Saturday, December 16, 2006
Hello
I plan on setting up my account so I can blogwhile at school... This is just temporary for anyone who still happens to check this site. I have come up with a few good ideas by talking or rather discussing, with PJV. Looking forward to blogging again... --Christopher
Monday, July 03, 2006
To Spank or Not to Spank? That is the Question...
I think Shakespeare said it best, "To be or not to be, that is the question." I have never doubted that a persons surroundings influence the type of person that he (or she) will one day become. I also believe genetics play a part in it too (circa 3 years ago, but that's another story). As I interpret Hamlet's timeless question, the question of being or not being __________ is one that needs to be addressed, but more importantly the process of getting to that being or not being is important too. I had an intriguing conversation this morning...
Background to the conversation:
I was minding my own buisness doing my tasks when the subject of debate came up. The conversation was going pretty good. The guy I was having it with was thinking about joining the debate team and was asking what it was like. We then got talking about different issues. I made the comment I am most thankful for which was that I never had to debate against something I believed in (or vice versa). He then started to throw out topics. I gave my opinions. He was respecting them all, then he said Corporal Punishment. I said, "Spanking or Death Penalty?" He replied, "There's a difference?" I said, "Let's explore that shall we?"
Death Penalty (because D comes before S):
SOB (Statement of Belief)
I believe that a person who murders another person deserves to die.
POB (Positives of Belief)
1) Money: Cost of executions are astronomical. So why is this a positive? Because the cost of keeping a prisoner alive is even more. Factor in the following things. 3 square meals a day. Room and board. Exercise equipment. Exercise Yard. Showering/Toiletry needs/maintainence. Guards to watch them. Building maintainence. New buildings (due to overpopulation, especially here in California). Cable (nay, Satellite) TV. Appeals process. Doctor/Dentist, other assorted proffessionals. For the rest of their life. Which do you think is more expensive?
2) Instilled Fear: I know the arguement for this one. The death penalty dosen't really scare people. Let me let you in on a little secret. I know. You're right. For now. But who among us was never over at Johnny's house and he did something wrong, got punished for it and then you and Johnny go over to your house, do the same thing but don't get in trouble (Analogy might work in reverse too). The fact that you got punished in one place and not the other is what takes the fear away. If it was uniform across the country, then it would be a fear to reckon with. Think about. Why is it that criminals run for the state line? To excape the penalty. What if on the other side of the state line the penalty is the same? Also, people have another misconception that the death penalty will instantly cure all crime. I am not one of those people. I believe the Death Penalty will deter future crimes. In my opinion it is like everything else in life. You weigh the costs vs. the benefits of your decision and if the choice is to kill Johnny or not and the benefit is never letting him annoy you again or having your life terminated just you did to him. Well, now there's a decision. Not hmmm... let's see.... No more annoying Johnny, and lifetime in jail with food, TV, exercise.
3) Emotional Closure: I know, two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do. Follow my logic train here. First stop. Someone terminates the life of another person. (Insert train hold-up right here) "Hold yer briches there sonny. That there capitual punishment is termintatin' the life of other fellas too." (That's the mean outlaw guy with the big gun and handkercheif across his mouth so that he could symbolize anyone. I get to be the engineer trying to, and will, stand up for the destination of the passengers) "But Mr. Train-Stopper-Type-Person-Sir, when the government executes capitol punishment, they do so as a system, with checks and balances. Starting with a jury of 12 people, which by the way must be uniformly agreed, a judge presides over that. Then the defendent, if found guilty by all 12 jurors (see Movie 12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda, not Toy Danza) then appeals to the higher court judge. Several times. The point is this is not a one man show." (Evil guy pushes the gun right into my nose and is getting very forceful.) "But you're still killin' the guy." "And you sir, are not listening I am not killing anyone. The government that we established and that has the authority to is doing it." (Outlaw guy is getting mad and is getting really loud and big.) So you admit that there is no difference, they are both killin' people." "Um, no. I don't. There is a significant difference if you kill a person and if the state kills a person. You acted on your own authority making your own rules. The government is acting within a framed set of rules that have already been accepted." (This is where the Mr. Hero-Cowboy-Person shoots the Bad-Robber-Man and I can start the train going again.) You see, when we make the Death Penalty the issue we have a problem, and that problem is that we have a misconstrued focus. The focus should be on the family/loved ones of the person who has died, not on the murderer. Everyone is gung-ho about getting that murder to court and make sure that the "trial of the century" convicts him. (Anti-Death Penalty people) "Look at the grieving family, they lost someone dear to them. Ahhh... Hurray... He's guilty! Congratulations grieving family. The killer is caught. Yeah (insert much rejoicing). Wait, they sentenced him to the death penalty? No, that is wrong. Boo-Boo. Was the jury rigged? Was there illegal obtained evidence? Was the judge biased? Are you sure he's guilty? Quiet grieving family, you don't matter anymore, we need to make sure this guy dosen't die." (Okay, in all fairness, I'm sure no one has ever s a i d that.) You see the focus isn't on the people who need it. It's on the hot topic of the day, it's on whatever fits your agenda. There's your lack of emotional closure. These grieving people are left alone, while the killer of their loved one gets glorified in the media. That is like a robber coming into your home, steals all of your stuff and the governor declares him theif of the year because he broke into your house.
