I just really wanted to post this for anyone that hasn’t seen it yet. It makes me laugh out loud every time…:)
Baby Got Book (WhiteboyDJ.com)
| Dan “Southpaw” Smith’s parody of “Baby Got Back” as seen on VH1’s WebJunk | |
Conviction
I just had a conversation with Maeve. She’s one of my all-time favorites students. I could write several posts about her, but for now, just one. 🙂
She said something that was hurtful to another student-her friend. When I heard that she’d said it, I almost didn’t believe it…but unfortunately it was true. When confronted, Maeve’s eyes started welling up. 9.9 times out of 10, my students don’t feel too that bad about hurting someone’s feelings. I usually have to help them see how wrong they were. Not so with this one!
I know what you’re thinking. She just started crying because she was caught. She didn’t actually feel bad! You couldn’t be more wrong. Maeve walks with such an extreme amount of conviction in her life that it’s almost shameful to most Christians I know. She asked for forgiveness but the girl wouldn’t say anything. The girl was really hurt and despite Maeve’s pleading, she simply wouldn’t say anything to her. Can’t force someone to forgive though…But thankfully she’s a Christian who attends church, and I plan on talking with her about forgiveness more later on. For now I’ll just pray for her broken heart, because this has clearly happened more than once.
Maeve really gets me though! As I’m sure I’ll write about later on, she’s a studnet that I see myself knowing years from now. We’ll always stay in touch, I can tell. I want God to use me to seriously impact her life, and I’m praying about how to do that in a public school setting. He’s got His hand on her life and the fact that I get to be her teacher confirms that all the more. I pray that the Holy Spirit would rain down His conviction in her heart, that she would turn to Him completely.
I may not be the best teacher, and I may hate grading papers, but man, I really love what I get to do in this moment of life. 🙂
Martha Stewart
Would you believe me if I told you that I saw Martha Stewart today? Me neither.
There have been so many things pounding in my heart these past few days, which is a huge reason why I’ve been distracted from doing tedious things like grading papers (man, I’m like a broken record about grading papers..). One of them involves leaving a legacy, no matter how much or how little I actually get to invest into someone’s life. It’s often the little things that impact people. I realize how much an email can mean to a person and how much an encouraging letter can help to confirm a person’s thoughts.
Today I got to do a little thing and I dropped someone off at a bus station-no biggie, but I was glad to do it, and I pray that Jesus was recognized as the Provider of that ride. As I dropped this person off I looked over and saw a gentleman there that I knew! His name is Martha Stewart. Well, it’s really "Norm", but he doesn’t know that I know that. 🙂
Rewind to last spring…
Martha Stewart is a guy that we met in downtown Royal Oak (right about now, Anne Marie is cracking up). He always tried to play mind games with us and was adament about not going to church…Until about April 15 of last year. I remember talking to him the night before The Oaks launched their first service on Easter. He was telling us that he’d give it a shot…once. I recall praying that after simply tasting the sweet presence of God, he would crave it.
The next morning I got to attend their very first gathering. I walked in a couple minutes late, looked to my left and saw him sitting there. So I sat with him. My heart was pounding the whole service because the day had finally arrived for The Oaks to be there. It was so great! I loved it that I got to sit with someone that I’d been investing prayer and conversation into.
Fast forward to this afternoon at the bus station…
I was in the driver’s seat, so I put my window down to say, "Hi." He came over and I asked him if he was still going to The Oaks. He said that he was and that he loved it-that it was great…he even proceeded to invite me! (Nothing could’ve blessed my heart more than that!) I wasn’t sure that he remembered me, but he totally did. I said that I was really involved at…and then he finished my sentence…"the King church". I said, "Yes." 🙂 I told him that I was due for a visit to The Oaks again soon and that I would see him there. I asked him how God was blessing his life and then he talked for about a minute….
Nostalgia set-in. I was nostalgic of being a part of sending The Oaks. I miss it. I want to do it again. I want to see more lives like his changed around Metro Detroit. The next church plant that happens won’t look exactly like The Oaks, if at all, but I’m okay with that. It was a great feeling, seeing a result of one life that’s being changed (for we are not changed once, but we’re continually being changed). Honestly, I don’t know exactly where he’s at right now. But from what I saw I definitely saw a different person.
