Daniel is teaching me to post pictures. This is one of our pastor and his family from Michigan.

Ready for a sixties party

23

Dad and I went to see 23 last night. Jim Carrey played his well, he can do other that comedy! It was a surprise for me. Thought I would hate it but found it to be a rather well done psycological study with a principled ending.

criticism

o.k. I have been thinking alot about criticism lately. About being self-critical, situation critical, created work critical, child critical, & peer critical. The worst aspect of being critical is the expression of those adverse and diapproving comments and judgements. It can destroy self motivation to constantly be talking to oneself with a & d comments and judgements, it sure sounds like complaining when it concerns ones situation, it can freeze me on any art expression I am attempting, it can strip a child of self respect, depress and demotivate them, and with ones peers it can create tension, hurt, an unwillingness to work together. However if we do not exercise some analysis and judgement we can end up being really unpleasant selves, allow terrible things to continue without intervention in situations, never improve in our artistic endeavors, have a child think they are all that and a bag of chips (as Jamie always says) and become totally obnoxious, and render one's own ability to work in a group impossible. So I guess I have been rendering judgements on myself and expressing some self disapproving comments about some of my past critisims I have made, many of which stemmed from personal pride and prejudice, (hmm sounds like a good book title) and wondering how to better deal with the need to analyze, behave toward the execrable, and above all love and give thanks for all and in all situations, as Jesus has taught us. If anyone has any insights.....

Well my last post was many moons ago and my brother says it is time to update. The problem is I have nothing witty to say, I have not figured out how to post pictures, and I so enjoy reading other folks blogs and commenting on them that I feel I have been posting in a way. By the way, brother Duff do you have a blog site? If anyone is interested in the Church family out there reading my blog here is a link to their blog. Maggie has really grown into a beauty, baby George is the adorable first child of Jenny, and the Vicki Church look alike with Michael is his new bride to be. I don't know how to do a link but this is the address and maybe it will surprise me and be a link.
http://www.georgeaugust.blogspot.com/

Living with Jim

I must say living with Jim is a great joy. He not only greets me with a smile, steaming cup of coffee with cream in hand, he also engages in some of the best conversation. Here is an example of some of the early morning discussions we have been having;
1. What is the basis of education? The idea of this topic is to explore two
questions fundamental to education. What is the nature of man? What is true
(truth)? The view of man focuses on the purpose of education. The nature of
truth (epistemology) focuses on content.
2. What is the purpose of education? This idea is drawn from the above. The
nature of man becomes a central issue in defining the purpose of education.
The purpose of education may explore the question of the purpose of man, the
experience of man in shaping his purpose, the needs of community in defining
mans purpose, man’s purpose as it relates to God, etc.
3. What is a philosophy of education?
4. What is truth? This idea is drawn from #1. Is Jesus Christ the Truth? Is
truth relative? Is truth found only by our experiences? Is truth (reality)
established?
It is a very good thing he brings me coffee before we start discussing.....
Now these topics have been going on since Daniel was a wee one, It is difficult to exhaust them, especially as the fine distincitons to be applied change with the ages of those being educated. The implications of shifting political and philosophical climates are another source of discussion. There are also the topics brought about by changes in ones own vocational demands of teacher and student.
How happy it makes me to walk through life with such a man who reads, ponders, and discusses.
Merry Christmas to all!

In response to N8 Yep pretty dead. Hope to liven things up after the 'Christmas Art Projects for 115 kids' push is over. I guess it is the art teachers equivalent to finals. This is the first day I have been able to even do any reading of others blogs. I have gotten behind! Well got to go for my last classes of the year.