(CSOB) Concluding Statement of Belief
I am not saying kill everyone on death row. I'm not saying kill everyone (that's for you DP will lead to murdering old and poor people). I am saying let the state do it's job. Crime & Evil needs someone/something to fear and right now it does not seem to have anything to fear. We need to not only enable our government to protect us, but we also need to support our government in its decisions. (Now I'm not making a blanket statement here. I'm not for the whole Democrat Big Brother thing. I'm only talking about the Death Penalty here.) After all, if you don't like the death penalty, why do you vote? Why do you live in this country? The age-old-adage. Love it or leave it. Respectfulness or Responselessness.
Sorry... This is unfinished. I'll get to spanking, probably on Saturday.
Have A Nice Day...
ChrisTopher
Background to the conversation:
I was minding my own buisness doing my tasks when the subject of debate came up. The conversation was going pretty good. The guy I was having it with was thinking about joining the debate team and was asking what it was like. We then got talking about different issues. I made the comment I am most thankful for which was that I never had to debate against something I believed in (or vice versa). He then started to throw out topics. I gave my opinions. He was respecting them all, then he said Corporal Punishment. I said, "Spanking or Death Penalty?" He replied, "There's a difference?" I said, "Let's explore that shall we?"
Death Penalty (because D comes before S):
SOB (Statement of Belief)
I believe that a person who murders another person deserves to die.
POB (Positives of Belief)
1) Money: Cost of executions are astronomical. So why is this a positive? Because the cost of keeping a prisoner alive is even more. Factor in the following things. 3 square meals a day. Room and board. Exercise equipment. Exercise Yard. Showering/Toiletry needs/maintainence. Guards to watch them. Building maintainence. New buildings (due to overpopulation, especially here in California). Cable (nay, Satellite) TV. Appeals process. Doctor/Dentist, other assorted proffessionals. For the rest of their life. Which do you think is more expensive?
2) Instilled Fear: I know the arguement for this one. The death penalty dosen't really scare people. Let me let you in on a little secret. I know. You're right. For now. But who among us was never over at Johnny's house and he did something wrong, got punished for it and then you and Johnny go over to your house, do the same thing but don't get in trouble (Analogy might work in reverse too). The fact that you got punished in one place and not the other is what takes the fear away. If it was uniform across the country, then it would be a fear to reckon with. Think about. Why is it that criminals run for the state line? To excape the penalty. What if on the other side of the state line the penalty is the same? Also, people have another misconception that the death penalty will instantly cure all crime. I am not one of those people. I believe the Death Penalty will deter future crimes. In my opinion it is like everything else in life. You weigh the costs vs. the benefits of your decision and if the choice is to kill Johnny or not and the benefit is never letting him annoy you again or having your life terminated just you did to him. Well, now there's a decision. Not hmmm... let's see.... No more annoying Johnny, and lifetime in jail with food, TV, exercise.
