spent 6 days in good old Philadelphia eating Cheesesteaks and Tastycakes and all kinds of other yumminess. Here's me at Rick's Steaks in Reading Terminal Market. I find it a bit amusing that they have an official certificate from the self-proclaimed King of cheesesteaks, Pat's. Somehow this validates the cheesesteaks they make, though I certainly had no complaints. Fill 'er up!

As always I had a wonderful time catching up with friends, seeing new babies and spouses, and distributing chocolate to the masses. The more I go back to Philadelphia the more I miss it, and the more I'm glad I'm back. I spent many an afternoon walking about the city from West Philly, to Center City to Old City seeing what's changed and what remains.

Thanks to all who made this a wonderful trip. I look forward to seeing you all again next year if not sooner.

Filipino Spelling Bee

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My 8th grade class was working on a project to create awards certificates, and one thing they needed to find was an appropriate Bible verse for each award they made. This spawned the following dialogue:

Jannica (from China): Mr. Klein, how do you spell Philippians?

Me: Why don't you ask Marvin (he was finished with his assignment). He'd be happy to help you.

(a few minutes later)

Me (to Jannica): Was Marvin able to help you out?

Jannica: Yeah. It's easy for him to spell it because he's Filipino.

Me: What? How does that help?

Jannica: Because, you know, Philippians/Philippines; it's almost the same thing.

The Da Licious Code Continues

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Two more "murders" took place today. The first one happened during homeroom in Chad Elwell's Science Lab and left poor Jar Jar with his arms detached and impaled with a compass. The ketchup blood was a nice touch. On the back of this "bloody mess" was a code in transliterated Greek. Actually, someone probably wrote some text in Word and then changed the font to Symbol. In any case the code translated to "Priority of Klein." Interesting.

The second murder took place just before lunch in Megan Tice's office and involved a banana with raisen eyes and a raisen belly button(which some people said was a bit too low for a belly button). It also had wooden popcycle sticks for arms and legs. One thing to know about Megan is that she hates bananas, raisens, belly buttons, and wooden things. The "Greek" above is transliterated "Sucka!"

So far all our leads have run into dead ends. Seems the usual suspects are innocent this time, but that doesn't leave too many other options…

And just for the record, I didn't eat the banana. SICK! 

The Da Licious Code

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So after lunch today, I found this disturbing object on my desk. Apparently someone really didn't like the frankies in blankies we had for lunch today.

I'm not sure if this is a code or just Greek gibberish. I can't make any sense of it…and is that a Euro symbol in there?

Can anyone help me crack the code?

And just in case you're wondering, yes I did eat the "murdered" frankie after documenting the crime scene. Da Licious!

Hey Jude

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My Bible study ended our semester with a discussion of Jude's epistle to believers. Most of this letter is spent warning his readers about ungodly people and God's response to them. Not good for the ungodly, by the way.

16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts… 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.*

This section hit home for me. I am a critical person by nature, which is good for discerning truth but not always good for people. How often do I fall into complacency, finding fault with people, seeking my own selfish desires? How often do these actions cause divisions? Divisions in community and in friendships. When I am worldly-minded and not being moved by the Spirit, this is where I am, and this is what I'm doing.

Instead of holding up my brothers and sisters with encouragement and prayer, I tear down with grumbling and selfishness. Instead of being filled with the Spirit, I am filled with arrogance and worldly cares.

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.*

Too often I get caught up in trying to live my life and do God's work without God. Instead of building myself up on faith, I build myself up on my accomplishments or on how much other people like me. Prayer takes a backseat to busyness and lethargy. I do not always endeavor to act in and out with God's love, and am cynical and unkind.

But here is the key:

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy;*

It is never anything I do that makes me right with God. It is never anything I do that accomplishes anything for the kingdom of God. The solution is not to live a better life, but to trust that God can sanctify me. To understand that He keeps me from stumbling, He is the reason that I stand before His glory blameless. He is the reason I have joy.

As a Christian, I must abide in the love of Christ. And this means placing my cares and my focus upon Him. Not worrying about money or whether people like me, etc., but falling to my knees and fellowshipping with my Creator and Savior. The more this happens, the closer I walk with God. If I am letting God have His way with me, then my complacency and selfishness are dispelled and people are built up instead of torn down. When His love fills me, it is sent out to the world through me. This is the only way I truly love my brother.

Please pray that I will spend more time in the presence of God, and that I will be always full of His love.

*All Biblical references taken from NASB