It's only Friday, but Sunday's coming!

I know you guys have heard and seen this piece. I actually played this piece for my students yesterday. It's the beauty of teaching in a Christian setting.

"It's Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter's a sleeping. Judas is betraying.
But Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. Pilate's struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don't even know that Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd.
Mary's crying. Peter is denying. But they don't know that Sunday's a comin'.

It's Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe Him in scarlet. They crown Him with thorns. But they don't know that Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit's burdened. But you see, it's only Friday.
Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. The world's winning. People are sinning. And evil's grinning.

It's Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior's hands to the cross. They nail my Savior's feet to the cross. And then they raise him up next to criminals.

It's Friday. But let me tell you something: Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. The disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King. And the Pharisees are celebrating that their scheming has been achieved. But they don't know: It's only Friday. Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. He's hanging on the cross feeling forsaken by His Father.
Left alone and dying. Can nobody save Him? Oooh, it's Friday. But Sunday's comin'.

It's Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit.

It's Friday. Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. And Satan's just a laughing.

It's Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place.

But it's Friday. It is only Friday.

Sunday is a comin'."

Good Friday

On the way to dinner this evening, Aaron asked me why it's really called Good Friday. After all, "Jesus died on Friday, Dad." I said He did die on Friday, but He rose on Sunday, which makes Friday very good for us. The fact that Jesus went to the cross for our sins and then was resurrected is full of goodness for those who believe. He said, "yea, but why is it just good then? It should be Awesome Friday or like Super Incredible Amazing Awesome Friday, not just good. Good's not good enough for what God did." I kind of thought about that through dinner, and I agree. Good is not a strong enough word for how amazing God's sacrifice was for us. It was great. It was amazing. It was magnificent. It was super incredible amazing awesome.

Katie

I'm having the kids watch a movie about WWII. My mind's kind of not here today; thus the movie. Tomorrow is Katie's last day of school this year. Just keep her in prayer. Monday morning is going to be very difficult. I don't think either of us really know what to expect, although her doctor has been incredible in providing us with as much information as needed. For those who don't know, Katie is having a hysterectomy. She's only 39. We're giving everything to God in hopes of Him working everything out for good. Kate's nervous and scared. I'm more or less confused by the whole procedure. It's going to be a lengthy recovery process. We've been praying that she wouldn't have to have the surgery, but she does, and so I just pray you keep her in prayers, if you don't mind. Thanks.

UNC's affects on my students

It sounds bad for a teacher to say he/she got nothing out of their students today, but today was a day that tested that argument. Last night, UNC played Michigan State in the championship game of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Nearly all the boys in my 10th grade classes love college basketball. I'd say the majority of them are North Carolina fans; with Duke coming a close second. Some of the girls are also fans, but not as many as the boys. Coincidentally, in class participation today, girls outnumbered the boys probably 3:1. Most of the Duke kids watched the game just to see if Michigan State would upset North Carolina. The North Carolina fans, well, you can only imagine what times they went to bed this morning. It made for a long day today. But, North Carolina won, and being a fan myself, it was very entertaining to watch. I even woke Aaron up for the final four minutes, with an agreement that he would go right back to sleep after the game if I took him to the parade.

Opening Day!

It's baseball's opening day, and that only means one thing..

In six months, the Cubbies are going to break my heart.

Yet, as a loyal fan, they continue to bring me back; year after year. I have to admit, in recent years, I've saved the paper bags to put over my head until October. It's nice for a change. I remember they used to give up in mid-July. Sure, I could be a Yankees fan, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. However, if I were a Yankees fan, where would my life lessons on patience come from? Where would I have learned how to be so excited about something, only to see it snatched from beneath my feet? No, not as a Yankees fan. That can only come with the Spring anticipation of a great Cubbies year, only to watch it crumble in the last few weeks. You can keep your Yankees. I'll stick with the dream dashers; I mean the Cubs. Play ball!

Reasons Why I Love Teaching

I had to share this today, as it's a free time right now, and I'm able to get away. Also, I'd like to add that this ties into a project the kids are working on right now. Their assignment; list of reasons why WWII was different from WWI. They had the weekend to work on their list. It wasn't for a grade. It was just for discussion points for today. As I'm reading these reasons they gave me, I came up with my own list of reasons.

"Reasons Why I Love Teaching"

"WWII is different from WWI because one was fought later than the other."
"WWI is different because it has only one I, and WWII has two of them."
"WWII had Hitler. WWI had Ho Chi Minh." (yes, this was an actual reason)
"WWII was fought overseas. WWI wasn't."
"WWI gave Americans things like rubber. WWII gave us war bonds." (Hmm..)
"Pearl Harbor caused the Americans to enter WWII. I don't know why we got in WWI, sorry."

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Class of 2011. :) Truthfully, these kids are amazing, and I have faith they will change this world for the better. But, not so great on the history thing right now. We're working on it. One day, the lightbulb is going to shine brightly, and that's why I continue to stand up there and teach; even after seeing the above responses. I just had to share this today. Some of these made me chuckle.

Midnight Cowboy

Ok, not THE midnight cowboy..

I got the "you let him stay up, you get him to bed" discussion from my wife tonight. I let Aaron stay up to watch the Villanova/UNC game (which UNC won, making both of us very happy). However, there's a problem. I can't get Aaron to sleep. Katie is ignoring me, and I know she's not asleep. She's silently laughing because she knows. I don't know how mothers know, but they know. Aaron is wide awake, and I am left here wishing I would have just told him the final score when he woke up in the morning.

Final Four

I can't much think of a better team personally. ;) God doesn't care who wins a college basketball game, but I'm still praying for a title brought back to North Carolina Monday night. Aaron and I are mesmorized at this point. Katie is...shopping. This and the Superbowl are her favorite days!

Dossier.

sent to China! :) 5 1/2 months..

Uncle Larry

My uncle Larry passed away late morning today. I always wanted to know him, but he never really let us have an opportunity. In the past five years, I'd say I've talked with him on a handful of occasions. Was he a genuine Christian? I pray he was. In typical Larry fashion, he told his wife that he didn't want a service. If there were, they'd be in Texas. He was 66; the baby of the family. When Mom called, she said he was feeling "off" last night, and he had a massive heart attack sometime during the night. I pray he's up with Jesus, but I just don't know. So, to honor him today, a memory..

The only real memories I have of him are faint. He moved to Dallas when I was six, and we rarely spoke to him after that point. However, he did come home for his father's funeral (my grandfather). He stayed at my father's house. While I was there one evening, Uncle Larry told me to run and "fetch" my guitar. He asked me if I had ever learned how to play "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash. I told him I never had, and so he proceeded to sit with me for a couple hours that night and teach me. Now, this particular song is not exactly worship material, but I always know who taught me that song on guitar.

I will share another memory that involves Aaron. One time, a couple years back now, Larry was visiting my Uncle Walt and Aunt Dottie. We ate dinner with them one night, and he played basketball with Aaron the rest of that evening. I wish I would have seen that side more often.