3) Emotional Closure: I know, two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do. Follow my logic train here. First stop. Someone terminates the life of another person. (Insert train hold-up right here) "Hold yer briches there sonny. That there capitual punishment is termintatin' the life of other fellas too." (That's the mean outlaw guy with the big gun and handkercheif across his mouth so that he could symbolize anyone. I get to be the engineer trying to, and will, stand up for the destination of the passengers) "But Mr. Train-Stopper-Type-Person-Sir, when the government executes capitol punishment, they do so as a system, with checks and balances. Starting with a jury of 12 people, which by the way must be uniformly agreed, a judge presides over that. Then the defendent, if found guilty by all 12 jurors (see Movie 12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda, not Toy Danza) then appeals to the higher court judge. Several times. The point is this is not a one man show." (Evil guy pushes the gun right into my nose and is getting very forceful.) "But you're still killin' the guy." "And you sir, are not listening I am not killing anyone. The government that we established and that has the authority to is doing it." (Outlaw guy is getting mad and is getting really loud and big.) So you admit that there is no difference, they are both killin' people." "Um, no. I don't. There is a significant difference if you kill a person and if the state kills a person. You acted on your own authority making your own rules. The government is acting within a framed set of rules that have already been accepted." (This is where the Mr. Hero-Cowboy-Person shoots the Bad-Robber-Man and I can start the train going again.) You see, when we make the Death Penalty the issue we have a problem, and that problem is that we have a misconstrued focus. The focus should be on the family/loved ones of the person who has died, not on the murderer. Everyone is gung-ho about getting that murder to court and make sure that the "trial of the century" convicts him. (Anti-Death Penalty people) "Look at the grieving family, they lost someone dear to them. Ahhh... Hurray... He's guilty! Congratulations grieving family. The killer is caught. Yeah (insert much rejoicing). Wait, they sentenced him to the death penalty? No, that is wrong. Boo-Boo. Was the jury rigged? Was there illegal obtained evidence? Was the judge biased? Are you sure he's guilty? Quiet grieving family, you don't matter anymore, we need to make sure this guy dosen't die." (Okay, in all fairness, I'm sure no one has ever s a i d that.) You see the focus isn't on the people who need it. It's on the hot topic of the day, it's on whatever fits your agenda. There's your lack of emotional closure. These grieving people are left alone, while the killer of their loved one gets glorified in the media. That is like a robber coming into your home, steals all of your stuff and the governor declares him theif of the year because he broke into your house.
(CSOB) Concluding Statement of Belief
I am not saying kill everyone on death row. I'm not saying kill everyone (that's for you DP will lead to murdering old and poor people). I am saying let the state do it's job. Crime & Evil needs someone/something to fear and right now it does not seem to have anything to fear. We need to not only enable our government to protect us, but we also need to support our government in its decisions. (Now I'm not making a blanket statement here. I'm not for the whole Democrat Big Brother thing. I'm only talking about the Death Penalty here.) After all, if you don't like the death penalty, why do you vote? Why do you live in this country? The age-old-adage. Love it or leave it. Respectfulness or Responselessness.
Sorry... This is unfinished. I'll get to spanking, probably on Saturday.
Have A Nice Day...
ChrisTopher
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Family Blog AM 1111
Good afternoon and welcome to the open blog forum. A place where we can compare Scripture with Scripture (as interpeted by me) and can freely talk about anything Biblical as long as I deem it is worthy. Well. Let's take our first blogger please, welcome to the open blog forum. Okay so that sounded a little ridiculous. Probably because it is, but maybe not for the reason you think or maybe you do, I dunno. I'm not a mind-reader. Anyway. Onto the disection.
I have a conffesion to make. I enjoy listening to the Open Forum by Mr. Harold Camping (He's older than me and I have that old fashioned respect for elders (as in age not position) standard.).
Phew -- Got that off of my chest.
Now I'm not in the buisness of trying to get you to change your views of Mr. Camping here, but if you do that would be a good by-product.
First, One time I heard this guy ask a seemingly harmless question. It was a good question I thought. Here it is. "How come you never have a guest host of the open forum?" I thought to myself that is a good question. Mr. Camping replies something to this effect, Well, I have been doing the open forum from day one. I enjoy the opportunity to share the Bible with people and having the people share with me. It is a blessing to talk about the Bible. *Pause* The man than repeated the question about guest hosts. Mr. Camping then said the following statement and it struck me really odd, but then after thinking about it it seemed reasonable. He said, Because there are not many other preachers out there who believe the same as I do, in fact if there was one who does believe the same I would let them but there isn't.
Umm.... Is it just me or did he just say he is the only one who believes like he does. Okay, in his defense I may not have quoted him verbatum, but this is what he said. That sounds like private interpretation. Which reminds me of another caller.