In the little things like notes, conversations, persistence, car rides…God uses us. That makes me happy. As for what’s going on at The Oaks…Chris, Nicki, Carrie, Richie, Anne Marie, Matt…you guys (and several otheres) are my heroes for going. I’m privileged that my heart has been invested.
Heart investments leave legacies…
Distractions
I’m very motivated right now…that’s why I’m blogging while sitting at Caribou with my lesson plan books in front of me…the only problem is that I’m motivated to be distracted. Pure distraction…and no, there’s not a cute guy sitting across from me;)
I want to pray. I want to read my book. I want to have a conversation. I want to sing aloud with the love song that’s playing on my earphones right now. I want to watch a movie. I want to get a shoulder massage (I’ve been sitting here a long time). I want to just people-watch. I want to sit by a real fire🙂 and get out of the draft.
Just read what I wrote…can prayer possibly be a distraction? That doesn’t make sense.
Class 4A
I may not be a mom yet, but I’ve got 24 kids! My nephew, Ross, gets very confused by this thought.
Today my boss was trying to entice me to do something with a comp day-a free day! I said that I probably wouldn’t use it. I have 8 days to still take this year and I’ve never used all my days in a year of teaching. She whispered to the person next to her, "Burton, can’t take days off because it’d be on her conscience…she loves her kids too much." I made a silly face and said that it was true…I absolutely love my class this year!
Above and beyond the fact that enjoying my kids is great enough, my boss knows it! While I know my priority is to please God, I have to admit that it’s kind of nice to be noticed by my boss too. Praise God for His undying love and for the love that He allows to flow through me. Sure can’t love people on my own!
**I’ve included my students in my enjoyment of 24. They’re so funny about it. This morning, Tylan brought me a post-it note with the new season information on it. He was watching TV last night and thought of me…wanted to make sure that I was informed;)
Grab a cup of coffee…
…this turned out to a be long post for me. It started yesterday and got finished tonight.
I’ve been making a list, and checking it twice…but trust me, this has nothing to do with Christmas presents.
What I’m thinking about, though, is my list for the new year. A couple of my blogging friends have already posted their resolutions for the new year…all while I watched my last round of 24.Season 5. (Are you surprised?) This doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been on my mind or that all I think about is 24-really, it isn’t.
The other I told a friend that I wasn’t sure of too many goals for this year. After thinking more about this, perhaps I have overlooked the significance of some things God’s been working on in me and the part that they’ll play in my life this year.
368 days ago God used a sermon to begin a revolution in my life. Throughout the course of one year I have experienced a defined character upheaval. My year ended on Sunday with a reminder of something huge that I learned this past year…God’s more concerned with my character than my comfort. As painful as that may be at times, the journey has been worth it. It’s not over though, as I feel like my race has only begun.
Really, last year I didn’t make resolutions-I simply asked God to change me. Since that worked better, I think I’ll repeat that one act. God, please change me. One of the things that I ask Him to change in me is my motivation to act upon goals though:) Somehow this is turning topsy turvy on me…
As a continuation of change in 2006, I want to continue in upping the health-factor of my body. If my heart has to take up rent while here on earth, as the landlord of this flesh, I should make it worth it’s while to stay here! Tonight Phil said that Jesus transforms us on the inside and it shows on the outside. Preach it, little brother! I’m going to be adamant about my workout and running routine each week-you know, stick with it. After all, I am training to run 2 5K’s and a 10K this year. (Praise God!) Today I even got my principal, the PE teacher and another teacher in on a physical fitness thing we’re going to do at school, ending with a 5K to raise money for something, in May. I’m pumped. I’m definitely in way over my head-so thankful God’s bigger than that.
I started my Bible reading plan to read the Bible in chronological order in a year (thanks for the Bible, Dad:) and realized that I’ve never read the Bible in a year before! This actually amazes me because it’s not even that much reading a day. I’m already seeing that this may have to be upped for next year. As I’ve been reading I’ve already been able to see that I am going to be challenged in my faith this year. I can see that I’m going to wrestle with my faith over things I’ve never felt the need to touch. Honestly, it scared me a little at first. But then God reminded me of my desire to grow and be stretched. Here we go for another ride!
My prayer life will increase as I continue to address my need for more of Him. I have a gut feeling that He will continue to strip away from me. Perhaps it will be common knowledge about things I’ve always thought about but never truly believed…I don’t know. This goes hand-in-hand with the whole "wrestling with my faith" thing.