Second, "Mr. Camping, does God talk directly to you?" Mr. Camping's response, Through the Bible of course, I sit and study the Scripture on a daily basis, and God's Word speaks to me. The caller than proceded to press the issue into the question of 2011 being the 2nd coming. Mr. Camping deflected the question by saying that it was a revelation of God through the Scriptures, but when the caller asked where, Mr. Camping responded by saying that it would take too much time to discuss how he came to that date, but then goes on a few more minutes talking about the signifigance of numbers in the Bible and telling the caller to read his book. Hmm... Too much time indeed...
Thirdly, Lastly... He determnes how much time each caller gets. I think that is fair. However he can't go about saying to some people (who, I am sure this is circumstancial, are winning argumentation with him) that his time is limited and cut them off and then turn around and say to the next caller who is adoring him (It is funny how they always seem to follow the previous type of caller) Oh, thank you and thank you, but it's about the Bible. And go on and on talking longer than he did with the person that they were actually discussing Bible with... But then it's not about him, it's about the Bible.
In Conclusion, so why do I like to listen to Mr. Camping's open forum. I've got 2 reasons.
1. It's good military strategy to keep up on the enemy's strategem and ways.
2. I can always use a good brush-up on my rhetorical Scripture skills.
Don't worry, I won't be leaving the church and I don't believe that 2011 (while it is an option) is the year of the 2nd coming. He just sounds so grandfatherly... It that story-telling sort of way...
Have A Nice Day
I have a conffesion to make. I enjoy listening to the Open Forum by Mr. Harold Camping (He's older than me and I have that old fashioned respect for elders (as in age not position) standard.).
Phew -- Got that off of my chest.
Now I'm not in the buisness of trying to get you to change your views of Mr. Camping here, but if you do that would be a good by-product.
First, One time I heard this guy ask a seemingly harmless question. It was a good question I thought. Here it is. "How come you never have a guest host of the open forum?" I thought to myself that is a good question. Mr. Camping replies something to this effect, Well, I have been doing the open forum from day one. I enjoy the opportunity to share the Bible with people and having the people share with me. It is a blessing to talk about the Bible. *Pause* The man than repeated the question about guest hosts. Mr. Camping then said the following statement and it struck me really odd, but then after thinking about it it seemed reasonable. He said, Because there are not many other preachers out there who believe the same as I do, in fact if there was one who does believe the same I would let them but there isn't.
Umm.... Is it just me or did he just say he is the only one who believes like he does. Okay, in his defense I may not have quoted him verbatum, but this is what he said. That sounds like private interpretation. Which reminds me of another caller.
Second, "Mr. Camping, does God talk directly to you?" Mr. Camping's response, Through the Bible of course, I sit and study the Scripture on a daily basis, and God's Word speaks to me. The caller than proceded to press the issue into the question of 2011 being the 2nd coming. Mr. Camping deflected the question by saying that it was a revelation of God through the Scriptures, but when the caller asked where, Mr. Camping responded by saying that it would take too much time to discuss how he came to that date, but then goes on a few more minutes talking about the signifigance of numbers in the Bible and telling the caller to read his book. Hmm... Too much time indeed...
Thirdly, Lastly... He determnes how much time each caller gets. I think that is fair. However he can't go about saying to some people (who, I am sure this is circumstancial, are winning argumentation with him) that his time is limited and cut them off and then turn around and say to the next caller who is adoring him (It is funny how they always seem to follow the previous type of caller) Oh, thank you and thank you, but it's about the Bible. And go on and on talking longer than he did with the person that they were actually discussing Bible with... But then it's not about him, it's about the Bible.
In Conclusion, so why do I like to listen to Mr. Camping's open forum. I've got 2 reasons.
1. It's good military strategy to keep up on the enemy's strategem and ways.
2. I can always use a good brush-up on my rhetorical Scripture skills.
Don't worry, I won't be leaving the church and I don't believe that 2011 (while it is an option) is the year of the 2nd coming. He just sounds so grandfatherly... It that story-telling sort of way...
Have A Nice Day
Sunday, May 07, 2006
I thought God was perfect?
If I want to learn to hit a baseball, I'd go to Hank Aaron if I could.
If I want to learn to shoot a basketball, I'd go to Michael Jordan if I could.
If I want to learn to score a goal, I'd go to Wayne Gretsky if I could.
If I want to learn to make a takedown, I'd go to Kurt Angle if I could.