I want to invest in people more. Because I find that a natural thing for me to do, I tend to actually forget about it sometimes and discontinue being intentional about it. That needs to go, for sure.
This post has turned into a real-life conversation with me, where I say a lot of things, mostly connected somehow, and neverending…sorry:)
Have a memorable year! I can hardly see past tomorrow morning (which is quickly approaching), but it’s going to be a great one for me……….
Oh yeah, and one more thing…January 27 is my 10,000th day! What should I do to celebrate? A party with 10,000 guests? Do 10,000 sit-ups? Watch 10,000 hours of 24?…yeah, that doesn’t even make sense. Help! Whatever I do, it should be something that I can’t do on my own. Life’s more fun with other people.
Excellent Christmas!
I have to admit that this past week, spent with my family, was the best ever. It doesn’t completely make sense, knowing that Mom and Dad were both sick about half the time, Ross got really sick, and my last night and day, I was sick. On top of that, my grandma isn’t doin’ so great and I didn’t get together with my old friends like I was supposed to. And, I lost at Cranium-you know this is huge for me to admit. It wasn’t my fault though. My brother, Dave, and I don’t think alike enough to do well on a team together.
But…
-we had some great conversations!
-the EAGLES beat the COWBOYS!!! (my dad had to drag himself out of bed on Christmas Day for
that one, because he was sick)
-i got almost everything on my wish list (superficial and unsuperficial!)
-i got to hang out with Todd and Tiffany twice (don’t get to see them much)
-i got to see my grandma (pray with her, for probably the last time)
-i confirmed that i am doing the right thing by not spending money on cable…because there still isn’t hardly anything worth watching on that most of the time
–Robert told me that I looked better than when he saw me at Thanksgiving
-He looked so adorable and teenage-like in his little American Eagle outfit (i can’t believe i love this kid
more now than i did 11 years ago when he was born)
-Robbie (the cat) didn’t hiss at me the whole time I was there…just some of the time
**Side story-Stephanie, back when she was just dating Dave, ended up with a cute little kitten and decided to be smooth and named the cat, "Robert David Burton III"-Dave is a Jr, while my dad is a Sr. Initially she thought the cat was a male, but later found out it was a female. Later, when they were married and had their first baby, they named him…you guessed it!-Robert David Burton III. My friends kept asking why they named the baby after the cat. 🙂
–Ryder laughed hysterically when I gave him an eskimo kiss one night (this is him with his Uncle Todd)
–Ross asked me to stay with him because of the "noises" in the house-so prec
ious
-he also had a priceless look on his face when he opened the stack of books I gave him for Christmas
-With tears in his eyes, my dad said, "…And i’m just so proud of all my kids. They’re all married to great spouses…" We also had tears in our eyes and completely cracked up. (If you don’t get it, read it again and think about it…I’m not married yet. Perhaps he was speaking in faith🙂
-$50 in gift cards to Caribou 🙂
-I found out that Dave, Steph and the family are staying in Chicago! I’m so glad they’re not moving to Texas.
-Robert got this cup-stacking game and we all had fun trying to figure it out
A long time ago I had the opportunity to learn that Christmas wasn’t all about getting presents, and it’s not even all about giving presents either. I feel like a broken record to say that Christmas is all about Jesus, but it’s true. It’s even more than that though…It’s about Who Jesus is, What He came to do, How he came to do it and the Power that He brought into this world for people to change! I think that was it for me this Christmas. One of the things I really wanted for Christmas was for God to show me the things He’s doing, not only in my life, but in the lives of my family members. He did that for me this week, and it was fabulous!….the best Christmas ever!
Geno’s
As a native to Philadelphia, I’m ashamed to say that I had never been to Geno’s or Pat’s. It doesn’t make sense, really, but it’s the truth. Geno’s and Pat’s are the two cheese steak rivals in South Philly. They’re located kitty-corner to each other, and open 24 hours a day. The guy who started Pat’s, back in 1930, actually created the first Philly cheese steak…just because he wanted something other than his regular hot dog for lunch! 
The other night my brother, Todd, and his wife, Tiffany, treated me to Geno’s. Here’s a picture of the place…bright, huh? Ya really can’t miss it! The verdict on the sandwich?…best cheese steak I ever had (even better than mom’s!). I still haven’t had Pat’s, so I’ll have to try to check them out the next time I’m home to compare.
Memoirs of a Redhead 