If I want to learn to _______, I'd go to _______ if I could.
So, what's the point? If any of these guys wrote a book about how to do what they do best, I don't think anyone would dispute what they had to offer. There wouldn't be factions of people going, "I don't think he wrote it that way." or "It actually should be written like this." That would be absolutely ridiculous. But yet, if I want to live the Christian Life, shouldn't I go to God?
Agreed:
1) God wrote the Bible.
2) God used men to physicaly write the Bible.
3) God is perfect (I hope we are agreed on this one).
4) When God created everything, he created everything perfectly.
5) God has a perfect plan that can/will be executed.
Based upon the agreeds, it's good the God we have. So why can't he be perfect? I'm sure no one would out right say that God is not perfect, but implications are still there. Sometimes it is what you don't say that speaks the loudest. Please bear with me, I realize I may be over-simplyfying this, but God did write the Bible for everyone to understand. Even me and my 3rd graders.
Here's my problem. How can anyone say (or imply) that God is not perfect? If Jordan wrote a book on basketball, or Gretsky on Hockey, would anyone argue with them? But yet, God wrote a Book on Himself, His creation, and His works (an autobiography if you will) and people are trying to do some terrible things to it. Terrible things that can be catergorized into one statement, God's not perfect. Follow me with this logic.
Disagrees:
1) God did not perserve his word. = Either is saying God was not capable, or that God did not want to do it. This would mean either something was more powerful that Him or that He gave up caring.
2) Concepts are important, not the actual words. = Either is saying that God didn't choose that right words or that we can wrap our minds around everything that God teaches in the Bible. This would mean either we think we can word things better than God or that our minds are so advanced that they are equal with God. Afterall if it's the concepts that are important than we need to know everything so that when we compare Scripture with Scripture we are comparing the correct concepts with the correct concepts rather than verses with verses.
I'm sure there are other points for the disagrees side. I'm sure they have racked their brains to come up with them too. I'm just thankful I didn't have to think too hard to come up with the idea that God is perfect and so his Word is too. I'm glad God wrote it down. Since He is perfect that means anything He does, logically, has to be perfect. Which includes, but not limited to, word usuage & preservation. Maybe I am just too simple minded to just take God at what He says and believe it. Maybe I need to critize what He wrote to make my ego feel better. But then again, I wouldn't give that honor to Mr. Gretsky, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Angle, Mr. Aaron or Mr. ________ . Afterall, God does want us to have that simple believing faith, just like little children. Shouldn't we go to the expert on a subject? So I guess my conclusion is two-fold.
1) God is perfect (Agreed).
2) Anything God does is perfect (I hope you agree too.)
Christopher Myers
Have A Nice Day
If I want to learn to shoot a basketball, I'd go to Michael Jordan if I could.
If I want to learn to score a goal, I'd go to Wayne Gretsky if I could.
If I want to learn to make a takedown, I'd go to Kurt Angle if I could.
If I want to learn to _______, I'd go to _______ if I could.
So, what's the point? If any of these guys wrote a book about how to do what they do best, I don't think anyone would dispute what they had to offer. There wouldn't be factions of people going, "I don't think he wrote it that way." or "It actually should be written like this." That would be absolutely ridiculous. But yet, if I want to live the Christian Life, shouldn't I go to God?
Agreed:
1) God wrote the Bible.
2) God used men to physicaly write the Bible.
3) God is perfect (I hope we are agreed on this one).
4) When God created everything, he created everything perfectly.
5) God has a perfect plan that can/will be executed.
Based upon the agreeds, it's good the God we have. So why can't he be perfect? I'm sure no one would out right say that God is not perfect, but implications are still there. Sometimes it is what you don't say that speaks the loudest. Please bear with me, I realize I may be over-simplyfying this, but God did write the Bible for everyone to understand. Even me and my 3rd graders.
Here's my problem. How can anyone say (or imply) that God is not perfect? If Jordan wrote a book on basketball, or Gretsky on Hockey, would anyone argue with them? But yet, God wrote a Book on Himself, His creation, and His works (an autobiography if you will) and people are trying to do some terrible things to it. Terrible things that can be catergorized into one statement, God's not perfect. Follow me with this logic.
Disagrees:
1) God did not perserve his word. = Either is saying God was not capable, or that God did not want to do it. This would mean either something was more powerful that Him or that He gave up caring.
2) Concepts are important, not the actual words. = Either is saying that God didn't choose that right words or that we can wrap our minds around everything that God teaches in the Bible. This would mean either we think we can word things better than God or that our minds are so advanced that they are equal with God. Afterall if it's the concepts that are important than we need to know everything so that when we compare Scripture with Scripture we are comparing the correct concepts with the correct concepts rather than verses with verses.
I'm sure there are other points for the disagrees side. I'm sure they have racked their brains to come up with them too. I'm just thankful I didn't have to think too hard to come up with the idea that God is perfect and so his Word is too. I'm glad God wrote it down. Since He is perfect that means anything He does, logically, has to be perfect. Which includes, but not limited to, word usuage & preservation. Maybe I am just too simple minded to just take God at what He says and believe it. Maybe I need to critize what He wrote to make my ego feel better. But then again, I wouldn't give that honor to Mr. Gretsky, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Angle, Mr. Aaron or Mr. ________ . Afterall, God does want us to have that simple believing faith, just like little children. Shouldn't we go to the expert on a subject? So I guess my conclusion is two-fold.
1) God is perfect (Agreed).
2) Anything God does is perfect (I hope you agree too.)
Christopher Myers
Have A Nice Day
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Victory at Last
I'm not much for bragging, never had too many chances... Always been too smart to be a moron and too dumb to be a geek, my athleticism has always been hampered by a little thing known as lack of skill... So on the rare occassion that I can brag, I guess I'll take the opportunity... Of course it's not about me, it's about the kids and a lesson we could all sometimes probably use a refresher course on...
Setting the scene:
Imagine a kickball game (not soccer, kickball with the rubberball played with baseball rules) where the rivalry has lasted between me and the 4th grade teacher for 3 years now... Imagine being on my end of the rivalry. My team is smaller, slower, less cordinated, smaller in number, less experienced and (here's the worst) morale flatened becuase we always lose... I've won once in 3 years and that was only becuase the high school boys came and helped us out, so that really dosen't count (Thanks Julian and David). We've been blown out the water. We've even came close. But just couldn't pull it out to win... That is... Until today =0Þ
Surviving The Situation:
Bottom of the 9th. We need 5 to tie, 6 to win. We've reached the power part of the line-up. Arianna kicks the ball and makes it to first. Daniel kicks the ball, Arianna reaches 3rd, Daniel 2nd. Kennedy kicks the ball gets to first Arianna scores Daniel is stuck at second (15-11). Alexis kicks the ball and it is barely dropped everyone advances a base. My kick. I kick the ball, everyone scores, but I get stuck at 3rd. (15-14). I think Madison is a good kicker, she kicks the ball. Pop fly out. 1 away. Michias is also a pretty good kicker, he'll make it all I need to do is make it home. I'd settle for a tie. Drilled shot back at the pitcher. Caught. 2 outs. I'm beside myself. I cannot believe this. Then Samrawit gets up to bat. Now she doesn't really like to play kickball and the other students never help the situation much by yelling at her when something goes wrong. So she shuffled up to the plate and several thoughts run through my head. On one hand, I know I'd be proud of her for doing something she's not good at for the sake of the team, she is a trooper. On the other hand, I'd rather not have the fate of the game resting on her right foot either. Afterall, I'm the tieing run and I've been sitting at 3rd base for two outs now. Unforuneately, the side of being upset was winning. I'm pacing, jumping up and down, doing everything I can to keep calm when I hear the phrase, "Man... Samrawit's up. We're going to lose now." and then I hear the collective agreement of everyone else. 1st pitch, she kicked foul. "Why'd you do that?" her classmates yelled. 2nd pitch. Foul. (you only get 3 fouls in kickball). By now the principal has come out to watch. Out of nervous anxiety I call time and relay the situation to everyone that I am the tieing run and the winning run is kicking. I remind everyone to be quiet and tell Samrawit to just get to first. 3rd pitch. It came straight back at the pitcher who was not ready for it. She dropped it. I score (15-15). Samrawit makes it to 1st. Jevonne kicks next. He drills the ball straight back past 2nd. Samrawit goes for second as the ball is being tossed to the base, the 2nd baseman misses the ball so she runs for 3rd, meanwhile Jevonne, being the over-zealous little kid that he is, is heading towards 2nd where the ball is. The second baseman seems him and chases him back to 1st. Samrawit sees where the ball is and runs home and scores (15-16). We win... Take that Mr. Brandenburg...
Solidifying the Scruples:
Hopefully my kids learned two lessons today.
1. You never know when you'll win.
2. Never quit, you might be the winner.
You see, from where I stand, I've accepted the fact that most of the time, I'm going to lose. I've been trying to teach my 3rd graders that losing really isn't that bad. I mean we are playing a superior team with more experience, but should we give up? No, never. We will occasionally/rarely win. If you are part of a team, you just might be the winning ingredient of the team, just like Samrawit, the little girl everyone yelled at and didn't want to play. She has become the class hero. But knowing my students that will probably last until we play the 4th graders again tomorrow. But for now... I'm posting this tonight...
Have A Nice Day
--Topher Myers
Setting the scene:
Imagine a kickball game (not soccer, kickball with the rubberball played with baseball rules) where the rivalry has lasted between me and the 4th grade teacher for 3 years now... Imagine being on my end of the rivalry. My team is smaller, slower, less cordinated, smaller in number, less experienced and (here's the worst) morale flatened becuase we always lose... I've won once in 3 years and that was only becuase the high school boys came and helped us out, so that really dosen't count (Thanks Julian and David). We've been blown out the water. We've even came close. But just couldn't pull it out to win... That is... Until today =0Þ
Surviving The Situation:
Bottom of the 9th. We need 5 to tie, 6 to win. We've reached the power part of the line-up. Arianna kicks the ball and makes it to first. Daniel kicks the ball, Arianna reaches 3rd, Daniel 2nd. Kennedy kicks the ball gets to first Arianna scores Daniel is stuck at second (15-11). Alexis kicks the ball and it is barely dropped everyone advances a base. My kick. I kick the ball, everyone scores, but I get stuck at 3rd. (15-14). I think Madison is a good kicker, she kicks the ball. Pop fly out. 1 away. Michias is also a pretty good kicker, he'll make it all I need to do is make it home. I'd settle for a tie. Drilled shot back at the pitcher. Caught. 2 outs. I'm beside myself. I cannot believe this. Then Samrawit gets up to bat. Now she doesn't really like to play kickball and the other students never help the situation much by yelling at her when something goes wrong. So she shuffled up to the plate and several thoughts run through my head. On one hand, I know I'd be proud of her for doing something she's not good at for the sake of the team, she is a trooper. On the other hand, I'd rather not have the fate of the game resting on her right foot either. Afterall, I'm the tieing run and I've been sitting at 3rd base for two outs now. Unforuneately, the side of being upset was winning. I'm pacing, jumping up and down, doing everything I can to keep calm when I hear the phrase, "Man... Samrawit's up. We're going to lose now." and then I hear the collective agreement of everyone else. 1st pitch, she kicked foul. "Why'd you do that?" her classmates yelled. 2nd pitch. Foul. (you only get 3 fouls in kickball). By now the principal has come out to watch. Out of nervous anxiety I call time and relay the situation to everyone that I am the tieing run and the winning run is kicking. I remind everyone to be quiet and tell Samrawit to just get to first. 3rd pitch. It came straight back at the pitcher who was not ready for it. She dropped it. I score (15-15). Samrawit makes it to 1st. Jevonne kicks next. He drills the ball straight back past 2nd. Samrawit goes for second as the ball is being tossed to the base, the 2nd baseman misses the ball so she runs for 3rd, meanwhile Jevonne, being the over-zealous little kid that he is, is heading towards 2nd where the ball is. The second baseman seems him and chases him back to 1st. Samrawit sees where the ball is and runs home and scores (15-16). We win... Take that Mr. Brandenburg...
Solidifying the Scruples:
Hopefully my kids learned two lessons today.
1. You never know when you'll win.
2. Never quit, you might be the winner.
You see, from where I stand, I've accepted the fact that most of the time, I'm going to lose. I've been trying to teach my 3rd graders that losing really isn't that bad. I mean we are playing a superior team with more experience, but should we give up? No, never. We will occasionally/rarely win. If you are part of a team, you just might be the winning ingredient of the team, just like Samrawit, the little girl everyone yelled at and didn't want to play. She has become the class hero. But knowing my students that will probably last until we play the 4th graders again tomorrow. But for now... I'm posting this tonight...
Have A Nice Day
--Topher Myers
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